There are two simple ways to tell if your computer has a virus: if your PC is suddenly incredibly slow and there appears to be no explanation, then it’s probably a virus. The other way to tell if you have a virus is to resort to a good ol’ fashion virus scan - software that’ll help with that is below.

Recommended virus detection (and removal) software

The virus scanning, detection and removal market is incredibly saturated with low quality products that are overpriced, slow, and provide poor results. Below are some applications I’ve personally had experience with and recommend.

Avast Home Edition has both a modern interface and an overall speedy virus scanning capability. Using it requires a quick and free registration and I’ve definitely had a good experience using Avast in the past.

Download Avast Home Edition at http://www.avast.com

AVG is also a free application (although there is the option for a paid application with greater security options). I used AVG for a while, and it’s a great application, I just feel that Avast provides an overall better package. Mostly it’s personal preference however. Try out both AVG and Avast and see which one suits you the best.

Download AVG at http://free.avg.com

If you have a virus, here is what to do first:

Just like in the medical world different types of viruses require different treatments, but there are a few things you can do to keep yourself safe if you have a computer virus:

• Backup your essential files, and make sure you scan them before storing them on other computers. Viruses can attach themselves to files.
• Avoid typing out any private data such as usernames, passwords and credit card details. Use a separate computer if necessary.
• Identify the type of computer virus you have so you can act accordingly. Virus scanning software will often let you know the exact type and version of the virus you have. This is allows you to search the internet for more information.

Resources to learn more about viruses and virus removal

1. 7 ways to prevent viruses in the future
2. Prevention is better than the cure etc etc. You’ve heard the spiel many times before so lets get straight into the content. Here are 7 simple ways to prevent viruses in the future:
3. Never download a .exe file unless you’re positive the source of the download is trustworthy.
4. Be wary of all email attachments you receive - it is possible for people to make it look like an email is from a trustworthy source even though it isn’t.
5. Use a secure web browser such as Firefox. Make sure you set your browser to automatically update so you have the latest security releases.
6. Scan every single file you download for viruses.
7. Avoid sites containing illegal content (torrents, cracks, serial numbers etc) - they’re a haven for all types of viruses, adware, spyware etc.
8. Install a 3rd party Firewall to prevent unwanted incoming connections.
9. Avoid installing P2P software such as Limewire - many search results are actually viruses that people can be susceptible too with an untrained eye for these things.

Your system’s registry is a store of crucial system data such as operating system settings and what applications you’ve installed (okay, that’s a VERY high level view of the registry). Your PC accesses your system registry hundreds of times per second. Over time your registry can become fragmented which then causes delays when the data needs to be access hence slowing down your computer overall.

Your registry doesn’t just get fragmented however. As you install applications new entries are added into the registry. When you uninstall applications these entries are not always removed. Over time, through sustained usage these useless entries remain in the registry, adding unnecessary bulk and slowing down your machine.

A registry defrag and cleanse does exactly what it sounds like it does: it defrags entries that are fragmented and removes entries not required by the system. Some people claim that this process makes their computer 10 times faster - I can’t promise similar results but you’ll definitely notice at least a slight improvement.

Recommended registry defrag applications

To defrag, fix and clean your system registry you need a specific program to do all the dirty work. The registry fixing software market is incredibly saturated because users are often in a state of desperation or eagerness when they realize they need the application - that allows for some pretty high conversion rates for the people selling the software.

Anyways, my point is: there is a lot of crap out there in this market. That is why I’m going to tell you about two applications. One is better than the other, but you can make your own choice about which one you want.

Registry Fix is one of, if not the most popular registry fixing applications available (over 13,000,000 downloads according to their sales copy). At this point in time a license for a single computer will set you back $37 USD, although that may be higher by the time you’re reading this.

My recommendation is that you download this application and give your computer a scan. The scanning part is free - it’s when you want to fix the registry issues that you have to purchase a license. So, give your computer a scan and see if you have than many problems to really justify spending money on having it fixed.

Download Registry Fix at http://www.registryfix.com

I wouldn’t be much of a writer if I didn’t provide an alternate and free option in these situations. Free Registry Defrag is exactly what the name implies: software that is both free and will defrag your registry. I haven’t used this application in a while but I do have positive memories of it, and it’s fairly hard to beat the price of free.

Download Free Registry Defrag http://www.registry-clean.net/free-registry-defrag.htm

Whatever option you choose you should be pleased with the speed improvements. If you’re not interested in either choice I’ve written about consider searching Google for the following terms:

• fix registry
• registry defrag
• registry optimize

Those keywords should bring up relevant registry fixing software that might appeal to you more.

