My Computer Is Too Slow; Problems, Causes And Solutions

Computers are slow for a number of reasons, but most of them boil down to one: their use. Maybe it's time to do a little "housekeeping" and develop some habits to keep your computer performing well.

What to Do if your computer is too slow

Here are some of the most common reasons why a computer gets too slow and what the solution is for you. The processes are simple and you can try them on your machine.

1. Unnecessary programs and services at system startup

While some programs, such as antivirus and firewall, should be able to run at startup, others, such as Spotify and iTunes, do not need to run in the background during the boot process.

Many of the processes may take up few resources, but their accumulation could be weighing down your machine's performance, so we recommend that you disable some less necessary processes.

Solution:

• Windows: Press Windows + X / Task Manager / Startup, right-click, select the programs you want to kill and select the Disable option.
• Mac: Applications / System Preferences / Users / Login Items, you must uncheck the unnecessary programs.

You can Read: My PC Won't Boot: What To Do, Problems And Solutions

2. Too many programs running at the same time

Doing many things at the same time is exactly why we have computers, but at some point, the machine may falter and crash. The ability to run several programs at the same time depends in part on RAM memory, which allows you to switch from one program to another smoothly.

However, you must be careful, some open applications and games will overload the performance and capacity of your computer. You have the example of your browser tabs, if you have too many open, the performance of the machine is guaranteed to drop drastically.

Solution:

• In the Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del), you can see what programs are open and what resources are in use.
• Disable or close processes you don't need. In Windows 10, programs are designed to run in the background for a while and then close automatically.

3. Hard disk drive crashes

Solid state drives (SSD) do not suffer the same type of degradation as physical hardware (HD) and have greater longevity. However, SSDs are more expensive, especially if you are looking for a high capacity drive. It is best and most advisable to keep your system and everyday programs on your SSD and keep the rest of your files and archives on a "normal" disk, the HDs.

Solution:

• Run a scan of the hard drive, in the Windows environment: Computer / right click on the disk drive / Properties / Tools / Scan Now. You can also select the option "Scan and try to recover bad sectors".
• Mac: Programs / Utilities / Disk Utility, select the hard drive in question and you can follow the rest of the instructions.
• Avoid dropping, throwing or impacting the hard drive.
• Opt for a large capacity SSD.

4. The hard disk is almost full

Studies show that if it reaches 95% of its capacity, computers can reduce their performance by 50%. The hard disk space is occupied by programs, program updates and temporary files.

You can access the disk capacity in "My Computer" or "This Computer".

Solution:

• Clean up your computer, remove unnecessary and unused files. This includes bloatware that manufacturers pre-install on computers.
• System backups and restore points can also take up a lot of space, so don't keep backup versions you don't need.
• To increase disk space, you can opt for cloud systems.
• Here we recommend the program, CCleaner (Windows/Mac), to easily remove unnecessary files, excess temporary files and anything that is "leftover" on your machine.

5. Too little RAM

We suggest that computers have at least 2 GB of memory (RAM) for a 32-bit system and 4 GB for a 64-bit system. Although the x32-bit system is starting to become meaningless nowadays.

By increasing memory, programs do not need to exchange as much information stored between memory and the local file on the hard disk. The hard disk light may be an indication. If it is constantly active, it may be an indication that the computer is frequently exchanging information between memory and hard disk. It may be a sign that something else is needed!

You can Read: 5 Mistakes When Charging Cell Phones, Smartphones And Laptops

6. The computer has not been restarted for a long time.

Restarting the machine can be a technical solution, this is because, many programs may remain working in the background, the process remains active for some reason, process errors, a multitude of reasons.

It can be a quick fix, instead of manually looking in Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) and trying to guess what process is causing the system to slow down, reboot and then yes, if the problem persists, look for technical solutions.

Solution:

• Close all your programs and processes, and restart your computer. You may receive the benefit of having critical system updates waiting to be installed and it will be done.

7. It could be a virus or malware

If it's not the antivirus, it could be the virus. Viruses, spyware and other malicious programs can easily turn a good machine into a slow computer. They are known to "mess everything up", from attacking your browser with advertising or phishing sites, to slowing down performance.

Today there are some very good free tools, such as Windows Defender. Which includes file protection and even complete with the addition of the firewall.

Solution:

• Perform an advanced scan of the files on your computer. As a cybersecurity tool we can recommend the use of the free Malwarebytes (Windows/Mac).

8. System updates

Keeping your system and drivers up to date is essential. Especially the graphics card drivers have the most impact. Outdated drivers can cause various problems, compatibilities and slow performance.

Solution:

• Update your system.
• Make sure you have the latest Windows/Mac updates installed.
• Update your drivers

9. Background processes

A slow computer can be a sign that a program or process is using your system. Nowadays, without your permission, malicious websites can have an extension that uses your computer's processing power to mine a cryptocurrency, for example.

Cryptomining (or cryptojacking) can be the result of malware that is installed on your computer, you have the example of Digimine. It spread through Google Chrome, Facebook Messenger, and was running in the background, exploiting and sending information to its creator, the hacker.

Solution:

• Close the web browser, stop the web browser based encryption.
• You may discover that you have some cryptojacking malware. Open Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) and look for any strange or unknown processes.

10. Is the computer

Sometimes the problem is not internal, but external. This can impede ventilation and cause the processor to lose performance or, worse, the computer to shut down without warning. No one wants a hot computer, heat increases the likelihood of breakdowns, failures and reduces longevity.

When it comes to laptops, check the vents and ventilation holes, usually on the sides. For example, you should not place the laptop on non-rigid surfaces, as the base used may take the shape of the laptop and hinder ventilation.

Solution:

• Clean the dust. We advise you to clean the inside of your computer case, be very careful not to damage the hardware and if you can, clean the fans.
• If you do not feel comfortable doing it at home, seek the help of a professional. There are stores and specialists who can help you.

Sometimes a clean install of Windows can do wonders for your computer. However, it will erase all your files and those on your hard drive, so it is essential that you make sure you have backups made. Find out how to format your computer and the precautions you should take.