How to Clean Up Your Computer and Fix Errors for Free

The longer you use a computer without proper maintenance, the slower it becomes. If you've recently noticed your computer running much slower than before or you simply want your old machine to perform better, there are several steps you can take. If your computer is facing errors or other issues, sometimes a simple restart can solve the problem. If your computer is infected with adware, you can use various programs to scan and remove the threats.

Restart your computer if you encounter issues. While this might seem like a simple solution, restarting your computer can resolve more problems than you might think. Just make sure to save any open documents before restarting.

Reset your network if you can't connect to the Internet. If you could access websites before but can't now, try restarting your network. This can often fix connection issues related to your modem and router.

• Unplug the power cable from the modem and the router (if you have one).
• Wait for about 30 seconds, then plug the modem back in.
• Once the modem lights are fully on, plug the router back in. Your network should be working again in about a minute.

Check your computer's clock. If your system clock isn't set correctly, you may have trouble loading security information from websites. This can cause issues when browsing multiple pages. Be sure to check and set your system clock accurately.

Restart your printer if you can't connect to it. If your printer isn't showing up, restarting it might make it appear again. You can either turn the printer off using the power button or unplug it. Wait for about 30 seconds and then power it back on.

Open the Control Panel. If your web browser is running slow, or you keep seeing pop-ups, ads, and toolbars, it's likely you've been infected with adware. Adware is unwanted software designed to harm your browser, misdirect your searches, and flood your screen with ads. The first step in removing this infection is to uninstall suspicious programs through the Control Panel. The process will differ slightly depending on your version of Windows:

• For Windows 10 and 8 - Right-click the Windows button and select "Control Panel".
• For Windows 7, Vista, and XP - Click the Start button and select "Control Panel" from the Start menu.

Select "Uninstall a program" or "Programs and Features." You will see a list of programs installed on your computer.

Search for recently installed suspicious programs. You can sort the list by installation date, making it easy to spot newly installed programs that you may not recognize. Go through each program in the list and mark any unfamiliar ones. Do a web search for each unknown program to determine if it's potentially unwanted software.

Select the unwanted program and click "Uninstall." Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the program from your system. Repeat the process for any other programs you wish to remove.

• This is a great time to remove unnecessary programs. Old games, unused browsers, one-time utilities, and other programs can contribute to your computer running slow. Uninstalling them will free up memory and improve your computer's startup speed.

Download AdwCleaner. This free utility scans for common malware and adware, then removes anything it finds. You can download AdwCleaner from toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/.

Run AdwCleaner. Click the "Scan" button in AdwCleaner to check your computer for any infections. This process may take about 20 minutes. Once the scan is complete, click "Clean" to remove any threats AdwCleaner has found.

Download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. The free version of this program can detect and remove most infections. You can download the installer by visiting malwarebytes.org and selecting "Download." Then, click on the "Download Free Version" button. Run the installer after downloading to set up the program.

Run a scan with Anti-Malware. Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and download any updates if prompted. The scanning process may take between 20 to 30 minutes. After the scan is complete, click "Quarantine All" to remove any threats found.

Download and run Shortcut Cleaner. Many adware programs add links to browser shortcuts, causing fake websites to load even after the infection is removed. The free Shortcut Cleaner tool, created by the anti-malware community, scans all shortcuts and removes harmful links. You can download the tool here. Run the downloaded program to quickly scan and fix browser shortcuts.

Reset your web browser. Your browser may still have remnants of malware that was removed by the scan. Restarting the browser helps eliminate any strange software and restores it to default settings:

• For Internet Explorer - Click the Tools button and select "Internet options." Click the "Advanced" tab and then click "Reset." Check the box "Delete personal settings" and click "Reset."
• For Chrome - Click the Chrome Menu button and select "Settings." Click "Show advanced settings" and scroll to the bottom. Click "Reset settings" and then click "Reset."
• For Firefox - Click the Firefox Menu button, then click "?". Select "Troubleshooting Information" and click "Refresh Firefox." Click "Refresh Firefox" again to confirm.

Restart your computer and run both Anti-Malware and AdwCleaner again. After cleaning up, resetting your shortcuts and browser, you should restart your computer and scan once more using both programs. Some remnants may still appear after the reboot.

Uninstall any unfamiliar programs in the Applications folder. The Applications folder contains all installed programs on your system. If you notice any suspicious programs you don't recognize, drag them to the Trash to uninstall.

• Search the web for each unfamiliar program to determine its function and whether it is safe.

Download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac. This program, formerly known as AdwareMedic, is one of the most effective tools for detecting and removing malware on Mac. You can download the free version from malwarebytes.org/antimalware/mac/.

• After downloading the file, double-click it and drag Anti-Malware for Mac into the Applications folder.
• If you see a message preventing installation due to it not being from the App Store, right-click (Ctrl-click) on the downloaded file, select "Open," and click "Open" again.

Run Anti-Malware for Mac and scan your computer. You will be asked for your admin password when running Anti-Malware for the first time. This step is necessary to remove some files from protected locations that require special permissions. Click the "Scan" button to begin scanning your Mac for malware. This process will take about 15-20 minutes.

Click "Remove Selected Items" after the scan finishes. This step removes anything that Anti-Malware found during the scan. You may be prompted to restart your computer to complete the removal process.

Update Windows. Installing the latest updates can help fix errors you're facing, while ensuring your system stays secure and stable. Windows Update will assist in checking and installing all updates. Open the Start menu and type "windows update" to locate the Windows Update tool.

• On Windows 10, you can find Windows Update in the "Update & Security" section of the new Settings menu.

