Slow PC Tips
To learn about how to do file Defragmentation, click Defragment-XP to fix a slow computer.
(Note: Vista and Windows 7 automatically defragment your drive!)
As a computer professional, I use Diskeeper, to fix a slow computer, as it is a far superior tool. If you want the best defragmentation tool, try Uniblue Solutions .
Windows is Infected!
The bad guys gotcha! PC infections are a major cause of a slow computer.
So often, PC users let their subscription to Norton’s or McAfee expire, and then, they are calling someone like me for help. Once infected, it is difficult to clean and repair the system correctly. There are several ways to disinfect the PC, which can take many hours. If the repair person charges $ 85/hr to repair, using disinfectant methods, and spent 2 hours, that would be $ 170. After that, you would still be faced with the damaged files that the Malwarecaused. Unfortunately, the best cure is to Format and Reload. For more information on Malware click Malware
Format and Reload of Windows cost $ 90 – $ 150. This is a time consuming effort, but the result is usually good.
Example: A typical 2 year old infected home computer that has been used without properly cleaning out temporary files, and has not been properly defragged would have 10 – 40GB of “stuff” on the hard drive. After reviewing files, pictures and music, I can’t account for more than 1-2 GB of “data”. I save all necessary data, e-mail, and files to an external hard drive. After format and reload, I put data back on, then now hard drive has only 2-3 GB of “stuff”.
What was all that other “stuff?” Its accumulated temporary files, temporary internet files, infections and garbage left by bad programming, over the years. It’s kind of like cleaning out the attic!
When faced with a decision to go Malware diving (seek and destroy!) or format reload, my customers usually opt of the reload. For more information, click Format/Reload
Older PC has (Internet Security Suite Installed)
Firewalls offer pretty good protection (routers have a hardware firewall, built in). The caution here is to be aware of the overhead with software firewalls that can seriously affect and slow computer. Software Firewalls are frequently difficult to set up. Many users opt to disable them, rather than being “blocked from the internet”.
If your PC has less than a 3 Ghz CPU*, then your performance will suffer signicantly, if you have a “Security Suite” installed (most common is McAfee Internet Secuirity Suite and Nortons Internet Security Suite). This is happening frequently, because Verizon, Cox and other ISP’s are pushing these as “problem solvers”. My customers complain that they have much greater problems with these “Security Suites” , than they have without them!
* If you don’t know your CPU speed, click How To Determine CPU Speed
Hard Drive is Overloaded
For a hard drive to function properly, it needs at least 25% free space. On an older PC, I’ll find 40GB hard drives with 90% utilization! No wonder they say “I have a slow computer !” With current hard drives being 250GB and more, 40GB is really small!
The first step is to clean up the hard drive. That includes removing temporary files, temporary internet files, removing old files that you are no longer using, removing unwanted programs, etc. see Hard Drive Cleanup for more details.
Another solution is to add or upgrade existing hard drive. But wait! Well not as obvious as it sounds! There is the economic decision to make … see Old Computer
Crapware: new
Crapware is software you didn’t ask for and do not want on your computer. If you have a lot of crapware, it slows down your computer!
Some generic examples are:
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- Store or brand utilities
- Trialware
- Toolbars
- ISP-associated utilities
- Time-limited antivirus software
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Why is it there, then? PC makers cash in big time, that’s why. Software vendors pay top dollar to get their trialware loaded on OEM equipment and in front of the user.
For a comprehensive review of crapware, and how to get rid of it, read 5 Tips for getting Rid of Crapware
Customer has installed a “registry Cleaner”
Registry cleaners are not the cause of the problem, at least not usually. They are a symptom. The customer does not know what to do for their slow computer, but they are willing to spend some money to fix it now. When I see Registry Cleaners installed, I know the customer is frustrated, but does not know what to do!
Some of the combination tools(registry cleaner, hard drive cleanup, malware remover, etc), can be helpful. I will be analyzing these, and will give a report soon!
Help from a “PC Expert ”
Very often, they have had a “PC Expert”, come in and fix the slow computer problem. While this does help in some cases (depends on how much the “expert” knows), in other cases, the problem is worse! I’ve seen lost data, lost programs, and “Blue Screens of Death” (Windows fatal error).
Too Many Programs in Start-up(slow computer startup) ** Very Important **
As time goes by, your PC accumulates entries in the start up folder, and most of these are not as helpful as intended.They definitely detract from PC speed! This problem can get so bad that I’ve seen PC’s taking 5-10 minutes to start up! To remove all of these could be a mistake. I’ve seen printers fail when a process was removed. Want to clean your own start up folders? See Start Up
Insufficient Memory
When I worked at Gateway, 5-6 years ago, XP computers were shipped with 64MB RAM (memory). Now, we consider 256 MB insufficient. I prefer 512MB, or 1GB. Why?
Memory was quite expensive back then. But now $ 50 buys a lot of memory. Windows XP can perform better with enough memory. Windows Vista demands more memory.
1GB for Vista is a starvation diet! Actually, I don’t object, as memory is so cheap now. I have 2 GB in my laptop, and it works well. Maybe I should give it more!
Memory upgrades are inexpensive, even for “old computers”. Memory upgrades can extend the life of an old computer sometimes. See Upgrades for more info.
Troubleshoot Slow PC (Primarily Windows 7)
Many of this are in addition to abve tips, and are more pertinent to Windows 7. Some of this is really something I recommend to Computer Novices, you might want Computer Assistance – below.
After trying all of the above, and didn’t solve the problem, then go to Computer Assistance