Laptop running slow

Every notebook owner gets there eventually: Your once blazing-fast laptop has slowed to a pedestrian pace, or you’re out of hard drive space, or something else has occurred that causes you to ponder whether or not it’s time to spring for a new computer. But you know the old girl’s still got some life left; maybe all your computer needs is a little TLC, maybe a tweak here and there, and it’s back in action.

In some cases, all your notebook needs to get back in shape is a bit of spring cleaning and some basic maintenance; in others, you may need to upgrade some components. Whatever the case, there’s a lot you can do to make your notebook run like it used to.

BASIC MAINTENANCE

It’s astonishing, sometimes, how much faster your laptop can be with just a small amount of simple maintenance. There are a few things you can (and should) do on a regular basis to keep any computer humming. The following suggestions for basic maintenance are acceptable to do on any notebook—even if you are using a company computer.

Disk Cleanup is a Windows utility that gets rid of a great deal of unnecessary files all at once, freeing up valuable hard drive space.

First, make sure only essential applications run when you start your computer. Some programs run automatically every time you turn on your computer. They remain in the background and appear to open quickly when you are ready to use them. Although it’s nice to save time when you want to use a program you need often, having multiple applications running simultaneously can noticeably impact your computer’s performance.

You should only have necessary programs launch at startup; these include your antivirus software and firewall. Most other applications are optional, although there are some you may want to leave alone for the sake of convenience.

Microsoft’s Windows Defender, which comes with Windows Vista, lets you manage startup programs in addition to detecting spyware on your system. If you’re running WinXP and would rather not use Msconfig (click Start and Run, type msconfig, and click Open) to manage startup programs, you’ll need to download Windows Defender; look for the download at TinyURL (tinyurl.com/2wsok6) and follow the download instructions. After you install the software, click Start, select All Programs, and click Windows Defender. Next, click Tools and Software Explorer. Under Startup Programs, select each application you want to block and select Disable for each.

Clear out your Internet cache. Every time you visit a Web site, your computer collects and stores data so the next time you visit that site it loads faster. Although this can be a nice tool to speed up your Web browsing, it does take up space on your notebook and, over time, can impact performance. To clear your Internet cache in Internet Explorer, open the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and select the General tab. Click the Delete Files button under Temporary Internet Files in IE6; in IE7, you have to click the Delete button under Browsing History and then click the Delete Files button in the Temporary Internet Files section in the resulting dialog box.

Run Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter. The Disk Cleanup tool lets you delete unnecessary files, such as temporary Internet files and items in the Recycle Bin, improving system performance. You can also give your system a boost by running Disk Defragmenter. Any time you use your computer, the hard drive stores bits and pieces of files it reads and writes in various places on the drive. Disk Defragmenter groups the fragments with other like file pieces so your computer can access and make sense of that data faster.

To perform either task, click Start; select All Programs, Accessories, and System Tools; and choose Disk Cleanup or Disk Defragmenter.

Clear out your Internet cache via your Web browser periodically to save space and your hard drive.

When you choose Disk Cleanup, the utility quickly calculates the amount of space you can potentially free up. The resulting dialog box details the contents of your hard drive. Here, you will select files to delete. After you select the necessary files (we suggest selecting Compress Old Files, as well), click OK. Click Yes when prompted and wait for Disk Cleanup to finish.

When you choose Disk Defragmenter, click the Analyze button in the dialog box that appears. When the utility completes its analysis, click the Defragment button. The defrag can take a while, so be patient.

UPGRADE YOUR COMPONENTS

Sometimes, no matter how much maintenance you perform on a computer, its parts are just outdated. If you come to that conclusion about your personal notebook, you should consider upgrading some of its components. Notebooks aren’t meant to have parts swapped in and out like desktops are; indeed, a trained technician should replace such components as your computer’s display, case, keyboard, touchpad, motherboard, and processor. But if you’re willing to pay a tech to do that kind of time-intensive work, you’re probably better off just replacing the notebook altogether.

Some components, however, are not difficult to replace. With a few bucks and a rainy afternoon, you can swap in some new parts to make your notebook into a new machine. Before you take on this task yourself, check whether opening up your computer will void your warranty.

One of the easiest notebook components you can replace is its RAM. Every notebook is different, but odds are that you could do with more RAM than what you currently have. To see how much RAM your system has, click Start, My Computer, and View System Information (in WinXP) or click the Windows button and Computer (in Vista). If you have less than 1GB of RAM, it’s time to upgrade; if you have 2GB or more, you’re probably OK.

When replacing system RAM, look for a plate covering the memory modules on the underside of your notebook. With the power off and the correct RAM for your particular laptop in hand (consult the notebook manufacturer’s Web site for the correct types), remove the screws in the plate, pop out the memory, and securely seat the new RAM in the appropriate slots.

You can use Windows Defender to control which applications run automatically at startup.

One problem with a slightly older notebook is its lack of hard drive space. Just a few years ago, a 40GB hard drive seemed sizeable; now you’ll have difficulty finding one with less than 120GB or even 160GB. If your notebook is maxed out on hard drive space, it will run slower.

You can also upgrade to a faster drive, which can improve how fast your system operates. Many older drives spin at 4,200rpm (revolutions per minute); buying a drive that spins at 5,400rpm or 7,200rpm will boost the overall performance of your notebook.

Notebook hard drives are readily available from retailers and come in sizes up to 1TB. Before you buy a new drive, check what type of interface you’ll need: IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) or SATA (Serial ATA). You can find this information in Device Manager. Click Start, Control Panel, and double-click System. (You need to switch Control Panel to Classic View if you don’t see the System option.) Select the Hardware tab in the System Properties dialog box and click the Device Manager button. Next, expand Disk Drives, right-click your drive, and select Properties. In the resulting dialog box, click the Details tab and select Enumerator from the drop-down menu to see whether your drive is IDE or SATA.

After deciding on and purchasing a hard drive, it’s time to dig in. First, back up all of your data. Locate the hard drive panel on the underside of your notebook, remove the screws, and remove the old drive. You’ll probably need to undo a catch of some kind to get the drive cage out, and you’ll also likely need to remove the hard drive itself from the cage. Repeat the above in reverse order to install the new drive. Be sure to consult the users manuals for your computer and drives for complete installation instructions.

GOOD AS NEW

Now that your laptop is defragmented, uncluttered, and upgraded, giving it a facelift, as well, will finish the job. When your computer is dusty and has a smudge-covered display, it looks old. And even though it won’t make your notebook run any faster, just gussying it up a bit will help you psychologically see it as a newer computer.

Before you clean your notebook, turn it off and unplug it. Use a can of compressed air to blow out the dust from the keyboard. Then, with a lint-free cloth, wipe the keys and proceed to gently wipe down the display, as well. For stubborn smudges, you can use an LCD screen cleaning solution, such as the PixelClean Deluxe LCD Screen Cleaning Kit ($19.95; www.pixelclean.com). Never use water to clean anything on your computer. Your computer should now look as good on the outside as it is on the inside.

by Seth Colaner

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