Slow working computer

If your computer is running slow, here are some steps to follow:

1. Check for and clean temporary files.
2. Check your RAM and add more if necessary.
3. Check your CPU and add more if necessary.
4. Update VMware Tools.
5. Upgrade VM Compatibility.
6. Check for any pending Windows updates and install them.
7. Scan your computer for spyware and viruses.
8. Remove any unnecessary add-ins in your applications.
9. Check for any outdated programs.
10. Restart your computer (the most obvious and often effective step for Windows computers).
11. Check the size and number of files on your desktop, as many large files can slow down your computer.
12. Ensure that there is enough free space on your hard drive.
13. Check if your firmware is updated.

These steps will help you identify and fix some of the common reasons for slow computer performance.

Here are the explained steps to follow:

1. Check the temporary folder by entering %TEMP% in the search bar, Run dialog box, or Command Prompt.
2. Delete files in C:\Windows\temp
3. Delete files in C:\Windows\Logs\CBS If you're unable to delete the CBS.log file, stop the TrustedInstaller service, delete CBS.log, and then start the service again. Alternatively, you can end the task with the same name.
4. If these steps are not sufficient, you can use the free CleanUp program available at this link: http://stevengould.org/downloads/cleanup/CleanUp40.exe
5. Adding more RAM and CPU is much easier to do on a virtual machine. To diagnose the issue, open the Task Manager, go to the Performance tab, and run the problematic application or file to see what happens.
6. Updating VMware Tools and upgrading VM Compatibility are necessary for VMWare virtual machines only.
7. Check for pending Windows updates that may be waiting to install and restart your computer.
8. Spyware and viruses can often cause slow performance, so run a virus scan to check for any infections.
9. Outdated programs may not be fully compatible with newer computers and may need to be updated.
10. Cleaning temporary files and restarting the computer can often help.
11. Having too many files on the desktop can slow down the computer, so consider moving them to another location.
12. Low disk space can cause severe performance issues, so ensure that there is enough free space on your hard drive.
13. Updating firmware may also help improve performance, especially on new computers.

These are the most common causes of slow-running computers. For more advanced issues, advanced tools like those from the Sysinternals site (author Mark Russinovich) may be needed. Additionally, slow network or defective hardware can also cause slow performance, but we will not be discussing these external cases in this article.