Does your computer take forever to respond to the simplest of commands? If you are at the end of your rope with slow PC speed and performance, the first step would be to investigate the source of the problem. In some cases speeding your PC can be as straightforward as defragmenting your hard disk while at other times the issue may not be so easily rectified.
Checking for External Threats
The first step to handling system slow down is to check for security threats such as spyware or viruses. You can use the ScanDisk system utility or run a reliable Antivirus program to ascertain that your PC is free of any dangerous agents.
Disk Maintenance
If your PC seems to be crawling even after regular antivirus checks the problem may well be with an overloaded hard disk. Freeing up disk space can significantly improve system speed and performance. To do this try one or more of the following steps:
1. Run the Disk Cleanup utility from the “Accessories – System Tools” menu to remove Temporary Internet Files.
2. Remove or uninstall any programs that have not been used for any significant amount of time.
3. Empty the Recycle Bin. This should be done regularly to avoid deleted files occupying disk space.
Aside from removing unwanted files, regular disk defragmentation is key to maintaining a healthy PC. The Disk Defragmenter utility from the System Tools menu helps analyze fragmented program data on your hard drive and puts them back together so that processing times and access speeds are better. The Disk Defragmenter can even be scheduled to run automatically.
Adding More RAM
While most PCs these days come with an in-built RAM of 3GB or more, it is always a good idea to add more memory especially if you recently upgraded your operating system. If you are a gamer or even a power user with tons of memory-intensive programs, consider upgrading your RAM. To check if programs are using up a lot of memory, check the CPU Usage from the Performance tab on your Task Manager. If frequently used programs dry up the RAM then it is time to upgrade.