If you have ever been in the middle of trying to get something done on your computer and you are faced with a spinning wheel that never seems to stop, then you know exactly how frustrating it can be to deal with a slow computer. But before you throw it across the room and head to the store to buy a new one, take a deep breath, channel your inner nerd, and give one of these tricks to speed up a computer a try:

Restart the Computer

This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people forget this step when in a moment of frustration. Before you attempt any of these other ways to speed up computers, make sure you start with a simple reboot. If you are lucky, this may do the trick. Your computer just got temporarily overwhelmed and it needed to start over.

Uninstall Programs You Don’t Use

If the reboot didn’t work, your next attempt to speed up a computer is to remove any programs you do not use. Even if you don’t go around installing pointless software, like some of our Nerdy experts, you would be surprised just how many programs came downloaded on your computer when you purchased it. Take a trip through your control panel and explore all of the installed software. If you recognize the name and know you don’t use it, just uninstall it. However, if you don’t recognize the name, leave it alone—you don’t want to chance uninstalling something your computer needs to operate effectively.

Upgrade Your RAM

If you are still wondering how to speed up your computer, the next step is to take a look at your RAM, or Random Access Memory. Essentially, RAM is the temporary storage memory your computer uses every time you click a button. Every task takes RAM to work, and if you are overloading the computer, the RAM will stall as it tries to make enough temporary memory to complete the requested tasks. The good news is, with most computers, you can upgrade the RAM by simply installing higher-capacity memory sticks, so it is a fairly inexpensive fix.

Contact a Qualified Tech Support Company

If you need to speed up a computer, and you need it done yesterday, contact the team at NerdsToGo: There might be a bigger issue at play, and you need a Nerd’s help. Our technical support team is available around the clock to help you get your computer back up and running at a speed that won’t frustrate you. To learn more about how to speed up computers or to locate our franchise partner nearest you, contact us now.