How to Get Rid of My Computer Lag

Computer lag is irksome.

Waiting and waiting for a Web page or computer program to load or typing and waiting for the words to catch up can make you feel like you are in a time warp. But some basic maintenance tasks can help remove that lag and have you flying again.

Instructions

1. Empty your Internet temporary folders to free up resources. Open Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and select "Delete browsing history." Several options will appear in a dialog box. Choose "Temporary Internet files" and click "Delete."

2. Close or remove unnecessary programs. If you are surfing the Internet and a few other programs you don't need are running, close them and your surfing will go faster. It also helps to disable programs that start automatically in the background. Click on the Start icon and type “msconfig” in the search box. Under the Startup tab, uncheck programs you don’t want running every time you start the computer. You can start any of these programs manually if you need them.

3. Click on the Start icon, go to the Control Panel and select the “Ease of Access” link. Click on "Change how your keyboard works," then choose "Keyboard settings" at the bottom of the next window. Try changing the repeat delay and the repeat rate. Sometimes this can cause lag as you type.

4. Install and run anti-adware, anti-spyware or anti-malware software to eliminate junk that has gotten onto your computer. Some anti-virus programs come bundled with this type of software also.

5. Upgrade your computer by getting more memory or a faster CPU. There are always tradeoffs when considering upgrading vs. buying a new computer. A new computer will cost more, but your old computer might not be so upgradeable. If you have the space and the capability, adding RAM usually helps speed up your computer and reduce lag.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a laptop, a bad battery can cause lag. Remove the battery and work without it to see whether that is the problem.

References

• Microsoft at Work: How to Make a Computer Faster: 6 Ways to Speed Up Your PC

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish