Posts Tagged ‘slow computer’

As you install and run more software on your computer, over time, the computer will start to run more slowly. This happens because the additional software is making greater demands from your hardware. You can address the problem by either reducing the software or increasing your hardware resources.

If you decide to upgrade your hardware, there are 3 parts of your computer that can be upgraded to improve your PC speed: the RAM memory, your disk drive and the CPU+motherboard combo.

Upgrading your RAM or a disk drive is easy and you can do it yourself, in a few simple steps. Upgrading your CPU is difficult and involves replacing the whole motherboard. I would not recommend upgrading your CPU, yourself, unless you know what you are doing.

Upgrading your RAM

Dollar for dollar, increasing your PC’s RAM is the best value for money upgrade you can perform. Right now I would recommend having 1 Gig of RAM for low end machines, 2Gig for middle of the road machines and 3 Gig for high end computers. You are unlikely to benefit from having more than 3 Gig.

You can tell how much RAM you currently have installed, in Windows XP and Vista, by opening the  control panel and going into the system section.

There are a number of different types of RAM and they operate at different speeds. RAM speed is measured in MHz. The type of RAM and the speed that is allowed is determined by your motherboard. You can look up the type and speed of RAM you can use in your motherboard manual. I recommend getting the highest speed RAM allowed.

Open the computer tower and locate the RAM slots there could be 2-4 slots, if you don’t see them check your motherboard manual. After locating the nearest available Slot simply insert the new module into the slot, taking careful note of the groves on the DIMM and the Locking clip to position the Module properly. If the DIMM does not fit you probably have it positioned incorrectly so flip it around and try reinserting it. Once the RAM module is in place apply pressure to the locking clips to secure it, you should hear a click as they close on the DIMM. Then just re-start your PC, go to the control panel and open the system section to ensure your computer has detected the new DIMM and it is working correctly.

Upgrading your hard drive

Hard drive speed is measured in RPM, that is the number of times the hard drive rotates in one minute. I recommend buying a 7,200 RPM hard drive. Before purchasing a new hard drive consult your motherboard guide to find out what type of hard drives are supported. If your motherboard supports SATA drives, buy one of those.

Once you have purchased your new hard drive it is time to prepare for the install. First install any software that came with your drive. Then power down the computer and open the case.

Setting  jumpers (This is only for IDE hard drives):

The different jumper settings will be shown on a diagram on top of the hard drive. If you have one drive that drive should be set to the single drive mode. If you have multiple drives, the one drive needs to be set to master and the rest of them to the slave mode.

Insert your new drive in an open drive bay. These bays are generally located in the front of the tower. Fix the drive in place with screws.

Look at both your mother board and drive manual and connect the drive using the relevant IDE or SATA cables.

Now that the hard work is done the only thing left to do is close back up your system, plug it in, and turn it on to verify that the new hard drive is working properly.

If you are looking for some software fixes for your computer, visit us at slow computer.

Author: Sid Gaunt
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Humorous photo captions

Why is my computer running slow and what can I do about it? I’m sure we’ve all asked ourselves this question at one point or another? Our lovely spanking brand new PC has gone from a Ferrari to a Model T Ford. There are in fact a number of reasons as to why a computer’s speed can degenerate and we’ll discuss some of these now.

Horrible adware and spyware. You have to realize that there are people out there that want to infiltrate your machine for their financial gain and they will employ a number of methods to achive this. Spyware and adware are running rampant on the internet and they install billboards and tracking software on your PC that you do not know about. Not only are these an invasion of your cyberspace integrity, it is also a main culprit of computer slowdowns. A good adware and anti spyware program will do you wonders.

Data that is fragmented is a major reason for programs taking an absolute age to load. It is the cause of stress, high blood pressure and charred remains of monitors and desktop husks lying at the foot of a high rise building. Defragment. It is a very simple process to run. you can download de-fragmenting software from the web or just simply run the one that comes with Windows. Do it at least once a month, because the build-up of files and folders do get fragmented eventually and Windows has to painstakingly re-fragment everything just to launch even the most basic of programs.

Errors within Your Windows Registry. The most overlooked problem in the world of computing. The registry is a tiny file, a record of everything that is done within the computer, etched into a nexus of information that keeps your Windows stable. When that gets messed up you are going to start experiencing some significant performance problems. Registries a few months old will always contain null values, confused registry entries from bad installs, orphaned keys and traces left by viruses and spyware. A cluttered registry full of errors will more than likely slow your PC down to an unbearable level. Getting a good registry cleaner and windows optimiser will identify and eliminate multiple problems within and without the registry and speed up your computer like never before.

