Q: My computer is running slowly. How do I speed it up?

A: This relatively simple question isn't easy to answer, nor does this problem only affect graphics users, but pretty much anyone who has a computer with multiple software software programs, music, etc. and is connected to the Internet.

Over the next few issues we're going to look at how to improve the performance of your computer without spending your hard earned cash. Spending money should be a last resort, not something you do first.

Many people think that adding more RAM, a faster video card with more memory, a hard drive or a motherboard upgrade is the best solution. That may be true, but it could be a waste of money.

Before you shell out any cash, let me ask you two questions:

1: What was the last thing you did before your computer started to slow down?

2. When was the last time you defragmented your hard drive?

Your answers will help determine what's wrong with your computer.

If your answer to number one is related to downloading or installing software, you might have an attack of spyware. In the next issue, we'll go into more depth on how you can fix that problem.

If it's related to having too many programs installed, here are a couple of quick fixes. If you work on the Windows platform and have msconfig installed, execute that from the Run menu. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click on the Startup tab. This shows you what programs are loaded at startup. Turning off unncessary Startup Items will speed up your computer.

To learn what each item is on the list, access Google and do a search for each name that appears in the list. In the results that appear, you'll learn what each item does and whether it can be turned off - or not.

CAUTION: Don't do this indiscriminately. If you do, you could turn turn off your virus protection software and leave your computer vulnerable to attacks. If you have any doubts about your capabilities, enlist the help of a qualified professional.

If your answer to number 2 was that you didn't defrag your hard drive, that's a relatively simple solution. You can usethe software that comes with Windows but a better product isDiskeeper Pro.

One of the great aspects of this application is the "Set It and Forget It" feature that allows you to set when you want theprogram to run and how often. As an example, you can set the software to run every night, on weekends only, or set a custom schedule.

Next time we'll take an in-depth look at Spyware and what to do about it.