Why is my computer so slow...

It is difficult to answer such a general question as there are many different possibilities. I'll list a few of the most common things and you can search for more specific answers based on which item you think may be the problem.

- Hardware issues. A computer running slow can be the result of defective hardware. Memory chips going bad, a hard drive wearing out, overheating because of poor ventilation or fans wearing out. You may be able to diagnose these issues but you may also need to consult with a professional computer technician to see if it is a hardware issue. If there is an unusual noise associated with the slowness of your computer it is a good sign that you may have an hardware issue.

- Routine maintenance. Computers need some routine things done to keep them in top running condition. Scandisk, defragmenting, clearing temporary files, and other various tasks depending upon your setup. Most of these things are simple and people just overlook doing them.

- Virus/adware/spyware infection. It is possible your machine is infected with any number of malicious programs. There are many names for them: virus, trojan, worm, malware, adware, spyware, etc. If you are noticing internet activity when your computer is supposed to be idle or popup ads coming up when your computer is idle - those are both good signs that your machine is infected. There are many programs that search for and help remove these programs. For virus, I recommend Clam Antivirus. For adware/spyware I recommend Ad-aware by Lavasoft. Both of these programs are available for download at no cost. However, sometimes the pesky virus/spyware programs make it so that you cannot remove them with any of the standard programs. Sometimes you simply need to take your machine to a skilled technician who has experience removing these things.

If you need more help, please give the technicians at Mouse Pad a call.