Why does my computer run so slow? HELP!!?

Question

I have1.5 gh, 256 RAM, 32 mb Nvidia Geforce Mx100\200, and a 20 gb hardrive, however my computer still acts slow, especially in games. It can't even run Morrowind that good. I also scanned for viruses and spyware, and none were found. Why does my computer act so slow?

Answer 1

If your virus/spyware free, there are a couple things you can do get your computer working faster. If you using your laptop for normal stuff and not gaming. You got a good setup. You don't always need more RAM you just need to perform a few maintenance task.

Firstly, if you haven't cleaned your registry in a while. This is necessary. Your registry holds all the information regarding updates, installs, un-installs etc. Each one of those events produces a key. That key needs your PC's resources and free space. So, if you clean your registry, you make more resources available for speed. Do a registry scan if you got more than 20 errors you should clean it.
http://www.delete-computer-history.com/what-is-the-best-registry-cleaner.html

2. Clear your Windows cache files, this is your temporary file. It can grow up to a large volume and stop your computer from using RAM properly. In a sense slow it down by preventing it from using free space.Here is how:

1. Quit Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser
2. Click Start, click "Control Panel", and then double-click "Internet Options".
3. On the General tab, click "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet Files.
4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the "Delete all offline content" check box , and then click OK.
5. Click OK.

3. Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:

1. Open your Start menu.
2. Click Run
3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"
4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab
5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.
6. Click "OK"

Other great tip is increasing your virtual memory to simulate more RAM. This will give you a bit more resources for multiple program use or CPU heavy programs. Check the link to alter your virtual memory spec.

Hope this link helps. Shows you how to do everything step by step. You should get a least 60% more resources and speed
if you follow the tips.

Answer 2

20 gb hard drive + 256 MB RAM = inefficient computer for games.

You probably don't have much room on your hard drive (which can cause your computer to run slowly), you don't have much RAM, and your hard drive may be fragmented.

Try defragging your computer, uninstalling as many programs that you don't need/use as possible, and make sure that, when you do play a game, that nothing else is running. That's about all you can do to make your PC a bit faster, if you want to keep what you've got now.

But I agree with what others said - upgrade your PC if you can.

Answer 3

Umm, no offense, but are you under the impression those are GOOD specs. I mean, the video card is 6 1/2 years old, and the rest is just as outdated. There is nothing I can really say to help you, its slow because it is a slow computer, upgrading is of no use because you honestly need to upgrade every part you mentioned, just start saving for a new PC. People who have said defrag or just add RAM are being ridiculous, they are telling you to put a 2 inch bandaid on 12 inch laceration thats spewing blood.

Answer 4

Using a registry cleaner can clean up your computer and then make your computer faster,Why?the reason is that there may be some regsitry errors and remnant,corrupt files and temp files in your computer to cause "computer slow".
Everytime you install and uninstall software on your computer and surfing online you create junk in the computer registry.over time, the registry can grow to enormous proportions, especially if the various programs you've installed do not do a good job of deleting and/or updating it's Registry entries.You need to scan and clean your computer with registry cleaner to make it fast.Good Regisry Cleaner will improve your computer and Internet performance dramatically!It even can speed up your computer by 300% or more!
There are some comparison and review of TOP 5 registry cleaners.
http://www.speed-up-pc.info/index.php?t=makepcf
You can download and scan your computer for free.

Answer 5

the cause is likely to be that your computer is just slow. You need to get an upgrade. A faster processor (unless you already have dual-core), 1GB of RAM, a better video card as well, and a whole lot bigger hard drive, considering new games might as well take up half your hard drive.

Answer 6

Have you scanned for Spyware? If not download, update and scan with Spybot and Adaware. How long since you ran a diskcleanup? Is your drive free from fragmentation? This disease can slow things down. Keep a check on frag levels and also on the free space.

Answer 7

You know. That computer specs are already possible as early as 1999?

Sadly, there's very little thing you can do to improve your performance due to how outdated your computer specs.

Answer 8

I'd recommend running the free computer scan at http://www.freecomputerscan.info. It will scan your registry which is often the cause of many computer problems. It will scan it for free and tell you what is wrong.

Answer 9

The best way to make your computer faster would be to upgrade your RAM (memory) to 1GB. That way you can run multiple programmes at once with out lag.

Hope this will help,
Eric C

Answer 10

ok, well theres your whole problem. u only have 256 megs of ram. if u have xp u need at least 512 and if you have vista, then u need at least 1 gig or ram. ranges from 20$ and up.