Revitalizing a Slow Computer

Cleanup and Optimization

Start by checking your 'Startup' or 'Login Items' in your system settings. Too many programs launching at once when you boot up your computer can drastically slow performance. Disable anything that does not need to run immediately. Next, uninstall old programs you no longer use to free up disk space and reduce background activity.

Maintenance Basics

If your computer is full, move large files like videos or photo archives to an external drive. Additionally, run a disk utility scan to check for file system errors. If you are using a hard drive, consider upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD), which is often the single most effective way to make an older machine feel brand new again.