Video:Tips to Improve Windows Computer Speed

Transcript:Tips to Improve Windows Computer Speed

Hi, this is Dimitri LaBarge for About.com, and today we're going to talk about how to improve computer speed in Windows. Windows is a complex operating system and can take a toll on even the fastest computer over time. Here are some tips for optimizing your system.

Check PCs Specs for Windows' Requirements

Make sure that you have a computer with recommended specs. Software demands more and more of hardware, and even minimum system requirements aren't enough. Make sure you have a machine that meets the recommended requirements of your version of Windows.

Scan Windows for Viruses and Spyware

This can be the plague of a lot of systems. Computer crud can get into your system all sorts of ways, especially if you're not running antivirus protection. Find a reputable antivirus program and give your system a good scanning.

Change Windows Settings

Windows now does a lot of fancy things, especially with the new Aero interface. This takes up a lot of computing resources. Try reducing these visual features so your system has more computing power to work with.

A lot of people say their computer takes too long to start up. Maybe you have too many programs loaded up to automatically run when it starts up. Take a look inside your Start Up folder and see what programs you can eliminate.

Reinstall Windows

And a last resort is to perform housekeeping by backing up your system onto a hard drive, and doing a full reinstall of Windows. This can be pretty complex and you need to take care to backup your programs and files, but it can also get rid of pretty much everything that's been gumming up your system.Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the web at About.com.