Tuesday, September 4, 2012

My computer is running slow what should I do to speed it up?

By Myke Longo


Are you wondering "Why is my computer so slow?" and aren't sure what to do to speed it up? The truth is, every computer can and most likely will slow down significantly over time. Here are some important things to check on to make sure your computer is running as fast as possible.

Malware - There are many types of malware that include viruses and all kinds of malicious threats that can infect your computer and slow your system down significantly. Since your computer can become infected with malware at any second, you'll need a decent internet security program to protect your computer from all the threats that can effect the performance of your computer. If your computer has an active internet connection, it's a good idea to get extra protection from the internet that isn't included in most anti-virus programs and is usually found in programs labled as Internet Security. Any time you wonder "Why is my computer so slow?", the first thing you should always do is run a full system scan to quickly identify and eliminate any hidden malware that may be slowing down your computer.

Startup Programs - If your computer takes forever to fully startup, there's most likely one to many programs or services that are set to startup as soon as your computer does. Most of these startup programs and services are completely unnecessary and only slow down the startup process tremendously. You can easily run any program or service after your computer boots up. To eliminate all unnecessary startup programs and services using Microsoft Windows, you can use the keyboard shortcut (Windows key + R), type in "msconfig", and select the Startup tab at the top. Uncheck any items in this list that you don't need starting up with your system. The less items you have starting up with your computer, the faster your computer will startup.

RAM (Random Access Memory) - RAM stands for random access memory and gives memory to active programs and processes. Chances are your system can handle more RAM then it currently has installed, especially if you have a 64-bit operating system. Before you think about adding extra RAM to your computer, I highly suggest that you have a 64-bit operating system type which can handle a lot more RAM as opposed to 32-bit operating systems. RAM is one of the easiest hardware replacements because no data is ever stored on RAM sticks, so you can safely replace or upgrade the RAM on your computer without worries.

Solid State Drive (SSD) - Are you still using a traditional hard disk drive? Solid state drives are much faster and more powerful compared to traditional hard disk drives because they completely eliminating file fragmenting and the need to defragment the drive. With traditional hard disk drives, data is stored in fragments which are scattered all over the drive. To load data, a physical read/write has to move around to access file contents in multiple locations. Solid state drives also have no physical moving parts or discs which allow them to move around without damage. Because data is not stored in fragments, data can be loaded and accessed much quicker compared to traditional hard disk drives.

Bundled Programs - Tons of brand new computers come installed with unnecessary software that you most likely don't need or will ever use. Keeping programs installed on your computer that you don't need or use will only waste valuable memory and more clutter to your system. For your computer to run at its optimal performance, you'll definitely need to have some available free hard drive space. If you're running low on memory you should eliminate as many unnecessary programs as possible.




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