How Can I Figure Out Why My Computer is Running Slowly and Fix the Problem?

Almost everybody has experienced the common and frustrating problem of sitting down to write emails or do work on the computer, only to have your system run so slowly that it seems unresponsive. Within my years of experience working with computers, I have spoken to dozens and dozens of people who have tolerated an unproductive and ineffective computer because they were told by computer repairmen or salespeople that their only alternative would be to purchase a brand new computer. Considering most computer stores operate on commissions, it's no wonder that supposedly "helpful" salespeople or repairmen would pressure potential customers into spending up to a thousand dollars for an entirely new machine. This "option" definitely benefits the employee and the money-hungry company, but in this difficult economy, it clearly does not benefit you.

There are a variety of causes for computers running slowly. Speaking from my personal experience, the most common reason is due to the computer's main "switchboard" becoming overloaded with data. While avoiding getting side-tracked with technical talk, every computer has a central database that consists of information about what data is stored in it and where it is located. As time goes by, this database becomes an exhaustive amount of material that overwhelms the computer. Programs and information that are not even remaining on your computer any more are still recorded in this database, taking up vital space and resulting in your computer requiring longer and longer amounts of time to figure out where specific data is stored. What is the solution to this frustrating problem? You are required to go through this database, called the "registry," and decide what information to keep and what material to delete. Imagine it as a spring cleaning for your computer system.

You have two basic choices to correct the problems and get your computer running more efficiently. First of all, it is possible to go through this database yourself and attempt to organize it and clean it up. However, after fifteen years as a computer professional, even I would never attempt to complete this complicated task manually. The more viable option is to purchase specially-designed software that will thoroughly scan your computer and determine all the specific issues that need to be addressed and resolved. Then, you can sit back and relax and allow the software to fix the problems for you.