How to Identify and Fix Common Problems with Slow Computers

HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction about the common problem of slow computers.
In this article, we Identify the Problem with slow computers.
How to fix these common problems.

Computer slowdowns are annoying and can also cause a problem in one’s flow of work or any project one is conducting online. Fortunately, there are methods on how to deal with slow computers and most of these are easy-to-do diagnoses and solutions. This article shall help you to learn how to maintain cleanliness in the system and make some relevant changes for the better performance of the computer. No matter if facing the problem of software overkill, weak hardware resources, or viruses, you will surely find useful tips to bring your computer to life.

Introduction

Living in the modern digital environment, no one can afford to have a slow computer as it can be very aggravating and time-consuming. Regardless of whether you are running critical tasks, watching videos online, or scrolling through social media, slow operating speeds of the computer can be an absolute jungle, and worse still if you don’t have a powerful computer. Booting speed and overall system optimization play a major role in keeping the operations swift and productive, thus helping its user in completing their tasks. This guide will try to explain the most frequent complications that lead to slow performance and offer you ways of solving and preventing further usage of your computer.

Identifying the Problem

Symptoms of a slow computer

Long startup times: The booting time of your valued computer takes a significantly longer period than it should.
Delays in opening applications: Icons may take time to open or some of the apps may freeze consistently.
Lag in web browsing: Web pages become difficult to load; there is a slower response time likely to freeze browser tabs.
Slow file transfers: Files are slower to move or copy in some way, for instance through a more time-consuming USB transfer.

Potential Causes

Lack of available memory (RAM): Lack of RAM can lead to a notion that the computer is busy when you attempt to perform multiple activities at once.
Full hard drive: A full hard drive makes a computer run slow because the drive needs to search longer through the piled-up data to process your requests.
Background applications: When many applications are open at the same time they consume resources hence operating systems slow down.
Malware or viruses: Viruses and other related software can slow down your computer or conk it out, as far as using it as effectively is concerned.
Outdated hardware: Probably some of the parts in the computer hardware are old calls and may not be able to handle newer call software calls.
Fragmented data: If the files in your hard drive are not compacted into clusters, then the access time and efficiency are bound to be low.
Quick Fixes and First Steps

Restart the Computer

Simple but effective: The first recommendation is to reboot your PC and this one is rather obvious, but it should be noted that this often allows to resolve many short-term issues.
Clearing temporary issues: A restart assists in freeing the RAM which also stops other activities that are not required and it also eliminates small software issues.

Close Unnecessary Programs

Using Task Manager: Press the keyboard combination Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch the so-called Task Manager for working with the active processes and applications.
Identifying resource hogs: Over-provisioning; this concerns the identification and cancellation of courses that are resource intensive concerning CPU and/or RAM to free more space in the systems’ resources.

Deep Cleaning and Maintenance

Uninstall Unused Programs

Removing bloatware: A user should remove unnecessary programs and applications that come with the operating systems as they may contribute to the consumption of more system resources thus slowing down the system.
Keeping essential software only: This would help you minimize the number of problems by only using the regularly used software.

Clear Comptor Folders

Deleting temporary files: Delete files kept in a temporary folder, local cache, backup store, and other such files which can clutter up the system over a while.
Removing old backups and downloads: In this case, remove unwanted backups, files, downloads, etc., that are no longer useful to free the disk space.
Using disk cleanup tools: Use the options from the application or search for third-party disk cleanup tools that would do the job of finding and deleting these files automatically.

Defragment the Hard Drive

Explanation of fragmentation: In fragmentation, files are divided into smaller parts and stored at different places on the hard drive, this makes data to be accessed slowly.
Steps to defragment: Standard tools (for Windows, for example, go to the start menu and type in ‘Defragment and Optimize Drives’) to reorganize files on a hard drive that had become fragmented and therefore hinder the operating system’s performance.

Note: As for other types of storage, specifically SSDs, fragmentation is not required, and it can be substituted by other procedures.

Optimization Techniques

Increasing Virtual Memory

What is virtual memory?

When virtual memory is enabled, part of your hard disk is used to temporarily store what the RAM of your computer is expected to store shortly. It is also important in dealing with large volumes of data and applications through the use of intervention between the RAM and Disk storage.

