Easily Reduce Computer Clutter and Increase Speed

by Michael F. Kastre

We’ve all experienced it. You buy a new computer and it's clean and fast, but with time it becomes cluttered and slow. It’s no wonder. To some degree we all become digital hoarders — what with downloading an endless stream of images and information, the buildup of old documents, the ever expanding number of e-mails, countless Internet searches resulting in large temporary files, and more.

As a result, your computer can “freeze up” periodically, run slowly, or make it difficult to find icons or executing functions. Just as too much unorganized paper can slow you down at the office, clutter in your digital world can do the same. This can lead to lost files, accidental deletion of important files, and spending more time to find information.

While understanding and cleaning clutter to improve computer performance and speed may seem intimidating to some users, with today’s tools, there aren’t many such issues you can’t fix yourself. Here’s how.

Inherent Speed, Operating Systems and Internet Connections

The fastest computer speed you can hope for depends primarily on your machine’s processor speed and the type of Operating System (OS) your computer uses — such as Microsoft Windows or Linux. Online speed — for such things as searches and downloads — depends largely on the type of connection you use — for example, DSL, cable, dial-up or wireless.

Clutter Culprits and Speed Robbers

Malicious software, fragmented files and space used by old files can noticeably diminish your computer’s performance. The majority of home users run a Microsoft OS (for example, XP, Vista or Windows 7), and the utilities and programs needed to clean and tune most computers are already installed.

There are two basic types of speed: How fast your computer comes on, called “booting up,” and how fast it performs its operations. The following tasks can improve performance and speed by reducing clutter. (They aren’t listed in any particular order.)

1. Clean and arrange desktop icons. Look at your desktop. Those icons represent items and programs that start as you boot up your computer. The more items, the more time it takes to find and display them. Remove or turn off unnecessary icons (such as messenger and unused games) by right clicking on the item and following the prompts. Also, to more effectively arrange the icons, right click on the desktop and redisplay them according to your preference (for example, by name, size, type or date modified).
2. Remove old and unused programs. Many programs that came with your computer when you bought it you may have never used, or haven’t used for a year or longer. Consider uninstalling them so they don’t eat up hard drive space. Go to your control panel and follow the prompts. (For Microsoft Vista, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Control Panel > Programs and Features.) Or you can use the uninstall program that came with the software if it's still available.
3. Clean your registry. The registry contains configuration information, and two things can clog it: redundant entries left behind when software is uninstalled; and fragmentation caused by gaps left as items are removed. (See Defragment below.) With time, this misplaced information accumulates and begins to clog your registry, potentially robbing you of speed and causing error messages. Even if you used the correct program to uninstall, dozens of associated registry keys may still remain.
   Unless you’re an expert, it's not recommended that you arbitrarily remove items; a number of readily available and affordable programs help you safely clean your registry. Depending on your OS, there may even be utilities installed on your computer that will do this. Registry cleaning is one of the best ways to potentially improve speed and overall system performance.
4. Defragment. As you use your computer, information is stored on the hard drive in bits and pieces, wherever there is space. To open a particular file, the machine searches for all the parts. It’s like having the various chapters to a book on your shelf and having to find them all when you want to read the text. Defragmenting closes these gaps to help your computer run more smoothly. It may take an hour or longer, so you might want to do this when you don’t need your computer. Go to control panel and follow the prompts. (For Microsoft Vista,  Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.) You can also set your machine to perform defragmentation at regular intervals.
5. Keep updated. There are several ways to stay current. You can periodically visit the manufacturer’s website and download software updates. Some OSs feature update utilities. (Windows update for Vista, for example: Start > Control Panel > Windows Update.) Also, if you are connected to the Internet, your OS may remind you when updates are available with a pop-up message in the lower right hand corner of your screen when you first boot up your machine. Just click it and follow the prompts.
6. Run the Disk Clean Up function. Every time you visit a website or doa search, information is stored in your temporary Internet files, or cache. It eats up valuable space on your hard drive and may even cause your computer to freeze. This information is easy to clean out. For Microsoft Vista or Windows 7, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup. Select the items you want to delete, for instance, empty the Recycle Bin and Temporary Internet files. If you highlight the item, the program provides a description of the type of file.
   Also, for a quick clean up of online junk, go to Control Panel > Internet Options > General Tab > Delete [Browsing History] and select the items you want to remove, for example, Temporary Internet Files and Cookies. This step can greatly enhance online performance.
7. Clean up your email. The inbox is one place where clutter is found on too many computers. Delete those emails you have responded to or no longer need, which will increase storage and reduce the time required to load your email when you log on. Or, set up a folder to file them. This won't eliminate them from your system, but it will reduce practical clutter and the hassle of scrolling through them when trying to work with your email. Also, note that while email eats up storage on your machine, much of it is stored on the server of your email provider.
8. Rid yourself of viruses and spyware. Viruses threaten all computers and spyware is everywhere if you surf the Internet. There are numerous anti-virus programs that are very affordable (generally less than $30) and some are even free. Almost all have features that continually remove spyware. You can usually download a free, 30-day trial to ensure that you like the product and that it meets your needs. Easy to install and use, these programs are a must if you go online. Remember that viruses not only affect performance, they can literally rob you of personal data or destroy valuable information. Plus, spyware can rob you of speed. Caution: Although most anti-virus programs are powerful, select one that doesn’t hog too much hard drive space if you have an older computer with limited memory.
9. Simply restart your computer. Although not a problem for laptops and other portables, which get turned on and off frequently, many users leave their desktops on 24/7 to save boot-up time. The problem is that over time, small inefficiencies began to multiply. Applications eat up system resources and don’t always completely let go when you exit, so your system starts to bog down. Applications eat up system resources and may continue to run some processes even after you exit them, so your system starts to bog down. Fortunately, a simple restart will allow the system to fully exit the applications and run more efficiently.

Although there are literally dozens of ways to eliminate clutter and enhance computer performance, the ones listed here are fundamental, fast and easy measures to ensure that your machine delivers for you. Depending on your level of computer savvy, you can always consult with an expert if you experience specific performance issues or are unsure about removing particular items from your system.

Tip: If you delete an item and realize it was something you didn’t want removed, you can retrieve and restore it if it’s still in your recycle bin.

Caution: Only delete files you recognize and don’t need.

Michael F. Kastre is a freelance writer who is always amazed by the cleverness and creativity of the technical wizards who bring these wonderful gadgets and goodies into our lives.

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