How can I improve performance without having to upgrade my hardware?

1. Optimize your software: Ensure your programs are running at their best by running the latest updates and patching any bugs or glitches that might be slowing down your system.

2. Reduce startup applications: Too many applications running at startup can slow down your computer. Remove any unnecessary applications from your startup list.

3. Reduce visual effects: To improve your performance, you can turn off certain graphical features like shadows, animations and other visual effects.

4. Use disk cleanup: Clearing out old, unused files will help to free up disk space and provide a performance boost.

5. Defragment your hard disk: This process organizes information stored on the hard drive, so your system can access it quickly and efficiently.

6. Clean your hardware: Dust buildup in your computer, particularly on the fans, can interfere with normal airflow and lead to overheating. Make sure to clean these fans regularly.

7. Adjust your virtual memory: By increasing the size of the virtual memory, you can improve the performance of your computer without having to upgrade your hardware.

8. Close background applications: Any inactive applications running in the background can consume system resources and decrease performance. Make sure to close them when not in use.