To understand why your computer is slowing down and how to fix this problem, you need to check all possible options by elimination - one after another. To make this task easier, below is a list of the main reasons why your computer or laptop slows down and how you can speed it up.
The first and most common reason is that you have too little RAM installed. The problem here is that programs are constantly updated and every year they “eat” more and more resources.
If previously Windows XP and Opera 12 required approximately 200 MB of RAM, now Windows 10 and the latest version of Google Chrome require about 2 GB of RAM. And this is exactly half (many laptops have 4 GB installed). Add here Photoshop, Word text editor, music player - you will immediately understand why a laptop or computer slows down, freezes and works slowly.
To understand whether the problem is really in the RAM or not, launch the task manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Del. Then open the “Performance” tab and see how much RAM is occupied at a time when the PC is very slow.
The screenshot above shows that Windows 7 “eats” 2.2 GB of RAM. But here 8GB is installed, so in this particular case there is no problem.
What to do if the computer is very slow precisely because of the RAM? There are several options here:
Weak processor
Another reason is that the processor is too weak. In fact, this problem closely intersects with the previous one. If you run several programs at the same time, the processor may not be able to cope with such a load.
To check this, launch the task manager and open the “Performance” tab. Here you can see the percentage of processor load.
If it's too high, you have two options. The first is to buy a new processor. And secondly, try to reduce the number of programs running simultaneously to a minimum.
Viruses and malware
If your computer or laptop starts to slow down for no reason, there is a high probability that you have caught a virus. Unfortunately, today it’s easier than ever to catch an infection on the Internet. But finding it and removing it is already a problem.
There are a lot of viruses today. There are miners that load Windows at 100%, as a result of which the PC or laptop is very slow. So much so that it is generally impossible to work with it - the mouse responds to pressing after 30-60 seconds.
To check whether a laptop or computer has really become slow due to viruses, you need to scan it with an antivirus and a malware removal utility.
Computer slows down due to hard drive
If your PC or laptop is slow and stalls, although it was fine before, then the problem may be with the hard drive.
There may be several reasons for this:
Overheating of components
Another popular reason why a computer freezes is overheating of components. This is especially true for laptops. If the laptop began to slow down after a certain time (but immediately worked fine when turned on), then the problem is probably overheating.
This needs to be constantly monitored, because high temperatures affect not only the brakes - sooner or later something can burn out or fail.
Small paging file size
This problem is directly related to the lack of RAM. After all, the paging file is virtual memory, which is activated if there is not enough standard memory. This problem is especially common among gamers.
Due to the insufficient size of the paging file, the computer begins to lag. And not immediately, but after some time. As a result, even on a powerful computer, CS Go, Warface, Tanks and other not very demanding games lag.
This, of course, is not the only reason why this problem may occur, but it’s still worth a try. Fortunately, fixing this problem is not difficult.
Too many junk files
Another reason why the computer began to slow down lies right on the surface. The problem here is a large amount of “garbage”: temporary files, old registry entries, accumulated browser cache, etc.
The fix is very simple:
- remove programs that you have not used for a long time;
- tidy up your desktop (remove everything that is not needed);
- empty the trash (it also takes up space);
- delete your browser cache.
- clean the registry and temporary files.
Lots of startup programs
If your computer slows down at startup, then the reason is obvious - you have added too many programs to startup. After all, they all need time to load. It may take 5 minutes for them to turn on. It is because of this that the computer takes a long time to load and slows down.
They can also interfere with you in the future. You will launch a browser or a toy, and all startup programs will remain enabled! Don’t be surprised that in this situation, even on a productive computer, games or programs slow down.
In general, if your laptop is very slow, clean the startup. This will help speed up Windows and eliminate lag.
The computer slows down due to the browser
It often happens that the browser slows down the computer. Yes, he eats a lot. And if only 2 or 4 GB of RAM is installed, this is a problem. Here, even one browser can completely load your PC.
Also, your computer may be malfunctioning due to the fact that you have:
- an old version of the browser is installed;
- too many tabs open;
- Video launched in Full HD quality.
There are several ways to fix this problem:
- Install the latest version of your browser.
- Try to close all unnecessary tabs - this will reduce the load.
- Check your browser for viruses and remove them (if any).
Driver problems
First, check whether you have installed the drivers at all. To do this, go to Start - Control Panel - Device Manager and see if there are yellow exclamation marks there. Their presence indicates problems with the drivers and the need to reinstall them.
