HP PCs - Improving PC performance (Windows 10)

Empty the Recycle Bin to increase the amount of unused space (free space) on the hard drive.

1. On the Windows desktop, double-click the Recycle Bin icon .

2. To restore any mistakenly deleted items, right-click the file(s), and then select Restore.

3. Click the Manage tab, and then select Empty Recycle Bin.

4. Select Yes to confirm.

   Windows removes the contents of the Recycle Bin from the hard drive.

Delete temporary files and folders to increase hard drive space and reduce the time Windows takes to access the hard drive.

1. In Windows, search for and open Disk Cleanup.

2. Select the drive you want to delete the files from, and then click OK.

3. Wait while Disk Cleanup calculates how much space you can free on the selected drive.

4. After the analysis completes, select the check box next to the types of files you want Disk Cleanup to delete.

   CAUTION:

   Selecting some options can have a negative effect. For example, selecting Setup Log Files deletes the files that online phone support agents use to help troubleshoot setup problems. Click a file type, such as Temporary Internet Files, to display a description. Do not delete files until you know the files are unnecessary for using your computer.

5. Click OK, and then click Delete Files when prompted.

   Disk Cleanup deletes the selected files.

Check the hard drive for errors that might impact system performance.

1. Close all open software applications on your computer.

2. In Windows, search for and open File Explorer, or click the app icon on the taskbar.

3. After File Explorer opens, right-click the hard drive you want to check, and then click Properties.

4. On the Properties window, select the Tools tab.

5. Under Error Checking, click Check.

   If a window displays prompting you for an administrator password or confirmation, type the requested credentials.

6. On the Error Checking window, select Scan drive.

7. Wait while Windows checks the drive for errors, and then follow the prompts to fix any issues.

   If a window displays with a Windows can't check the disk while it's in use message, click Schedule disk check. Follow the on-screen instructions to restart the computer, and then scan the drive for errors.

Restart your computer, and then open only the apps you need.

1. In Windows, select Start, select Power, and then select Restart.

2. After the computer restarts, open only the apps or programs you need.

3. After you finish using an app, click the X to close the app.

Some apps that were designed for an earlier version of Windows might not work as expected with current versions of Windows 10.

1. In Windows, search for and open Troubleshoot.

2. Scroll down the screen, select Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, and then click Run the troubleshooter.

   

3. Select the app you want to check, and then click Next.

4. Select an option, and then follow the on-screen instructions to test or change the compatibility settings.

   

Use Task Manager to find and stop processes or applications using an excessive amount of system resources.

1. In Windows, search for and open Task Manager.

   Task Manager displays currently-running applications.

2. Click More Details, and then select a tab for more information.

   • Processes: Displays all the currently-running operations and how much of the system resources are being used by each process. Some processes are necessary and should not be stopped. If you are unsure if a process is necessary, search for details about it on the internet.

   • Performance: Displays a visual representation of the overall system performance. Click Open Resource Monitor for an even more detailed view of individual processes.

   

3. On the Processes tab, if you want to close an app, or if the app is listed as Not Running, click End Task.

A startup application is software that opens when Windows opens. Over time, as you install more and more apps, the number of startup applications increases. Common apps that load and run in the background are instant messaging apps, multimedia apps, game launchers, and toolbars. You can improve system performance by stopping some of these apps from opening, or by changing their settings.

1. In Windows, search for and open Task Manager.

2. Click More details, and then select the Startup tab.

3. Select any startup items that do not contribute to the system and are unwanted, then click Disable.

   CAUTION:

   Disable only those startup items that are known and unwanted.

   

4. Restart the computer.

5. If Windows or other software stops working after you disable a startup item, reverse these steps to enable the item.

Turn off graphical features and applications that use a lot of system resources or that you do not need or want.

1. In Windows, search for and open Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.

2. On the Performance Options window, select Adjust for best performance, and then click OK.

   
   Windows turns off all visual effects, such as animation of the taskbar and windows elements, displaying shadows under windows, displaying window contents while dragging, etc.

Increase the amount of unused space (free space) on the hard drive to prevent low disk space errors and improve system performance.

1. In Windows, search for and open Storage settings.

2. View how much space is available on the hard drive (C: drive is the most common).

   For best performance, the drive should have at least 15% free space. If the hard disk drive has less than 15% free space, continue with these steps

3. Under the C: drive, select each category to determine where you can free up the most space. The most common categories where you can free up space are Apps & games, Temporary files, Documents, and Pictures.

   CAUTION:

   RECOVERY (D:) or FACTORY_IMAGE (D:) hard drives are reserved for system recovery and removing files from these drives can damage your computer.

   

4. Move any files you want to keep to a USB drive or external hard drive to help free up space. This is highly recommended for larger files not needed for daily use, such as pictures and videos.

5. Remove any unwanted files and applications, and then restart the computer.

Isolate apps or processes that are no longer in use that might be using unnecessary memory resources.

1. Close all open software applications or programs, making sure to allow apps time to fully open before closing them.

   HP recommends waiting five seconds after an app opens before you close it, even if the app was opened unintentionally.

2. Restart the computer.

3. In Windows, search for and open Task Manager.

4. Click More details, select the Performance tab, and then select Memory.

5. Click Open Resource Monitor to view how your computer uses memory.

   If a window displays prompting you for an administrator password or confirmation, type the requested credentials.

   

6. On the Overview tab, open the Memory section, and then scroll down the list to view which apps are using memory.

7. Open an app suspected of causing the computer to run slowly, review the percentage of Used Physical Memory, and then write down the information.

8. Close and reopen a suspected app repeatedly, and then check the percentage of Used Physical Memory, comparing this number to the one recorded. Each time, wait about 10 seconds before opening the app again.

   • If the Used Physical Memory percentage returns to the same numbers or similar each time, the suspected app is probably not creating a memory leak.

   • If the percentage of Used Physical Memory continues to increase, there is a memory leak. Contact the software manufacturer for available patches or fixes.

Use ReadyBoost with a removable drive to improve system performance without adding more RAM to the computer.

1. Make sure you have a removable drive, such as a USB flash drive, with a high data transfer rate and at least 500 MB of free space.

2. Insert the removable drive into the appropriate port on the computer.

3. In Windows, search for and open File Explorer.

4. In File Explorer, right-click the removable drive, and then select Properties.

5. On the Properties window, select the ReadyBoost tab, and then selectReadyBoost.

6. Move the slider to the set the space to reserve for system speed, reserving at least 9048 MB for optimal performance.

7. Click OK to reserve the space on the removable drive for ReadyBoost and save the settings.

   On the removable drive, the space reserved for ReadyBoost is saved in a file named ReadyBoost.sfcache.

The paging file is an area on your hard drive that Windows uses like memory. Increasing the paging file size can help speed up the computer and improve performance.

1. In Windows, search for and open Control panel.

2. In the search field, type System, and then select System from the results.

3. Select Advanced system settings.

4. In System Properties, select the Advanced tab, and then click Settings.

5. In Performance Options, select the Advanced tab, and then click Change.

   

6. Clear the check mark from Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.

   

7. Select Custom size, and then type a minimum and maximum size. Use the minimum allowed, recommended allowed, and currently allocated paging file sizes listed at the bottom of the window to choose a size.

8. Close the system windows, and then restart the computer.