Over time, users begin to notice that their system is slow or that it hangs. While the possibilities for system slowdown are endless, we identify 10 common troubleshooting areas to examine before you suggest to management that it's time for an upgrade.
User complaints are minimal when new PCs are rolled out. They start up quick, and programs seem to open in a snap. But over time, users begin to notice that their system is slow or that it hangs up often. While the possibilities for system slowdown are endless, I have identified 10 common troubleshooting areas you should examine first before you suggest to management that it's time for an upgrade.
1. Processor overheating -- Modern processors generate a lot of heat. That's why all processors require some sort of cooling element, typically a fan of some type. When the processor temperature goes over spec, the system can slow down or run erratically. The processor fan may fail for several reasons:
Dust is preventing the fan from spinning smoothly.
The fan motor has failed.
The fan bearings are loose and "jiggling".
Often you can tell if there is a fan problem by listening and/or touching the computer. A fan that has loose bearings starts jiggling and vibrates the case, making a characteristic noise. You may barely notice the noise at first, and it's common for even the experienced computer pro to overlook this change. But as time goes by, the sounds and vibrations will become so prominent that you'll change the fan out just to stop the racket!
You don't always need to replace the fan. If it is covered with dust, you can often spray away the dust with compressed air. Note that even though you might get the fan running again, its life span has likely been reduced because of the overwork. You should keep an extra fan in reserve in case of failure.
There are a number of utilities that will track the temperature of your processor and case.
2. Bad RAM -- Several situations can lead to a bad RAM relationship with a particular machine:
RAM timing is slower than optimal machine spec.
RAM has minor flaws that only appear on detailed testing.
RAM is overheating.
In the "old days" of Fast Page RAM, buying new RAM for your computer was a pretty simple affair. You just needed to know what speed your motherboard supported and the maximum each slot would take. Today, there are many different speeds of RAM, and the better motherboards may be tolerant of using RAM that does not match the motherboard's maximum specs. For example, your motherboard may support PC133 RAM but will still work with PC100 RAM. But be aware that you may see performance decreases if you install RAM that is slower than the maximum spec.
Minor flaws in RAM chips can lead to system slowdowns and instability. The least expensive chips often have minor flaws that will cause your system to slow down or Blue Screen intermittently. Although built-in mechanisms may allow the system to keep working, there is a performance hit when it has to deal with flawed RAM chips.
In the past, no one worried about RAM chips getting hot, because they didn't seem to generate much heat. But that's changed with newer RAM types, especially SDRAM. To check for overheating, open your computer's case, power down, and pull the plug out. Ground yourself and touch the plastic on one of your RAM chips. Ouch! They get pretty hot. If you find that your RAM chips are overheating, you should consider buying a separate fan to cool your memory. If your motherboard doesn't support a RAM fan, you might be able to get enough additional cooling by installing a fan card that plugs in to a PCI slot.
Tip: Some motherboards will even allow you to mix speeds but will default to the slowest RAM installed.
3. Failing hard disk -- There are many signs of imminent failure before a hard disk finally gives up. Some of these signs include:
Slow access times on the affected drive.
An increasing number of bad sectors when running scandisk and chkdsk.
Unexplained Blue Screens.
Intermittent boot failures.
Detecting a failing hard disk can be tricky because the early signs are subtle. Experienced computer professionals can often hear a change in the normal disk spin. After the disk deteriorates further, you'll see the system crawl to a standstill. Write processes will take a long time as the system tries to find good blocks to write to. (This will occur if you're using a robust file system such as NTFS; other file systems will likely Blue Screen the computer.)
When you notice the system slow down, run scandisk or chkdsk, depending on your operating system. If you notice a bad sector where a good sector existed earlier, that's a clue that the disk is going bad. Back up the data on the disk and prepare for it to fail soon. Make sure you have a spare disk ready so you can replace it when it fails, or replace the disk as soon as you notice the early signs of failure.
Disk noise and scandisk/chkdsk are your best indicators for identifying a failing drive that's leading to a system slowdown. However, if you are managing a system remotely, or you can't take the system down for a full chkdsk/R, you can use tools that monitor disk health, such as Executive Software's DiskAlert.
4. BIOS settings -- One often-ignored culprit of system slowdown is the machine's BIOS settings. Most people accept the BIOS settings as they were configured in the factory and leave them as is. However, slowdowns may occur if the BIOS settings do not match the optimal machine configuration. Often you can improve machine performance by researching your motherboard's optimal BIOS settings -- which may not be the same as the factory defaults.
