Post by account_disabled on Sept 14, 2023 5:35:57 GMT -6
Does your laptop feel slow? Even if I restart my laptop, do I have to wait 5 minutes for it to respond? Do you find it difficult to switch tabs even though you only have a few browser tabs open?
If your laptop is slow and frustrating, you Phone Number List usually end up buying a new laptop. However, you may need to try a few methods before giving up. If you can improve the performance of an aging laptop, the lifespan of the laptop can be extended by several years and there is no need to increase electronic waste.
It's a cliché method, but there's a reason for it all. This method is even more relevant today. Latest laptops are highly reliable and can be set to power saving mode to save power. There is no reason to turn it off unless you are installing a Windows update or troubleshooting a problem.
Still, try using the power button to completely turn off the laptop and then turn it back on. It only takes 1 minute.
Clean up startup applications
When a newly started laptop boots into Windows, the application starts. Many applications are designed to start when Windows loads and tend to build up over time. A build-up of startup apps can cause your laptop to freeze.
ⓒ PCWorld
Startup applications can be organized by opening the Windows Settings app. If you search for startup apps in the settings menu, you will see a list of apps that run when the system starts. You can enable/disable startup methods with the toggle switch next to each app. It also shows the approximate amount of time startup apps affect boot time. (However, in my experience, it was not very accurate.)
Most applications appear in this list, but some apps that do not appear can be disabled the old-fashioned way using the Windows System Settings application.
Check your internet connection
Most of the tasks you regularly perform on your laptop likely require an Internet connection. Web browsing, Netflix streaming, and online gaming all require a stable Internet connection. If your internet connection is slow, performance may decrease.
You can check your Internet connection status with a speed test utility such as speedtest.net. Run the test several times, recording ping times, download and upload speeds. Single-digit ping times and download and upload speeds exceeding 10 Mbps are ideal.
Also pay attention to rapid fluctuations in performance between tests. This is a sign that your Internet connection is working but unstable.
Ethernet users who suspect that their Internet connection is the problem should refer to the wired Internet connection troubleshooting guide, and wireless users should refer to the Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide.
Get some RAM
Laptop RAM is short-term memory that keeps track of active applications and the data they require. Laptops that run out of RAM must pull data directly from the hard drive, which takes a long time even with the latest SSD.
You can check active programs and consumed memory with Task Manager. Task Manager can be launched by searching within Windows. Alternatively, press Control + Alt + Delete on the keyboard and select Task Manager from the menu that appears to run it.
ⓒ PCWorld
This will open a list of active programs in Task Manager. Select 'Details' to see how much memory each program is using. Select an application that uses a lot of memory and click 'End task' to close it. Please note that the app will close completely, so any unsaved data may be lost.
Freeing up RAM with Task Manager is a temporary fix. It may be helpful to shut down applications that use a lot of RAM, but those apps are there for a reason. Still, this method will work while you're looking for alternative apps that use relatively less memory, or while you're planning a memory upgrade.
Free up hard drive space
The hard drive is the laptop's long-term memory, and it also causes problems when it becomes full. Naturally, you won't be able to install new applications, and general problems will become noticeable. The reason this happens is that many apps and Windows itself require some temporary file storage space.
You can check your laptop's storage space by opening Windows' settings and selecting 'System' and then 'Storage ('Storage' in Windows 11). A bar graph will appear showing how much storage space is being used. If your hard drive is overly full, the bar will be red.
Here you can also see a list of how your storage space is used. This includes apps, temporary files, videos, music, OneDrive files, etc. By selecting each one, you can see in detail what's taking up space, as well as start uninstalling apps or clearing temporary storage. Apps and features almost always take up the most space, so going through that section and then deleting large apps is the most effective way to free up space.
If your laptop is slow and frustrating, you Phone Number List usually end up buying a new laptop. However, you may need to try a few methods before giving up. If you can improve the performance of an aging laptop, the lifespan of the laptop can be extended by several years and there is no need to increase electronic waste.
It's a cliché method, but there's a reason for it all. This method is even more relevant today. Latest laptops are highly reliable and can be set to power saving mode to save power. There is no reason to turn it off unless you are installing a Windows update or troubleshooting a problem.
Still, try using the power button to completely turn off the laptop and then turn it back on. It only takes 1 minute.
Clean up startup applications
When a newly started laptop boots into Windows, the application starts. Many applications are designed to start when Windows loads and tend to build up over time. A build-up of startup apps can cause your laptop to freeze.
ⓒ PCWorld
Startup applications can be organized by opening the Windows Settings app. If you search for startup apps in the settings menu, you will see a list of apps that run when the system starts. You can enable/disable startup methods with the toggle switch next to each app. It also shows the approximate amount of time startup apps affect boot time. (However, in my experience, it was not very accurate.)
Most applications appear in this list, but some apps that do not appear can be disabled the old-fashioned way using the Windows System Settings application.
Check your internet connection
Most of the tasks you regularly perform on your laptop likely require an Internet connection. Web browsing, Netflix streaming, and online gaming all require a stable Internet connection. If your internet connection is slow, performance may decrease.
You can check your Internet connection status with a speed test utility such as speedtest.net. Run the test several times, recording ping times, download and upload speeds. Single-digit ping times and download and upload speeds exceeding 10 Mbps are ideal.
Also pay attention to rapid fluctuations in performance between tests. This is a sign that your Internet connection is working but unstable.
Ethernet users who suspect that their Internet connection is the problem should refer to the wired Internet connection troubleshooting guide, and wireless users should refer to the Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide.
Get some RAM
Laptop RAM is short-term memory that keeps track of active applications and the data they require. Laptops that run out of RAM must pull data directly from the hard drive, which takes a long time even with the latest SSD.
You can check active programs and consumed memory with Task Manager. Task Manager can be launched by searching within Windows. Alternatively, press Control + Alt + Delete on the keyboard and select Task Manager from the menu that appears to run it.
ⓒ PCWorld
This will open a list of active programs in Task Manager. Select 'Details' to see how much memory each program is using. Select an application that uses a lot of memory and click 'End task' to close it. Please note that the app will close completely, so any unsaved data may be lost.
Freeing up RAM with Task Manager is a temporary fix. It may be helpful to shut down applications that use a lot of RAM, but those apps are there for a reason. Still, this method will work while you're looking for alternative apps that use relatively less memory, or while you're planning a memory upgrade.
Free up hard drive space
The hard drive is the laptop's long-term memory, and it also causes problems when it becomes full. Naturally, you won't be able to install new applications, and general problems will become noticeable. The reason this happens is that many apps and Windows itself require some temporary file storage space.
You can check your laptop's storage space by opening Windows' settings and selecting 'System' and then 'Storage ('Storage' in Windows 11). A bar graph will appear showing how much storage space is being used. If your hard drive is overly full, the bar will be red.
Here you can also see a list of how your storage space is used. This includes apps, temporary files, videos, music, OneDrive files, etc. By selecting each one, you can see in detail what's taking up space, as well as start uninstalling apps or clearing temporary storage. Apps and features almost always take up the most space, so going through that section and then deleting large apps is the most effective way to free up space.