Birds on a Cable

Do you feel like half your day is spent watching your status bar load? Is the frustration starting to take over your daily life? It’s a common problem to have a “slow computer,” but not always easy to pinpoint.  Here are some tips to help you eliminate some of these issues and work more efficiently. Hopefully you use some of these tips before physically harming your machine…. I’m semi-kidding.

Your computer could be infected with a virus – Usually, the presence of a computer virus makes itself known through the encryption of files, a demand for ransom, or other nefarious pop-ups. But some viruses run unknowingly in the background, bogging down your machine and creating unpredictable service delays.

Fix It! – Run numerous scans. Try all the all the heavy hitters like Malwarebytes, Kaspersky, Norton, and our favorite, Bitdefender. If none of these scans seem to solve the problem, it’s best to backup the files on your computer and reinstall Windows. That method is usually the best, but unfortunately it is more time consuming.

Too many programs and/or browser tabs are open – Yes, it is possible to do a million things at once. But at some point, your computer’s memory and processing speed will not allow for the seamless switching from one open program to another. Some websites have a constant loop of video or audio going on in the background, which causes your machine to prioritize its resources and slow down everything. In addition, popular Internet-connected music apps like Spotify can store a large cache of data that will similarly slow you down.

Fix It! – Shut down or quit any programs you aren’t actively using, and stick with just one browser window. Want to save multiple tabs or links for future reading? Use bookmarks in Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari, or Chrome for fast, easy browsing.

Too many automatic startups – Some applications are preset to install updates without warning, and many are programmed to automatically load upon startup. This can prove to be a massive drag on your computer’s processing speed, both when you fire it up in the morning, and throughout the day if you are not aware of them.

Fix It! – Consult with your IT expert to alter your startup log. They can disable those applications that aren’t necessary during startup while devoting precious operating speed to those that are important. You can also right-click on the icons in the bottom-right of your screen, and close out all these apps.

Hopefully these tips will get you through some of the frustrations. Best of luck!