How To Clean Your Windows Computer
How to clean up your PC
Cleaning up Windows can yield vast performance improvements. Here's the ultimate checklist for cleaning your Windows computer.
Over time, computers slow down. Of course, aging hardware plays a part, but for most people, a more common cause is poor operating system maintenance. It's time to clean your computer.
A clean install of Windows is the nuclear option. Getting rid of all the accumulated junk and starting afresh instantly makes your machine run faster and more smoothly.
However, you don't need to take such drastic steps. Spending some time cleaning up Windows can yield almost identical results. Sure, your five-year-old laptop might never be able to play the latest AAA game, but you'll still see vast improvements.
Here's the ultimate checklist for how to clean a Windows computer.
1. Delete Unused Software
Let's begin with an obvious one. The first step on the road to a clean computer is removing all the old software you no longer use. If you're not a "diligent deleter," you'll be amazed at how much unnecessary stuff you have installed on your machine.
To see all the apps on your computer, go to Start > Settings > Apps > Apps and features. Scroll down the list and click Uninstall on anything you don't need.
Clearly, you need to exercise a touch of caution. Don't just get rid of stuff you don't recognize---run a Google search first to ensure it's safe to delete.
2. Run Your Antivirus
Next, you should run your antivirus software. One of the most common causes of slow computers is viruses, so it's a great way to clean a Windows PC.
The precise instructions for running the scan vary from app to app, but you should try and locate an option called Full Scan, Deep Scan, or something similar. The scan will take much longer to complete, but you can be sure it won't overlook anything.
3. Disk Clean-Up
Windows 10 offers a Disk Cleanup tool. It's been part of the Windows operating system for many years, and it's still just as effective at cleaning unnecessary files and improving performance.
To run Disk Cleanup, either type the app's name in the Start Menu or go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Disk Clean-up.
Before running the scan, click Clean up system files. It allows the app to run a more thorough scan by checking for old Windows Update files and log files.
Generally, you can delete all the files the scan finds. Mark the checkbox next to each type of result and click OK. Note, however, that when you choose to clean up Previous Windows installation(s) using the Clean up system files option, you won't be able to roll back to the previous Windows version anymore.
4. Defragment Your Hard Drive
Windows 10 runs disk defragmentation when it senses it is required. However, as we're doing a thorough clean of your computer, it would be remiss not to run it manually.
You can find the Defragment and Optimize Drives tool by running a search or by going to Control Panel > Administrative Tools.
To use the app, highlight your primary hard drive and click Optimize in the lower right-hand corner of the window.
5. Delete Old Drivers
Windows retains old drivers. The logic behind the retention is sound: you'll never be stuck if a new driver doesn't perform as expected. The offshoot, however, is that your machine might be full of drivers from devices that you stopped using years ago.
6. Refresh Your Startup List
Any seasoned Windows user knows that the operating system lags way behind macOS, Chrome OS, and Linux when it comes to slow boot times.
Typically, the problem is caused by the number of programs Windows tries to launch when it first starts. Most of them are unnecessary.
To clean your startup list, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select Task Manager. On the new window, click More Details, then choose the Startup tab at the top of the screen.
You should now be looking at all the apps Windows tries to run at boot. To disable an app, highlight the appropriate row, and click Disable.
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