You may be able to breathe new life into slow computer

As time begins to wear on a computer and it becomes slower and slower, the option that comes to mind is simply replacing it.

But experts say instead of costly replacements there are steps people can take to ensure a faster and more-efficient machine.

"One basic thing you can do is to make sure your antivirus is up to date," says Peter Rohner, a computer repair expert at ABCD Computer Repair.

With the holidays coming, chances are good the emails people receive won't all be season's greetings.

"Don't open messages from people you don't recognize," he says, noting they could contain viruses that contribute to making computers run slower.

Rohner adds people can do simple tasks such as clearing cookies — small files stored on a computer — and Internet browsers.

"It's basically where you have been on the Internet," he says. "They tend to slow down the system."

In the years of dial-up Internet, Rohner says cookies were needed if people returned to many of the same places. But with more advanced machines, things are faster and cookies aren't needed as much.

People can go to their history on their computer and look under settings to clear cookies and browser history.

Along with erasing histories, Rohner says people should be aware of clunky desktops.

"Don't store heavy files on your desktop because it uses up too much memory," he says. "I've seen people who have had 30 gigs on their desktop."

He says it's acceptable to have shortcuts on the desktop that take people to storage areas, but not to just leave large files there.

Contact reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5201. Follow @mjlyle on Twitter.