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"Why Is My Computer Slow?"

Written by: Dave Crenshaw

Article Overview: Since productivity is so closely tied to technology, I’m often investigating the little hiccups that are costing business executives big money. Sooner or later, I hear some form of this question: “Why has my computer been running slow?” This is not an insignificant issue. If computer slowdowns rob you of just 2% of your overall work time, and you work 40 hours per week, then you are losing an entire work week (41.5 hours) every year just twiddling your thumbs waiting for your web browser to start up!

"Why Is My Computer Slow?"

While I do not consider myself a “computer professional,” I often find myself poking around my clients’ computers. Since productivity is so closely tied to technology, I’m often investigating the little hiccups that are costing business executives big money.

Sooner or later, I hear some form of this question: “Why has my computer been running slow?”

This is not an insignificant issue. If computer slowdowns rob you of just 2% of your overall work time, and you work 40 hours per week, then you are losing an entire work week (41.5 hours) every year just twiddling your thumbs waiting for your web browser to start up!

There are many potential problems that can make your computer have a case of the doldrums. However, here are the top five culprits for you to examine:

1. Too many programs running in the background at startup – If you are running Windows, look on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. If you see lots of little icons there, then you have a lot of programs running in the background. Personally, I only have two background programs running. (The easiest way to shut down programs from automatically starting is using a little program called msconfig. Google "msconfig" to find the NetSquirrel tutorial.)

2. Bloated virus scanner – Unfortunately, the big name virus scanners such as Norton or MacAfee also have a big reputation for slowing down your computer. This is because nearly every file you want to look at gets passed through the anti-virus program before appearing on your screen. When virus protection is a must, I’ve found Nod32 to be a consistent option. It protects your computer from viruses and has little impact on computer speed.

3. Too little RAM – For the unfamiliar, RAM is the virtual workspace for all your programs. The number of programs you can run effectively at the same time is limited by how much RAM you have. Too little RAM, and pretty soon everything will begin slowing down. Anything under 1 GB is too little these days. With RAM upgrades so cheap, I recommend you shoot for having 2 GB of RAM installed. Many would call this overkill, but I call this planning for the future.

4. The computer is just plain old – For business purposes, plan on retiring your computer every 2-3 years. While it is possible to stretch out the life of any computer to up to 5 years, the cost of doing so (when lost time and productivity are considered) is far greater than simply budgeting for regular replacements. Consider a computer leasing program or having an outsourced IT provider set you up on a replacement and upgrade schedule.

5. Confusing “internet speed” with “computer speed” – Occasionally I see people complaining their computer is slow, but really it is the internet that is the problem. In some instances, your internet connection will slow down as more and more users are added to the local network. This is especially true when using a cable internet connection, which “pools” the resources in a local area. It may be time to upgrade your service or switch to a new service provider.

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Article Tags: anti virus, background programs, business executives, computer speed, culprits, doldrums, google, hiccups, insignificant issue, little ram, msconfig, netsquirrel, ram upgrades, speed 3, virtual workspace, virus program, virus protection, virus scanner, virus scanners, work time



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Re: In Praise of Slow by Carl Honore - Thanks for sharing GT - very interesting! According to Amazon Kindle, the two most highlighted passages from the book are: [quote:1tn0ii6a]Slow philosophy can be summed up in a single word: balance. Be fast when it makes sense to be fast, and be slow when slowness is called for. Seek to live at what musicians call the tempo giusto—the right speed.[/quote:1tn0ii6a] [quote:1tn0ii6a]Slow is the opposite: calm, careful, receptive, still, intuitive, unhurried, patient, reflective, quality-over-quantity.[/quote:1tn0ii6a]
secure my connection - I agree with Link's second post. Security is a personal sticky issue and possibly not the first service you should introduce yourself at the door. I'd suggest also the Back to School "In-Home" Computer tuneup (it's such a pain to take your computer in for servicing) and promise that they would see a smoother and faster computer. You can hand them a 2 page report on the benefits of having a computer tuneup -> this is critical. After you are gone this is the only piece of information that they will have to begin trusting you and want to have you in their home. You can sneak at the bottom of the report the benefits of having a wireless connection and the importance of Securing it. finish off the report with two dotted rounded rectangle boxes beside each other. One has a free Computer tune up assessment and the other a free wireless network security test. If they take you up on either you can test for the other. You now have two sources of possible income.
Protect yourself from Hackers - I received this from a newsletter from FXpro that I subscribed to. Please read and apply In the 21st Century internet is widely used for everyday job. Despite the "ease" and free time offered from internet use, one should be aware of the dangers and be prepared to avoid and safeguard him/herself from any attacks his/her computer may accept or even from the "unwanted" e-mails received. Golden Rules of Protection When using the internet make sure you have an antivirus program installed in order to avoid intrusions in your Computer, If you are using wireless internet connection make sure you have your connection locked, Do not save any official documents on your Computer, such as Copy of Passport, ID, Bank account numbers, copy of cards in case your Computer is hacked or even stolen, Keep all access codes/passwords in a safe place, Do not share an e-mail address with any person, Do not reveal any access codes, passwords to any person, If you are using a public Computer, ie in an internet cafe, make sure you log out any internet sites you have visited before leaving and deleting the cookies in order to minimize the risk of someone following your tracks, Regularly change your passwords on your e-mail accounts, or any other account that requires passwords, Be careful of e-mails received. Always check the e-mail address and in case you believe that this does not come from a person, Company, Organization you might be dealing with always send an e-mail to an e-mail address stated on the person's business card, Company's, Organization website requesting them to confirm that the e-mail address on the e-mail received belongs to them, before you reveal any information, Always have in mind that an established Company/Organization never uses an e-mail address such as g-mail, yahoo, hotmail etc thus always be careful when you are receiving such e-mails, even if it appears to be from a Company/Organization you are dealing with, Always remember that a Company or Organization will never require you to send them your login/password/access codes, When using a website that requires an access code, do not allow the browser to remember your passwords
How long can you stay away from your Computer? - David had just returned from vacation and he stayed away from his computer for 10 days. How long can you stay away from your Computer? If I don't touch my laptop in a day I might be sick. It is like food to me, which I can't do without for too long
Home-based Business - signed my first 200 customers while I worked from home. You can make it work. Many small businesses do, i.e. interior designers, AC/Heating Companies, moving companies, Plumbing companies, painters, landscapers, web designers, Mobile car mechanics, Computer Techs, online retail businesses, Pool cleaners, Home Repair, Telemarketers, electricians, Artists, etc


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