Computer running slowly? Welcome to the slow computer resource
Slow Computer has been set up to give you free tips and advice on how to deal with a slow computer. We've collected together the best advice on how to quicken your PC or internet connection and make your computer experience a less frustrating one.
Slow Computer has been put together by IT Professionals with an experience of solving slow computer problems. If you have any comments about the, please email us.
Assuming you don't want to replace MS Windows with Linux, here's our top tips...
Slow Computer Tip #1 - Increase the amount of RAM you have
Generally speaking, the more RAM you have, the faster you can expect your PC
to be. Lots o PCs are bought with about the minimum you'd want to get started,
but after a few years of use and all those extra programs you've installed, it's
probably time to increase your RAM. Luckily, upgrading your RAM is now a
doddle thanks to www.Crucial.com. The
Crucial Memory Advisor Tool takes the guesswork out of upgrading.
The system scanner which will tell you exactly what RAM you need to order, and they
are very competitively priced.
Slow Computer Tip #2 - Make sure you have plenty of Hard Disk space
If your Hard Disk is getting a little full, this will slow the performance of your PC. Try and uninstall any unwanted applications, delete old files and clean out the recycle bin also. Windows XP users can use the Disk Cleanup tool, that exists on the Start Menu, under programs -> Accessories. Hard Disks are pretty cheap these days, so you want to look at just upgrading to a larger one or buying an external USB hard disk to save large multimedia type
Slow Computer Tip #3 - Defragment your Hard Drive
You may well have heard the term "defrag" before. Your hard drive stores your files and folders in bits that are spread across the surface of the hard disk. Defragmenting puts the bits back in order so they can be accesses quicker.
Slow Computer Tip #4 - Increase Virtual Memory
When your computer runs out of physical RAM it can use, it starts to use space on your hard drive as "virtual memory" in what's called a swap file. If the size of the swap file isn't big enough, your PC will slow down.
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"SpeedUpMyPC is a great utility that increases PC performance on a couple different levels. It prioritizes CPU usage, increases bandwidth usage and frees up RAM as necessary. Plus, the Anti-Crash utility is great for combating frequent Windows lockups..." - GameZone
Slow Computer Tip #6 - Check Running Processes
You should check that the processes running on your computer are not memory hogs, spyware or viruses. The easiest way to do this is to hold down CTRL-ALT-DEL on your keyboard and access Task Manager. This will give you a list of the processes that are running on your computer. If you are unsure what the processes are, you can look up each process on the popular Windows Process Library, What-Process.com
Slow Computer Tip #7 - Check For Spyware
It's always worth checking to see if your PC has been infected with spyware, especially if you use Internet Explorer. Our recommended spyware scanner would be Windows Defender from Microsoft. It's free.
Slow Computer Tip #8 - Check for Viruses
Or should that be Virii? Anyways, do make sure your anti virus is installed and just as important, make sure it's up to date. Our favoured anti virus for home computer users is AVG Anti Virus. It's free!
Slow Computer Tip #9 - Make Desktop Searching Quicker
Google has assembled a suite of useful utilities in a bundle called Google Pack. In it is a fantastic application called Google Desktop Search. This indexes the contents of your PC and lets you serch for files and folders insantly with no waiting.Slow Computer Tip #10- Get a New PC!
Ok, last resort time here, but if your PC is genuinely struggling because it is a good few years old, then it may be time to invest in a new PC. Especially as it seems that new computers have never been cheaper. UK users can use New PC - the pc buying guide to guide them through getting a new computer.