| Computer slowness can be caused by a variety | | | | Nod32 from |
| of issues, which can becategorized in 2 categories: | | | | ESET. |
| hardware or software. Computer hardware are | | | | Regardless of antivirus software that you use, |
| thephysical parts of the computer system, for | | | | you should always keep itupdated, and regularly |
| example motherboard, CPU, RAM, etc. | | | | scan your system for viruses. Most antivirus |
| Computer software are all the programs and | | | | softwaredon't check for spyware, so if your |
| applications that are installed onyour PC. Software | | | | computer is infected by spyware, you |
| includes the operating system like Microsoft | | | | shoulddownload a specialized spyware removal |
| Windows XP or | | | | software. There are 2 programs that Iuse myself |
| Vista and all of the applications such as Microsoft | | | | all the time, |
| Office, Photoshop, etc. | | | | Spybot and |
| Viruses, spyware and malware are software as | | | | Adaware theyare absolutely free to use. Once |
| well. | | | | you download and install these programs, |
| Things to check: | | | | makesure to run the updates and scan your |
| * Startup programs | | | | entire computer. |
| * Virus and spyware scan | | | | Make sure your hard drive is not out ofspace. If it |
| * Hard Drive out of space | | | | is, it's a good idea to get an upgrade, or delete |
| * Fragmented hard drive | | | | some programsand files. Delete all of the temp |
| * Bad sector or corrupted files | | | | files, temporary internet files and cookies,you |
| * Overheating due to dust | | | | could do it manually or use another free program |
| Most common reason for computer slowness is | | | | called "ccleaner". |
| unnecessary applications runningin the background. | | | | When files are stored on your computer's |
| When new programs &applications are | | | | harddrive they are not always stored in the most |
| installed many times they will be configured to | | | | efficient way and can becomefragmented. |
| startautomatically when your computer starts. | | | | Fragmented files take a lot longer for your |
| These applications are not always needed, and will | | | | system to open or save. |
| take up a portion of your computer's memory | | | | To start the defragmentation utilityclick on Start |
| (RAM) which in turn will slow your computer | | | | then programs -> accessories -> system |
| down. To check what applications start | | | | tools -> discdefragmenter. Defragment all of |
| automatically, clicks on the start button, then click | | | | the drives listed. The defragmentation processcan |
| on run, then type 'msconfig' and click on OK. Once | | | | take anywhere from about 5 minutes to a couple |
| the Systems Configuration Utility is open, click on | | | | of hours, and sometimes needsto be repeated. I |
| the Startup tab. | | | | recommend defragmenting the computer hard |
| On the startup tab you can select the programs | | | | drive about once amonth. |
| that you want to start. | | | | Another cause of computer slowness could be |
| Unselecting any of the programs in the startup | | | | acorrupted system file or a bad sector on the |
| tab will not remove them fromyour computer; it | | | | hard drive. Bad sectors cancorrupt systems files |
| will merely keep them from starting automatically | | | | which can slow down your PC or even keep it |
| every timeyou turn your PC on. I recommend | | | | from running. |
| unselecting all the applications that youdon't need. | | | | To check and correct bad sectors run the scan |
| If you see software that you don't recognize it | | | | disk (chkdsk) utility. |
| could be indicationof virus of spyware. | | | | Make sure the computer is not overheating or |
| If your computer is running slow and you'regetting | | | | running very warm. Mostcomputer allow air to |
| a lot of pop-up windows, even when you're not | | | | flow through the computer, this is great for |
| using the computer, yourcomputer is most likely | | | | cooling butalso causes a lot of dust to accumulate |
| infected with a virus and/or spyware. Everybody | | | | inside of computer case. Dust willcause poor air |
| shouldhave antivirus software installed, updated | | | | circulation and might overheat your PC. Open up |
| and running at all times. There aremany antivirus | | | | the case of the |
| software packages, the best one on my opinion is | | | | PC and blow all dust out using compressed air. |