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Perhaps a kinder and gentler way to put it is that although your computing regimen has always been marked by good intentions, because you became less vigilant about safeguarding and cleaning your system, you robbed it of its vitality and transformed it from a sprinter into a dawdler.
And here's how you did it.
You failed to control your addiction to installing junk software that bloated your registry with conflicting information, installed poorly written applications that cluttered your system with unnecessary DLL files and added unnecessary, always-running-in-the-background services.
Obviously listing all the applications I've discovered over the years to be "junk" is not possible, but I can suggest three categories of applications to avoid.
1.Utilities claiming they'll "Optimize Your RAM" or "Speed Up Your Computer". More than likely they'll either slow it down or do nothing at all.
2.Poorly written Explorer plug-in applications. Because they hook directly into Explorer's shell may slow down and in a worst case scenario crash your computer.
3.Registry Cleaners. Unless you're at least a bit beyond novice do not install a Registry cleaner. Novices will often discover that cleaning their Registry is a lot like playing Russian Roulette. And even if you consider yourself a bit beyond novice, do not allow your Registry cleaner to run in the background. Most versions will significantly hog your Windows resources.
Also do not install multiple anti virus applications. Multiple anti virus programs are counter productive and can create serious Registry problems.
And do not select an anti virus program by the number of features its vendor advertises. Bloated anti virus programs like Registry cleaners will make extraordinary demands on your system's resources.
In fact, I suggest you investigate AVG (the free version) and Microsoft's Security Essentials (now offered as a free download).
Beware becoming a junkie of junk applications, but if you've been seduced and your computer has gone from sprinter to a dawdler, I suggest you:
Identify your junk applications and use Revo Uninstaller (revouninstaller.com) to uninstall them and clean your computer of application leftovers.
Better yet, why not start the New Year right by inviting a qualified technician to your home and, with all your peripherals attached, thoroughly purge the junk from your computer.
Here's wishing you a Good Boot
Source: http://www.news-press.com/article/20100111/COLUMNISTS18/1110313/1014/business/Good-boot--If-computer-is-slow--it-s-most-likely-something-you-ve-done
