Slow Old Computer

Have you noticed that your old computer doesn’t feel as fast as it used to? You’re not imagining things! The components inside your computer don’t really “wear out” like old shoes, but they can appear to be slower over time.

Update Your Computer

One big reason for this is updated software. Updates are beneficial because they help protect your computer and introduce new features. However, they can also make an older computer work harder. Every time you update your web browser, email, games, or even Windows itself, the new version usually needs more memory or processing power than the older one did.

One thing you can do to help keep things running smoothly is to make sure your drivers are up to date. Drivers tell Windows how to communicate with things like your video card, mouse, or even USB ports. New drivers sometimes fix bugs or improve the speed at which your screen refreshes, making your entire computer feel quicker. To check for the latest drivers, open Windows Update and look for “Optional Updates.” You may find new drivers ready to be installed.

Other Things to Try

Another thing to check is your Startup list. These are the programs that launch every time you start your computer. The more programs running at startup, the longer it takes your computer to get ready. To check what’s running, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager, then click the Startup tab. If you see something you don’t recognize, try turning off one program at a time, restart your computer, and see if anything changes.

A full or nearly full hard drive can also slow things down. A great place to start cleaning is your Downloads folder and removing anything you no longer need. You can also run Disk Cleanup, located in the Start menu, to safely remove junk files and free up space.

Help Required

And sometimes, your old computer needs a little help. A local computer repair shop might suggest a simple hardware upgrade, like adding more RAM or replacing an old hard drive, or they might recommend other quick fixes to bring it back to life.

So no, you’re not crazy. Your old computer does feel slower, and now you know why. The good news is that you have the power and some easy tools to give it a second wind. It might not run the latest games, but it’ll still be great for checking email or looking through your friends’ vacation photos.

And if you think your Internet connection might be the problem, please call ITC at 1.800.417.8667. We’ll check to ensure everything is running smoothly on our end and may even make a few tweaks to improve your speed.