Few things are as irritating as clicking on a hyperlink or a computer program icon and seeing the spinning hourglass cursor that means you'll have to wait for the program or web page to load. In many cases, the problem could be with your computer rather than the internet connection or server. Before you call in an IT services professional, below are some steps you can take to speed up your PC.

How to Speed Up Your Personal Computer

1. Disable Startup Programs

Startup programs automatically initiate whenever you start your computer and continue to run in the background, siphoning off performance from other applications. To disable these, open Task Manager, navigate to the Startup tab, and disable any of the startup processes you don't want.

2. Turn Off Power Saver

Modern operating systems include a Power Saver plan designed to use less energy and extend the life of your laptop battery. However, it comes at the cost of performance speed. IT service experts start their diagnosis of slow computers by checking if you’ve inadvertently turned this on. If you have, turn it off by choosing Balanced or High Performance mode.

3. Run Disk Cleanup

The Disk Cleanup utility is a venerable program that lets you empty the Recycle Bin, clean out temporary (.tmp) files, remove error reports and log files, and clean out unnecessary data that's taking up space and slowing performance. Go to Disk Cleanup and click on “Clean up system files” to speed up your PC.

These tips should help you avoid annoying lag time as web pages load and computer programs boot up. For assistance with technical issues or malware removal, contact Absolute Computers in Sanford, NC. They've been the premier computer repair and IT service provider in Lee County since 1999. Visit their website for store hours and directions, or call (919) 777-9125 to discuss your needs with an experienced IT service technician.