Whilst many people feel a little lost when it comes to giving their computer an overhaul, it is a lot cheaper to become a little educated than to send your computer in for a service at PC World or GeekSquad. Try these tips instead.
Check For Viruses and Malware
The main difference between a virus and malware is that a virus usually aims to destroy data on a system, whereas malware is quite often very targeted and malicious.
Malware is often looking to provide backdoor access into a computer system once the malware is present, which can then open the system up to more vulnerabilities and attacks from within.
There are commercial anti-virus products like Norton Anti-Virus software and McAfee software, but there are also downloadable versions of software like Avast which offers a free version for use by individuals (not companies).
Update the software to the latest virus definition files (this is regularly updated information to help the software detect the latest viruses and malware). Ensure that a deep scan is run, rather than a quick scan, to pick up every nasty thing on your system.
Removing Bloatware & Other Questionable Software
Depending on the PC manufacturer, it is entirely possible that a ton of bloatware software was installed as standard with your computer when you received it. The manufacturer installed Windows and then added their collection of bloatware too.
This is often software that the manufacturer has agreed to install as a special limited trial offer or in exchange for compensation from the software developer.
Many of these apps load at boot-up, slowing the computer down unnecessarily and users are often blissfully unaware of the drag factor that they are causing.
It is often possible to remove many of the apps using their entries in the Start Menu to uninstall them. The Add/Remove dialog is another way to see many of the current apps installed. Alternatively, there are useful apps like PC Decrapifier (great name!) which can help to de-bloat your system for you.
Consider Reinstalling The O/S From Scratch
With most operating systems, especially Windows, the system gets progressively slower the longer it is used. The system gets bogged down with all the software that has been added and removed over the months or years that the operating system has been installed.
Whilst various types of software can clean old, used files from the system and remove remnant Windows registry keys clogging up the system, there is nothing like a fresh install to speed things up.
For those particularly adept at systems admin, it is helpful to know that one could use software like Norton Ghost to create a disc image of a fresh installation all set-up as they like it, and then simply create a fresh install using this disc image made earlier. This can save a great deal of time if it is likely that you will want or need to start from scratch at least once.
