Even though I just bought a brand new MacBook Pro (which I absolutely adore), I’m still ridiculously proud of the fact that my old MacBook ran so well for six years.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to make your laptop last longer! It feels good knowing that I helped keep my old computer running smoothly for so long.
And, because I kept my old computer in top shape, I was able to get the most out of it for longer than expected.
Whether you’re Team Apple or Team Windows, we’ve found 10 simple tricks you can try on your own computer to improve its speed. If your computer is running slower than molasses, these tricks can boost your productivity.
Table of Contents
Monitor Your System
More often than not there’s one app you’re working on that’s hogging all your RAM. If you’re on a Mac, open Finder and search for Activity Manager.
This will show you what applications are taking up the most space on your hard drive. Quit any programs you no longer need or remove them completely if they’re slowing down your system.
On a Windows machine (or any operating system), you want to look for Resource Monitor, which can be found by opening up Task Manager.
Make sure you only remove apps if you know exactly what they do, otherwise you could end up deleting something important.
Read More: How To Transfer Files From iPhone To Laptop Without iTunes?
Cool Things Down
If you’re having trouble keeping your laptop cool during the hot summers, consider using a cooling mat instead of a cooling pillow. You could also clean or replace your laptop’s internal fan.
Run a Virus Scan
A malware or spyware infection is often the reason for a sluggish laptop. Running an antivirus scan can help you identify the source of your problem.
If you want some recommendations about which antivirus program to use, take a look at our list of the best antivirus programs.
Swap Your Hard Drive For An SSD
If you have an old laptop with a hard disk, replace it with a solid-state disk (SSD) instead. SSDs are much faster than hard disks, and also run much noisier.
They’re also much more durable than hard disks and are also cheaper than hard disks. If you’re not the most tech-savviest, you can probably find some sort of video online that walks you through the steps of installing an SSD.
Lifehackers also has a great post detailing the specifics of migrating from a hard drive to an SSD without having to install Windows again.
Transfer Your Data To The Cloud
According to Mashable, if you use more than 80 percent of your available hard disk space, your computer may become slow.
If you run out of local storage, you should transfer some of your files to a cloud service like Dropbox. You get 2 GB of free storage with each account, but you can pay for additional storage.
Check For Free Replacements
If you’re having trouble with your computer, check online first. You might be able to fix it yourself by searching for your laptop brand name and “replacements.” Or, you could call the company directly to see if there are any repair options available.
If you’re an owner of a MacBook Pro, you can check out Apple’s official exchange and extensions program listing for more details.
Replace The Battery
Your computer’s power supply may be running low. You should replace the batteries in your notebook before they die completely.
Replacing the batteries is easy; just remove them from the back of the machine and slide out the old ones. Be careful not to drop any of the tiny metal contacts inside the computer.
Once you’ve replaced the batteries, make sure to put them back into the correct slots. Beware of purchasing cheap batteries online, however; PC World has an excellent article detailing the dangers of doing so.
You should definitely check out the entire article before making any purchases online.
Try a Fresh Install of Your Operating System
If your laptop is very old, or if you’ve been using it for so long that you’ve accumulated lots of stuff on it, there might be a bunch of junk on your laptop.
You could clean out some of that junk by backing up your hard drive and performing a fresh installation. Before doing anything else, make sure you’ve backed up everything important and saved your product key.
It feels good to help someone who has been neglected for years get back into shape.
If you’re experiencing performance issues when using your laptop, you might want to consider trying a different version of Windows or Linux instead of upgrading to the newest one.
You can use these tutorials to perform a fresh installation of macOS Sierra for Mac users. For PC users, Microsoft has official instructions for performing a clean installation of Windows 10.
If you’re using an older version of Windows, About.com has detailed instructions for the procedure. If you’re using another operating system, search the web for “How to Clean Install [Your Operating Systems]”.
Download an Uninstaller Program
If you’re sure you’ve removed every trace of an application from your computer, but you’re not 100% certain, use an uninstaller tool like AppCleaner (Mac OS X) or RevoUninstaller (Windows).
These tools can help “deep clean up” your system by removing remnants left behind after an app has been deleted.
Upgrade Your RAM
While this isn’t necessarily an option for all laptops (especially older ones), replacing your RAM can be a quick solution for improving the performance of your computer.
Upgrading your RAM can also extend the life of your current machine. However, if your computer doesn’t come with upgradable RAM, then you’re stuck with whatever amount of memory was originally installed.
Read More: How To Hook Up Laptop Hard Drive To Desktop?
Here Are A Few Tips:
Don’t overcharge your phone: Overcharging causes a shortening of battery life. Too much energy goes into the battery, which damages it over time.
Upgrade when you can. Update your operating system, keep up with your antivirus software, and consider upgrading your RAM or hard drive capacity if you’re starting to use more memory or storage than originally planned.
Don’t eat near your computer! You don’t want crumbs stuck on your keyboard, and sticky stuff can be hard to clean off. And if you spill something on your keyboard, it could ruin your day.
Cleaning up: From wiping down the monitor to cleaning out the fans, it’s important to clean up the computer as much as possible. Over time, dirt and debris can affect performance and cooling. On that note, we’ve got some tips for keeping things clean.
Don’t let things get too hot: overheating can damage your computer, so be careful not to expose your laptop to heat. You might also want to invest in a laptop cooler.
If you really want to ensure your next computer will be a long-term relationship, you need to know your needs from the get-go.
If you’re a gaming enthusiast, it might be worth considering an HP OMEN notebook. But if you don’t game too often, a cheaper mid-range notebook like the HP Chromebook is perfect for basic tasks like emailing and working.
Dan Marzulli is a contributor at HP® TechTakes. He writes articles for startups, digital agencies, and established brands. His writing has been published in Forbes, Entrepreneur magazine, YFS Magazine, and many others.
Conclusion
If you want to keep your computer running smoothly, it is important to take care of its maintenance. If you are having trouble getting rid of viruses or malware, try using an anti-virus program that has been updated recently.
The updates will ensure that your system is protected against new threats and vulnerabilities.
FAQs
Q 1. Can a laptop last 10 years?
A. These concerns also hold true for laptops. Most experts estimate their lifespans at three to five-year intervals. They may last longer, but they won’t be able to run as many advanced programs.
Q 2. What slows down a laptop?
A. Running out of RAM, running out of disk space, old or fragmented hard drives, and too many programs running in the background.
Q 3. What makes a laptop fast?
A. RAM, the computer’s memory, and the CPU both affect how fast your notebook runs. The higher the amount of RAM, the quicker the performance. A 4 GB notebook can perform better than a 2 GB one. The processing power is expressed in megahertz (MHz), and a 2 GHz machine performs better than a 1 GHz one.
