How can I speed up or improve my computer Performance for free

With a few steps, you can have you pc computer.running as fast as the day you brought it home.
Start-up Programs
Click run and type in msconfig. Click on startup items and uncheck any useless start up programs.
Or
Use the tool to manage your startup:Turning Off Programs Already Running

Step1
Tell your computer what to do by pressing"control altl delete"at the same time. When the autopilot is off and you're at the controls, you can also disable programs that are slowing down your computer.
Step2
Click the "Processes" tab.
Step3
View every program that is running on your computer at that time. You can also sort them by how much memory they are using, thereby finding the programs that are slowing down your computer overall. The third step is to look through the programs and identify the sluggish culprits.
Step4
Click the offending program or process, then click "End Process." You just sent it to an early grave.
Step5
Repeat Steps 3 and 4 as needed to increase performance.

Scan your Spyware/Adaware

Scan your computer for viruses and spyware. Make sure and get rid of any nasty viruses or spyware that are located in your computer.