How to Find Out What Is Slowing Down My Computer
My computer is running slow, what steps can I do to fix it?
Updated: 06/06/2021 by Estimator Hope
Below are recommendations users can follow to help speed up a calculator and brand it run faster, or determine why a estimator is running ho-hum. It should be noted that this page simply covers an overall slow estimator and not a computer that starts slow or has a slow Internet connection. To diagnose those issues, visit the following pages:
Reboot
If your estimator has non been rebooted recently, brand sure to reboot it before post-obit any of the steps below. Rebooting the calculator can fix many problems and is an like shooting fish in a barrel first step.
Groundwork programs
One of the most common reasons for a slow estimator is programs running in the background. Remove or disable any TSRs and startup programs that automatically offset each time the computer boots.
Tip
To see what programs are running in the background and how much memory and CPU they are using, open Task Managing director. If you are running Windows 7 or higher, run Resmon to go a improve understanding of how your computer resources are used.
If you lot have an antivirus scanner on the calculator, spyware protection programme, or some other security utility, make certain it'due south not scanning your computer in the background. If a browse is in progress, information technology decreases the overall performance of your computer. If this is the case, permit the scan to complete, and the computer's performance should ameliorate.
Delete temp files
As a computer runs programs, temporary files are stored on the hard drive. Deleting these temp files help improve calculator performance.
Windows computers
First, nosotros suggest using the Windows Disk Cleanup utility to delete temporary files and other files no longer needed on the reckoner.
Unfortunately, the Disk Cleanup may not delete every file in the temp directory. Therefore, we also suggest deleting temporary files manually.
- Open up the Start menu or and press the Windows key, then type %temp% in the Search field.
Annotation
In Windows XP and prior, click the Run choice in the Offset menu and enter %temp% in the Run field.
- Press Enter and a Temp binder should open.
- You tin can delete all files found in this folder and, if any files are in utilise and cannot exist deleted, they tin be skipped.
Costless difficult bulldoze space
Verify that there is at least 200-500MB of free hard drive infinite. This available space allows the computer to have room for the swap file to increment in size and give room for temporary files.
Bad, corrupted or fragmented hard drive
Check the difficult bulldoze for errors
On a Windows computer, run ScanDisk, chkdsk, or something equivalent to verify there is nothing physically incorrect with the computer's hard drive.
On a macOS computer, admission the Disk Utility program, and use the First Assist choice to check the hard drive for errors. To open Deejay Utility:
- Click the Launchpad icon on the dock.
- Open the Other folder.
- Click Disk Utility to open the program.
Brand sure hard drive is not fragmented
Run Defrag to help ensure that information is arranged in the best possible guild.
Examination difficult bulldoze
Use other software tools to exam the difficult drive for any errors by looking at the SMART of the drive.
Scan for viruses
If your figurer is infected with one or more viruses, information technology may run more slowly. If your figurer doesn't have an antivirus plan installed, run Trend Micro's costless Housecall online utility to scan and remove viruses on your computer. We also recommend you install an antivirus program for active protection against viruses.
Browse for malware
Today, spyware and other malware is a large cause of many figurer problems, including slower performance. Even if an antivirus scanner is installed on the computer, we recommend running a malware browse too. Use the free version of Malwarebytes to scan your reckoner for malware.
Hardware conflicts
Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts. If any exist, resolve these issues as they could exist causing your trouble.
Update the operating system
To update a reckoner running Microsoft Windows, run Windows Update.
To update a macOS reckoner, run Software Update. To upgrade the operating system, use the App Store.
Disable browser plug-ins
If your estimator runs especially slow when you're using your spider web browser, considering disabling whatsoever browser plug-ins, add-ons, or extensions.
Update your drivers
Make sure you have the latest drivers for your computer hardware, particularly the latest video drivers. Having out-of-date drivers tin can crusade an assortment of problems, including slow performance.
Reboot the computer again
After making any of the changes above, reboot your auto.
Run a registry cleaner
Note
If yous have a Mac computer, skip this section, as at that place is no registry in macOS.
We commonly practise non recommend registry cleaners. Withal, if you followed all the steps above and your calculator is still slow, endeavour running a registry cleaner on the computer.
Memory upgrade
If you lot accept had your reckoner for more ii years, y'all may need more than memory. Today, we propose computers have a minimum of 2 GB of retentivity (RAM) for a 32-flake arrangement and iv GB for a 64-bit system. Past having enough memory for programs to run within memory, your computer doesn't need to swap information stored in memory to the bandy file. If the hard drive light is continuously agile, it'due south an indication the calculator is frequently swapping information between your memory and hard drive.
Hard drive upgrade
One of the biggest bottlenecks of a reckoner is the hd. Upgrading from a standard difficult bulldoze to a solid-state drive (SSD) drastically improves the computer'southward operation.
Computer or processor is overheating
Make sure your reckoner and processor is not overheating. Excessive heat tin cause a decrease in the reckoner's performance because well-nigh operating systems automatically reduce the speed of the processor to help recoup for oestrus-related issues.
Dust, dirt, and hair tin can also constrict proper airflow within your computer, which causes a figurer to overheat. Make sure your estimator instance is clean, and that the fans are not obstructed.
Increase or upgrade the processor speed
Increasing the speed of the processor (CPU) tin improve your computer'south operation. At that place are two options for increasing processor speed: overclocking or upgrading.
Overclocking a processor means increasing its speed across what it's designed to run stably. While overclocking tin increase the processor speed, the increase is frequently not very significant, resulting in maybe a x% or 20% speed increment at most. Furthermore, the processor itself must exist capable of being overclocked. You would demand to find the specifications for the processor in your computer to determine if it can be overclocked. An overclocked processor generates more oestrus, thus requiring a more powerful rut sink and fan to pull the excess oestrus away from the processor.
A safer culling to overclocking is upgrading the processor in your computer. You would need to get the specifications for your motherboard to decide what blazon of newer processor may exist used in it. You lot can then install the new processor in place of the existing processor.
Erase computer and start over
If none of the solutions in a higher place resolve your issues, some other choice is to reinstall the operating system, or you can erase everything and commencement over.
Erasing everything on your computer and reinstalling the operating organisation can increase operation past getting rid of old software or drivers. Installing a fresh copy of macOS or Windows, software programs, and the latest drivers aid verify there are no software related issues causing your computer to exist slow.
Hardware issues
Finally, if your figurer is still slow later on trying the above recommendations, there's likely a more serious hardware related outcome (eastward.g., failing component). Examples of failing hardware could include the hard drive, CPU, RAM, motherboard, or other components.
You tin can run hardware diagnostic tests using the Ultimate Kick CD (UBCD) utility. This utility provides information on whether or non your estimator has a bad slice of hardware.
Old calculator
If your computer is more than five years old, it performs slower than a new one. Equally more avant-garde software programs are released, they are optimized to run more than efficiently on newer computers. Older computers are non able to run these new programs as well, which causes them to perform more slowly. Furthermore, new software tends to exist more demanding in general, which is another problem for old hardware. We recommend yous consider purchasing a new figurer or upgrading your electric current one.
Source: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000179.htm
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