This post will answer some regular HOW TO questions that we face in regular lives in technology, they are simple, short and hand picked.
My computer is running slow, what steps can I do to fix it?
Below are steps for Microsoft Windows users that can help speed up the computer or at least determine why the computer is running slow.
Tip
This page only covers an overall slow computer and not a computer that has a slow boot up or slow Internet.
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 startup programs that automatically start each time the computer boots.
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 Resmon to get a better understanding of how your computer resources are 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 will 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. (You can also press Windows+R) then type %temp%. 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.
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 viruses
If your computer is infected with one or more viruses, it may run more slowly. 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.
Scan for malware
Today, spyware and other malware is a big cause of many computer problems, including slower performance. Even if an antivirus scanner is installed on the computer, we recommend running a malware scan as well. Use the free version of Malwarebytes to scan your computer for malware.
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.
- If you are on the Internet when your computer is slow, make sure all browser plugins are up-to-date.
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 the computer again
After making any of the changes above, be sure to reboot your machine.
Run a registry cleaner
We usually do not recommend registry cleaners. However, if you followed all the steps above and your computer is still slow, try running a registry cleaner on the computer.
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 2 GB of memory (RAM) for a 32-bit system and 4 GB 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.
Hard drive upgrade
One of the biggest bottlenecks of a computer is the hard disk drive. Upgrading from a standard hard drive to a Solid State Drive (SSD) will drastically improve the performance of a computer.
Computer or processor is overheating
Make sure your computer and processor are not overheating. Excessive heat can cause a decrease in computer performance because most operating systems automatically reduce the speed of the processor to help compensate for heat-related issues.
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 that the fans are not obstructed.
Increase or upgrade the processor speed
Increasing the speed of the processor, or CPU can help improve your computer’s performance. There are two options for increasing processor speed: overclocking or upgrading.
Overclocking a processor means increasing its speed beyond what it’s designed to stably run. While overclocking can increase the processor speed, the increase is often not very significant, resulting in maybe a 10% or 20% speed increase at most. Furthermore, the processor itself must be capable of being overclocked. You would need to find the specifications for the processor in your computer to determine if it can be overclocked. An overclocked processor generates more heat, thus requiring a more powerful heat sink and fan to pull the excess heat away from the processor.
A safer alternative to overclocking is upgrading the processor in your computer. You would need to get the specifications for your motherboard to determine what type of newer processor may be used in it. You can then install the new processor in place of the existing processor.
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 on your computer and reinstalling the operating system can increase performance by getting rid of old software or drivers. 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 the above recommendations, there’s likely a more serious hardware related issue (e.g., failing component). Examples of failing hardware could include the hard drive, CPU, RAM, motherboard, or other components.
You can run hardware diagnostic tests using the Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) utility. This utility provides information on whether or not your computer has a bad piece of hardware.
Old computer
If your computer is more than five years old, it will have slower performance than a new one. 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. Furthermore, new software tends to be more demanding in general, which is another problem for old hardware. We recommend you consider purchasing a new computer or upgrading your current one.
If the files and folders in your external hard disk or USB flash drive have turned into shortcuts or are hidden, here is one solution to recover your data. Operating system used – Windows 7.
• Install good antivirus and scan entire computer including the flash drive/external hard disk.
• Go to Control Panel, Folder Options, select VIEW tab, select “Show hidden files, folders and drives” and uncheck “Hide protected operating system files (recommended)” now click APPLY
You will see those files now. Farther:
• Open command prompt (press Win+R, type cmd, press enter), assuming ‘G:‘ as the letter of affected drive, enter this command-
attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:*.*
• Replace ‘g:’ with other drive letter if needed.
• You can check your flash drive/external hard disk, the data should be visible. You can restore the original folder options.
First try normally formatting, formatting using another computer, or using DISKPART. If that does not work, try this:
(Note! This step will erase all the data stored in your JetFlash, please backup your data first.)
1. Download JetFlash Online Recovery from this LINK
https://www.transcend-info.com/Support/Software-3/#
2. Click on Download and click on JetFlash Series
3. Install the software to Windows
4. Insert your USB to the computer and take a backup of everything if possible
5. Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet while doing the online recovery.
6. Let the software download the software from the internet
7. The firmware will be downloaded and flashed in your USB stick
8. Eject and insert again.
9. Done! You get a 100% working Transcend USB Pendrive as new.
To download videos from YouTube using SS
- Go to your browser and search for the video you want to download using the YouTube.
- Click on the video to play it and then pause it.
- Go to the video URL and add “ss” before the “youtube.com…” and click enter.
The link will now look like www.ssyoutube.com….
- You will be directed to another page where you will save the video.
- Click on the drop-down menu at the right of the Download button which is in green.
- Select the format in which you want to download the video.
- To learn C Programming Language you can visit: https://sunnyrabiussunny.com/c-programming-language-learn-easily-in-7-days/
- Learn here how to verify your Facebook profile.
- Convert Docx to PDF, or merge, edit a PDF online.
- Scan suspicious files for Virus or website URLs to detect types of malware
- To create CV or Resume online visit these sites, kickresume, novoresume, visual CV or resume.io
- To boot Windows XP, 7, 8 or 10 in Safe Mode
Common Windows errors and how to fix them
- My computer is running slow what steps can I do to fix it?
- Windows freezes or stops responding.
- What should I do when a computer freezes?
- Windows restarts without warning.
- How do I fix the Windows blue screen errors?
- Missing Microsoft Windows .dll files.
- Why do Windows programs stop responding?
- Regaining computer hard drive space.
- How to erase my hard drive and start over.
- How to shut down a computer.
- I have problems in Windows after installing new software.
- How to fix a fatal exception error.
- How do I fix illegal operations?
- How to fix a general protection fault.
- How to fix an invalid page fault.
- My Windows computer boots up slow.
- Not a valid win32 application.
- Divide error.
- Runtime errors.
- Issues relating to msgsrv32.
Basic software troubleshooting
- What is software?
- Basic computer software troubleshooting.
- Basic computer game troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft Internet Explorer troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft Windows XP troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft Windows 2000 troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft Windows ME troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft Windows 98 troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft Windows 95 troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft Windows 3.x troubleshooting.
- Basic Microsoft DOS troubleshooting.
- Full listing of all software-related questions and answers.
Basic hardware troubleshooting
- What is hardware?
- How can I fix a slow computer?
- Why does my computer not work?
- How can I test for hardware failures in my computer?
- No power or computer does not turn on.
- Missing or lost sound in Windows.
- No display on the monitor.
- General printer troubleshooting.
- Mouse not being detected in Windows.
- No keys on my keyboard work
- Computer turns off without warning.
- How to test computer memory to determine if it’s bad.
- How to test a hard drive for failures.
- How to test a computer motherboard and CPU for failures.
- Why is my Wi-Fi not working?
- Basic network troubleshooting.
- How to test a computer CD-ROM and DVD drive for failures.
- General microphone troubleshooting.
- General scanner troubleshooting.
- Computer does not turn off.
- Basic floppy disk drive troubleshooting.
- Windows error “Data or no disk loaded” with audio CD.
- Full list of hardware-related questions and answers.