Maximizing Your Work Computer’s Performance
The last thing you want is a sluggish computer slowing you down at work. Whether you're struggling with slow startup times, constant freezing, or applications crashing, there are several strategies you can use to boost your computer's performance. Here’s how to maximize the efficiency and productivity of your work computer.
Scan for and Remove Viruses
Viruses, malware, and other malicious software can significantly slow down your computer and compromise your data. Regularly scanning for and removing these threats is essential for optimal performance.
Key Features to Look for in a Good Antivirus
Not all antivirus programs are created equal. Here’s what we recommend you look for in an antivirus solution:
Real-Time Scanning: Ensures that your system is constantly monitored for potential threats, stopping them before they can do damage.
Automatic Updates: Viruses evolve, and so should your antivirus. Look for software that updates itself to keep up with new threats.
Low Impact on System Performance: The best antivirus solutions protect you without bogging down your computer. Look for lightweight software that won’t slow you down.
Comprehensive Coverage: Choose software that covers multiple types of threats, including malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
Cornerstone Technologies can help you choose and implement a robust antivirus solution to keep your systems secure.
Replace Old Networking Equipment and Cables
Your computer’s performance is only as good as your network connection. If you're using outdated networking equipment, it could be time for an upgrade.
New Switches: Upgrading to modern switches with higher bandwidth capacity can improve data flow and reduce lag, especially in an office environment with multiple devices.
Network Interface Cards (NICs): If your computer uses an older NIC, upgrading to a newer model can boost your network speed and reliability, particularly if you're transitioning to a faster internet plan.
WiFi Routers: Old routers might not support the latest WiFi standards, leading to slower speeds. Consider upgrading to a WiFi 6 router for better coverage and faster connections.
Investing in new networking equipment can dramatically improve your productivity by ensuring a faster and more stable internet connection.
Upgrade or Defragment Your Hard Drive
Most modern computers have Solid-State Drives (SSDs), which are faster and more reliable than traditional mechanical hard drives (HDDs). If you’re still using an HDD, consider upgrading to an SSD for a significant performance boost.
How to Defragment an HDD
If upgrading isn’t an option, defragmenting your hard drive can help. Here's how to do it:
Open File Explorer: Right-click on your hard drive and select "Properties."
Go to the Tools Tab: Click "Optimize" under the Optimize and Defragment drive section.
Select Your Drive: Choose the drive you want to optimize, then click "Optimize."
Delete Bloatware
Bloatware refers to pre-installed software that you never use but that takes up valuable resources. It can be found on your computer and mobile phone, especially after system updates. Deleting these programs can free up memory and improve system performance.
How to Remove Bloatware
Before removing any software, you must check with your IT team (whether in-house or your IT partner). You don’t want to delete a program that your organization needs or requires accidentally.
Go to Control Panel: Navigate to "Programs and Features."
Uninstall Unnecessary Programs: Review the list of installed software and remove anything you don’t need.
Use a Third-Party Tool: Tools like PC Decrapifier or Revo Uninstaller can help you identify and remove bloatware more efficiently.
Reduce Applications That Start Automatically
Too many applications launching at startup can slow down your boot time. By managing your startup programs, you can speed up your computer’s performance.
How to Disable Startup Apps
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc: This opens the Task Manager.
Go to the Startup Tab: Review the list of startup items.
Disable Unnecessary Programs: Right-click and disable programs you don’t need to run automatically.
Clear Your Browsing Data
Browser cookies, cache, and other stored data are essential for improving your browsing experience, but over time, they can accumulate and actually slow down your system. Let’s break down how each of these elements works and why they might be affecting your computer’s performance.
1. Cookies
Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember information about your visit. They track your preferences, login information, and browsing activity.
How Cookies Slow Down Your System:
Increased Data Load: As you visit more websites, the number of stored cookies grows. If left unchecked, a large collection of cookies can take up space and slow down your browser.
Slower Website Loading: Some cookies, especially those related to tracking and advertising, can impact your browser’s speed. They force your browser to process additional requests to load scripts and ads, which can slow down page loading times.
2. Cache
The cache is a storage area where your browser saves copies of files, images, scripts, and other elements from websites you visit. The idea is to speed up future visits to those sites by loading content from your local drive instead of downloading it again.
How Cache Slows Down Your System:
Storage Bloat: Over time, cached files can pile up, taking up significant disk space, especially if you frequently visit media-rich sites. This can lead to reduced available storage, which in turn slows down your computer’s performance.
Outdated Files: Sometimes, cached files become outdated or corrupted, which can cause websites to load improperly or more slowly as your browser struggles to reconcile old data with new content.
