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You don't mention how old your system is, but here's what I do when my computer starts to bog down.
First, make sure your hardware is working properly. You should be able to run a system diagnostic to check the hardware. Likely, the hardware is ok. Slow computers are usually due to clogging up the pipes...here are a few things you can do:
1. DeFragment ("defrag") your hard drive. This rearranges data on your hard disk to remove gaps from deleted items, old junk just on the disk, and helps software programs reside closer together on the disk to make them work better. If you don't have a defrag program or know how to use it, go to START, SEARCH, and enter "defrag" to see if you have one on your system you didn't know about. If you can get on the internet on someone else's computer, take a flash drive and search for freeware defrag software...many good ones out there, download one onto your flash drive and take it back to your computer and load the software and run it. Defragging may take a very long time, though, so start it before bed, and let it run...could take all night.
2. I would also go to the Internet and download SpyBot which is also free and is an excellent spyware remover. You load it on your hard drive, after installing it, just click on the icon and a little box will appear and ask you what you want it to do. Have it "check for problems" and it will check every file on your hard disk which could take between fifteen minutes to a couple of hours. Any spyware will be caught and appear in the window for you to elect to clean up when it is finished. This will speed things up.
3. Get all the unused icons off of your screen. Most people don't know that the more icons on the screen, the more RAM you are using for nothing. This is especially true for computers with less than 1gb of RAM when you are running several programs or have active icons, your ram buffer will fill up and slow everything down.
4. Finally, use WindowWasher or other programs to identify unused programs. You can scan what your system has in control panel by clicking on "Add/Remove" programs. You will often find that you have lots of little programs there which were saved when you did something else. Photo viewing software is a good example...when you load a photo disc from a store, your computer will get loaded with some proprietary software which looks all nice and all, but will run in the background forever waiting for the next time you want to look at pictures, all the time burning up RAM. Get rid of any program you know you don't need, but be sure it isn't needed for another program you do need, but before you uninstall, it will ask you.
5. Last: if you are running 1gb of RAM or less, this will slow you down. For a couple of hundred dollars or a lot less, depending on the brand of computer you are using, you can usually add strips of RAM memory in a snap and speed everything up
If none of these things work you have two options: take it to a reputable shop so a pro can look over your system, or reload your original software pack and overwrite the hard drive to its original naked capacity. This will wipe out all your sofware and data, but if you have those CDs handy, just re-install the ones you need and you should be ok.
First, make sure your hardware is working properly. You should be able to run a system diagnostic to check the hardware. Likely, the hardware is ok. Slow computers are usually due to clogging up the pipes...here are a few things you can do:
1. DeFragment ("defrag") your hard drive. This rearranges data on your hard disk to remove gaps from deleted items, old junk just on the disk, and helps software programs reside closer together on the disk to make them work better. If you don't have a defrag program or know how to use it, go to START, SEARCH, and enter "defrag" to see if you have one on your system you didn't know about. If you can get on the internet on someone else's computer, take a flash drive and search for freeware defrag software...many good ones out there, download one onto your flash drive and take it back to your computer and load the software and run it. Defragging may take a very long time, though, so start it before bed, and let it run...could take all night.
2. I would also go to the Internet and download SpyBot which is also free and is an excellent spyware remover. You load it on your hard drive, after installing it, just click on the icon and a little box will appear and ask you what you want it to do. Have it "check for problems" and it will check every file on your hard disk which could take between fifteen minutes to a couple of hours. Any spyware will be caught and appear in the window for you to elect to clean up when it is finished. This will speed things up.
3. Get all the unused icons off of your screen. Most people don't know that the more icons on the screen, the more RAM you are using for nothing. This is especially true for computers with less than 1gb of RAM when you are running several programs or have active icons, your ram buffer will fill up and slow everything down.
4. Finally, use WindowWasher or other programs to identify unused programs. You can scan what your system has in control panel by clicking on "Add/Remove" programs. You will often find that you have lots of little programs there which were saved when you did something else. Photo viewing software is a good example...when you load a photo disc from a store, your computer will get loaded with some proprietary software which looks all nice and all, but will run in the background forever waiting for the next time you want to look at pictures, all the time burning up RAM. Get rid of any program you know you don't need, but be sure it isn't needed for another program you do need, but before you uninstall, it will ask you.
5. Last: if you are running 1gb of RAM or less, this will slow you down. For a couple of hundred dollars or a lot less, depending on the brand of computer you are using, you can usually add strips of RAM memory in a snap and speed everything up
If none of these things work you have two options: take it to a reputable shop so a pro can look over your system, or reload your original software pack and overwrite the hard drive to its original naked capacity. This will wipe out all your sofware and data, but if you have those CDs handy, just re-install the ones you need and you should be ok.
source(s):
Microsoft.com
SunSystems.com
Spybot.com
Microsoft.com
SunSystems.com
Spybot.com
Voted as best: kaliekat, safiqulislam
I suggest the following steps I found at ehow.com.
