By skyforbes 
We’ve all been there—staring at the screen, waiting for an application to respond, while mentally pleading with our Windows 10 laptop or PC to speed up. Moments like these are more common than we’d like, especially when our Windows machine starts to age.
But before you consider buying a new one or investing in upgrades, let’s talk about how to dust off the cobwebs and improve your machine’s performance with a few maintenance tips.
Sometimes, it feels like our digital workhorse has decided to take a leisurely stroll when we needed it to gallop. Sluggish performance can be caused by a variety of issues, but more often than not, it’s a cluttered system that needs a good clean-up.
To regain that fresh-out-of-the-box snappiness, we need to get our hands dirty and fine-tune Windows 10’s settings, clear out the digital clutter, and streamline the system for optimal operation.
Optimizing System Settings
Let’s jazz up that PC performance! We’re going to turn off some unnecessary bells and whistles, tweak the juice flow, and stop those pesky programs from gatecrashing the startup party. And, hey, we can even throw in a bit of ReadyBoost magic.
Adjusting Visual Effects
Let’s face it, you don’t need all those fancy animations and shadows to get stuff done.
In Windows 10, we can turn off these visual effects to sharpen performance.
Navigate to System > Advanced system settings, and smack that Settings button under Performance. Choose ‘Adjust for best performance’ and watch Windows go barebones for a speed boost.
Configuring Power Settings
Now, let’s talk about power. By flipping your power settings to “High Performance,” you’re telling your PC, “I want all the power and I want it now!”.
Be mindful though; it’s like drinking espresso all day—the performance boost might come with more power consumption.
Disabling Unnecessary Startup Programs
Too many startup apps are like clingy friends; they just slow you down.
Let’s clean the house—open Task Manager, and go to the ‘Startup’ tab. If you see apps there you don’t need right away, give them the boot by clicking ‘Disable’.
Using Windows ReadyBoost
And, for the cherry on top: ReadyBoost. It’s like giving your PC a caffeine shot by using an external USB flash drive as additional memory.
Just plug it in, right-click on the drive in File Explorer, select ‘Properties’, then the ‘ReadyBoost’ tab, and set it up to speed up your system.
Maintaining Healthy Software
Keeping Windows 10 zippy is like taking care of a classic car – it’s all about regular maintenance and avoiding unnecessary baggage. Let’s keep your system smooth and swift!
Regularly Updating Windows and Drivers
Ever had that “aha!” moment when an update suddenly makes everything snappy again? That’s because updates patch up the bumps, keeping software and security in tip-top shape.
We always scout for the latest version, ensuring our machine enjoys the freshest features and fixes. Check for updates through ‘Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update’.
| Update Device Drivers | Advantages | How To |
| Sound, graphics, and more | Enhanced performance | Device Manager |
| Peripheral devices | Avoid glitches | OEM websites |
Uninstalling Unused Applications
You know those apps you downloaded once and forgot like a bad first date? They’re eating precious space! We take out the trash via ‘Settings > Apps’ to keep our digital space clutter-free. More room means more groove for the apps we truly adore.
Pro Tip: Sort applications by size to knock out the biggest space-hogs first.
Preventing Malware and Viruses
Just like washing hands keeps the bugs away, a solid antivirus keeps digital pests at bay.
We don’t let those little buggers throw a wrench in our operations. Regular malware scans are our hygiene routine, using Windows Security or our favourite third-party antivirus. Stay alert, stay safe!
Managing Background and Startup Applications
Ever noticed your PC taking a leisurely stroll when you’re sprinting to a deadline? Too many background apps can make a system sluggish.
We roll up our sleeves and dive into Task Manager (‘Ctrl+Shift+Esc’) to see who’s on the guest list and boot the crashers out from the ‘Startup’ tab.
Note: Some apps need to start automatically, so let’s be sure not to sideline the VIPs.
Cleaning and Freeing Up Disk Space
We’ve all been there, seeing our computer slow to a crawl, and more often than not, it’s because our drives are cluttered. Let’s roll up our sleeves and clear the digital cobwebs to reclaim our disk space and speed up our system.
Using Disk Cleanup for Temporary Files
One of the easiest ways to free up some room on our drive is by evicting the temporary files that hang out like uninvited guests after a party. Here’s a quick guide:
Step 1: Open Disk Cleanup by typing it into the Windows search bar.
Step 2: Select your main drive (usually C:).
Step 3: Check the boxes for the kinds of files you want to delete, especially Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and the Downloads folder.
Step 4: Click OK and breathe easy as you watch that digital trash get taken out.
Defragmenting the Hard Drive
If your machine is running on a spinning hard drive (HDD), defragmenting can be like tidying up a messy room, making it easier to find what you need quickly.
However, if you have an SSD, skip this step as defragmenting an SSD is not only unnecessary but could shorten its life.
| Let’s defragment: |
| Search for ‘Defragment and Optimize Drives’ and select your HDD. Click ‘Optimize’ to start cleaning up the drive structure. This can take a while, so grab a coffee and let Windows do its thing. |
Leveraging Storage Sense for Automation
Why not let Windows help us keep things tidy on a regular basis? That’s where Storage Sense comes into play.
Activate Storage Sense: Navigate to Settings > System > Storage. Turn on Storage Sense, and Windows will automatically clean up files you don’t need, like temporary files and items in your Recycle Bin that have been forgotten.
| Customize Storage Sense: |
| Click ‘Configure Storage Sense or run it now’ to set how often it runs and what it cleans up. You can even set it to sync files with cloud storage if you’re running low on physical disk space. |
Upgrading Hardware Components
Have you ever felt like your trusty old Windows 10 machine could use a bit of pep in its step? Well, we’re diving into the world of hardware upgrades that can inject new life into your system, making everything from booting up to browsing the net zippier than a hummingbird in a hurry.
Alright, let’s talk solid state drives (SSDs). If you’re still rolling with a hard disk drive (HDD), it’s like you’re riding a tricycle on the highway.
Switching to an SSD is like hopping on a superbike – you’ll notice the difference immediately. Boot times shrink, programs launch at lightning speeds, and your whole system feels snappier. Trust us, it’s a game changer.
| Hardware Component | Performance Impact | Recommendation |
| RAM (Memory) | Enhances multitasking capabilities. | 8GB for the average user, 16GB or more for power users. |
| SSD (Storage) | Decreases loading and boot times significantly. | At least 256GB for the OS, consider larger for additional storage. |
Upgrading RAM is like adding more desks to an office – suddenly, you can work on more projects simultaneously without slowing down.
More RAM allows Windows 10 to breathe easy, especially on older hardware, enabling a seamless experience when hopping between apps and browser tabs.
When we combine an SSD for speed with a generous helping of RAM for multitasking, the result is a workhorse that gallops through tasks.
So don’t let old hardware hold you back. Embrace the upgrade, and watch your Windows 10 soar from sluggish to sprightly!
Remember, folks, sometimes it’s the inside that counts – a little hardware TLC can work wonders.