If your computer has not been rebooted recently, make sure to reboot it before following any of the steps below.
- Background programs
One of the most common reasons for a slow computer are programs running in the background. Remove or disable any TSRs and start up programs that automatically start each time the computer boots.
Tip: To see what programs are running in the background and how much memory and CPU they are using, open . If you are running WINDOWS 7 or higher, run Resmon to get a better understanding of how your computer is being used.
If you have an antivirus scanner on the computer, spyware protection program, or another security utility, make sure it is not scanning your computer in the background. If a scan is in progress, it can decrease the overall performance of your computer. If this is the case, allow the scan to complete, and the computer’s performance should improve.