There is no centralised database of optimal BIOS settings, but a simple Web search on your motherboard name and BIOS as keywords should yield the correct settings.
5. Disk type/controller compatibility -- You've just purchased a new UDMA-66 disk drive, and it doesn't seem any faster than any of the other drives in your machine. You do some benchmark testing, and the new disk tests the same as the other drives in your system. So what's the problem?
It could be that your motherboard doesn't support the UDMA 66 specification. Check your manual to determine what type of IDE interface it supports. If the motherboard only supports UDMA 33, then your UDMA 66 throttles down for backwards compatibility. You can get around this problem by installing a PCI UDMA 66 add-on card and plugging the new drive in to that interface.
Another potential problem may be the cable type you are using. UDMA 66+ drives require a different cable than older drive types. The drive may not work at all with the old cable type. Aged cables will break down over time, especially if they are tightly folded and the temperature of the case remains consistently high. It's always worthwhile to change out the drive cable to see if performance improves.
6. Windows services -- Many Windows services are enabled by default. Many of these services, however, are not required for your machine to run properly. You should review the services running on your Windows 2000/Windows XP computer and disable those that you don't need.
One way to see what services are running is to use the Services applet found in the Administrative Tools menu. Rightclick My Computer and select Manage. Important information contained in the Services console includes the service Name, Status, and Startup Type. You can get more details on a service by double-clicking on it to bring up the service's Properties.
You can stop the service by clicking the Stop button. If you are sure that you don't need the service, click the down arrow in the Startup Type drop-down list box and set the service to Disabled. If you are not sure if you need the service, change the Startup Type to Manual. Then you'll have the option of manually starting the service if you find that you need it.
Another way of controlling which services start is using the msconfig utility. Open the Run dialog box and type msconfig in the Open text box. The Essential column shows services Microsoft considers essential to running the computer. However, note that many required services are not defined as essential in the System Configuration Utility window. You can prevent a service from starting at bootup by unchecking the check box to the left of the service.
One service that is well known for slowing down Windows 2000/Windows XP systems is the Indexing Service. This service indexes the content of each hard disk and makes it easier for the Search utility to find files. Unless you are running a Web site that uses the indexing service, you may want to disable it to improve performance.
7. Runaway processes -- Runaway processes take up all of the processors' cycles. The usual suspects are badly written device drivers, and legacy software installed on a newer operating system. You can identify a runaway process by looking at the process list in the Windows Task Manager. Any process that takes almost 100 percent of the processing time is likely a runaway process.
There are exceptions to this rule. On a smoothly running system, the System Idle Process should be consuming the majority of the processor cycles most of the time. If any other process were to take up 98 percent of the processor cycles, you might have a runaway process.
If you do find a runaway process, you can right-click the process and click the End Process command. You may need to stop some processes, such as runaway system services, from the Services console. If you can't stop the service using the console, you may need to reboot the system. Sometimes a hard reboot is required.
8. Disk fragmentation -- As files are added, deleted, and changed on a disk, the contents of the file can become spread across sectors located in disparate regions of the disk. This is file fragmentation. Some operating systems, such as Windows NT, don't have a built-in defrag utility; you must obtain a third-party solution, such as Executive Software's Diskeeper.
Disk fragmentation can significantly slow down your machine. The disk heads must move back and forth while seeking all the fragments of a file. A common cause of disk fragmentation is a disk that is too full. You should keep 20 percent to 25 percent of your hard disk space free to minimise file fragmentation and to improve the defragmenter's ability to defrag the disk. Thus, if a disk is too full, move some files off the drive and restart the defragmenter.
9. Background applications -- Have you ever visited an end-user's desktop and noticed a dozen icons in the system tray? Each icon represents a process running in either the foreground or background. Most of them are running in the background, so the users may not be aware that they are running 20+ applications at the same time.
This is due to applications starting up automatically in the background. Look first for such programs in the Startup folder in the Start menu. Many applications place components in the Startup folder to run in the background. Some of these, such as the Microsoft Office Findfast, can really chew up processor and disk time and noticeably slow down a system. Review each of the entries in the Startup folder and delete any that are unnecessary.
10. File system issues -- Some file systems work better than others for large disk partitions. If the machine runs Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, you should use the NTFS file system for best performance.
