Although Windows 7 has been praised as the fastest operating system released by Microsoft, it is still prone to slowdowns, which may start as early as only a couple of months after installation. Slow Windows 7 operation is the reason many users choose to upgrade their computers even if they don’t like Windows 8. Windows 7 slowdown may be caused by a wide range of factors, including file system fragmentation, broken or outdated entries in the Windows registry, incorrect system settings that interfere with proper operation, misconfigured internet connection settings that lead to slower connection speeds and a number of other factors.
Symptoms of slow Windows 7 operation
The most common symptoms of Windows 7 slowdown include increased time for startup and shutdown, slower application launching, application or whole system freezes, slower response times (which may be noticed by users of text editors, where typed characters may appear on the screen with a brief delay), application crashes that require program restarts or computer reboots. In the case of slow internet connection speed, the user may notice slower web browsing, lower file download or upload speeds, poor quality of web calls, delays in message delivery when using chat programs and a number of other slowness symptoms.
Causes of slow Windows 7 operation
Among the most common causes of slow Windows 7 operation are misconfigured system settings that require adjusting, heavy file fragmentation due to hard drives not being defragmented on a regular basis, presence of invalid or corrupt entries in the Windows registry that prevents applications or system components from operating properly. Slow web browsing, downloads and web call interruptions on a supposedly high-speed connection are usually caused by incorrect network settings.