Below are steps users can follow to help speed up a computer or determine why a computer is running slow. It should be noted that this page only covers an overall slow computer and not a computer that starts slow or has a slow Internet connection. To diagnose those issues, visit the following pages:
Reboot
If your computer has not been rebooted recently, make sure to reboot it before following any of the steps below. Rebooting the computer can fix many problems and is an easy first step.
Background programs
One of the most common reasons for a slow computer is programs running in the background. Remove or disable any TSRs and startup programs that automatically start each time the computer boots.
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TipTo see what programs are running in the background and how much memory and CPU they are using, open Task Manager. If you are running Windows 7 or higher, run Resmon to get a better understanding of how your computer resources are used.
If you have an antivirus scanner on the computer, spyware protection program, or another security utility, make sure it's not scanning your computer in the background. If a scan is in progress, it decreases the overall performance of your computer. If this is the case, allow the scan to complete, and the computer's performance should improve.
Delete temp files
As a computer runs programs, temporary files are stored on the hard drive. Deleting these temp files help improve computer performance.
Windows computers
First, we suggest using the Windows Disk Cleanup utility to delete temporary files and other files no longer needed on the computer.
Unfortunately, the Disk Cleanup may not delete every file in the temp directory. Therefore, we also suggest deleting temporary files manually.
- Open the Start menu or and press the Windows key, then type %temp% in the Search field.
In Windows XP and prior, click the Run option in the Start menu and enter %temp% in the Run field.
- Press Enter and a Temp folder should open.
- You can delete all files found in this folder and, if any files are in use and cannot be deleted, they can be skipped.
Free hard drive space
Verify that there is at least 200-500MB of free hard drive space. This available space allows the computer to have room for the swap file to increase in size and give room for temporary files.
Bad, corrupted or fragmented hard drive
Check the hard drive for errors
On a Windows computer, run ScanDisk, chkdsk, or something equivalent to verify there is nothing physically wrong with the computer's hard drive.
On a macOS computer, access the Disk Utility program, and use the First Aid option to check the hard drive for errors. To open Disk Utility:
- Click the Launchpad icon on the dock.
- Open the Other folder.
- Click Disk Utility to open the program.
Make sure hard drive is not fragmented
Run Defrag to help ensure that data is arranged in the best possible order.
Test hard drive
Use other software tools to test the hard drive for any errors by looking at the SMART of the drive.
Scan for viruses
If your computer is infected with one or more viruses, it may run more slowly. If your computer doesn't have an antivirus program installed, run Trend Micro's free Housecall online utility to scan and remove viruses on your computer. We also recommend you install an antivirus program for active protection against viruses.
Scan for malware
Today, spyware and other malware is a big cause of many computer problems, including slower performance. Even if an antivirus scanner is installed on the computer, we recommend running a malware scan as well. Use the free version of Malwarebytes to scan your computer for malware.
Hardware conflicts
Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts. If any exist, resolve these issues as they could be causing your problem.
Update the operating system
To update a computer running Microsoft Windows, run Windows Update.
To update a macOS computer, run Software Update. To upgrade the operating system, use the App Store.
Disable browser plug-ins
If your computer runs especially slow when you're using your web browser, considering disabling any browser plug-ins, add-ons, or extensions.
Update your drivers
Make sure you have the latest drivers for your computer hardware, especially the latest video drivers. Having out-of-date drivers can cause an assortment of issues, including slow performance.
Reboot the computer again
After making any of the changes above, reboot your machine.
Run a registry cleaner
NoteIf you have a Mac computer, skip this section, as there is no registry in macOS.
We usually do not recommend registry cleaners. However, if you followed all the steps above and your computer is still slow, try running a registry cleaner on the computer.
Memory upgrade
If you have had your computer for more than two years, you may need more memory. Today, we suggest computers have a minimum of 2 GB of memory (RAM) for a 32-bit system and 4 GB for a 64-bit system. By having enough memory for programs to run within memory, your computer doesn't need to swap information stored in memory to the swap file. If the hard drive light is continuously active, it's an indication the computer is frequently swapping information between your memory and hard drive.