Check available storage space. While storage space on your hard drive usually doesn't greatly affect performance, if less than 20% of your drive is free on the system drive (typically C:), your computer may slow down. Windows uses this free space to move and store temporary files, and having too little can lead to sluggishness. Regularly clearing old files can help keep your system running smoothly.

• Open the Computer/This PC window (press ⊞ Win + E) and find your Windows drive (usually C:). It should have at least 20% free space for optimal performance.

Run Disk Cleanup to scan and remove old temporary files. Open the Start menu and type "disk cleanup" to find the tool. Choose your Windows drive and wait for the analysis. Check the boxes for the types of files you'd like to remove. You'll see how much space you can free up by deleting them.

• Check your Downloads and Documents folders for old files you no longer need.

Uninstall old programs you no longer use. Over time, you may accumulate programs that you only used once and forgot about. These old programs can take up valuable storage space and some may run in the background, using system resources. Regularly uninstalling unused programs helps your computer run smoothly.

• Open Control Panel and select "Uninstall a program" or "Programs and Features." Browse through the list of installed programs and remove the ones you no longer use. Click "Uninstall" to remove a program. If you're unsure about a program, search for it online.
• The free "PC Decrapifier" tool scans your computer for software that many people consider unnecessary. These unwanted programs, often pre-installed on your computer, are known as "bloatware." You can download the free PC Decrapifier from pcdecrapifier.com. The program doesn't require installation, so you just run it after downloading and allow it to scan your computer. If it finds any bloatware, you can remove them right away.

Disable unnecessary startup programs. Many programs are set to launch automatically with Windows. While this can speed up program access, having too many running at startup can significantly slow down Windows boot time.

• For Windows 10 and 8 - Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Click on "More details" to expand, then go to the "Startup" tab. Choose which items to disable from the startup list and click "Disable." If unsure about a program, search for it online.
• For Windows 7 and Vista - Press ⊞ Win+R and type "msconfig." Go to the "Startup" tab and uncheck the box next to each item you want to disable. If unsure, search for the program name online to identify it.

Try alternative programs to replace your favorites. Many popular programs aren't well-optimized and can slow down your computer during use. Examples include Norton Antivirus, iTunes, and Adobe Reader. These all have free, lighter alternatives that can significantly boost your computer's speed.

• Instead of using Norton for antivirus, consider using Microsoft Defender, which comes built into Windows. Avast and Bit-Defender are also popular, free alternatives. You can check how to enable and use Windows Defender.
• If you're using iTunes for media files, you might want to consider alternatives like foobar2000 or MediaMonkey, both of which support iOS device synchronization.

Install the latest updates. Updates for macOS and other software can help keep your system stable and running smoothly. While updates are typically installed automatically, it's a good idea to occasionally check for important updates that may be waiting to install.

• Open the Mac App Store and click on the Updates tab at the top of the window. Review and install any available updates for both the system and installed programs.

Free up storage space on your hard drive. Limited storage can impact your Mac's performance. Regularly removing old programs and files can significantly improve your Mac's processing speed.

• Uninstall old programs by dragging them from the Applications folder to the Trash.
• Check your Downloads and Documents folders for any old files you can delete.
• Programs like CleanMyMac3, Disk Inventory X, and DaisyDisk can help identify and remove many unnecessary files on your computer. Using these tools can free up significant storage space.
• Use Monolingual to remove unused language files. The program is available for free at monolingual.sourceforge.net/. Avoid removing languages you use or English, as doing so could cause issues with the operating system.

Remove unnecessary desktop icons. If your desktop is cluttered with too many icons, it can slow down your system's performance. Reducing the number of icons and files on your desktop can help improve overall speed.

Disable unnecessary startup programs. Some applications are set to launch automatically when your Mac starts. While this can make it easier to open programs, having too many can cause your Mac to take longer to boot.

• Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences".
• Choose "Users & Groups", then select "Login Items".
• Select the app you don't want to load at startup and click the "-" button. You may need to click the lock icon and enter your admin password to proceed.

Check your hard drive using Disk Utility. Sometimes, file and permission issues can cause problems on your Mac. Disk Utility can scan and repair these types of errors.

• Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder in Applications.
• Select your hard drive from the left-hand pane.
• Click the "First Aid" tab and then click "Verify Disk". The scanning process will begin and may take a little while to complete.
• If any errors are found, click "Repair Disk" to fix them.

Be cautious when downloading software from the Internet. A common way adware spreads is through programs that are installed when you think you're downloading something else. Always pay attention to each screen during the installation process, especially for free programs. Be sure to decline any unnecessary additional installs and carefully check each checkbox.

• Look for open-source alternatives, as they often don't include adware in their installers.
• Avoid download sites like CNet or Tucows, as they tend to offer download managers that include ads.

Use lightweight antivirus software. If you’re using a Windows computer, it's essential to have antivirus software running nearly all the time. While Windows Defender is typically sufficient, you can also consider other popular antivirus programs like Avast, Bit-Defender, Kaspersky, and others. Just ensure you only run one antivirus program at a time, as they can conflict with each other.

• You can research how to find and install antivirus software on your own.

Regularly clean your computer. Dust can accumulate inside your computer, causing it to overheat. When the temperature rises, components will automatically slow down to help cool down the system. Keeping your computer clean and cool will help ensure it performs at its best. This is especially important if you have pets or smoke indoors.

• Consider purchasing compressed air or using a blower to clean out most of the dust inside your computer.
• You can look up guides for cleaning dust from your personal computer.

Uninstall programs you no longer use. By taking care of the programs you install, you can avoid cluttering your system with unnecessary software. Uninstalling programs you no longer need will free up significant storage space. You can even keep backup copies of the installers for future use, so you can quickly reinstall them without needing to download the files again.