Four hidden tweaks that will speed up Windows

Windows 10: Four Advanced Tips to Improve the Performance of Old Computers

Windows 10-piece voice control and cross-device compatibility are impressive. However, it cannot completely escape the burden of the past: the huge and complex system architecture runs contrary to efficient and streamlining. Over time, files and applications pile up, and hardware ages, which eventually leads to slower and slower old computers.

Don't have to endure the slowing system. First, try some simple acceleration methods such as uninstalling redundant software and reducing browser extensions. If these methods don't work, try the following four advanced tips. From organizing hidden Windows settings files to controlling applications running at startup, this guide will help you improve the performance of any Windows computer.

1. Management application starts automatically

When the computer starts, Windows will also launch many applications and background utilities. While automatic startup is designed to ensure that the application is available immediately after Windows loads, this increases the startup time of the computer, as all programs try to open at the same time. And the system will not clearly inform the user which programs are in the automatic startup list.

To better control the programs loaded with the operating system, right-click the empty area of ​​the taskbar and select Task Manager from the pop-up menu. Switch to the Startup tab and you will see the utilities and programs that are scheduled to be launched on Windows startup. Click any of them and click the Disable button to prevent them from automatically starting in the future. These apps are not removed from your system, so you can still open them manually.

We recommend that you disable only applications you know and that you know not need for the time being. After all, if they don't boot with the operating system, you can start them later at any time. If you are not sure about any of the entries in the list, quickly search the web for more information and determine if you need to use them right away.

Applications do not slow down only when the system starts. In Task Manager, switch to the Process tab. This shows which programs you are currently running take up the most CPU time and memory space.

2. Release hard disk storage space

The operating system requires as much free hard disk space as possible. This provides the software with more space to store temporary data and flexible organization of files. If the hard drive is insufficient, you will find that the overall performance of the computer is slowed down. Delete old or unused files and you will find that the system has improved speed.

First, find the interface that shows the usage of Windows 10 disk space. Start Settings from the Start menu, click System, and select Storage. Select any listed disk to see how much space each type of file (such as photos, videos, or applications) takes. You can use this information to clear unwanted files and folders. Make sure you have backed up all important data first.

If you don't want to manually browse files and folders and delete data, you can enable a feature called "Storage Awareness". You can find it in the Settings main Storage screen. Storage Awareness automatically deletes temporary files and files in the Recycle Bin without you doing anything. To configure how automatic cleaning works, click the "Configure storage aware or run now" link.

3. Reduce visual effects

Windows is full of visual effects, making the operating system more pleasing to the eye. Fades, shadows, and animations are all good, but most users are happy to trade them for a little extra performance. If you have problems running your program at a reasonable speed, you can turn off some additional graphics effects, which reduces the need for system resources such as processor time and memory.

To achieve this adjustment, first go to the taskbar and type "sysdm.cpl" in the search box. Next, press Enter and switch to the Advanced tab. Under the Performance heading, click the Settings button to disable window animation, fade, font smoothing, shadows behind dialog boxes, and other visual enhancements. To disable everything and make Windows visuals as concise as possible, click the "Adjust for best performance" option.

Depending on the brand and model of your computer, reducing visual effects may not have a huge impact on performance. However, if you are using slower or older hardware (especially when it comes to graphics), you should be able to get some extra speed boost.

4. Clean the registry

The registry is a huge setup file for Windows that covers everything from the menu buttons seen in File Explorer to the image displayed on the login screen. Many applications also store their settings in this file. Over time, the registry can become bloated, cumulative errors, such as references to programs that are no longer installed. This may negatively affect overall system performance.

Due to its importance and complexity, the registry is often hidden from users. (To load it, you have to type "regedit" in the taskbar search box and press Enter.) However, unless you are a computer expert, we recommend that you not try to clean up the registry yourself. Professional third-party programs can clean up the registry to ensure it runs as streamlinedly as possible without accidentally deleting important files. One of the best free options we've seen when selecting this program is CCleaner.

Download the app, open it, and switch to the Registry tab to see what CCleaner can handle. Click Scan the Issues to see how many errors you are dealing with, and then click Fix Selected Issues to let CCleaner handle them. The program also provides many other performance-enhancing tips, such as deleting temporary files. If you upgrade to Pro (a one-time payment of $24.95), you can have CCleaner organize your computer according to the automatic plan.

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