-quote-
"There are various ways to improve pc performance and the care you give your pc depends on its lifespan. Is your pc too slow? No need to call a technician, you can easily fix such problems without spending money.
In this article, I would like to share with you, easy self help tips on how to improve pc performance
Things You'll Need:
* PC
Instructions
Step 1
Are you annoyed with your slow computer performance? Always run a virus and spyware scan every week. If you notice that your computer slows down and freezes up frequently, there is a possibility it might be infected.
Step 2
A great way to improve pc performance is by frequently updating your drivers, updating your browser, deleting cookies and history files.
Step 3
Give your hard disk drive special attention. Check for disk errors on your pc and make sure you defragment all your files. Running a disk defragmenter program each week is essential and highly recommended to improve pc performance.
Step 4
Clean inside your pc regularly. It's best to avoid excess build up of dust inside and outside your pc, since this can cause great harm and interfere with its performance.
Step 5
It is very important, that you also remember to back up your work and save important files to a Cd Rw or DVD. See Instructions on how to back up important files in the resources section."
-end of quote-
-quote-
"There are various ways to improve pc performance and the care you give your pc depends on its lifespan. Is your pc too slow? No need to call a technician, you can easily fix such problems without spending money.
In this article, I would like to share with you, easy self help tips on how to improve pc performance
Things You'll Need:
* PC
Instructions
Step 1
Are you annoyed with your slow computer performance? Always run a virus and spyware scan every week. If you notice that your computer slows down and freezes up frequently, there is a possibility it might be infected.
Step 2
A great way to improve pc performance is by frequently updating your drivers, updating your browser, deleting cookies and history files.
Step 3
Give your hard disk drive special attention. Check for disk errors on your pc and make sure you defragment all your files. Running a disk defragmenter program each week is essential and highly recommended to improve pc performance.
Step 4
Clean inside your pc regularly. It's best to avoid excess build up of dust inside and outside your pc, since this can cause great harm and interfere with its performance.
Step 5
It is very important, that you also remember to back up your work and save important files to a Cd Rw or DVD. See Instructions on how to back up important files in the resources section."
-end of quote-
When did you get your PC? If your pc is too old, it can be a factor why it's slow. Maybe some of your parts are a little out of shape by now. We have one pc at home purchased on 2001-2002 which is slow too.
If this is the case, try buying another RAM. Then maybe little by little try updating your parts.
This first option can be a bit pricey especially if you'll buy branded parts. There are always generic ones that works almost the same. :) But if you want to save, here are some of my tips...
1. Maybe your pc have virus on it? Try running anti virus once in a while or at least schedule a anti-virus scan once a week.
2. Maybe you have little space in your HDD or Hard drive? Try cleaning up by deleting unnecessary files. You can also backup using external disk drives or by burning into cd's or dvd's so that you can still retrieve back some of the files that don't need to stay in your pc anyway.
3. Clean your cache once in a while. This also takes up some of your space and can contribute to your pc being slow.
You can try those but the best thing to do still is to update your parts. Like I said, you can start with the RAM first. This is the main memory you use when you're using your pc. This is where the running application takes spaces so having a bigger RAM means you get more spaces for your applications when they are running.
If this is the case, try buying another RAM. Then maybe little by little try updating your parts.
This first option can be a bit pricey especially if you'll buy branded parts. There are always generic ones that works almost the same. :) But if you want to save, here are some of my tips...
1. Maybe your pc have virus on it? Try running anti virus once in a while or at least schedule a anti-virus scan once a week.
2. Maybe you have little space in your HDD or Hard drive? Try cleaning up by deleting unnecessary files. You can also backup using external disk drives or by burning into cd's or dvd's so that you can still retrieve back some of the files that don't need to stay in your pc anyway.
3. Clean your cache once in a while. This also takes up some of your space and can contribute to your pc being slow.
You can try those but the best thing to do still is to update your parts. Like I said, you can start with the RAM first. This is the main memory you use when you're using your pc. This is where the running application takes spaces so having a bigger RAM means you get more spaces for your applications when they are running.
The best advice I can give with regards to a PC, from years of dealing with the beast.
Use a disk defragmenter.
Buildup in the registry cause lots of problems.
Every 1-2 years, buy a new Hard Drive and reinstall everything from scratch.
Backup your data first, then after the reinstall put your data on the new drive.
Has the machine always been slow? If so, you may need more memory.
Use a disk defragmenter.
Buildup in the registry cause lots of problems.
