Why is my computer running slow?

Question

Why is my computer running slow?

Answer 1

If your virus/spyware free, there are a couple things you can do get your computer working faster. If you using your laptop for normal stuff and not gaming. You got a good setup. You don't always need more RAM you just need to perform a few maintenance task.



Firstly, if you haven't cleaned your registry in a while. This is necessary. Your registry holds all the information regarding updates, installs, un-installs etc. Each one of those events produces a key. That key needs your PC's resources and free space. So, if you clean your registry, you make more resources available for speed. Do a registry scan if you got more than 20 errors you should clean it.

http://www.delete-computer-history.com/what-is-the-best-registry-cleaner.html



2. Clear your Windows cache files, this is your temporary file. It can grow up to a large volume and stop your computer from using RAM properly. In a sense slow it down by preventing it from using free space.Here is how:



1. Quit Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser

2. Click Start, click "Control Panel", and then double-click "Internet Options".

3. On the General tab, click "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet Files.

4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the "Delete all offline content" check box , and then click OK.

5. Click OK.



3. Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:



1. Open your Start menu.

2. Click Run

3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"

4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab

5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.

6. Click "OK"



Other great tip is increasing your virtual memory to simulate more RAM. This will give you a bit more resources for multiple program use or CPU heavy programs. Check the link to alter your virtual memory spec.



Hope this link helps. Shows you how to do everything step by step. You should get a least 60-120% more resources and speed

if you follow the tips.

Answer 2

My advice is to back-up your data and format the computer. That will certainly solve the problem and every computer needs cleaning and refreshing, especially if you add and delete software, data and etc.

Answer 3

Try to stop the services which you do not go.Many times the services which we do not frequently use are loaded on startup and start eating memory and processor burdenting the processor the result is slow running of o/s even if you purchase any laptop or pc with peak config still you may face the problem if you fill the o/s drive with junk files and s/w which you dont use. Try to uninstall unnecessary s/w and also stop the services which you use occassionally.

To stop services just go to control pannel ->Administrative tools ->Services. There you can select and stop the services which you do not use frequently and when you need you can just go there and start the required service. This will decrease burden on memory and also processor.

Thats it. Enjoy the extreme config u have.

Answer 4

first.. get rid of mcafee . it doesn't do what it says it does. second download zone alarm . it is a firewall thats 1 of the best for free( link below) 3rd.... download adwear personal se . this will help you remove tracking cookies and other things.( link below) ... then after you do all this then run your adwear and delete all critical objects then go to your start button find your "RUN" icon type in %temp% and click ok it will bring you to your temp file folder take all none written files and adverstisments and trash them (the non written files have a corner folded down on the top right hand side and usually have TMP in front of them.) if it won't let you trash them don't worry about them. then empty your trash bin .. reboot your computer and see if that helps. you may also need to defrag your computer and you can find that under your start then go to all programs then to accesories then to sytem tool then to disk defragmenter .. analize first then defrag .. it might take awhile but it helps alot..... good luck

Answer 5

Maybe you should try running a new OS repair install. Also try out another antivirus like kasperksy and install a antispyware software like AVG Antispyware. Check your hard disk for bad sectors too.

Answer 6

It sounds like its your internet service provider.

Answer 7

have you tried unistalling software you dont need, or taking off start up programs you dont need at the momment. Also it may be cause windows vista take a lot of space. try upgrading your memory or intall xp instead.

Answer 8

Uninstall any of the software that came with the PC, Dell are terrible for putting crap software on a PC to slow it down.

Answer 9

save all your personal files to an external drive // internet



then you have to re-install your operating system.



Google it for more advice. :D



Your laptop sounds like it should be very, very fast.

Answer 10

To better understand your situation could you post some more details about your problem . I would like to help you resolve this issue .



What is your computers model ? What I.S.P. do you access the internet from ?





For your ram issuse you might need a bios update from the computers manufacturer's website



Vista is far more picky over the hardware than XP, is your RAM generic or actual makes ? What's the full spec breakdown of your PC included the specs on your RAM.



There are certain cases where things like RAM behave perfectly in XP but they are not as stable for Vista so Vista does not use them, etc.



Dude, Where's My 4 Gigabytes of RAM?

Due to fallout from a recent computer catastrophe at work, I had the opportunity to salvage 2 GB of memory. I installed the memory in my work box, which brings it up to 4 gigabytes of RAM-- 4,096 megabytes in total. But that's not what I saw in System Information:

see this website http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html



Do you have broadband ? test the speed here DSL too

http://www.broadbandinfo.com/internet-access/speed-test/what-is.html



keeping connectivity : If you have a problem with wireless connectivity.



Connect to the router using an ethernet cable and look over the wireless settings.

Update it to the latest firmware version.



On your computer uninstall and reinstall all your wireless drivers and software with their latest versions. Might help you



Sorry , but I'll need more specfic's about your problem to give you the best answer :)