Steps to adjust settings:

For Windows: Open a web browser, type in Control Panel, then System and Security, then System, then Advanced System Settings. After getting to the Advanced tab, under the Performance section, click Settings. Next, click the Advanced tab and in the underneath section Virtual Memory click on the Change button. You can set the size of the icon as per your choice or you can leave it as default as managed by Windows.

For macOS: macOS controls the virtual memory on its own and rarely requires changes to be made by the user.

Disabling Startup Programs

Identifying unnecessary startup items:

Go to the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc or go to the System Preferences on MAC to see programs that run at start-up. Search for programs that you do not require to run at system start-up.

Using system configuration tools:

For Windows: To disable unnecessary programs from running on start-up, go to Task Manager, and select the Startup tab. When right-clicking the Command Prompt option, there are only limited options but for more configuring, use msconfig (System Configuration).

For macOS: Click on Go located on top of the screen then select System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items to eliminate unnecessary items that run at the startup.

Updating Software and Drivers

Importance of updates:

System and application update os/as/ap/d updates to get new performance enhancement, security release, and/or bug kde.

How to check and update drivers:

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to check & update your drivers:

For Windows: Simply, go to the device Start menu and start typing Device Manager; after that, open it, right-click on the device you want to update, and choose to update the driver. Another possibility is that the option that says the computer searches for the updated driver software is ticked.

For macOS: The update of software is mostly done by control + which opens the System Preferences Software Update. For drivers, macOS update is quite rare and usually solved by system updates conducted by the operating system.

Addressing Malware and Viruses

Running Antivirus and Anti-Malware Scans

Recommended tools:

Windows: Windows Defender (included the list), Malwarebytes, Norton, Bitdefender, Kaspersky.
macOS: In Mac, some of the costly are; Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, Intego, and Sophos.

Steps to perform a full system scan: Procedure for performing a full system scan:

Windows:

Go to your current installed antivirus or an anti-malware application of your choice.
Observe that the software offers two types of scans; full system scan or a scan that has features such as deep scan.
Let the scan begin, it may take quite a while depending on the capacity of the drive or the number of files on it.
Look at the scan report and follow the directives of the software, if any, it has provided in the course of the scan.

macOS:

Therefore, to go to the next step of initiating the sequence, start the antivirus or anti-malware software you have opted for.
Select a full scan of the system by opting for it.
It is advisable to let the scan work until it is complete and then scan through the results, and then follow the outcomes.

Removing Detected Threats

Quarantine and delete:

Quarantine: All of the mentioned and many antiviral programs allow moving the detected threats to quarantine, that is, to be placed in a certain zone of your computer so that they do not harm your computer any further while you consider what to do with them next.

Delete: This means that if after quarantining the threats one is confirmed to be malicious, then it could be removed. Never ignore the steps provided by the antivirus tools used in the elimination processes to ensure all detected threats are removed.

Preventive measures:

Regular scans: scans through which one can easily identify threats and wipe them out before they can cause any damage.
Update software: Many of its features should be updated always because each can counter the new threats as endowed with the new definitions.
Safe browsing habits: Do not download files from unknown and unreliable sources, click links of websites you cannot trust, opening the files attached in the emails you have received from people you do not know.
Backup data: It is important to copy the critical files to external mediums like external hard disk or cloud storage as a means of containing the damage when infected by malware.

Hardware Upgrades and Replacements

Adding More RAM

Indicators that more RAM is needed:

It is of great notability that several operations within the system take time especially if they are running in parallel.
The time for the Apps to load is very long, or the current App indicates it is lagging and probably has consumed a lot of RAM.
An interrupting message showing that there is still some space free or the RAM runs out of space, a message showing ‘High RAM Usage’.

How to install additional RAM:

Check Compatibility: Read on the type of RAM and the maximum RAM that can be installed in the machine refer to the computer manufacturer/handbook and from the laptop maker.
Power Down: It is recommended to power off your personal computer so shut it down and disconnect it from the power source.
Open Case: On this aspect, the recommendation given for the desktop design is that the side panel should not be included. Laptops if necessary, remove the back panel.
Install RAM: The sticks have to be inserted in the spaces that exist in a 45-degree orientation; once the lock is in place, this will make a clicking sound.
Reassemble: Swap the positions of the two panels and plug in your computer After that, you should swap the position of the two panels and connect your computer again.
Verify: Among the properties discuss if the new RAM is recognized or not from the above identified system properties.

