Why is that no matter how new your computer system, it never seems fast enough to keep up with you, even on ordinary tasks? It seems a mystery, right up there with just what exactly is in the Colonel's secret recipe! Let's take a look at the real, and humorous, reasons why you will never enjoy a fast computer. Ever.
Slower Number 1: Your Computer Has a Virus
First of all, let's get rid of actual computer culprits known to slow down a computer. Some viruses (viri?) are known to slow a computer to a crawl, even as they wreak havoc on a system. If you suspect a virus, or other nasty unwanted beasty, it's best to run complete virus scans such as Nod32 as recommended by KFI Techguy Leo Laporte, or avast! antivirus, as recommended by, ahem, ME! (But Backup Your Computer First...)
It's extremely important to back up all of your important data if you notice a sudden slowdown in your system, as this could be your only warning of impending data loss or worse, even damage to your hard drive (yes, some viruses can even cause real damage to the hard drive).
I recommend Acronis True Image Home 2009, because you can back up the entire hard drive, including the operating system. That's important; many backup systems only backup your data and not your operating system and programs! That means you have to reload your entire operating system, and all your programs and drivers and, oh my!--this can take days out of your schedule!
Acronis True Image Home 2009 backs up everything and you can restore an entire computer from scratch in 40 minutes! And, I don't get any kickbacks from them; I use this software! It's saved my behind many times!
Once you have backed up your computer, run your complete antivirus scan to catch or rule out a virus as the cause of a slow system.
Slower Number 2: You have a software incompatibility
Software runs your computer, and if there is a conflict between different programs running on your system, this can cause system slowdowns, lockups, or even render the system inoperable. It goes like this: you and a couple of friends decide to go to the movies. When you get together, one friend starts arguing with the other about what movie you are going to go see. Back and forth. Forth, and back. No progress. Time passes, and suddenly you miss the window of time to see any of the shows! Sound familiar?
Computer programs are exactly like this, too. If they are incompatible with one another, like your "friends," they can spend all the time arguing and not doing what they are supposed to do!
Likely causes for this are installing new hardware or software-like bringing along a new friend your other friends don't know! If you have installed something new recently and have run a complete antivirus scan, this is the number one likely culprit.
How do you fix it? Well, that's the harder part! Worst case, by uninstalling or rolling back the hardware or software (think, dumping the new friend!); best case, by downloading a patch to the software driver or application (smoothing over relations between the offending parties). You will have to do some digging and Googling on this; I would suggest starting with the manufacturer of the hardware/software in question, checking their help system, knowledge base, and forums for possible solutions and workarounds.
Read on to discover the final, and most insidious, reason you will never have a fast computer (hint: it ain't because management is stingy! Wait, I take that back, that could be a factor!)
Slower Number 3: Phillips' Law - a Corollary to Moore's Law
Now that you have ruled out viruses, bacteria, and hardware/software incompatibilities, what else could be making your computer slow? Have you heard of Moore's Law? Moore's Law is a principle which Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore came up with in 1965, which states that computing power doubles every 18 months. That means every 18 months, computers are supposed to get twice as fast.
For many a year, this has held true, although lately the ratio is slipping. But the basic principle is that there are so many incredible advances in technology, we will have constantly increasingly fast computers as time goes by, and perhaps you have experienced this yourself.
"So why then, is my computer still so %^#%$#^ slow?"
Ah, for the reason they don't tell you, which I have dubbed Phillips' Law, in honor of, me!
Phillips' Law states, no matter how fast your computer system may be, it will become proportionately slower due to the increased demands users place on it, exacerbated by inefficiencies in software architecture.
What does that mean? Simply put, the faster your computer gets, the more you'll demand from it, and the demand outpaces its ability to keep up. Result? Slow computing.
For example, in 1991 a fast computer could draw circles, squares, rectangles, and make simple brochures fairly quickly. These same tasks today are a snap and very quick on today's computers.
However, today's computers are tasked with greater and greater amounts of work - instead of spending a morning creating simple line art, today's systems are asked to render full 3D versions of products. So while they are actually much faster at doing work, they are doing much more work than ever before.
Another way of putting this would be a comparison to racing. Suppose you had an old racing horse. It could run around the track fairly quickly, but if you put a small pack on its back, it would slow down considerably. So you buy a younger, faster racing horse. This one will be quick, right!
But you think, well he is so fast and strong, I think I will put three packs on his back. When he runs around the track with 3 packs on his back, he is just as slow as the older horse. This is exactly what we do with our computers, and is at the heart of the speed problem.
Add to this the fact that operating systems, and software, are increasingly left bloated and inefficient (due to increased market demands to get the product out the door), and you have a problem that gets worse and worse over time.
Conclusion
Hopefully now you have a better handle on why your computer is so slow, and what you can do to fix it. Sadly, if your system is more than 3 years old it is very possible you simply need to upgrade it completely, or else reload all the software and then only load software it can handle easily. Then, and only then, will you have a "fast" computer. For a little while. Until Phillips' Law kicks in.
Until next time, we'll solve our problems Bit by Bit.
About the Author:
Michael J. Phillips is an author, computer and soft-skills trainer, and technology guru in the Orange County area of Southern CA. He has been teaching technology since the word "email" was born. Read more about how to know when to upgrade your computer. Take advantage of Mike's expertise and book corporate computer and soft-skills training which gets real business results, guaranteed. Visit PC Training Experts.com.
(c) 2009 Mike Phillips. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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