How to Fix a Slow Running PC
- 1). Turn off your desktop computer and unplug all the cables from the back. Open the chassis cover and do a visual inspection. Remove dust bunnies that may be clogging the power supply box of the front air vents. Use an air can to gently remove and dust gathering on the processor heat sink fan.
- 2). Upgrade your memory to the maximum limit for your motherboard. Go to crucial.com to find out how much and what kind of memory sticks to us. After installing new RAM, replace the chassis cover and plug in the machine again. Reboot.
- 3). Download a set of seven free tune-up tools to a USB flash drive. Download Revo Uninstaller, C-Cleaner, Auslogics Defragger and Auslogics Registry Cleaner, Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware, and Avast Free Edition. Most of these programs can be safely downloaded from one website: filehippo.com (see "Resources").
- 4). Install and run Revo Uninstaller (see "Resources"). Examine the list of programs Revo found. If any of the programs found are no longer wanted, use Revo to remove them from your hard drive. Remove Norton, McAfee and other "brand name" security programs. They are resources hogs and not effective, despite marketing efforts. Norton especially slows down computers to a crawl. Resolve not to download random and junk software in the future. Reboot.
- 5). Run C-Cleaner. Clean the hard drive and the registry with this tool. Click on "Tools" and then "Start Up." The only programs that should start up are those controlling a mouse pad and a graphics card. Most other programs do not need to start up in this queue. Disable these programs from start up. Do not allow programs like MS Messenger and Nero to place themselves in the Start Up queue again. Use C-Cleaner weekly.
- 6). Install and run Malwarebytes. This extraordinary program finds and kills infections. Run it monthly.
- 7). Run SuperAntiSpyware. This program kills more infections. Run this program monthly.
- 8). Install and run Avast. Avast is a highly rated, real-time security program that is free and actually works without hogging resources. Set it to run a "boot scan" of your system.
- 9). Put the two Auslogics programs to work cleaning your registry and defragging your hard drive. Run these programs monthly. Reboot.
- 10
Go to Start/Control Panel. Under "System" and "Advanced," tweak your machine's virtual memory management. Choose to let "Windows manage" virtual memory. Calibrate the virtual memory allotment to the highest recommended setting. - 11
Remove any large, bulky wallpaper from your display under the "Display" tab in the Control Panel. Wallpaper images based on personal photographs will especially slow down a computer. Reboot. - 12
Establish new use policies that prohibit downloading free software from the web capriciously. Junkware will only slow your machine and spoil enjoyment of your real favorite software titles.
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