Why is my computer so slow?
A Guide to Speed Up Your Slow PC Performance.

Hello, my name is Ted and I've been developing Windows software for over 18 years. It comes as no surprise that friends and family are always asking the same questions:

"Why is my computer so slow?"
"How Do I Speed Up My Slow PC?"

What do I tell them? The same thing I'll tell you:

"Slow PC performance is most commonly the result
of all the spyware, adware and other junk that's made
it's way onto your PC over the course of time."

A common misconception is that by installing anti-virus software on your machine you are doing everything that is required in order to protect your computer. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, most machines come loaded with applications that may contain adware and/or spyware right from the manufacturer; although in more recent years this practice seems to be have been curbed somewhat. Additionally, a lot of so called "free" software on the internet actually contains malware that may be more harmful to your PC than you are aware of. This can include such things are free online games, torent clients and multimedia utilities.

There are many reasons why your PC might be slow, such as insufficient memory or lack of processor power, but the majority of problems can be traced back to software or your Windows operating system.

You have a number of options to choose from, and it's important to weight these options, so be sure and obtain information from a number of different sources such as SpeedMyPC.com, so take your time and be sure you understand what your options are. Oh, and now would be a good time to bookmark this page so you can find it later.

Windows Speed Up Tips for Newer PC's

The first thing to do is determine what kind of PC you have. If your PC is fairly new:

• less than 4 or 5 years old 
• is running Windows XP or Windows Vista 
• has at least 512MB of memory (1 gigabyte would be even better)

...chances are the computer hardware itself is likely NOT the problem.  If you're unsure whether your PC qualifies, here's a quick and easy way to tell what you type of PC you have.

So what's next? Simply put, it's time to click below and grab a copy of my toolkit:

I'd like to also strongly recommend that in edition, you read the section below on Internet Security, where I discuss topics such as internet security, spyware / adware removal software, and most importantly, using anti virus software that isn't a memory hog or bloatware.

Troubleshooting Tips For Older PC's

Okay, so maybe your PC isn't the latest and greatest. That's okay. It doesn't mean it's useless, you can always turn it into a fishtank (just kidding).

So your PC isn't the newest thing out there, that's okay, provided you understand some of the common roadblocks that you might be facing.

I've put together a list of 7 possible causes for a slow PC, and I would highly recommend that you read through them in an effort to come to a decision whether your PC still has what it takes, or if it's time to consider upgrading or possibly even buying a new machine.

If you're confident that your machine is not the issue, then it's time to look at Windows as the cause.  You can now jump to the section on Windows Speed up Tips above and obtain the tools necessary to speed up windows.

Keep Your PC Fast: Why Internet Security is Important

If you want your PC to remain in tip top shape, you definately should consider protecting it from intruders. You'd be amazed at just how many systems are trying to access your machine at any one time.

There are a number of things you can do to protect your PC, so I hope you'll spend some time reading each of the following sections:

• adding a hardware firewall 
• installing and configuring computer firewall software for Windows 
• replacing that inefficient and bloated antivirus software you may be currently running with fast, efficient and low memory footprint anti virus software 
• regularly scanning your PC with spyware / adware removal software to nip common problems in the butt

Summary

I am quite confident that by using the above tools and techniques, that you'll be able to speed up your PC to your complete satisfaction.

And please be sure and send me your feedback so I know which of the information included here has been helpful, and also let me know how I can improve it or what I can add to make things easier for you.

Ted Neustaedter