File system performance is closely related to cluster size and the number of clusters on the disk. NTFS file systems will bog down if you have a 60-GB hard disk configured with a cluster size of 512 bytes. This creates an enormous number of clusters, which the file system must track and seek. This becomes especially problematic when the drive is highly fragmented. One solution is to use larger cluster sizes. If you set the cluster size to 4K or larger, you will see noticeable improvement in file load times. Please note, however, that large clusters can significantly increase the amount of cluster slack space and lead to a lot of wasted disk space.
Another trick to alleviate file system issues involves tweaking some Registry values (Start Menu|Run|Regedit):
The first Registry value you can tweak is NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation, which can be found at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem. When you set this value to 1, it stops NTFS from generating the 8.3 file-naming convention used for backward compatibility. If you do not need these old filenames, you can improve performance by preventing NTFS from creating them.
Another useful NTFS entry is the NtfsDisableLastAccess value, which can be found at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem. This is a REG_DWORD entry, and when it is set to 1, it will prevent NTFS from updating the date and time stamp of directories after they are browsed. However, this does not prevent an update to the file-access information when a file is opened or changed.
If you are not using the NTFS file system, you may be able to improve performance by moving files and folders out of the root directory. With FAT partitions, you may notice a big slowdown in system performance after running scandisk because a large number of .chk files are placed in the root directory. Users sometimes fill their root directories by making it the default file storage location. Move as many files and folders as possible out of the root directory, and performance should improve significantly.
Debra Littlejohn Shinder is a technology consultant, trainer and writer who has authored books on computer operating systems, networking, and security. She currently specialises in security issues and Microsoft products. Debra has been an MCSE since 1998 and has been awarded Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status in Windows Server Security. A former police officer and police academy instructor, she teaches computer networking and security and criminal justice courses at Eastfield College in Texas.
TechRepublic is the online community and information resource for all IT professionals, from support staff to executives. We offer in-depth technical articles written for IT professionals by IT professionals. In addition to articles on everything from Windows to e-mail to firewalls, we offer IT industry analysis, downloads, management tips, discussion forums, and e-newsletters.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Speed up your slow PC, 10 ways to tuneup your computer
Is your PC slower than the day it was born?
A new PC is a joy because it is fast and efficient which makes it fun to use. Over time, that PC gets slower, and slower and can eventually become a chore to operate. There are steps you can take to restore some of that "new PC" performance.
Look all around this article. You will find helpful suggestions to improve your PC performance and solve problems.
Get Organized
Print these steps for a PC tuneup checklist. Make notes as you go; it'll be easier to get assistance if you need it. Reserve enough time. Review the Related Links for more details on some of these steps. Follow these steps in order, where practical. {Click sequences are shown for Windows XP Professional and are only meant to be a general guide}.
Make Some Backups
You need a fall back position in case bad things happen. Create an XP restore point. Consider saving: Email files and account settings, desktop and favorites, My Documents, other files? You've been meaning to backup anyhow, haven't you?
Add Memory
New programs are larger and tax the memory of an older PC. To effectively operate today you need at least 1 GB of RAM. When I spec a new PC I usually include 2 GB of RAM. Check your RAM size and seriously consider an upgrade; easy to do and could have a big impact. {Start -> Control Panel -> System, to see RAM installed}
Check your PC memory...
Memory upgrades made easy with free system scan
Crucial Technologies, my recommendation for memory, will scan your PC on-line. Check it out.
De-fragment your hard drive
Over time, the files on your hard drive become fragmented. The files are still there and usable, but they are scattered all over the hard drive and become inefficient for the operating system to access and move around. Think of it as a messy drawer - everything is there; it just takes longer to locate things. Windows has a tool to regroup your file pieces (defrag) and reorganize the hard drive. {My Computer -> C Drive Properties -> Tools -> De-fragment Now -> select the C drive -> De-fragment} This can take a while so it's a good task to run overnight.
Check hard drive capacity (after you do all the cleanup steps)
When you bought the PC, that hard drive seemed big enough and it probably was. In the last couple of years, data file sizes (e.g. pictures and audio/video clips) have exploded. New programs also take more space. You need a minimum of 15% free space, and should really have more (25-50%) to operate efficiently. Open "My Computer" to see the capacity and free space on your C drive.
