My PC runs slow…how can I improve the speed?

6 thoughts on “My PC runs slow…how can I improve the speed?”

1. f100_supersabre says:

   November 7, 2010 at 11:31 pm

   It sounds like you need to defragment your HD; since it does not start out slow. (The program comes with windows, and is put in "programs>accessories>system tools")

   ALSO, check the free space on your HD; you may need to remove some old files or programs you don’t need anymore. (The windows swap file gets a fair amount of use in game playing!)

   It could, as mentioned by others, be slowed by overheating caused by dust buildup inside the case. (The CPU slows down to prevent burning itself up when it gets too hot on most systems in the last 5-6 years. This is a safety feature.)

2. tylizzle24 says:

   November 7, 2010 at 11:31 pm

   try defragmenting the HD. or a nice program that i have come to love is TuneUp 2007. free for 30 days. go to seriall.com to get the serial code. free for life

3. ashwani_51082 says:

   November 7, 2010 at 11:31 pm

   ram always matter but u need to hav a additinal graphic card and a soundcard coz onboard sound card r of not of good quality aslo u need to hav chkdsk run and fragmentation
   and anoptimiser software or reg cleaner on download.com
   aslo u need to update urs bioas software from the makers website
   goodluck**

4. twigsoffury says:

   November 7, 2010 at 11:31 pm

   is this a older pentium based computer?

   the older intel pentium/ celerons underclock them selves via a Front side bus spread spectrum to help with the thermal issues related to the cpus them selves. your best bet it to open the side off the computer and clean all the dust out. if there is alot of dust on the very large heatsink/ fan. you know that is your problem.

   also eliminating start up programs helps with your load times and memory usage.

   goto start then click run. type msconfig. navigate to the last tab called start up and uncheck everything you do not NEED to start with your computer.

5. snowbuddy07 says:

   November 7, 2010 at 11:31 pm

   get more memory

6. Sultan-Emerr says:

   November 7, 2010 at 11:31 pm

   10+ things you should know about troubleshooting a slow PC = http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?docid=172694

   Registry tweaks to accelerate Windows XP = http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=173620&tag=nl.e138

   http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=122339

   23 Ways To Speed WinXP = http://www.techbuilder.org/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59201471
   Game XP = http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=game+xp&spell=1
   http://www.pcnineoneone.com/training_videos

   Adding more ram may help. Go to and put in your system specs at = http://www.crucial.com/support/install.asp = "Eliminate the hassle and risk of getting the wrong memory — guaranteed or your money back! In just 3 easy steps our Memory Advisor™ tool will show you exactly the right upgrade for your computer."
   http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner = " The Crucial System Scanner automatically detects your computer’s information and gives you the details you need to purchase a compatible upgrade. To run the Crucial System Scanner, you need Microsoft Windows 95 or higher. " +
   For a good price see: = http://www.newegg.com and/or

   http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp – http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp
   http://www.memoryx.com/
   http://www.4allmemory.com
   Test your ram with these: Memtest86L= http://www.memtest.org +

   RAM Reliability Test = http://hcidesign.com/memtest

   Ram Idle = http://www.freewareweb.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?ID=1423
   Adding more ram may help.
   Also Control/reduce what loads at startup with = Codestuff Starter = http://www.webattack.com/get/starter.shtml .
   Clear your cache and go to your local settings folder and empty your "temp" folder.
   http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/WindowsXP.htm
   Speed tweaks = tweaks and downloads to optimize PC speed without overclocking = http://www.setiathomescreensaverspeed.co.uk/index.html
   http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/sgp-tweaks.ars
   http://www.tweakxp.com/performance_tweaks.aspx

   Windows XP Tweaking – Startup and General Performance Tweaks = http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/sgp-tweaks.ars
   = "A guide for tweaking your system."

