There are many different causes for a computer system to run slow.  From the very first day that you unpacked the boxes, set up your new computer, and powered it on, it began to accumulate and store many different types of data.  Music, videos, letters, pictures, emails and more; the list gets larger and larger as more and more of our everyday lives become digitized to some degree.

All of this data is stored on the system hard drive and is managed by the computer’s operating system.  There are file allocation tables that store pointers to the exact address on the hard drive where each file, no matter how large or small, is stored.  The file’s name, size, type, date modified, date created, attributes,  status, along with about 15 other parameters all get saved there.  In addition to whatever data files the computer user stores on the hard drive, the computer’s operating system has literally hundreds of files that it uses to perform its various functions stored there as well.

As the operating system prepares to write data to the hard drive it merely looks for the first available empty region on the hard drive that it can find.  If the file to be stored is 10 megabytes in size and the first available empty region that is found contains at least 10 megabytes of contiguous storage space, then the entire file will be laid out there, in a contiguous fashion.  When a computer is new, this is what tends to happen at first since the hard drive is largely empty.  However, it doesn’t take long for this nice neat little scenario to change as files are constantly being stored temporarily and then removed as they are no longer needed.  Without getting too esoteric let’s suffice it to say that as time goes on the file structure becomes more and more ‘fragmented’.

As the operating system compensates for removed, relocated, completely new and resized data files, a single fragmented file can become spread out, in multiple pieces, across several sections of the hard drive.  Now imagine nearly every file the system needs to function becoming fragmented in this way.  That is exactly what happens to a computer’s hard drive over time.  Using a little imagination one can see how this would tend to cause the computer to run slower and slower as the system has to piece together, from various locations, all of the fragments necessary to retrieve an entire data file.

At this point you must be thinking, ‘there must be something I can do?”  Well, fortunately there is.  To return the computer’s hard drive back to a more organized state, similar to the way it looked when the computer was new and to reverse the ill effects of file ‘fragmentation’, we will be performing a process called, ‘De-Fragmentation!’  Of course I’m sure you had already guessed that is where we were heading.

Depending upon the size of the hard drive to be defragmented, the amount of data that is stored on it, the level of fragmentation and the speed of the computer’s processor, along with several other factors, a defragmentation can regularly take many, many hours!  The standard defragmentation tool that is included in the Windows disk utilities should be performed while the computer is idle.  This means that while Windows is defragmenting the hard drive the computer should not be used to perform any other functions.

Be sure to allocate enough time for the defragmentation so as to allow it to successfully complete a full defragmentation of the entire system drive.  You may wish to begin the defragmentation just prior to retiring for the evening thereby allowing it to run all night if need be.

It is also important that no other applications be running in the background during this process.  Take note if you use anti-virus or anti-spyware software, these programs are notorious for causing a defragmentation to abort prematurely.  Disconnecting the computer from the Internet and Network would also be a good idea.

Assuming all of the aforementioned conditions have been met it is now time to proceed to starting the defragmentation.

• Click on ‘My Computer’.
• Locate your System Drive (Typically drive letter C: is the system drive).
• Place your Mouse Pointer over the System Drive and Press the Right Mouse Button.
• From the Menu choose ‘Properties’ (found at the bottom of the menu).

• This brings up the Local Disk C: Properties Sheet.
• Select the ‘Tools’ tab.
• Press ‘Defragment Now’ to start the Defragmentation Utility.

• Be sure that the System Drive Letter is highlighted.
• Press ‘Defragment’ to start the Process.

Well that raps it up.  Remember this process could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours so be patient and you will be rewarded with a snappier, more responsive computer system.

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Windows based PCs are notoriously susceptible to Trojan Viruses and Spyware infections.  This can be caused by a number of different factors but making sure that your system is fully updated at Microsoft’s update site is one of the best ways of preventing problems.  You can verify that your system is completely up to date by visiting Microsoft’s update site:

http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us. 

This guide explains in detail how to get rid of a Trojan Virus or Remove Trojan Horse infections from your computer system.

If you suspect that your computer system may have become infected with a Virus or Trojan Horse Virus, this guide will step you through the process of downloading, installing and configuring a free version of anti-virus / anti-spyware software on your computer system.

Many good free Virus Removal Software titles are available online today that are quite effective in eradicating most Trojan Virus infections.  AVG Free is one that I have tried and have had good success in using.  The free version that is available to download online will delete Spyware, get rid of Trojan Viruses, and perform a Malware scan as well.  It is a great Spyware Removal Tool that I highly recommend.

You can find the AVG web-site here: http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage

On the website you will find the option to either download the free version or a more advanced version for a fee.  After choosing the package that best suits your needs, download the virus removal software and save the file to your system hard drive.

Once the download has completed press ‘RUN’ to begin the installation.

You will be presented with the AVG setup program and for the most part you should be able to use all of the system default settings.

Click Next to proceed.

The installer will need to download additional support files to complete the installation so be sure that you have an active Internet connection during the installation.  You may be prompted again to choose which package that you wish to install.  This decision is up to you.  Choose a version and press Next.

