1. Invest in more physical memory (RAM). One of the most effective ways to increase the memory of your Windows computer is to invest in more RAM. This is a physical component that can easily be installed in any desktop or laptop computer. The amount of RAM installed will depend on the type of tasks you want to do on your computer, but as a general rule, more physical memory will result in faster loading times and better overall performance.
2. Disable unnecessary startup programs. Many modern computers come pre-loaded with many programs that run at startup, taking up system resources and slowing down your computer. To free up memory, it’s a good idea to disable any unnecessary startup programs. To do this, launch the Task Manager in Windows and click the Startup tab. Look through all the listed programs and disable anything you don’t need running at start up.
3. Delete temporary files. Temporary files are created by programs as they’re used, and they’re often left on the hard drive taking up space. To delete these files, open the Disk Cleanup Utility in Windows (search for it using Start Menu) and allow it to scan your computer for all the temporary files. When it’s finished, hit the OK button and allow the utility to remove all the unnecessary files from the hard drive.
4. Uninstall unused programs. Another way to increase the memory of your Windows computer is to uninstall programs that you don’t use. If there are applications on your computer that you haven’t used in months, it’s a good idea to get rid of them. To do so, open the Control Panel and go to Programs > Uninstall a program. Look through the list of programs and click Uninstall to get rid of any apps you no longer need.
5. Defragment your hard drive. Over time, files become fragmented across the hard drive, which can cause the computer to slow down when accessing these files. To fix this issue, you can use the built-in Disk Defragmenter tool in Windows. Open the Tool and allow it to analyze and defragment your hard drive. It may take some time, but it should help improve the performance of your Windows computer.
6. Close processes running in the background. Many programs tend to run in the background and take up valuable memory. To close these processes, launch the Task Manager in Windows and click the Processes tab. Look through the list of running processes and terminate anything you don’t need (though be careful not to terminate any system processes).
7. Increase virtual memory. As a last resort, you can increase the virtual memory of your computer. This is basically a portion of the hard drive that the operating system uses as RAM. To expand the virtual memory size, open the System Properties window in Windows, click Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced and then click Change. Increase the size of the virtual memory and click Apply.
8. Install an external hard drive. Installing an external hard drive is another way to increase the memory of your Windows computer. Make sure to pick up a drive with sufficient storage space for your needs. Once you’ve installed the drive, you can transfer any music, photos, videos, or other large files to the external drive, thereby freeing up space on the primary hard drive.