Repair Slow Computer - Troubleshooter by Ed Lathrop On this page, we're going to fix your slow computer.  We'll get it running at top speed once again by using the same methods I would apply if you brought your computer to my shop so I could troubleshoot your slow computer's speed.  Just follow along.  You'll be up and speeding through cyberspace in no time! Open Windows Task Manager If you computer's speed has diminished, it is simply a case of your computer not having enough resources to deal with the load that being put upon it.  So, if it was running smooth and fast at one time, there is something inside your Operating System now that is sapping it of its power. You can see all the resources being used by your computer by opening the windows task manager.  This is done on Windows XP by holding down Ctrl-Alt-Delete.  On Windows Vista holding down Ctrl-Alt-Delete will open up another page.  On this page choose, "Open Task Manager." Check The Processes Once you have opened up the task manager, click on the Processes tab.  Here, you can scroll down through looking at all the processes that are opened and observe which ones are using the most resources  Sometimes you will find some legitimate program running and you didn't know it was running at this time.  Usually, this would be a virus scanner of some kind.  You have the option of closing this program for the time being so you can see if this makes your speed return.  On the other hand, there could be a program running that is infected with a virus or spyware and maybe you didn't even know you installed it! Zango toolbars are known for this.  You open up your computer one day and there is a toolbar installed.  You say, "How did that get there?" So, then you uninstall it but it still remains in the background doing its evil work, even though it is now invisible.   Don't get me wrong not all toolbars are bad.  The vast majority of them have to be certified virus/malware free before they are accepted by the software directories who list them.  Many toolbars serve useful functions, such as giving you the temperature outside and having radio stations and games and such.  Still, malware code writers put their vile scripts in anything they can to try to get these scripts a free ride on your computer. Close The Program Stealing Your Resources In any case, if you find a program running that is using all your computer's resources, close it.  A word of caution however, don't close a program by clicking the end processes option in the Task Manager. This can make the computer unstable until you reboot it.  Try to figure out what the letters in the name mean and find the corresponding program and close it in the recommended way. Sometimes, if you have Internet Explorer running, for instance, and you will see it is using 85% or so of the CPU's resources.  So you close IE and find you get some speed back, but you don't get back all your speed.  This is a sign of viruses or malware/spyware running on the computer, or it could mean you have a corrupt registry.  If it appears anytime you run anything, that program uses most of your resources and these programs didn't use to slow down your computer, it may also, be a sign of a virus or malware/spyware or a corrupt registry. Also, if you have unknown entries in the task manager and you just can't figure out the heck they are, this may also be a sign there is a virus or malware/spyware present.  But hold on, we'll get to these things in just a moment. If you find it is a recognizable program eating all your resources, close it.  Does this do the trick?  Do you know what the program is or does?  If so, check to make sure you have the resources needed for this software.  For instance, if you have a Pentium III, does the software require a Pentium 4? The System Tray In some cases it is possible to look in the task manager and find no one program eating up all your resources, but instead there are several programs eating some of your available resources when you thought all your programs were closed.  If this is the case, look in the system tray.  The system tray is a little area in the lower right hand corner of your screen.  I'll bet there are a lot of little icons there.  Here's what is happening in this case. When you install a new program on your computer,  this program installs a quick start up option in the system tray.  This quick start up option really isn't a startup option at all.  Actually, this option makes the program run in the background all the time. These icon are not needed to start their programs.  You can start any program from the start menu.  So, if you look hard the next time you install a program on your computer, you will probably find an option that asks something like, Automatically Start Program At Computer Startup.  Just say no to this option. For now, if you have several icons in your system tray, right click them and execute the option to turn them off.  If right clicking doesn't give you the option, open up the program.  You can usually close it once it is opened because at that time, all its functions will be available.  Many times I've seen programs running in the background be the sole cause of a slow running computer! A certain percentage of you reading this page have located the problem that was slowing down your computer by now.  If you are one of them, congratulations.  It is my pleasure to help.  However, in some cases there are still issues.  Usually, these will include viruses, spyware and malware, and/or corruption in the registry.  Let's get to the bottom of this. Malicious Software I don't need to tell you abut the dangers of spyware.  Spyware is out to get personal information about you!  Adware is a form of Spyware.  Spyware is a form of malware.  Malware is a contraction of the words malicious and software.  Viruses are also malicious software.  