My computer is running really slow how can I fix this?

Question

When I bought this computer in March, geek squad for 29 dollars tweaked my computer to make it run faster and what not. I had to reformat my drive about 2 weeks ago and now my computer is running really slow. The geek squad guy said that the settings were erased when I formated my computer. What exactly did they do to my computer to make it run faster and how can I do it without having to pay again?

Answer 1

The following steps should speed up your PC. Do all of the steps with patience:

1. Run Disk clean-up. Then delete unused files. (start>program>accessories>sys... tools> disk clean-up)
2. Check for disk errors. (right click on a disk-drive>properties>tools >error checking, then restart)
3. Run disk defragmenter.
4. Delete cookies. (you can do it from your browser options: tools>internet options)
5. Delete cache or temporary files. (you can do it from your browser options) or, click on 'start", 'run', type 'temp' then click ok. Whatever shows up, just delete.
6. Delete all history files. (you can do it from your browser options, or, CTRL + H, then delete)
7. Empty recycle bin.
8. Delete unused icons & short-cuts from anywhere including desktop.
9. Uninstall any software or game that you use only once or twice in a week.
10. Delete temporary internet files. (you can do it from your browser options: tools>internet options)
11. Delete all recent files. (click on start, click run, then type "recent", delete all the files which show up)
12. Run a full virus scan. If any threat found, eliminate that completely.
13. Run a software which can remove any spyware or adware.
Like: Ad Aware, Windows defender etc.
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1
http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Windows-Defender/3000-12771_4-10598014.html?tag=lst-0-1

If you did these all at the same time, restart your computer. All these to be done once in a week if possible, depending on the frequency of use of your PC.

* Updating: (Needed only when updates are available)
14. Update your Windows by installing latest updates.
15. Update your audio & video drivers.
16. Update softwares, browsers, games that you use.

Use CCleaner to get rid of unnecessary junks:
http://www.download.com/CCleaner/3000-2144_4-10592746.html?tag=lst-0-1)

Registry Cleaner:
http://www.download.com/TweakNow-RegCleaner/3000-2094_4-10553321.html?tag=lst-0-1

More info:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10165_7-5554402-1.html

Answer 2

To answer what they do is: Apply about 100 registry tweaks that improve performance, things like how long the delay is when you click on the start button and the start menu opens, disabling unnecessary visual effects etc. They also do the msconfig and remove unnecessary services(don't do the microsoft services if you don't know what your doing) and programs. Some OEM pcs have a ton of garbage running in the background, one of the worst combinations is having the full Mcafee suite and full AOL software package installed. Those two alone can slow a system. Also temp files are cleaned, and possibly the hdd defragged. Those are the major things done for the 29 dollar optimization.

Biggest question for you is why did your pc have to be formatted? Did you have a bad hard drive? Otherwise it could be spyware on your machine.

Answer 3

There are multiple answers to this question depending on OS, when you did the reformat, what you have done since.
It could be your virtual memory paging file needs to be made larger. There is a link below for changing it.
If you have a broadband connection or surf the web alot you will need to remove that nasty spyware. There is a link below to ad aware, my personal fav for removing it.
You also should have some sort of virus software on the PC, make sure you are only running one program for it at a time, and if you need a good one, I have also put in a link to a good free AV software.
Also, when you start up, go into start>run and type in msconfig and hit enter or click ok. This will bring up a window that contains all the Terminate Stay Resident programs in your PC, these are the programs you may not know are running, and if you turn them off are still going to use resources unless you do it this way. Uncheck anything you do not use EVERY time you turn on your PC, especially AOL items (but do not uncheck unless you know what it is please).
Restart after all this, and you should be doing much better.

Answer 4

go into My Computer, Right Click on the "C" Drive A.K.A. Hard Drive and run a Disk Clean Up as well as a Disk De-fragment. If your having problems with slow start up, do this. Go to the Start Button, Run, type "MSCONFIG" then go to the start up tab and unselect any programs you don't use on a daily basis. Basically just keep any Spyware or Anti-Virus program checked and uncheck all others. That's all Geek Squad did to your computer. I just saved you another 29 Dollars

Answer 5

Okay im not geek but im willing ti help you..only on your bandwith

Take Note: This following tip will not work on XP Home Edition.
Make sure you're logged on as actually "Administrator". Do not log on with any account that just has administrator privileges.
Start > Run > type gpedit.msc (not available in home version).
Expand the Local Computer Policy branch.
Expand the Administrative Templates branch.
Expand the Network branch.
Highlight the "QoS Packet Scheduler" in left window.
In right window double click the "limit reservable bandwidth" setting.
On setting tab check the ENABLED item.
Where it says "Bandwidth limit %" change it to read 0 (ZERO).

Close gpedit.msc.

Effect is immediate on some systems, some need to re-boot.

Have a nice day!! Email if u need more help

Answer 6

Actually there a few problems lead to a slow computer like
-registry error
-spyware-adware
-virus
-not defragmented
-not enough RAM

I've wrote an articles on How to speed up computer performance at
http://tweak-everything.blogspot.com

Answer 7

Well if you are running Microsoft Windows XP then follow these steps :-
defrag your hard drive, run a fully updated antivirus and antispyware scan on your computer run disk cleanup program in the Accessories.

Answer 8

http://yanswers.blogspot.com/2006/10/pc-running-slow.html