Once all of the installation files have been downloaded you will be prompted to accept the license agreement.  As long as you agree with the terms simply check the box and hit Accept.

You are now given the choice of either the Standard Installation or a Custom Installation.  For most typical users the standard installation should suffice but feel free to experiment with the custom installation if you wish to manually choose which components you would like to install.

Enter your name to activate the Free License and press Next.

Choose a destination path (the default path is normally fine) and press Next.

(If you have chosen a custom installation you will decide which components to install at this point.)

Choose whether or not you would like to install the AVG Security Toolbar or set Yahoo as your default search provider.  Press Next.

The software may force your web browser to close but we’re almost finished with the installation at this point.

As the installation process concludes you will be prompted to ‘Optimize Scanning Performance’.  This takes a few minutes to complete but helps improve the performance of future scans.

After the optimization process is complete a full system scan should be performed.

AVG may have minimized itself to the taskbar so you might have to open the AVG Command Console by either clicking on the taskbar icon or using the desktop shortcut.

Once you have opened the AVG Command Console select ‘Computer Scanner’ from the menu on the left and then select ‘Scan Whole Computer’ from the menu that opens.

This could take some time so you may wish to engage yourself with some other activity and check back periodically to monitor the progress.

With any luck any infections your system may have harbored will have been detected and quarantined.

Keep in mind removing Viruses and Spyware can be tricky; it is possible that not every infection will have been detected by just this one attempt at removal.

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If one of the software applications that you use on a regular basis suddenly generates an error message and will not allow you to continue you can try this simple guide to correcting the issue.  Use this guide at your own risk.  You should have a general understanding of how to install and uninstall applications and programs on your system if you plan to use this guide. If you aren’t sure what you are doing, please call and speak to one of our technicians before using these procedures.  Techheads is not responsible for any data loss or other damage that may occur from using the following procedures.

 Techheads cannot be held responsible for any problems that may result from the use of this checklist – if you are unsure of what you are doing please call us at 210-260-0045.

1. If you are experiencing a problem with a software application that was recently working properly, but now generates an error message when you try to use it; the first thing to do is retrace your steps.
2. Have you installed any new software on your system between the last time you were able to successfully use the broken application and now?
3. If so, there may be a conflict between the old software and the new software that you have installed. Consult the documentation that accompanied the new software and the formally working software to see if there is any mention of restrictions or conflicts.  Also, verify that your computer hardware meets the minimum requirements for the application(s).  You can find this information listed on the software installation guide(s) or packaging.
4. If you cannot think of any new software that has been installed or that might be causing a problem then uninstalling and reinstalling the program might correct the issue.  If you feel that no new software has been installed and you wish to uninstall and reinstall then skip to step 9 otherwise continue to step 5.
5. Uninstalling any new program(s) that have been installed recently may free up your application to start working again. If you would like to try doing this be sure that you have at least a basic understanding of how to install and unistall software applications on your system before continuing.
6. Proceed to uninstalling the suspect application(s) – being very sure to use the proper uninstallation procedure.  If you are not familiar with the steps used to uninstall programs and applications from your system do not try these procedures.
7. After uninstalling each new application that you suspect may have been causing an issue; completely power your system down and wait at least 2 minutes before powering back up.
8. If after uninstalling any new software applications installed recently, and you have made sure to reboot your system, you are still getting an error with the problematic software; you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the application itself - But WAIT, read on.
9. Before you uninstall your application make sure that you have the installation disk and guide that will be needed to reinstall your software.  Read the installation guide carefully!  Verify that all the installation disks are present and that you have the proper license key to perform a re-installation after you have uninstalled the application.  Failure to do verify these facts can lead to a situation where your software cannot be reinstalled.
10. Ok now, if are sure that you feel comfortable knowing that you have everything you will need to reinstall the software, you can go ahead and uninstall your application now.
11. If you are not familiar with the process that is required to uninstall software on your system then you shouldn’t even be trying to use this guide.
12. After the uninstall is complete – power the system all the way down. Do not use restart. Do a complete system shutdown and wait at least 2 minutes before you power the system back up.
13. You can now attempt to reinstall your application and hopefully your software will be working once again.

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Increasing system memory is usually the cheapest and easiest way to increase system performance.  However, not every system can be upgraded and it is possible that you may already have the optimal amount of system memory for your hardware/software configuration.  The first thing to do is determine how much memory is currently installed in your system and how much total memory your system is capable of utilizing.  Depending on the operating system that you are using the amount of optimal memory varies.  As a general rule of thumb Windows XP users will want to have 3 gigs for optimal performance and Windows Vista 3 gigs for the 32 bit version and 4 to 8 gigs for the 64 bit version.  Windows 7 should also use 3 gigs for the 32 bit version and 4 or more for 64 bit.  (Windows 7 will actually run faster than Vista with the same amount of memory installed.)  To find out how much memory your system currently has installed use one of the following methods:

• Right-click on the ‘My Computer’ icon, and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
• Look under the ‘General’ tab to find the amount or RAM in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).  Remember 1000 MB’s is equal to 1 GB.

