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| Is Your Computer Getting Slower? | ||||||
| by Bill Armstrong | ||||||
| I have heard many people comment that their computer does not seem as fast as it once was.� They also comment that the computer seems to get slower as they work over a period of time. | ||||||
| Here are a couple of things to look for. | ||||||
| 1.� Memory Leakage | ||||||
| As programs load into the computer's memory, they take a certain amount of that memory for themselves, and no other program or operation is supposed to use that area of RAM.� Then when the program terminates, all of that memory is supposed to be returned to the operating system.� Some programs do not return all of the memory.� Some small portion is still marked as being in use. | ||||||
| As you run and then exit programs, your available system resources get lower and lower, and your computer runs slower and slower.� This is because the computer has to use virtual memory, which is hard disk space.� It reads and writes more from the hard disk, and the access to the data on the hard disk is much slower than getting the same information from the RAM.� I'm told that Microsoft programs are among the major offenders in this memory leakage. | ||||||
| To check your system resources, right click on My Computer, choose Properties, then click on the Performance tab and read the system resources.� Try checking this value immediately after starting your computer, and then again after running and closing some programs.� You�ll probably see the per cent of available resources decline. | ||||||
| System resources are close to jeopardy at about 50%, and every per cent below that makes the computer more likely to misbehave and possibly crash. | ||||||
| There is no fix for this memory leakage, but you can bring your computer back to its full system resources by restarting it. | ||||||
| 2.� System resources can also be used by programs and utilities that are loaded at start-up time.� Look in the Startup folder, which is on Drive C, Windows, Start Menu, Programs.� Right click on the Start button and choose Explore to get there quickly. | ||||||
| If there are programs listed in the Startup folder, consider removing them.� I make a new folder named Startnot, and move the programs from Startup to Startnot.� That way, I can easily move programs back if later I find I want them. | ||||||
| Also try to remove as many icons as possible from the System Tray, which is next to the clock in the lower right corner of the screen.� There is no single way to do this, so you'll have to experiment with each one.� I start by right clicking on the icon, and looking in the menu for a disable command.� Sometimes I find a choice of "preferences" or "settings" which then takes me to an area where I can look around for a way to disable the program from starting each time the computer starts. | ||||||
| I have seen computers go from 55% system resources before cleaning, to 90% afterwards.� It made a huge difference in the way the computer operated.� The user was very happy. | ||||||
| Another handy utility is Startup Cop, which can be downloaded free from www.pcmag.com.� It shows every program running in memory, and allows you to selectively disable each one.� It is a good idea to disable only one or two at a time, then restart the computer, and be sure it still runs properly.� Then, after some reasonable period of time, disable one or two more. | ||||||
| Windows 98 users can also use MSCONFIG (Start - Run - msconfig) to disable programs from running. | ||||||
| 3.� System maintenance is important.� It is recommended that you run Scan Disk and Defrag regularly (perhaps once a month).� Scan Disk examines the hard drive for any errors, and fixes those errors.� Disk Defragmenter rearranges the data on the hard drive, so that all the data for each file is together, in one continuous �strip�.� This makes it easier and faster for the data to be read from the drive.� The read/write head of the hard drive does not have to skip all over the hard drive platter to find all the fragmented pieces of a file. | ||||||
| First restart your computer, so you have everything fresh.� To prevent programs from loading into memory at start up time, when your wallpaper appears, press down and hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, until the hard drive light stops flickering and Windows is fully loaded. | ||||||
| Some people restart and force the computer into Safe Mode (press F8 when the message "Starting Windows" appears, and choose Safe Mode from the menu).� On a problem computer that doesn't want to complete either Scan Disk or Defrag, this is the best method.� After you�re finished, just restart the computer normally and it will come back into the normal Windows. | ||||||
| Turn off any screen saver that you use, by going to Display in the Control Panel (Start - Settings - Control Panel).� Also be sure that no anti-virus program is running. | ||||||
| Run Scan Disk (Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Scan Disk), using the Standard (runs quickly) or Thorough (takes longer) settings.� Be sure there is a check mark in the box next to "Automatically Fix Errors". | ||||||
| Then run Defrag (Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Defragmenter).� Even if it reports that your system does not need to be defragged, do it anyway. | ||||||
| On a system that has not had any maintenance done recently, these operations can take quite a while to complete.� Many people start them running before bedtime, and in the morning, they are completed.� The large hard drives now available will take longer, because there is more disk space to check, and usually more files to defrag.� Small hard drives, and drives that have relatively little space used, will take less time. | ||||||