PCs are like people. They get sluggish with age. The new laptop that booted up in thirty seconds a year ago, now takes more than three minutes. Is the problem worn-out hardware or viruses that sneak past the anti-malware software and chew up resources? Neither of these is the likely problem.
The two most common causes of sluggish PC performance relate to the way data is stored on the hard drive and the number of programs running. The problems and how to solve them are explained below. Before embarking on any of the suggested solutions in this article, it is recommended that you first back up your system.
The Problems
Unwanted User-Installed Programs
Most people install many more applications than they ever use. They then forget about them. That’s a problem for two reasons. These programs take up disk space – sometimes a considerable amount and many of them also use the system’s resources without the user’s knowledge.
Unnecessary Start-up Programs
Not surprisingly, start-up programs are the primary reason PCs are slow to start. Users wonder why this is so, since the computer started like a rocket when it was new. Numerous mini-applications run when Windows starts. Many use the Internet connection to check for upgrades. Users are aware of some of these activities, such as security updates and anti-malware software, which download the latest virus signatures. Yet, the ones users are aware of are often just the tip of the iceberg.
Slow Hard Drive
Over time, the hard drive takes longer to access data. That’s not because the drive’s internal components are wearing-out and so, move more slowly. They don’t. It’s because the way the data is stored is inefficient. In the beginning, when the drive was new and nearly empty, files were stored sequentially. That way, they were saved quickly and retrieved quickly.
Over time, as the user adds and deletes files, the disk begins to fill up. The drive is no longer able to allocate a single continuous space to each new file. So it breaks the file into parts and saves them each on different locations of the disk. This problem is called fragmentation. The more the hard disk is fragmented, the slower saving and accessing any data becomes. The solution is to defragment the drive. Before doing that, it’s a very good idea to get rid of any unwanted programs and files.
The Solutions
Getting Rid of Unwanted Programs
To find a list of all the installed programs, go to the Start menu and select Control Panel. In the Control Panel select Add or Remove Programs. The window that appears shows all currently installed programs.
To uninstall a program, select it, click Remove and follow the instructions. If you don’t recognise a program, don’t delete it. When all the unwanted programs are deleted, restart the computer.
Disabling Unwanted Start-Up Applications
To find out what software automatically loads up when you start Windows, go to the Start Menu and select Run. In the dialog box that appears type msconfig. Click OK. The System Configuration Utility opens. Do not alter anything in the System Configuration area, unless you are sure of what it is. Click the tab labelled Startup. A list of all the routines that run at Windows start-up is displayed. Most of these are necessary, but by examining them closely, you will see that some are not. Uncheck the box beside the ones you are certain are not vital and you don’t need. When you’ve finished, click Apply and OK.
Restart Windows so that these changes take effect.
Defragmenting the Hard Disk
In Windows XP, defragmenting a disk is simple. Here’s how you do it. Click Start, then All Programs. Choose the program group Accessories, select System Tools and then Disk Defragmenter. From there on, the procedure is intuitive and straightforward. If the hard disk is large, defragmentation can take a long time. Ideally, do it when you won’t need to use your computer for a few hours. But check progress regularly as the utility may present a message that requires your input. The system displays a useful real-time graphic that indicates progress.
With these straightforward routines, quite a noticeable increase in speed can be achieved. Like servicing a car, they should be performed regularly. Just how regularly depends on how much you use your PC and whether you notice that it’s slowing down.
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