So, really we are only concerned with malware even though most programs that are designed to arrest malware call themselves Spyware Cleaners. If your computer is running too slow and you checked everything we mentioned so far on this page and any of the following are true: You don't have a spyware cleaner installed on your computer. You have a free anti-virus program that will take care of extremely malicious viruses but not the more ordinary forms of malware, and you have no other spyware program. Or... You suspect your spyware program is not one of the top notch programs available today. I would suggest getting a free scan with what I think is the best Virus/malware protection you will find any place, bar none!  No, it is not a free program.  It is not even the least expensive program you will find.  What it is is good! Very, very good!  And you can scan your computer with it for free to see if it is malware that is slowing you down.  Then you can decide if you need this anti-virus/anti-malware program. At this point it is important to take note if you don't have a registry cleaner installed on your computer, sooner or later you are going to need one.  This is just a fact of modern computing!  So, if you believe you need a virus/malware/spyware scan and you don't have top notch registry cleaner, you should free scan. Here's why... Get a free registry scan here. If you decide you want to purchase the registry cleaner, you will have the option of getting a great AntiVirus/AntiSpyware program at  the same time for a fraction of what the two programs or any similar programs would cost you separately! What If The problem Is None Of The Above? But, I've gotten a little bit ahead of myself because you might have a good malware cleaner and you know you don't have any malware present.  Or, you've got your free anti-malware scan and it shows nothing more than a few cookies present.  So, you know malware is not your problem.  In that case, let's talk about a very common computer slower downer; registry corruption. Windows Operating Systems are comprised of a series of folders and files known as the registry.  Anything you do on your computer is influenced by the registry.  As time passes, the registry grows.  It gains entries every time you either add or remove a program or directory from your computer. It is interesting that more is added to the registry when files are removed because that is just what happens when you remove a virus, malware or spyware.  The registry adds more entries.  The problem is over time, many of the entries become pointers to nowhere.  So, the operating system starts to get sent on wild goose chases as it is instructed to look through entries that mean nothing while it searches for a file it needs to complete a simple operation. Many times a registry in need of cleaning is described as a bloated registry.  This is a very illustrative description because the registry gets filled with useless information and naturally, this useless information slows down all computer operations.  However, the technical name for a bloated registry is a corrupt registry. Older operating systems, such as Windows 98, were just about oblivious to registry corruption because this operating system was small when compared to today's operating systems and so, Windows 98 and the like were able to plow through registry corruption somewhat effectively. Today's operating systems, namely Windows XP and Vista are enormous.  When registry corruption builds up, they have a very long way to go to work around it.  This, of course slows down their operations.  In fact, registry corruption has the ability to slow down Windows XP and Vista operating systems right to a standstill! As is the case with malware, the best way to see if you have corruption in the registry, is to get a free scan.  If there is corruption there, you will be alerted to the fact.  If there is no, or little corruption, you will know it must be something else slowing down your computer. Here is a link to the outstanding registry cleaner I use exclusively in my computer repair shop; Number 1 Rated Registry Cleaner  It has restored speed to a lot of my customer's ailing computers.  As you will see, there is a button to click to get a free scan. What is even more impressive about this registry cleaner is it not only does the best job of any registry cleaner at removing registry corruption, it is also a registry optimizer!  This means it has a way of making fast tracks within your most used functions which will get your computer not only back to its old speedy self, it will put it in overdrive! The Speedy Recap So, let's recap.  If you haven't found an incompatible program slowing down your computer and if it isn't the system tray using all of your resources, then the next step is look into the possibility of malware being present. If your computer has malware, which is often times referred to as viruses and spyware, it will run slowly; sometimes very slowly.  Also, you will be at risk of having your identity stolen or at least, your banking information and passwords stolen.  If malware either wasn't the problem or you took care of it and the computer is still slow, it's time for a registry scan. A corrupt registry, definitely will take the spring out of your computer's step.  In fact, there are thousands and thousands of computers crawling around at turtle speed right now because of registry corruption and their operators aren't sure what is happening. Every computer deserves to be malware free and have zero corruption in its registry.  If you are the owner of one of these deserving computers, you can take a look at this highly recommended virus plus program and the Number 1 Rated Registry Cleaner. This registry cleaner will not only get your registry straightened out, it will get your computer into another gear! There!  I've poured my heart out!  This how we deal with slow running computers at my repair shop.  These steps will take care of yours, too.  Thank you for visiting me today and happy computing! Ed Lathrop

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