Slow computers are the worst, but they are more common than you would think. All computers slow down over time and with use, it’s just what they do. Running programs, filling up your hard drive and surfing the web are normal activities that require your computer to adjust to each application. Files are downloaded, programs added and data saved. These build up over time, clogging the system.
Most of the time, getting your computer from being as slow as dial-up to Chuck Norris-fast is a fairly easy fix! Think of it like your car engine, every now and then you’ve got to drain the oil, remove the gunk and start fresh.
Here’s a list of the 5 most common computer-slowing offenders and how you can fix them.
1. Startup overload
The more programs you have loading at startup, the slower your computer is going to be. Don’t worry, this one is super easy to remedy!
Remove the programs that aren’t necessary to start when you boot up. Don’t know what they are? Open Task Manager and you’ll see all the problems running in the background and how much memory and CPU they are using. If your security program is a culprit, use a schedule to run it for when you have low activity on the computer.
See more ways to speed up your computer’s start time here.
2. You haven’t rebooted in … a while
You probably don’t turn every device you’re not using off. It’s easy, you’re going to come back anyway. However, even when you’re not using your computer, it still thinks it has a job to do and continues trying to run programs in the background, eventually clogging the system.
Reboot your computer. The most common way of doing this is to hold the power button down for about 10 seconds, then wait a couple minutes and press the power button again.
3. Buurrpp! You’re hard-drive is full or failing
This problem is most common on older devices. Sizes of hard-drives have nearly doubled every 12-18 months since 2016. If your computer is even just a few years old, it’s pretty easy to fill it up. Once you’ve used 95% of its capacity, your computer performance can drop by around 50%. Having the space to work is important.
Deleting programs you don’t use can help clear some space. In Windows 10 press the Windows Key + X, select Task Manager then the Startup tab. Right click programs you want to remove and select Disable.
Hard-drives have a life-span of about 3 years with consistent daily use. The moving parts spin and break down with time. The best option here is to upgrade your hard-drive to a solid-state drive that doesn’t use moving parts and offers increased storage space. Read more on how to protect yourself from hard-drive failure.
4. Too many browser tabs open
This is our most simple fix. If you can’t read the title on your internet browser tabs you have too many open. A web page passes a lot of information and data to your computer, having more than a few tabs (webpages) open at a time puts a lot of stress on your system.
The fix? CLOSE THEM. Live by this rule. Make a game out of it. Trust us.
5. You’re antivirus program is hurting, not helping
A hyper-active antivirus program can be the problem too. Many automatically set daily or weekly scans to run on your computer. Great right?
Not necessarily, if these scans launch in the middle of your work day they could be stealing resources and slowing down your computer. Go into your program settings and adjust your scan schedule to times you know you won’t be actively using the computer.
We’ve covered some of the most common issues we see, but there are many other problems that may be slowing down your computer. Friendly PC is here to help if you can’t find the source. Call us anytime at (402) 965-3300. Don’t forget to request our 1 Year Remote/Phone Tech Support daily special. It covers any 3 devices in your home.
