My computer is running slow, what steps can I do to fix it?
Tip: This page only covers an overall slow computer and
not a computer that has a slow boot up or slow Internet.
Below are steps for Microsoft
Windows users that can help speed up the computer or determine why the computer
is running slow.
Reboot
If your computer has not been
rebooted recently, make sure to reboot it before following any of the steps below.
Background programs
One of the most common reasons for
a slow computer are programs running in the background. Remove or disable any TSRs
and startup programs that automatically start each time the computer boots.
Tip: To see what programs are running in the background
and how much memory and CPU they are using, open Task Manager. If you are
running Windows 7 or higher, run Resume to get a better understanding of how your computer is
being used.
If you have an antivirus scanner on
the computer, spyware protection program, or another security utility, make
sure it is not scanning your computer in the background. If a scan is in
progress, it can decrease the overall performance of your computer. If this is
the case, allow the scan to complete, and the computer's performance should
improve.
Delete temp files
As a computer runs programs, temporary
files are stored on the hard drive. Deleting these temp files can help improve
computer performance.
First, we suggest using the Windows
Disk Cleanup utility to delete temporary files and other files no longer needed
on the computer.
Unfortunately, the Disk Cleanup may
not delete every file in the temp directory. Therefore, we also suggest
deleting temporary files manually. To do this, open the Start menu and type %temp%
in the Search field. In Windows XP and prior, click the Run option in the Start
menu and enter %temp% in the Run field. Press Enter and a Temp
folder should open. You can delete all files found in this folder and, if any
files are in use and cannot be deleted, they can be skipped.
Free hard drive space
Verify that there is at least
200-500MB of free hard drive space. This available space allows the computer to
have room for the swap file to increase in size, as well as room for temporary
files.
- Determining available hard drive space.
- Regaining computer hard drive space.
Bad, corrupted or fragmented hard drive
- Run ScanDisk, chkdsk, or something equivalent to verify there is nothing physically wrong with the computer's hard drive.
- Run Defrag to help ensure that data is arranged in the best possible order.
- Use other software tools to test the hard drive for any errors by looking at the SMART of the drive.
Scan for malware
Today, spyware and other malware is
a big cause of many computer problems, including a slow computer. Even if an
antivirus scanner is installed on the computer, we recommend running a malware
scan on the computer. Use the free version of Malwarebytes to scan your
computer for malware.
Scan for viruses
If your computer is infected with
one or more viruses, this can cause your computer to run slow. If your computer
does not have an antivirus program installed, you can run Trend Micro's free Housecall
online utility to scan for viruses on your computer, as well as remove them. It
is also recommended that you install an antivirus program for active protection
against viruses.
Hardware conflicts
- Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts. If any exist, resolve these issues as they could be the cause of your problem.
Update Windows
- Make sure you have all the latest Windows updates installed on the computer.
- If you are on the Internet when your computer is slow, make sure all browser plugins are up-to-date. You can also try disabling browser plug-ins to see if one of them is causing the slowness.
Update your drivers
Make sure you have the latest
drivers for your computer hardware, especially the latest video drivers. Having
out-of-date drivers can cause an assortment of issues, including slow
performance.
Reboot computer again
If you have done any of the above
steps but your computer is still acting slow try rebooting the computer again
at this point.
Memory upgrade
If you have had your computer for
more than two years, you may need more memory. Today, we suggest computers have
a minimum of 1GB of memory (RAM) for 32-bit system and 2GB for a 64-bit system.
By having enough memory for programs to run within memory, your computer will
not need to swap information stored in memory to the swap file. If the hard
drive light is constantly active, it can be an indication the computer is
frequently swapping information between your memory and hard drive.
- Determining how much RAM is installed and available.
- How much memory or RAM should my computer have?
- What type of computer memory to use in a memory upgrade?
Hard drive upgrade
One of the biggest bottlenecks of a
computer is the hard disk drive. For anyone with a slow computer or just looking
for the best component to upgrade, upgrading from a hard
Run Registry cleaner
We normally do not recommend
Registry cleaners. However, if you have followed all of the above steps and
your computer is still slow, try running a Registry cleaner on the computer.
Computer or processor is overheating
Make sure your computer and
processor is not overheating. Excessive heat can cause a significant decrease
in computer performance because most processors automatically reduce the speed
of the processor to help compensate for heat-related issues.
- What should be the temperature of my computer processor?
Dust, dirt, and hair can also
constrict proper airflow inside your computer, which can cause a computer to
overheat. Make sure your computer case is clean and fans are not obstructed.
- Steps on cleaning your computer.
Erase computer and start over
If none of the above solutions
resolve your issues, another option is to either reinstall Windows or erase
everything and then start over.
Erasing everything and starting
over can increase performance by getting rid of old software or drivers that
may be on the computer and causing the computer to be slow. Installing a fresh
copy of Windows, software programs, and the latest drivers help verify there
are no software related issues causing your computer to be slow.
Hardware issues
Finally, if your computer is still
slow after trying all of the above recommendations, there may have a more
serious hardware related issue, such as a failing component in the computer.
Examples of failing hardware could include a failing or bad hard drive, CPU, RAM,
motherboard, or another component.
You can run hardware diagnostic
tests using the Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) utility. This utility provides many
diagnostic tests that you can run and determine if your computer has a bad
piece of hardware.
Old computer
If your computer is more than five
years old, the age of the computer could be the cause of the slow performance.
As more advanced software programs are released, they are optimized to run more
efficiently on newer computers. Older computers are not able to run these new
programs as well, which can cause them to perform more slowly. We recommend
that you consider purchasing a new computer or accept that your computer is not
going to be as fast as a newer computer.
