top of page
White Structure

WHY IS MY COMPUTER RUNNING SLOW?

Writer's picture: Marcela VigliottiMarcela Vigliotti


Are you familiar with the frustration of having a slow computer? Well, before you throw it away, you should know that there may be a number of causes, ranging from too many apps running at login to an insufficient computer hard drive or SSD. Read this article and learn some easy ways to fix it and determine the next step.


We are going to talk about some of the most common problems and their easy solutions:


Antivirus Scan


Today, most computers have plenty of memory, buy believe it or not, they can still encounter a system slow down. Why? Because some antivirus software are actively scanning your computer for malware and viruses.


What to do?


1 - You can open Task Manager and check if the antivirus program is scanning too often; you may notice that the antivirus software will be near to the top of the list.


2 - Schedule it to run at times when you're not likely to be using your PC. Changing the schedule for scans will depend on the program you use, but generally you can open the app and go to the settings panel.


Apps running at login


If your computer takes a long time to respond after you log into your Windows user account then you probably have too many apps and services starting at the same time at startup.


What to do?


1 - Open Task Manager and click on the Startup tab.


2 - Go through the list and remove anything that you don't need to have loaded and ready the moment your PC turns on by clicking the app name, followed by Disable.


Some others easy steps to speed up your slow computer


1 - Close apps when you are done using them.

2 - Regularly turn off your computer at least once a month.

3 - Check available storage and hard drive health.



Do I need to upgrade my hard drive?

If your computer has been running slow or if you're having trouble downloading files or backing up data your hard drive may be nearly or completely full. You can free up space by deleting files, photos, or videos you don't need but if your computer still doesn't speed up or you're seeing error notifications you may need a hard drive upgrade.


What are my options?


1 - External hard drive: is simple to use and attach to your computer. They are inexpensive and are a fast and easy solution. If your internal drive storage is filling up you can simply attach an external hard drive to move some of the data to.


2 - Internal hard drives: We recommend contacting a computer expert for help because it may be necessary to take your computer apart and clone the drive.


If you’re not using a Solid-State Drive (SSD) and instead you’re using a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD) you may be experiencing performance issues due to the older technology. Contact your computer technician and ask if it is a good idea to upgrade to an SSD. While HDDs are fit for purpose, SSDs are considerably faster at reading and writing data due to their design.


Remember that in the computer world it is always a good idea to request a specialist’s opinion. We hope you find this information interesting and helpful and if you are in Saint Paul, MN visit HACKER ATTACKERS - The Computer Experts -- where every problem has a solution!



43 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

5 EASY WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR COMPUTER

Keep it simple. Do the obvious things! Let's talk about the “basic care” when owning a computer or a laptop, because realistically many...

Comments


bottom of page