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down. The best way to deal with this is to restore the original settings. Windows provides a restore program that will keep personal files, that haven't been deleted, and restore the Operating System. However, restore points need to be set, so it is best to do this when a machine is new and create points regularly. If you have never created a restore point, you may have to do a complete restore. If this option is taken then ensure you back up all your personal files on a separate drive, or else they will be lost.

*Clean the Motherboard. Hardware problems can also slow a machine down. Because of the amount of static electricity generated by computers, dust and dirt quickly collects around the hard drive, motherboard, and processor, as well as other components, and makes things stick. To solve this issue, you need to remove the side of the machine and vacuum all the parts. Make sure you don't touch any of the components with your bare hands however; residual electricity from your body could do even more damage.

*Overclock the CPU. This one is for serious geeks and techies, and is not advisable for the everyday user. Your processor is designed to operate at around 75% of its capacity. With a bit of know-how, this can be increased to 100%. But, be warned, the amount of heat this generates is much higher than usual and the CPU will burn out if this heat is not dissipated. Serious over-clockers will leave the side panel off the unit and replace it with a fan to cool the air inside the computer. For this reason, only try this if you know what you're doing!

In today's world, computers are almost an essential part of life, and slow running machines can be an issue that causes serious stress. However, there are solutions to the problem, and a little bit of effort can relieve the trauma of a non-functioning machine. So don't let your computer get you down, patience and a willingness to learn can go a long way. The solution is just a spring clean away.

Learn more about this author, Tim O'Dell.
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