Congested traffic.
Moving at a snail's pace.
Few things test your patience quite like this.
Well, except for maybe when your computer
is as sluggish as that traffic jam.
In this video,
we're going to explore several
non-hardware related strategies
for escaping this digital gridlock
and boosting your computer speed.
Let's dive in.
First things first, malware. Check for it.
Malicious software can significantly
slow down your computer's performance
because it's running in the background,
likely without you even knowing.
Run a full scan
using reliable up-to-date antivirus software
to detect and remove any malware causing the slowdown.
Today, I'm using McAfee Total Protection antivirus
internet security software,
and as you can see, no malware detected.
However, if that wasn't the case,
I'd use the options built into the software to remove it
and then I'd run it again just to make sure.
Next, let's free up some valuable disc space.
Over time, our computers accumulate unnecessary files
and programs that can eat up our storage
and slow down performance.
One way to do this is by clearing browser data.
Web browsers, store temporary files, cookies
and browsing history, which can take up significant space.
But before you do it,
know that it'll likely log you out of any websites,
so make sure you have your passwords handy.
This process varies depending on the browser.
I'm using Microsoft Edge, so I'll start by opening it.
Click on the three horizontal dots on the top right corner,
from the dropdown click Settings,
then Privacy, search and services.
Find Clear browsing data and select it.
A box will appear under time range,
select All time and hit Clear now.
This will remove temporary files,
cookies and browsing history.
Then close and reopen your browser for the changes to apply.
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You can also delete large files you no longer need.
Look at your files and folders
and identify large files taking up valuable space.
There are software based solutions
that can make this easier, but it can also be done manually.
Look for old movies, large downloads
or any other files that you don't need anymore.
Deleting these files will free up storage
and help your computer run more efficiently.
Another effective method is to disable startup programs.
You'll be surprised by the number of applications
that automatically launch when you start your computer.
First, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc
on your keyboard at the same time.
You can also open it by right-clicking on the task bar
at the bottom of your desktop
and selecting Task Manager from the menu.
Click on the startup tab located toward the top
of the Task Manager window.
This tab will provide a list of all the programs
that are set to run when your computer starts up.
Each program will have a status
indicating whether it is enabled or disabled.
To disable a program, simply select it by clicking it once
and then click the Disable button located
at the bottom right corner of the Task Manager window.
Now, be careful.
Some programs are necessary for your computer to work
so only disabled programs that you recognize
and know are not crucial for your systems operation.
After disabling the unwanted startup programs,
close the Task Manager.
The changes will take effect
the next time you start your computer.
Next, uninstalling unnecessary software
is another great way
to optimize your computer's performance.
You probably wouldn't want to uninstall this program
but we are going to uninstall it as an example.
Let me show you how to do that.
First press the Windows key on your keyboard
or click on the Start Menu icon on your screen
this will open the Start Menu.
In the Start Menu,
search for Control Panel
by typing it into the search bar and press enter.
In the Control Panel window,
Locate and click on Programs, then Programs and features.
This will open a list
of all the programs currently installed on your computer.
Browse through the list
until you find the program you wish to uninstall.
Click on the program to select it.
Then click on the Uninstall button
that appears at the top of the list.
A new window might open asking for your confirmation
or with specific instructions to uninstall the program.
Follow the instructions and the program will be uninstalled.
Some programs may require you to restart your computer
to complete the uninstallation process.
Remember to only uninstall programs
you know are safe to remove
because some are essential
for the functioning of your computer.
Now, let's talk about drivers.
It's important to keep them up to date.
Regularly check for updates
for your operating system, drivers,
and applications because these updates
often include bug fixes and performance improvements
that can enhance your computer's speed and stability.
Let me show you how to do that.
First press the Windows key+X simultaneously
on your keyboard.
This will open up a menu on your screen.
From this menu, select Device Manager.
The Device Manager shows a list
of all the hardware components and peripherals connected.
These could include your display adapters,
network adapters, audio inputs and outputs, and more.
To check for updates, expand the category
by clicking on the arrow next to it.
Then right click on the device you wanna check
and select Update Driver.
Once you click on Update Driver, a new window will open.
Here you will have two options.
The first is Search automatically
for updated driver software
which allows Windows to search your computer
and the internet for the latest driver software
for your device.
The second, is Browse my computer for driver software
which is useful if you've downloaded
the driver update manually
and just need to point windows to it.
Usually the search automatically
for updated driver software
is the most straightforward method.
If an updated driver is found,
Windows will automatically download and install it.
If not, it will tell you that the best drivers
for your device are already installed.
Remember that after installing any driver updates
you might need to restart your computer
to complete the installation process.
so make sure your work is saved first.
Now, let's talk about browser extensions.
A browser extension is a small software module
that adds extra functionality to a web browser.
They help customize your browsing experience
with functions like blocking ads
and managing passwords to translating webpages and more.
Extensions can be installed from a browsers settings menu
or online stores.
However, be careful when installing extensions
to avoid security risks.
Always verifying they're from trusted sources.
While they can be useful,
too many can bog down your browser
and slow down your system.
Take a moment to review your browser's extensions
and remove any that you no longer use
or that are causing performance issues.
Let me show you how.
Open the browser and click on the three dots
in the top right corner.
Click Extensions and then click on Manage extensions.
In the new tab, find the extension that you want to remove
and click remove beneath it.
Confirm removal in the dialogue that appears.
The extension will then be uninstalled
and you can close the Extensions tab and there you go.
Now, if you're looking for a quick fix,
disabling some visual effects
can make a noticeable difference.
Access the performance options
in the system properties on Windows
and select the adjust for best performance option.
By reducing or eliminating visual effects,
your computer can focus its resources on essential tasks,
improving performance.
And finally, simply restarting your computer
is usually really effective.
Restarting clears temporary files
and frees up system resources
giving your computer a fresh start and boosting its speed.
So there you go.
Just a few software related tips that might help.
Hopefully this video was helpful.
If it was, give it a like.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below
and don't forget to subscribe to our channel
for more Tech Tips from Best Buy.
Thanks for watching.
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