Tips and Tools to Improve PC Performance in Windows

This article was contributed by Christine Tomas who works as a tech expert and aspiring writer at Howly.

Is your computer slow and unresponsive? If so, use these tips and solutions to help speed up your PC performance in Windows, specifically for Asus laptops.

In this article, we will discuss 4 various tips and tools that can help you boost the speed and efficiency of your PC. Earlier we covered some common asus laptop problems and solutions to help you fix them. Whether you're running low on storage space or have overheating issues, we'll provide you with the knowledge and resources you need to get your computer running at its best in no time. From uninstalling unnecessary programs and apps to running disk cleanup and disk defragmenter, and disabling startup programs, we'll cover it all.

So, if you're ready to take control of your computer's performance, keep reading to learn more!

1. Uninstalling Unnecessary Programs and Apps

To uninstall unnecessary programs and apps on a Windows computer, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Windows Start button, and then select “Control Panel“.
2. In the Control Panel, select “Programs and Features” or “Apps and Features” (depending on your version of Windows).
3. Find the program or app that you want to uninstall in the list and select it.
4. Click the “Uninstall” button or link, and then follow the prompts to remove the program or app from your computer.
5. Repeat steps 3-4 for any other programs or apps that you want to remove.

Alternatively, you can use the built-in Settings App on Windows 10 to uninstall apps.

1. Click on the Windows Start button and select the gear icon to open Settings.
2. Select “Apps“.
3. Find the app that you want to uninstall and select it.
4. Click the “Uninstall” button and follow the prompts to remove the app from your computer.

Note that some programs or apps may also have their own uninstaller programs that can be used to remove them. Check the program's documentation or support website for more information. Also, be careful when uninstalling programs as you might remove something that is important for the system to run properly.

2. Clearing Out Temporary Files and Browser Cache

To clean out temporary files and browser cache on a Windows computer, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the File Explorer and navigate to the “C:” drive.
2. Click on the “View” tab and select “Options” or “Change folder and search options“.
3. Select the “View” tab and then scroll down to the “Hidden files and folders” section.
4. Select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” and then click “OK“.
5. Open the folder named “Windows” and then open the folder named “Temp“.
6. Select all of the files and folders in the Temp folder and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for all users on the computer.

To clear the browser cache, you can follow these steps for each browser:

1. Open the browser and click on the Menu icon (usually three horizontal lines or dots).
2. Select “Settings” or “Options“.
3. Look for a section labeled “Privacy” or “Privacy and security“.
4. Click on “Clear browsing data” or “Clear cache“.
5. Select the types of data you want to remove, such as “Cached images and files” and click on “Clear data“.

It is important to clear out your temporary files and browser cache regularly to free up disk space and improve the performance of your computer and browser. However, be aware that clearing the browser cache will also log you out of any website that you were previously logged in to.

3. Running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter

To run Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter on a Windows computer, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Windows Start button, and then select “Computer” or “This PC“.
2. Right-click on the drive you want to clean up or defragment, and select “Properties“.
3. In the Properties window, select the “Tools” tab.
4. Under the “Optimize and Defragment Drive” section, click on “Optimize” to run Disk Defragmenter, or click on “Clean up system files” to run Disk Cleanup.

Alternatively, you can use the built-in Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter tools in Windows:

1. Click on the Windows Start button and type “Disk Cleanup” or “Defragment” in the search box.
2. Select the “Disk Cleanup” or “Disk Defragmenter” option from the list of results.
3. Select the drive you want to clean up or defragment.
4. Follow the prompts to complete the process.

It is important to run Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter regularly to free up disk space and improve the performance of your computer. Disk Cleanup will remove unnecessary files, such as temporary files, recycle bins, and other unnecessary files. Disk Defragmenter will reorganize the data on your hard drive to improve the performance of your computer.

Note that some newer versions of Windows, such as Windows 10, have a built-in automatic disk cleanup and defragmenting feature, so you may not need to run them manually.

4. Disabling Startup Programs

To disable startup programs on a Windows computer, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Windows Start button, and then type “msconfig” in the search box and press Enter.
2. In the System Configuration window, select the “Startup” tab.
3. In the Startup tab, you will see a list of all the programs that are set to start automatically when your computer boots up.
4. Uncheck the box next to the program you want to disable.
5. Click on “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.

Alternatively, you can use the Task Manager to disable startup programs:

1. Press “CTRL + ALT + DELETE” and select “Task Manager”.
2. In the Task Manager window, select the “Startup” tab.
3. Find the program you want to disable, select it and click on the “Disable” button.

Disabling unnecessary startup programs can help to improve the startup time of your computer and make your computer run faster. However, be aware that disabling some startup programs may affect the functionality of other programs or the operating system itself. So it's important to be careful when disabling startup programs, especially if you are not familiar with the program. It's always good to research the program before disabling it.

In conclusion, there are several tips and tools that you can use to improve the performance of your Windows computer. These include:

• Uninstalling unnecessary programs and apps.
• Cleaning out temporary files and browser cache.
• Running disk cleanup and disk defragmenter.
• Disabling startup programs.

By following these steps, you can free up disk space, improve the performance of your computer, and speed up the startup time. However, it's important to be cautious when uninstalling programs or disabling startup programs, as it may affect the functionality of other programs or the operating system itself. Also, it's important to regularly perform those steps to maintain the performance of your computer.

About the author

Christine Tomas is a tech expert, consultant, and aspiring writer at Howly. She writes for different news portals and thematic blogs for tech experts that helps her stay at the heart of programming, technology news.

Last Updated on February 13, 2023 1:48 pm CET by Markus Kasanmascheff