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The computer is running slow, task manager isn't working, and you can't seem to be able to close out of a simple application no matter how long you wait. This happens a lot with the computer as its complex systems all could have a potential to cause the same retardation it suffers at that moment. Now before you knock the monitor off your desk in frustration, go for the basics, it just might help fix the problem and protect your monitor.

First, restart the computer. If task manager isn't coming up (it's summoned by the ctrl-alt-delete command) it's impossible to find the rampaging process that may be slowing everything, so shut it down. If it is a locked system, then there's no helping it, the computer will need to be simply turned off.

After it restarts, if it has returned to its normal speed, then that is great. If it hasn't, then it's best to check the disk space before anything else. Although hard drives come with a lot of great storage, filling it up to its maximum tends to create digital constipation in the system and nothing moves right. So if this is the case, help the computer out and clear a few gigabytes of unneeded data. If this still doesn't help. Then it's best to bring out the guns. This of course refers to spyware and antivirus software.

More often times than not, a renegade Trojan or downloader will be interfering with an otherwise uncongested system. Although the scans will likely be slow due to the problem, bear with it until they are done. In all likelihood there should be at least a few scan results that will take a large burden off your system. Scans like these should be done at least once a week or more, depending on the amount of time spent on the internet frequenting different sites.

If the computer still is slow, summon task manager and check the processes. In a normal system the system idle process should run at around 98 percent when under normal loads. If this is a very low number, than check to see which process is running high and try to neutralize it. Typically the internet of an updater will make the system slow and it is okay to terminate those without much concern for negative consequence. If it isn't any of those, then the problem might be in memory or the RAM devoted to memory.

When all possible computer remedies have been applied and the computer is still slow, it might be time to put it out to pasture. Otherwise, get a new computer with more modern processors and transfer the hard drives over. In the long run this is one of the best solutions, but the more expensive.

Learn more about this author, Morgan Carlson.
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