As you use your computer files are created - sometimes by your own intention, and some in the background by applications you’ve installed or downloaded. These files, once they’re on your disk (hard drive) become fragmented (visit ask-leo.com for a deeper explanation).

Fragmented files are slower to access because your computer has to piece it together before it’s viewable. Now, on a single-file basis the difference in opening speed will be negligible. But, over time, and through consistent computer usage enough files become fragmented to cause a noticeable decline in computer performance.

A file defrag combats the fragmentation of files and will improve PC performance (the difference will be more noticeable in relation to how much use your computer has had and how old it is). Defragmentation however is not a one time thing. I recommend defragging on a weekly basis to keep your computer continually performing well (luckily, it’s possible to schedule defrags).

Recommended file defrag applications

There are many defragmentation applications on the market and most of them would do a fine job and although Windows XP and Vista both have their own, built in applications for defragging I feel third party applications are better at improving the performance of your PC. Below is my top choice for defragging my own PC.

In terms of free applications for defragmentation Auslogics Disk Defrag is a great piece of software. Definitely more powerful than the inbuilt defragging tools in XP/Vista and overall the application just works better. If you’re looking to not spend money to defrag then definitely check out Auslogics Disk Defrag.

Download Auslogics Disk Defrag at http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag

Don’t forget to update your regular applications too

Whilst updating your operating system will have a positive affect on your whole system you may find that certain applications are still running slowly. If this is case simply visit the developers website to check if there are any available updates.

Consider reading the release notes of the beta versions of any applications you use. Although generally more unstable than a full release, if performance is a concern of the developer then a beta version may be faster. Unfortunately, not all developers have high standards or ability, so sometimes you simply have to find an alternative application if the updates are lacking or performance issues aren’t addressed.

In my own experience there has always been a single component that has been overheating individually and by generating a significant amount of heat, negatively affects the rest of the components within the computer. To understand what components are generating the most heat download the diagnostic tool known as Everest (download link below).

If the overheating isn’t from a single source (or you just can’t tell) then that is still fine, the solutions below will still work, it’s just better to identify a single component causing the trouble if you can. You can download Lavalys’ Everest at http://majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Once again, you don’t need to download Everest if you believe that will just lead to more confusion. Even if you go overboard with solving your overheating problem only good will come of it (within reason obviously, dumping ice into your computer is obviously a bit too far overboard). Computers that remain cool wear out at a slower pace allowing you to get a few more years out of your machine.

Solutions to stop overheating

A major cause of overheating within computers is the build up of dust within the case. Over time dust will find its way into your computer, covering your components and getting stuck in the many fans. The solution is fairly simple. You need to remove the dust within your computer - the exact method of doing this can be a bit trickier. I’d recommend taking your computer into a computer store and pay the small fee for them to clean it because messing with this kind of stuff can be dangerous. For you DIY people out there, I recommend you check out this article: http://www.ehow.com/how_3664_clean-computers-insides.html - also take note of the comments on article which provide further insight.

Put your computer in a different location to allow for a better flow of air. Having it tucked away in a cupboard or shoved in a corner is not likely to keep it cool, but if you can have it raised and in the same room as a window it could definitely drop the temperature by a few degrees.

Solutions to prevent overheating in the future

If your CPU specifically is overheating then you should consider purchasing a heatsink which is a device you place on the CPU itself. Heatsinks are basically designed to draw the heat from an external entity (in this case, the CPU) and store it itself. Heatsinks are designed to store the heat and are therefore much more capable of doing so safely as opposed to a CPU.

Most computers will allow for more fans to be installed within the case. More fans isn’t always better but a lack of fans can contribute to overheating. When it comes to fans there are varying sizes, but in general bigger fans will be quieter than smaller fans because they require less rotations to generate the same amount of airflow. However, bigger fans won’t always fit into your computer case so you may have to settle for a smaller one.

To improve the airflow and reduce the temperature of your computer components get a better and larger computer case. Improving the airflow in a computer is something companies spend a lot of time on and some cases handle it better than others. From my research I’ve found the Antec P180 to be an optimal case in terms of size and how it maximizes the airflow created by the fans within the case. Of course, new cases are coming out all the time so you may want to consult people in online forums for their opinions.

Not every computer component is equal in terms of its temperature output. Some models will simply be not as good at keeping itself cool with its onboard fan or for whatever other reason just generate more heat than it should. Replacing components that output a lower amount of heat will most likely be unnecessary but keep in mind in the future if you want to upgrade for other reasons that you should choose components that output a suitable amount of heat.

