How to Fix a Slow-running Computer
Updated April 21, 2010 to include new steps for Windows 7
Why is my computer slow?
You may not care how your computer works, but one thing we all seem to notice is when that computer is running slowly. A sluggish computer happens to the best of us—and fixing it can be easier than you might have guessed. Whether it’s a prolonged start-up, websites inching along or programs that take forever to open, follow our simple steps to resolve these annoying problems.
Before you get started, you need to be clear about what area of your PC is running slowly. Take a look at these three common issues and click on the link that best relates to you:
- Your PC is taking a long time to start up (i.e., two minutes or more)
- Websites are opening slowly or files are downloading (or uploading) slowly
- It takes a long time for programs to open (i.e., more than about 30 seconds) or programs are responding very slowly to mouse clicks or other commands
If You're Still Having Problems
Performance issues can be difficult to resolve, especially if you're not a computer expert. If the steps above don't help and your performance issues are becoming a serious problem, you may want to check out an online support service. Click here to see our article on recommended providers.
