Speed and Performance
Is your pc or laptop slowing down? There are many reasons for a slow pc:
- Virus or Trojan
- Hard drive over 85% full
- Unnecessary programs running at start up
- Long time between system maintenance
- New programs & updates
The Problem:
Viruses and Trojans will cripple a pc. They pose as genuine windows programs, spread and infiltrate your files, attack software and hardware and will render your pc useless.
Hard drives need to have at least 15% space free in order to run efficiently. Windows will create temporary files every time you run a program which takes up space.
If your PC seems to be taking a long time to start up and freezes several times you probably have too many programs trying to start at the same time. As you install new programs they get added to a start up list. Every time you start windows all of these programs are trying to load up at the same time and make the start up sequence take forever.
Maintenance: Windows has a centralised database of settings known as windows registry. Every time a program is installed a registry entry is created with program settings and data. When you delete a program its registry entry is left behind. The bigger the registry gets the slower your PC gets.
New programs often require faster systems with more memory to be able to run them efficiently.
The Solution:
Viruses and Trojans are best avoided by having a good anti-virus program to prevent nasty things from compromising your PC. Always keep anti-virus software updated and be sure to run scans regularly. Its no good having an anti-virus program that hasnt been updated in months as it will provide no protection from new viruses. Keeping windows updated will also keep your system secure.
Another great tip is to get to know your anti-virus program. The most common viruses pretend to be an anti-virus program claiming your system is heavily infected. They will begin to block things such as the internet and programs and will eventually ask you for money to fix the problem.
It is a lengthy process to remove such viruses once they have tricked their way into your computer, (hence the name Trojan) and can become costly if they result in data loss. If you do not have protection Avast! is a good free program.
Hard drives need to be maintained. A good practice is to clear out temporary files by using a free program such as CCleaner. CCleaner will clear out unused and unneeded files and improve performance.
Long start ups can easily be avoided. Click START > Accessories > Run > msconfig. In the Start-up tab uncheck any programs you dont use on a daily basis. Apply and restart your PC.
Registry maintenance can also be achieved using CCleaner as this program will compact and cleanout old entries.
Still having trouble?
Dont worry we are here to help you. We may be able to resolve your problem during a remote support session from just $50. Or you may like to use our express pick-up and return service for $99.
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