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My PC is freezing up and taking longer than it should to load up pages from anything I try to run. I have run the disk scan, cleaned up my computer with a virus and adware scan, and defragged. Nothing has helped.

Everything you’ve done so far is a good start - there are a few more things you can do to help with the freezes and optimize your performance with the system that you have now.

Clean it Out

Defragging the system is a great thing to do to improve performance - have you also emptied the Recycle Bin and deleted any temporary Internet files? You can go to Start and then choose Accessories. Click on System Tools and then Disk Cleanup. Select the disk you are cleaning and then delete anything in the Recycle Bin, the temporary Internet files and temporary files. You should also take a look at your system and delete any unused software that may be taking up space.

Check CPU

Are there processes that are taking up CPU time? You can check to see what’s running by getting into the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del. View the processes to see what is running and how much it is taking up.

Registry Cleaner

A good registry cleaner will go through the registry files and delete anything that is partially installed, fragmented or incorrect. We recommend RegCure as a great choice that has a lot of support to go with it.

Overheated Computer

Overheating in your computer is a common cause of freezing and poor performance. You can check the CPU temperature by using a program like RealTemp. It is a download that will monitor the temperature inside your computer so you can troubleshoot any heat issues. If you find that you are having an overheating problem, check out this Filetonic Overheating PC article.

RAM

You should also see if you have enough memory for today’s computing needs. For anyone running Windows XP, you should have a minimum of 512MB, and possibly 1GB of RAM. If you need more information about increasing your memory, see our Filetonic Troubleshooting Ram article.

Startup Items

Another step is to limit the number of “Startup Items” you have. Each program that launches takes up memory and system resources. It’s not uncommon for computers to launch multiple programs, even if they won’t be used because many installers place a shortcut to the program in the Startup Items folder by default. Go to Start > Run and type msconfig. Click the Startup Items tab and remove the checkmark in non-essential programs such as QuickTime, Microsoft Office, etc. These programs will still be available to launch as needed, but won’t be hogging resources when not being used.

In addition to the troubleshooting that you’ve already done, checking these issues should help you increase your performance on your PC.

Our PC’s performance is not satisfying us although it has 1GB RAM. Its working speed is not much better and it has been attacked by viruses.

PC Performance Tips

Even with one GB of RAM installed, if your PC is running Windows Vista, you may find one gigabyte is not enough. My daughter and I have nearly identical laptops running Vista. Hers has one gigabyte of RAM, mine has two. The difference is dramatic.

However, your PC may not be able to take more memory. If you can’t add more memory, you can still take proactive steps to squeeze out more speed. Let’s take a look at the options available.

Combat the Viruses and Spyware

You mentioned that viruses have been a problem, so let’s tackle that issue right away. If your computer has been attacked in the past, there’s a good chance that you have quite a few viruses and other forms of malware on your computer. Not only can these malicious programs damage your computer and steal confidential data like account numbers and passwords, they sap performance. Plus, vulnerable systems beget more malware, which compounds the problem. Your PC may have dozens of hidden programs all running at once - each taking up its fair share of available memory. In addition, many malicious programs called “downloading Trojans” actually invite other spyware and viruses into your PC.

Obviously, you’ll need a solid defense and a way to clean these infections. Check out our reviews of anti-virus applications here. Several of the products that we reviewed are available for free for “personal use” while others require a yearly subscription. Unfortunately, in this connected environment, these products are an absolute must.  

Remove “Start Up” Programs

After removing spyware and viruses, you should notice an immediate boost in performance. After all, if you had numerous hidden applications running without your knowledge and now they’re gone, they will no longer be gobbling up your computer’s memory. Now, let’s stop all of the legitimate programs from doing the same.

When installing software, many of us just click the “OK” and “Next” buttons without giving it much thought. By doing so, we often allow the software to set itself up for automatic startup each time Windows boots up. Unless you use these programs each and every time you use your PC, there’s no need to load them because they’re just taking up memory that you’d most likely appreciate having available for other tasks.

