This document provides tips for optimizing a Windows computer's performance. It discusses using Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmentation to free up hard drive space. Low hard drive space, insufficient RAM, and outdated software/hardware are provided as the top reasons for slow computer performance. Installing a solid state drive (SSD) to replace the hard disk drive, upgrading RAM, and replacing the disk drive with an external hard drive are recommended for performance improvements. Steps are outlined for using Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmentation, and pros and cons of SSDs are discussed.

1. How to Optimize
Your Windows
Computer
MALIK BROWNE
COM 315

2. A Little About Me
• I have been helping
restore computers since I
was fifteen years old for
friends and family.
• Worked at ResNet from
December 2012 to
October 2014
• Internet Troubleshooting
Department here at Purdue

3. Topics to Be Covered
1. Disk Cleanup
2. Disk Defragmentation
3. Installing New Hardware

4. Reasons Why a Computer May Slow
Down
• According to an article on geeksquad.com, there
are three main reasons why your computer are
running slow:
1. Low hard drive disk space
2. Not enough random access memory (RAM)
3. Outdated software/hardware

5. Low Hard Drive Disk Space
• Once a hard disk drive is filled
up, the drive will have a hard
time manipulating files.
• Only have a finite amount of space
• Can cause computer to run slow
because of the time it takes to
manipulate those files.
• Windows will normally alert you that you
have low disk space if you reach really
low numbers.

6. Not Enough Random Access Memory
• Random Access Memory (RAM) is what a
computer uses for temporary working and
thinking space.
• If there’s not enough RAM, your computer will run
slower because it can only run so many programs at a
time.

7. Outdated Software/Hardware
• As a laptop reaches 2-3 years old, software and
hardware becomes outdated.
• Later, we will be talking about what you can
install to make your laptop run better.

8. Disk Cleanup
• Program that not many
people know about.
• From my personal
experience, I have seen it
clear 250MB to 25GB of
temporary files of data.
•Press Start
Press Start
All Programs •Open the
•Press the All
Programs Tab
in the Start
Menu
Accessories
Folder
Accessories
System Tools
•Open the
System Tools
Folder
•Click Disk
Cleanup in the
dropdown
menu
Disk Cleanup

9. Disk Defragmentation
• The process of combining fragmented
data on a volume so it works more
efficiently
• A lot more well known, and frees up a
good amount of space on your hard
drive.
• Most computers have disk
defragmentation set on a schedule.
•Press Start
Press Start
All Programs •Open the
•Press the All
Programs Tab
in the Start
Menu
Accessories
Folder
Accessories
System Tools
•Open the
System Tools
Folder
•Click Disk
Defrag in the
dropdown
menu.
Disk Defrag

10. Installing New Hardware/Software
• Things that may become outdated over time:
a. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
b. Random Access Memory (RAM)
c. Graphics Card
d. Hard Drive
e. Operating System

11. Installing New Hardware/Software Cont.
• Standard laptops have
a. Quad-Core Processsor
b. 4.00GB of RAM
c. Intel Integrated Chipset Driver, with some other graphics card
d. 250GB of Hard disk space
e. Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 (based on preference)
• I recommend bringing your computer to these
specifications if they aren’t now.

12. What is a Solid State Drive? (SSD)
• A solid state drive (SSD) is a storage device that stores
persistent data on a solid-state flash memory.
• They are not considered hard-drives, because they have
no moving parts.
• According to techtarget.com. They have an array of
semiconductor memory units that uses integrated circuits
instead of optical storage media or magnets.

13. Pros and Cons of an SSD
Cons
• Set life expectancy
• Lower capacity of
data (gap is closing)
• More expensive
Pros
• Data transfer to and
from is much faster
• Seek time and latency
are reduced
• Faster boot times
• More durable and
quieter (no moving
parts)

14. Replace your disk drive with an external
hard drive
• Technology today has pretty much found CD drives not as
useful as they were in the past.
• Devices such as USB and software such as Dropbox allow
us to carry around data a lot easier.
• In order to maximize possible storage, you can replace
your disk drive with a hard disk drive.

15. Replace Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with Solid
State Drive (SSD) cont.

16. Upgrade Your RAM
• Like noted before, an average computer has 4GB of RAM.
• In order to run multiple amount of programs on your
computer, 8GB of RAM is recommended. This will allow
everything on your computer to work smoother as well.
• Personally, I have 24GB of RAM, so I can do video editing,
play video games, work on web design projects, and
browse the internet without feeling an impact on my
computer.

17. Any Questions?

18. References
• 10 Reasons Your Computer May Be Running Slowly. (n.d.).
Geeksquad Intelligence 10 Reasons Your Computer May
Be Running Slowly Comments. Retrieved October 19, 2014,
from http://www.geeksquad.com/intelligence/blog/10-
reasons-your-computer-may-be-running-slowly/
• Muchmore, M. (n.d.). 10 Tips to Speed Up Your PC. PCMAG.
Retrieved October 19, 2014, from
http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/315484/10-tips-to-speed-
up-your-pc
• SSD (solid state drive, solid state disk, solid state storage drive).
(n.d.). What is ?. Retrieved October 19, 2014, from
http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/definition/solid-state-drive