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you are familiar with. For example, do you really need the Office toolbar to run always? Yes, it's an extra step to open the program from the start menu, but if it moves your computer along, it's well worth it. After you've checked the boxes, restart the computer to verify this solved the slowness problem.
4. Clean Internet History File. Windows saves everything. And a lot of everything uses operating RAM that can cause your computer to run slow. The first step is to clear your Internet files. Click on "Tools" in your Explorer window, then "Internet Options." A dialogue box will open with a section labeled "Temporary Internet Files" with options to delete cookies and delete files do both. Below that section is one labeled "History," click "clear history." This is another function that should be performed on a regular basis to keep your computer clean of unnecessary files. Restart.

5. Check Hard Drive Space. It's like carrying luggage, the more and heavier, the slower you will move as well. Click on "My Computer," right click on the "c" drive and scroll to "properties." This will show you how much space is left on your hard drive. Possibly, it's time to back up your data either to cd's or an external hard drive. You'll want to wade through your files to delete outdated or unused files. You can also use the "Add/Remove Programs" option in your control panel. Once that's done, you should run ScanDisk, which will inform you if a defragmentation will optimize your computer's performance.
6. Clean Registry. If all else fails check the registry. In Windows operating systems, the Registry is the database that holds all the information for operating your computer, the software and all your user data. It is not recommended that you manually delete anything from your Registry, however it may be the cause of your computer running slowly. If this is the case, you will need a Registry Repair program.

Remember that the #1 reason for slow running computers is some kind of security breach that can be easily avoided by making sure your computer has the latest security software, virus scans, spyware sweepers, and ad blockers. Follow these steps and your computer will be purring.

Learn more about this author, Donna Kiser.
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