Top Reasons Your Computer is Running Really Slow

Computer Running Slow?

Any computer owner has dealt with Slow Computer Syndrome at some point. It’s inevitable. Over time, computers slow down and their overall performance suffers. For you, this causes a decrease in productivity and it can drive you totally nuts.

Before you can correct the problem and get your computer running back at full speed, you need to figure out why your computer is going so slow. Here are some of the most common reasons for sluggish computer performance.

• Not enough RAM—The more RAM your computer has, the more easily your computer can run applications and programs. RAM is what your computer uses for temporary space to power the programs. If your computer is older or you’re trying to run big operations (games for example), you may require a RAM upgrade. The good news is you can easily buy new RAM and upgrade your computer’s memory at an affordable price.
• You have too many programs going at once—The more programs your computer is running, the more your resources are depleted. The thing is, you might not even realize a lot of programs are running because they run in the background. Things like web toolbars, anti-spyware scanning programs and other taskbar programs  cause your computer to slow down. To see which programs are running, hit CTRL+ALT+DEL, go to Task Manager, and click the Processes tab. This shows you how all your memory is being allocated and which applications are operating. Click End Process on applications your recognize but don’t use.
• Malware and spyware—A wide range of malicious programs can find their way into your operating system without you even realizing it. And guess what? Malware and spyware can really slow your computer down. That’s why having a malware detector and anti-spyware program is such a good idea. Run these scanners on a regular basis to find these parasite programs and delete them.
• Your hard drive is filled up—When your hard drive is completely full, there’s no extra room for disk file chores. Your computer needs extra room to manipulate and work with the various files. Without this space, your computer will run slowly and become a pain to use. What’s the solution? Get an external hard drive. It’s a fast and easy way to backup your files and free up space on your computer.
• Too many programs loading at start up—The more programs you have loading at start up, the slower the computer will start up and the more background programs you’ll have running. Take a look at your startup process, and remove any programs that are unnecessary.

These are just some of the most common reasons computers slow down, causing you fits. So, take a closer look and see if you can pinpoint the problem. If not, bring it in to your local Friendly Computers service location and we’ll get it running like new again.