Which suggested scan option is best?

[grits]

I can't actually put my finger on anything more specific than "a woman's intuition" that my PC isn't performing as it should. It seems to be slow compared to what it was when new a year ago. I realize that some slow down is expected due to programs added,etc.
I just don't know where to start. It's been suggested that I do a "back to factory" but I can't do that just now. One of my big worries is that I relied on two separate people to set my PC up for me & now after all the reading I've done here at this forum, I'm not sure they know as much about computers as I thought they did.
I'm a dummy myself & don't understand a whole lot so am wondering if it would be worth running some scans like 'check disk, sfc/scannow',etc. just in the 'info mode' instead of a 'repair mode'? I guess my own dumb reasoning is that I'd like to know what, if any, the issue is before it's fixed. Or does the scan give more info than I think it might?
I'm quite sure I'm not having any problems with malware.

I have Avast & MBAM.

Thank you.

 

[Layback Bear]

Well more reading. This Tutorial will give several suggestion. Some I use and some I don't.
It will be your choice.
Take a close look at #7 & 8.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html


All the suggestions are guides that can be use but might not meet your computing needs.
If you have question just ask.
A couple of clean up methods I use could also be helpful.
CCleaner and disk cleanup extended.

I would not recommend using the registry cleaner in CCleaner unless you fell completely comfortable in the registry.

CCleaner Free download and review from SoftM8

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/76383-disk-cleanup-extended.html

 

[problemshredder]

slowdown doesn't mean there is an error or malware/virus in the pc, so you don't need to do checkdisk or virus scanning. what you need is windows disk defragmenter. with programs and files added and uninstalled, modified etc, files and folders organization inside the hard drive got scattered here and there. so it's like the hard drive needs to run north to south, east to west in order to put thing together, making all processes slow. by defragmenting, these files and folders are re-organized and put to order again, speeding up accessing everything.
after disk defragmenter, you should also do disk cleanup. cleaning junk files, temporary files, broken shortcuts etc will help speeding things up. also, you can use third party maintenance utility to fix registry problems quick. i recommend ccleaner, it's lightweight but packed with effective maintenance features.

 

[AddRAM]

Have you run disk defragmentor ?

 

[grits]

Thanks LB, will work on some of of that. I do have CCleaner & run it often but never the registry cleaner.

I did run the defrag about a week or so ago (with my fingers crossed) even tho' I keep reading that it's not necessary in Windows 7.

 

[dperecky]

Maybe you can use more RAM Memory? It's pretty inexpensive these days. DDR2/DDR3 is what is usually used for IBM type PCs.

Control Panel | System - shows amount of RAM Memory the computer is currently using.

You would have to go to the computer manufacturer website and find the detailed-specifications for your computer to see what you use, and what is the max allowed. Yes, the sellers may also know... Whatever suits you.

Sellers I would recommend: www.TigerDirect.com, www.newegg.com. I haven't had any problems at all w/them.

disclaimer: I don't work for any of the sites recommended above, nor do I have any stake in them.