Why is My PC so Slow?

You buy a new PC and are stunned by its speed. A year later, that speed has diminished. Possible causes include:

• Startup programs or plug-ins on your PC or browser are slow loading, running or hogging resources.
• Too many tasks running simultaneously.
• Insufficient RAM (Read Access Memory) for your needs.
• A slow or unreliable Internet connection.
• A misconfiguration in Windows or your browser.
• A fragmented hard drive.
• A local area network running slow.
• Overly intrusive firewall, PC or network security software.
• Automatic system  or virus protection updates.
• Out of date software causing inefficiencies.
• Malware has infected your PC.

Disabling startup programs and plugins temporarily or permanently may be advisable for diagnosing speed issues and improving performance. The commands to disable startup programs and plug-ins varies widely depending on your platform and software installed. In Chrome, you can check what programs are running in the address bar by typing:

chrome:plugins

In Internet Explorer:

A. Click the gear icon (top right).
B. Click Tools.
C. Click Internet options.
D. Click Programs tab.
E. Click Manage add-ons.

Assuming your computer is not infected by a virus, a fragmented disk can cause a normally fast machine to operate significantly slower at times. Microsoft recommends defragmenting periodically. In the past, this tool was known as the Disk Defragmenter tool. In Windows 8.1, the tool has been renamed as Optimize Drives. Both Windows 7 and 8x run defragmenting automatically. For most people, the default works fine but you may have unusual needs that require changing the frequency of the scan.

After changing settings, it may be necessary to restart your browser or Windows if you have disabled Startup programs. If you continue to experience a latency issue, there are diagnostic programs that can help. Some popular tools for diagnosing, fixing problems including network related issues and virus protection include:

http://www.mycleanpc.com/
http://us.norton.com/
http://www.pcboostcleaner.net
http://www.whatsupgold.com/

While I cannot endorse any particular product, online reviews can tell you what others are thinking. Below are some commonly used review sites but there are plenty others. Search Google on "pc diagnostic software reviews" or visit the links below:

http://pc-system-utilities-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
http://download.cnet.com/windows/
http://www.pcmag.com/reviews/software