“Why is my computer so slow?” If you are suffering with sluggish performance or a decrease in computing power, you may be wondering what is causing these problems and how you can fix it. Read on to learn about how to fix a slow computer and restore it to like new speeds and performance.
A brand new PC usually runs at its advertised speed with few glitches. Depending on how often and for what it is used, the PC will eventually and inevitably start to run more slowly and may even freeze up or crash on occasion, usually at the least opportune moments. Activities such as regular PC application usage, downloads and installation or uninstallation of applications often leave behind file “debris” in the PC’s hard drive and can lead to lower PC system efficiency.
How do I speed up my computer? There are several popular ways to speed up one’s computer, here are a few that you can try:
Window Clean-up and Repair
If using a Windows-based PC, depending on which Windows operating system one has, the first step towards faster operating speeds is often to simply go to the OS’s excess file cleaner (e.g. “Disk Cleanup).
Another option is to use the system’s disk check program, where the entire hard drive is scanned for errors and random or “orphan” elements and the user is given the option of deleting the errors and orphans or filing them together somewhere on the computer. This can help the PC run more efficiently.
Registry Cleaning and Repair
Another popular and effective option is to use a registry cleaner application to increase PC performance. Such an application basically takes what the above two application to a further level. A registry cleaner will scan and remove errors and orphan entries from the Windows registry which acts like a central database for information on software and settings.
Registry cleaners usually do not come pre-installed with your PC system. There are some good free applications available for download online. Many these are upgradeable for a fee in order to perform more sophisticated tasks. Check out the link at the bottom of this article for free downloads of popular registry scanning tools.
You can install any of these programs and know in minutes exactly how many errors are clogging up your registry. Fixing these errors is automatically handled by the software, so they are quick and easy to use and can be a very effective way to fix a slow computer.
Scanning and Cleaning for Spyware, Malware, Viruses and other Intrusions
Sometimes uploading or downloading files from the Internet or a disk can bring unwanted applications which spy on one’s computer usage and Internet habits or systematically destroy the internal workings of one’s hard drive.
There are multiple products available, both free and commercial, which can help scan for such privacy- violating intrusions. When found, the intrusions may be removed or quarantined. Sequestration of such intrusions can help one’s system run faster.
More Drastic Measures
Still not achieving the speed you desire? More expensive and time consuming measures to fix a slow computer include:
– Adding more system memory.
– Starting from scratch by re-installing one’s OS and all the applications.
The above and other more drastic measures for fine-tuning one’s computer speed an efficiency should only be attempted by users with experience and/or training. Attempting these measures without proper experience or assistance can be disastrous for the everyday PC user.
Essentially, corruption of a new and “clean” PC system may be caused by unexpected intruders and uninvited applications as well as debris from regular PC usage. Any of these may cause the PC system to run more slowly and cause system crashes and malfunctions.
Using any or all of the above recommended tools and procedures can help remove or repair the guilty entities and thus increase the speed, efficiency, reliability, and overall performance of your computer.
