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How To Make Your Computer Faster

Linux machines are currently the safest of the three major operating systems. But there is malware out there that affects Linux and could have you searching for ways to make your computer run faster. However, while experts don't all agree, many discount the likely harm of widespread damage from Linux malware.

Individual users, however, may be able to cause damage to their own systems, a point worth noting since many Netbooks shipped to newbies came equipped with various flavors of Linux (Red Hat, Fedora, Ubuntu). “It's possible for someone brand-new to Linux to work hard to overcome various built-in system protections, fetch off the Internet a program written to hurt Linux systems, run it with root-user ('God'-user) authority, and thereby damage or subvert the system so it needs to be shut down and rebuilt,” says senior system administrator and well-known Linux expert Rick Moen. However, “There are features throughout the system to discourage such actions.”

It certainly is possible that some day as Linux gets more popular among consumers, hackers will be more interested in writing malicious code directed at it, but it may not be aimed at laptops or desktops. Even today Linux—long regarded as a programmer's language and not really for the average user—is the engine inside many incredibly popular consumer appliances, not just computers.

“Every single TiVo has a full-blown Linux computer under the hood,” says Moen. “Ditto many smartphones, many PDAs, most residential Wi-Fi gateway routers, and even IBM's Watson supercomputer that just won the Jeopardy playoff. Somehow, one never hears that regular users will never be able to figure out a TiVo—but then, many of the most ubiquitous Linux devices, such as TiVos, get perceived as somehow not even being computers at all.”

While there are lots of free resources for preventing malware, that won’t make you feel much better if you’re already infected and battling time-consuming popups, browser hijacks, or worse. At that point you just want to know how to speed up your computer.

How To Make Your Computer Faster

The Microsoft Malware Protection center offers tools for determining if you're infected, and a 24-hour hotline for security and virus issues: 1-866-PCSafety (1-866-727-2338) or you can visit the Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/. Clearing these issues up can definitely make a computer run faster.

There are also a number of free online forums moderated by experts, which can help you diagnose and treat your problem. Spyware Info Forum (http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/) and the LandzDown forum (http://www.landzdown.com/) are good places to start.

While getting rid of malware and doing some computer housekeeping may provide some slow computer fixes, that’s not all you’ll need to do to speed up your PC, Mac or Linux computer. You can also learn how to make your computer faster by adjusting some hardware issues.

Increase Your Memory

One of the simplest and most effective ways to get a faster computer, particularly if it's a bit older and has less than two gigabytes of RAM, is simply to add more. When learning how to speed up your computer, “Spend your money on memory,” says Robert McMillan.

RAM (random access memory) is what your computer uses to read and write data—to follow your instructions and make your programs run. If you want to learn how to increase computer speed, you’ll need enough RAM. When you don't have enough RAM for the task at hand, the computer is forced to do what's called “paging”—essentially borrowing memory from your hard drive. This borrowed memory is much slower than RAM memory, and the process used to access it can slow your computer to a crawl.

If you have less than two gigabytes of RAM, adding RAM will likely significantly speed up a slow PC or Mac. If you already have two gigabytes or more of RAM, additional memory may improve performance for memory-intensive tasks and programs (like video editing, gaming or using PhotoShop); however, you may not see dramatic improvement in day-to-day tasks like web surfing or word processing.

You can't just add any memory chip to your computer. If you want to know how to make your computer run faster, the RAM you add must be compatible with what you are already using, and it must fit the slot available. There are many different types of RAM depending on the age, OS and hardware you're using. Memory seller Crucial (www.crucial.com) offers a simple free tool that will scan your system to let you know what kind of memory to buy, how much you can add to your system and how many slots are available. You can then buy the RAM directly from Crucial, or shop around. NewEgg and Frys.com offer discounted RAM from quality suppliers.

When figuring out how to speed up a slow computer, it is important to buy and use high-quality RAM—look for brands like Hynix, Samsung, Nanya, Micron, Crucial and Kingston. If you have a Mac, you probably already know that RAM is very high-priced when bought through Apple. Mac RAM Direct (www.macramdirect.com) offers the same premium RAM from the same suppliers (Apple doesn't manufacture its own RAM), usually at a significant discount, and it comes with a lifetime replacement warranty. In many cases, the RAM you buy here for older Macs will make your computer run faster than the RAM that came from Apple originally.

Installing RAM can be a very simple process even for the technologically impaired, and there are many guides out there. However, some computers (smaller laptops, usually) have RAM tucked away in inaccessible places, making installation too intimidating for a newbie.

Apple offers detailed instructions on its Web site (e.g. this is a tutorial for the MacBook: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1651) for upgrading RAM (even for old iBooks and Powerbooks) to make a computer run faster. Simply search in the Apple support forums for your make and model. The extensive site Macrumors (http://guides.macrumors.com/Buying_RAM) also offers detailed computer tips and guides to buying, installing and testing RAM.

If you’re learning how to make a PC run faster by adding RAM, PCWorld has a nice straightforward tutorial (http://www.pcworld.com/article/157676/how_to_upgrade_your_ram.html) for upgrading RAM in a desktop. Always remember to work safely—your computer must be turned off and battery removed (if it is a laptop) before attempting any upgrade.

Are you more concerned with how to make your Internet faster rather than your actual computer? To make the Internet faster, a good place to start is a basic bandwidth speed test: Check out services like this one at McAfee: http://us.mcafee.com/root/speedometer/default.asp. (Be careful to use a trusted source for this kind of testing—bogus bandwidth testing sites are also frequent lurking places for scareware.) If you're paying for high-speed Internet and bandwidth tests show you’re not getting it consistently, using these tricks to speed up a computer won't help. Call your Internet provider to complain and ask, “How to make my Internet faster.”

Tips on Malware

When learning how to make a computer run faster, it is advisable to install a quality anti-virus or anti-spyware program from a trusted (and free, ideally) source; however, more is not better. If more than one such real-time program is installed on your computer, you may generate conflicts rather than create a computer speed-up solution. Choose a single quality program and keep it up to date. Keep your system updated as well.

If you’re asking, “How to make my computer faster?” know that prevention is always best. Experts advise that p2p (peer-to-peer) networks are notoriously risky when it comes to malware, as are open Wi-Fi connections. Files with .EXE, .DOC, .PDF are also more likely to be dangerous—in general it's best not to open any attachment you receive online, even from a friend, unless you are expecting it. Robert McMillan wrote a great article in PCWorld (http://www.pcworld.com/article/201309/security_secrets_the_bad_guys_dont_want_you_to_know.html) for advanced users detailing some advanced protection tactics that will help you remember how to speed up a computer. Don’t worry; you’re not being paranoid. They are out to get you.