   For desktop pc better performance, I suggest you set your desktop background/wallpaper and screensaver to "none", then right click on desktop, click properties, click ‘appearance’, choose ‘ windows classic style’.
   Then Start/Settings/Control Panel/Display/display properties/screensaver/monitor power/power schemes/settings/turn off monitor after 10 minutes, and set the next 2 drop down boxes ( 1. Turn off Hard Disks, and 2. System Standby) to "never"/apply/ok/ok.

   Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Advanced tab /under Performance click on Settings / Visual Effects tab/
   Adjust for best performance / Ok / Apply / Ok
   Then Start/Control Panel/Display/display properties/screensaver/monitor power/hibernate/take check mark out of "Enable hibernation"/apply/ok/ok. Do not to use hibernate on desktop
   If I’m going to be away from the pc for more than an hour, or whenever there is lightning in the area, then after shutting it down properly, I unplug the UPS (which all the computer stuff is plugged into) and disconnect the cable.\

   To manage your startup programs, use
   http://www.snapfiles.com/get/starter.html = CodeStuff Starter

   or
   http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

   http://www.pcreview.co.uk/startup

   also see = Autoruns = http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html =
   This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond the MSConfig utility bundled with Windows Me and XP.
   Autoruns’ Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system and it has support for looking at the auto-starting images configured for other accounts configured on a system. Also included in the download package is a command-line equivalent that can output in CSV format, Autorunsc.
   You’ll probably be surprised at how many executables are launched automatically!
   Autoruns works on all versions of Windows including Windows XP 64-bit Edition (for x64) and Windows Server 2003 64-bit Edition (for x64).

   http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_scriptuse.html = Silent Runners Revision 49.

   http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

   Paul Collins START-UP = http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
   http://sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

   Process Explorer = http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

   http://www.processlibrary.com/freetools/

   Startup List 2.02 = http://www.techspot.com/downloads/3552-startup-list.html

   http://www.netsquirrel.com/articles/index.html

   What’s Running is a product that gives you an inside look into your Windows 2000/XP/2003 system. Explore processes, services, modules, IP-connections, drivers and much more through a simple to use application. Find out important information such as what modules are involved in a specific process. Control your system by starting and stopping services and processes. Configure your startup programs easily. = http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx
   Version 2.2 of What’s Running = http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx

   http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

   http://www.processlibrary.com/freetools

   http://www.indiahowto.com/how-to-clean-up-windows-xp.html

   Clean your cache, = http://www.stevengould.org/software/cleanup and/or
   Disk Cleaner = http://www.diskcleaner.nl ,or
   Open up IE and go to Tools/Internet Options/General tab and Delete Temp files and History, then Boot into safe mode, = http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406 , then enable CHKDSK, = Click your "My Computer" in the start menu, R-Click the C: Drive, go down and click on properties in the drop menu. When the properties folder opens, click on the Tools Tab, The first item in the list is to do CHKDSK. Put a check mark in all the boxes/start/yes/apply/ok . The PC should be rebooted in safe mode to do the scan. To view the results of a CHKDSK go to Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > Application, look for the most recent Winlogon event and double-click on it.

   Then reboot into safe mode = http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam , or Start/run/msconfig/Boot.ini tab/check /safeboot – reboot. Afterwards uncheck it and reboot., then go to Start/all programs/accessories/system tools/disk cleanup , and run disk cleanup: Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disc Cleanup and put a check in ALL the boxes(Note: Only check the "compress old files" box if you are running very short of disk space, as those files which haven’t been accessed recently will be compressed to save disk space, but at the cost of slightly slower access times to those files. Nothing will be deleted or "cleaned up" as a result of checking "Compress Old Files."). Click OK then Yes in the next little window. Let it finish.

   Then run Disk Defrag from safe mode. After booting into safe mode go to Start/all programs/accessories/system tools/Disk Defragmenter. When you open "Defrag", click on "analyze", and it will tell you if you need to defrag or not. (or see = http://www.dirms.com ).

   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/chkdsk.asp

Comments are closed.