Why Does My Computer Get Extremely Slow?

Whether you have a brand new computer or one that is fairly aging, keeping your system optimal is very important. As your computer begins to age and ware with use, you will notice that the system tends to slow down and become unresponsive. The reason for this is because as you browse the internet, install and uninstall programs, delete files, and create documents, etc. temp files are created and stored deep into your computer, mainly your systems Window folder that’s located on your C Drive. These temp files are created when you browse web pages over the internet. As you browse web pages, a cache of data is stored; this helps websites that you occasionally visit often to load faster.

When installing new software on your computer, not only does your hard-drive space decrease, but also new data entries are created in your systems Registry. The system registry is like the brain of your computer where all important instructions are saved. The system registry defines certain actions for each individual program as well as how your computer starts up and shuts down. After you have installed many programs, your system registry will become loaded with information. The real problem people face with the registry is when they un-install programs that are no longer being used. You would think everything would get erased when you hit that uninstall button, but that is not necessarily the case. Some programs offer the option of cleaning up after it’s self of everything while others don’t.

Another problem that arises with long term use of a computer without constant optimization is system errors. System errors are created when your computer fails to shutdown properly or is damaged by virus or malware attack. It’s easy to assume in this technical age of computers that if you fail to shut down your computer correctly, everything will be ok, but that’s not true. You see, when your computer turns on, system tasks and processes are running in the background. These processes are constantly shifting around data as well as creating data which keeps your system operating the way it should. When a computer abruptly shuts down, that cycle of data gets interrupted and files as well as registry data can become corrupted.

A lack of memory or system resources is another problem that many computer users face. Certain programs are more data intensive or resource hungry than others. For instance, a program like Adobe Photoshop requires a minimum of 2GB of memory to run. If the computer you are running is old or a model that came with limited amount of RAM, then you will have to consider purchasing more memory (if your computer supports it) or purchase a new computer that can handle programs like Adobe Photoshop. Here’s another scenario that may seem relate-able. There are computers that are found in households that have more than one computer user. The computer originally started out for just to doing homework or office assignments, then eventually became a computer for games, movies, production and other multimedia purposes. A low-end computer now a days will not be able to run multiple applications all at once.

Another common problem faced by computer users is viruses and malware. When you visit certain risky websites, sometimes the advertisements you see are not really ads at all. Some of these ads are script loaders which install programs or java in the background without you even knowing it. Certain malware are not only dangerous to your computers privacy but also bogs down your computers resources. Viruses on the other hand act like its malware cousin but do a lot more damage. Catching a computer virus is easy, especially for people with limited knowledge of a computer. When you visit shareware sites that offer free software to try out, it can be very tempting not to download. Especially if it’s a brand new game or finance software that seemed interesting at the time. There are many sites that are legit, but most are not. When downloading then installing an infected program, on the surface everything looks great but in the background the virus begins to spread its infection. Some viruses’ purpose is to steal your information, other viruses are created to just wreak havoc on your system, multiplying files and corrupting others.

If this article speaks volumes to you, then it’s ok. Every person eventually runs into computer problems whether its software related or hardware. At the end of the day it’s all about being aware of how to use your computer and learning all of the do’s and don’ts. Computers, just like the human body or even a car needs to be maintained for constant efficiency, ignoring this fact can potentially leave your computer to ruin. Hope this article opens your eyes. Happy computing!