Many people have had this experience: the computer they just bought only takes 5 seconds to boot up, the software opens instantly, and the operation is as smooth as cutting tofu. However, just half a year or even a few months later, it began to “change its face” – you had to get a glass of water when starting up, spin around when opening a browser, and even right-clicking to refresh felt sluggish.
In the face of this situation, the first reaction of the vast majority of people is: “Have you been infected with the virus?” Or simply and brutally reinstall the system. Reinstalling the system can indeed solve the problem, but it is like performing a “formatted” surgery on the patient. Not only is the cost high, but it also only treats the symptoms rather than the root cause. If the usage habits are not changed, the reinstalled computer will still repeat the same mistakes within three months.
In fact, the core reason for a computer to slow down is rarely due to hardware aging (CPU and memory are not so prone to failure). The real culprits are “digital accumulation” and “disorderly use”. If you want your computer to always look as good as new, you need to start developing these four “scavenger” style car usage habits from today.
Habit One: Be a cold “startup goalkeeper”
The most obvious sign of a computer slowing down is its startup speed. Many software vendors, in order to capture users’ attention, set the default setting to “start automatically upon startup”. You installed a certain video software, and it wants to start automatically when you boot up. When you install a certain input method, it also wants to stay in the background permanently.
When these software programs are crammed into your startup items like a subway, not only does the computer boot up slowly, but also within a few minutes after entering the desktop, both the hard drive and the CPU are working frantically to load these programs that you don’t use at all at this moment.
The habit formed: Regularly review the startup page of the “Task Manager”. Don’t rely on the one-click acceleration of the so-called “Computer Manager”. The tools that come with Windows are the purest.
Operation method: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to bring up the Task Manager, and click the “Start” TAB.
● Execution standard: Disable the auto-start of all third-party software except for graphics card drivers, sound card drivers, and antivirus software that you must use immediately. Wechat, DingTalk, Steam, Baidu Netdisk, etc., even if you use them every day, please open them manually instead of letting them slow down the startup speed. This small action can release a large amount of background memory resources.
Habit Two: Guard the “red warning line” on the C drive
The C drive (system drive) is the heartland of a computer. Many people think: “I bought a 512G or even 1T big hard drive and can store it casually.” This is a huge misunderstanding.
Most modern computers use SSDS (Solid-State Drives). SSDS have a characteristic: when there is very little remaining space, their read and write performance will drop sharply. In addition, the Windows system requires the C drive to provide a portion of space as “virtual memory”. When physical memory is insufficient, the system will borrow hard disk space to temporarily store data. If the C drive is full (turns red), not only will the system be unable to exchange data, but even opening web pages will be laggy.
The habit formed: Make good use of “storage awareness” and “desktop minimalism”.
● Refuse to stack files on the desktop: Many people are accustomed to throwing all downloaded files and pending documents onto the desktop. Desktop files are stored by default on the C drive. Please change the default download path of your browser to drive D or other drive letters, and develop the habit of regularly cleaning the “Downloads” folder.
● Enable Windows Storage Awareness: In Windows 10/ Windows 11, under “Settings – System – Storage”, enable “Storage Awareness”. This function will automatically help you clean up temporary system junk files and old items in the recycling station.
● Suggested standard: Always ensure that there is at least 20% to 30% remaining space on the C drive. This is the “breathing space” that ensures the smooth operation of the system.
Habit Three: Beware of the “next step” trap and reject the “family bucket”
The software ecosystem of the domestic Internet environment is very complex. Many computers started to slow down after installing the first free software. When you download a certain software, if you keep clicking “Next” non-stop, after the installation is complete, you will find that the ICONS of browsers, antivirus software, picture king and even web games have mysteriously appeared on your desktop.
This phenomenon is called “software bundling”. These bundled software programs often have extremely poor optimization and tend to fight with each other in the background, competing for resources. They are the “root cause of all evil” for computer lag.
The habit formed: No matter how urgent it is, when installing software, always click on “Custom Installation”.
● Execution standard: No matter what software is installed, never directly click the largest and most prominent “One-click Installation” button. Be sure to look for the “Custom Installation” or “Installation Options” in small print.
● Sharp eyes: In the custom interface, you will see the “Recommended Software” or “Automatic Startup” options that are checked by default. Uncheck all of them.
● Advanced Cleaning: If you need to uninstall software, try not to use only the built-in uninstallation function of Windows. It is recommended to use professional tools. They can scan and delete the remaining registry and folders after uninstalling the software, preventing “corpses” from remaining in the computer and slowing down the system.
Habit Four: Pay attention to the physical “body temperature” and refuse to keep the device on for a long time
Apart from the software aspect, the physical state of the hardware also directly affects the speed. Modern cpus all have a protection mechanism of “overheat frequency reduction”. If you feel that your computer suddenly becomes sluggish, the fan spins wildly, and the sound is like a helicopter taking off, it is very likely that there is a problem with the heat dissipation. When the temperature is too high, the CPU will actively reduce its running speed to protect itself, and the computer will instantly become like an “old ox pulling a broken cart”.
Meanwhile, nowadays, the “close and go” sleep mode has become widespread among laptops, which leads to many users not actually shutting down and restarting their computers for months. If the system is not restarted for a long time, it will cause a large amount of fragmented data to accumulate in the system memory and lead to memory leaks, making the system increasingly heavy.
The habits formed: Keep the heat dissipation unobstructed and restart regularly.
● Physical environment: Especially for laptop users, never use the computer on a cotton quilt, pillow or long-haired carpet, as this will block the air intake. When using it in summer, even placing two books at the back of the computer can greatly improve heat dissipation. Desktop computer users are advised to check the dust-proof net every six months. Dust is a hardware killer.
● Operating habits: It is recommended to perform a complete “restart” operation at least once every 2-3 days (not by turning off and then turning on, but by clicking “Restart”). The “Quick Start” mechanism of Windows ensures that a regular shutdown does not completely clean up the kernel session. Only a “restart” can truly and thoroughly release system resources and fully restore the computer.
Conclusion: Fluency is a way of life
A computer is like a room in a home. If it is not cleaned regularly, the accumulation of clutter is an inevitable physical law. The so-called “computer card” is essentially our indulgence of digital junk. You don’t need to be a computer expert or master complex code. Just develop these four small habits: control the startup items, leave enough space on the C drive, check the installation options carefully, and restart and cool down regularly.
Incorporate these preventive actions into your daily routine, and you will find that the computer that has been with you for a long time can still be as light, quick and easy to handle as it was on the first day you turned it on. Don’t let the dullness of the tools slow down your thinking speed.