There are many
factors that influence the speed of a computer. This article looks at the causes and gives
advice on how to increase the speed of a PC. First determine if the problem is caused by
Microvet or if it is windows, network or hardware based.
Things that you can do in Microvet to make the program runs faster
1. Re-index
We recommend
that you re-index once a week.
2. File
maintenance
Power failures can leave blank records in the tables. Run the file maintenance after a power
failure. Run
file maintenance as follows:
Exit from
Microvet on all the computers, including the file server.
Click on START
Click on RUN
Type in:
C:\MFW5\MFW5MAIN.EXE
OK
3. Archive
old invoices
This will transfer invoices from the active old
transaction file to the inactive archive file. Consult the Microvet Users’ Guide on
how to archive old transactions.
Windows, network and hardware causes
4. Memory
Windows is multi-tasking.
It allows you to open more than one application at the same time. Each application is
loaded into memory and memory is limited. The more programs you open, the slower the PC
will be. Use only one or two applications at the same time.
5. Wallpaper
and special effects
Windows allows
you to add beautiful art to the background of the desktop and have animated special
effects. These functions take up memory and slow down the PC. If your PC does not have a
large memory remove all special effects and set it to Windows Standard.
Click with the
right mouse button on an open spot on the desktop.
Click on
PROPERTIES
Click on
BACKGROUND, APPEARANCE and effects and set it all to Windows Standard
6. Free
disk space
If you run out
of free disk space, it will slow down the PC. Check the free disk space as follows:
Go to MY
COMPUTER
Right click on
local disk C
There should be
a minimum of 100 MB but preferably 200 MB free disk space. To create more free disk space
you can run the disk cleanup utility of Windows.
Click on START
Click on
PROGRAMS
Click on
ACCESSORIES
Click on SYSTEM
TOOLS
Click on DISK
CLEANUP
You can also
uninstall games and software that you do no longer use. Uninstall applications as follows:
Click on START
Click on
SETTINGS
Click on CONTROL
PANEL
Click on
ADD/REMOVE SOFTWARE
Select the
application that you want to delete
Click on
ADD/REMOVE
7. Fragmented
disk
With the normal
use of a PC where new information is added and other information deleted, the data
gradually gets fragmented. This can slow down a PC. Windows has a function to defragment
the hard disk. This may take a few hours. Run Defrag after hours. Run it as follows:
Click on START
Click on
PROGRAMS
Click on
ACCESSORIES
Click on SYSTEM
TOOLS
Click on DISK
DEFRAGMENTER
8. Bad
sectors
Sometimes a hard
disk can develop physical errors. These are bad spots where the data can’t be read.
Windows has a function named Scandisk that can fix some of these problems. It identifies
the bad sectors and prevent the operating system from using these bad spots. It will also
give a report on the status of the hard disk. Run Scandisk as follows:
Click on START
Click on
PROGRAMS
Click on
ACCESSORIES
Click on SYSTEM
TOOLS
Click on
SCANDISK
9. Virtual
Memory
Windows has a
setting where you can define the size of the virtual memory. If this size is too small it
can slow down Windows. Set it as follows:
Click on START
Click on
SETTINGS
Click on CONTROL
PANEL
Double click on
SYSTEM
Click on VIRTUAL
MEMORY
Select the
option 'Let Windows manage my virtual memory settings'
10. Overheating
There are
cooling fans inside the PC. If there is a malfunction the system will overheat. This can
slow down a PC and can also cause it to hang. Open the box of the PC and inspect all the
cooling fans. (Take care not to be electrocuted). Get a technician to replace or fix a
broken fan.
11. Memory
resident programs
There are
programs that can be loaded into memory when a computer starts. They take their toll on
the memory and can slow down a PC. Remove them from start-up as follows:
Click on START
Go to SETTINGS
Click on TASK
BAR AND START MENU
Click on
ADVANCED
Click on
ADVANCED
Double click on
PROGRAMS
Double click on
START UP
Delete the items
that you do not want to load automatically on Start up
12. Anti-virus
software
It is very
important to have proper anti-virus software. The disadvantage is that it loads into
memory and scans every file on a continual basis. This may affect the speed of the PC
adversely. If you have an isolated system and do use e-mail you may temporarily
de-activate the anti-virus software to make the PC run faster. (Remember to re-activate it
before you use your e-mail or read a stiffy disk or a CD. If the anti-virus software is
active, an icon will be displayed on the status bar at the bottom of the screen.
De-activate it as follows:
Right click on
the anti-virus icon on the status bar
Click on DISABLE
AUTO-PROTECT
13. Check
files
If there is a
power failure or if the computer is switched off without a proper shut down, scandisk may
save check files to the root directory. If there are many of these files, they may slow
down the system. You can delete these files as follows:
Click on START
Click on
PROGRAMS
Click on MS DOS
PROMPT
Type the
following:
CD\
DEL *.CHK
EXIT
14. Temp
files
Windows creates
temporary files to store information. If there is a power failure or if the computer is
switched off without a proper shut down, these files are saved to the disk as temp files.
They may slow down the PC. You can delete these files. In most cases they have a folder of
their own in Windows. Delete them as follows;
Click on START
Click on
PROGRAMS
Click on MS DOS
PROMPT
Type the
following:
CD\WINDOWS\TEMP
DEL *.TMP
EXIT
15. Configuration
Windows has
configuration files. Some of older software alter the configuration files on installation.
This limits Windows and slows down the PC. Edit the configurations file as follows:
Click on START
Click on
PROGRAMS
Click on MS DOS
PROMPT
Type the
following:
CD\
EDIT CONFIG.SYS
(A blue screen
will appear, add the three letters REM followed by a space in front of each line to change
the line to a remark.)
Press Alt + F
Press X
Press Enter to
save
Type the
following:
EXIT
Shut down and
re-start the PC for the alterations to take effect.
16. References
When you install
Windows based software, drivers and components are loaded into the Windows folders. At the
same time it alters the Windows configuration files to address these drivers and
components. This slows down the speed of the system. The more software you load, the
slower the system becomes. If you delete some of these applications, the references remain
in the configurations files. This may cause Windows to go in search loops to try and find
these files.
TIP - If you
want to remove software from your PC, do not delete it but uninstall it. The uninstall
process should remove the references to the software in the configuration files.
One can also
edit all the Windows initialisation files and remove all the references but this is tricky
and you run the risk of making a mistake by removing the wrong reference and that can
cause Windows to malfunction.
To format the
hard drive and re-install the operating system and all the software is a certain way to
correct this problem.
WARNING - If you
format the hard drive, you loose everything on the disk. It is better to get a technician
to help with this. First make proper backups before you proceed and make sure you have all
the software and Windows on CD.
17. Hardware
Almost any part
of the hardware can cause the PC to slow down. The most common are RAM, mother board, CPU
and hard disk. Get your hardware technician to test the hardware.
18. Network
The network can
cause the system to slow down. The more users on the system, the slower it will get.
Network cards, cables, hubs and connections can be faulty. There are new faster network
cards available. Sometimes it can help to upgrade the network.
19. Software
As the software
develops, new functions are added to the system. Each new function increases the workload
of the processor. As the software develops, it will become necessary to upgrade the
hardware.
20. Windows
Each new release of Windows has many new features but the price to pay is a slower PC.