• Another way to find system memory is to Click Start-> All Programs-> Accessories-> System Tools-> System Information.  Then look for ‘Total Physical Memory’ in the panel on the right.

One of the easiest ways I have found to determine the maximum amount of memory a system is capable of utilizing is to use the ‘memory advisor’ tool that is located on the www.crucial.com website.  To use the tool simply enter the manufacturer and model number of your PC.  After entering your PC manufacturer and model number you will be given detailed information regarding the maximum memory capacity for your particular system, and the type of memory and maximum size of memory boards and configurations that are available for your system.

Another option to determine maximum memory capacity would be to consult the website of the manufacturer of your PC for details regarding your particular system.  Note:  If you have a custom built machine you will need the specification sheet that accompanied  the motherboard that is currently in your system to find out the details concerning maximum memory capacity, memory type, speed, etc.  In the event that you do not have this information you will have to open the computer case and find the model number of your motherboard.  The model number is normally printed on the face of the motherboard but can be difficult to find.  Assuming you are able to find the model number, use it to search the manufacturers website for details about the memory specifications for that motherboard.

Before purchasing new memory be careful to ensure that the memory type that you are buying is correct for your system.  There are quite a few different types of memory available, you will want to be absolutely sure that the memory you purchase will work in your system.  If your system requires DDR or DDR2 you will need to buy two matching memory boards to perform an upgrade.  With DDR3 you will more than likely need three matching boards.  (These details can vary however, depending on the motherboard.)

There are also many different memory speeds available for each type of memory.  If you are planning on completely replacing the old memory you should be able to use faster memory for your specific memory type, if it’s available.  If you are planning to add new memory to existing memory you should try to find memory that is the same speed as the existing memory.

Installing Memory Upgrades

Installing memory can be tricky so take your time and don’t try to force a memory stick into your system if it is not easily snapping into place.  There are slots on the memory that will only allow it to be inserted in one direction so be sure to line them up when installing.  If the memory board does not seem like it is fitting in the socket correctly try turning it around.  If the slots in the memory do not match the breaks on the motherboard memory socket then you have the wrong type of memory for your system.

Removing the old RAM Memory Boards

• Be sure your computer is completely shut down.
• Unplug the power cord from the back of the computer.
• Unplug any other cables that are connected to the computer including telephone lines or networking cables.
• Remove the access panel or computer cover.  You may have to remove some screws on the rear of the computer or on some systems press a release button (usually on the bottom of the case).
• Locate the old memory on the motherboard.  You can identify the memory by examining your new memory and looking for similar memory boards installed on the motherboard, usually near the CPU.
• Before attempting to remove the old memory, be sure to release the latches that are used to hold the memory firmly in place.  You will find these at both ends of each memory board.
• Grasping the memory firmly in the middle, carefully pull the memory board in a perpendicular direction, away from the motherboard until it slides out.  IF THE MEMORY IS NOT EASILY SLIDING OUT CHECK THE LATCHES TO BE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPLETELY OPEN.

Installing New RAM Memory Boards

• Depending on the type of memory you are installing be sure that you are installing the memory in the correct slots.
• DDR and DDR2 will normally be installed in slots 1 and 3 or slots 2 and 4.  (Many times these slots will be a different color, either blue or possibly yellow.)
• DDR3 will be installed in slots 1, 3 and 5 or slots 2, 4 and 6.
• If you are installing new memory but plan to add your new memory to the existing memory and do not plan to remove the old memory then be sure that the LARGER memory modules are installed in the first slot that is closest to the CPU.  (for DDR, DDR2, DDR3 be sure the first memory stick of the largest set of memory boards is installed closest to the CPU and the matching ones are installed accordingly).
• Be sure to line up the slot in each memory board with the break in the memory slot.
• Press each board down until it snaps into place.  (Both latches on the ends of the memory board should lock into place.)

Close Your Computer Case or Cover

• Replace the cover or panel that you removed earlier.
• Replace any screws that you may have removed or loosened.
• Plug any cables you removed earlier back in to the computer.
• Power up your computer and pay careful attention to the boot screens to be sure that there are no error messages during the boot-up process.
• You may see a message indicating that the amount of system memory has changed.  This is normal.

Troubleshooting – If you are Experiencing Problems with the System not Powering Back up Properly or Locking Up.

• Ensure that all of the your memory boards are fully seated in the sockets and that they are latched firmly on both ends.
• Be sure that you have the boards in the correct slots.  (If there are any boards of different sizes then the largest memory board must be in the slot closest to the CPU.)
• If you are using DDR, DDR2, or DD3, you must use matching memory boards and they must be installed in groups and in the correct slots.
• If you have added new memory to older existing memory your new memory may be a different speed than the old memory.  Some motherboards will not allow using memory of different speeds.  Try using only the new memory.

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