You can prevent programs from automatically loading by going to the Start button and typing msconfig into either the Search bar (Windows Vista) or the Run dialog. Once launched, click the Startup Items tab. Remove the checkmark from any programs that you would prefer to load on demand only. For example, if you rarely use QuickTime, remove the checkmark from the QuickTime box. In the future, you can launch QuickTime by using its icon or shortcut found in the Programs list.

Vista Performance Center

Vista includes an entire section dedicated to performance, the Performance Information and Tools center. This section is found in the Control Panel. Spend some time exploring this area and making adjustments to your PC. For example, you can adjust startup items, visual effects, indexing, and more - all of which can improve your computer’s performance. The Advanced Tools section is particularly useful with detailed performance reports and specific suggestions offered for improving your computer’s performance.

Other Tips

There’s so much that can affect performance ranging from having too large of a desktop image set as your background wallpaper to errors residing in your Window’s registry. Spend some time looking through our PC Performance section where you’ll find loads of advice for speeding up sluggish computers.

My pc has been used for about 2 years with many people on it. Some of them were young children. Many sites and items have been downloaded. God only knows. I’m also hoping that my computer will pick up much needed speed.

Two years of hard usage coupled with download after download usually adds up to one slow computer. Cleaning the Windows registry is indeed smart and I’m confident that you’ll see an improvement after RegCure works its magic.

More Tips for Speeding a Slow PC

Since your computer has been used by kids who have downloaded multiple programs, there’s also a good chance that they have downloaded all kinds of free games and other cool freebies like animated cursors, smilies, screensavers, and wallpapers. Many adults do this as well. Unfortunately, an uninvited guest often arrives with these so-called freebies: malware.

Getting Rid of Malware

As part of reclaiming your computer, find and use a good anti-spyware application to scan your system and remove any malicious programs. Many infected computers have dozens of suspicious programs running. Not only do these programs spy on you and report your personal information such as Web surfing habits or credit card numbers, they also take up valuable computer resources and slow your computer down to a crawl.

Several excellent products exist for eradicating spyware including free products such as Windows Defender and Trend Micro’s Online Housecall. As far as paid products go, the Tech Jocks recommend XoftSpySE and Antivirus Plus from Paretologic Software. Commercial products tend to offer better protection, larger databases for detecting threats, and automation. While the Online Housecall is terrific for one time scans, you can’t schedule regular scans.

Cleaning the Desktop

Another excellent step for recovering lost computer speed is to clean up the desktop. No doubt, the kids have probably changed the background image and you probably have dozens of shortcuts and icons all over the place. A large background image and all of those icons take time and resources to load. Right click a blank area of the Desktop and select Properties. Choose a default Windows background or browse your computer for your own image. Pay attention to the image size and opt for one with a small file size rather than a large one. For example, given a choice between a 5 MB image and one that is 700 KB, choose the 700 KB image. It will look just as pretty but won’t be as memory intensive.

Remove Themes

While you’re at it, if your kids have applied special themes to your computer, remove them. Themes are neat in that they change the look and feel of your operating system. However, they require more system resources - resources that a slow PC can’t afford to lose.

Manage Startup Items

RegCure comes with a neat feature for managing the startup items. Programs that automatically load each time Windows starts up are often not needed frequently, yet they’re running all the time. By removing them from starting automatically, you’ll free up memory.

Defragging the Hard Drive

Finally, after sweeping your Windows registry, wiping away malware, and removing startup items, give your hard drive a thorough defragging. As time goes by, the hard drive becomes fragmented as your hard drive attempts to manage its contents. The built-in defrag utility (Start >Programs>Accessories >System Tools> Disk Defragmenter) will rearrange the files in a more orderly fashion.

Download Top 3 Registry Cleaners and Improve PC Performance!

• RegCure of ParetoLogic (TechJocks Pick!)
• Registry Mechanic of PCTools
• Registry Booster of Uniblue

I know how tempting it is to just toss the old computer and buy a new one when it starts to act up. In fact, I used to do that all the time. Part of this was inspired by the rapid pace of technology; I always wanted the latest thing. If my computer was giving me trouble and a new operating system or Pentium chip was on the market, my computer was history.

