When your computer gets slow or seems like it stops working, it can be scary. Your first response may be to download or even spend money on antivirus software, a hard drive cleanup tool, or something similar. DO NOT DO THIS!!! Windows computers come with a built-in antivirus tool called Defender that is perfectly fine, and Mac computers do not need antivirus with their built-in security features. The more applications you have running on a computer, the slower it will run. The thing I see many times is there are 3-5 applications running at once right when the computer starts up! This makes things super slow.

If you are having trouble with your computer, here are some simple steps to try:

1. Restart your computer.

2.Check for updates in your settings.

3. Run a disk clean up

• • • For Windows:
      • Type “Disk Cleanup” in the search bar and select it.
      • Choose the drive you want to clean (usually C:), and click “OK.”
      • Check the boxes for the types of files you want to delete, and click “OK.”
    • For Mac:
      • Open “Finder,” go to “Applications,” then “Utilities.”
      • Open “Disk Utility” and select the hard drive.
      • Click “First Aid” to clean up the drive.

4. Uninstall Unnecessary Programs

• • • For Windows:
      • Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
      • Select the programs you don’t use and click “Uninstall.”
    • For Mac:
      • Open “Finder,” go to “Applications.”
      • Drag the unwanted programs to the Trash, then empty the Trash.

5. Disable Startup Programs

• • • For Windows
      • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select “Task Manager.”
      • Right-click on programs you don’t need at startup and select “Disable.”
    • For Mac:
      • Click the Apple menu, select “System Preferences,” then “Users & Groups.”
      • Select your user account, then click “Login Items.”
      • Select the items you don’t need and click the “-” button.

6. Run a Virus Scan (Windows)

• • • Open Windows Defender, you can search for it in the start menu / task bar.
    • Run a full system scan.

7. Adjust Power Settings (Windows)

• • Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options.
  • Select “High performance” to give your computer a speed boost.

Contact IT Xplor for Assistance

If these steps don’t resolve the issue, or if you’re unsure about any of these steps, don’t hesitate to reach out to IT Xplor for professional assistance. We’re here to help!