Slow Computer

People have a lot of questions when it comes to having a slow computer like:

How do I fix my slow computer?

How do I clean up my PC so it runs faster?

How do I find out what is slowing down my computer?

What is the most common reason for a slow computer?

1. How do I fix my slow computer? (General Fixes)

Fixing a slow computer usually involves a combination of software cleanup and hardware checks. Here is a quick action plan:

Restart Your Computer: This clears the memory (RAM) and closes background processes that may have been running for days.

Close Unnecessary Programs: Check your system tray (bottom-right corner) and close apps you aren't using.

Check for Updates: Ensure Windows/macOS and your drivers are up to date, as updates often include performance patches.

Scan for Malware: Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or another trusted antivirus.

Free Up Disk Space: If your hard drive is almost full, your computer will struggle to run.

2. How do I clean up my PC so it runs faster?

To clean up your system effectively, follow these steps:

On Windows:

Disk Cleanup: Type "Disk Cleanup" in the Start menu. Select your drive (usually C:), and delete temporary files, thumbnails, and recycle bin contents.

Uninstall Bloatware: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Remove any programs you don't recognize or use (especially toolbars and trial software).

Disable Startup Programs: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Go to the "Startup" tab and disable any programs that you don't need to open automatically when you turn on your PC.

On macOS:

Optimize Storage: Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Storage. Review recommendations like emptying trash automatically or reducing clutter.

Manage Login Items: Go to System Settings > General > Login Items and remove unnecessary apps that open at startup.

3. How do I find out what is slowing down my computer?

You can diagnose the culprit using built-in system monitors:

Check Resource Usage:

Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. In the Task Manager, look at the CPU, Memory, and Disk columns. If any column is consistently at 100%, that component is the bottleneck. Click the column header to sort by highest usage and see which app is responsible.

macOS: Open Activity Monitor (from Utilities). Click the CPU, Memory, or Disk tabs to see which processes are using the most resources.

Check Boot Times: In Windows Task Manager, the "Startup" tab will show you the "BIOS time" and the impact of startup apps (High, Medium, Low).

4. What is the most common reason for a slow computer?

The most common reason is simply "Too many background processes and startup programs."

Over time, every time you install software, it often adds a helper process that runs in the background or launches when Windows starts. These accumulate, eating up your RAM and CPU power even when you aren't actively using them. This is closely followed by a hard drive that is too full (specifically less than 10-15% free space).

Hope this puts you on the right track to resolving your issue.

Kind regards

Ron