While it was nice having the latest and greatest computer on the market, it wasn’t so nice on my pocket book. The kicker was when Windows XP came out. While I didn’t camp out at the parking lot of the local electronics store, I was one of the first to buy a new Windows XP system. I bought a Sony Vaio desktop with the latest cutting-edge Pentium chip at the time. I also maxed out the memory and hard drive.

Imagine my surprise when none of my existing peripherals worked with it. I needed a new printer and scanner right off the bat. Plus, I needed the new Microsoft Office suite which set me back a good $400 or so. And that was just the beginning.

However, that computer rocked! I owned it for six years before finally retiring it in favor of a laptop. I would have kept it but I really wanted to go wireless and mobile. That’s the only reason I don’t still have my beautiful purple Vaio.

So, why the big change from a new computer each year to a six-year-long love affair with a Sony Vaio? Part of it had to do with price. Imagine saving a thousand bucks a year for six years. That’s pretty motivating. Another part had to do with picking a computer that I wouldn’t outgrow right away. The final part had to do with learning how to maintain and optimize my computer for performance when needed.

However, there does come a time when there’s only so much that you can do. Using registry cleaners, anti-virus and anti-spyware tools, and following standard computer maintenance routines will serve your computer well. However, hard drives fry, memory chips fail, power supplies go out, and motherboards fizzle. In addition, even if functioning well, as new technologies emerge, your computer may not be able to keep pace. You may want a new application that your computer simply can’t handle.

My experience has shown me that you can extend the useful life of your computer. The longer you extend it, the more money you save in the long term. Upgrading your computer or repairing failed hardware often costs as much as a new system. If the problem is hardware-related and your computer is obsolete, weigh the costs and consider replacing it. If your computer is still in its prime (or good enough for your purposes) and simply needs a little tune-up, invest in a few utilities like a registry cleaner and anti-spyware and extend its life even further.

Download Top 3 Registry Cleaners and Improve PC Performance!

• RegCure of ParetoLogic (TechJocks Pick!)
• Registry Mechanic of PCTools
• Registry Booster of Uniblue

Anti-virus and anti-spyware software will definitely affect your computer’s performance. Mostly for the better but occasionally for the worse. Let me explain.

First, these applications will increase an infected computer’s performance due to the fact that computer viruses and spyware adversely affect performance. By detecting the problem and eliminating it, naturally, you’ll get a performance boost.

However, during system scans, the actual scan procedure can sometimes slow down your computer. I admit that I get frustrated at times when I see my virus scanner launch and begin scanning because I know that my computer is going to be slower than normal for a few minutes. This effect varies with different products and can be avoided altogether by scheduling scans to take place when you’re not using your computer.

How do viruses, spyware, and pop-up generators affect computers in the first place? While a single infection may be a mere blip on your performance-o-meter, most infected computers don’t have single infections; they have multiple infections. The first time I ever heard of ad-ware, I finally understood why my computer kept feeding me annoying pop-up ads.

The more I learned I soon realized that pop-up ads were probably the least of my problems. Spyware posed a far more serious threat to my privacy. At the time, I wasn’t as concerned about computer viruses because I had long been an anti-virus software user. But ad-ware and spyware - well, who knew?

I downloaded an anti-spyware/ad-ware solution expecting to find a couple of problems. After all, my computer had the symptoms: slow performance and tons of pop-ups. I didn’t have a couple of problems; I had an entire slew of them! Literally hundreds of unwanted, malicious programs had infected my computer, each one doing its dastardly deeds and demanding its fair share of my computer’s resources.     

End of story: removing the spyware and adware solved my pop-up issues and increased my computer’s performance. Plus, it solved issues I wasn’t previously aware that I had such as data mining and keylogging.

If you don’t have anti-virus AND anti-spyware, do yourself a favor and get this protection now. Some of these programs open back doors and invite even more dangerous programs and hackers into your computer system without your knowledge. Not only are these programs going to affect your computer’s performance for the worse, they are downright dangerous to your privacy and identity.

Download Top 3 Registry Cleaners and Improve PC Performance!

• RegCure of ParetoLogic (TechJocks Pick!)
• Registry Mechanic of PCTools
• Registry Booster of Uniblue

Heres a utility that claims hundreds of pc performance tweaks for Windows XP!