5 Reasons Your Computer is Slow

Speed Up Your PC by Fixing These Common Issues
August 2009
by Blake Crone

One of the most common problems for computer users today is a slow and sluggish PC. A computer that takes ages to complete a single task may make you want to pull your hair out, which is why we put together a list of the top 5 reasons your PC is slow, along with the fixes for each problem.

Don't pull your hair out and don’t kick your computer – just follow the advice below and watch your PC come back up to speed.

  1. Registry Issues
    Your Windows registry becomes cluttered with corrupted or invalid entries, which can lead to computer freezes, error messages, and slow performance. To boost your PC's speed and performance, use a registry cleaning software such as RegCure to optimize your Windows registry.
  2. Viruses
    Taking up large spaces of memory on your system without you even knowing it, computer viruses are a major headache. Sucking up processing power and running in the background of your PC, viruses not only affect PC performance, but also endanger your personal and private information. Use an anti-virus solution to prevent and remove computer viruses.
  3. Too Many Startup Programs
    When you install some programs, they will automatically start when your PC boots up, which can bring your computer to a painfully slow pace. Limit the amount of startup programs on your PC and you will notice a boost in speed in just seconds!
  4. Fragmented Hard Drive
    In the day-to-day use of your computer, files can become scattered across the hard drive. This is called disk fragmentation, and causes your PC to run slow due to file searches taking a long amount of time. To fix this issue , use the disk defragmenting tool in Windows. Simply open 'My Computer', right-click on the "C" drive, and click 'Properties'. Next, click 'Tools' and under Defragmentation, select 'Defragment Now'.
  5. Hardware Issues
    Over time, the hardware powering your computer will also be subject to wear and tear. Common issues such as dust buildup and overheating can impact performance. If you do experience a failure, crash or a shut down it can sometimes be traced to a hardware problem.

Don't let these common and easy to avoid traps wear down your computer's performance and your patience!