Downloading files can be an agonizing process if your computer is running slowly. Slow downloads can be caused by aging equipment, a slow connection or a cluttered hard drive. No matter what combination of elements is contributing to your slow download speed, there are ways to improve it. By performing some basic computer maintenance and keeping some guidelines in mind, you can increase your download speed dramatically.

System Maintenance

One of the biggest reasons download speed suffers is because routine maintenance has been neglected on the computer. The most important maintenance routines deal with excess data. The fastest way to get rid of the bulk of your excess data is to run the Disk Cleanup utility. This program is found in the System Tools menu under the Accessories tab. Runnning the Disk Cleanup utility will delete temporary files, compressed files and items in the Recycle Bin. Once this utility has finished running, it is time to clear files in your Internet browser's cache. Go to the Tools menu in your browser, and select either "Clear Private Data" in Firefox or "Delete Browsing History" in Internet Explorer. Once these files have been deleted, run the Disk Defragmenting utility. Because you have likely gotten rid of a lot of files, the files you keep will become fragmented across the hard drive, resulting in a slowdown. However, once the Defragmenting utility has been run, the fragmented files should go away, and you'll be left with a much cleaner hard drive, which will translate to faster downloads.

Browsing Habits

Good browsing habits will allow you to make the most of your browsing experience without slowing down your download speed. Keep tabbed browsing to a minimum. Keeping several active tabs open strains your browser and forces it to divert its power to maintaining the tabs rather than downloading your content quickly. Limit yourself to one media application at a time. While it might be tempting to load up your favorite movie trailers, radio station and YouTube video all at the same time, performing such demanding actions will deplete your computer's processing power and will slow or even stall any active downloads.

Source:

Microsoft: Five ways to speed up your PC