Each electronic component within your computer is another source of heat. Therefore to lower the overall temperature simply remove unnecessary components. Unnecessary components? Isn’t everything in a computer necessary? Well, not particularly. Simple sacrifices you could make include:

• Going from 2 smaller hard drives to a single larger hard drive
• Opting for a single video card instead of using two
• Not using a sound card and just relying on your motherboard for sound

Don’t remove components if it lowers the functionality of your system but if you have an extra video card in there not doing much then it’s probably a good idea to take it out.

There are many applications that, once installed will launch automatically when you start up your computer. Whilst this is designed to be convenient by meaning you don’t have to manually open them, more often times than not you don’t need the application straight away and therefore it just becomes a burden on your systems resources.

In Windows XP and Vista it is possible to disable programs from launching at startup. I recommend you remove every application from launching at startup that isn’t a default process. Your PC will be a lot snappier the next time you boot up.

How to disable startup programs in Windows XP

1. Click on the Start menu
2. Go to the Run option
3. Type MSCONFIG into the text box
4. Hit Enter on your keyboard
5. Simply uncheck the boxes next to the applications you don’t want to launch at startup
6. Click OK

How to disable startup programs in Windows Vista

1. Click on the Start menu
2. Go to the Control Panel
3. Under the Programs heading click on Change startup programs
4. Click on the Show for all users button if you have an administrator account
5. Select the process you want to disable or remove from startup and click the Disable or Remove button

Revert to the classic theme

Most computer users will opt for the best looking theme for the computer. Whilst that’s all well in good in the short term, it doesn’t help much with performance because the system has to load and process this extra eye candy. The simple (and recommended) solution is to resort to the classic theme which resembles that of Windows 95. Whilst it can take a while to get used to the classic theme it is actually quite streamlined and is far less distracting than more recent offerings. You may as well give it a shot.

How to revert to the classic theme in Windows XP

1. Go to your desktop and right click on an empty space
2. Select the Properties option that appears in the contextual menu
3. In the Themes tab go to the Theme box
4. Select Windows Classic
5. Click OK

How to revert to the classic theme in Windows Vista

1. Go to the Start menu
2. Open up the Control Panel
3. Navigate to Appearance and Personalization
4. Click Personalization
5. Press Theme
6. Select the Windows Classic option from the drop down menu
7. Click OK

Limit amount of files stored on your desktop

Proper file management is a key aspect of fixing your slow computer. Most of the time compuer users will store the majority of their files and tons of icons on their desktop. Not only does this mean it takes longer for your computer to startup, it forces your computer to constantly be showing this extra data.

Begin storing files in appropriate locations and remove desktop icons you don’t use regularly. Put documents in a ‘Documents’ folder and videos in a ‘Videos’ folder. Keep these files and folders off of your desktop and your computer will do less unnecessary processing.  The other advantage is that you’ll be more productive because your files will be in more logical locations instead of scattered around in one big mess.

Another advantage of storing files in more logical locations is your PC will spend less time having to index your computer for its search functionality and your searches will be faster overall. Then again, if you don’t use the search feature that much you may want to disable it…

Disable search indexing

Search indexing is a process that runs on Windows XP and Windows Vista that indexes every file on your computer and makes the search process faster. If you rarely search your computer (you shouldn’t have to search much if your files are stored logically) then it is a good idea to disable search indexing. This takes some load off of your computer and you can still use the search feature, but each individual search will just be a bit slower.

How to disable search indexing in Windows XP

1. Open up the Control Panel
2. Click on the Administrator Tools icon
3. Open Services
4. Scroll down and double click on Indexing Service
5. If the service status shows Running click on the Stop button
6. Under ‘Startup Type’ select the Disabled option
7. Click OK.

How to disable search indexing in Windows Vista

1. Open up the Control Panel
2. Navigate to System and Maintenance » Administrative Tools
3. Double click on Services
4. Click Continue if a User Account Control window asks for permission
5. Right click on the service named Windows Search
6. Select Properties from the menu that appears after you right click
7. To stop search indexing click on the Stop button
8. To disable search indexing select the Disabled option under the ‘Startup Type’ dropdown box
9. Click the OK button

Needs tweaking (relying on default settings)

Most retail versions of operating systems try to wow users with fancy graphics and aesthetic features upon installation. Whilst these are great at first and you can’t blame developers for enabling them, in the long run they can contribute to your computer being slower overall and usually the losses don’t justify the gain.

Practically every computer out there can be tweaked further to get some extra performance out of it. If your computer is slower than a snail then tweaking is still useful but won’t have a huge difference and other fixes for a slow computer will be required. However, if you are just interesed in giving your PC a performance boost then tweaking is definitely a good start.

