It doesn’t take long for computer desktops and hard drives to become cluttered, and it’s probably why your PC has been so slow lately. Luckily, Windows has great tools for getting rid of these five types of digital clutter that will have your computer performing like new in no time flat.

There are five types of clutter that may be causing your computer to perform so slowly. Usually, simply resetting or refreshing Windows will help you solve these issues.

1. Windows updates – includes failed update downloads. While Windows will delete some of these corrupted and unusable files, others will hang around forever unless you reset Windows.
2. Registry bloat – includes files and applications you’ve deleted in addition to every action performed in Windows, which is recorded in your computer’s registry. Redundant entries bog down your PC, and the solution is to reset Windows.
3. Error logs – log files kept by Windows whenever software in your system encounters errors in processing or crashes altogether. And, as with registry bloat, these log files accumulate and slow down your computer. To remove these space-eating files, reset Windows.
4. User bloat – refers to large numbers of your own files, especially if they’re unorganized. Refreshing Windows will take care of this problem.
5. Bloatware – refers to unwanted preinstalled software. It takes up tons of CPU, RAM, and disk space, as well as poses a raft of security risks. To get rid of it, use Windows 10’s Fresh Start feature, which basically reinstalls Windows 10 while backing up your data, settings, and native apps. It will get rid of most apps from your system, including bloatware.

As mentioned, you can either reset or refresh Windows to remove clutter of all types. When you reset, a brand new copy of Windows 10 is installed and your system is “reset” to its original state, which may include non-Microsoft apps and bloatware added by the hardware manufacturer. On the other hand, when you refresh, your PC reinstalls Windows 10 free of any bloatware. Both will delete Windows 10 apps and your customized settings, and will give you choices of keeping your old files or deleting them.

To get started, go to Start > Settings > Update and Recovery > Recovery. If you want to reset Windows, choose Reset this PC > Get Started and then follow the instructions. If you want to refresh Windows, you first need to find out what your Windows update version is, since the processes are a bit different.

• For the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, start by going to Settings app > Recovery > Reset this PC. This will reinstall Windows from local system files and not the latest version. This also gives you the option of deleting all your data.
• For the Windows 10 Creators update, begin the refresh process by following the same procedure as above. But this update also has the Fresh Start feature, which you’ll find by going to Windows Defender > Device Performance & health. You’ll find Fresh Start toward the bottom of the menu; click Additional info > Get started. With Fresh Start, you’ll get the latest version of Windows plus all the updates.

There are innumerable ways to make your computer perform faster and more efficiently, and our Windows experts are equipped with all the tricks of the trade. Give us a call today.

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We are driven by instinct to switch to tools that increase efficiency. This is as true as when our ancestors upgraded to sharper spears, as it is now as we continually update the operating systems of our Macs. However, there have been so many macOS improvements over the years that we often overlook the more beneficial ones. To help you out, we’ve compiled a checklist to help you reach the top of your game.

Declutter with Desktop Stacks

Because of enhanced syncing capabilities, the Mac Desktop is the best place for making files accessible from all your synced devices, be they on macOS or iOS. However, clutter can quickly build up on the Desktop, and it’s such a time-consuming hassle to organize everything.

Thankfully, Stacks can declutter your screen with just a few mouse clicks. Simply click on the desktop, then click View > Use Stacks. Or you can Control-click (right-click) on the desktop, then click Use Stacks. Stacks will then group files of the same kind together by default. Images will be in one pile, while docs, PDFs, and presentations will be in their own separate piles.

Of course, you may use a different filing method. Click on the desktop, then View > Group Stacks By, then choose a category, such as tag or date modified, among others.

Use Universal Copy and Paste

Ever had an image or piece of text that you found on one device and wanted to use in a program opened in another computer? We had to send ourselves emails or instant messages just for those juicy bits of content! Thankfully, Apple's new universal copy and paste feature makes things easier.

Assuming you’re logged on to multiple devices using one iCloud account, you can just copy stuff from one device and then paste it onto another — no other extra steps required!

Reduce clicks further by just dragging text

Within the same device, you can highlight text in one app window, then drag-and-paste it directly onto another app window — no need to copy or cut. You can also drag the text to the desktop to create a new text clip document.

Converse with Siri on your Mac

Now that Siri’s on the Mac, you can use the personal assistant to perform side tasks while you complete your spreadsheets or polish your presentation without being sidetracked.

There are many ways to activate Siri:

• Click the Siri icon found in the menu bar, Dock, or Touch bar.
• Simultaneously press and hold the Command key and Spacebar until Siri responds.
• If Siri is already up, click the Siri icon or the mic icon in the Siri window.
• Just say “Hey, Siri.” (This only works on 2018 MacBook Pro models, and only when the computer lid is open).

With Siri open, you can then ask it to describe the weather in Maui, locate taco joints near you, and invite more participants to your 2:00 p.m. meeting by name, among many other things.

Run Windows

While this tip may be unpalatable for Mac purists, having Windows as an extra operating system gives users access to software that macOS doesn’t have. Obviously, this eliminates the hassle of having to rely on busy Windows-using teammates to help you out.

You can use a virtualization app such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, or VirtualBox to run Windows alongside macOS. Alternatively, you can partition your hard drive and use Boot Camp Assistant to install Windows on your hardware.

To recap, here’s our time-saving checklist:

• Declutter your desktop with Stacks
• Take advantage of universal copy and paste
• Simply drag text across app windows
• Multitask with Siri
• (Optional) Use Windows alongside macOS

Curious about how to make the most out of your Macs? Talk to us — we’d be more than happy to complete your checklist and more to help your business become more efficient.

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