

That's why closing down programs can be a good start, because it opens up some space for other programs to run. As a result of this process, though, loads of hard disk reading and writing takes place, slowing your computer down. When the system is low on memory, it swaps out a bit of the RAM memory from an idle program, as the name suggests, freeing up room on the hard drive for other programs to run. Swap files allow your operating system to use hard disk space to simulate extra memory. As your RAM approaches capacity, the operating system begins to rely on swap files to run programs. But over time, that RAM memory fills up, which will slow your computer down in the long-run. When your computer is running programs in its random access memory, or RAM, it only takes up a fraction of the space. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play
