Why is it getting slower?

Question

We're a couple of old'ns,pretty new at computers,who just do a bit of surfing the net,or buying the odd c.d,yet our laptop seems to be getting slower and slower.Is there something we should be doing or not doing?
Anyone who kindly answers please be gentle, rattling on about j.pegs and microbytes just leaves us with a blank stare.

Answer 1

Some good stuff already given about doing Defragmenation. You must use the "Control Panel":-
Click on START
Then select CONTROL PANEL
Then select PERFORMANCE AND MAINTENANCE

There are several options. You should look at them all.
Clearing out old internet temporary files is a good one.
Defragmenting will not save disc space but it will make the machine a bit faster.
Remove unused desktop icons is another speed improver. This is because the machine is using resources to 'paint' the shortcut icons. If you're not using the shortcuts often then delete them and run the program from the Start Menu when you want to use it.
If you delete the stored "cookies" that will also release a lot of your disc space. These little files are dumped by most web sites that you visit. Their claimed purpose is to make it easier next time you visit, but the time they save is not usually much. They just clutter up your machine.

If these don't work then you should run a thorough anti-virus scan with an up to date scanning program. Unfortunately, there are thousands of viruses , trojans, worms etc (malware) that can infect your machine without your knowlege and these will reduce its performance considerably.

Most malware sends information about you to their authors. Not only does this leave you open to financial fraud but it also hijacks your machine's rescources and makes it appear slower to you.

Also, if you haven't already got it then I suggest that you install and run Windows Defender (free from Microsoft, follow the link below). This detects Spyware - nasty programs that tell their owner what sites you visit and also records your keyboard entries so they know your passwords and security codes.

Answer 2

There isn't much I can say without some jargon, my best advice is to buy a beginners guide to computers.
Read these until you become familiar with the jargon.

Alternatively, ask a friend, someone with some experience.

All that really needs done on your computer is basic maintenance. Some of the operations take a long time to complete.

What you should expect to hear is:
Clearing the Cache
Scan Disk
Defrag or Defragment the hard drive
Scan for spy-ware
Update the Anti Virus application
and/or Install Anti Virus software
Update/Install Firewall

If you hire a professional, it will be expensive so give him the above list.
Windows XP comes complete with most of the necessary applications except the Spy Ware scanner.

If someone suggests hardware upgrades or installing Windows Vista, get a second opinion.

Answer 3

Ok - keeping your laptop fast 101

Dont overload it with programs pictures or videos - the pics and videos are best saved to a dvd .
I`ll presume you have good up to date antivirus / spyware installed as viruses and spyware can significantly slow your machine. Put the antivirus on autoupdate.
Programs only keep those on your machine you are going to use regularly.
Run cleanup and defrag at least once a fortnight.
If you arent comfortable doing any of these get a techie friend in to help you.
Get all browser updates that are relevant to you from the update website. They often have weaknesses which the updates will fix.
Dont load entire games cds/dvds if you are into games - just the root files and put the dvd in the drive when you wish to play it.
Read the manuals - or at the very least skim them for all hardware and software.
Never open an email you dont recognise and dont buy anything froma popup page.

Enjoy the experience.

Answer 4

This is my checklist for freeing up memory and maintaining as much speed as possible with your computer. I think you will find it easy to understand.

Many users are not aware of how much RAM is used by wallpaper and/or a screensaver full of graphics. They run in the background and consume memory. (I have only 512mb RAM, run multiple programs simultaneously, and have set my wallpaper and screensaver to blank.)

I don’t do games, but I do know they are primarily graphics which need and use a lot of memory.

- How many programs do you load at startup? Maybe you should check it out and ensure you are running just what you need.
To do this: cl Start, cl Settings, cl Taskbar and Start Menu.
cl Start Menu, cl Customize, cl Remove.
cl the icon for the program you wish to remove
then cl Remove.
There is also a “Disable All” button.
This will prevent the program from loading at startup, but will not remove the program from the hard disk.

When you are working in a large file, save frequently to restore full memory access. (Your work remains in memory until you “save” it to disk.)

Did you run an error check? Open My Computer,
Right-cl on C:, Select Properties, Tools – Run an Error Check ( checkmark “check all and fix); then run a Defrag

Are you using Yahoo Toolbar? Run a full Norton Antispy.