Every 1-2 years, buy a new Hard Drive and reinstall everything from scratch.
Backup your data first, then after the reinstall put your data on the new drive.
Has the machine always been slow? If so, you may need more memory.
I would need mor info on things like os but if u have vista the best way i did it was changing my visuals:
Go to control panel
Go to system maintenence
Go on Performance Information and tools
On the right hand side there is the link to adjust visual effects click it
A window will appear, tick the box that says adjust for best performance
it doesnt look as nice but it will hopefully speed it up a bit, if not then defrag or just delete programs and files, comment if you need any help
Go to control panel
Go to system maintenence
Go on Performance Information and tools
On the right hand side there is the link to adjust visual effects click it
A window will appear, tick the box that says adjust for best performance
it doesnt look as nice but it will hopefully speed it up a bit, if not then defrag or just delete programs and files, comment if you need any help
Sometimes system restore works wonders when my computer is running too slowly.
On my computer it's:
All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
On my computer it's:
All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
Its hard to tell without knowing your current specs, but there are a lot of things you can do through software before resorting to buying new hardware. Here are some of the things I do to keep my computer running at tip top shape (these are for Windows-based computers):
1. Run a good anti virus scan on your computer to sniff out any viruses that may be affecting your computer experience.
2. Delete unnecessary files, games, programs, etc to free up space. The more space you have in your harddrive, the better your overall performance.
3. Defrag your HDD at least once a month, or after you move around big files in your computer (like installing a large game or deleting large files from the trash)
4. Under System>Advanced System Settings>Performance Settings, you can adjust the OS visual effects to speed up the performance of your computer.
5. If you're using Windows Vista or Windows 7, try disabling the Aero theme if your computer has a hard time rendering it.
If you've gone through all of those and Windows is still running slow, try this guide below if you have the time:
http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html
Just select the one that matches your operation system, and use a PDF reader to open up the guide. There's a lot of excellent information in that document if you take the time to read it all.
If you really need to update your hardware, start with your RAM first since its the cheapest one to upgrade. Vista and Windows 7 runs great on 2gb, but in my opinion, 4gb is the sweet spot. If you plan to go higher, make sure you use a 64bit OS to take advantage of the RAM.
For the CPU, any good and fast dual core will do. Quad cores are nice for multitasking, but I find dual cores to be just enough for everyday needs. Make sure that it is compatible with your motherboard though, so consult the shop you'll be buying from.
If you're into gaming, then you'll be needing a good videocard if you want to run the latest games. A nice, affordable card would be an nvidia 9800 gtx card, amd 4850 or the new amd 5770 cards. You need to make sure that your power supply will keep up though, so check the card manufacturer site for power supply requirements.
1. Run a good anti virus scan on your computer to sniff out any viruses that may be affecting your computer experience.
2. Delete unnecessary files, games, programs, etc to free up space. The more space you have in your harddrive, the better your overall performance.
3. Defrag your HDD at least once a month, or after you move around big files in your computer (like installing a large game or deleting large files from the trash)
4. Under System>Advanced System Settings>Performance Settings, you can adjust the OS visual effects to speed up the performance of your computer.
5. If you're using Windows Vista or Windows 7, try disabling the Aero theme if your computer has a hard time rendering it.
If you've gone through all of those and Windows is still running slow, try this guide below if you have the time:
http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html
Just select the one that matches your operation system, and use a PDF reader to open up the guide. There's a lot of excellent information in that document if you take the time to read it all.
If you really need to update your hardware, start with your RAM first since its the cheapest one to upgrade. Vista and Windows 7 runs great on 2gb, but in my opinion, 4gb is the sweet spot. If you plan to go higher, make sure you use a 64bit OS to take advantage of the RAM.
For the CPU, any good and fast dual core will do. Quad cores are nice for multitasking, but I find dual cores to be just enough for everyday needs. Make sure that it is compatible with your motherboard though, so consult the shop you'll be buying from.
If you're into gaming, then you'll be needing a good videocard if you want to run the latest games. A nice, affordable card would be an nvidia 9800 gtx card, amd 4850 or the new amd 5770 cards. You need to make sure that your power supply will keep up though, so check the card manufacturer site for power supply requirements.
Voted as best: fallen_angel21
Maybe your due for a system restore? If it's been a few years since you've had the Pc,It would be highly recommended. What are your PC's specs to get a better idea of what you have.
When you remove a program, it doesn't entirely uninstall itself. It leaves fairly a little of needless files from entire computer. So you have to fix registry problem otherwise your system will be crashed. In sequence, you can download registry easy because that is sufficient to remove these errors. I have a link where you can download this software:
http://www.download-registry-cleaners.com/registryeasy/
http://www.download-registry-cleaners.com/registryeasy/
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