Beyond Spyware, Adware and Viruses - Why is My Computer Slowing Down?

Eight Practical Guidelines for Preventing a Sluggish Computer

If you use Microsoft Windows, you will probably notice a decrease in your computer performance over time. Many experts in the field have actually given this a term: "Windows rot". The general idea is that your Microsoft Windows computer just performs worse the longer you use it. This is an untrue assumption. Slow computer performance is a controllable factor and in many cases can easily be prevented and improved. Below are eight simple things you can do to prevent a sluggish computer:

1. Do not install and uninstall lots of software. The more software you install and uninstall from Windows, the slower your computer will get. This is because many programs leave traces in the registry of your computer, even after they are removed. Be careful about what you install and only use the software you need.

2. Be cautious of downloading freeware and shareware programs. Most freeware and shareware do not contain spyware or viruses. But, they are created with a very limited budget and little testing is often done. Thus, many freeware programs are so poorly written they can negatively impact your computer performance. Try to read as many reviews about freeware products as you can before downloading them.

3. Do not install games you download from the Internet. Gaming sites offering tons of free downloads are tremendously popular. As with porn sites, many of these free gaming sites contain spyware and adware that will infect your system, run in the background without your knowledge, track your usage of the Internet and decrease your computer performance.

4. Run Microsoft Windows Disk Cleanup utility at least once a month. Microsoft's Disk Cleanup utility checks the hard drive for unnecessary programs and other clutter like temporary Internet files. You will find Disk Cleanup located in the Start menu under Accessories/System Tools.

5. Avoid "shady" Web sites. Websites offering freebies, great deals, pornography or gaming are notorious targets for adware and spyware.

6. Do not install "warez" or pirated software from newsgroups or file sharing services. Aside from the fact that pirating software is copyright infringement and is illegal, it's also dangerous to your computer. This pirated software is often used by hackers as a vehicle to download spyware, malware and viruses.

7. Do not install too many fonts. Every font you install in Microsoft Windows uses memory. A system with too many fonts installed may take more than 5 minutes just to boot up. You may have many fonts on your computer without even knowing it, as many popular office and desktop publishing programs can install them automatically. To keep fonts from affecting computer performance, don't install more than 200-400 at the most.

8. Scan your computer daily with an antivirus/antispyware program at least once. This will help eliminate the risk of infections and help speed up a sluggish computer bogged down by spyware. Stop-Sign's Internet Security Suite features an all-in-one virus and spyware scanner you can easily schedule to clean your computer automatically on a daily basis.

Following these eight simple steps will help keep your Microsoft Windows computer performance as fast and efficient in your computer's third year as it was on its third day.