1.

2. Defrag your hard drive. This speeds up search functions and program operations (Windows only).

3. Clean house. Get rid of temporary files, applications you don’t use, and anything else on your computer just sitting around taking up room. Transfer files you don’t need to access frequently to a storage device, and clear documents off of your desktop screen, putting them instead in an appropriate folder, such as “my documents” for PC users.

4. Install more RAM or a new graphics card if you need storage space or if you are a gamer, respectively.

5. Look for spies. Run scans looking for viruses, spyware or malware on your computer and get rid of anything you find.

6. Get rid of the special effects. Your computer’s flashy graphics aren’t necessary for function, and you’ll pick up some extra speed by turning those off.

7. Keep your drivers and software up to date.

8. Use applications that take up less space.

9. Start over! Back up anything you want to carry over and then reinstall your operating system. If you’re running an older machine, you might consider switching to a Linux OS, which tends to run faster than their PC or Mac counterparts. Besides, open source software is always a good way to go!