Computer Running Slow?...Heres One Reason!
| Category: PC KNOW HOW | Date: 2003-12-05 |
Just the other day, my computer started running a little slow. Kind of puzzled me. And I put up with it for a while.
But then it got a little irritating. While trying to surf the web, I noticed that web pages were taking much too long to load. This is always an irritant. And, Internet Explorer was also taking its time coming up.
Now, Im no novice on the computer, but, sometimes we humans can get a lapse of memory. Anyway, thats my excuse for forgetting one of the basics of computing; and that is that the computer uses up SYSTEM RESOURCES.
Every program on the computer, including icons, uses some SYSTEM RESOURCES.
Whenever a program is started, it loads into your computers memory. Memory is a resource. Some programs will release the memory it was using, when you quit the program, and some will not. So, part of a resource is not being made available to you. Get enough of these, and guess what? Slow Downs! Hang-ups (freezes).
Im not an expert on the subject, but I did a little experimenting with this. Heres what I found (remember, this is only my computer, and yours may vary): After about 3 hours of operation, I checked my available resources; down to 58% free. So, from the right-hand end of my taskbar, I exited the Resource Meter;free resources now up to 60%. Exited the Pop-Up Stopper; 63% free. Closed Windows Help; 64% free. Closed Windows Explorer; 66% free. Exited Download Accelerator; 71% free.
So, from 58% to 71% is a saving of 13%. May not sound like a whole lot, but it gives you a good idea as to why your computer may be slowing down.
How do you check your free System Resources? Just go to Control PanelSystemPerformance. If you want to check it often, then just right-click on the System icon, choose Create shortcut. It will appear on your desktop, and you can drag it down to the left end of your taskbar. Now its available for quick use. Or...
Use the System Resource Meter. Go to StartPrograms AccessoriesSystem Tools, and click on Resource Meter. The meter will pop up in your task bar (right side), and you can keep an eye on it. When it starts to turn red, then your resources are getting low. But remember, it also is using up some of your System Resources.
When you restart your computer, these resources will be returned to you. But, as you again use the computer, your computer will again use up the resources.
It really is a never-ending story, and something we all have to live with. But, if youll restart your computer every once in a while, you may find that it runs a little bit faster.
Worth a try.
About the Author
(c)2000-01 by John Evans
dailybiz.com/
You can use this article but please leave it intact.
info@dailybiz.com
http://www.dailybiz.com
But then it got a little irritating. While trying to surf the web, I noticed that web pages were taking much too long to load. This is always an irritant. And, Internet Explorer was also taking its time coming up.
Now, Im no novice on the computer, but, sometimes we humans can get a lapse of memory. Anyway, thats my excuse for forgetting one of the basics of computing; and that is that the computer uses up SYSTEM RESOURCES.
Every program on the computer, including icons, uses some SYSTEM RESOURCES.
Whenever a program is started, it loads into your computers memory. Memory is a resource. Some programs will release the memory it was using, when you quit the program, and some will not. So, part of a resource is not being made available to you. Get enough of these, and guess what? Slow Downs! Hang-ups (freezes).
Im not an expert on the subject, but I did a little experimenting with this. Heres what I found (remember, this is only my computer, and yours may vary): After about 3 hours of operation, I checked my available resources; down to 58% free. So, from the right-hand end of my taskbar, I exited the Resource Meter;free resources now up to 60%. Exited the Pop-Up Stopper; 63% free. Closed Windows Help; 64% free. Closed Windows Explorer; 66% free. Exited Download Accelerator; 71% free.
So, from 58% to 71% is a saving of 13%. May not sound like a whole lot, but it gives you a good idea as to why your computer may be slowing down.
How do you check your free System Resources? Just go to Control PanelSystemPerformance. If you want to check it often, then just right-click on the System icon, choose Create shortcut. It will appear on your desktop, and you can drag it down to the left end of your taskbar. Now its available for quick use. Or...
Use the System Resource Meter. Go to StartPrograms AccessoriesSystem Tools, and click on Resource Meter. The meter will pop up in your task bar (right side), and you can keep an eye on it. When it starts to turn red, then your resources are getting low. But remember, it also is using up some of your System Resources.
When you restart your computer, these resources will be returned to you. But, as you again use the computer, your computer will again use up the resources.
It really is a never-ending story, and something we all have to live with. But, if youll restart your computer every once in a while, you may find that it runs a little bit faster.
Worth a try.
About the Author
(c)2000-01 by John Evans
dailybiz.com/
You can use this article but please leave it intact.
info@dailybiz.com
http://www.dailybiz.com
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