Stop unnecessary services
Many programs install and run services for their convenience. Sometimes these services are running unnecessarily and can slow things down. Places to check for unnecessary services: System Icon Tray (lower right of Start line where time is shown), the Startup Folder {All Programs, Startup) and run MSCONFIG to see all services and programs started by the operating system for you when you start your PC (you will probably be surprised at the things that are running).
Repeat these steps periodically
Accumulated digital debris caused your PC to slow down in the first place. Don't wait so long before doing a good cleanup on your PC. It will pay off in better performance and you will get to know your PC a little better. Pick a schedule (monthly? quarterly?) that you are comfortable with.
Consider a new PC
Try these steps first and you should get back some of the missing speed and performance. It may not be enough. Consider carefully the cost of additional memory, new hard drive and service costs, versus the cost of a new PC system.
Warnings!
-Back up! You should be doing backups anyhow. This is a perfect time to catch up.
-Be sure you know what program you are dealing with before uninstalling any program. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Be sure you know what service you are disabling in MSCONFIG before disabling any startup operation or service. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Be sure you know what files you are dealing with before deleting any files. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Unplug your PC from the electrical outlet before opening the PC case to add memory or clean it out. Be properly grounded. Be careful what and where you touch. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, which might involve reading the manuals.
Tips
-For Windows XP, create a restore point before making any changes to your PC.
-Use this HubPage as a guide. The steps are independent. Skip a step if you don't get it.
-Be organized - have a checklist and take notes at each step. This will give you more control over the process.
-If you need more detailed information on the steps suggested, refer to the External Links.
-Allow enough time - don't rush and you'll make fewer mistakes. Some steps can take an hour or more and will be ok to run overnight.
-Pay attention. The computer jargon and procedure steps can seem confusing
and sometimes intimidating. However, the average user can work through most
of this and get the desired result by staying focused.
Things you'll need
Time - set aside enough time. Some procedures like de-fragmenting can take quite a while. Tinkering with your system should not be rushed.
Lifeline - it's a good idea to have a PC professional on-call or within reach in case you need advice.
Manuals - the original computer manuals and any literature provided with upgrades.
Confidence - many PC users don't do these simple steps because the technology can seem intimidating. These steps are within the average persons reach. Have confidence.
Checkout these related articles on PC support, enhancement and maintenance.
Scan your hard drive
Windows has a tool to scan hard drives. This can resolve file location errors and other disk management issues. {My Computer -> C Drive Properties -> Tools -> Check Now -> check to "automatically fix..." and to "scan for...", then Start} This test requires you to restart your PC. This can take a while on a large hard drive so it's a good task to run overnight.
A new PC is a joy because it is fast and efficient which makes it fun to use. Over time, that PC gets slower, and slower and can eventually become a chore to operate. There are steps you can take to restore some of that "new PC" performance.
Look all around this article. You will find helpful suggestions to improve your PC performance and solve problems.
Get Organized
Print these steps for a PC tuneup checklist. Make notes as you go; it'll be easier to get assistance if you need it. Reserve enough time. Review the Related Links for more details on some of these steps. Follow these steps in order, where practical. {Click sequences are shown for Windows XP Professional and are only meant to be a general guide}.
Make Some Backups
You need a fall back position in case bad things happen. Create an XP restore point. Consider saving: Email files and account settings, desktop and favorites, My Documents, other files? You've been meaning to backup anyhow, haven't you?
Add Memory
New programs are larger and tax the memory of an older PC. To effectively operate today you need at least 1 GB of RAM. When I spec a new PC I usually include 2 GB of RAM. Check your RAM size and seriously consider an upgrade; easy to do and could have a big impact. {Start -> Control Panel -> System, to see RAM installed}
Check your PC memory...
Memory upgrades made easy with free system scan
Crucial Technologies, my recommendation for memory, will scan your PC on-line. Check it out.
De-fragment your hard drive
Over time, the files on your hard drive become fragmented. The files are still there and usable, but they are scattered all over the hard drive and become inefficient for the operating system to access and move around. Think of it as a messy drawer - everything is there; it just takes longer to locate things. Windows has a tool to regroup your file pieces (defrag) and reorganize the hard drive. {My Computer -> C Drive Properties -> Tools -> De-fragment Now -> select the C drive -> De-fragment} This can take a while so it's a good task to run overnight.
Check hard drive capacity (after you do all the cleanup steps)
When you bought the PC, that hard drive seemed big enough and it probably was. In the last couple of years, data file sizes (e.g. pictures and audio/video clips) have exploded. New programs also take more space. You need a minimum of 15% free space, and should really have more (25-50%) to operate efficiently. Open "My Computer" to see the capacity and free space on your C drive.