If you can imagine a collection of problems all surfacing at the same time then you can imagine the negative impact this can have on your PC. Your best course of action is to run a scanning program on your PC to identify problems. You’ll find loads of scanning software online to help you identify potential problems. They are mostly free to run and you’ll be suprised at how many problems they find. Invest a little and stop your computer slowing down.

In today’s modern-day world, computer training is believed to be of critical importance to almost everybody. Whether you’re getting into the work force, are on a superior management team, or as an alternative you are a recent retired person, computer skills are a must. It ain’t just about using word and making sure your bank balance is OK any more. You really have to understand computers nowadays – they are everywhere. You may just want to know how to fix my slow computer or how to create a database in access. Either way, you need to get yourself trained up

Computer training can take place in a variety of methods, and can cover a variety of subjects. Let’s take a brief look at some of the options out there that are available to the novice, the average user, and even the self-proclaimed ‘expert’ computer user. Many long term computer users find that occasionally taking a computer training class of some sort helps them to stay on top of the ever-changing technology and software of the computer industry, not to mention the terminology used in day-to-day conversations about computers.

Usually, you would have to have gone to a live training class to become proficient in computers. In high schools all over, there are 12 year olds becoming incredibly proficient in computer use. As A Matter Of Fact, it originates much sooner today in highly-developed countries like America, Australia and the Britain. Colleges also offer courses on computer use, and some of these are geared towards the adult who has never been on a computer before.

Another method of computer training could involve a correspondence course. In the past, these sorts of courses were incredibly popular. Distance learning of this type allowed the student to learn at their own pace, and at their own location. While the magnet of distance studying is still a top request for those attempting to find out about electronic computers, there are a pair of extra methods that lend themselves to a more proactive approach.

Online computer training is emerging today as a force to be reckoned within educational circles. You don’t just have to sort your computer training online, you can improve your skills in almost anything with an online course! You can completely undertake a college degree from home using a college based online course.

One final method of computer training that is worth noting is that of software tutorials using video and/or software. With the improvement in computer technology, the ability of very good computer training packages has steadily increased. Nowadays, you can get your training either online or offline – there are plenty of software or DVD packages out there.

To be as good as you can be with regards to communicating and getting things done, it is imperative that you have a plan for keeping your computer training updated. There are an unlimited assortment of paths to capture this training, and some individuals even prefer to teach themselves based on specific subjects of interest and their ability to conduct research.

ok so i have began reading the bleach manga.unfortunatly, 2 sites(bleacexile and a dif site,had trojans and malware on it)now, every 30mins – 1hr im on internet explorer, the window freezes and i cant close it.im not sure if i blocked them all.what is a good .antispyware/antimalware other than malwarebytes,SAS,and spybot? and btw im almost positive its a virus of some sort.with 4 gb of ram,and a 2.83 GHz quad processor,i dont think my computer is slow.my connection is verizon fios with 100mbs so thts not it either

Answer:
Sure, that doesnt seem so hard to remove… Sure : Tools that will most likely get rid of it ( almost certain ) : ♣ AntiVir Avira ( highest detection rate among all antiviruses, 99,6% ) ♣ ClamWin ♣ ThreatFire ( both being an addition programs to anti-viruses, with strong on demand scanner ) How to configure Avira correctly : http://www.ecuhq.com/tested-programs-how-to-use-f32/antivir-personal-edition-classic-how-to-use-t143.htm How to configure ClamWin : http://www.ecuhq.com/tested-programs-how-to-use-f32/clamwin-free-antivirus-how-to-use-t140.htm Antispyware would be ↓ ( all free ) : ♣ Spyware Terminator ♣ Windows Defender ♣ Spyware Blaster ♣ Ad-Aware SE ♣ HijackThis Spyware Terminator & Windows Defender are known for their aggression when removing and HijackThis is extremely useful for removing their registry entries. When everything else fails, HijackThis might solve the problem. Especially if combined with ComboFix. However that tool is not advised to novice computer users. HijackThis is able to remove malicious registry entries. Pretty useful for final cleaning. How to use HijackThis : http://www.ecuhq.com/tested-programs-how-to-use-f32/hijackthis-how-to-use-t67.htm All available at : http://www.filehippo.com http://www.download.com http://www.softpedia.com http://sourceforge.net/ While on it, also destroy all restore points, virus may be backed up in them : 1. Click Start / Accessories / System Tools / System Restore 2. Look on the left and click on : “System Restore Settings” 3. Check a box, at : “Turn off System Restore on all drives” 4. Click Apply / Yes / Ok 5. Click Start / Accessories / System Tools / System Restore 6. Click Yes 7. Uncheck that box 8. Apply / Ok Hope it helped. If interested in computer security, feel free to visit : http://www.ecuhq.com