| Whether you're a home user or you use | | | | slower. |
| your computer for business purposes, a | | | | Integrating a pop-up blocker into your |
| slow running system can be quite | | | | browser will also speed up the amount of |
| annoying. It doesn't take long for a | | | | time it takes pages to load. Some sites |
| once fast computer to seemingly slow to | | | | are full of pop-up's that eat up CPU |
| a halt. | | | | usage to load. There are several free |
| Older computers are expected to be a | | | | pop-up blockers available and many |
| little slower, unless you've done a lot | | | | browsers will offer plug-ins that will |
| of upgrading they just aren't equipped | | | | block pop-ups. |
| to keep up with todays standards. But, | | | | Most of the things that will slow your |
| even a brand new computer can become | | | | computer down actually occur over a |
| slow after even a few months of use. | | | | gradual period of time and are sometimes |
| A computer can become slower due to | | | | not real noticeable. But, if your |
| hardware problems, but many times the | | | | computer ran fine yesterday and is |
| problem occurs simply because there's to | | | | dragging today, the most likely cause is |
| many processes running at the same time. | | | | a virus, spyware or trojan. |
| Often when you install a program it will | | | | Never run your computer without a |
| by default set itself to start as soon | | | | anti-virus and firewall and make sure to |
| as you start your computer. | | | | do perform regular updates. The best way |
| There are probably processes running in | | | | to keep your anti-virus updated is to |
| the background that you're not aware of | | | | set it to do automatic updates, that way |
| and they're consuming your computers | | | | you won't have to remember to do the |
| resources. Anytime you install any | | | | updates! Having an outdated anti-virus |
| program carefully watch the selection | | | | program is almost as bad as not having |
| screens, sometimes you will be offered | | | | one at all, any new threats since the |
| the option of either automatically | | | | last update will not be detected. |
| starting the program or manually | | | | Just as your hard drive becomes covered |
| starting it. | | | | with files that are no longer needed, |
| If the choice isn't offered then you | | | | your registry also contains left over |
| will need to go into the preferences tab | | | | files from things such as uninstalled |
| in the program itself and customize the | | | | programs that can decrease the speed of |
| options. Aside from your operating | | | | your computer. |
| system the only programs that should run | | | | Finding and using a registry cleaner |
| each time you start your computer are | | | | will remove these file fragments and |
| your anti-virus, firewall and | | | | speed up your computer. However, the |
| anit-spyware programs that you have. | | | | registry contains everything that |
| Another major cause of a slow computer | | | | windows needs to run and one deleted |
| is a crowded or fragmented hard drive. | | | | file can prevent your operating system |
| Your operating system needs a little | | | | from working at all! |
| "elbow room" to properly perform, at | | | | Before you download and install any |
| least 10% of your hard drive space | | | | registry cleaner do some research, there |
| should be left free for paging | | | | are many places online that offer |
| operations. | | | | individual reviews of programs. After |
| Even during normal use files become | | | | running the registry cleaner, always |
| separated and stored in different places | | | | look through the list of files to be |
| on your hard drive. But, moving, | | | | deleted. |
| deleting files. installing or | | | | Sometimes files are included that are |
| uninstalling programs leave fragments of | | | | necessary to the operating system or |
| files behind. Performing the defrag | | | | programs that you use on a regular |
| option on your computer will rejoin | | | | basis. If you're unsure whether or not |
| these files and help optimize the | | | | to delete a particular file, do a |
| performance and speed of your hard | | | | internet search and see what the file is |
| drive. | | | | for. |
| Regularly clearing your cache files and | | | | If you've taken all the steps needed to |
| cookies can provide faster internet | | | | increase your computers speed and it's |
| browsing. The cache files consist of | | | | still running slow, then the problem is |
| temporary files that are stored each | | | | probably with the hard ware. Either |
| time you visit a web site. These | | | | something is experiencing problems or |
| eventually take up much of the memory of | | | | just needs to be updated! |
| your computer and will cause it to run | | | | |