by Dominic Clacy

Created on: October 07, 2009   Last Updated: October 28, 2009

The average person uses their Personal Computer (PC) everyday for a duration that typically does not exceed the two hour mark. Even so, this equates to 730 hours each year or equivalently 58400 kilometres of motorway driving. By putting this into context it becomes a little less surprising and perhaps a little more understandable that after a year or so your computer begins to run slow. It is at this point that most consumers upgrade to a new high-specification PC with a new modernized price tag without even trying to locate and understand the source of the original problem. A slow running PC may simply just need a regular spring clean to keep it optimized and running smoothly.

The most common and simplest of all problems associated with a slow running computer is data fragmentation. When a hard drive, for example, needs to access many different pieces of data in order to process a task, it cannot process the task quicker than if all the required data were stored close together in memory. Your PC is programmed to record what programs and files you use most often such that the relevant files can be stored close together in memory for these reasons. However if your general trend in computer usage changes but the hard drive is still ordered to suit your previous usage then you can experience a down-grade in performance. To fix this problem most operating systems (OS) including Windows come with a 'Disk Defragmenter' which is a free utility that can be used to re-organise the data on your hard drive. You will not notice any difference to the layout of folders and files in your OS but you may see a noticeable rise in your PC's performance.

Another common issue affecting PC performance is disk space and a clogged cache. It is important to stay on top of your hard drive's free space and to delete unused or out-dated computer files. This can be completed manually in My Computer or automatically using the 'Disk Cleanup' utility provided. Another option is to use an online utility such as pcpitstop.com that will scan and cleanup your computer remotely and securely.

It is important to understand that your issue with PC performance may only be related to a single piece of software or hardware. Over time files and folders can become corrupt and re-installation of certain programmes may be required. If for example you are experiencing slow loading web pages it is worthwhile re-installing your web browsing software and checking your Internet connections. This can avoid unnecessary

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