I often get asked about why someone's pc is slow. As many of you know, the more programs you install and the older your pc, the slower it will become. Much of the "speed" of a pc is relative - much like the
theory of relativity pertaining to space and time. To put it simply, your computer gets slower as you compare it to faster machines.
Now I'll list a number of reasons why your computer is slow. Perhaps the next time you want to speed it up, you can check it against this list to help speed up your pc.
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10 reasons why your PC is slow
Old CPU - If your CPU is several years old, you'll run current updated software much slower than current processors. In it's day, your pc may have been top of the line, but time takes it's toll. If you were to run older software, your computer will most likely zip along like it used to.
Not enough RAM (physical memory) - Running your computer with not enough memory is the worst thing you can do for your computer. It will end up taxing your hard drive and other components more. Running any modern 32-bit OS, you should have as much RAM as you can get. 32-Bit systems can handle up to 4GB of RAM, anything more is a waste of your money. If you are running a 64-Bit OS, such as Windows 7, you can use up to 8GB or more - depending on your version of Windows 7.
Low free disk space - Computer can start acting sluggish if you run out of disk space. In worst case scenarios, your computer won't be able to boot because there is no more hard disk space for temporary files that are required during boot-up. Be sure to keep an eye on your disk space and delete things you don't need.
Failing hardware - When hardware such as motherboards or hard drives start failing, all kinds of random problems can start popping up. Sometimes, you may think you have corrupt files or perhaps even a virus. The easiest way to test it is to use a Boot CD, such as Ubuntu and run it to see if that also has problems.
Windows updates - Recently my computer slowed down to a crawl for no apparent reason. I thought I had a computer virus. After doing some malware and virus scans, I found nothing. Then I checked my system logs and found the problem, windows updates! The updates were downloading and installing in the background, taking up a huge chunk of system resources.
Too many running programs and services - If you've had your computer for a few years, chances are you are running more programs and "services" than you need. I try to make it a point to uninstall programs I have not used in the last 6 months. Doing so keeps my computer running fast.
Virus, spyware or other malware - Spyware and other types of malware have become more of a scourge than traditional viruses. If your computer is slowing down and you are getting popups or having problems getting to websites, your computer may be infected.
Your Filesystem needs cleaning up - If you have a lot of temporary files or other digital junk, chances are, it's taxing your computer. I find cleaning out temporary files periodically helps my PC run much smoother.
Desktop has too many icons - In my days as a tech, I have seen many computer "desktops" cluttered with hundreds, yes, hundreds of files. I'm not sure why anyone would do such a thing, but one result is a much slower computer, since everytime you move a window - your computer has to refresh the screen with more desktop icons. Clean out that desktop!
Power saving settings - I think saving power and the environment is great. However, if you have a high demand / high use system that needs to be at it's peak, turning off some energy saving settings can speed up your computer.
The best solution to most of the above software problems is to reinstall your OS and add only the applications you need. It's a good chance to backup your critical data, you do backup right? As for hardware issues, you can replace it or buy new. Oh, and donate your old computer equipment to those who can use it. Landfills are full enough and there are always people around who would appreciate a computer to use.
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