1. Run a Disk Cleanup: Windows offers its own built-in utility called Disk Cleanup that can be used to free up space on your hard drive and speed up your PC’s performance. To open Disk Cleanup, click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.
2. Uninstall Unnecessary Programs: If you have installed any unnecessary programs which are not used anymore, remove them from your PC to prevent them from consuming system resources.
3. Reduce the Number of Startup Programs: Many programs launch themselves whenever you start your PC, resulting in poor performance. To disable such unwanted startup programs, go to Task Manager and navigate to Startup tab. You can disable or delete the unnecessary programs from here.
4. Defragment Your Hard Drive: Fragmentation occurs when data becomes scattered across the hard drive, resulting in reduced system performance. To defragment the hard drive and improve performance, right click on the drive and select Properties > Tools > Defragment Now.
5. Manage Visual Effects: You can also improve PC performance by adjusting visual effects on your PC. To manage visual effects, right click on Computer > Properties > Advanced System Settings > Performance Settings. Select Adjust for best performance on the Performance Options window and click OK.
6. Turn Off Animation Effects: Animation effects can take up a lot of resources and can make your PC slow. To turn off animation effects, right click on Computer > Properties > Advanced System Settings > Performance Settings. Select Custom and uncheck Animate controls and elements inside windows.
7. Disable Unused Services: Several services can run in the background without being noticed. To identify and disable unused services, open services.msc from the run command and set the desired services to Manual or Disable.
8. Upgrade/Update Drivers: Outdated drivers can result in system instability and poor performance. To update drivers, visit the website of your PC manufacturer and download the latest drivers.
9. Use a System Optimization Tool: A system optimization tool helps in optimizing your PC, improving its performance in a few clicks. WinUtilities is a comprehensive tool which can be used to optimize, repair and clean your PC. It includes tools such as Disk Cleaner, Registry Cleaner, Shortcut Fixer and more to improve system performance. With the 1-Click Maintenance feature, you can quickly scan and fix any problems with your PC with one click.