Slow computer?

[havass]

So..you know how your computer usually starts running much more slowly after a few years?
What do you normally do to speed it up?

 

[Liberaliter]

Get Ccleaner - use it often. Also defrag.

There is probably more to do but I'm no expert.

Edit - Could also get more RAM or a faster HDD if your comp is just plain outdated.

 

[Nincompoop]

Minor solutions;
- run %temp% and delete all the files.
- defrag
- try a registry cleaning software (but be sure to check reviews)
- manage your startup programs *EDITED*

Best solution;
- Format your computer. It's always the best way of solving anything software related.

 

[psivamp]

Backup data, format hard drive and reinstall Windows.

 

[PandyBear]

Get Ccleaner - use it often. Also defrag.

This!

Also maybe Virus scans. Disk CleanUps. Reformatting. Run MSConfig and clear some startup/running apps crap out. Update drivers, you'd be suprised how much this can help sometimes or buy a new computer

 

[Nincompoop]

Delete system32.

Don't do that. There are people who are stupid enough to fall for that.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

Clean up all your files. People add all kinds of crap, and then wonder why their computer is so slow! Better still, just install what you need, get a external harddrive or another computer for everything else.

 

[kurupt87]

I am gonna jump in and ask if anyone has experience with Iobits Advanced SystemCare? Is it the same type of thing as Ccleaner? Should I replace it with Ccleaner?

 

[Claptrap]

Delete system32.

Yeah, That makes it go really fast, I noticed it after 5 mins!

Or you could throw it out the window, That would make it go fast.....

Delete system32.

Don't do that. There are people who are stupid enough to fall for that.

If there stupid enough for that, I doubt they should be on a computer in the first place.

 

[DazZ.]

Formatting you HDD would help if you don't mind getting rid of everything and starting a fresh.

I should really do that...

 

[Shycte]

Get Ccleaner - use it often. Also defrag.

There is probably more to do but I'm no expert.

Edit - Could also get more RAM or a faster HDD if your comp is just plain outdated.

Excuse me for being retarded but what is Ccleaner?

 

[Skratt]

You can use the MSCONFIG tool to put your machine in a selective startup to see if it gets faster. This can tell you if the problem is hardware or software (generally). If the problem is software, uninstall programs that run in the background, such as:

Toolbars (google desktop, gain, msn, etc)
Pando Media Booster
Adobe Air
Adobe.com
Acrobat Startup
Office Startup
Any other non-system related startup items.


There are a ton of non-essential services & applications that may or may not cause a problem on their own, but when stacked with everything else can bring even the biggest machines to their knees.

I have a quad-core processor and recently had trouble with it being really slow. I thought it was lack of RAM or maybe failing HDD. Started uninstalling non-essentials and found that after removing Pando Media, Adobe Air and Adobe.com it was back to being really fast.

In the past I've had problems with Google Desktop, uninstalled it and the machine got really fast. And honestly, I don't miss it and I am probably one of the biggest Google fans you'll meet (gmail, maps, notebook, docs...), I just don't need google desktop.

It doesn't matter if people agree with me or not on what I have said about specific applications causing problems, what matters is that you take the time to understand your system and begin to remove non-essential applications that do not give you any benefit. Also keep in mind - everything is re-installable, so removing something for troubleshooting purposes is not a bad thing.

Try to avoid running cleaner tools, automated repair tools or anything labeled as "tips to speed up windows" as many of them are bullshit and have little to no impact on system performance on newer machines and some can even cause problems.

I can't unload 10+ years of knowledge on you in one post, but hopefully I can give you a place to start.

 

[DazZ.]

Get Ccleaner - use it often. Also defrag.

There is probably more to do but I'm no expert.

Edit - Could also get more RAM or a faster HDD if your comp is just plain outdated.

Excuse me for being retarded but what is Ccleaner?

Crap Cleaner.

It cleans your computers crap. Google it.

 

[Pink_Pirate]

Delete system32.

Don't do that. There are people who are stupid enough to fall for that.

i dont really see the harm in it, if they dont know enough about computers to want to delete it, they probably wont be able to find it anyway

 

[Baby Tea]

Drop the behemoth that is known as Windows, which only gets more bloated with time, and install Linux! Even a fresh install of Windows ran like crap on my wife's old laptop, so I just threw Linux on it. Now it runs like lightning.

Of course if you still want to game, then Linux isn't the best option.
Wine is great, but it's certainly not perfect.

A fresh install would be ideal, I would think, but Ccleaner might do it for you.
I just hate installing things to help get rid of things I don't want.

 

[AlphaOmega]

Have a seperate windows partition, Reinstall every 2months.

Lunix also works.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Now it runs like lightning.

But lighting doesn't run, it strikes.

So unless your allegory is faulty, your wife's old laptop strikes down from the heavens unto innocent trees and lunatics running around outside with tinfoil hats.

OT: I'm not very computer savvy.. So I'm just going to hide behind Baby Tea's comment, even though the allegory scares me!

 

[Blimey]

Pretty much what everyone here said to do, do. I'm not a computer expert, but I've been using them for 14 years, (and please, this isn't a brag. I'm still stupid don't worry). Anyway I have a Mac and a Windows machine. When my Windows machine starts to feel lethargic, I run CCleaner, and clean everything. My temp files, my cache's, and my registry. I know that some people get nervous about letting a program clean files from the registry, but CCleaner lets you back up the registry before you make any changes, and it does help your PC to help get some of the junk cleaned out of the registry.


Also, get and run Spybot - Search and Destroy. The scan can take abit, but if you have any spyware, adbots, bugs, trojans, etc, then it will find and remove them.

And as others have said, DEFRAG! I use Defraggler: http://www.piriform.com/defraggler
It's fantastic. Also, you can find CCleaner here: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
From the same guys that make Defraggler and CCleaner, I also use Recuva: http://www.piriform.com/recuva
Useful when you accidentally delete a file, and want to get it back.
And hell, while your at it, this is a great tool as well: http://www.piriform.com/speccy
It lays out your computer specs, from operating system to graphics card, to RAM memory. Very useful when either buying upgrades for your PC, or just showing the specs of your machine off.

 

[Sebenko]

Of course if you still want to game, then Linux isn't the best option.

Yeah, it's not like someone on a gaming forum might want to play games at all.

Totally not worth the effort for a gamer. If you can dual boot it fine, since it's fun to mess with.

 

[Tharwen]

What everyone else on this thread said. Use CCleaner and defragment often, or if you're feeling brave, format your hard-drive. If the computer's too old, though you may find it hard to get drivers afterwards.

Also, if you have anything appearing when you turn the computer on that you don't use, you can enable them by going to Start>Run>"Msconfig">Startup, then disabling anything you don't want, BUT DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING YOU DON'T RECOGNISE.

In Vista or Win 7, you can just type msconfig into the start menu.

Also, get and run Spybot - Search and Destroy. The scan can take abit, but if you have any spyware, adbots, bugs, trojans, etc, then it will find and remove them.

This is slightly off-topic, but does that conflict with AVG?