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Slow Computer: How to Speed It Up [Slow Computer Repair]

published 5/28/2021

Your cursor is lagging. It takes 10 seconds for new pages to load. Simply put, your computer is extremely slow.

The question is: how do you fix this thing? There are several things you can do to speed up a computer. We're going to discuss the main components of slow computer repair below.

Run an Anti-virus Scan

One of the most common causes of a laptop running slow is the existence of viruses. Viruses occur when you click on strange links or go to questionable websites. Not only do they slow computers down, but they also compromise files and leave your personal information vulnerable.

Fortunately, there's an easy way to detect the existence of viruses on a computer. All you have to do is run an anti-virus scan. This scan will tell you how many viruses your computer is suffering from and help you get rid of a few of them.

Make note, however, that a scan alone won't eliminate all of the viruses on your PC. Generally speaking, you'll have to manually remove some of them.

Unfortunately, in some cases, it even becomes necessary to delete all of your files and then restore your operating system entirely. This is the last resort but will provide you with a fresh, virus-free start.

In any case, if you have viruses on your computer, you have to get rid of them. Not only will this speed up your computer, but it will also allow for a better experience overall.

Manage Your Programs

Your computer is sure to contain a wide variety of programs. Though you might need all of these programs at some point or another, you don't need them all open at the same time. And you certainly don't need all of them to appear on your home screen.

See, having too many programs open slows down a computer. So, the better you manage your many programs, the faster your computer will be.

First, make sure that your programs aren't opening automatically when your computer is starting up. This happens by default in many Windows computers and can wreak havoc on the computer's overall speed.

In addition, keep your home screen relatively clear. You can obviously have some icons up. But try to minimize them by putting files in folders.

Replace Your Hard Drive

Computer hard drives don't last forever. In fact, most tend to lose quality somewhere between 3 and 5 years of use. This generally presents itself as a slowing computer.

As such, if you want your computer to remain fast, you have to swap out your hard drive regularly. In the meantime, make sure that you're backing up your data. Should your hard drive die suddenly, you'll lose all of the data that's saved on it.

Need help backing up your data? Need help replacing your hard drive? Your local computer repair company can help you.

Upgrade Your RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It's the memory that's used in the short-term as a means of running the programs that are open on your computer. The more RAM you have, the quicker your programs will run.

As such, if you're looking to speed up your computer, you should consider adding additional RAM. By upgrading your RAM from, 4GB to, say, 8GB, you could substantially improve the quickness and responsivity of your computer.

Extra RAM is generally fairly cheap. Note, though, that costs vary based on a number of factors. For instance, higher-quality RAM will cost you a little more money.

Regardless, your local computer repair shop can help install it for you. If needed, they can even supply it to you.

Delete Unnecessary Files

The more files you have on your computer, the slower it's going to run. This is particularly true if you have less than 15% of space left on your hard drive. You need to try to keep usage below 85% and, ideally, below 75%.

As such, if you're trying to speed your computer up, you should consider deleting some of your files. Odds are, you have files on your computer that you never utilize. Start with these and then move on to the files that you use just scarcely.

If there are no files that you want to remove, you could help speed your computer up by adding a second hard drive. This way, both hard drives could stay well below the 75% usage rate.

Reinstall Your Operating System

One last thing you can do to speed up your computer is to reinstall your operating system. This will wipe away all of your files and allow you to start over again clean. As such, your computer will be able to move at max capacity.

Note, though, that this shouldn't be done lightly. If you reinstall your operating system, all of your files will disappear. So, before doing it, make sure to back up your files either on a cloud or an external hard drive.

Yes, this can take a little time. However, it's worth it to obtain quick and responsive performance. Plus, it helps to cleanse your computer of unnecessary files, the type of which would likely remain on your computer if a reinstall wasn't performed.

Interested in reinstalling your operating system? Need help with the endeavor? Your local computer repair shop has you covered.

Need Slow Computer Repair Services in Phoenix?

Is your computer moving at a snail's pace? Need slow computer repair services in Phoenix? We here at Data Doctors Computer Services are the people to see.

We've repaired countless computers over the years and can repair yours as well. We'll have it running like new again in no time.

Contact us today to get the process started!