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How to Make My Laptop Faster to Run Games

Kelly Gray

Kelly Gray has been writing for a daily community newspaper in the Midwest since 2000 and her work has appeared in “The Examiner” newspaper. A resident of Independence, Mo., Gray majored in journalism at Kansas State University and received a ßachelor of Arts.

ßy Kelly Gray, eHow Contributor

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How to Make My Laptop Faster to Run Games thumbnail

A few simple tasks will help a laptop to run better and faster.

Laptops are a great way to play games without being tied down to sitting in one place the entire time. However, depending on what is already on the computer and how much room and power a game requires, a laptop can be sluggish and not operate at its full capacity. Several easy and inexpensive options can be used to improve how a computer functions, helping games to run better at the same time.

- 1
  
  Place the laptop on a flat, hard surface such as a table. Laptops generate heat, and that heat can affect how fast a game operates. Set a magazine or book underneath the laptop if using it on your lap.
- 2
  
  Close programs that are not being used before starting a game. This includes other games or spreadsheets, which use a lot of power. The more programs running, the slower the computer will operate. Push “Control+Alt+Delete” to close programs manually.
- 3
  
  Defragment the hard drive once a month to improve the computer’s speed and operations. Select the “Start” button from the bottom left of the computer screen. Select “Computer” from the list of options. Right-click using the mouse on the hard drive icon and select “Properties” at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Select “Tools” from the top of the box, and select “Defragment Now.” Depending on how long it has been since the last time the computer was defragmented, this could take some time.
- 4
  
  Remove unused programs and files from the computer’s hard drive. Large files such as photos and videos take up a lot of space. Move this to a back-up hard drive or copy photos to a compact disc. That way, this files will not be lost, just moved from the main hard drive.
- 5
  
  Scan the computer for viruses daily. Viruses can not only damage a computer, but also slow it down. Install an anti-virus software program that will regularly check for threats. These programs can also use computer resources, so close the program before running a game.
- 6
  
  Dust off the laptop every few weeks. Dust and air particles can clog vents on the laptop, restricting circulation. This can cause the equipment to run slower than it should.

Photo Credit laptop image by Jorge Figueiredo from Fotolia.com

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