Memory Usage: Excessive cache can consume your system’s RAM, especially if your browser is left open for long periods. This can cause your system to slow down, especially if your computer has limited memory.
3. Other Site Data (History, Autofill, Site Settings)
In addition to cookies and cache, your browser stores a variety of other data such as browsing history, saved passwords, autofill form data, and site-specific settings.
How Other Data Slows Down Your System:
Browser History: A lengthy browsing history can slow down your browser's search function and increase the time it takes to load new tabs or windows.
Autofill and Password Data: If you have a large number of saved passwords and autofill entries, your browser may take longer to process and retrieve this information, especially on login-heavy sites.
Site Settings Conflicts: Websites may store permissions and settings that can cause compatibility issues over time, leading to slower performance or even crashes.
How to Clear Browsing Data to Improve Performance
To keep your browser and system running smoothly, it’s a good idea to periodically clear your cookies, cache, and other site data. Here’s how:
For Google Chrome:
Open Chrome: Click the three dots in the top-right corner and go to Settings.
Navigate to Privacy and Security: Click on Clear browsing data.
Select What to Clear: Choose Cookies and other site data, Cached images and files, and other relevant options.
Click Clear Data: Confirm your selection.
For Mozilla Firefox:
Open Firefox: Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) and go to Settings.
Select Privacy & Security: Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section.
Click on Clear Data: Select Cookies and Cached Web Content, then click Clear.
For Microsoft Edge:
Open Edge: Click the three dots in the top-right corner and go to Settings.
Select Privacy, Search, and Services: Click on Choose what to clear under the Clear browsing data section.
Choose the Data Types: Select Cookies, Cache, and other data you want to remove, then click Clear Now.
The Benefits of Clearing Your Browsing Data
Faster Browsing Speeds: Removing old cookies and cache can speed up your browser, making pages load faster.
Improved System Performance: Freeing up space and reducing memory usage can enhance your overall computer performance.
Enhanced Privacy: Clearing cookies and site data can also help protect your privacy by removing tracking information.
Regularly Reboot Your Computer
You might be surprised at how much of a difference a simple reboot can make to your computer’s performance. Many people leave their computers running for days, even weeks, without restarting them, especially in office environments where quick access is essential. However, regularly rebooting your computer is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep it running smoothly.
Why Rebooting Matters
Clears Memory (RAM): When you open programs and applications, they use your computer's memory (RAM). Over time, this memory can become fragmented, and even after you close programs, some processes may linger in the background, taking up valuable resources. Restarting your computer clears out these processes and refreshes your RAM, allowing your system to operate more efficiently.
Closes Background Processes: As you use your computer, various background processes and services continue to run, even if you aren’t actively using them. This includes everything from system updates and software installations to web browser tabs left open for extended periods. A reboot shuts down all active processes, ensuring a fresh start. This can be particularly helpful if you notice your computer becoming sluggish or unresponsive.
Resolves Software Glitches: Computers can develop minor bugs and glitches after prolonged use without a reboot. For example, software updates may not take effect until after a restart, or temporary files can accumulate, slowing down performance. A reboot gives your system a chance to reset and resolve these minor issues automatically.
Enhances System Stability: Regular reboots help maintain system stability, especially if you're using your computer for resource-intensive tasks like video editing, design, or running multiple virtual machines. Restarting ensures that your system resources are fully available and optimized for your workload.
Best Practices for Rebooting
Frequency: Aim to reboot your computer at least once a week. This can be as simple as shutting it down at the end of the day on Friday and starting fresh on Monday morning.
Scheduled Reboots: If you’re someone who tends to forget, consider setting up a scheduled reboot. For Windows users, you can use the Task Scheduler to automatically restart your computer at a specific time. For Mac users, the Energy Saver settings allow you to schedule shutdowns and restarts.
After Software Installations: Whenever you install new software or updates, a reboot is often required to ensure that all changes take effect properly. This is especially important for system updates, drivers, and security patches.
Increase Memory and Processing Power
Upgrading your hardware can give your computer a significant boost, especially if you’re using resource-intensive applications.
RAM (Memory): Adding more RAM doesn’t necessarily make your computer faster, but it allows you to run more applications simultaneously without slowing down.
Processor (CPU): Upgrading your CPU can provide a more noticeable increase in performance, especially if you’re running demanding software.
Be Proactive
Maintaining your computer’s performance isn’t just a one-time task. Regular maintenance can prevent issues before they become problems.
At Cornerstone Technologies, we specialize in managed IT support to help keep your systems running smoothly. From antivirus solutions to hardware upgrades, we can ensure your technology is optimized for peak performance. Contact us today to learn how we can help you maximize the potential of your work computer.
