Computers are meant to make our lives easier, yet at some point, we feel that these are machines of the devil that just exist to give us infinite frustration.
Common advice for slow computers can range from antivirus issues to re installation of Windows (We've heard them all). Most of these are either myths, or just a band aid to the problem. Here's how you actually get your PC running fast again.
When a computer starts crawling slowly—especially if it's gets a lot of popups—many automatically just assume that they must have a virus or malware. Then they go and buy or download new antivirus software and in many cases a second antivirus with the false hope that they're ''double protected''.Malware protection however, is much simpler than most people think.
Why this perception is wrong?: Firstly , let's see what it takes to get infected. Start off by doing a bit of homework about viruses and how they work—we recommend you read some forums on malware, virus myths, and false positives in antivirus applications. The first line of defense should be safer browsing. If you're downloading suspicious files and clicking on internet popups, or opening links here and there from unknown email, without question, you increase your chances of catching a virus. If however you're responsible by avoiding irresponsible browsing techniques , it's highly unlikely you'll ever catch an infection.
Now that we've cleared the misconception, let's talk about your antivirus. It's not only vital to have an antivirus software installed, but it's imperative you have the right kind. Check and see if you have a reputable and updated antivirus program running on your equipment. If you do, and it says your computer is uninfected, then it most probably is safe.
Next order of business, check out what antivirus software you are using. Certain programs, like Norton or McAfee, are slow and bloated. This could actually be the chief reason your computer is running at snail's pace. Assuming you are using Windows , our recommendation is abandoning other antivirus apps and using Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free, lightweight, knows you windows better than any other application and will inform you if you download something suspicious. (Please note that Windows 8 users y default already have Windows Defender built-in, so they would not need to install anything).
And something else people. NEVER, but never should you have two antivirus apps running at once. They never communicate between themselves and have different defense protocols that in many cases come into conflict with each other. This means that the one antivirus may ''think'' the other one is handling the virus, and as it turns out, none of them do!
Exceptions: While a good,simple and lightweight antivirus program will protect you from malware, it wouldn't protect you from the much more common crapware, which is another swine entirely. Crapware by definition is not really malicious by nature.It is in fact software or browsers that you were tricked into installing, and it does in fact slow down your computer.
Myth #2: You Need a stack of Extra RAM and Hard Drive Space
Many people just assume that a quick fix is extra RAM and HDD Space and that the more you have, the faster your machine will be. highly untrue unless you have an older computer that is filled to the brim.Upgrades of this type will not give you the boost you so need.
Why is this perception Wrong: What will installing more RAM do in essence? It will give your machine more multitasking abilities, especially if you're running resource intensive applications. Unless you're using RAM hungry programmes and applications , like Photoshop, you would most likely only need 2-4GB of RAM, which most modern computers do already have coming out of the factory. as a rule of thumb , If you still have 10% of your free space, you don't really need to upgrade.
Exceptions: Upgrading your RAM would help if you have a cheaper (or older) machine 1GB or less in your system. Even if you do multitask a lot, chances are , that you most probably not even notice the difference assuming you upgrade from 2GB to 4GB. Your best bet is checking the resource monitor (Activity Monitor on OS X)" to graph and see how much you use on a regular basis. If your RAM usage isn't running on the graph limit, then you're probably ok and a RAM upgrade would be unnecessary on your pocket.
If you're working on resource intensive stuff like image or video editing, it may be prudent to upgrade even further to 8GB (2 to 4 won't mae much difference as mentioned above). Just be sure to check beforehand , that you;re using a 64-bit operating system so you can actually make use of it.
When it comes to hard drives , the name of the game is space, but if you're talking about an upgrade of your Hard Drive from mech to SSD (the new Solid State Technology) , then we're talking about a big difference and it is in fact, the best upgrades you can make to speed up a slow computer (and one of the most expensive ones).
Myth #3: Your Hardware's "Wearing Out" as time goes by.
Many people assume that the components inside your PC fall victim to wear and tear and thus, just wear out. Untrue! Your computer may not last forever, but the hardware however should remain unchanged until it dies. It does NOT get slower the more you use it!
