My computer is running slow what steps can I do to fix it?
Tip: This page only cover an overall slow computer and not a computer that has a slow boot up or slow Internet.
Below are steps for Microsoft Windows users that should help speed up the computer or determine why the computer is running slow.
Reboot
If your computer has not been rebooted recently make sure to reboot it before following any of the steps below.
Background programs
One of the most common reasons for a slow computer are programs running in the background. Remove or disable any TSRs and startup programs that automatically start each time the computer boots.
Tip: To see what programs are running in the background and how much memory and CPU they are using open Task Manager. If you are running Windows 7 or higher run Resmon to get a better understanding of how your computer is being used.
If you've got an antivirus scanner on the computer, spyware protection program, or other security utility make sure it's not scanning your computer in the background. If a scan is in progress it can decrease the overall performance of your computer.
Free hard drive space
Verify that there is at least 200-500MB of free hard drive space. This available space allows the computer to have room for the swap file to increase in size as well as room for temporary files.
Determining available hard drive space.
Regaining computer hard drive space.
Bad, corrupted or fragmented hard drive
Run ScanDisk, chkdsk, or something equivalent to verify there is nothing physically wrong with the computer hard drive.
Run Defrag to help ensure that data is arranged in the best possible order.
User other software tools to test the hard drive for any errors by looking at the SMART of the drive.
Scan for malware
Today, spyware and other malware is a big cause of many computer problems including a slow computer. Even if an antivirus scanner is installed on the computer we recommend running a malware scan on the computer. Use the free version of Malwarebytes to scan your computer for malware.
Hardware conflicts
Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts. If any exist resolve these issues as they could be the cause of your problem.