Spyware - Spyware is a type software that is installed your computer and collects information about you as you use the computer. Spyware is not easy to detect and most users are not even aware that they have lots of spyware on their computer. It is usually installed without your knowledge through the use of another software product or by visiting certain websites. Sometimes businesses or other organizations that operate many computers on a network will install spyware to monitor users activity. There are many good spyware detection software programs available. I like Spybot Search & Destroy because it's fast, good and free. There are many other good products, but beware there are also many rouge spyware products too.
Computer Virus - A computer virus is a software program that can spread from one computer to another and interferes with the operation. A computer virus might use your email or instant messaging programs to spread itself around. You may inadvertently be infected with a virus from a download from the Internet. Once a computer virus gets on to your computer it might delete data or wipe out your entire hard drive or cause your computer to run poorly.
Fragmented Disk - A disk becomes fragmented when all of the data of a file are not stored together in one continuous block on the disk but instead puts parts of the file in different places in the midst of other files that are also broken up. When a disk is fragmented the computer has to go looking in a lot of different locations to find all of the data in a file. It would be like trying to bake a cake but all of the ingredients all all over the house. You have to run here and there to get what you need. It's not an efficient way to bake a cake or run a computer. The effect is to slow performance depending on fragmented the disk is.
Temporary Files - When you use your browser to check your email, open a website, or do anything on-line information is about that activity is stored on your computer. Information like your browsing history, information in the form of cookies and other temporary files are stored. After a while if you don't delete these temporary files they can take up a lot of space and result in slow performance.
Registry Errors - The registry is a large database that keeps various kinds of information about your computer. Every configuration setting is included in the registry. It keeps information on each individual user and each piece of hardware attached to the computer along with setting for software. The registry is dynamic in that is it constantly changing as you use your computer. After a while file in the registry become corrupted and result in compromised function of your computer. Registry errors can result in small annoyances and major hair pulling computer catastrophes like crashes and the blue screen of death.
You computer's slow performance is most likely caused by a combination of many if not all of the above factors.
The first thing you should do is determine what the problem is. Do this by systematically attacking the problem by diagnosing and fixing the possible culprits.
Run a Virus Scan -
Run a Spyware scan
Delete Temporary Files
Defragment the Hard Drive
Run a Registry Scan
After you run the above maintenance and get your computer operating like new again you should establish a regular computer maintenance routine. Start by defragmenting your disk. Then run the disk clean up utility in Windows. Disconnect any network drive that you are no longer using and uninstall any unused or unneeded programs. Install and run a spyware detecting program. I like Spybot. It's good and it's free. Install and run a virus program. If you do all of these steps and your computer is still running slowly there are probably registry problems that need to be fixed.
Unfortunately, after continued use, all PC's suffer the effects of a corrupt and ineffective Windows Registry, causing error messages to appear, slow loading, and system crashes.
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