Why My Computer Is Running So Slow
If my computer is running so slow, I may be able to pinpoint the problem and fix it.
There could be a single issue or multiple problems plaguing my computer.
Maybe I just need to run some maintenance utilities to organize my system.
5 Key Items that will slow my computer down:
Cluttered Hard Drive
Fragmented Files and Folders
Virus Infection
Spyware Infection
Registry Errors
Any combination of these can have your computer running slow.
You may need to run multiple checks to identify the problem or problems.
The best way to keep your computer from running
so slow is proactively.
Prevent problems before they start.
Run maintenance utilities often and don't allow infections to occur.
Suggested Maintenance Items
These utilities tend to be most effective in situations where my computer has gradually slowed over time.
Files that are no longer needed should be (safely) removed from your system so it can operate more efficiently.
The best part is, these utilities are already on your Windows Computer and will cost you nothing (other than some of your time).
If you run them on a regular basis, your computer may run more smoothly.
Online Computer Repair Services
Disk Cleanup
If you have a cluttered hard drive,
this utility will do a lot in a short amount of time.
It will clear . . .
Downloaded Program Files
Temporary Internet Files
Offline Web Pages
Recycle Bin
Setup Log Files
Temporary Files
WebClient/Publisher Temporary Files
It will also Compress Old Files and Catalog Files For Content Indexing.
You can perform any or all of this with a single cleaning.
To run disk cleanup:
Click my Start button.
Mouse over All Programs, Accessories, System Tools.
Click Disk Cleanup.
Select the drive you want to clean up. (Typically C:)
Click OK.
Wait for your drive to be analyzed. (This could take awhile)
Select the actions you want to perform.
Click OK.
(Leave the More Options Tab alone unless you are an advanced user.)
Depending on when you last ran this, it might take a while.
Don't cancel it. Let it do its job.
Disk Defragmenter
This can correct your fragmented files and folders.
Click my Start button.
Mouse over All Programs, Accessories, System Tools.
Click Disk Defragmenter.
Select the drive you want to Defragment. (again, Typically C:)
Click the Defragment Button.
This will take longer than the disk cleanup but it will indicate its progress for you.
(This is not so with Windows Vista or Windows 7)
Again, don't cancel it. Let it do its job.
Don't try to do other things on your computer while these utilities are running. It will only make it take longer.
You should also disable your screensaver before defragmenting.
(If anything changes on your hard drive, defragmenter will restart.)
You might be impressed with how much of a difference these two utilities can make.
If you don't notice an improvement, or only a slight difference, you may have a more specific problem.
Isolate The Problem
If you have current antivirus software, for example, try running a complete virus scan of your system so you can rule out a virus as your culprit for now.
It could still be a new virus. Some viruses can infect computers before the antivirus software is updated to catch them. But again, if your virus definitions are current and your scan doesn't find a virus, you probably don't have a virus.
If your virus scan comes up clean, you might check for spyware next.
Using the same conditions as you did with the virus example above, if you have current antispyware software, run a complete system scan to check for any spyware or adware that might be on your PC.
Once you have eliminated viruses and spywares as the source of your
problem, move on to your registry. Scan your registry for errors and clean or optimize any issues you encounter in your registry.
Eliminate The Problem
If you don't have utilities with current definitions, you might want to take advantage of the Free Software that is available.
Some will even correct problems that you have.
The main thing to remember with these types of programs is that most are not automatic.
You have to keep the software updated and do the scans yourself.
They are manual, and while they are helpful to locate and correct issues, they are not necessarily the most effective prevention tools.
Prevent Future Problems
The best solution for these problems is to prevent them from happening.
If you scan, detect and remove a virus, trojan horse, etc., it won't necessarily undo the damage that may have already been caused.
Allowing a malicous program to reside on your computer for even the shortest period of time can lead to a catastrophe.
This is especially true if you use you PC for online banking, bill paying, or making online purchases.
Set your security utilities to update and scan by themselves.
Make sure you leave time in between settings so you don't have multiple utilities trying to run at the same time.
So I might not like to leave my computer running all the time, but it's a lot easier to keep my computer from running too slowly if I don't have to do every individual task manually.
