Laptop Running Slow? Try These 5 Tips Before You Panic

Our work devices are the backbone of our work life, and our laptops are no exception. They’re our constant companions, helping us navigate through work emails, create compelling presentations, and surf the web for inspiration. However, like any hardworking tool, our laptops may sometimes feel sluggish and slow. Before you panic and rush to the nearest tech store, try these five simple tips to breathe new life into your weary machine. 

Free up your laptop’s memory 

Just like a cluttered closet, a full hard drive can hinder your laptop’s performance. Your hard drive is your laptop’s long-term storage, and when it’s full, it can cause various issues. You might encounter difficulties installing new apps or experience overall sluggishness. This happens because many applications, including Windows, require extra space to store temporary files. To check your laptop’s storage status, Go to Settings, select System and choose Storage. Windows will display a visual representation of your storage usage. A red bar indicates that your hard drive is too full. 

To get a detailed storage usage breakdown, click Show more categories. You’ll likely find that Apps & features consume the most space. To free up significant storage, focus on uninstalling large apps from this section. Additionally, you can enable Storage Sense within the Storage settings. This feature allows Windows to automatically delete temporary files and other unnecessary data to free up space on your hard drive. 

Limit startup tasks and programs 

Like our smartphones, many apps and programs on our laptops run in the background, consuming valuable CPU resources and slowing down startup times. This can hinder the performance of other applications and lead to a lag across the system. To improve performance, you can limit the programs that start automatically when you boot up your laptop. 

Here’s how to do it: Access the Task Manager by simply pressing Ctrl-Shift-Esc. Then, switch to the Startup apps tab, where you’ll see a list of all the programs that load when Windows starts. You will also see a column indicating each program’s Startup impact (high, low or medium), and the Status column shows whether a program is enabled to run at startup. You can right-click on any entry to change its status. It’s generally easy to identify unnecessary programs. For instance, if you don’t frequently use Adobe Reader, you can disable the update manager to save resources. Disabling unnecessary startup programs can significantly improve your laptop’s performance and reduce boot times. 

Defrag your hard drive 

When you save and delete files, they can become fragmented and spread across your hard drive. This fragmentation can lead to issues such as slow performance, freezing, and longer boot times. To resolve this, you can defragment your hard drive. Defragmentation, often called “defragging,” is like cleaning up your desk – it rearranges the scattered data on your hard drive into a more organised and efficient layout. To defragment your hard drive, go to the Start menu and type “defragment” in the search bar. This will launch a program that allows you to defragment your hard drive and reorganise the files for better efficiency. 

Note: While Windows is designed to automatically defragment your hard drive weekly, you can manually initiate the process if you notice performance issues. 

Opt for a different antivirus software 

While an antivirus program is essential for keeping your laptop secure, it can also contribute to slower performance. A good antivirus runs continuously in the background and scans incoming files in real-time, helping to protect your device from threats. However, some antivirus software can be resource-intensive, consuming significant CPU and RAM resources. If your laptop has limited processing power, this can lead to noticeable slowdowns and even cause it to freeze up. 

If you’re using an antivirus that is draining your laptop’s performance, consider switching to a lightweight alternative. When selecting an antivirus, look for the following features: 

• Minimal CPU usage: An effective antivirus should operate without significantly slowing down your computer’s performance, allowing other applications to run smoothly. 

• Low memory requirements: Look for antivirus software that consumes little RAM, ensuring your system retains enough resources for everyday tasks. 

• Options to temporarily block or pause non-essential tasks: This feature allows the antivirus to prioritise critical processes and improve overall system responsiveness during high-demand situations. 

• Compact size, even during scans: A lightweight antivirus program should maintain a compact size and have minimal system impact while running in the background. It should efficiently perform scans with low RAM usage, ensuring that it doesn’t consume excessive disk space or slow down the system as it checks for potential threats. By carefully selecting an antivirus solution, you can protect your laptop without sacrificing performance. 

Upgrade your RAM and hard drive 

To significantly improve your laptop’s performance, consider these hardware upgrades: 

• Add more RAM: RAM, or Random Access Memory, is your laptop’s short-term memory. If you’re running low on RAM, your laptop may struggle to multitask and run multiple applications smoothly. Adding more RAM can enhance your laptop’s ability to handle demanding tasks and improve its responsiveness. 

Please note: Not all laptop models are designed to accommodate RAM upgrades. It is crucial to verify the upgradeability of your specific laptop model before proceeding. 

•  Upgrade to an SSD: Consider upgrading to a Solid-State Drive (SSD). Although Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) provide more storage at a lower cost, an SSD can significantly speed up your computer’s ability to load applications and save files, resulting in a faster overall experience. 

Distilled 

Following these straightforward yet impactful tips can rejuvenate your laptop and greatly enhance your productivity and overall computing experience. If you’ve applied these suggestions and your laptop still faces performance issues, it might be time to seek professional help. However, for most users, these basic optimizations should be sufficient to restore your laptop’s smooth operation.