Sometimes your computer can remain slow even after having passed a speed test. We explain the possible reasons and how to fix them.

When you run a speed test as described here

http://www.itguyswa.com/how-to-test-your-internet-speed/

and you get a fair result compared to the averages for your area or the technology you are using then you need to take a closer look at the computers and devices you are using.

A suspected slow computer usually has up to four causes.

1) Slow Internet Speed – Checked and Fixed

2) Computer Viruses

3) Corrupt Operating System

4) Computer hardware failure

Let us examine items 2,3 and 4 in more detail

Firstly isolate your reasoning for thinking your computer is slow and try to quantify the level of “slowness” ie. does your PC takes 4 minutes to startup?, When playing games is there is a lot of juddering and freezing?. Do files take 2 minutes to save etc.

2) Computer Viruses

Even with a current Anti-Virus program, you can still pickup computer viruses and malware. The nastier ones get underneath the Anti-Virus program and can then only be removed using a rescue disk.

In this article we show 21 tell-tail signs that your computer has a virus.

This article shows how to remove 99% of known viruses using a rescue disk.

If you complete the above and either no viruses are found or your speed does not improve, try the next step.

Need expert help in fixing Internet & Wi-Fi Issues and live in Perth, Western Australia then call The IT Guys (WA) on 08 6365 5603

3) Corrupt Operating System

Try backing up your data and then reinstalling the operating system. Although a long winded and time consuming process, this should increase the speed of your computer.

However, if it does not, we need to look closely at the computer hardware.

Need expert help in fixing Internet & Wi-Fi Issues and live in Perth, Western Australia then call The IT Guys (WA) on 08 6365 5603

4) Computer hardware failure

The three main areas of hardware failure that cause a computer to slow down are

a) RAM (Random Access Memory)

b) HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

c) Video Graphics Card.

RAM (Random Access Memory) failures

Most computers have two or more RAM sticks. say 2 x 4 MB or 2 x 8 MB or in older machines 2 x 1 MB. If both sticks fail, the computer will not start and you will probably hear a number of beeps on startup.

However a common problem is that just one of the sticks dies and your RAM is then halved. There is no warning from the Action center or the BIOS but by checking Control Panel > System you can check the amount of RAM your computer recognizes.

A computer running Windows 7 should have 4 MB minimum RAM but some Windows 8 laptops were only shipped with a meagre 2MB of RAM and grind to a halt when more than one application is open.

RAM allows your computer or laptop to multi-task, so you can have more than one program open at a time.

The higher the RAM the quicker you can multi-task or have multiple windows open.

Need expert help in fixing Internet & Wi-Fi Issues and live in Perth, Western Australia then call The IT Guys (WA) on 08 6365 5603

HDD (Hard Disk Drive) failures

Hard Disk Drives store your programs and data and are subject to sudden and catastrophic failures after 5 years or more.

However, then do not always die suddenly. Quite often HDD‘s lose more and more of their storage capabilities over time. If a portion of the HDD drive dies, it can adversely affect the speed that the data is accessed and this can have significant performance implications.

If the HDD sounds noisy or “clicks” try running a test from your BIOS. Also look at Control Panel > Adminstrative Tools > Defragment and Optimise Drives.

Here you can Analyse and Defrag your drives.

Make sure you have a full backup to an External Disk Drive before you attempt to do this.

Need expert help in fixing Internet & Wi-Fi Issues and live in Perth, Western Australia then call The IT Guys (WA) on 08 6365 5603

Video Graphics Card failures

If the perceived “slowness” relates to video or graphic problems then the first thing to check is the video-card. A video card can be “on-board” ie integrated with the motherboard or as the picture left, an additional board containing its own processor and RAM.

If your trying to play games on a laptop, it will be using the laptops own RAM (see a) above) but most game-desktops will have a separate video card.

Video card's are difficult to diagnose, try the manufacturers website for tools and utilities for doing this or simple swap it out with a new or spare board and see if that fixes your problems.

Need expert help in fixing Internet & Wi-Fi Issues and live in Perth, Western Australia then call The IT Guys (WA) on 08 6365 5603

Related Issues

How to test your Internet Speed

How to increase the speed of my Internet Connection

How to increase the speed of your Modem Router or Wireless Modem Router

How to Fix Wif-Fi Problems

• Fixing Wi-Fi problems relating to Mobile/Broadband Internet

• Fixing Wi-Fi problems relating to Wired Internet connections

How to increase your Internet Browsing Speed

Networking and Internet

• Small Apartment, Home or Small Office Network Solutions

• Medium Sized Single-story Home or Medium Office Network Solutions

• Large Home or Large Office Complex Solutions over Multiple Floors

Need more help?

If you live in Western Australia, and you need any kind of computer help, please bring your computer to us or call us out. You can contact us here.

To secure your privacy and prevent virus, trojan and malware infections, The IT Guys recommend AVG anti-virus products.
Written by John Kirkby