Stop unnecessary services
Many programs install and run services for their convenience. Sometimes these services are running unnecessarily and can slow things down. Places to check for unnecessary services: System Icon Tray (lower right of Start line where time is shown), the Startup Folder {All Programs, Startup) and run MSCONFIG to see all services and programs started by the operating system for you when you start your PC (you will probably be surprised at the things that are running).
Repeat these steps periodically
Accumulated digital debris caused your PC to slow down in the first place. Don't wait so long before doing a good cleanup on your PC. It will pay off in better performance and you will get to know your PC a little better. Pick a schedule (monthly? quarterly?) that you are comfortable with.
Consider a new PC
Try these steps first and you should get back some of the missing speed and performance. It may not be enough. Consider carefully the cost of additional memory, new hard drive and service costs, versus the cost of a new PC system.
Warnings!
-Back up! You should be doing backups anyhow. This is a perfect time to catch up.
-Be sure you know what program you are dealing with before uninstalling any program. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Be sure you know what service you are disabling in MSCONFIG before disabling any startup operation or service. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Be sure you know what files you are dealing with before deleting any files. Research it if you are not completely sure.
-Unplug your PC from the electrical outlet before opening the PC case to add memory or clean it out. Be properly grounded. Be careful what and where you touch. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, which might involve reading the manuals.
Tips
-For Windows XP, create a restore point before making any changes to your PC.
-Use this HubPage as a guide. The steps are independent. Skip a step if you don't get it.
-Be organized - have a checklist and take notes at each step. This will give you more control over the process.
-If you need more detailed information on the steps suggested, refer to the External Links.
-Allow enough time - don't rush and you'll make fewer mistakes. Some steps can take an hour or more and will be ok to run overnight.
-Pay attention. The computer jargon and procedure steps can seem confusing
and sometimes intimidating. However, the average user can work through most
of this and get the desired result by staying focused.
Things you'll need
Time - set aside enough time. Some procedures like de-fragmenting can take quite a while. Tinkering with your system should not be rushed.
Lifeline - it's a good idea to have a PC professional on-call or within reach in case you need advice.
Manuals - the original computer manuals and any literature provided with upgrades.
Confidence - many PC users don't do these simple steps because the technology can seem intimidating. These steps are within the average persons reach. Have confidence.
Checkout these related articles on PC support, enhancement and maintenance.
Scan your hard drive
Windows has a tool to scan hard drives. This can resolve file location errors and other disk management issues. {My Computer -> C Drive Properties -> Tools -> Check Now -> check to "automatically fix..." and to "scan for...", then Start} This test requires you to restart your PC. This can take a while on a large hard drive so it's a good task to run overnight.
PC is Slow
Help! My PC is slow
Can you knit a sweater or wash the car in the time it takes your PC to open a file? If your PC has suddenly started running slower than normal, there are a few tips you can use to make it run faster.
Have you done anything new?
Try removing any newly installed hardware, such as a printer, or uninstalling any newly installed applications, such as a computer game, and see if that resolves the problem. Make sure that your computer meets the minimum requirements recommended by the hardware manufacturer or software publisher before installing anything new.
Reboot your computer
Are you one of those people who leaves their computer on for days or weeks at a time? If so, temporary files will build up on your hard disk, taking up space in your computer’s memory and clogging up other resources. By rebooting, or restarting, your computer, you can clear out these temporary files and improve your PC’s performance.
Verify your system resources
People get computers for various reasons: e-mail, Internet access, games, word processing. Make sure your computer’s RAM (or memory), hard disk space, and other components are adequate for what you’re using the computer for.
Run the Windows Live OneCare safety scanner
The Windows Live OneCare safety scanner can help you increase your computer’s performance by removing temporary files, cleaning the registry, and fixing disk fragmentation. Such optimization can help your PC run more efficiently.
To remove obsolete temporary files and invalid registry items that can accumulate on your hard disk over time and slow down your PC, go to the Clean Up Center and click Clean Up Scan. Temporary files and stray registry items can be safely removed without deleting any data needed by your computer.
To fix hard disk fragmentation, which allows your PC to find all the pieces of a file faster because it only has to look in one place for them, go to the Tune Up Center and click Tune Up Scan.
