Why is my computer running slow and what can I do about it? Isn't that the question we have all asked ourselves at one point or another during our life? Our brand new spanking machine (or so we thought) has turned from a speed freak to a sludge machine. Well, there are many reasons why any computer could be losing the cutting edge speed it was designed for and here I will tell you several reasons why.

Dreaded spyware and adware. People who try to make money are ruthless and they will try any which way to infiltrate your digital personal space to get a message across, to steal your email and perhaps any valuable information that could make you either a potential customer or a victim of theft. Spyware and adware are running rampant on the internet and they install billboards and tracking software on your PC that you do not know about. Not only are these an invasion of your cyberspace integrity, it is also a main culprit of computer slowdowns. A good adware and anti spyware program will do you wonders.

Fragmented files and folders are a huge reasons why we grow old waiting for a single program to load. It is the cause of stress, high blood pressure and charred remains of monitors and desktop husks lying at the foot of a high rise building. Defragment. I mean, it is pretty simple to do, and if you can't be bothered to download a specialised de-fragmenting software, all you have to do is use the one that is included within the Windows software. Do it at least once a month, because the build-up of files and folders do get fragmented eventually and Windows has to painstakingly re-fragment everything just to launch even the most basic of programs.

Registry errors. The most overlooked problem in the world of computing. The registry is a tiny file, a record of everything that is done within the computer, etched into a nexus of information that keeps your Windows stable. Once that gets corrupted, you are literally going to be handling a very slow machine. Registries a few months old will always contain null values, confused registry entries from bad installs, orphaned keys and traces left by viruses and spyware. A cluttered registry full of errors will more than likely slow your PC down to an unbearable level. Getting a good registry cleaner and windows optimiser will identify and eliminate multiple problems within and without the registry and speed up your computer like never before.

Now imagine a combination of problems running hand in hand, choking your computer into a stutter. The best thing to do is to get your PC scanned for problems. There are a lot of free and readily available scanning software, both online and offline, that can help you identify multiple problems you did not even know about. Invest a little and gain back the speed you were always used to. You'll never have to ask the question, “Why is my computer running slow” ever again.