Hard drive upgrade
One of the biggest bottlenecks of a computer is the hard disk drive. Upgrading from a standard hard drive to a Solid State Drive (SSD) drastically improves the computer's performance.
Computer or processor is overheating
Make sure your computer and processor is not overheating. Excessive heat can cause a decrease in the computer's performance because most operating systems automatically reduce the speed of the processor to help compensate for heat-related issues.
Dust, dirt, and hair can also constrict proper airflow inside your computer, which causes a computer to overheat. Make sure your computer case is clean, and that the fans are not obstructed.
Increase or upgrade the processor speed
Increasing the speed of the processor (CPU) can improve your computer's performance. There are two options for increasing processor speed: overclocking or upgrading.
Overclocking a processor means increasing its speed beyond what it's designed to run stably. While overclocking can increase the processor speed, the increase is often not very significant, resulting in maybe a 10% or 20% speed increase at most. Furthermore, the processor itself must be capable of being overclocked. You would need to find the specifications for the processor in your computer to determine if it can be overclocked. An overclocked processor generates more heat, thus requiring a more powerful heat sink and fan to pull the excess heat away from the processor.
A safer alternative to overclocking is upgrading the processor in your computer. You would need to get the specifications for your motherboard to determine what type of newer processor may be used in it. You can then install the new processor in place of the existing processor.
Erase computer and start over
If none of the solutions above resolve your issues, another option is to reinstall the operating system, or you can erase everything and start over.
Erasing everything on your computer and reinstalling the operating system can increase performance by getting rid of old software or drivers. Installing a fresh copy of macOS or Windows, software programs, and the latest drivers help verify there are no software related issues causing your computer to be slow.
Hardware issues
Finally, if your computer is still slow after trying the above recommendations, there's likely a more serious hardware related issue (e.g., failing component). Examples of failing hardware could include the hard drive, CPU, RAM, motherboard, or other components.
You can run hardware diagnostic tests using the Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) utility. This utility provides information on whether or not your computer has a bad piece of hardware.
Old computer
If your computer is more than five years old, it performs slower than a new one. As more advanced software programs are released, they are optimized to run more efficiently on newer computers. Older computers are not able to run these new programs as well, which causes them to perform more slowly. Furthermore, new software tends to be more demanding in general, which is another problem for old hardware. We recommend you consider purchasing a new computer or upgrading your current one.
Additional information
- See our slow definition for all links relating to slow computers.
Every Windows 10 computer owner crosses paths with the OneDrive folder or icon on their PC, even if they don’t use it. If not that, a pop-up must have greeted you asking you to set up OneDrive. You must be wondering what on earth is this Microsoft OneDrive in Windows 10 and do you need it? Find the answer in this post.
Many Windows users are perplexed by the addition of an OneDrive folder in File Explorer. For others, their Microsoft Office files such as Word documents, PowerPoints, etc., are saved automatically to the OneDrive folder and not to the folders on their computer.
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If you are wondering what the purpose of OneDrive in Windows 10 and its pros and cons, you are in the right place. Let’s find the answer.
What Is OneDrive in Windows 10
OneDrive is a cloud storage service from Microsoft where you can save your files and then access them. It is a service similar to Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. You can store any file in OneDrive. The files stored in OneDrive are accessible from Android, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, and even on the web.
Now, when it comes to Windows 10, OneDrive is pre-installed on it. That’s why you will see OneDrive in File Explorer, Start menu, or the Taskbar. When you log in to a Windows 10 computer using a Microsoft account, you are automatically signed in to OneDrive. Microsoft will make OneDrive as your default saving a place for your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folder. Luckily, you can disable that feature and choose to save locally.
More importantly, you can manually add files and folders from your computer to the OneDrive folder in Windows using File Explorer, if you want to save them in the cloud. Later, you can access the stored data from your other Windows PC or smartphones using the OneDrive app for Android and iOS.
Download OneDrive on AndroidDownload OneDrive on iOSDownload OneDrive for Windows PC,Apart from saving files to OneDrive on your PC, you can sync existing data from OneDrive to your PC. You can select the folders to sync to your computer. Thus, OneDrive on Windows 10 works in two ways – sync PC data to OneDrive cloud and sync OneDrive folders to PC.
