If you find your computer struggling with speed, it just means that you need to work out some issues. You might need to increase its Random Access Memory (RAM), tighten up its security to prevent spyware and viruses, and upgrade its parts.

This writer spent most part of last Sunday purging the home computer hard disk of the unused software programs and files. My computer was huffing and puffing through the past couple of weeks, prompting me to use Sunday to work on my system and make it as slim and trim as possible.

I rummaged through all the folders, gleefully pressing the Delete key whenever I found a file unnecessary. Once I got rid of the files, I moved to the Control Panel and began uninstalling the programs which I had never used, nor saw any chance of putting to good use. I wanted to keep the software on my system to a minimum, knowing how unnecessary code just blights a computer’s performance.

Once I had taken care of all the bloatware, I waited with anticipation to see the results of my hard work. The computer was as light as air, running as if it was thanking me for taking the load off it.

Yes, the “bloatware” does get hold of the computer, and the first step to push up the speed should be the removal of all that is unnecessary on it. Make it a habit to delete temporary files and useless information before shutting down the system for the day. Run Disk Cleanup and Defragmenter on your system periodically, at least once or twice a month. Using the Disk Cleanup tool frees up space in your hard disk and boosts the PC’s performance.

Dust accumulation in your CPU could also slow down the system. If you open up your CPU, you would be shocked to see the amount of dust residing in your machine. Brush away the dust on the motherboard and other critical parts. The dust might also collect on the fan, hampering it from functioning properly. Proper cleaning would help the PC run faster.

Low Random Access Memory (RAM) also withers the computer performance. Each computer application performing in the background is allocated some memory. When all memory is used up, the system becomes unresponsive. In other words, the system gets hanged. You can solve this problem by adding more memory. Additional Random Access Memory becomes even more necessary if you are working with heavier programs such as video editing or photo editing.

You also need to protect your PC from spyware and viruses. Spyware could leak bank account passwords and other sensitive information to anyone sitting at a remote computer. A virus attack could paralyze your system, making working on it impossible. To defend your computer against such attacks, it is important to install reliable anti-spyware and anti-virus programs (and keep them updated). Also, switch on your Windows Firewall to block any attempt of intrusion on your system.

You also need to replace or upgrade computer parts when necessary. You can buy the computer parts at a local hardware store or visit an online shop. You can make your payments using your credit card, and the hardware would be shipped to your office or home, as per your request. Buying computer parts online makes it even more convenient as you have the option to compare products along with their prices and those that provide the best deal.

The author of this article is associated with CNAweb, which deals in cheap computer cables, network hardware, PC hardware, USB, audio/video hardware, raceway/wire molding, etc.