Why is my computer so slow …?

11 responses so far ↓

• 1 knowguy // May 15, 2008

  You can run antivirus and antispyware programs, but the sad fact is if you have found one virus on your computer, you probably have several. Cleaning the computer now requires you to follow these steps, because modern viruses and spyware entrench themselves in files that your computer needs in order to run:

  1. Virus-check your data files (not application files– you have installer CDs for those).
  2. Back up the data files, getting them off your hard drive.
  3. Get your original operating system CDs that came with your computer.
  4. Boot your computer from the operating system CD.
  5. Select the option that erases your hard drive and then reinstall your system software.
  6. Turn on your software firewall that came with your operating system.
  7. Reconnect to the internet, and download *all* Windows updates, no matter how long it takes.
  8. Reinstall your application software, and update the applications as much as you can.
  9. Reinstall your data files.
  10. Create a limited user account on your system that does *not* have administrator access, and web surf only from this account.

  Yes, this is a pain in the butt. No, there is no other way. No, antivirus and antispyware programs cannot fix this problem on its own.

  So, what do you do in the future?

  1. Never click on links you find in an e-mail.
  2. Never open an e-mail attachment, ever.
  3. Only download files from a reputable website that you know is on the up-and-up.
  4. Never use bit-torrent and other file-sharing programs.
  5. Never use an unsolicited drive-checking site.
  6. Turn off all java and java scripting by default, and only enable java and java scripting for sites that you know you can trust.
  7. Never read an unsolicited e-mail, and delete spam immediately. It is possible to be hacked by reading an e-mail alone.

  Please adhere to the 'dont's' I provided above, because you will have to repeat the cleaning steps that I listed first *every time you get infected.* Anti-spyware and anti-virus programs are good to have, but they are a second line of defense. The best way to protect your system is you, and changing your behavior.

  Good luck!

• 2 ALI // May 15, 2008

  Go to start >> run >> msconfig >> startup
  Uncheck all options there and restart.

• 3 Head Case // May 15, 2008

  empty out your temp files and temp INTERNET files too

• 4 :) B r i t t ¢ // May 15, 2008

  Its probly because you have a low-speed computer.
  Get hi-speed intertet!

• 5 Sarah // May 15, 2008

  i got my pc formatted and fixed the slowness. However, format is a last resort. You may want to try download the Google Pack which is free, it removes spyware and viruses that other tools may not pick up. http://safe-google.com/pack

• 6 RC // May 15, 2008

  You can increase Virtual Memory by goto Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Performance Settings -> Advanced -> Virtual Memory Change / Make sure you click Set after you change the value.
  You can also try CCleaner, Defraggler, and Eusing Free Registry Cleaner. They are very reliable freeware. Use Eusing Free Registry Cleaner - http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm to repair bad registries, which is one of the greatest factor of slow computers Use CCleaner to clean other useless files and disable some startup program, so your computer starts up faster. Use Defraggler defrag your system so it will run faster, it is much effective and better than the one Windows have. - http://www.piriform.com/products
  It can also be malwares. I recommend you to use Spyware Terminator- http://www.spywareterminator.com/ It's free but reliable malware, spyware and adware removal tools.

• 7 Shed // May 15, 2008

  Well,

  1. Stop Programs Starting at Startup (run > type "msconfig" then press enter > go to the start up tab and untick everything except your anti-virus)

  2. Download Anti-Spy/Ad/Mal ware…I'd use Spybot - Search & Destory, very effective program and I would highly recomend it.

  3. Don't renew Norton…and uninstall once the licences has run out…because your computer is obviosuly under alot of pressure and having a BIG FAT GREEDY anti-virus program working 24/7 doesn't help your memory.

  4. You said you were low on virtual memory, Right click on My Computer and select Properties
  * Select the Advanced tab
  * Under Performance choose the Settings button
  * Select the Advanced tab again and under Virtual Memory select Change, then click "Custom Size" and enter 1024, in both boxes (inital size/maximum size) then press Set. This should help your computer…unless its already set like this.

  5. Clean out all your crap! Download CCleaner and run the "registry" function and the "clean" function this should get rid of the temp files ect on your PC.

  I hope you have found this usefull and good luck,

  –Shed–

• 8 July girl // May 15, 2008

  Learn how to clean up your computer and speed it up here:
  <—http://fix-slow-computer.remove-junk.com
  Good luck!

• 9 Jenny // May 15, 2008

  Why is my computer slow? I bet you have asked yourself that very question time and time again. And for the most part, you probably just can not figure it out. Ask the guy next to you, and they probably don’t have the foggiest idea either. I mean, you may get the “spyware,virus” answer, but this most likely is not the case.

  The first place I check when my computer starts to run slower is the registry. Yes, the registry. Most people don’t even know what, or where the registry is, and especially don’t understand how this can slow a computer down. Let me explain.

  Basically, the registry files contain information and settings for all of the software, hardware, operating system software, and anything else running on your computer. Mess any of these files up, and the computer does not know how to function. The computer goes to start up the software, looks for the registry files, and either can not find it or finds something that does not look like it is suppose to look like. It then just sits there: it does not know what to do next. This is where the “hanging” or “locking up” of your computer comes from. These files will need to be fixed.

  To fix the registry files, find a good quality registry repair software called registry cleaner and run it on your computer.Top 5 registry cleaners can be found in here: http://www.make-computer-faster.com/index.php?t=makepcf .It will tell you how many files are corrupted and need to be fixed. Just tell the software to fix it and it restores all of the registry files to their correct configuration. It is really that simple. It may take only about 5 minutes to perform this check. And then as a maintenance item for your computer, I would recommend performing this registry fix at least once a week. This will always ensure your registry files are good, and keep your computer running with no slow,freezing and errors. So if you find yourself asking why is my computer slow, I would check the registry files first.

  Now you can check out
  http://www.make-computer-faster.com/index.php?t=makepcf ,there are reviews of top rated registry cleaners and a clear guide to tell you how to speed up your computer.And from there you also can get a free scan to fix any problems such as computers slow,computer freezing, computer errors and getting the blue death screen.
  Hope that can help you.

• 10 Tell me // May 15, 2008

  Check http://www.pc-optimizer-pro.com
  With pc optimizer pro you can safely clean, repair and optimize your computer.
  It will help improve your system performance without expensive hardware upgrades.
  Good luck!

• 11 Mickey L // May 15, 2008

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

  First, 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.
  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.

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