4 Reasons why your computer is slow

Slow computers hinder your employees from getting any substantial work done, which is both demotivating for them and detrimental to your business’s bottom line. In this blog post, we will discuss the common causes of slow PCs and the steps you can take to get them running faster.

You have too many startup programs

Most applications are programmed by default to launch when the computer boots up. So if you didn’t change this particular app permission, your computer will likely take a long time to boot. And when it finally starts, your PC may be slow since there are many programs already running in the background.

You can speed up your computer by disabling most apps — except your anti-malware software and firewall — from launching on startup. Here’s how you can do this on Windows 10:

  1. Press Windows key + X.
  2. Select Task Manager > More details > Startup.
  3. Right-click on the apps you want to remove and click Disable.

Your computer has insufficient random access memory (RAM)

PCs use RAM to temporarily store data that you’re currently using. When your computer has enough memory, you can seamlessly switch from one program to another. But when your computer has limited RAM and you’re running multiple applications at the same time, your computer will slow to a crawl.

Moreover, modern programs require exponentially more memory to run than older ones, which makes running them problematic if your computer doesn’t have enough RAM. So if you have only an entry- or mid-level computer, you shouldn’t expect it to smoothly run Photoshop and other graphics-heavy software.

One way to solve this RAM issue is to limit the number of programs running at any one time. Close the ones you don’t need by following these steps:

  1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to access the Task Manager.
  2. Click the programs you want to close.
  3. Hit the End task button.

Another easy and inexpensive solution is to upgrade your PC’s RAM. For most office applications, 8 GB or 16 GB of RAM will suffice, but you’ll need at least 32 GB to run graphics-heavy photo and video editing software and games.

Related reading: 4 Common tech support issues companies experience

Your hard drive is almost full

Your data storage gets filled up as you add more programs to your PC, apply software updates and patches, and create files. Once your hard drive reaches 85% capacity, your computer’s performance will start to drop. At 95% capacity, your PC can slow down by 50%.

To clear up some space in your hard drive, remove old, unused applications, unnecessary files, defunct downloads, and temporary files. You can also leverage Windows’ Disk Cleanup:

  1. In the search bar, type “Disk Cleanup” and then press Enter.
  2. On the Drives list, pick which drive you want to clean.
  3. Choose the files you want to delete, and then click OK > Delete files.

Related reading: The best way to clean Windows 10: A step-by-step guide

Your PC is infected with malware

A malware infection can slow down your computer by constantly opening popup windows, running in the background, or using up resources. It can also cause your computer to crash and make it difficult to start up or open programs.

If you suspect that your computer has malware, disconnect from the internet immediately to prevent the malware from spreading to your network. Run an anti-malware scan to detect and stop the malware. For more complex malware, it’s best to turn to IT experts like SpectrumWise to remove the infection.

When you partner with us, we can keep cyberthreats at bay and ensure your computers are running optimally. Schedule a consultation with us today.

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