Laptops with superior-quality specs can be expensive. Over the years, your trusty computer can slow down due to the massive amount of programs, files, and dust piling up within it. Worn out parts will have to be replaced and software updates will take a toll on its memory. However, just because your laptop is becoming wonky and slow, doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a new one. Before you shell out cash for a new one, try out other tried and tested ways on how to speed up an old computer running slow. In this article, we have 10 tips on how to speed up old laptop without having to buy a replacement.
Are you asking yourself: Why is my computer so slow? If you want to know how to make an old laptop run faster easily and inexpensively, read on below.
If you’ve already searched Google for ways on how to make an old laptop run faster or how to speed up an old computer, then you might have read solutions that require you to tinker with its hardware. Or it needs you to penetrate your laptop’s control panels and configure this and that. But there is an easy solution on how to speed up computer. If you want to skip the hassle and save money, then you have to try out Xtra-PC.
Basically, it’s a small USB drive that bypasses your old operating system to make your laptop work faster. It uses Linux, a fast and lightweight OS and combines it with your laptop’s hardware. So whether you’re using Windows or Mac, your slow and worn-out laptop will get an instant performance boost. All you have to do is plug in Xtra-PC in your old laptop and you’re good to go. Xtra-PC automatically bypasses your Operating System (OS) and launches a session from the Linux OS on the USB drive. After setting it up once, you get a nice performance boost instantly.
With Xtra PC, you can access the files on your computer’s hard drive. And it comes loaded with all the apps you need to work, browse the web, watch videos, listen to music, etc.
If you want an easy solution to speed up old computer, then Xtra-PC will solve your problems for you. It’s an inexpensive and fuss-free alternative on how to speed up old laptop.
You can increase your laptop’s performance and speed up Windows by replacing its mechanical drive with a solid-state drive (SSD). All you need are a screwdriver, your old laptop, and an SSD. Some laptop models are built in with SSDs, but some might not be, and both are totally fine. If you want to know how to speed up an old computer, add an SSD.
Before you add an SSD, make sure you know everything you have to do and have all the needed materials on hand. First, check if your laptop can be upgraded to an SSD. Look under your laptop and see if there’s a removable panel, which is where your hard drive is located. If you do, that’s a good sign. Another thing is to get an SSD that is compatible with your laptop. There are 250 GB SSDs in Amazon that cost as low as £45.
Another key on how to speed up an old computer lies in another hardware: the RAM. Having 8 GB of RAM is already enough to keep your laptop running at fast speeds. If it’s lower than 8 GB, such as 4 GB, and it’s going to make you want to rip your hair out of frustration. Ideally, it should already have this memory when you first buy your laptop. Newer laptop models are having their RAM soldered to the motherboard so it’s impossible to upgrade the memory.
If your laptop can be opened, then you can upgrade your RAM at a low price. A new RAM will cost around £60 and up, while an additional 4 GB will only cost about £15 to £40. It’s a very cost-effective way on how to speed up old laptop and computers.
Apps take up storage space that ultimately affects your laptop’s processing power. If there are plenty of apps installed in your computer that you’re not using anymore, another way of how to speed up old laptop is to uninstall them. It’ll free up much-needed space and delete anything that sucks up the computer’s resources. You should also delete junk files in your library and back up less important files. Keep only those that you need to access on a regular basis and move the rest into external drives or cloud backup, and say goodbye to unnecessary ones.
Apps tend to automatically start themselves once you boot your computer. It’s mostly a default setting that you have to configure upon downloading, but if you haven’t, you can still update the startup programs. Another tip on how to speed up old laptop is eliminating programs that run upon booting.
For Windows users, simply go to the Task Manager, select the Startup menu, and right-click the programs you want to disable on startup. For Mac users, go to System Preferences, then select Users and Groups. Click your username located at the sidebar and select the Login Items tab. Tick off the boxes of the programs you want to disable during startup, then click the minus (-) sign below.
Another reason why your laptop could be slowing down is because of malicious software. Some types include malware that are can’t be detected without running a deep scan. Be sure to run malware scans periodically to prevent viruses, worms, and other malicious software from slowing down your laptop. If it’s already infected, removing it immediately will help speed up old computer.
Still don’t know how to make an old laptop run faster? Ditch your browser. Some browsers make your laptop slower because they take up most of your RAM, especially if you have several tabs open. One example that you might be using is Chrome. You can try using a lightweight browser such as Microsoft Edge, Comodo, or Torch. Mac users can use Safari for faster browsing. This is one of the easiest solutions on how to speed up old laptop.
A dirty laptop full of dust underneath will damage its hardware in the long run. One way of how to make an old computer run faster is to keep it clean and free from dust and debris. It could get lodged under the keyboard and make the laptop overheat. Get a keyboard cover to prevent dust from entering through the space between the keys and clean out the vents to make your processor run faster.
If you see a loading bar whenever you open File Explorer, it’s an indication that it’s slow to load because it’s full of downloaded files. To avoid this, clean out any downloads that you don’t need anymore. Back up important files and delete unnecessary ones. Emptying out the recycle bin will also help on how to speed up old laptop, too. Going through your Downloads folder is a tedious activity but it’s necessary if you want to know how to make an old laptop run faster.
Sometimes, your laptop might take longer to shut down when it attempts to close stubborn programs. One way of how to speed up old laptop during this process is to force it to shut down (but be sure to save your work beforehand). You can configure the shutdown speed in your registry.
Hopefully some of these tips will assist you in how to speed up an old computer or how to make an old laptop run faster. Goodluck!