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://dev.itguyswa.com.au/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
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.
1) Slow Internet Speed
Self Test Internet Performance Guide
Guide 1 – How to test your internet speed
Guide 2 – How to compare your internet speed with your area average
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.
Related Issues
Self Test Internet Performance Guide
Guide 1 – How to test your internet speed
Guide 2 – How to compare your internet speed with your area average
Guide 3 – What Alternative internet services are available at my address?
Guide 4 – How to test my modem. Does it need replacing?
Guide 5 – General tips on increasing your internet and Wi-Fi speed.
If you would like The IT Guys(WA) to analyse, test and advise you on how to fix any of the above issues, click on Internet and Wi-Fi Testing and Consultancy Services where we offer paid remote on on-site services.
:jk:
