What are some practical steps to speed up my PC?

1. Uninstall Unnecessary Programs: Go through the list of programs installed on your computer and uninstall any programs that you don’t use or need.

2. Disable Startup Programs: Many programs like to start up automatically with Windows, which can slow down your boot time. Use tools like Autoruns or CCleaner to disable any unwanted startup programs.

3. Change Your Power Settings: By default, most computers are set to save energy by reducing the performance of your hardware. Switching to “High performance” setting will help speed up your PC.

4. Scan for Malware: Malware can slow down your PC by using up RAM, CPU cycles, and even disk space. Use a good anti-malware scanner to check for infections.

5. Clean Up Your Disk: Use a disk cleanup tool like Disk Cleanup (Windows) or CleanMyMac (macOS) to clean up temporary files and other junk from your hard drive.

6. Defrag Your Hard Drive: Disk fragmentation can cause your hard drive to work harder than necessary when accessing files. Use the Disk Defragmenter tool to reorganize your hard drive.

7. Update Drivers: Outdated device drivers can cause your PC to run slowly. Keep your drivers up to date by checking the manufacturer’s website regularly.

8. Add More RAM: If you find that your computer is still running slowly, consider upgrading your RAM. Adding more RAM can give a big boost to your computer’s performance.