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Computer Slowdown: Why it Happens and How to Fix It
Give a try to these quick solutions now
10 min. read
Updated onSeptember 23, 2024
updated onSeptember 23, 2024
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After purchasing a laptop or PC, you may experience a computer slowdown over time (sometimes while it’s still brand new), and there are many reasons for this.
Thecomputer slowdown issuemay come up due to viruses,damaged system files, full disk with no space, or even conflicts between third-party applications.
If you’re experiencing a computer slowdown regardless of the operating system, here are some solutions to fix the problem.
How to fix slow PC performance?
1. Perform System Maintenance Troubleshooter
This resolves most of the common system problems.
Take these steps to perform the System Maintenance troubleshooter:
2. Perform a Clean Boot
Performing a clean boot for your computer reduces software-related conflicts that can bring up the root causes of the computer slowdown.
These conflicts can be caused by applications and services that start running in the background when you start Windows normally.
How to perform a clean boot
To successfully perform a clean boot on Windows 10, you have to be logged on as the administrator then follow these steps:
You will have a clean boot environment after all these steps are carefully followed, after which you can try and check if you still experience the computer slowdown issue, or if the problem is gone.
3. Run a System File Checker scan
Here’s how to do this:
If the computer slowdown issue persists, try the next solution.
You can make this process easier by using aspecialized third-party repair tool. This software will allow you to automatically fix any broken system files right after scanning your computer comprehensively.
4. Install drivers in compatibility mode
Follow these steps to install in compatibility mode:
5. Boot in Safe Mode
Safe mode starts up your computer with limited files and drivers but Windows will still run. To know whether you’re on Safe mode, you’ll see the words at the corners of your screen.
If the issue of computer slowdown persists, check whether it occurs while your computer is in Safe mode.
Follow these steps to start your computer in Safe Mode:
A quicker way to get into Safe Mode is to restart your computer and then do the following:
If the computer slowdown issue isn’t there while in Safe mode, then your default settings and basic drivers are not contributing to the issue.
How to exit Safe Mode:
6. Run disk clean up
Before doing this, ensure you have sufficient disk space on Windows drive.
Here’s how to run disk clean up:
Check the box and click Run.
Note: this process cleans up files associated with your user profile. You can also use it toclean up files on your computer. Any infected data files may only be cleaned by completely deleting the file, meaning there’s a chance you may lose data.
7. Perform a System Reset
Performing a reset allows you to choose which files you want to keep or remove, and then reinstall Windows.
Here’s how to get started:
Note:all your personal files will be deleted and settings reset. Any apps you installed will be removed, and onlypre-installed appsthat came with your PC will be reinstalled.
8. Turn off visual effects
Disabling some visual effects can help speed up your computer. You can choose the visual effects to turn off, or let Windows choose it for you.
Here’s how to do this:
Note: you can use a less drastic option by selectingLet Windows choose what’s best for my computer.
9. Use Performance Troubleshooter
The Performance Troubleshooter automatically finds and fixes problems, checking issues that cause computer slowdown, thereby affecting your computer’s performance. Such issues include number of logged in users, or multiple programs running simultaneously.
Here’s how to do this:
This can also help if you encounter theerror_no_more_search_handlesissue.
10. Change the size of Virtual memory
If you get warnings of low memory (virtual), you need to increase the minimum paging file size. Windows sets the initial minimum size equal to the amount of RAM on your computer, the maximum equal to thrice the amount of RAM. If you get such warnings, increase both minimum and maximum sizes using the steps below:
Tips on how to prevent a computer slowdown
If you experience computer slowdown, you could get a hardware upgrade such as a new hard disk or faster video card. Using the Windows Experience Index tool, you can check and rate your computer’s speed.
This rates your computer on five components rating each with a number, and an overall base score (ranges from 1-7.9). If your computer rates below 2 or 3, you may need a new computer (depending on the tasks you need it for).
Consideradding more RAM to your computerin the event of a computer slowdown so as to speed it up, and deliver optimal performance. You can also use Windows ReadyBoost, which lets you use storage on some removable media devices like flash drives, tospeed up your computer.
To do this, right click on theTaskbar>Properties>Customize>Select which icons appear on the taskbar.From here you can switch apps to ‘on’ to show them permanently on the right side of the taskbar, or move items to system tray popup (like Network or Volume).
You can also clickTurn System Icons On or Offto remove icons entirely.
Do this once a week especially if you use it daily. Restarting clears memory and checks that errant processes and services that run are shut down. It also closes software running on your computer, not just those on your taskbar.
It also fixes mysterious performance problems that are hard to pinpoint. Keeping many programs open bogs down your computer, and leads to low memory.
Right click the taskbar and click Task Manager to launch it. Click the Startup tab and disable startup applications that you don’t use. Windows will let you know which apps slowdown your computer’s startup process.
To do this,right click Start>System>Advanced System Settings>Settings>Adjust for best performance(or select Custom to disable individual animations you don’t want). You can uncheckAnimate windows when minimizing and maximizingto disable the animations.
To do this, go to the Extensions or Add-ons manager on your web browser and remove what you don’t need. Consider enabling click-to-play plugins. You can prevent content such a s Flash and others from loading so as to reduce the use on CPU time.
As mentioned previously, viruses can cause computer slowdown. If malicious software is slowing it down and running in the background, scan your computer with astrong antivirus program, and also scan with Malwarebytes, which locates potentially unwanted programs usually ignored by antiviruses.
Such programs sneak into your computer and install other software you don’t need.
Run theDisk Cleanup toolto free up some space on your hard drive if it is completely full, because this contributes to computer slowdown.
The latest versions of Windows does this automatically by defragmenting mechanical hard drives in the background.
SSDs or solid state drives don’t need defragmentation, though Windows will optimize them, which is okay.
Go to your computer’s Control Panel and uninstall programs you don’t use or need. This speeds up the machine because those programs run in the background and these processes slow down your computer. This also saves space on your hard drive, and improves your computer’s security.
Note that yourlaptop may also become slow after formattingbecause everything has been restored to default settings. If so, the same solutions apply. If you’re having trouble withstarting up your PC, we can help out.
Let us know if any of the solutions we shared worked for you.
More about the topics:windows 10 fix
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
