If your computer is running slow or acting weird, you might be tempted to throw it out the window or take it to the nearest repair shop. But before you do that, you can try some simple troubleshooting steps to identify and fix the problem yourself. In this article, we will show you how to troubleshoot slow or erratic computer behavior using some basic techniques and tools.
One of the most common causes of slow or erratic computer behavior is malware, which is any malicious software that can infect your system and harm your data, privacy, or performance. Malware can include viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware, and more. To check for malware, you need to use a reliable antivirus program and scan your entire system regularly. You should also update your antivirus software and operating system to the latest versions and avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments.
You do not need an antivirus all you need is to keep your system up to date including applications. If you really want something to help get an open source one like clamav. Check your emails and report spam as spam don't just delete them as the logic in your mailbox will not do its job. Also netstat -ano is your windows friend. If all hope fails switch to linux
Now a day, you cannot leave a computer unprotected from viruses. You have "free games" (big fish)that is a magnet for malware. a decent free anti-virus software is better than none.
Another reason why your computer might be slow or erratic is that your browser cache and cookies are overloaded with temporary files and data from the websites you visit. Cache and cookies can help your browser load pages faster and remember your preferences, but they can also take up space and slow down your system. To clear your cache and cookies, you need to go to your browser settings and look for the option to delete or clear browsing data. You should also close any tabs or windows that you are not using and limit the number of extensions or plugins that you install on your browser.
I agree with Tamara B. Cleaning up file history and temp files has a big effect. I just tune up a laptop that had 7.6GB of temp files and file history. It would barely turn on. Simply clearing that helped the machine to perform much better. I use CCleaner for that and registry cleaning. Unlike some registry cleaners, CCleaner is not too agressive and in years of use it has never disappointed me. Windows 10 and 11 have a task manager with a Startup Apps tab. Here you can disable some programs from starting up when the computer is turned on. Some seldom used Aps still start with Windows and do not need to run in the background. Just be sure to understand which can be disabled before proceeding.
Check your registries and if it's really bad then just download Ccleaner (free) and have that do your cleaning for you don't fall for those clean your computer ads
If your computer has low disk space, it can affect its speed and performance as well. Disk space is the amount of storage available on your hard drive or solid state drive (SSD) for your files and programs. If your disk space is full or nearly full, your computer will have less room to run smoothly and efficiently. To free up disk space, you need to delete any unnecessary files or programs that you don't use or need anymore. You can also use a disk cleanup tool or a cloud storage service to remove or backup some of your files and programs.
Also delete files in %temp% folder. That will help free some space.Also if you still using HDD defragment drive so system then can access files faster because files are more compact than scattered.
I also remove file indexing, which can slow down a system more and more as it gets older. How often does anyone search for a file anyway?
Sometimes, your computer might be slow or erratic because your hardware is outdated or incompatible with your software or operating system. Hardware is the physical components of your computer, such as the CPU, RAM, GPU, motherboard, and so on. If your hardware is too old or too weak, it can limit your computer's performance and cause errors or crashes. To upgrade your hardware, you need to check your system specifications and compare them with the requirements of your software or operating system. You can then replace or add some of the hardware components, such as increasing your RAM or installing a faster SSD.
An SSD can go a very long way when It comes to older hardware. For most budget laptops that come with an entry-level generic SSD, upgrading can drastically increase the speed. Some laptops or small form factor computers will encounter 'Thermal Throttle' with older/dying hard drives due to the extra heat they produce which will push the temperature to the trigger point in which the Processor has to compensate by reducing its performance as low as half its speed or more; upgrading to an SSD can help reduce the chances of that happening.
Another way to troubleshoot slow or erratic computer behavior is to adjust some of the settings on your computer that can affect its speed and performance. For example, you can disable some of the visual effects or animations that can make your computer look nice but also consume resources. You can also change some of the power options or sleep settings that can save energy but also slow down your computer. To adjust your settings, you need to go to your control panel or system preferences and look for the options that suit your needs and preferences.
?Consider adjusting the Paging File Settings (aka Virtual Memory): The system may have unexpected behavior when running memory intensive apps or processes if low RAM is the culprit. By default, Windows automatically manages Virtual Memory. However, manually managing the paging file to customize the amount of RAM allocated for use as virtual memory--may result in better performance. Here's how I calculate the settings for Virtual Memory: min: 1.5 x Total installed RAM (in MB) max: 3 x Total installed RAM (in MB) ?example: System w/8GB of installed RAM would have paging file settings of: Min= 12288 <-result from calculating: 1.5 x (8*1024) Max= 24576 <-result from calculating: 3 x (8*1024)
Finally, one of the simplest and most effective steps to troubleshoot slow or erratic computer behavior is to restart your computer. Restarting your computer can clear the memory, close the background processes, and fix some of the minor glitches or errors that can cause your computer to act up. To restart your computer, you need to click on the start menu or the power button and choose the option to restart or reboot. You should also avoid shutting down your computer by force or unplugging it from the power source, as this can damage your system or cause data loss.
Worst thing you can do. Because you lose the opportunity to find the root cause. You reboot as last resort only. Find root cause is needed to be proactive.
Another reason to perform a restart to help with performance of your machine is that in a few OSes, such as Windows, they do not fully shut your machine down despite given a shut down command. This results in data caching in RAM and storage cache and sometimes not being flushed out after power is restored resulting in those issues. A restart for those instances does turn the machine fully off to back on again.
I know that end-users hate hearing this one, but it's a good starting point as sometimes a reboot clears out a minor issue. It's also a good step in troubleshooting; if the computer isn't functioning properly immediately after the reboot, the issue could be with applied settings or software at startup. From here, we can observe and disable unnecessary startup items to find out what could be the root cause of the slow or erratic behavior.
Get rid of unnecessary programs that start when the computer boots up. The unnecessary programs will keep running in the background and use up resources that are needed for other processes. Keep the programs that are necessary or wanted to start when the computer starts.
Other factors to consider: ?Helpful tools for troubleshooting peformance issues: 1) Task Manager: check the details tab for applications and services with high utilization (for example: look at info on the "Detail" tab--focusing on the Memory, CPU, I/O Reads, I/O writes columns for starters. 2) Resource/Performance Monitor: reference these tools (perfmon.exe and resmon.exe) for more details about current activity in an attempt to isolate the root cause of the sluggish performance. 3) If using older technology (e.g.: HDD), the disk might be fragmented and need to be optimized. Run the Disk Defrag tool (Dfrgui.exe) to check for fragmentation.
Clean the dirt build up from the vents and heat sinks. A hot computer runs erratic cause when it gets close to or goes over the heat threshold safety measures back the processor down
Check for programs running that you no longer want or need. Many of us try out different software from time to time and forget about it. Is forgetting about it don’t stop those programs from running in the background. Fully uninstall programs in a way that also removes its files and registry entries.