Speed Up Your Windows PC

Chris Taylor presents a practical, easy-to-follow guide to improving Windows computer performance using both built-in tools and free third-party utilities. In this session, he explains the most common causes of slowdowns in Windows 10 and 11, including CPU bottlenecks, high disk activity, memory overuse, browser extensions, startup programs, malware, disk clutter, outdated drivers, and unnecessary background apps. He shows how to use Task Manager and other tools to identify what is slowing a computer down and offers realistic advice on when to restart a program, disable startup items, clear caches, clean up storage, or consider hardware upgrades such as adding more RAM or switching to a solid-state drive. The presentation also covers helpful maintenance tools such as Storage Sense, Disk Cleanup, Microsoft Defender, CCleaner, Sysinternals utilities, and other free programs that can help users monitor performance, reclaim storage, and reduce unwanted software. Chris includes practical cautions about backing up your computer before making changes and explains which tweaks are worth trying and which older ideas, like reinstalling Windows, are often no longer necessary. The session concludes with a short Q&A, including discussion of CCleaner settings and Belarc Advisor for tracking software license keys. Time Stamps 00:00 Causes of Windows performance problems 01:28 Hardware upgrades to improve performance 05:41 Key performance metrics in Task Manager 07:41 CPU bottlenecks and managing processes 13:21 Disk activity bottlenecks and solutions 16:41 Memory usage and managing memory hogs 20:00 Internet connectivity and network monitoring 22:15 Browser extensions and cache management 26:45 Malware impact and antivirus recommendations 29:51 Disk clutter cleanup and storage management 35:10 Managing startup programs 36:49 Driver updates and impact on performance 38:28 Disk indexing and disabling it 39:38 Removing crapware from your PC 40:11 Advanced free utilities for troubleshooting 47:04 Additional performance tips and settings 48:39 Auto PC Group info and Q&A session