How to Fix a Slow Performing PC
A slow running computer is a complaint many computer users share. Many times this is a product of limited space on the hard drive or neglecting regular computer maintenance. In addition to running slow, your computer could experience program or system crashes, slow load times and other resource-related problems. Once you've performed some maintenance to correct these issues, keep up on monthly tasks so your computer continues to run well.
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Instructions
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Run a virus scan. Before you do anything else, run a deep virus scan. You should always have anti-virus software installed and running on your computer. Open your virus scanner, run the definitions update to make sure the program is current and run a full scan. This can take several hours so plan to do it when you don't need to be at the computer for a while. Return and view the results. If there are infections, remove or quarantine them and then run the scan again until it appears clean. If you do a lot of downloading of files, you may want to run an anti-malware scanner as well.
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Evaluate your memory. If you have a newer computer, the amount of memory it contains should be fine for most modern computer programs. If you have a computer that is several years old, howeer, it can be straining to run today's programs on yesterday's memory requirements. Visit the System page under the Control Panel settings to view how much RAM you have installed or right-click on My Computer and view the properties. By 2010 standards, you should have 2 to 4 GB of RAM installed. Visit your local computer store to find out how much it would be to upgrade your system.
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Delete all unnecessary files. Your operating system needs space for moving around and accessing files. If your hard drive is getting close to full, remove any programs and files you no longer use. Use the Add and Remove Programs feature of the Control Panel to remove Windows programs. Make sure to empty the Trash when you've deleted files to remove them from your system.
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Defrag your hard drive. Under the Start menu in Windows, click "Accessories" and then "System Tools." This is where you will find the Defrag program. If you haven't run it in a while (or ever), do so. This can also take several hours, so start it when you have something else to do that doesn't include the computer. The Defrag program will reorganize your hard drive, placing files work together in closer proximity.
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Run Windows Update and update your drivers. Make sure that all of your hardware and software is up to date by running the Windows Update program from the Start menu. This will download and install important security updates as well as new versions and patches for your operating system and some programs. Visit the Support or Downloads section of the company that manufactured your printer, scanner and other peripherals to see if new drivers are available. Do the same for your graphics and audio card manufacturers.
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Tips & Warnings
New computers are more affordable than ever. Evaluate if it's time to buy a new one instead of upgrading or repairing an old one. Most computers are obsolete after three or four years.
References
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