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INTRODUCTION There’s no question that when your PC is running slowly, it can turn your day upside down—whether you’re working, gaming, or just browsing the web. The good
There’s no question that when your PC is running slowly, it can turn your day upside down—whether you’re working, gaming, or just browsing the web.
The good news? Many causes of poor performance can be improved with simple maintenance and software fixes—no need to rush into costly hardware upgrades or replacing your system.
At Testergate, we believe everyone deserves a reliable, fast computer without breaking the bank. In this DIY guide, we’ll walk you through simple tweaks and maintenance tips that can instantly improve your computer’s speed and responsiveness—all without buying new gear.
Before diving into fixes, it’s important to understand what might be slowing down your laptop. Below are the most common culprits:
Too many startup programs
Many apps are set to launch when your system boots, consuming resources in the background and dragging down speed.
Fragmented or full hard drive
Traditional hard drives get fragmented over time. Also, when the drive is nearly full, your system lacks the space needed for temporary files, background processes, and cache operations.
Too little RAM
Limited memory—especially with multiple apps open—can cause serious slowdowns. Memory leaks can also degrade performance.
Malware or viruses
Much like RAM issues, malicious software can hog CPU usage, corrupt files, and make normal operation frustratingly slow.
Outdated drivers
System and hardware drivers may not be up to date. Outdated drivers can significantly affect both speed and system stability—especially after a system update.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, click on Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, and disable some of the many start-up applications on start-up.
Leave any startup applications you feel you need (update checkers, instant messengers, etc.).
Type Disk Cleanup in the Windows search and delete as much as you can: system cache, temporary files, previous versions of Windows, etc.
You may also want to take some of those big documents (and pictures and videos) and move them onto an external HDD—that will also free up some HDD space.
Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program, and uninstall anything you do not (or seldom) use.
Run a full virus scan with your antivirus product.
You can also run a full scan with the free version of Malwarebytes.
To check what number version of Windows you have, just check the version details under Settings > Update and Security.
You probably would also want to check for device driver updates.
We can speed up an old or slow computer using “light” applications or “light” web-browsers.
Make sure to delete your temporary files regularly to free up disk space and system resources.
Set your power options to High Performance in Control Panel to attain your maximum speed.
Save money on the purchase of new hardware.
Make your system more stable by continuing to use it outside of OEM hardware.
Gain knowledge and control over your own computer.
Some issues may require a professional repair, or hardware upgrades.
Issues can be caused by inadvertently deleting files, or disabling services.
Any gains in performance will be dependent on your computer’s age, condition, and use.
A slow PC doesn’t necessarily mean you need to buy new hardware.
Often, simple software adjustments and regular maintenance (like the guide you just read from Tests) can be done to restore speed and reliability.
Your computer will (and your productivity will) appreciate it!
If you’ve tried these steps and are still running into troubles, you can take your computer to a trusted computer repair shop for estimates or replace any defective hardware!
