|
October,
2009.
If your PC is taking ages to boot up and is very
slow while running programs, here are more things you can do to speed up
your system.
Problem 1: Not enough RAM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory and is used as
a temporary storage memory by your computer. This memory is in use when tasks are being executed by
different programs. Hence,
you should have enough RAM memory to process all the tasks at hand; if
you don't, this might cause the major slow down of your computer while
it is booting up or processing tasks.
How to
know if your computer has enough RAM
The programs that are installed on your computer
usually have RAM requirements that are asked. If
your computer has been running at a normal speed before the installation
of such programs and has crucially slowed down with time, you might need
to add more RAM on your computer system.
Also, if your computer is slowing down every time
you are processing large files, or it freezes while executing several
programs at once, these might be some common signs that you need to add
extra RAM.
I have three computers in my office and every one
of them has the maximum amount of RAM installed on their motherboards.
You'd be surprised how stingy computer manufacturers are when
it comes to installing the RAM. It's
usually just enough to run the system quickly so you're impressed when
you take it out of the box. As
you add software, it gradually slows down because you don't have
enough RAM installed to carry the extra load.
Problem
2: Temporary files have built up on your hard disk
Some tasks might require you to leave the system
working for several days and this might cause temporary files to build
up on your hard disk. This might be a reason why your computer is
slowing down and is taking some time to boot up as these type of files
tend to be memory consuming. Cleansing
your temporary files including your Internet history including cookies
gives you a larger amount of hard disk space to work with.
How to
delete Temporary Files
1.
Open My Computer and select
your local drive (it is usually labeled as :\C).
2.
Select the Windows folder
and locate the folder labeled Temp.
3.
Use your mouse to
right-click on the folder (not the contents) and in the View options,
choose.
4.
Select all the files that
are older than the current date and press the delete key.
5.
When done, go to the
Recycle Bin on your desktop and choose Empty Recycle Bin.
You can
also choose to delete the Temporary Internet Files that have accumulated
on your system.
1.
Go to your Start button and
open Control Panel.
2.
Select Internet Options and
in the section labeled Temporary Internet Files press Delete Cookies and
Delete Files options.
3.
You can also delete your
history by clicking the option Clear History.
4.
When
done, press Apply and OK.
(When
you've finished removing the Temporary Files, reboot your computer).
Problem
3: Your computer has been infected
If your computer has been infected by a virus, a malware, a worm or a
Trojan, it might have cause the slow down of your computer system and
even freeze several tasks at hand. You
should run a virus scan and remove all the infected files found on your
system. Be certain your virus scan
program has the latest list of viruses which can be downloaded from
their Website if it isn't automatically updated at regular intervals.
Problem
4: Not enough space on the hard disk
Adding very bulky programs will automatically slow down your computer
system. Hence, I will suggest users with a hard disk capacity of 100GB
to leave at least 20GB free and those who have a higher hard disk
storage capacity to leave at least 15% of the total capacity free. This
will allow your computer to have enough leg room both for temporary
files and file swapping.
Defragmenting
your hard disk
You can also choose to defragment your hard disk to gather some
dispersed spaces that can be used by the computer again.
1.
Go to your Start menu and list all programs
2.
In the Accessories option, select System Tools
3.
Choose Disk Defragmenter from the list.
4.
To
start the process, click the Defragment button.
Problem
5: Your Direct Memory Access (DMA) is disabled
The Direct Memory Access will allow data transmission between your hard
drive and CD drive without requiring the microprocessors intervention.
Those using Windows XP will not have this option set by default.
1.
Click
on the Start button and open Control Panel
2.
Click
and open the System icon
3.
Select
the Hardware tab and choose Device Manager option.
4.
List
the ATA/ATAPI options by clicking the + icon next to it.
5.
Select
the Primary IDE Channel option
6.
In
the Primary IDE Properties window select the Advanced Settings tab
7.
Check
whether the Transfer Mode for Device 0 enables DMA.
8.
Also,
check whether the Transfer Mode for Device 1 enables DMA.
9.
Click
OK to confirm the changes.
10.
Click
Secondary IDE Channel
11.
In
the Secondary IDE Properties, select the Advanced Settings tab.
12.
Check
whether the Transfer Mode for Device 0 enables DMA.
13.
Also,
check whether the Transfer Mode for Device 1 enables DMA.
14.
Click
OK to confirm the changes.
Well, that just about
wraps it up for this month. Keep
those e-mails coming in, and I'll do my best to answer each and every
one. And don't forget,
before you take your computer to the shop for a repair, give me a call
at my office - (518) 492-7907 or (866) 610-1943 and let me see if I
can repair it for you at NO charge.
This is a FREE
service, but contributions can be made to:
Drong Ngur
Jangchub Drubdhe Retreat Center
744 Alder Bend Rd.
Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935
We are a
501(c)(3) Buddhist Retreat that will use 100%
of the contributions to the feeding and care of the large number of
feral cats that have called Drong Ngur their home for quite a few
generations of kittens.
Have a good month
and blessings to all.
Bob Wesley '61
|
