Computer Wizard
PC Speedups!
The Slow PC 
The slow PC is one of the most frequent PC service issues. The problem
has many sources and illustrates the diagnostics sometimes needed to
correct a problem. The slowness can arise from hardware or software. It
is usually best to check the hardware first because these checks can be
done quickly.
Hard disk full.
If the hard disk is more than 85% full the computer will be slow.
Corrective measures include cleaning up the hard drive or getting a new
larger one. To check: Go to My Computer - Right Click c: drive
(usually) - select Properties and read graph.
Not enough memory.
If a computer is purchased with the minimum amount of RAM and the user
installs a security suite, the computer will be slow. Minimum RAM will
run Windows and its included games and software. But it will not run a
pile of software, the memory is not there.
With Windows XP, 256 MB of memory is not enought. With Windows Vista
500 MB of memory is not enough. To check your memory: go to System
Information - the quickest way is hit the [Windows Key} and [Pause Key]
simultaneously. RAM memory is listed near the bottom on the main screen.
Fragmented hard disk.
If files are spread around the disk it takes longer to access them. To
defragment the hard disk: Go to My Computer - Right Rlick C: drive
(usually) - Select Properties - Select Tools Tab - Select Defragment
Now. If the disk has not been defragmented before, this make take
around two hours. Wizard speedups include an automatic defragmentation
at startup, where it will take maybe two minutes.
This completes the hardware
check. Now on to software issues.
Virus. Run a
virus scan.
Spyware Run a
spyware scan.
Startup.
Marking files to not startup is often one of the quickest ways to
speedup a slow computer (If it does not have any of the hardware
problems above). The most malicious of Malware will not succumb to this
fix and will instead designate itself again to run at startup. So it is
a good idea to recheck startup after a reboot. To check startup items:
Start - Run - enter msconfig - Select Startup Tab - Select Disable All.
If your computer memory is chocked by programs running at startup this
will fix the situation.
All software running at startup is not listed in msconfig - startup.
Most processes are not listed. Many programs start at startup because
of registry settings.
Add/Remove Programs.
This step gets rid of unwanted software and frees up hard disk space
also.
Registry.
If a program listed not to run at starup later shows the check to run
at startup, it is a malware that requires further effort.
1. Designate the program not to
startup. Do not reboot.
2. Search for the program with
Add/Remove and remove if possible.
3. Search the hard drive for
the program and delete if possible.
4. Go to the regisry and search
out and delete all registry entries for the program. If
you are not sure what you are doing here, do not do it.
If the program cannot be deleted because Windows is using the
program,the multiple steps above should remove it. If this fails,
search on the web for how to remove it or obtain the Wizard's Superdics
with is score of security and disinfection programs.
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