PC Optimization with Windows System:

1- Soft Solutions:

First and foremost, check for the presence of viruses or malware on your PC. They can render powerful PCs unusable (I assure you of that). Avast is certainly one of the antivirus solutions I prefer for startup analysis (many viruses are not easy to remove).

For malware, an anti-malware solution will suffice. Many people struggle with PC slowness due to unknowingly using malware, mixed with page advertisements, or completely opened pages automatically. It might seem like they are part of ordinary browser behavior, but they are NOT. Be cautious of the pages you access and the software you download and install. This is where malware is often injected.

On another note, please check your web browser's cache. If it exceeds a certain threshold, it can slow down your web browser.

If, after using an antivirus and anti-malware program, your PC remains the same or continues to perform slowly, it might be time to investigate further. Otherwise, your PC is likely not the source of the issue.

For RAM:

- If using Windows XP: Install CacheMan (to optimize disk usage) and install BootVis (to optimize startup).

- If using Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10: Advanced System Settings è Performance è Settingsè Advanced è Virtual Memory : increase virtual memory

- You can disable Aero and modify settings in: Advanced System Settings è Performance è Settings: for optimal performance (I recommend using custom settings to maintain the appearance while disabling smoothing settings, animations, and Aero).

- Use CCleaner to manage startup applications by pressing Windows + msconfig

- Open the registry with Windows + regedit, search for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/ SOFTWARE/ Microsoft/ Windows/ CurrentVersion/ Explorer.

Create the DWORD AlwaysUnloadDll value if it doesn't exist, in the right-click menu, choose New and set the value to 1. Then restart your computer to apply the changes.

- To increase the buffer memory, do the same with Windows + regedit, open the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Session Manager/ Memory Management. Create a new DWORD 32-bit value named IoPageLockLimit, choose Decimal and set it to 983040 (1966080 for 2 GB of RAM), then restart, of course.

For the processor :

- Using a tool like ReadyBoost can lighten PC usage (optional if you have a free USB drive)

Disabling Unused Services:

 -Stop unnecessary services (for you). You can even reduce the number of cores for a specific processor (CTRL+shift+ESC to access Task Manager). Adjusting process priority can also play a role. Lower the priority for a process when it's not in use and increase it otherwise.

Be cautious not to modify system processes as it could potentially damage the system (even though, in most cases, the system will reject such modifications).

A tip: Setting the process explorer to Real-Time can make Windows system usage smoother and prevent crashes when using many resources.

Web Browsing:

-For those with very old PCs, avoid using Chrome as it works best on more recent PCs. Instead, use Maxthon. I've used it and I'm quite impressed. Opera will also work better for slower connections. Don't forget about cache. Firefox can work well too with a special optimization configuration.

 Note: Using private mode can also help (no cache, cookies, or saved history).

Hard Disk:

-Perform error checking on your disk during startup.

-Defragment your disk every 6 months (recommended for the NTFS file system used by Windows).

Network Card:

-Disable unused network cards (DHCP and DNS services may still run).

-Use static addressing if possible (unless you're familiar with it, as it can minimize connection time, but there's a risk of router security issues).

Others:

-Disable network printer search in folder settings (primarily for businesses).

 -Remove the IIS service (mainly for businesses).

-Disable hibernation: windows + type cmd and run as Admin, then type powercfg –h off.

2- Hardware Solutions:

If after all these steps your PC still isn't performing well, it might be time to:

-Check if the inside of your PC is dirty. Dirt can hinder normal operation (trust me, I've experienced this before). Keeping it clean can improve screen visibility and PC performance.

-If that doesn't work, consider adding more RAM to your PC (currently, 1 GB is the minimum for Windows). If you have a desktop PC, consider adding a graphics card (if available). If not, and you have an older PC, switching to a Linux-based operating system might be an option (many Linux-based OSes are optimized for minimal configurations).

For online browsing, the live mode of Linux could suffice (remember that everything is erased when you shut down the system, and at least 512 MB of RAM is necessary, but the processor isn't an issue).

If all else fails, it might be time to consider buying a new PC.