Why is computer running so slow?

Question

From what I have heard, it seems computers download so much stuff(from the Internet) over time
that it decreases it's effectiveness when surfing the Internet.

I've had this computer for about 5 years and it seems the time that it takes
to open a link on the Internet has greatly increased.
It has gotten so bad that,for example, that when opening a link from a news website,
I can get up from my chair, enter the kitchen to make another cup of coffee,
smoke half a cigarette, and when I return to the computer it's still "connecting"!
(Obviously, all the cigarettes and coffee is bad for my health.;-)

I don't know where the problem is coming from.
My Internet Explorer also takes a long time to connect to the Internet
when I first start the computer. Also as the day goes by, I keep getting
messages that Explorer has lost the connection.

As if that wasn't enough: Some months ago a virus infected the computer.
I can't remember how or who helped me clean it up again. But afterward
my Microsoft/Vista security application STOPPED working.
It has been dead in the water since that time, no matter what I have tried
to do to activate it again.
I rely now on Avast for Internet protection.

I gave the above information, about my security "problem", because I'm wondering
if the process that got rid of the virus could also have caused a slow down?

Ok, Through Avast I have been in contact with a company called "iyogi"(in India).
They offered to clean my computer of accumulated junk on the hard-drive.
Their charge is STEEP, about $130.
Another company I've seen advertised on TV(?) offers to do the same job
of cleaning the hard-drive for less.

What is my problem(aside from my own stupidity) and is there hope
I can have this computer once again running at "normal" downloading speeds?

Thank you all for any and all advice.

Caliban · Accepted Answer

Five years is very old for a computer.
Why invest so much money for "cleaning" when
a bit more money would buy you a much
better system?
I wonder if your past virus cleaning process ended
up deleting files you most likely needed.
By the way, dump IE and go with Firefox or 
Chrome as your browsers; much better.

Tristan Nelson · Answer

I am a comp tech and I  recommend getting System Mechanic pro 10.7. This is the only program you will ever need to keep you computer working and top speed, reliability, safety. It has everything you need. I have been using it for 5 years and I have never had any problem at all. I can even go to dangerous sites and I am protected. I will  clean hard drive, ram, uninstaller, antivirus and antimalware, security test to make sure everything is safe, a drive scrubber. search and recover incase you lose any file by accident, start up gaurd and process guard, reglistry cleaning and defraging, file entropy alignment, and the is  som much more. Get rid of all free programs you have and get system mechanic. it goes for usually about $40 per year but I have gotten sales fro $15 and $20. Trust me you will be happy and not regret it.

? · Answer

Check what strategies are going for walks for your pc utilizing Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and click on at the Processes tab. Look down the CPU and Mem Usage columns for any method wherein the digits are prime. Do a Google seek at the method title to uncover out what it does. Incidentally, anti-virus application makes use of up plenty of assets

Bobbie JO · Answer

o.k 1st, go to start button and open disk clean ( just type it in the start bar,,,,, if that dont work than you most likly need a memory upgrade+need to get a can of power duster and open your computer tower and spray clean all fans, components, etc..... than go to staples and get memory for your computer. take model # with you so you can be matched up with compatibility parts. its very very simple to do.when you open computer the memory have two locking tabs on each side, push them back and remove. replace new one "be gentel" and replace cover. by the way disconnect all wires. i just did those things to my pc and it loads at the blink of an eye. parts 20-40$ time 30min to an hour. good luck

Ashish Awasthi · Answer

Empty your "TEMP " folder and de- fragment your hard disk, allow indexing on windows drive ,
run a disk clean up wizard


Help you

? · Answer

I think its the virus which is slowing down your computer.go to this website and try the instructions they have given

http://www.ehow.com/how_6503701_remove-virus-slows-down-computer.html

? · Answer

Try buying a new computer

daniel · Answer

Im gonna be straight to the point no frills and spills or BS
i would buy a new pc if i were you mate

Thanks

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Why is computer running so slow?

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