How to speed up slow computer
INB4 Alienware sucks
Hello dear Basilers first let me warn you I'm not very educated with computers. About 1 year ago I got an Alienware mx17 for Christmas (If I had the choice I would have gotten something cheaper, but it was a gift to me). Now I didn't have any problems until a few months later after receiving it, my hard drive decided to die and I had it replaced by a guy who didn't bother downloading my drivers after doing so like he was supposed to, I eventually downloaded them over the phone for 4 hours.
Now I have a service tag to use at the Dell website for drivers and I have downloaded the new ones so I don't think this is a driver issue, but recently my computer has been [b]very slow and it shouldn't be[/b] for how much it was worth.
Additional info: I don't lay it down on my bed or my desk (I keep it on a fan at all times), I'm unable to defrag my computer because the program won't run, and I clean the fans of my computer monthly.
I have an i7, 16GB RAM and 2.4 GHz. ( Not exactly sure what else I'm supposed to post )
Is there anything I can do to speed it back up like it was a year ago?
5 Comments • Newest first
@KrazyLoopyx If you don't have an anti-virus and anti-spyware scanner (and use them regularly), your computer could be loaded down with all kinds of nasty things that can slow it down tremendously. The very first thing to do before trying to fix anything else is to be sure your hard drive is clean of anything like viruses, trojans, spyware, etc.
I use "Microsoft Security Essentials" anti-virus (free) and "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware" anti-spyware (also free).
(Free versions aren't any worse than paid versions... all the paid versions do is add a bunch of "bells and whistles" you'll never end up using trying to get you to pay.)
It's important that you keep the scanners updates also, so they can catch all the new viruses that come out all the time.
Microsoft Security Essentials does this automatically, and also scans automatically every day.
Malwarebytes (free version) has to be updated manually every time before you scan with it. It also has to be run manually (that is, the free version isn't automatic), so you have to remember to update it and use it.
Once you've made sure your computer is clean from viruses and spyware, then there are other things you can do to help with your computer's speed.
Assuming it is not a hardware/heating issue.
When you mean slow, do you mean its slow starting up or slow in running MS or another game/application that used to run faster?
The usual things that slow down a computer is usually too many programs running in the background from all the installs of software. Those programs takes up both memory and CPU cycles, worse case they will cause your computer to do swapping to harddrive when you want to run a application/game.
Do you know how many programs are running in the background (i.e. from your startup and the the task tray). You can try to install a task manager to find out, I use this one to monitor all the background programs running on my computer http://www.anvir.com/anvir-task-manager.htm, or you can use the windows task manager to see, but the one I listed will allow you to see more details.
* Hi Hi Ky Ky *
@KrazyLoopyx:
Windows > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Clean Up and Disk Defragmentor are there.
[quote=BrokenKarma]Probably dust collecting up in the fan area, should clean it.
Run a disc clean up.
Run a disc defragmenter.
Do a virus scan and have a good virus protector, some free ones like AVG aren't that great and only protect you from small threats.[/quote]
I clean my fans monthly and I just did a week ago. I have a very good virus scanner and it does its job.
What exactly is disc clean up? lol
Probably dust collecting up in the fan area, should clean it.
Run a disc clean up.
Run a disc defragmenter.
Do a virus scan and have a good virus protector, some free ones like AVG aren't that great and only protect you from small threats.