Why pc slows down

If you're updating your software regularly, that can contribute to a slowdown because the updates themselves take up more space and require more system resources. Whitson Gordon of Lifehacker points out that, "i n theory, if you did a clean install and never updated any of your software, everything would run as fast in year four as it did on day one.

But that's not exactly a feasible—or secure—way to use your computer. It's important to note that all spinning hard drives will die eventually, it could be tomorrow but it could also happen 10 years from now. It's just the nature of their design. A simple solution to prevent slowdowns caused by the hard drive is to install a solid state hard drive SSD in your current computer or buy a new computer with one.

Solid state hard drives take advantage of flash memory, which is found primarily in tablets and smartphones. Without going too deep, a SSD's flash memory doesn't have an arm like the above hard drive to write data, instead it relies on a processor making it much more reliable. We also can't ignore that fact that for PC users malware and viruses can also contribute to a computer slowing down. A huge misconception with PC users is that you need to load up on antivirus software to keep your computer fast.

This is simply a myth that was debunked by Whitson Gordon too. Gordon recommends that before you run out and buy pricey antivirus software you should first:. Start by learning a bit more about viruses and what they do Your first line of defense should be safe browsing. If you're downloading shady files, clicking on internet pop-ups, or opening links from unknown email, you'll greatly increase your chances of getting one. But if you're even mildly responsible, it's unlikely you'll ever get an infection.

Besides checking what is taking up space on your hard drive and practicing safe browsing you should also:. For you. What worked yesterday may not work today, and hackers work tirelessly to stay one step ahead of basic security protections. Is your computer running slow? Are certain programs limiting productivity and efficiency? Would you like to learn more about enhancing cybersecurity while also boosting productivity, all without breaking the budget?

Is Your Computer Running Slow? Research company Gartner forecasts an increase We can help. It's refreshed constantly, with the various columns constantly updating. My advice is to let Task Manager run for a few minutes and watch it.

Watch for apps that shoot up to the top of the list, then disappear a few seconds later. Look for processes that stay at the top of the list with high memory or CPU use. Not sure what a process is?

Google its name to find out more. To close an app or process that you suspect may be partly responsible for slow performance, click on the listing then click End Task. There are far too many apps and services to create a succinct list of what's likely slowing down a PC, but that doesn't mean there aren't likely culprits. Here are some of the top issues that we all experience on a PC. After watching your system running slow with Task Manager open, you may have noticed that your antivirus software is routinely near the top of the list.

Antivirus software can slow down your system while it's actively scanning your computer for malware and viruses. Instead of letting your antivirus program scan whenever it sees fit, schedule it to run at times when you're not likely to be using your PC, such as overnight or during your lunch hour. Changing the schedule for scans will depend on the program you use, but generally you can open the app and go to the settings pane. If your PC takes forever to be responsive after you log into your Windows account, then you probably have far too many apps trying to run at startup.

You can edit the list of apps and services that begin running when you log in to your computer by opening Task Manager and clicking on the Startup tab. Go through the list and remove anything that you don't need to have loaded and ready the moment your PC turns on by clicking the app name, followed by Disable.