Slow-Computer

The bad guys gotcha! PC infections are a major cause of a slow computer. So often, PC users let their subscription to Norton’s or McAfee expire, and then, they are calling someone like me for help. Once infected, it is difficult to clean and repair the system correctly. There are several ways to disinfect the PC, which can take many hours. If the repair person charges $ 85/hr to repair, using disinfectant methods, and spent 2 hours, that would be $ 170. After that, you would still be faced with the damaged files that theMalware caused.  Unfortunately, the best cure is to Format and Reload.  For more information on Malware    click Computer Security .

Format and Reload of Windows cost $ 90 - $ 150. This is a time consuming effort, but the result is usually good.

Example: A typical 2 year old infected home computer that has been used without properly cleaning out temporary files, and has not been properly defragged would have 10 – 40GB of “stuff” on the hard drive. After reviewing files, pictures and music, I can’t account for more than 1-2 GB of “data”. I save all necessary data, e-mail, and files to an external hard drive. After format and reload, I put data back on, then now hard drive has only 2-3 GB of “stuff”.

What was all that other “stuff?”  Its accumulated temporary files, temporary internet files, infections and garbage left by bad programming, over the years. It’s kind of like cleaning out the attic! The "keepers" are badly outnumbered by the "throwaways".

When faced with a decision to go Malware diving (seek and destroy!)  or format reload, my customers usually opt of the reload. For more information, click Format/Reload XP or Install/Re-install Windows 7

Older PC has (Internet Security Suite Installed)

Firewalls offer pretty good protection (routers have a hardware firewall, built in). The caution here is to be aware of the overhead with software firewalls that can seriously affect and slow computer. Software Firewalls are frequently difficult to set up. Many users opt to disable them, rather than being "blocked from the internet".

If your PC has less than a 3 Ghz CPU*, then your performance will suffer signicantly, if you have a "Security Suite" installed (most common is McAfee Internet Secuirity Suite and Nortons Internet Security Suite). This is happening frequently, because Verizon, Cox and other ISP's are pushing these as "problem solvers". My customers complain that they have much greater problems with these "Security Suites" , than they have without them!

* If you don't know your CPU speed, click How To Determine CPU Speed

Hard Drive is Overloaded

For a hard drive to function properly, it needs at least 25% free space. On an older PC, I’ll find 40GB hard drives with 90% utilization! No wonder they say "I have a slow computer !" With current hard drives being 500GB and more, 40GB is really small!

The first step is to clean up the hard drive. That includes removing temporary files, temporary internet files, removing old files that you are no longer using, removing unwanted programs, etc. see Disk Cleanup for more details.

Another solution for a Slow-Computer is to add or upgrade existing hard drive. But wait! Well not as obvious as it sounds! There is the economic decision to make …  see Old Computer

Crapware:

Crapware is software you didn’t ask for and do not want on your computer. If you have a lot of crapware, it slows down your computer!

Some generic examples are:

• Store or brand utilities
• Trialware
• Toolbars
• ISP-associated utilities
• Time-limited antivirus software

Why is it there, then? PC makers cash in big time, that’s why. Software vendors pay top dollar to get their trialware loaded on OEM equipment and in front of the user.

For a comprehensive review of crapware, and how to get rid of it, read 5 Tips for getting Rid of Crapware

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Additional Clean-up Tools:

 

PC Decrapifier, SlimComputer, WinPatrol, Revo Uninstaller, and CCleaner.

These tools are all free, but they are pretty good. I use CCleaner fairly often. They will clean crapware, and a lot of other junk off your computer.

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Customer has installed a "registry Cleaner"

Registry cleaners are not the cause of the problem, at least not usually. They are a symptom. The customer does not know what to do for their slow computer, but they are willing to spend some money to fix it now. When I see Registry Cleaners installed, I know the customer is frustrated, but does not know what to do!

Some of the combination tools(registry cleaner, hard drive cleanup, malware remover, etc), can be helpful, but are primarily sold to make the seller rich !

And when I check on-line for the cure, much of what I see for “cures” are registry cleaners, or some similar tools which I consider “glorified registry cleaners!” These do not really do the job.

They may help some, but are in reality more of a revenue producer, for the website, rather than a cure for what ails your PC! The fastest thing that happens, is your money goes to them very fast!

This is not to say that a good registry cleaner isn't useful, but most often your major problems are elsewhere. For a much better understanding on Registry cleaners, click on: Benjamin -Speed-up-your-slow-computer Site section on Registry Cleaners. He has done extensive research, and reports on the best!

Cost Saving Tip: You can do most of the cures yourself for fixing a Slow-Computer, with existing tools that you already have, or can get free from the internet!

Five free Windows registry cleaners to keep your system running smoothly

I use Ccleaner occasionally, and never had a problem with it. It does a decent job of cleaning other stuff too.

Help from a "PC Expert "

Very often, they have had a “PC Expert”, come in and fix the Slow-Computer problem. While this does help in some cases (depends on how much the “expert” knows), in other cases, the problem is worse! I’ve seen lost data, lost programs, and  “Blue Screens of Death”  (Windows fatal error).

Too Many Programs in Start-up(slow computer startup)

As time goes by, your PC accumulates entries in the start up folder, and most of these are not as helpful as intended.They definitely detract from PC speed!  This problem can get so bad that I’ve seen PC’s taking 5-10 minutes to start up!  To remove all of these could be a mistake. I’ve seen printers fail when a process was removed. Want to clean your own start up folders?    See Change Startup

Insufficient Memory

Memory was quite expensive back then. But now $ 50 buys a lot of memory. Windows XP can perform better with enough memory. Windows Vista and Windows 7 demands more memory. 1GB for Vista is a starvation diet! Actually, I don’t object, as memory is so cheap now. I have 2 GB in my laptop, and it works ok.

Memory upgrades are inexpensive, even for “old computers”. Memory upgrades can extend the life of an old computer sometimes.  See Upgrades for more info.

Troubleshoot Slow PC (Primarily Windows 7)

10 Things you can do to boost performance

This is a new list that contains some very important "speed up" ideas, though some are much more difficult for "Novices". But look it over, as you may see some good stuff for yourself.

Disk SpeedUp 1.4.0.888 (Windows)

One of the most popular downloads from CNET 2012.

 

After trying all of the above, and didn't solve the problem, then go to Computer Support