Overheating computer components

Every electronic component within your computer outputs heat which is why you’d constantly hear the hum of the fans within the case. Due to a variety of reasons (which I’ll go into) a computers components can begin to overheat which puts unnecessary strain on them. This can have a ton of bad effects on your PC (your components can literally melt if it’s hot enough) but the first noticeable effect will be the slowing down of your PC as it tries to cope with the added strain.

Outdated operating system

No piece of software is ever considered 100% “complete”. If a piece of software was to be complete it would be bug free, perform flawlessly and be unaffected by future developments in technology. The first two features are theoretically possible but no software completely escape the future developments of technology.

Luckily, operating systems these days come with built in update systems that allow companies like Microsoft to push updates to computers on a mass scale via the internet providing bug fixes, additional features and most importantly performanc enhancements.

Many people however don’t think about updating their system, and although Windows XP and Windows Vista come with automatic updating capabilities they aren’t always enabled by default. Whilst not updating your operating system may not have a huge effect on the operating system itself, more than likely other applications you use will perform better when dealing with a more stable foundation.

Irregular (or non-existent) file defrag

Over time files on your computer become fragmented. This, in turn, makes them slower to open. On an individual scale this is no big deal, but over time a computer full of fragmented files can cause serious slow down.

If you use a computer fairly regularly and have never defragged (or even know really what defrag is) then your computer probably suffers from this problem.

Irregular (or non-existent) registry defrag

Practically every computer has this problem to a degree. Your system registry stores data such as system settings and installed applications. As you use your computer, install and uninstall applications etc the system registry becomes bloated with information it does not need. This bloat adds to the physical size of the registry which means it takes longer to access. The registry is accessed hundreds of times per second and therefore even slight delays can make your computer noticeably slower.

Viruses

Companies that sell virus removal software hype up viruses to make it seem like the entire internet is compromised. Whilst that virus to website proportion is very overblown, the threat of viruses is still real. Whilst some viruses are designed to steal private data others are simply intent on making your life as hard as possible, mostly by slowing your computer down to an unusable state. A detailed analysis of viruses would require a book of its own but I’ll certainly point you in the right direction.

Old operating system installation

I think now is a good time to whip out a similie. Imagine you’re at a Thanksgiving dinner and you eat the whole turkey, you just gobble it all down. By the time you finished, apart from possibly dieing you’ll feel tired and sluggish. That is what computers are like when they have an old installation of an operating system. They’ve been fed so much data over time that they have a bit of a weight problem and aren’t as agile as they used to be.

Now, when I say an old operating system installation I don’t mean a necessarily outdated installation (which I’ve already talked about). For example, if you installed Windows Vista on January 1st 2009 and used it every day, by the end of the year it’d be packed with data it doesn’t need and no amounts of tweaks will fix it. At this point you simply have to backup your important files, wipe everything off of your hard drive, and start anew. Of course, I’ll provide details on doing that later in this guide.

What do I mean by “data it doesn’t need”?

After sustained computer usage, and when doing nothing out of the ordinary there are a few instances where data is left over that is unnecessary:

- Files that become irrelevant with updates in your OS or software
- Data that is left over after your uninstall an application
- Drivers for hardware that you don’t even own anymore (printers, scanners, cameras etc) and therefore just waste sapce

Although insignificant individually, each of these instances add up over time and can result in a significant, and unnecessary hit to the performance of your PC.

Insufficient hardware

If you’ve run through all the other methods of fixing a slow computer or you believe they aren’t the cause of your slow system then your PC probably has insufficient hardware which results in the lower performance. Certain applications and more recent operating systems require more powerful technologies to support them and that’s simply a facet of technological advancement.

There are many components within a PC and depending on your aim you’ll either need to upgrade either 1 or 2 or them or possibly all of them. Later in this guide I’ll go into detail about each component and the scenarios in which you’d need to upgrade each one.

RAM can be thought of in several different ways that make its function easy to understand. One of the simplest comparisons is to scratch paper. As an example, assume the parts that make a human being tick were replaced by computer components. The brain, in this case, would be the CPU. Now, task that human with a very difficult math problem. As the CPU, the brain, becomes overloaded with information, the individual in this example uses a scratch pad to write down temporary notes that help them sort out the problem. The larger their notepad, the more information they can handle.

RAM is a finite space in which temporary information used for running applications can be stored, much like the scratch pad in the example above. More RAM, generally, does mean that computers will run faster, but only in certain regards.

Increasing the amount of RAM will make programs open and close faster, will allow more programs to be opened at once and will allow some basic functions that aren’t directly processing tasks to be executed with more efficiency. Most computers have a minimum of 1GB—1 Gigabyte—of RAM. Increasing this amount, to a certain extent, will improve the performance of the computer but there are certain tasks which RAM will not improve.