Too much dust
How long has it been since you cleaned your system unit or laptop from dust? But this can make him warm up. Dust disrupts normal air circulation, and then you wonder why the laptop slows down so much and what to do.
This procedure must be performed at least once a year. And if you don’t know how, contact a service center, this service is not that expensive.
Computer games lag
There can be a lot of reasons for this. After all, in addition to standard Windows optimization, it is necessary that you have a powerful laptop that meets the recommended system requirements. But if your Dota 2, Warface or CS Go lags, then this is a problem. It can be fixed by changing the settings in the game, video card settings, etc.
Visual effects
If you have an old laptop or PC, it may slow down due to visual effects or a large number of gadgets. What do you need more: a beautiful desktop or the ability to work normally at a computer? In the latter case, you can install a simpler theme by disabling unnecessary effects.
Instead of conclusions
Now you know why your laptop slows down and how to speed it up. These tips are universal and apply to all PCs and laptops running Windows. Therefore, if your computer or laptop is slow and slow, try speeding it up using the methods described above.
On the Internet, the question often arises: the laptop slows down, what to do with Windows 7 OS? Of course, this will inevitably lead to problems with the operation of the entire local network, especially if it is connected to other devices.
Therefore, in this article we will look at the main reasons why the Windows 7 operating system begins to slow down, and we will tell you how to speed up your computer with your own hands.
Why the laptop slows down: possible reasons
So, among the most “popular” reasons that the laptop “freezes” and “slows down”, we can note:
- 1. Lack of free space on the laptop hard drive.
- 2. A large number of programs in startup.
- 3. Damage to system files in the operating system.
- 4. Viral activity.
- 5. Malfunction of RAM (Ram).
- 6. Laptop processor overheating.
Thus, there are quite a lot of problematic situations that cause the system to slow down, and below we will consider the solution to each of the possible causes.
What to do if the laptop freezes and slows down: solving problems with the hard drive being full.
The first thing you need to pay attention to when your operating system is running slowly is whether your hard drive or HDD is full. Many users do not pay attention to a full hard drive "C"
In order to free up disk space, you should first use the Disk Cleanup function. To do this, you need to go to the “My Computer” tab, select the “C” drive and go to the disk properties by right-clicking on the corresponding “icon”.
Then you need to find the “Disk Cleanup” tab and click on it.
A window will open in which you need to select the items to be deleted:
The illustration above shows that you can free up to 1.7 gigabytes of disk space. You also need to remove all unused programs and transfer all the necessary files to drive “D”.
The desired free space of your hard drive is twice the size of your random access memory (RAM). Example: if the computer has 8 gigabytes of RAM (RAM), then the required free space is equal to 16 gigabytes.
The laptop slows down a lot: the stumbling block is autoboot
Now it’s time to see what’s going on at startup. The fact is that the more programs there are in startup, the slower the operating system starts. You should go to the “Start” menu and enter the command “msconfig” in the search bar, and then press “Enter”
In the window that opens, select the “Startup” tab, and then click on the “Disable all” button and “Ok”
The system will ask you to reboot - you need to agree and wait patiently for the Windows 7 operating system to start again.
Unauthorized entry is prohibited or we are correcting system errors
At the next stage of solving the problem “what to do if the laptop takes a long time to boot and slows down,” we’ll talk about one of the most serious software problems - restoring system files. First, you should scan your operating system.
To do this, go to the Start menu again and enter the command “CMD” in the search bar. A console icon will appear in the upper left corner - right-click on it and select the “Run as administrator” tab
A console window will open, where you will need to enter the command “sfc /scannow” and press “Enter”. The operating system will begin scanning and if everything is normal, the system will produce a result indicating that the system files are fully compliant.
If errors are found, the system will try to correct them and notify you about it
If this method does not help, then you will have to restore system files manually. You should find the original Windows 7 boot disk, then “boot” from it and select system recovery.
A search for all installed operating systems will begin, after which a window will open to select the operating system:
Your next action is to select the command line to enter the main command:
In the console that opens, you need to enter the command: c /scannow /offbootdir=с:\ /offwindir=с:\windows and wait for the recovery to complete:
What to do if the laptop gets very hot and freezes?
Attention viruses
There are a huge number of viruses that can not only slow down Windows 7/8/10, but also completely crash it. Be careful not to download unknown files onto your computer, especially those with “.exe” resolution.
Buy a good antivirus and periodically scan your computer for threats.
Laptop hardware problems
If, for no apparent external reason, your laptop begins to slow down significantly, then the first thing you should do is check its RAM (abbreviated RAM). Of course, you can use the built-in capabilities of the operating system itself, but it’s better use the memtest program.
