There are only three unavoidable things in life: death, taxes, and a Windows 10 PC that eventually runs slowly. Kick the operating system back into high gear with these useful tips that won’t cost you a dime.
If you’ve spent sufficient time working or playing on a Windows PC, you’ve surely felt the sting that comes with firing up a computer and realizing that something is…off. The PC boots slowly. Apps take forever to launch. Files open at a snail’s pace. In years past, a third-party tune-up utility was a necessary tool for remedying PC performance issues. Now, Microsoft now ships the Windows 10 operating with numerous, capable, system-enhancing utilities. Tune-Up Windows 10 With Windows 10 In terms of operation, Windows 10 is a superior operating system compared to Windows 8 and 7. That said, you still should run a tune-up utility to make sure that your PC runs at peak efficiency. A tune-up utility lets you defragment your hard drives (though, not solid-state drives), delete temporary and duplicate files, and controls the apps that launch when your PC boots. The result? Your PC will boot faster and run smoother. Unfortunately, the tune-up tools are scattered across the operating system, lacking a centralized location. The fact that Windows 10 lacks a big Tune-Up My PC button that starts all the wheels turning is a knock against it. Still, the tools are all there, if you’re willing to dig for them (don’t worry, we’ll show you how). Note: Microsoft doesn’t recommend that you use tune-up utilities to tweak Windows 10, as those programs tweak the registry. That’s a no-no in Redmond’s eyes. Windows 10 vs. Third-Party Tune-Up Apps One undeniable strength of third-party tune-up utilities is their ability to perform several system actions from within one easily negotiable interface—often with just a single mouse-click. Iolo System Mechanic, for example, lets you click a single icon to get the system-cleaning process started. Windows 10 lacks the one-click, tune-up button that Iolo System Mechanic and so many other tune-up utilities use to quickly clean up your PC. In addition, tune-up utilities frequently include file shredders that permanently delete your unwanted data, though there are plenty of free and paid file shredders that perform the same action. Program uninstallers and driver updaters, which are also bundled in some tune-up utilities, can also be purchased as standalone software from Ashampoo and IObit. Windows 10 has file-deletion programs, but it’s hidden in the system. Again, third-party tune-up utilities have the benefit of gathering everything into one central location.
