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Slow PC: Causes and Solutions

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There are a thousand things that could make your Computer go slow. When you first purchased your Computer (Notebook or Desktop), it would have appeared to be lightning-fast. This is natural - you are yet to load programs and your data onto it! As you begin to load programs - Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, your favorite Browser (if it isn't Internet Explorer), your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware programs, your favorite Music program, etc., your Computer progressively loses speed. This is perfectly natural, unavoidable and not a cause for worry!

However, if you are losing hair because your Computer takes ages to open up an application - or, having opened up an application, suddenly decides to quit or reboot - and this happens fairly regularly - you do have cause for concern - grave concern!

ShootPC

We classify all Slow Computer problems into the following four broad categories: if you are lucky, your problem will disappear without too much effort, money or anxiety... 

  1. Easily preventable problems that have simple,  trivial solutions

We all have bad hair days - when you realize that your desktop wasn't quite plugged into the power supply, after half an hour of 'coaxing' it to start up! If your are not patient, your Computer had better be super-strong, to survive your attempts at 'coaxing it to start' :) We will not be discussing such problems here as we believe there are higher powers at work that periodically cause human beings to overlook the trivial solution to such vexing problems! :)

  1. Easily preventable problems that do not have trivial solutions

While no one is responsible for Category 1 kind of problems (barring the 'higher powers at work' of course), you are the sole person responsible for this category of problem. If you have not updated your OS or AntiVirus or AntiSpam solution for a while, you are susceptible to problems that are very easy to prevent - but a huge bother to solve! This category of problem does not usually require hardware to be purchased. However it is devastating in that you stand to lose all your data in one fell swoop... 

  1. Running Problems that are near-impossible to predict or prevent

A thousand things that go wrong fall in this category... loose cables and/ or cards inside the Computer cabinet (especially in the case of desktops that have been recently moved), humidity/ dust accumulating in the CD/ DVD drive, stiff Keyboard, unresponsive Mouse, Computer slowdown after uninstalling programs, etc. For some of these problems, you may prefer to replace the affected part(s), instead of merely replacing the faulty part. Check out our section on Stopped Computers to troubleshoot such problems!

  1. Break-down problems that too are near-impossible to predict or prevent

This is the category of problems that cost you money: a spoilt Hard Disk, SMPS (that is your Switched Mode Power Supply, or the power unit of your Computer), or the Motherboard itself. Brand-new Computers aren't spared of Category 4 problems - which is why the warrantee period and terms are so important for you, the purchaser of the Computer. If your Computer is dated (anything over 3 years could be included under the 'dated' appellation, with respect to computers!) it may be smarter to upgrade it or even dunk it for a new, faster, sleeker model! For example if your 120 GB Hard Disk is now trash, it is wiser to go in for a 240 GB Hard Disk: its a cinch that 120 GB Hard Disks aren't available anyways and that if they are, they do not cost any less than a 240 GB Hard Disk!

The following Tables present some of the most common Computer slowdown Problems, their most likely causes and the best solutions. No one is immune from Computer problems. But you could save yourself money if you check up these tables, before calling in your 'friendly neighborhood Computer-man!'

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Table 1: Startup, Shutdown and Slowdown Problem: Possible Causes and Solutions

Computer Problems

Possible Causes

Recommended Solutions

SlowPC

You may have too many Windows Startup Programs

Remove unnecessary Startup Programs.

Click here to understand how to do that

Your OS/ Security Program may need Updation

Click here for the Recommended Upgrade Schedule for your OS and Security Solutions

Your Hard Disk may need Defragmentation

Click here to read about Disk Managers and the Best Disk Management Solution

Your Registry may need Cleaning/ Optimizing

Click Here for your free Registry Scan!

Click here to read about and buy the Best Registry Editor!

You may have incorrectly/ incompletely uninstalled one or more programs

Click here to read and understand how to uninstall programs correctly!

Your Computer may have Virus(es)

Click here to read about Viruses!

Click Here to buy the Best AntiVirus Solution!

Your Computer may have Spyware

Click here to read about Spyware!

Click here to buy the Best AntiSpyware Solution!

RepeatPC

Your Windows installation may be corrupted

You should first attempt to go back to a working Save Point. If that fails, attempt to Repair Windows. Re-install Windows ONLY if both the above do not solve your problem, for, if you re-install Windows, you will need to re-install all your Programs as well!

Your Registry may need Cleaning/ Optimizing

Click here to read about and buy the Best Registry Editor!

You may have incorrectly/ incompletely uninstalled one or more programs

Click here to read and understand how to uninstall programs correctly!

Your Computer may have Virus(es)

Click here to read about Viruses!

Click Here to buy the Best AntiVirus Solution!

Your Computer may have Spyware

Click here to read about Spyware!

Click here to buy the Best AntiSpyware Solution!

Your Hard Disk may have failed

If all the above fail, your Hard Disk has given up. Its time you got yourself that newer, bigger (and usually also faster) Hard Disk!

SlowShutdown

Your OS/ Security Program may need Updation

Click here to understand what the Upgradation schedule should be, for your OS and Security Solutions

Your Hard Disk may need Defragmentation

Click here to read about Disk Managers and the Best Disk Management Solution

Your Registry may need Cleaning/ Optimizing

Click here to read about and buy the Best Registry Editor

You may have incorrectly/ incompletely uninstalled one or more programs

Click here to read and understand how to uninstall programs correctly!

Your Computer may have Virus(es)

Click here to read about Viruses!

Click Here to buy the Best AntiVirus Solution!

Your Computer may have Spyware

Click here to read about Spyware!

Click here to buy the Best AntiSpyware Solution!

NoShutdown

Your OS/ Security Program may need Updation

Click here to understand what the Upgradation schedule should be, for your OS and Security Solutions

Your Hard Disk may need Defragmentation

Click here to read about Disk Managers and the Best Disk Management Solution

Your Registry may need Cleaning/ Optimizing

Click here to read about and buy the Best Registry Editor

You may have incorrectly/ incompletely uninstalled one or more programs

Click here to read and understand how to uninstall programs correctly!

Your Computer may have Virus(es)

Click here to read about Viruses!

Click Here to buy the Best AntiVirus Solution!

Your Computer may have Spyware

Click here to read about Spyware!

Click here to buy the Best AntiSpyware Solution!

 

Table 2: Computer Halt/ Freeze Problem: Possible Causes and Solutions

Computer Problem

Possible Causes

Respective Solutions

HaltFreeze

Registry may need Cleaning/ Optimizing

Click here to read about the Best Registry Editor!

Click here to read about and buy the Best Registry Editor!

You may have incorrectly/ incompletely uninstalled one or more programs

Click here to read and understand how to uninstall programs correctly!

Memory Modules/ HDD Cables may be lose

Open Cabinet and press all Cards and Cables, so as to seat them properly in their slots. Restart machine

The Program may be corrupted

Re-install the Program(s). You may want to format Hard Disk and re-install all programs and data

Time to get yourself the bigger, meaner (and usually, faster) Hard Disk!

Recover whatever data you can from faulty Hard Disk. Purchase new Hard Disk.

Yes, you will also need to re-install all your Programs, therefore keep the CDs close by!

You will also need to spend time updating and patching your Windows, Security Programs, Office Suite, etc., so you need to set aside a few days for the task!

Do not forget to copy back all your data - including e-Mail, Address Book, everything you managed to salvage!


The above are troubleshooting options if your Computer starts up.

If your Computer refuses to even start up, check out our section on Stopped Computers, for detailed troubleshooting options!


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