One of the most common questions that professionals receive is the dreaded “why is my computer running very slow?” Unfortunately, there is no universal answer. Troubleshooting the issue requires a combination of detailed research and trial-and-error. Causes can range from the expensively complex to the laughably simple.

Spyware / Malware / Viruses

The realm of viruses and malware is huge. Many damaging programs are spread through downloads, but some may come from even more innocent looking sources like an email from a trusted friend or relative.

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Often these programs will cause computer speeds to slow down almost instantly, but other times the damages accumulate over time. As soon as the question “why is my computer running very slow?” first enters your mind, do a complete virus scan to rule out these malicious threats. Make sure you run a reliable registry cleaner and your usual virus software before you do anything else.

Too Many Programs Running

Even if you are not a multitasker, your computer still is. Even if you are only seeing a few programs in your taskbar, it is impossible to tell at first glance how many are actually running behind the scenes.

Programs like Skype, for example, can install themselves to open each time the computer boots up. Although having a few programs running at a time is not going to hurt anything, these auto-loading applications can add up and detract from performance.

Hit “control + alt + delete” to bring up Windows Task Manager, which will display a list of applications and processes that are currently running at any given time. If you have to ask, “why is my computer running very slow”, you may be surprised at the number of programs that do not actually close when we are done with them!

Hard Drive Overload!

Every file and program on your computer is contained in the hard drive. The hard drive needs at least 10% free space to run at optimal speeds – when it becomes full past that point, you are likely to see a decrease in performance. Deleting a few files from your system is a temporary fix – if possible, move space hogging items like pictures, video, and audio to compact disks.

Never delete anything that you do not remember installing unless you have done your homework, because the removal of important system documents can cause much bigger problems than a slow computer.

Outdated or Insufficient Hardware…

This one can be a little trickier to diagnose. Video games, movies, audio, software – every year the technology gets a little better than the last, and we keep buying products only to install them on our outdated computers. Check with a professional about the likelihood of needing new RAM, a better processor, or even a new video card (if the problem is slow games). These types of upgrades can be expensive, but they are unavoidable when you want to stay up-to-date.

Not every problem is as complicated as those listed above. If you are lucky, your decrease in system performance is caused by something simple, like fragmentation, which can be remedied by a quick defrag. Now that you understand the most common problems and solutions, the question “why is my computer running very slow” should no longer be of the issue!