Slow Computer

[genie123]

Hi, is there an easy, not to technical way for an elderly person, to improve the speed of my computer.  It seems to have slowed quite considerably recently.  Thanks for any advice.

[ToraToraTora]

First thing is to clear out the startup programs, they all start and are running in the background taking resource.

[barry1010]

In what way is it slow? 

Slow to boot up when you first switch it on?

Slow to react when you are searching on the internet?

Slow in some other way?

Is it a Windows machine?  If so, 7, 8, 10, 11?

How old is it?

[Buenchico]

Some more info might help here.  Some people report that their computer is running slowly when it's only the internet side of things which is presenting problems.  So is everything slow (including programs such as Micosoft Word, or similar, which have nothing to do with the internet) or is it just that web pages are taking an age to load?

[PsalmEquipt]

To speed up an older Windows device, try one or more of the following:
Restart your computer regularly.
Free up disk space by deleting temporary files using the Windows Disk Cleanup built-in tool or a third-party cleaner such as Glary Utilities.
Delete temporary browser (cache) files, and, if necessary, reset your browser settings.
Uninstall unnecessary software using the built-in uninstaller or a third-party software such as Revo Uninstaller.
Use an antivirus that is easy on system resources such as Bitdefender.
Check for malware with a dedicated anti-malware program such as Malwarebytes.

[fender62]

donwload and install this, choose free download

https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/download

[Atheist]

Ccleaner is good and always worth  try as a first attempt at cleaning up your machine and helping it run faster.

[fender62]

also depends on how old is computer is, old hard drive mechanical etc, defrag would help, id use ccleaner first, then defrag..

[JimF]

But don't try to defrag an SSD - you'll kill it!

[Lie-in King]

If you do download the free CCleaner, make sure that you untick any "extras" that might be offered during the installation, such as "CCleaner Browser".

Then, before you actually run it, carefully check which boxes are ticked under both the "Windows" & "Applications" tabs, unticking any you don't want included in the clean-up - eg, I've unticked "Cookies" in all the browsers because I never want them cleared.

[genie123]

I have installed the cccleaner software and I think there is definitely a difference.  Thanks for the suggestion fender. Thanks to all who answered.