You can download it on the Internet: we strongly recommend that when downloading the software, pay attention to the fact that you will need an ISO image.
If the laptop has 2 RAM modules, then you should check them one by one: to do this, you need to first pull out one stick and check the laptop with Windows OS, and then the second.
Next, set the laptop’s Biose to boot from a flash drive (often by pressing the “F9” key, you can select which device will boot from), after which the “Memtest” program will launch and automatically begin checking the laptop’s memory.
When the check is completed - if there are errors in the laptop's memory - the program will describe them in detail
If errors are detected, it is advisable to change the RAM stick to a new one, since the stability of the system is not guaranteed.
Sometimes RAM errors occur from oxidized contacts. Take an ordinary stationery eraser (rubber band) and wipe the contacts with it - one at a time for each strip.
Sunstroke or laptop overheating.
Very often, the reason that a laptop heats up and slows down is dust that settles on the cooler (fan) blades and the laptop’s motherboard itself. Basically, symptoms of overheating, due to which the laptop slows down (or the Windows OS completely turns off), appear in the summer, when it is very hot. The hum of the fan and the hot air that comes out of the laptop radiator almost immediately after turning on the laptop is the first signal that the computer needs to be cleaned.
It is better to entrust such a matter to a specialist, since by disassembling the laptop yourself, you can accidentally short-circuit or break something, which will cost you an expensive repair. You should also avoid vacuuming your laptop, as spinning the fan creates reverse electricity that can burn parts on the motherboard. You can, of course, use laptop cooling pads - but they are short-lived.
Let's look at all the reasons why a computer (laptop) may slow down and what to do to solve this problem.
The computer works slowly (slows down) - clean the Windows registry
The first and most common reason is the lack of maintenance of the operating system. The fact is that during the operation of the computer, the system becomes clogged with various temporary files, traces or entire fragments of previously deleted programs and files, the registry becomes clogged with paths that no longer lead anywhere and as a result, all this rubbish begins to interfere with the normal operation of the computer, and even and takes away precious space on your hard drive. As you probably already guessed, this digital garbage needs to be removed periodically. And just don’t be alarmed, of course we won’t do this manually; a lot of programs have already been written for these purposes.
To clean the system we will use the most popular free utility, .
In the “Cleaning” section, click the “Analysis” button, wait for the analysis to finish, then click the “Cleaning” button. All temporary files have been deleted.
Go to the “Registry” section, click the “Search for problems” button, wait for the search to finish, click the “Fix” button. At this point, cleaning the system can be considered complete.
Solving the problem of computer “brakes” by defragmenting files
The second no less common problem for novice users is severe fragmentation of files on the system disk. So what is file fragmentation?
Files are written to disk clusters. Long files occupy several clusters at once and, as a rule, on an empty disk, clusters are written in a row. But if there is no longer a solid space, the system will write the file into separate, free clusters located far from each other, thereby breaking the file into fragments. To play such a file, the system is forced to search for fragments scattered across the disk; naturally, this requires time and additional resources, as a result the computer responds to the command with a delay.
This problem is solved by disk defragmentation. There are a dime a dozen programs on the Internet specially created for this purpose, but we will not describe third-party software here, since Windows has its own utility that copes with this task perfectly.
Go to Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter. We launch the program, select the disk on which the operating system is located, usually drive C. Click the “Analyze disk” button; if the analysis shows more than 10% fragmentation, immediately click the “Disk Defragmentation” button.
It should also be mentioned that in order to perform defragmentation, the disk must have at least 15% free space. By the way, a system disk that is full to capacity can also cause poor computer performance.
Overheating of the processor is another reason for “braking”
The computer can also slow down due to overheating of the processor. The reason for this may be house dust, which clogs the fins of the radiator cooling the processor. To check the temperature, download the free program Core Temp(there are two versions in the archive, for a 32-bit system and a 64-bit one), it does not require installation, you just need to run the exe file and that’s it.
So what temperature should it be? In general, the lower, the longer the processor will last, but if you name specific numbers, then up to 45 degrees (without load) can be considered a completely normal temperature. In the summer heat, 50-55 degrees is not critical. But anything above 60 is bad; under good load (for example, game mode), the temperature will easily reach critical.
How to deal with this? There's nothing complicated. Remove the side panel of the system unit, use a brush to remove dust from the radiator, and then blow it with a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner. In this case, we clean it in place; there is no need to disassemble anything.
