Why is My Computer So Slow

However, these may not be the only reasons why your computer has become slow. There may be other reasons which may be causing this problem. Let us take a look at some of these possible problems.

It often happens that you have a computer with the best of the configuration, a high memory RAM, a good amount of hard disk space and of course a very good high-speed processor, and yet your computer is slow to start up. The reason for this is that there are a good number of start up processes that you have initiated.

Many times, when we install a software, we forget to uncheck the option to start the software during start up. Too many software running in the computer during start-up, may make the computer slow to start up. So, the way out of this problem, is to disable the functionality to start these software during start up.

You can also browse the computer's start up services and disable all such services that have been programmed to start up when your computer boots up. Similarly, if there are any services that keep running in the background, you need to shut down those applications.

These applications that run in the background, not only cause other processes to slow down, but may also make the computer slow to shut down. You can simply go into the 'Task Manager' of your computer, if you are using the Windows operating system, by hitting the Ctrl-Alt-Del keys together and end all the unnecessary applications that are running.

However, reducing the number of start-up services in your computer, is a better way to counter this problem, because, disabling the applications individually, will not stop them from booting up during start-up.

This is one of the basic reasons that may cause the computer to run slow. If you are using a software which takes up a good amount of RAM, then obviously, the other applications will run slow. Another important aspect that you need to take care of is 'paging'.

When the RAM in your computer is full, the computer processor utilizes some space from your secondary storage device that is your hard disk to run the applications. Hence, it becomes very necessary that you provide some amount of free space in your RAM.

This is what is considered the basic reason, why a computer is slow, and often, the conclusion is right. Adware, malware and spyware software can considerably reduce the computer performance.

The easy way out of this problem is to install an antivirus software in your computer. But one thing that you need to keep in mind is that, antivirus software though a necessity, can also reduce the performance of your computer. Hence, it becomes very important that you choose an antivirus software, which does not occupy a lot of RAM.

Defragment your computer at least once in a month or fifteen days. This reduces the clustering of files in the computer. To do so you just need to click the Start menu, go to programs, accessories, then to the system tools options and select the option for defragmentation. Also remember to delete temporary Internet files from your computer.

The Windows registry is like the DNA of the Windows operating system and stores all vital information about your system that includes: interface settings, installed programs and program settings, settings for drivers and hardware and personal user profile. This implies that if registry crashes or gets corrupted the entire system will stop working.

When you install new drivers or devices, add and remove programs, open and close applications and change their settings, your registry becomes littered with corrupt entries. Your computer's performance is seriously hampered and causes system errors, freezes and crashes. To prevent your computer from slowing down, proper maintenance of the registry is vital.

So if you too are wondering why your computer is running so slow, you must have got some idea about how to resolve this problem. Your computer is just a machine and it cannot do anything on its own accord, unless you have prompted it to work in a particular way. Many times, we install software without checking each and every step of the installation process.

It is in these stages that we are often asked if we want to install some unwanted software along with the software we are installing or if we want the application to start up every time the computer boots up. So follow the tips I just equipped you with. In most cases, taking simple precautions can ward off complex problems.