Help for the Slow Windows 8 Computer

Slow Computer

My Windows 7 laptop died last summer. I was challenged by Windows 8 on a new Dell Desktop. From the beginning, the machine was slow compared to my 3 year-old laptop. This week the processing got even slower. When I typed in the browser window, it would take a few seconds for the words to appear. When the machine was in sleep mode, it would take a couple of minutes to wake up and respond to the mouse. Delays in opening new tabs or moving to the application panel were stressing me out.

I got lucky when I found Rasim Muratovic's YouTube video: How to Speed Up Windows 8 (or 8.1) - Free and Easy. This short (5 minute) video offers 10 things you can do to improve Windows 8 machine speed. Thank you Rasim. After making these changes and restarting my computer, there is a definite improvement in response. Rasim is a genius and so generous for offering these tips for FREE.

 

I want to emphasize that Rasim is not selling a product in the video. Be prepared to take notes and make changes to speed up a slow computer.

Here's a quick summary of tips in the video. I will be brief so refer to the video for detailed instructions:

1. Power settings. Choose High Performance over Balanced. My computer didn't offer those choices so I left this alone.
2. Search > Defrag c: drive  Windows 8 claims to defrag weekly, but there was plenty of defragging going on when I clicked this.
3. Start > Run> Open: %temp% Delete contents of this file.
4. Start > Run> Open: temp Delete contents of this file.
5.  Start > Run> Open: prefetch Delete contents of this file.
6. Go to Task Manager. Start up Tab > Disable programs you do not need on start up. There were many in my computer.
7. Start > File Explorer > Right Click on Windows 8 OS(C:) >properties >Disc Clean up (Run this)
8. Start > Run> Open: msconfig Go to Services Tab IMPORTANT: Click box next to "Hide all Microsoft Services" Then click Delete.
9. Start > Run> Open: regedit Click HKEY current users >Control Panel > Double Click Mouse > Double Click MOUSEHOVERTIME > Change value from 400 to 20.
10. Same place as above. Control Panel > Double Click Desktop > Double Click MENUSHOWDELAY > Change value from 400 to 10.

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