The speed in which a computer performs its tasks is very important to computer users. In fact, speed is probably one of the deciding factors when purchasing a computer unit. However, typical usage may eventually slow down a computer’s performance. Downloading of numerous files, performance of several upgrades, and piling up of needless and superfluous data can clog up a computer’s system and cause it to perform at a glacial pace. You can usually note the slow down in your computer when it takes a longer time for programs to load, when the system doesn’t start as quickly as before, or when Internet access is unusually sluggish. To restore your computer to its optimum performance, there is a need to remove the useless data that have heaped up. There are several ways of doing this.

Discard outdated data in the registry. A windows registry contains all installed system software and hardware’s essential configuration information. Some of these configuration information are added or removed whenever any software or hardware is installed or uninstalled. And when a software or hardware is not uninstalled properly, there is a surplus of leftover information which distends the size of the registry and slows down the computer performance. Thus, it is important to discard these leftover data. This can be done through the use of a superior registry cleaner tool which will remove all unnecessary data, consolidate scattered files, and repair erroneous entries.

Discard outdated data in the hard disk. A computer’s hard disk is where all essential information, such as the operating system and devices are stored. Regardless of size, a hard disk can get loaded in no time forcing the computer’s system to work within an insufficient space. It is important, therefore, to regularly clean up your hard disk. This can be done in several ways.

You can make a habit out of clearing out the Recycle Bin. This might be the most effortless action to do, but it can free up the most space in the hard disk in no time. You can also perform a disk cleanup. Access the Disk Cleanup tool by clicking on Start, Programs, Accessories, System, Tools, and then Disk Cleanup. From the Disk Cleanup screen, click on the file or files you want permanently removed. Using the Disk Defragmenter can also free up space in your hard disk by reorganizing files so that are contained in adjacent storage sites in the hard disk. You can access the Disk Defragmenter by clicking Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Disk Defragmenter. You should also uninstall old programs or those that have not been used for ages. You can do this by using your system’s Add/Remove Programs or an effective uninstaller. For Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows XP, you can access the Add/Remove Program tool by choosing the More Options tab of the Disk Cleanup function. Or, you can also choose to access the tool from the Control Panel.

Ridding a computer of useless data and files should be a routine activity for serious computer users as it can help a lot in ensuring that you have a faster computer.