Slow Computer?
The options below will give you some info about why computers slow down
and what you can do about it.
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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 and you
have upgraded to Windows98 or higher, requiring more data to be process.
Another could be that you have install software that is
running in the background and taking up RAM and the computer is swapping
(using your hard drive as imitation RAM).
A virus could be another possibility. Make sure your anti-virus
software has not expired, if so your definition maybe old and it
will not protect you against viruses 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 processor usage, if it is constantly processing even
when you are not using the computer you may have a program that is
corrupt or not working correctly. Turn one by one off using CTRL-
ALT- Delete leaving Explorer.exe, systray and see if that solves the problem.
The most common reason is not having enough RAM. See below.
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| Memory manager-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-Windows 95, 98, ME |
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.
TIP: If you have to many programs running in the background (those little Icons on the right of the Taskbar) Defrag will restart
over and over and take a long time to finish, so you need to close them. |
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| Hard Drives |
Depending on how old your computer is, the option of installing a new hard drive may not be worth it.
You need to find out what kind of hard drive you have, by this I mean is it EIDE, ULTRA 33, ULTRA 66, ATA100 and also the RPM. (5400 or 7200)
As I mention before, the hard drive is just about the slowest hardware in your computer, with that in mind, If you had a standard EIDE, you
would benefit from installing a ATA100. (Most likely your motherboard does not support ATA100 so you would have to install a controller card.)
This should be done by a professional and depending on the processor in your computer, It may not be worth It. |
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