Do everything carefully, without exerting much physical effort, since between the processor and the radiator there is a dense layer of thermal paste, through which the heat exchange actually takes place. If the fastenings are loose, you may inadvertently move the radiator, and the seal will be broken, then you will have to buy thermal paste and apply it again. By the way, if the radiator fins are clean, but the processor still gets very hot, then most likely the problem lies in the tightness of the heatsink to the processor. We draw your attention to the fact that the radiator must hold like a glove; if there is a slight play (staggering), this is the reason for overheating. Remove the heatsink, clean off the old thermal paste, apply a new layer of thermal paste to the processor and firmly press the heatsink into place.
The computer is “buggy, slow, slow” – viral infection
Viruses are also a common cause of slowdowns and glitches. Run a full system scan with your antivirus, or use free antivirus scanners such as , or . These scanners can cope with almost any virus infection.
We eliminate the “braking” of the computer by removing unnecessary programs from startup
A large number of programs registered in startup can also cause the computer to run slowly. What is autoloading? Windows has a feature called autorun programs. This is when, when you start the computer, along with the operating system, any necessary program is launched, for example, an antivirus or an agent for checking email. This is a quite convenient and sometimes very necessary function. You can add absolutely any program to startup, but only if you really need this program, such as an antivirus. But unfortunately, only the necessary programs are not always included in startup. It often happens that during installation, programs are automatically registered in autorun, and over time there can be quite a lot of them, but each running process creates a load, taking up RAM and computer resources, and naturally the system begins to “slow down”.
To edit the startup list, let's use the CCleaner utility again. Launch the program, open the “Tools” section, go to the “Startup” tab. Now you can see all the programs that are loaded with Windows. Disable everything that is not particularly necessary (Just do not disable the antivirus!). If you mistakenly disable the desired program, you can also easily enable it later.
If none of the presented computer treatment methods helped you, the last, last resort remains - reinstalling the operating system.
Sometimes we are faced with an unknown reason for the low speed of the PC and even, worse, constant freezes of the operating system. This usually happens with computers and laptops that have served us for quite a long time.
Even advanced users cannot always understand the reasons for this computer behavior, let alone poorly trained beginners. This article will help you diagnose the causes of freezing and braking of computers and independently eliminate a number of problems that have arisen.
1. Software problem
Since you are reading this article, you have begun to notice that the computer cannot cope with some computing tasks, it takes more time to open familiar sites, it slows down even when using simple toys, when watching videos, pictures, and so on. The first thing that comes to mind is to contact a specialized computer repair center, but don’t rush to do this, try to deal with this problem yourself.
The system itself has such utilities in its set, but they are basic and, as a rule, do not always cope properly with such problems, especially when using the computer for a long time. After thoroughly cleaning and configuring the system with special programs, the computer will definitely work faster.
2. Component overheating problem
If it's a computer, then programs won't help here. When the permissible temperature of one or more components of a computer/laptop exceeds the permissible temperature, it begins to slow down greatly and may even freeze. This is a protective measure designed to reduce the load and, accordingly, the temperature.
Make sure that all cooling system vents have unobstructed air flow and are not blocked by foreign objects. Pay attention to the sufficient space between the wall of the computer desk and the cooling air intake holes of the system unit.
The same goes for laptops. It is not recommended to place the laptop on soft surfaces, such as a blanket, that prevent the free flow of cooling air. Today there are many different stands that provide additional cooling, allowing you to reduce the heating of the laptop during prolonged use and workload. If the problem has already occurred, then read my article on how to deal with it.
The next reason for unstable operation may be overheating of processors and computer hardware components due to clogging of the cooling system with common dust and suspended particles that are drawn in by the fan along with the cooling air. Over time, dust accumulates on radiators, fans and other elements of the cooling system, preventing the passage of sufficient air to effectively blow over the electronic components of the system unit.
Install a utility that will help you measure the processor temperature, for example AIDA64. It should be without load within 42 - 47 C. If the temperature is above 70, then it is necessary to clear the cooling system of clogging or replace the fan, which may not be working. Carry out a visual inspection: if the fan does not spin or operates intermittently, or you hear extraneous noise during its operation, then clean it and lubricate it with oil, but it is better to replace it. Perhaps it was damaged during long-term operation, the lubricant has hardened, and so on.
Damage to the radiator can also cause freezing or stuttering. In this case, some tubes will feel hotter than others to the touch. If this is the case, then replace the cooling radiator or the entire system assembly. Replacing the thermal paste with a new one often helps. This is more difficult to do with a laptop; without disassembling it is almost impossible. Disassembling the laptop must be done very carefully, having first downloaded and studied the step-by-step instructions.
