Hard disksĪ tired or full hard disk can slow a computer down. And if you’ve collected any of those pesky browser toolbars which come along for the ride, you can disable them too. It’s hard to give specific advice on what you can disable, but learn more about the things you don't recognise and get rid of what you don't need. The Startup button on CCleaner shows these start-up programs. Programs which start up along with Windows, as well as browser plug-ins, can really slow down computers. If you haven't yet, you should experiment using Opera or Chrome, which are the fastest browsers available, and can perform significantly better on old hardware. Illustrator: Emma McGowan Photograph: Emma McGowan Resist the urge to hit your computer with a baseball bat, or to dropkick it through the nearest window. Media Player Classic is a lightweight alternative to Windows Media Player.
If you use Adobe Reader you can download a lightweight alternative such as Foxit Reader or SumatraPDF for viewing PDF files and then uninstall the Adobe offering. Click the Tools tab on the left and select Uninstall.
You can do this from within Windows, but it's easier if you download the free version of CCleaner and run it. Having cleaned up any viruses and made sure your regular antivirus program is functioning and up to date, the next thing to look at is whether you have any unused programs installed or running in the background. If you've switched antivirus programs, make sure you uninstall any earlier programs. Be aware that duelling antivirus programs can cause extreme slowness. There are also free, reliable and lightweight antivirus programs available, such as Avast. One answer is to run an offline virus scan from a CD or USB memory stick independently of Windows – Sophos or Kaspersky are possibilities. If they manage to gain control of your computer before your antivirus kicks in, they can hide themselves. Viruses or malware on your computer are very likely to slow it down. There are a few key things that are well worth trying before giving up on your trusty PC or Windows laptop (and many of these will work for Macs too), but before you attempt anything, it’s vital that you back-up your files. Many of these will make little difference and some may make the problem even worse. There are plenty of suggestions online, as well as paid-for products, which claim to fix slowness. Probably the most common reason people ditch their old computer and buy a new one is not that the old one is broken in any way, but that it’s simply running slowly.