Slow Computer Performance

Do you know when the last time was that you defragmented the hard drive? This should be done as often as possible to guarantee optimum performance.

Each time you copy or create a file, windows is going to allocate a space for it on the hard disk. New files get written to the next space which is available, but this may not be sufficient due to other files in proximity on the drive. If there is not enough space then the files get split and data is spread out. As more and more files get added it is easy for the hard drive to become completely fragmented thus slowing down response time.

By regularly defragmenting the hard drive all the pieces of your files will be placed back together and the overall performance will be much faster. The majority of computers have disk defragmenters installed as standard programs, you just need to choose when to carry out the task.

You should also consider defragmenting your registry as this can also contribute to slow computer performance. Each time a program is installed, information gets added to the registry. A registry defragmenter is not the same application as a disk defragmenter. You may need to locate a specialized program to download and use.

It can be useful to ensure that no programs run in the background which takes up system resources unnecessarily. To do this go to the "run" application and type out the word "msconfig". You will then be given a list of currently running programs as well as be informed as to which applications start when the computer is first turned on.

You need to be careful that you do not accidentally terminate essential programs needed for the operating system to work correctly. Only turn off those applications that you are one hundred percent certain that you do not require. It is often the boot time that brings the biggest frustration. In fact, when a computer is slow it is not unusual to be able to go and make a cup of tea and drink it before the PC has completed started up!

Did you realize that over the months and years our computers can easily get filled with junk information and files which are never accessed or needed? To remove this problem you should do a disk clean up. This can also get rid of duplicate files and irrelevant short cuts. It is often amazing the difference this can make to speed. Also, memory may become available which can be put to other purposes.

It is also very important to back up your data on a regular basis. Should you lose your hard drive from a virus or just a malfunction, it is possible you could lose everything. An external hard drive is a must-have for keeping your data backed up.

Also, do you have an anti-virus program? This can often cause a PC to respond very slowly to commands when the scan is taking place. Alter the settings so that it searches for threats when you are not using the computer rather than when you want to do work. Alternatively, consider another program that might not affect your computer's speed (check online reviews for more info).