Computer Running Slow (Windows)

Computer Running Slow (Windows)

Issue [Computer Running Slow (Windows) ]

  

Devices [Laptop, Desktop]

  

Suggested Resolutions [See Steps Below]  

Windows 11 & 10

If your PC is running slowly, the following suggestions might help speed things up. The tips are listed in order, so start with the first one, see if that helps, and then continue to the next one if it doesn’t.
1. Make sure you have the latest updates for Windows and device drivers
2. Restart your PC and open only the apps you need
3. Use ReadyBoost to help improve performance
4. Make sure the system is managing the page file size
5. Check for low disk space and free up space
6. Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows
7. Pause OneDrive syncing
8. Disable unnecessary startup programs
9. Check for and remove viruses and malware
10. Restore your PC from a system restore point

* Please refer to link #1 for step by step procedures 

Check the PCs health

The app gives you insight into what's taxing the processor, how much memory something is taking up and even how much network data a program has used. 

An easy way to open Task Manager in Windows 10 is to right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager from the list of options. In Windows 11, click on the magnifying glass on the Taskbar and search for Task Manager.

Task Manager's default view doesn't show a lot of information beyond which apps are currently running (handy if you already know if you want to close one out). To view what really matters, click More Details in the bottom left corner.

task-manager-windows-10

Use Task Manager to monitor your system. 

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

By default, this list is broken down into Apps and Background Processes. It's refreshed constantly, with the various columns constantly updating. My advice is to let Task Manager run for a few minutes and watch it. Watch for apps that shoot up to the top of the list, then disappear a few seconds later. Look for processes that stay at the top of the list with high memory or CPU use. Close programs at the top that are making the computer run slowly or even uninstall them. Not sure what a process is? Google its name to find out more. 

To close an app or process that you suspect may be partly responsible for slow performance, click on the listing then click End Task. 

Uninstall unnecessary programs that you don’t use or rarely use > Go this PC > system C or local disk C > Windows folder > Temp folder ( might say you don’t have access, click ok to access.

Make sure its not on when computer starts up > go to settings> type in start up apps > make sure the button for the apps you dont want running on start ups is turned OFF.

See if the internet is lagging


Conduct a speed test

Optimize and defrag

Optimize and defrag: Control panel > large icons > Administrative tools> Look for defragment and optimize tools> optimize and analyze> this will take time and will go through many steps. Will go through phases: this takes a long time. Make sure its set to daily. 2nd time they optimize it will be a lot faster. 


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