Now, to know whether you need OneDrive in Windows 10, you should be familiar with the pros and cons of using it.
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Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using OneDrive on a Windows computer.
View Files From Any Device
The primary benefit of saving files to the cloud is that you can access them from anywhere. The same is the case with OneDrive. For instance, if you were working on a Word document on your PC, you can continue working on it from your mobile phone, provided it is saved to OneDrive.
Automatically Backup Documents
OneDrive makes it easy to take a backup of your files to the cloud. You can either enable automatic back up of selected folders from your PC or choose OneDrive while saving files using the Save as option. The latter helps you save the files directly to OneDrive instead of manually relocating them after first saving them to your PC.
Betasat driver. Saving files in OneDrive provides an extra security layer. So god forbid, if something happens to your computer, your data will be safe in OneDrive.
Tip: Find out how to fix OneDrive sync pending or stuck issue.You can even store screenshots taken on your Windows 10 computer directly to OneDrive. For that, go to OneDrive Settings. To open OneDrive settings, right-click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and hit the three-dot icon. Select Settings. Then go to the Backup tab. Check the box next to Automatically save screenshots.
If you want to go a step ahead, you can enable automatic saving of photos and videos from a connected device such as a camera, phone, etc., to OneDrive directly. That can be done from OneDrive Settings > Backup.
Ease of Use
Since OneDrive integrates with File Explorer, it’s fun to use. You can simply drag and drop files into the OneDrive folder just as you would do in a local folder on your PC. That makes it easy to add or download files from OneDrive.
Pro Tip: Don't like having the OneDrive folder in File Explorer? Find out how to remove OneDrive from File Explorer in Windows.Also on Guiding Tech
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Click here to see our gtexplains articles pageAccess All Windows 10 Files From Anywhere Using OneDrive
Apart from syncing a few folders and manually adding files to OneDrive, it offers another useful feature. You can remotely access any of the files on your Windows 10 PC on other devices using OneDrive. Yes, OneDrive acts as a remote desktop service as well without uploading your content to OneDrive. The computer needs to be on and connected to the internet for the functionality to work.
To enable the feature, go to the OneDrive Settings > Settings tab. Check the box next to ‘Let me use OneDrive to fetch any of the files on this PC’ and ‘Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows.’ Check our complete guide on how to use Windows 10 Files from anywhere using OneDrive.
Tip: Find out how to set Android folders to auto-sync with OneDrive.Save Space on Computer
OneDrive is free to use. By storing files on the OneDrive cloud, you will be saving storage space on your PC. You can use the saved space for installing apps or for other purposes.
However, there’s a dark side as well. Even though OneDrive is free, the storage space is limited to 5GB only for regular users. That will get filled up soon if you save a lot of data to OneDrive. But if you would be using it for saving Word and similar documents only, that should suffice.
Moreover, if you have an Office 365 subscription, you can choose from various plans with the lowest one offering 1TB of space at $56 for one year. Find out what counts under OneDrive storage and how to save space on OneDrive.
Multiple OneDrive Accounts
You can add multiple OneDrive accounts (personal and work) to be used simultaneously on a Windows 10 PC. The data from each account will be shown separately on your computer.
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Read MoreDo You Need OneDrive in Windows 10
Now that you know the benefits and the drawbacks of OneDrive, you can make the right decision. If you ask us, you should sync your important files to OneDrive so that you don’t lose them. That said, OneDrive free plan offers only 5GB of storage. If the internet is intermittent, then any changes you make to the files will be saved to OneDrive once the internet is back.
Finally, it comes down to personal choice. If you are happy and conformable with saving your files locally or using different cloud storage services, then it’s not necessary to use OneDrive. You can unlink your Microsoft account and even uninstall OneDrive from your PC. Unlinking or uninstalling OneDrive will not delete your files. But since OneDrive is baked in Windows 10, it does offer certain advantages. So if you decide to use OneDrive, check out tips to use OneDrive like a pro.
Next up:Do you want to view file extensions in OneDrive? Find out how to show extension type for OneDrive files from the next link.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
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