Slow video performance will not generally be improved by adding RAM. If a computer constantly locks up when rendering complex textures and other graphics-intensive elements, it’s unlikely that RAM is to blame, though a bit more might help to a certain degree. These sort of problems generally have to do with video cards.

Slow processing will not be remedied by adding more RAM. If a spreadsheet is taking a long time to complete its operations or graphing applications are performing slowly, it’s likely a CPU issue that won’t be solved by adding more RAM. If, however, the computer takes forever to open and close the applications themselves, RAM may be the answer.

RAM comes in several different varieties and they are not all compatible with one another. Specifications such as DDR-RAM or SD-RAM mean that the RAM is designed to be installed in a particular type of computer and won’t function in other motherboards. Some motherboards have a limit on the amount of RAM that can be installed. Because upgrading RAM is a basic part of extending the life of a computer, this ceiling should be taken into consideration when a new computer is purchased.

Hard drive size increases a great deal every year. It wasn’t too long ago that a 10GB hard drive was a very big storage device. Today, hard drives measured in terabytes are available. This trend will likely continue until either the commonly-used configuration of the hard drive is fundamentally altered—and this is starting to happen, to some degree—or until the entire means by which information is permanently stored is completely redesigned. For the moment, every year means bigger hard drives and programs that require more space to operate.

The hard drive is the location where all of the computer’s basic instructions and information are stored. The operating system is located on the hard drive. All of the user’s files that have not been stored to a removable media are stored on the hard drive. This component, along with the CPU and the RAM, is one of the basic pieces of technology that defines a computer.

Increasing the quality and capacity of a hard drive can very much increase the speed of a computer. Part of a hard drive is used for what’s called “virtual memory”. Other parts of the hard drive are used for temporarily storing data while a computer is running tasks. A full hard drive can slow a computer down by compromising the computer’s ability to use such resources. Installing a new hard drive will oftentimes alleviate such problems. Increasing the storage space, of course, means that more files may be saved to the hard drive without reducing the space to the point that it compromises performance.

Hard drive spin rates also affect performance. This is measured in RPM, rotations per minute. The hard drive retrieves information via the spinning discs, thus, the faster those discs spin the more information can be retrieved in a given amount of time. Hard drives spin incredibly fast, with high-performance models frequently approaching 10,000 RPMs. This statistic will generally be given as one of the base descriptions of any hard drive, though users tend to pay less attention to it than they should.

There are other ways of speeding up performance by adding multiple hard drives and using different types of what are called “RAID” configurations. In a performance RAID, both hard drives work off of one another, increasing the amount of information they can retrieve and allowing for smoother performance. This configuration is popular with gamers who need the fastest possible performance.

The most identifiable part of a heatsink is the metal conductor component. This will generally have a very complex geometry to it, including fins and vents. This serves to increase the surface area of the heatsink and, thus, the amount of heat that can be transferred from the component to the air surrounding the device. Heatsinks are usually attached to the CPU itself with a combination of a thermal paste which provides a secure bond and conducts heat and a mechanical device that holds the heatsink in place. A secure connection is vital to proper performance.

A CPU functions faster and with more stability when the operating temperature is kept in the optimal range. Particularly intensive tasks cause these components to heat up fast and, without proper cooling, performance will degrade when the temperature exceeds acceptable levels. The heat sink is vital to this as it’s in constant contact with the component itself. The fan included on a heatsink may be a variable or always-on, model. The conducting of the component’s heat to the fins of the heatsink allows great deals of thermal energy to be disbursed into the surrounding air very quickly.

Frequent processor overheating can oftentimes be remedied by the installation of a better heatsink. Some computer enthusiasts engage in a practice called “over-clocking”. This involves running a processor at faster speeds than its designers intended, similar to substituting very high-octane fuel or nitrous oxide for gasoline in a car to make it go very fast. Over-clocking greatly increases the heat produced by a CPU and, to that end, these enthusiasts oftentimes employ very complex, powerful heatsinks to ensure that the processor survives. In regular usage, a good heat sink can mean even more of a difference in performance.

Some processors are known for their high levels of heat production. In fact, some processors had very bad reputations in their time for overheating. Oftentimes, this had more to do with the cooling system included in the design than with the processors themselves. A variety of sources can be checked to compare one’s processor with others to see if heat is a particular concern with the model in question. If it is and if performance is slow, a new heatsink may well help. Because the hottest processors are usually the very high-performance models, slow performance should be taken as an indication that there is something wrong with the processor’s set up and heat displacement should be a starting point.