Why is my computer running slow?

Once you've had your computer for some time, say, a a couple of years, you may notice that your computer seems to work slower than when it was new.

On of the reasons this happens is file fragmentation, which is a normal result of storing programs and data on the hard drive. If you are a heavy user of the computer, de-fragmenting (or defragging) your hard drive should be done once a week or twice a month; depending on how much data you are storing on the hard drive, including installation or deletion of programs.
If you are a light user of the computer, then you need only defrag the hard drive once every month or two.

Another reason your computer may slow down (that doesnt involve viruses or spyware) is the amount of programs you have installed. If you have taken up more than 50% of your hard drive with programs, your computer will run slower simply because the read/write head on the hard drive has to travel more, which takes more time.

Update

If you are having Internet access problems resulting from a Windows Update and you are using Zone Alarm, you must uninstall Zone Alarm, delete ALL leftover folders, and download the newest version-70.483.000 and install it.

The Windows Update should be installed; it is a necessary fix to strengthen Windows against Internet attacks.

If you cant connect to the Internet

...and this only just happened in the last day or two, then your problem is most likely to be the most recent Windows Update. Or, by now (Friday, July 11), the one installed on July 9.

To fix it, remove the update.
Go to Control Panel, Add Remove Programs
Click the option to show Updates in the top corner
Scroll down the list of installed Windows updates and uninstall this one
KB915748.

Then go to Windows Update website and select the option not to download that update again.

The problem is that this update is conflicting with third-party ( not a Microsoft product) firewall programs, especially Zone Alarm.

Microsoft is aware of the problem, but may not be doing anything about it, since this problem benefits their products at the price of your security and convenience.

A Late Independence Day Note

On Independence Day, we are reminded of how our forefathers fought to free us from rulers who abused their power and who did not listen to the problems and complaints of the citizens.

This should remind us also that we as a country must continually fight against the inherent nature of government to limit our freedoms and to control our actions and behaviors. To control us.

What does this have to do with computers? Right now, the government has the right to tap your phones, record your cell phone conversations and text messages, read your emails, watch what websites you go to and demand that stores give up records of what food you eat and what books you read.

According to the Constitution, you have the right to to live your life without interference from, or monitoring by, the government.
Any government, at any level.
Right now, we are giving up those rights. It is not up to the government to decide what we say on the phone, or who we talk to. Or how we use our home computers.

Once we give up the right to privacy(and yes, the courts have upheld a traditional "right to privacy") and non-interference in our lives by the government, we will never get them back short of revolution.

Are you up for revolution; without knowing how much it will cost you personally?

I didnt think so.

So we, as Americans, must make sure our representatives are not cowed by the minority of citizens and the moneyed special interests who would tell our representatives that they must take away our rights, in order to make us "safe."
The world is not a safe place; but we are adults, we accept that there is risk involved in living.

We must prevent our representatives from taking away that risk. When we lose the risk in life, we lose the freedoms that made that risk possible.

Remember, Ben Franklin said "Those who desire both Security and Liberty deserve neither and will receive neither."

Happy Independence Day!