Common causes of a slow computer

When a computer comes out of the box, it is shiny new and lightening fast. Give it just a few months and there are crumbs in the keyboard and it takes forever to start up and run applications. Luckily, there are some common things that cause computer slowdowns and with a few tweaks, you can get it almost good as new.

Malware

Some of the most common causes of computer slowdowns are spyware, viruses and adware. These malicious programs are put on the system by those who want to track your movements or spread their programs through the computer universe. Not only can the programs themselves be harmful, but they can eat up memory and collect data from your system which can cause major slowdowns. The best way to get rid of this problem is with a good antimalware program to combat the bad guys. Look on the Internet for reviews of the most popular programs and make sure that you update and run the programs regularly.

Startup Issues

Your computer loads many programs at startup, and not all of these are necessary for your system to work properly. Cut down on the number of programs that are loading and you can drastically speed up both startup and shutdown times.

1. Go to Start and choose All Programs.
2. Choose Startup. All the items that start when you power on will show.
3. Choose any program in this folder and right click it. If you need information on what it is, choose Properties, or choose Delete to get rid of it.
4. If you’re not sure what a program is, don’t delete it. If you delete something and it comes back, it could be malware and you will have to run an antivirus program.

Fragmented Files

As you use the computer, files get spread out through the system instead of being all in one place. By defragmenting the computer, you put them back together which can significantly speed up the system.

5. Go to Start and then to My Computer.
6. Find the drive you want to defrag and right click on it.
7. Click on Properties and open Tools.
8. Choose Defragment Now. This could take up to an hour, so make sure you have time and your computer won’t lose power or have to shut down in the middle of the process – that can damage the system.

Not Enough Memory

Increasing your RAM is a good way to add speed and improve performance. Check your computers specifications to see how much and what kind of memory you can add to open RAM slots.

Damaged Operating System

If you think that your operating system might be damaged, you can use the original installation disk to repair the installation. Make sure that all your data is backed up before you attempt a repair. The Repair option should leave your data intact, but be aware of the Restore option which will return your computer to its original state – minus all your data and files.

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