There are several reasons why your system can run slowly and one of them is because you have software that requires a lot in terms of system resources as well as graphics.

If upgrading your computer is not an option, then there’s another way by which you can improve the speed of your computer, and this requires one to either reduce or turn off hardware acceleration.

So, here are the steps to reduce or turn off Hardware Acceleration, according to each ‘operating system’:

#1: Windows 7

Open the start menu. Select Control Panel, Personalization, Display Settings, Advanced Settings and Troubleshooting. Select the option ‘Change Settings’ and make the desired the changes as required. Hit ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’ to set the changes made and to exit the dialog box. Restart your computer.

#2: Windows Vista

Click on the options in this sequence: Start, Control Panel, Appearance and Personalization. Select Adjust Screen Resolution and then Advanced Settings within the Display Settings Window. After this, select the Troubleshooting option from the monitor properties window and then the Change settings as well as Continue within the security window. Now, adjust the hardware acceleration settings as you wish then hit OK. Don’t forget to restart your computer again.

#3: Windows XP & 2000

Right click on desktop and select the Settings tab, the Advanced button and then, the Troubleshooting tab as well. Now adjust the Hardware Acceleration settings by moving it to the left as far as desired. Select OK, and restart your computer in order to save your settings and activate changes.