| My Slow PC | | | | Tools' area of your system. The Windows Help menu |
| Question: Why is my computer running so slow? Do | | | | will walk you though that process if you search |
| computers slow down when they get older? | | | | 'disable programs' in your help section. |
| Answer: No, but here are some of the most | | | | Spyware: |
| common reasons a computer slows down. | | | | Many kinds of software add themselves to your |
| Background programs running: | | | | system start menu without even asking your |
| This is the biggest reason and can be fixed quickly | | | | permission. Sometimes you will click on a link or visit a |
| and for free... it's possible that your computer may | | | | hacker website that installs spyware on your |
| have so many background programs running | | | | computer without you knowing. Click here for the |
| simultaneously that there is not enough resources to | | | | best fix. and its free to try. |
| run normally. | | | | Fragmented hard drive: |
| The end result of this is that your computer begins | | | | This results from programs being loaded and deleted. |
| to run more and more slowly over time as you add | | | | Run the Window's hard drive defragmenter (Defrag) |
| other programs. | | | | once a month. It is under your System Tools menu. |
| There are two remedies, get Anti-Spyware and use | | | | Your computer's help menu will tell you how to do it. |
| the feature which allows you to view running | | | | Other problems: (Possible, but unlikely to cause |
| programs and to disable any of those running | | | | problems) |
| programs. Or, if you like to get into your system | | | | You could have old or conflicting Windows device |
| with your bare hands, use the remedy below. | | | | drivers. An example would be you might actually |
| How to disable unneeded background programs: | | | | have two entirely different video drivers on your |
| All icons in your computer's system tray are | | | | system and Windows could actually be alternately |
| background programs using memory. There are | | | | using both of them. |
| more, but you will get a hint from that system tray. | | | | To prevent this problem, First boot the computer in |
| To see and exit all running background programs: | | | | Safe Mode by pressing and holding the F8 key during |
| Windows 95 - ME | | | | startup, after the DOS memory check has |
| *a. Press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same | | | | completed. |
| time. | | | | While in Safe Mode select Start/Settings/Control |
| *b. Click any program or task except Explorer or | | | | Panel/System/Devices. Click on all the devices and |
| Systray, | | | | see if the various drivers have any yellow or red |
| *c. and then click End Task. | | | | exclamation marks (which indicates a driver conflict) |
| Repeat steps b and c to quit all programs except | | | | and also determine if there are any duplicate drivers |
| Explorer and Systray which are necessary | | | | that can be eliminated. |
| components of Microsoft Windows. | | | | You may have to delete and reload a driver to |
| You should now have a clean system. See if the | | | | correct these problems. Duplicate drivers can and |
| computer runs like it used to... if it does, you will want | | | | should be deleted. |
| to prevent those programs from restarting the next | | | | As each new Windows program is installed and |
| time you start the computer. | | | | uninstalled, it leaves behind parts of itself that can |
| If you don't want any background programs starting | | | | slow down or crash your computer. These are |
| when you restart the system, and you know what | | | | mostly .dlls and other shared files. |
| you are doing, you can run msconfig from the run | | | | It's also very possible when uninstalling a program |
| menu and completely disable what you find in the | | | | that needed Windows system files can be deleted. |
| 'Startup' tab. If you aren't that experienced and you | | | | When your computer asks if you want to uninstall |
| want a safe way to disable all those unneeded | | | | shared files it's usually safest to say no -- even if |
| background programs, get the remedy | | | | your uninstall program claims the files are not being |
| recommended for the spyware on this page. It has a | | | | used. |
| feature allowing you to disable startup programs | | | | Old Windows drivers can be found by booting into |
| safely. | | | | Safe Mode, then opening Control Panel/System |
| Windows XP through 2003 Server | | | | Devices and ridding your system of old drivers. |
| *a. Press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same | | | | Otherwise, the only real answer to this problem is to |
| time. | | | | pick up ERROR DOCTOR or just reload Windows |
| *b. Choose 'Task Manager' tab to view and end any | | | | into a new directory which eliminates all old junk and |
| running programs. | | | | leftover files. Reloading Windows is something to do |
| *c. disabling these programs will require that you | | | | last, as you will also have to reload all your Windows |
| change their startup properties in the 'Administrative | | | | settings, drivers, and programs. |