How to fix a slow PC. This is a question asked by many of my customers. In this short article, I will explain the five leading causes of the dreaded slowdown.
1 Your Computer Has Not Been Rebooted for A Long Time
Leaving your computer on for days at a time may result in it becoming sluggish and, in some cases, it may even freeze up entirely. The most common cause is memory-related; the computer Random Access Memory (RAM) has not been purged of data from programs any longer in use.
Our Recommendation: Shut down or reboot your computer at least once
every 24 hours. This forces the RAM to be purged.
2 Disk Corruption or Fragmented Hard Disk
One of the many causes of disk
corruptions are improper shutdown or in when an external hard drive is incorrectly
dismounted. Other significant reasons for data corruption are virus
infections and overheating hard drives. File fragmentation causes your hard
drive to take longer to retrieve information and results in the all to well
known “SLUGGISH” computer syndrome.
Our Recommendation: Defrag your computer once a month and check for
bad sectors. NEVER defrag a Solid-State
Drive (SSD). It is not necessary and may even shorten the life of the SSD.
3 Low available memory (RAM)
Programs you use are continually upgraded and new features
added. The result is that they require more resources (RAM) operate correctly.
The minimum amount of RAM for today’s entry-level
computer is 4 Gig. However, we are finding that this is proving to be too
little.
Our Recommendation: Consider
upgrading your RAM to 8 Gig. This will
ensure an improvement in the load speed of your applications. If you need assistance
to upgrade your computer, send an email to sales@abacon.co.za,
and we will assist you.
4 Too much paging
Paging is the process used by computers to store sections of the programs in
use on the hard drive instead of in RAM. This
enables you to load and run multiple applications
and utilise your memory efficiently.
However, when your RAM is low, larger sections of the program will be stored on in the paging file on
your hard drive. This results in a significant program slowdown. i.e. your
computer becomes sluggish.
Our Recommendation: It is time to consider installing more RAM and
possibly an SSD drive into your computer.
5 Infected by malware or virus(es)
Viruses and malware can cause your computer to slow down.
Some of the primary causes for the slowdown may be:
- Starting a cryptocurrency mining application.
- Loading multiple copies of the same virus
- Creating an email server on your computer to
send out spam emails
- Sending
out a large volume of traffic to specific computers as part of a Denial Of
Service attack
Our Recommendation: Ensure that you have the latest version of your
antivirus software loaded and install all the latest security updates for your
operating system.
How Can We Help You
If you need any assistance to complete these tasks, or you have any computer problems give us a call on 072 601 2858 or send an email to sales@abacon.co.za
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Windows 11 Upgrade - Will it work on your lapop?
So, you’re wondering about Windows 11, the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system. It looks snazzy and has some neat features. But can your current laptop actually run it? Don’t worry, you don’t need a degree in IT to figure this out! We at abacon IT in Cape Town are here to help you understand the basics.
Upgrading your laptop to Windows 11 can give it a new lease on life. However, Windows 11 has certain system requirements. These are the minimum specifications your laptop needs to have to run the software smoothly. Think of it like needing the right ingredients for a recipe – without them, it just won’t work properly.
One of the most important parts is your laptop’s processor, often called the CPU (Central Processing Unit). This is the “brain” of your computer. Windows 11 needs a fairly recent and capable CPU to function well.
Which Processors Work with Windows 11?
Here’s a simplified look at the processors that are generally compatible:
Intel Processors:
- Generally, Windows 11 requires an 8th-generation Intel Core processor or newer. You might see names like “Intel Core i5-8xxx” or “Intel Core i7-11xxx.” The first number after the “i” (or “i3”) usually indicates the generation. So, an “i5-8250u” is an 8th-generation processor.
- Intel also has its Pentium and Celeron processors. For Windows 11, only certain newer models are compatible.
AMD Processors:
- For AMD, Windows 11 requires Ryzen 2000 Series and newer. You’ll see names like “AMD Ryzen 5 2xxx” or “AMD Ryzen 7 5xxx”. Again, the first number after “Ryzen” indicates the series.
- AMD also has Athlon processors. Similar to Intel’s Pentium and Celeron, only specific newer Athlon models will work with Windows 11.
Important Note: This is a general guideline. There can be exceptions, so it’s always best to double-check your specific processor.
How to Find Out Which Processor Your Laptop Has
Don’t fret, Windows makes it pretty easy to see what CPU is inside your laptop:
- Right-click the Start Button: This is the Windows logo (usually in the bottom-left corner of your screen).
- Select “System”: A new window will pop up with information about your computer.
- Look for “Processor”: You’ll find this listed under the “Device specifications” section. It will tell you the name of your processor, including the manufacturer (Intel or AMD) and the model number, which usually indicates the generation or series.
Once you have this information, you can compare it to the general lists above.
Other Important Bits for Windows 11
Besides the processor, there are a few other things Windows 11 needs:
- RAM (Random Access Memory): Consider this your laptop’s short-term memory. Windows 11 requires at least 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM. More is always better for smoother performance. Instead, consider 16 gigabytes (GB).
- Storage: To install Windows 11, you’ll need at least 64 GB of free space on your hard drive or SSD (Solid-State Drive). An SSD generally makes your computer much faster.
- TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module): This is a security feature. Most modern laptops have this, but it’s worth checking. You can usually find information on how to check for TPM 2.0 in your laptop’s BIOS settings (you might need to consult your laptop manufacturer’s website for instructions on accessing this).
- Graphics Card: Your graphics card needs to be compatible with DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver. Most reasonably recent graphics cards will meet this requirement.
- Display: You’ll need a screen with a resolution of at least 720p (HD).
Still Not Sure? We Can Help!
Figuring out all these technical details can be daunting. If you’re still unsure whether your laptop is ready for Windows 11, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at abacon IT in Cape Town.
Our friendly team can quickly assess your system and give you straightforward advice. We’re here to help your SME thrive with reliable IT solutions! Contact us at 072-601-2858 or email info@abacon.co.za, and we will call you back.
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