It might as well be asking for the world, as making your PC faster isn’t a simple process. The fact is that there are just so many ways of increasing its overall speed that it makes offering a single answer nearly impossible. Despite the challenge, I believe that there are indeed some simple, common sense steps you can take right now that will yield the results you’re looking for. They are as follows.

Startup programs: Whether your PC runs Windows or a Linux distribution, having unnecessary startup programs cycling up is one of the most common things that can slow you down at boot — and on older PCs, this can also cause issues with overall performance as well as the startup speed. In any case, it’s best to take out those unnecessary extras from what your PC is starting off with. No sense in wasting CPU cycles!

Overheating: Generally, overheating is something you’ll find most commonly with notebooks, but it can also happen to a well clogged desktop computer. With the notebook in mind, check vents and make sure they’re free of dust. Also consider looking into a low-cost cooling pad. As for the desktop PC, compressed air (used with extreme caution due to the liquid within) and a PC vacuum can do wonders. Check to make sure your cooling fans are unobstructed and delivering good flow. Also triple check that you’re using decent cable management and that your CPU fan is clean. It might also be worthwhile to compare the temperatures between inside the case and the CPU. If the case is staying cool, but the CPU is running hot, it might be time for new thermal paste or a better heat sink.

Malware: Everyone’s favorite villain! On a Windows PC,  I like Windows Security Essentials for malware protection. On Linux, the odds are extremely unlikely that you’ll have any problems running. However, anything is possible and running any of the available anti-virus programs from the repositories for a scan is fine. Another option is to install ClamTk from its Web site. In either case, it’s wise to use common sense when handling any sort of executable file regardless of the platform. Malware is finding its way into everything these days and it will certainly slow a PC down.