Computer Performance (The reason why computer slow)

Within days of setting up your new computer it seems it gets slower and slower! There are many reasons why this happens. Every time you install a new piece of software your computers operating system has more to deal with. Some software is poorly written or installs other software you don't need, putting additional burden on your computers precious resources. But even worse, the moment you connect your computer to the Internet, or World Wide Web, your system became an open target for things that are not so simple to deal with. What if your computer is being used for some other purpose by someone else?

It’s been about three weeks since you setup your new computer and it seems like it's not as fast as it was when you first set it up.  In a couple of months, after installing various software, browsing  on the Internet, uninstalling software, and dealing with a virus or two, your system seems to be much slower.

Well, this is something pretty much everyone deals with.  Quite a few of my friends ask me how I keep my computer running so well.  In fact, many of my friends and associates have newer computers than mine, but mine still seems to run faster than theirs.

In this short article I will touch on just a few things that can cause your computer to steadily decrease in computer performance.  As a note, this article assumes that you are running at least Microsoft Windows 2000 and above (including Windows XP). However, some of these items do apply to Windows 95 / 98.

Installing / Uninstalling Software - Registry Bloat

Your computer uses something called a "Registry" to keep track of everything from how your computer was initially setup, custom changes you make to the way your desktop looks, applications you install, network / Internet settings, pretty much everything about how your computer is configured. 

In most cases, when you  install a new piece of software or application, your registry is modified to reflect the changes.  Think of the registry as a book that is written to when ever you move, add, or change anything about your computer.  For those of you who are familiar with databases, that is pretty much what the registry is like.

Some software packages you install are not written particularly well from the get go.  Others include extra components that you don't need in most cases.  This all contributes to what I like to call "Registry Bloat!".  As the registry grows in size it can affect your computers performance in many ways.  For instance, you may notice that it is taking longer for your computer to start.  Or, you find that the system tray (icons that show up in the bottom right hand corner of your task bar) starts getting larger.  All this puts additional stress on your computer and you may not need many of the "extra" items installed in order for your software to function properly.

Then there is the act of uninstalling the software.  It is not uncommon for software that has been uninstalled to leave behind registry entries, directories, and files that are no longer needed by your computers Operating System.

Internet Security - Uninvited Internet Guests

Though there are many things you can do with a computer. I think you will all agree one of the primary reasons for owning one is to get on the Internet.  Although the Internet is a place where you can learn, share ideas, locate fun and productive programs, and shop, it is also a place where you unwillingly become a target of potentially very bad things.  Some of these "bad things" can dramatically affect your computers performance.  This is one of the issues where security ties in.

Because your computers operating system has been designed for ease of use it also allows others to easily use it.  Although we will discuss this in greater depth in another article, ad-ware, spy-ware, poorly written applets that you download from Internet sites can dramatically affect your computers performance.  In many cases you don't know that your system has downloaded these items.

In addition to automatically generated programs that can slow you down, if your computer is not secured properly while on the Internet, you computer performance problems can be the result of something much worse.

Imagine the following scenario.  Your cable company sends a technician out to install your cable modem, sets your new computer up for internet access, wishes you good luck and leaves.  You are so excited that you can get on the Internet that you spend many of your waking hours on your new computer.  After a few days you notice that your computer seems to be running very slow.  Especially at certain times of the day but particularly in the evening hours.  There are several possible reasons why this is happening.  Your computer could be being used as what is called a relay.  Allowing anonymous people on the Internet to use your computer for communication purposes or sharing information (typically not wholesome material).  Or, in this case, your computer is being used to store HUGE amounts of pornography, stolen software, hacking tools, stolen movies, and who knows that else.

Because many new computers are running services or programs that you don't use or even know are there you could become a victim.  Just like the scenario above.  An by the way, this happens more often than you know.  Sometimes you never find out or find out when it's too late.

Viruses / Worms / Trojans

I can't tell you how many times I have heard "I don't know why I keep getting viruses when I have anti-virus software installed!".  In many cases where computers become infected with viruses the computer does indeed have anti-virus software installed.  But with just a few problems.

Most anti-virus packages today work on what's called a subscription basis.  In order for your anti-virus to catch the latest and greatest worms and viruses your subscription must be kept up-to-date.  And this means paying the company who wrote the software on some sort of basis, usually annually.  If you don't, some of these programs will cease to function all together, or you may get hit with a virus that your out-of-date anti-virus package does not recognize and lets it come on in.  I see this all the time.

The other issue is how your anti-virus software is configured.  Many of the major packages out there are so complex that the average computer user has a difficult time understanding them and leaves the software just as it was when it was installed.  This being the case, some of the software's important components might not even be turned on.  For instance, many default installations of Anti-Virus software are configured to check for new virus signatures (what new viruses came out today) on a weekly basis, every other day, or if you’re lucky, once a day.  The process for checking for these new virus signatures does not take very long (particularly if there isn't one available), but is key in keeping you safe from viruses and worms.  (Our systems actually check for new signatures every 15 minutes.)  This along with the overall performance of the Anti-Virus software we use (an our clients who use the same software) has kept us protected nearly 100% of the time.

From a computer performance perspective, not only can a virus or worm slow you down, it could shut you down, permanently (or until you can completely reinstall your computers Operating System and all your software).  Not to mention the possibility of losing all your data!

Unnecessary Operating System Services

Back to the default setup of your computer.  For the most part, your computers operating system has been designed to make it easy to use.  Typically, when you are talking about software that is easy to use (especially Operating Systems), it is not very secure.

Your computers Operating Services depends on many components or modules to run properly.  Some of these are referred to as "Services".  And in many cases, not all these services need to be running in order for you to do what you would like with your computer.  Not only do they take up precious computer resources like Memory and Processor time, but some of them can be potentially dangerous as they are know to have security vulnerabilities.

Source: http://www.defendingthenet.com/securitycomputerperformance.htm