From IE, click Tools, Internet Options
delete cookies
delete files (offline files)
clear history (set days to save to 0 if you want)
click o.k.
click Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools – run Disk Cleanup

click Start, Run ipconfig renew (type ipconfig space renew)

All these things should be done regularly. The more frequently they are run, the less time they take.
Note: Games and videos are mostly graphics. Graphics create large files. If this doesn’t help, you should consider getting more memory.
Good web sites to visit: http://www.theonlinefamily.net/organize/spring_clean_computer/index.html
http://wehow.ehow.com/how_2007317_keep-computer-running-fast-smooth.html

Answer 5

Alot of things can cause a pc to slow down but lets just start with one thing at a time. Fragmentation........Reading and writing to and from the hard drive leads to file fragmentation. So, every so often it is necessary to do what is called a defrag. You should defrag the drive occasionally to get all these files back to together again since accessing a defragmented file causes the hard drive to search around for all the pieces of that file and slows down the computer some. To do a defrag one simply has to click on Start then go to programs and at the top is your Accessories tab. Click on that and go down to defragment and click on that and start your defrag. Hopefully this will increase your performance. Hope this helps. I've tried to keep it simple since there are other various way to accomplish this.

Answer 6

Yep! I think we can sort you out, PCs like anything else need a good clean. I don't mean with a damp rag etc. So first of all I am assuming you are using windows XP. OK go My computer/windows and there you will see lots of folders. look for a folder called PREFETCH. click on one of the folders in there until it's highlighted then carefully go to the top of the page and look for EDIT a drop down folder will appear SELECT ALL all the folders in the prefetch folder will now be highlighted. Put your pointer inside the box with the highlighted folders and click it will say delete all. click that. All the folders in prefetch will diserpeare. Don't worry you havent done anything wrong. now go to your waist bin and click on it and empty that. you will need to do this on a regular basis so I surgest you right this down. Ok, now go back to your desktop. go START/ SETTINGS/AD/REMOVE and look in there for any programs that you no longer use but take care. just delete them one at a time. delete one you no longer use. close it to your desk top and go empty the bin. Do this with each program you remove. Ok once you have finished doing that. Go right click MY computer/Proertys and a box will appear with the Pie chart this will tell you how much space you have left on your HD click on DISK CLEAN to remove making sure that all the items listed have been ticked. This can be done aon a regular basis as well. hope this helps PC MAN

Answer 7

hi mate this may be for many motives,yet as living house windows xp is getting slower(and slower) then i tempted to declare you have some style of malware or virus thats inflicting this project so a virulent disease test might cancel out this project and a anti-spyware test aswell may be a reliable theory in spite of the incontrovertible fact that while living house windows will become this sluggish then your significantly better in basic terms re-installation living house windows,and as living house windows formats your force throughout installation if there's a virulent disease or spyware then living house windows will delete this throughout set up and with a sparkling living house windows xp engaged on our %you will additionally see a a hundred% strengthen in gadget velocity and overall performance defragging does help your structures velocity in spite of the incontrovertible fact that its basically minimum in case you have a product restoration disk then use this to reinstall living house windows xp,its specificly designed on your %and could verify the excellent drivers,ect are put in any problems permit me comprehend reliable success mate !

Answer 8

You need to make sure you are 'cleaning' it up as there is things on websites that will make it run slower. Do you have a firewall or an anti virus ? If not then you may have a lot of 'spyware' this can make it run slower too. There are programs that can 'clean' your hard drive up and it should make it run that bit faster.

Window Washer is a good one. Also Spybot Search & Destroy the links are below hope it helps!

Answer 9

Be like me and ask some one who is local and two or three generations younger and can spend half an hour to show you what all the answers to your question means. As I think that some of the answers are quite correct but can be can also be intimidating.

Answer 10

Your PC is probably full of old junk to be honest - first thing to do is try to DEFRAGMENT the Hard Drive.

Click on START then PROGRAMMES then ACCESORIES and then on SYSTEM TOOLS - you'll find Disk Defragmenter in here - just open it and click on the option to defrag the drive (C usually) . Let it do it's thing and see if that helps.

If not - email me and I'll recommend some software that will clean up and remove all the old internet junk that gathers on your PC - someone below/above will probably give you the same info