How to Determine What Is Making Your Computer Boot Slow?

A new computer is wonderful. It starts up quickly, and runs very smoothly. Unless you are a computer expert, more than likely, your computer will slow down a few months after you start using it. There are any number of reasons you computer will slow down. There are just as many tips, tricks and solutions to fix these issues.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • Can of compressed air
  • Small screwdriver
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Instructions

  1. How to Determine What Is Making Your Computer Boot Slow?

    • 1

      The most common cause of slow computer boot time is software-related. First, run your disk defragment utility in your computer tools. Shut down and restart to see whether this process solved the slow boot time problem.

      Next, look carefully look at your installed software. If your computer started booting slower after installing a new program, check the options of the software to see whether it can be disabled at startup. If that does not speed things up, try uninstalling the software. If this software is something you would like to keep on your computer, contact the support team for your product and ask whether they have a solution to keep the software from slowing your boot time.

      You should also open your control panel and check the programs option. Be sure that only programs you have installed are present. If there is something there that you did not put there, search for the program online to see if it is a necessary program. If not, remove it.

    • 2

      Next, determine whether your issue is hardware related. This should be done by checking some of the most common hardware causes of slow-booting computers. Checking the hardware is an important step

      One of the most common issues slowing down computers is heat. Your computer fans may not be cooling your processor or other components correctly. Physically check to see that all fans are working properly. Inspect for dust, malfunctions or loose bearings. Check to be sure they are plugged in, and there is no dust or debris clogging the air from the fan. Check the movement of the fan or fans. They should move freely without any slag. Fix any issues by cleaning, or replacing the faulty fan or fans.

      Certain memory issues can cause a computer to boot slower. If you have installed new memory, make sure it is the right speed. If your computer is a bit older, you may need more memory. Your memory could be damaged, causing a malfunction. Open your computer and check the memory sticks that are installed. Look for any physical damage or overheating.

      Hard disk problems, or other component problems could also cause your computer to boot slower. Running scandisk on your computer will identify hard drive issues. There is also software available that can test the health of other components. Either on a disk that came from the piece of hardware, or some reputable software can diagnose hard ware issues.

    • 3

      Everyday normal surfing of the Internet will sometimes add little pieces of programs or complete spyware on your computer that will slow your boot time. Using a good spyware-malware detector will keep Internet surfing junk from installing itself on your computer. Use this type of program often.

      Regular defragmenting and scanning of your computer will prevent computer boot time slowdown. If the software allows you to set automatic scanning and updating, use it. Scheduling your maintenance software to automatically take care of any problems will save a lot of time and frustration.

      You should have an antivirus program installed, run it often, and be sure it is updated with the latest virus definitions. Regular maintenance of your computer will ensure a smoother-running and more stable computer.

Tips & Warnings

  • Use extreme caution when working with electrical components.

  • If you have to open your computer to check for hardware issues, make sure you unplug the machine first.

  • When using compressed air to remove dust, watch that you do not loosen any connections.

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