Slow Laptop? Try These Solutions!
Worried about your slow and aging laptop? Let’s make it work like a breeze. Let’s boost up your device and make it as good as a new one. Perhaps your hard disk has deteriorated over time, perhaps there is a need for a windows update, or perhaps it needs to get rid of all malware. There can be countless reasons your laptop is not performing as well as you expect it to. And no, the best way is not to switch your slow laptop to a better version, because it can not only be costly, but if you repeat the same mistakes, the newer one may end up having the same fate as the poor old one.
Problems and their Solutions:
Time is money. The lag you face when your slow laptop is booting, the lag you suffer when you download or upload something, and the lag you experience when you simply open a document bring you huge losses. Let’s fix it!
Background Startup Programs
One of the factors that can slow down your device is startup programs that run in the background and use unnecessary hardware resources. As soon as a system is booted, startup programs run automatically. This is because you use many programs quite frequently, and setting them manually every time you boot up your device can be very time-consuming and inefficient. So, the system boots them on automatically for you. However, numerous programs that only waste your memory make your laptop slower. All you have to do is open up the system tray and close all the programs running in the background that are not needed to make your slow laptop perform better.
Get Rid of Malware
Many users don’t take malware (malicious software) seriously, resulting in serious negative consequences for the device. Malware can easily enter the system through websites that offer free downloads and through clicking on unknown links in emails. This can severely affect your system and slow down your laptop in turn. Messaging platforms and various ads can also become possible sources of malware. By using various anti-malware software available online, one can easily eliminate malware that degrades the system’s performance. McAfee Internet Security, Trend Micro Maximum Security, and ESET Smart Security Premium are some of the antiviruses that one can explore.
Eliminate Unnecessary Files
Large files often take up most of the HDD’s space, resulting in poor performance and in turn, your slow laptop. In order to have some free space on your hard drive, you must make it a habit to regularly delete unnecessary files. Remember to empty the recycle bin afterward to eliminate all unnecessary files from your system completely. This would result in better Disk Drive performance, ultimately improving your laptop’s performance. Some users feel that transferring their files from the laptop is the best cure to a slow laptop. Transferring and deleting files frequently from HDD can cause disk fragmentation. There is a better solution: use disk cleanup. Disk cleanup is essential to eliminate unnecessary stuff from your laptop on a regular basis. This removal can do wonders in increasing the performance of your slow laptop.
Keep Your Drivers, Windows and Apps Updated
Although Windows automatically keeps sending one the notification to update the system whenever a new update is available, many tend to ignore it. This can be disastrous for your laptop. The updates are designed to cater to the security loopholes that viruses may use, and not updating the laptop can leave you unarmed in the case of any threat to your system. Thus, update the Windows every time it shows you a notification to do so to have up-to-date security. You can check if your Windows is up to date from Start > Settings > Updates and Security > Windows update.
Apart from Windows, apps and drivers also need to be updated for a better performance. Only then can your slow laptop perform at its full potential.
Uninstall Programs that are No Longer in Use
A major reason for a slow laptop is unnecessary programs. Imagine that you need only three sofas to sit in your home, but you have ten tables spread all across your home. Of course, reaching towards the sofas can be very difficult in this case. Similarly, having unnecessary programs that are no longer in use can highly slow down the system. The best approach is to uninstall them.
SSD in Place of HDD
If in 2022, your laptop has an HDD, you are the biggest idiot on earth, or maybe even beyond earth if life exists there. Let’s leave it to Elon Musk to explore. So, Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is comprised of spinning platters that store data. Solid State Drive (SSD), on the other hand, is a much newer technology that has very high efficiency due to its data being stored on memory chips that are instantly accessible. SSD can multiply the efficiency of your system and make it work like a breeze. So, check if your laptop has an SSD or an HDD, if it has an HDD, get it changed from a hardware technician to SSD.
(Golden tip: If you don’t want to spend too much on buying a high-storage SSD, simply buy one of the sizes that can install Windows and install Windows in the SSD. This will help all the major processes to run from the SSD and in turn increase the speed of your slow laptop.)
Final Word:
So, there are numerous ways you can ensure that your laptop is working at its full potential. A slow laptop can be very annoying and can prove problematic at crucial times. Imagine you have a deadline at 11:59 p.m., and your laptop is stuck at 11:57 p.m. To avoid such situations, simply follow all the tips mentioned above. There is no need to update to a new laptop every time the old one creates a problem. The right strategy is to work to find the problem in the laptop and then try to address it. Make sure to take care of your device so that it takes care of you too.
