Defined

• System slowdown can be 1 of the most frustrating experiences for those unfamiliar with the inner workings of computers. The most troubling aspect of system slowdown is that it accumulates gradually over time, which means it usually goes unnoticed for quite awhile until the problem becomes apparent enough to merit observation. System slowdown is the result of 3 separate events working in aggregate to bring even today's most modern PCs to an eventually crawl. These events are accumulation of superfluous data, gradual corruption of the operating system files and advancing technological standards.
  
  

Too Much Data

• One cause of system slowdown is a build up of excess and unnecessary strains on computer resources that accumulate as you perform ordinary tasks on the machine. For example, while surfing the Internet, the system is constantly storing information about the sites you visit. New program installations often include instructions to "launch at start up," which cause the computer to perform excess work during every boot. When programs and system files are deleted or changed, traces always remain buried on the hard drive. Over time, all these extra files and tasks take their toll on the PC's capabilities, resulting in slowdown.
  
  

Files in Disarray

• Another main cause of eventual slowdown is the gradual decline of system files into a state of disarray. Whenever you make any change to the system (even minor changes like resizing a window), the operating system records those changes in the system registry. The record of these changes is never automatically deleted. Over time, this swells the size of the registry and even fills it with numerous useless and outdated entries as files are added and removed.
  
  On top of that, writing to the hard drive eventually leaves files scattered and separated. This is known as "fragmentation." The hard drive is like a VHS tape, which can record information in 1 long stream. When multiple items are recorded on the drive, they are stored back-to-back. When 1 is deleted, it leaves a gap. This gap is filled by the next file stored to the drive, assuming the file can fit in the open space. If it does not fit, then it gets stored at the end of the drive. However, even if it does fit, chances are good that it does not fit perfectly and some blank space will remain. Over time, the quantity and frequency of gaps will increase, slowing the speed at which files can be accessed.
  
  

Overreaching

• The 3rd way in which a computer can become slow is by overreaching. Overreaching is attempting to use an older, somewhat-outdated computer to run newer, more demanding, software. Of the 3, this is the only reason that you should solve the problem of slowdown by upgrading the computer itself. Whether 1 is attempting to overreach can be ascertained by comparing the system requirements for any particular piece of software (listed on the box) against the specifications of the computer.
  
  

Solutions

• The website TweakGuides offers a free, comprehensive guide to modifying and maintaining a copy of Windows (see link in References). Other than that, there are numerous programs that can help clean up the mess left by old files and programs to cure system slowdown. CCleaner is a solid program that can delete unneeded files and clean the registry (see link in References). On top of that, Windows has a built-in defragmentation program to fix hard drive issues. Through a combination of these tools, you can cure the plague of slowdown and restore your computer to full working order.