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Slow computer? Here are some options. |
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| Why is my computer slow? |
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There are many reasons why a computer can run
slow, but I'll give you the most common.
One could be because your processors Mhz is not fast enough to
handle the newer software, requiring more data to be process.
Another could be that you have install software that runs in the background and taking up RAM and the computer is swapping
(using your hard drive as imitation RAM).
A virus, spyware, or adware could be another possibility. Make sure your
security
software has not expired, if so your definition maybe old and it
will not protect you against malicious files after the expiration date.
Also Windows can be corrupt, if you haven't changed or install software
but it is running slower now.
Check the cpu usage with the task manager, if it's at a high
percentage even when you are not using the computer you may have a
program that is corrupt or not working correctly. To access the
Task Manager hold down with your left hand Ctrl and Alt keys
and with your right hit delete or right click on your taskbar on
an empty space and click task manager. Click the processes tab to
see CPU usage on each process. |
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| Still using-Windows 95, 98,
ME |
First thing you need to do is check to see how much RAM you have left.
Click on start, point to programs, accessories, system tools and click on system monitor. (If you do not see system monitor, click on add and remove
programs in your control panel and select the center tab "Windows setup". Highlight system tools and click Detail. Put a
checkmark in system monitor, click OK then click OK again. It should be under system tools now.)
If you've never used system monitor you'll only see "Kernel: processor usage".
You need to add two more graphs. Under EDIT click Add Item then on the left side select "memory manager" and on the right
select "Unused physical memory" and click OK. Do the same for "Swapfiles in Use". You should now have the three graphs.
If you take a look at the "Unused physical memory" it will tell you how much RAM is left, this is Important because when your
RAM gets to low you start to swap heavily. By looking at the "Swap files in Use" you can tell if your swapping.
All this means is that when you swap heavily you use your hard drive constantly and that just about the slowest hardware in your computer.
You can also open the particular programs that you usually run and check system monitor for details, as you open programs your unused RAM is less.
If you're swapping you can add more memory and that should speed up your computer.
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| Defrag |
Disk Defragmenter can speed your drives up by physically putting fragmented data files back together in contiguous clusters. Files become
fragmented when you save and edit files, install software and delete files.
To access Defrag click on start, point to programs, Accessories, System Tools and click Defrag. |
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| Hard Drives |
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Hard drives can become bad and slow down to a crawl. Let us take a
look at it and we'll diagnose it for you. |
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