by Arden Davidson

Created on: October 07, 2009   Last Updated: November 06, 2009

First the page takes forever to load. If there are pictures involved, it takes forever and a day. Then you go to click on a link and you have to go through this frustration all over again. Kinda takes the fun out of surfing the Internet, huh?

What you may not know is that none of this waiting and fuming is necessary. And you don't have to go out and spend big bucks on a new computer. There are many ways to speed up the computer you already have - and here are the top 5:

1. Clear your cache

Despite how it sounds, this does not mean get rid of your money - that is exactly what we are trying to avoid here. Your cache is where your temporary Internet files are stored. If it gets too full, your computer may run very sluggishly. Clearing your cache is very simple. Just click on your Start menu on the bottom left hand corner of your screen (The Windows logo). Then go over to the right hand side where you see "Control Panel" and click on that. You should then see an icon labeled "Internet Options," so double-click there. A new window will open up in which you can choose to delete your temporary internet files. Click on that button and your cache should be emptied within a matter of minutes.

2. Defragment your computer

This is another one of those tasks that sounds difficult, but is really quite simple. First you should clear your cache following the instructions above. Also make sure you have at least a couple of hours available to wait for the defragmenting process to finish. Here is all you need to do: Go to the Start menu on the bottom left hand corner of your screen (The Windows logo). Click "Programs" or "All Programs," then "Accessories," then "system tools," and finally, "Defragment."

3. Contact a remote, online repair service

Online repair services are much less expensive than buying a new computer, and much quicker than sending your computer out to be fixed. These services will scan your computer for viruses and "spyware," and get rid of them immediately (This is critical to a fast running computer). They can also give your computer a "tune-up," much like mechanics give your car a tune-up - only this time you don't have to leave the house. These companies can also make changes in your computer's settings that will help it run more quickly, all from a remote location.

4. Delete unwanted files and/or add more memory

Your computer's hard drive can fill up rather quickly if you have a lot of large files downloaded, or if you didn't have much memory to begin with.

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