This summer I built a PC with these specs:

 

Intel 4770k 3.5 GHz Quad Core

GTX 770 SuperClocked

8GB RAM

1 TB HDD

 

I used it for several months and it was awesome. Every game I played ran quickly with high FPS and the computer booted up in about 30 seconds. I got really busy and didn't use the computer for a few months and just left it off next to my desk. I now am turning it on for the first time and it is WAY slower than before. Just turning it on takes several minutes and my games are running slowly. I have no idea why. I know if you don't run a car for a long time it can run slowly and have problems, but I didn't think computers were the same way. I checked inside the case and there really is not a lot of dust or anything. I am thinking of completely wiping the hard drive and installing Windows and everything from scratch. Would that fix it? What could be wrong?

 

Thanks.

Viruses/Malware are known to slow down a system, that could be a cause. 

Viruses/Malware are known to slow down a system, that could be a cause. 

 

Okay, I will do a virus scan now.

Okay, I will do a virus scan now.

Make sure to do a full scan, as a quick scan may not pick up anything.

 

On another note, it's 5AM here and I've been up all night. Time to hit the hay, hopefully somebody else can help. 

Before you decide to wipe it, do a malware scan, but also try to defrag, and check what programs are running in the background and on bootup (task manager > Processes and services) 

Before you decide to wipe it, do a malware scan, but also try to defrag, and check what programs are running in the background and on bootup (task manager > Processes and services) 

 

The scan completed, it found 2 dangerous files, 1 Trojan horse and some other file. I am going to try the defrag and some other options that come with my security software. Nothing has really changed on the computer, it's just running more slowly than before.

Edited December 14, 201312 yr by Senatov

The scan completed, it found 2 dangerous files, 1 Trojan horse and some other file. I am going to try the defrag and some other options that come with my security software. Nothing has really changed on the computer, it's just running more slowly than before.

Cool. Id be willing to bet those 2 files are bogging down your pc. Although it's odd it's just now affecting your pc now, unless you just happened to get them the very last time you used your pc.

Edited December 14, 201312 yr by devildog789

I ran a more detailed analysis and it found thousands of junk files and other problems on my computer which it deleted and fixed. It seems to be running faster now.