If you’ve never defragmented your hard disk or cleaned out temporary files, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve last done so, run the full service scan to do it all in one fell swoop!
Scan for viruses
Malicious code (also known as malware)—such as viruses, Trojans, spyware, and worms—uses your computer’s resources to do all sorts of nasty things to it, including causing it to slow down. One of the most important aspects of the protection scanner is its ability to check your PC for malicious software.
How long the scan will take varies, and can depend on such things as your processor speed, the amount of memory your computer has, and how many issues the scanner finds. Generally, a complete scan will take anywhere from two to five minutes.
Ideally, you should run the full service scanner at least once a month, but if your computer is running slower than normal or programs don’t seem to be behaving the way they should, you might want to run the scan before then.
Try starting in safe mode
Normally, when you start your computer, Windows loads a huge amount of data into your computer’s memory. In safe mode, however, you only have access to basic files and drivers (for example, mouse, monitor, keyboard, default system services, and no network connections). Therefore, the processor is only running at a fraction of its capacity.
If your system is significantly faster in safe mode, one or more applications or drivers may be causing the slowdown in normal mode. If you’ve recently added new software or a new device, try uninstalling it or removing the hardware to see if your computer speeds up.
To start in safe mode:
1. Click Start, then click Shut Down.
2. Click Restart, then click OK.
3. As your computer restarts but before Windows launches, press F8.
On a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press F8 when the boot menu appears.
4. Select Safe Mode, then press ENTER.
Can you knit a sweater or wash the car in the time it takes your PC to open a file? If your PC has suddenly started running slower than normal, there are a few tips you can use to make it run faster.
Have you done anything new?
Try removing any newly installed hardware, such as a printer, or uninstalling any newly installed applications, such as a computer game, and see if that resolves the problem. Make sure that your computer meets the minimum requirements recommended by the hardware manufacturer or software publisher before installing anything new.
Reboot your computer
Are you one of those people who leaves their computer on for days or weeks at a time? If so, temporary files will build up on your hard disk, taking up space in your computer’s memory and clogging up other resources. By rebooting, or restarting, your computer, you can clear out these temporary files and improve your PC’s performance.
Verify your system resources
People get computers for various reasons: e-mail, Internet access, games, word processing. Make sure your computer’s RAM (or memory), hard disk space, and other components are adequate for what you’re using the computer for.
Run the Windows Live OneCare safety scanner
The Windows Live OneCare safety scanner can help you increase your computer’s performance by removing temporary files, cleaning the registry, and fixing disk fragmentation. Such optimization can help your PC run more efficiently.
To remove obsolete temporary files and invalid registry items that can accumulate on your hard disk over time and slow down your PC, go to the Clean Up Center and click Clean Up Scan. Temporary files and stray registry items can be safely removed without deleting any data needed by your computer.
To fix hard disk fragmentation, which allows your PC to find all the pieces of a file faster because it only has to look in one place for them, go to the Tune Up Center and click Tune Up Scan.
If you’ve never defragmented your hard disk or cleaned out temporary files, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve last done so, run the full service scan to do it all in one fell swoop!
Scan for viruses
Malicious code (also known as malware)—such as viruses, Trojans, spyware, and worms—uses your computer’s resources to do all sorts of nasty things to it, including causing it to slow down. One of the most important aspects of the protection scanner is its ability to check your PC for malicious software.
How long the scan will take varies, and can depend on such things as your processor speed, the amount of memory your computer has, and how many issues the scanner finds. Generally, a complete scan will take anywhere from two to five minutes.
Ideally, you should run the full service scanner at least once a month, but if your computer is running slower than normal or programs don’t seem to be behaving the way they should, you might want to run the scan before then.
Try starting in safe mode
Normally, when you start your computer, Windows loads a huge amount of data into your computer’s memory. In safe mode, however, you only have access to basic files and drivers (for example, mouse, monitor, keyboard, default system services, and no network connections). Therefore, the processor is only running at a fraction of its capacity.
If your system is significantly faster in safe mode, one or more applications or drivers may be causing the slowdown in normal mode. If you’ve recently added new software or a new device, try uninstalling it or removing the hardware to see if your computer speeds up.
To start in safe mode:
1. Click Start, then click Shut Down.
2. Click Restart, then click OK.
3. As your computer restarts but before Windows launches, press F8.
On a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press F8 when the boot menu appears.
4. Select Safe Mode, then press ENTER.
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