Why It's Wrong: The prime reason your computer slows down over time, even if there are a lot of apps,is that the regular updates to your software , becomes more feature-filled, and therefore need more power to function the updated app. Theoretically, if you do a clean install and never update any of your software, everything will run as fast now, as it did four years ago. But that's not exactly a feasible or secure way to use your machine (not updating that it). Your hardware will wear out, but there won't really be a noticeable slowdown.Moral of the story! Update only when absolutely necessary!
Hard Drives: As a general rule, Hard drives start to slow down towards the end of their working life and if this happens to you, this means your drive is at risk for corrupting important files, or God forbid , dying on you at any time. So, 2 important rules for this: Backup regularly and check your disc regularly for bad sectors by opening up a Command Prompt and running chkdsk c: /r.
Exceptions: Some more outdated SSDs, can slow down over time. Other components however shouldn't experience this phenomenon of gradual slowdown.
Assumption #4: You Need to Regularly Reinstall Your OS
A clean and renewed installation of Windows or OS X may on the one hand speed up your machine and give you some peace of mind, it isn't something you absolutely have to do. But if you have a lot of junk programs you don't need, a desktop full of icons and junkware, reinstalling is unlikely to help you on much. Clean up people!
Why It's Wrong: A renewed installation may run faster as it no longer has all the apps, plugins, and other stuff you've installed over time that can slow down your machine. when you do a ''clean install; these applications may go away for a while , until you build them back up again and the vicious cycle starts again from the beginning.We suggest that instead of regular uninstall and install on your operating systems, pay more attention to what programs you use and do your utmost to keep them at a minimum and with the least possible updates and additions. Give particular attention to Windows Explorer and chrome plugins, inflated antivirus apps, and other stuff that run in the background.
Exceptions: If you get a used computer that comes packed with tons of crapware, doing a reinstall can help you just as much as uninstalling those programs.
No doubt, you've heard on numerous occasions various t tweaks disguised as "maintenance" that claim to speed up your computer. Rarely will these revive an overloaded machine. These tweaks include:
Defragmenting: Windows Vista, 7, 8 and Mac OS X automatically defrag your hard drives, so you don't have to do it manually. An exception to the rule is if you're still on XP. You need to Defrag and do it manually.
Cleaning Your Registry: When you uninstall programs, they're more than likely to leave behind electronic traces in the Registry. It is annoying, but it won't really slow down your machine noticeably.Registry cleaners are unnecessary and could be a bit risky, so it's best just leaving your registry alone.
So How do I Fix a Slow Computer?
So we've written many paragraphs explaining what NOT to do, but your computer's still dragging it's feet and you want a solution. The first order of business is to start running some diagnostics.
Stop the bad practice of running so many apps at once.: Take a quick look at your system tray or menu bar.If you have more than a few icons there, then you have too many. Some apps are beyond our control and start on autoque. If this is the case, take it out of your startup queue. If you don't know what it is, then find out by clicking on the properties. If it's something you don't need, then Sayonara! Get rid of it by uninstalling!
Stop Installing junk programs: Sometimes, a single junk app can bring your entire computer to a screeching halt. This includes various other programs that run unnecessary services in the background. Note that on the disclaimer before installing programs, it says that the app doesn't slow down your PC. The truth however is that you never know what's happening in the background
If you're skeptical about an app, ask yourself the simple question: Does my computer run faster when you I that program? If so, then surprise,surprise: Ditch it. If there are apps however you simply can't live without, at least do yourself a big favor and not bloat it. Why keep the music on your player you don't need? Delete it and you will see a difference in your machine's speed. Same goes for other programs and apps.
Perform Maintenance on a regular basis: While we did explain a lot of maintenance myths, the best thing you can do for your machine is to perform a little regular maintenance once in awhile. Most maintenance would involve keeping your software updated, your programs list nice and trim, and your temp files emptied. Check out your Windows and Mac maintenance guide for more info.
The principle is simple. Don't operate a 10 year old photoshop (just because you're used to it) on a brand new machine. It's logical that it will slow you down. Your best weapon against a slow PC is common sense.
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