There is more than one reason why the computer became slow, although everything was flying on it before. The source of the problem can be both in the software part, which is relatively easy to eliminate, and in the hardware part.
The listed software causes of slow operation mainly apply to computers running on Windows. Hardware factors do not depend on the operating system.
System disk is full< /h2>
When there is no free space on the system disk, the computer starts to work slowly, because the operating system needs a certain amount of free memory on the system disk to function properly. Therefore, when using Windows, it is recommended to leave at least 10 gigabytes of free space on the system disk.
It is also recommended time from time to time clean the disk of outdated files using the system program «Cleaning the disk» , which is located in the following path:
Start ➔ All Programs ➔ Windows Administrative Tools ➔ Disk Cleanup
You can also press the key combination Win+S and type «Cleaning disk»
Excessive number of programs
If there are dozens of programs in autoload, then they all run together with the operating system and consume resources. CPU resources may not be enough, and the amount of RAM may not be sufficient for such a usage scenario. Most likely, the user does not need all the running programs, but only some of them. Therefore, everything unnecessary should be removed or removed from autoboot.
This can be done either in the settings of each program separately, or in the task manager in the «Autostart» tab, where a list of programs that start together with Windows is displayed. You can also press the key combination Win+S, and then type «Autoload applications» .
Malicious programs
You may not even suspect how the malicious program got onto your computer. Malware can take a significant amount of computer resources, causing it to slow down.
To begin with, you should make sure that an antivirus program is installed and enabled on your computer. In the case of Windows, Windows Defender, also known as Windows Defender, is installed by default, so it's easier to use. But it will not be a mistake to use a third-party antivirus or use a scanner program. An antivirus program will allow you to find out whether there is malware in the system, and if so, it will help to get rid of them.
Program or system failure
The reason for slow computer operation can be any program that overloads the processor or memory. In this case, it can be found in the task manager. Such a program will be distinguished by increased use of computer resources. If the culprit is found, the offending program should be removed or reinstalled.
If the computer started slowing down suddenly, you can try to roll back the state of the system to the previous recovery point. This will restore the previous system configuration when the computer was still working normally. The ultimate way to solve this problem – this is a Windows installation.
Overheating
Most often the processor overheats. Over time, the cooling system, consisting of a radiator and a fan, becomes clogged with dust, and therefore the cooling efficiency decreases. If you do not clean the computer's fillings from dust for a long enough time, so much dust can accumulate inside that the cooling efficiency will decrease to almost zero, causing overheating from the slightest load.
Therefore, from time to time it is recommended to clean the computer fillings from dust, for which a vacuum cleaner, a brush or a cotton swab for hard-to-reach places are suitable seats, as well as a can of compressed air or a syringe as a cheaper option.
You can check the temperature using specialized programs. If under load the processor temperature reaches 90 degrees and even exceeds this indicator, the computer's cooling system urgently needs maintenance.
Technical malfunctions
Technical malfunction can cause as brakes , as well as errors with spontaneous freezes and arbitrary restarts of the computer.
The cause of the brakes may be the wear of the disk on which the operating system is installed. Any disk has its own resource, which is lost with the appearance of bad blocks, they are failed sectors. To check the state of the disk, there are specialized programs that can be easily found in Yandex and Google.
The problem of poor performance can also be in the RAM. If the memory module fails, it may be accompanied by various errors. You can check the state of RAM with the help of specialized programs.
Most users are not able to independently determine the presence of such a problem, identify the malfunction and eliminate it. Therefore, for such users, the easiest solution will be to contact a service workshop or a familiar computer expert.
The computer is out of date
It is possible that the old computer simply cannot cope with modern tasks. Over time, programs improve, requiring more and more resources. This applies even to browsers, although their "appetites" do not grow too fast.
In this case, there are two options:
- Delete and disable everything that is not is used to maximally unload the computer;
- Upgrade or buy a modern computer.
The upgrade involves replacing some components with more productive ones. If it is not possible to carry out the upgrade yourself, then you can at least understand what should be replaced in the computer for its faster operation.
Candidates for replacement primarily include the hard disk (HDD) and RAM. A slow HDD is replaced by a fast solid-state drive (SSD), and RAM is either expanded by adding memory modules or completely replaced with larger memory modules. You can also replace the processor by installing a more powerful model in the same socket, so that you do not have to change the motherboard.
Most of the above is relevant for full-size computers, although usually the disk and RAM can be replaced relatively easily in laptops as well.
Conclusion
The most complete list of possible measures with a slow computer:
- Eliminate the fullness of the system disk, excessive number of programs, malicious programs, failure, technical malfunctions and overheating;
- Clean the insides of the computer from dust;
- Reinstall the operating system;
- Upgrade components.