Assess your capabilities and if you are not confident in your disassembly abilities, it is better to contact a service center. You can use a can of compressed air for these purposes, but when using a laptop for a long time, this method is not very effective. This method is preferable for preventive computer maintenance work, once or twice a year.
Unstable system operation may be due to more complex problems associated with a faulty power supply or other components that require specialist intervention. Adequately assess your capabilities so as not to damage your computer by repairing it yourself. In a complex situation of equipment damage, when it is impossible to figure it out on your own, it is preferable to trust a specialist.
A laptop with Windows 10 makes a person mobile and at the same time it takes advantage of all the advantages of a desktop PC. But unlike a computer, these devices are more likely to glitch. If you don’t know why your laptop is slowing down or what to do to make Windows 10 work efficiently, use the tips described in this article.
Why is my laptop slow?
Developers are trying to make Windows 10 as multifunctional and productive as possible. But sometimes after upgrading to “ten” the laptop starts to slow down. This interferes with work and play. This also happens with devices on which the OS is initially installed. Causes:
- not optimized;
- incompatible drivers;
- overheat;
- hard drive is full;
- incompatible programs.
Viruses are a problem for all devices running different versions of Windows. We have repeatedly written about how to clean a PC from malware (“”, “”, “”, “”, “”, it will also be interesting to read “”), so this topic is not touched upon in the article.
Weak computer
The main reason why a laptop with Windows 10 starts to slow down is its “weak” technical parameters. Manufacturers are trying to adhere to Microsoft recommendations regarding the minimum technical requirements for devices on which the “ten” will work. When an average user updates or installs a new OS on his own, he rarely looks at the recommendations.
Minimum system requirements for Windows 10:
- processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz or higher or single-chip system (SoC);
- RAM: 2 GB for new devices, 1 GB (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit) when updating;
- free disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit);
- screen resolution 800×600 pixels;
- video adapter supporting DirectX9 or higher or WDDM version 1.0.
If the laptop does not meet the minimum stated requirements or is close to them, Windows 10 will slow down and not work correctly.
What to do if your laptop slows down
Startup optimization
A user who buys a new laptop may have a huge number of additional programs installed by default from the device manufacturer. They start automatically along with the OS and mostly work in the background.
Good to know! Utilities for speeding up and optimizing Windows 10 often do the opposite - they slow down the system regardless of the “renowned” manufacturer.
Downloading the correct drivers
A problem that many users of laptops with Windows 10 face. The creation of drivers for the gadget should be handled by the company that assembled it. But a year after the release of the “ten”, many manufacturers still have not provided current drivers, or release them only for new laptop models.
If your laptop slows down after upgrading to Windows 10, download and install drivers for your device.
On the manufacturer's website
In Device Manager
Healthy! It is better to use the first method, because if the OS says in Device Manager that the device is working normally, this may not be true.
Overheat
Modern games and programs use large laptop resources, which is why its components (processor, video card) overheat. Due to its compact size, the device cannot be equipped with a powerful cooling system. As the temperature inside the case rises, the laptop begins to slow down and may turn off (automatic protection). 
You will learn how to find out the temperature of the processor and other components of the device in the article “”. If it does not drop below 50-60 degrees when idle, clean the laptop from dust. You can do this yourself or at a service center.
Important! Only clean your laptop from dust yourself if you have experience and relevant knowledge.
If this does not help, purchase a special cooling pad for your laptop. This is a platform with built-in fans. They create a directed air flow to the bottom of the gadget and further cool it. 
Cleaning your hard drive
After upgrading to Windows 10, files from the old version of the OS remain on the system disk. They are used if the user decides to “roll back”, but because of them the hard drive becomes full. If you are sure that you will not go back to the old OS, delete these files. How to do this is described in the article “
Incompatibility with programs
If the device slows down when starting a program or utility, but otherwise works normally, then the problem is compatibility with Windows 10.
Old programs do not support the new OS (even in), so they either do not work at all or work incorrectly. The solution to this problem is to find an alternative replacement.
Other cases of incompatibility.
- Two antiviruses are installed that interfere with each other's work. Solution → remove one of them.
- The downloaded program is crooked, it does not have enough drivers to work correctly, it is not compatible with the device. Solution → download software from the official website or find other software.
- In browsers, instability is caused by extensions and plugins installed by the user. Solution → disable/remove unnecessary components.
Video
More general reasons are discussed in the video.
