How do I clean up and optimize my hard drive?

1. Start by running a disk cleanup. This will scan your hard drive and remove any temporary and redundant files, freeing up space. To run disk cleanup, type ‘Disk cleanup’ into the search bar on your computer and select the Disk Cleanup program to launch.

2. Make sure you have enough free space on your hard drive. If your hard drive is full or almost full, it can impact your computer’s performance. Consider transferring data to an external drive or cloud storage to free up space.

3. Defragment your hard drive. This will reorganize saved data and make it easier for your computer to access, which in turn helps with performance. To defragment your hard drive, type ‘Defragment’ into the same search bar and select the Defragment tool.

4. Uninstall any unnecessary programs. If there are programs installed that you no longer use, remove them from your hard drive to free up more space.

5. Check for viruses or malware. If your computer has any malicious software, it could be slowing down your hard drive. Use an anti-virus program to scan your system for any threats and remove them if needed.