So you bought a new computer to run Windows 7, and you’re happy with the new PC’s speed. It’s fast and responsive. But here’s the challenge: how to keep it that way?
It’s not as easy as you think. If you’ve spent much time at all with PCs, you know that over time, your computer seems to run slower, takes longer to boot up, and might even start to exhibit erratic behavior. But you can fight back by adopting the following guidelines for keeping your PC running its best, regardless of whether you’re running Windows 7 or an earlier version.
Install Only the Essentials
Installing too much software is the primary reason that computers get slower over time. So if you’re starting fresh with a new computer or a new operating system installation, commit to installing only the applications that you use or need on a daily basis. The other programs — including freeware or shareware that you download just to try out — should be installed first on another machine until you figure out whether they earn the right to make it to your primary PC.
And if that approach doesn’t sound feasible, then enlist the help of a program such as Revo Uninstaller (http://bit.ly/16Omp) that monitors program installations so that offensive applications can be removed entirely if you decide they’re not worth keeping. Windows’ Programs and Features utility, which is what people typically turn to in order to uninstall an application, too often leaves behind files, registry entries, and other system-cluttering debris.
There’s another reason to keep your system free of unnecessary software: your hard disk. Assuming you use a conventional drive rather than a solid state disk (SSD), your hard disk will become sluggish as it fills up with data. That’s because the read-write heads have to travel farther as programs and…