Upgrading to an SSD

Benefits of SSD over HDD:

Faster Performance: It has a better booting and file opening than the classic hard disk drive which is characteristic of SSDs.
Improved Reliability: SSDs do not incorporate a tray in them; thus, they are not inclined to physical harm just like a hard disk.
Energy Efficiency: They are less power hungry this is very advantageous, particularly in the case of laptops, especially in the aspect of battery life.

Steps for cloning and installing:

Backup Data: Regrettably, this statement should always be followed because documents should always be saved safely on a computer.
Clone Existing Drive: Easy to use cloning software A cloning software should then be used to clone your current Hard disk to the SSD (Greater examples include Ease US todo backup, Macrium reflect).
Replace Drive: It is necessary to turn off the PC and assuming it is flipped over and in the previous location of the hard disk, there is a new caddy of the new SSD.
Boot and Verify: Please power on the PC and confirm that the SSD has been identified and should be included among the boot devices.

Also Read: Tips to Boost Your Phone’s Speed: Reasons and Solutions for Slowing Down

A Full System Upgrade

When to consider new hardware:

Performance Limitations: The physical paraphernalia that you currently own is utterly irrelevant to today’s working application and operating systems and their exigencies.
Incompatibility Issues: The ‘portable’ system does not contain adequate support for the incumbent software and or the peripherals.
Frequent Repairs: This has its cost of repair and or modification slightly above the provision of a new system in the organization.

Balancing cost vs. benefits:

Evaluate Needs: It is necessary to comprehend further the idea of whether it will be more unbeneficial to initiate constructing a new system in the organization or whether is it wiser to work on improving particular aspects of the organizational machinery.

Cost Comparison: To fully prove this argument one has to look at the costs of upgrading a unit against the costs of acquiring a new system.

Future-Proofing: Last but not least, think about other areas in which the prolonged ‘‘new system or upgrade’’ time will cost more money before this need will be met.

Regular Maintenance Tips

Clear Cache and Cookies without a schedule

Browser Settings: Manage to eliminate the browsing history, cache, and cookies from the web browser that you are using via the settings menu for faster browsing and protection of users’ privacy.

Schedule Disk Cleanups

Windows: Drive Cleanup should be done often using the Disk Cleanup tool or Storage Sense to get rid of temporary files and system trash.
macOS: Utilize system utilities, or paid/free software to remove unwanted items.

Follow up on System performance on a usual basis

Task Manager/Activity Monitor: Monitor all the parameters of the system and usage of all resources used to help in the early detection of problems.

Operating Systems and Software companies should be kept up to date

System Updates: It is recommended that the operating system updates are checked as often as possible and applied to incorporate updates for security and improvement of performance.
Software Updates: Update applications and drivers to get new features that can help you and new bug fixes.

Conclusion:

Consequently, eagerness to adhere to the above laid-down procedures will assist you to see your computer always running efficiently and swiftly. Signing and updating licenses boosts your system efficiency and keeping the proper and good usage of both software and hardware devices guarantees the longevity of the system you are using. Do not forget to always update yourself on available software updates, conduct system clean-ups, and optimize your system start-ups.

Proper care and always taking precautions will go a long way in making the computer work properly. To have ongoing efficiency, incorporate the above practices into your workflow, and your computer will continue to be useful for you.

FAQs

What happens if your computer is slow?

This is true because when your RAM is full, be it from having opened several browser tabs, your computer will become slow. A reboot clears the RAM and loads up only the required programs your computer requires at the current moment. You should then only launch the applications that are necessary to perform your required task.

How to check RAM?

Use the hotkey Ctrl+ Shift + Esc to start the task manager. Or, use the right-click on the Taskbar and then choose the option of Task Manager. Click Performance to get current RAM usage in the Memory box and the total RAM capacity will appear in the Physical Memory.