| If you have a Windows-based machine, you may | | | | computer virus, spyware is also a pretty nasty little |
| have noticed a decline in your computer's performance | | | | monster. It sits on your computer and watches your |
| since you bought it. It may freeze up suddenly, or it just | | | | every move, sometimes even sending information |
| could be acting a bit sluggish. Instead of buying a new | | | | about your activity to other computers. Not a pretty |
| system, you should first try whatever you can to | | | | picture, and it can slow down your performance as |
| preserve your current one. Here are 7 lightning quick | | | | well. To disable your spyware (you likely have many), |
| fixes to improve your computer's performance. | | | | find any of a number of the excellent for-pay or free |
| Solution #1: Run anti-virus software: Computer viruses | | | | anti-spyware programs available on the Internet. I |
| are especially frustrating because in most cases they | | | | suggest running at least two. There is no harm in this |
| are made by someone with nothing better to do than | | | | and you will definitely find and fix more problems than |
| to try to hurt your computer. Viruses can slow | | | | if you just use one. |
| performance or even wipe out precious data. Avoid | | | | Solution #6: Buy more memory: Computer memory, or |
| this fate at all costs by buying a good anti-virus | | | | RAM, is like a temporary workspace that your |
| software solution and running it all of the time. To find | | | | computer uses for almost everything it does. If the |
| one, do a Web search and compare options. | | | | workspace gets cluttered or full, the ability for your |
| Solution #2: Run a defragment routine: Okay, this | | | | computer to take on additional work is hampered. With |
| sounds esoteric and technical but it is actually bone | | | | most applications these days requiring more and more |
| simple to do. All this means is that you are arranging | | | | memory, getting an additional 1GB or so of RAM is a |
| the data on your hard drive more efficiently. Do a | | | | very good investment and a great alternative to the |
| search on your operating system for defragment and | | | | cost of upgrading your machine. |
| follow the prompts. This fix is free but can take an | | | | Solution #7: Clean your hard drive more thoroughly: |
| hour or more to run, so plan accordingly. | | | | Your hard drive is the core of your machine, shuttling |
| Solution #3: Clean up your hard drive: Here is another | | | | data back and forth between permanent storage and |
| super-easy and free fix and involves ridding yourself | | | | working memory (RAM). To keep it in tip-top shape, |
| of unneeded files on your hard drive. A less cluttered | | | | run a third-party hard drive cleaning application. |
| hard drive usually results in better performance. Do a | | | | CCleaner is great and is available for free on the |
| search for disk cleanup and follow the prompts. | | | | Internet. There are other good products available as |
| Solution #4: Clean your registry: Your computer has | | | | well. Running this should take about 5 minutes and your |
| something called a registry that stores important | | | | computer's performance should show measurable |
| information about the users and applications that | | | | improvement afterward. |
| access your computer. As time goes by, registries | | | | Most of these solutions will only take you a few |
| become rife with errors. To find one, run a Web | | | | minutes to implement and all are free or very cheap. |
| search for a registry cleaner. Most of them cost about | | | | So, if your computer has been acting up or just acting |
| $30, but they work great and are well worth the | | | | sluggish, give them all a try before shelling out the big |
| investment. | | | | bucks for a new one. Your wallet will thank you. |
| Solution #5: Run anti-spyware software: Like a | | | | |