Why Is My PC Slow?

A PC may operate slower than usual if it has inadequate hardware or if malicious code or software application errors are slowing it down. A PC also may operate slowly if the user has too many applications open simultaneously.

Processor

Each operating system (OS) specifies minimum processor requirements. An OS installed on a computer that does not meet the minimum processor requirements may run slowly.

System Memory

Computers load software applications into system memory when the user opens the application. If an application requires more system memory than the computer has available, the computer uses hard drive space as virtual memory, which slows the computer's performance.

Multitasking

Each application running on a system uses a portion of the system's memory and processing power. Opening many software applications simultaneously causes the computer to spread its resources among all the applications, slowing overall performance.

Malicious code

Some malicious code acts specifically to use as many system resources as possible. This slows the system's performance and inconveniences the user.

Errors

Software errors may prevent a software application from releasing memory it no longer needs. This condition, known as a memory leak, slows system performance.

References

• Hubpages article on slow PC performance
• Yahoo article on improving slow PCs