Why is my PC slow? And how to optimise it

What a headache!

You ask your PC to do a simple task, and it feels like you've asked it to send an astronaut to Mars.

We've all faced this issue of a slow PC that struggles more and more as time passes... and it's normal! Our machines age and start facing challenges they didn't have when they were new.

Nevertheless, there are lots of little tips and tricks that allow you to easily give your PC a second life. In this guide, I'll explain, step-by-step, how to optimize your PC if:

Discover here why your PC is slow and how to optimize it.

My pc has slow internet : easy fix

If your computer usually browses the internet at a normal speed and suddenly slows down significantly, don’t panic. It could be due to several minor causes that are easily fixed.

How to block unwanted extensions that load advertising content?

Our internet habits have changed, and advertising has quickly made its way onto our screens.

Some ads are invasive, and they make you download images and videos weighing several megabytes.

Naturally, your internet connection slows down as a result!

To counter this issue, most web browsers available on the market come with anti-ad options that are fairly lenient by default, but they allow you to block ads.

To activate these, here's the procedure on Mozilla Firefox:

• open the menu represented by three bars located at the top right of your screen;
• open the "preferences" tab;
• click on "privacy and security":   
• choose the settings that suit you:   

The procedure is similar with other browsers, except for Internet Explorer. 

For users of Microsoft OS, the Edge browser (formerly Internet Explorer) is set as the default browser and therefore uses windows' ad-blocking settings.

If you'd like to change them, here's the process:

1. open the control panel;
2. select "internet options";
3. open the "privacy" tab;
4. move the ad-block filter slider;

besides browser-specific solutions, there are also plugins you can install on your web browser to block ads: AdBlock is the most popular one.

This module is an intelligent software updated regularly, adjusting its ad-block filters based on user feedback. No need to worry about your browser settings – it’ll handle it for you.

To install AdBlock on your browser, follow these steps:

1. open the "preferences" tab;
2. then select "add-ons";
3. search for "adblock" in the search bar
4. click "install" and your AdBlock will start blocking all those annoying ads;

My computer is slow due to Wi-Fi issues: what are the solutions?

Your internet connection heavily depends on your modem and the type of internet access you're using. If your modem is connected via cable, ensure these aren't damaged or tangled with an electric cable.

If that's the case, then it picks up interference signals from nearby electrical installations, forcing your modem to resend data constantly.

Keep your modem cable away from phone lines and power cables.

If your cable is intact, then try these methods:

1. restart your Wi-Fi: this should be your first reflex when speed drops, and it's usually enough.
2. disconnect your computer from your modem, then reconnect it: sometimes, slow connection is due to an invalid key. While your computer won’t show any specific message, disconnecting and reconnecting forces it to use the updated network key;
3. move your box: Wi-Fi signals struggle to pass through concrete and metal surfaces, and they have limited range. Place the box in a room that's central and elevated for the best speed;
4. change your modem frequency: if your modem is fine, but speed suddenly drops, it’s likely due to frequency saturation. Phones, baby monitors, and routers all emit on the same frequency, which eventually gets congested. Check your internet provider's website to see how to adjust your Wi-Fi settings;
5. update your network card drivers: your Wi-Fi isn’t necessarily the issue. Try connecting with other devices. If they work fine, the problem might be with your network card. Updating your network drivers should fix it;
6. reset your modem: resetting will restore your modem to factory settings;

Finally, consider changing your modem. A high-performance modem can send several megabits per second, but over time its performance decreases. Older modems also lack the capabilities of newer ones. Contact your internet provider to see if you need a new one.

Unable to connect to the site’s server

The error "unable to connect to the site’s server" can stem from various causes.

However, it remains easy to fix with a few steps:

Try connecting to other websites. If you succeed, then the issue lies with the site itself. Visit down for everyone or just me and enter the website address.

Download a VPN: if after verification the site is online, try connecting with a VPN.

Clear the browser cache: your browser accumulates a lot of data to reload web pages faster. This can become problematic when it retains outdated information that no longer matches the website data.

To clear the cache, follow these steps:

1. open the menu located at the top right of your screen;
2. open the "preferences" tab;
3. “privacy and security”;        

under the "cookies and site data" tab, select "clear data";

Clear the DNS cache: your browser isn’t the only thing storing data when you browse. Your computer also saves DNS cache, allowing it to convert domain names like www.example.co.uk into usable digital addresses.

However, it may contain expired data, so you’ll need to clear it. You can do this with the following command:

•         on Windows “ipconfig /flushdns”;

•         on Linux “sudo /etc/init.d/dns-clean restart” or “sudo pdnsd-ctl empty-cache”;

•         on Mac “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder”;

 

 

Software issues slowing down your pc

The software you use is at the core of your pc. it gives life to it, but it can also potentially slow it down.

Some programs use too much ram: how to optimize them?

The increase in ram on computers has led some programmers to neglect ram optimization.

And yet, nothing is more frustrating than seeing a small program competing with Google Chrome in terms of ram usage.

To identify these resource-hungry programs, open the task manager

On Windows: press ctrl + alt + delete and find the most resource-intensive programs;

On Linux: open the command prompt and type “top -o%mem”:

 

On Mac: press "cmd + alt + escape" to open the task manager:

Modify startup programs

Many programs deem it necessary to launch at your os startup when they aren’t. they end up forcing your computer to consume more resources, inevitably extending its boot time.

Thankfully, removing them is fairly simple:

On Windows:

• click on the "start" button;
• then "settings";
•  then "apps" and then "startup";
• uncheck all applications that don’t need to run at startup.

On macOS:

• click on the apple menu;
• "system preferences";
• press "users & groups";
• select the "login" tab;   
• select the applications you don’t want at startup;

On Linux:

• open the search bar by pressing the "windows" button;
• type "startup";
• choose "startup applications";
• select the programs you want to remove;

Your software is outdated... here’s how to update it

Software often comes with bugs. These are fixed through regular updates, usually automatic.

But in some cases, software doesn't update and uses more resources than necessary, or becomes incompatible with other programs on your computer.

This lack of updates can significantly reduce your pc’s performance, especially if it’s crucial software linked to your operating system.

To fix this, the process is quite simple:

1. go to the software publisher’s website;
2. compare the latest published version with the one on your machine;
3. download the update if possible, otherwise download the software;
4. enable automatic updates in the program options;

Your pc is infected with viruses: here are the solutions

Viruses are malicious programs designed to steal or damage your data. They infect your pc via any media, even a simple email attachment, then duplicate and spread throughout your system.

Like any program, they require memory to run in the background and can quickly consume all your ram. They also damage OS system files, causing critical errors on your computer.

You get the idea – a virus can quickly slow down or even kill your machine. Luckily, a simple antivirus scan and a thorough clean-up, as explained in our article on deep cleaning, is usually enough to get rid of them.