Get rid of all uniomportant items in the system tray
. Each time that you start your computer it reads through these files and loads into the memory. You don't have to delete these files; you just need to prevent it from loading automatically into the system. To access these just open them manually when you need it.
Watch the amount of icons on your desktop. When you go to your desktop then all icons that is on there will need to be restored. If you have a lot of icons here it means that each and every one will need to be read before it can open the desktop. Try making a folder where you can keep rarely used desktop icons.
Empty trash. It isn't satisfactory to just delete all thethings that you don't need. You have to ensure that you throw out your trash bin as well. If you don't emptying your recycle bin you are still storing everything that you threw out. Emptying it can be done in a few clicks so make sure you do this regularly.
Clean out temporary files, cache and cookies. Going to various websites makes your computer keep the data about these. If you don't clear these up then it can accumulate eventually and slow down your computer. Make it a point to regularly clear these out. You can also allow your computer to get rid of these automatically after each session.
Defragment your computer. Every time you save a file, it doesn't always get saved fully in one place. Often times it is cut down into portions and stored as fragments in various areas. Even after you remove the files parts can be left in different spots. By defragmenting you can get rid of all these various "pieces" that weren't removed when you deleted the file.
Check your task manager. While your computer is running press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to access the task manager; here you will be able to get a glimpse of all the programs that are operating. Click on the tab that says MEM USAGE to organize the processes depending on the memory it needs. You can assign the priority depending on importance.
Keep your anti-virus software updated. One reason your computer could be running slow due to a virus or bug in your system. By keeping your software updated you can constantly look for any viruses that may be contaminiating your system. You can also keep out potential viruses that may be trying to get in.
Add to your memory. Sometimes no matter what you do, your system can still be processing slowly. If this happens it may be time for you to supplement the memory of your computer. This is especially true if you have a lot of programs that you constantly use and a lot of files that you need to keep.