Question: My computer is really slowing down. What can I do to speed things up?
Answer: Generally, speed problems boil down to two main issues: old hardware (i.e., time to upgrade), or malicious software (a.k.a. malware, viruses, spyware, etc.). If your system is more than 5 years old and you are trying to run recent games or other software, it is quite possible that it is time to upgrade your system. If you are only experiencing this problem while online or when booting up or running certain programs, it is possible that you are infected with malware.
Two programs that I recommend to fight the malware battle are Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy. These are both available as free programs for the home user. Run the Ad-aware program first, and then the Spybot S&D. If this doesn’t significantly boost your speed, then you will need to look elsewhere for your solution.
If you are interested in upgrade possibilities, update your ticket with the model and brand information (as much info as you know or can get) about your computer and I will dig up what your options are.
The Guru