Many computer users ask themselves “why does my computer runs slow?” after using their unit for quite some time now. It is a fact that even super computers become sluggish over time because of the normal wear and tear, some unexpected problems with either hardware or software, and other problems related to Windows.
As an advice, if you find yourself wondering why “my computer runs slow?”, don’t attempt to fix your machine by yourself or spend money on some offer online. You can fix your computer without spending too much [or none at all] and without having to consult a professional as long as you follow some practical advice.
“My computer runs slow, what can I do?”
Here are some tips to help you out:
(1) Defragment your hard disk drive/s
There are hundreds of sectors that make up a hard drive. The sectors are broken into clusters and the clusters are broken further into allocations [some call this file allocation tables]. When you access your files, they become scattered because sometimes they are not returned to their original sector or allocation- this causes fragmentation and this may cause the slowdown of your computer.
Your computer’s built-in defrag tool is one of the solutions that you can use to improve your machine’s speed and performance. Defragmentation process may take up several hours especially if it is your first time to user this tool. You can schedule the defrag process at least once a week to help your computer improve and run faster.
(2) Enable your browser’s pop-up blocker
You should always enable your browser’s pop-up blocker to keep a faster and hassle-free internet access. Be wary that most of the sites that pop up are potential virus and spyware carriers.
(3) Add more Random Access Memory [RAM]
If your computer is already more than 3 years old, you may need to upgrade it by adding more memory after cleaning it up. Years of accumulated files and add-move-delete processes can slow down your computer and may leave remnants from files which can take up memory space. Adding more RAM can improve your computer’s performance by providing more memory space for new files and programs.
(4) Remove internet cache and cookies
You should remove internet cache and cookies since they can slow down your computer. You may either use a cleaning software or via your internet browser.
(5) Scan for viruses and spyware
Your computer should have a running anti-virus and anti-spyware program to protect your files and overall computer performance. Viruses and spyware can eat up memory space and cause a slow down, and they can do other damaging effects without you noticing it. And make sure before your plug into the internet that your anti-virus/anti-spyware programs are up and running, and updated regularly.
(6) Remove unwanted/unused item on your start menu
Unwanted and unused items on your start menu may drag your computer’s speed and performance. To remove these unnecessary programs:
open the RUN box -> press ENTER -> uncheck the programs you don’t want to load upon start-up -> do not uncheck other items you are not familiar with [these could be programs that your computer needs to get stabilized]
(7) Use registry repair software
You can find many computer registry repair programs on the internet which cater to almost all Windows versions. Make sure that you choose the one that can fix more errors and problems. A registry repair software can help improve your computer’s speed and help optimize its performance.
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