Introduction
According to Matt Davies Stockton, working on an old and slow laptop can be quite challenging when the internet is just getting faster, and programs and software require more resources. Let’s check out how you can get the most from your old laptop.
The Details
1. Declutter – The first step to boosting your old laptop’s performance is to declutter it. Hunt down all the unnecessary apps and programs that you don’t use and uninstall them to free up more space. The same holds for browsers. Browsers eat up a lot of RAM and so do their extensions.
Check the extensions on your browser and remove those you don’t use. You can also go towards the next step and switch to a different and less resource-hungry browser like Mozilla Firefox instead of Google Chrome. You also need to find out the programs that are running in the background. While some of them are important, most of them aren’t. Disable them if possible.
2. Install an SSD and more RAM – Old laptops usually use hard disk drives(HDD). Think of them as a beefier version of a DVD drive where a magnetic platter is read by a head. It is slow, heavy, and has numerous mechanical parts that make it more prone to failure. Switch that out with a fast solid-state drive(SSD).
Even old laptops usually have a free M.2 slot on their motherboards. You can install an M.2 drive in that slot. It’s a tiny form of an SSD and can make your laptop several times faster. While SSDs make loading times faster, adding more RAM can make your applications and the Operating System faster. Check for a free RAM slot and install an additional stick if it’s not occupied. Otherwise, you can swap out old RAM sticks with higher-capacity RAMs.
3. Switch to a different OS – Operating Systems are the heart and soul of your computer. Some require more resources. If a version of Windows is installed on your old laptop, switching to a different operating system can make your laptop much faster. For instance, Linux distros like Slax and Peppermint OS are light and aren’t as resource hungry as Windows. Even the lightweight Chrome OS on Chromebooks used by students is a Linux-based operating system.
4. Repurpose your old laptop – If you’re upgrading to a new laptop, there’s no need to throw out the old one. You can get the most out of it by repurposing it into something else. For instance, you can use the old laptop as an additional monitor. You just need to connect your new laptop to the old one with an HDMI cable and use that extra real estate. Otherwise, you can make your old laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot, repeater, game server and so much more.
Conclusion
Matt Davies Stockton suggests that you use the above-mentioned tips to boost your laptop’s performance and breathe new life into it. You can also choose to repurpose it into a gaming server, an additional monitor, a wi-fi hotspot, and more.
