Make PC run faster?

Perhaps one of the most -- if not the most -- asked question among regular computer users is exactly this. There are a variety of ways to speed up your PC, all of which are simple and require little to no technical knowledge. It is recommended before you make any changes to your computer, as detailed in this guide, that you back-up your system via System Restore or some other means, in the case that you may make any changes that could cause system instability.

Free up hard drive space. Delete any unused files. Clear out your temporary internet files, recycle bin, et cetera. The best way to do this is to use Windows' Disk Cleanup. Go to Start > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup. You may have to several minutes for Disk Cleanup to read your hard drive. You can check all of the boxes if you wish (recommended), but if there's anything you want to save, keep it unchecked.

Uninstall any unused programs. Many new computers come loaded with unnecessary or -- in some cases, even useless -- programs that do nothing but to clog up your computer. Go to Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista).

Change your Display settings to Windows Classic. Go to Start > Control Panel > Display (Windows XP) or Personalization (Windows Vista). If you are using Windows XP, click the appearance tab; if you are using Vista, click on Window Color and Appearance. Change the color scheme to Windows Classic and click OK.

Disable start-up programs. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Run and type "msconfig". Hit enter. Click on the Startup tab. Uncheck any start-up items you are not using or do not need. Some start-up items are necessary for the proper functioning of Windows, so do not disable anything if you are not 100% you do not need it.

Disable any unused or unnecessary services. Go to Start > Accessories > Run and type "services.msc". Hit enter. You can disable any services you do not need or are not necessary for the proper functioning of your Windows OS. Do not make any changes unless you know precisely what you are doing. You can find out whether or not certain processes are necessary by looking up the service name online.

Use a registry repair program such as CCleaner to clear out any registry errors.

Use ReadyBoost. If you're a Windows Vista user, you can use Readyboost by using a USB flash drive or a memory card to speed up your PC without having to add extra memory. Windows will automatically detect whether or not your flash drive or memory card can be used with ReadyBoost.

And the most obvious choice: add more RAM. You can review your computer's manual, contact your manufacturer, or search online to find out which RAM is suitable for your computer's motherboard.