Technology

14 Ways to Fix a Slow Computer: Troubleshooting for Lagging, Freezing Computers

If your computer is running slow, lagging, or freezing, there could be various reasons behind it. To address this issue, you need to identify the causes that are slowing down your machine, such as software conflicts, excessive junk files, too many enabled functions, insufficient hardware configuration, and so on.

Administrator

23 December, 2023

120

Is your computer running slow, lagging, or freezing? These issues can greatly impact your user experience. So, what are the causes and how can you address them? Below, FPT Shop will provide you with optimal answers to these problems.

Causes of a slow computer

If your computer is running slow or lagging during use, it might be due to common causes such as:

Your PC may have been infected by a virus or malware from accidentally downloading files from the internet.
Data files scattered throughout your hard drive can cause it to become full and fragmented.
The hardware of your computer has a weak configuration.
Data files stored in the hard drive containing the operating system can affect the computer’s performance.
Running multiple software simultaneously can result in the computer running slow or lagging.
Other factors such as prolonged computer operation causing overheating, deteriorating RAM or SSD, or running background software.

A slow computer negatively impacts user experience.

Guidelines for fixing a slow computer

Many factors can lead to a slow, lagging, or even freezing computer. Once you have identified the root cause, you can apply the following troubleshooting methods to help restore normal functionality:

Delete junk files

Junk files that accumulate during PC use can be a source of slow computer performance. To fix a slow computer, you need to delete these files to avoid them from affecting the operating system’s processing capabilities. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box, then enter “%temp%” in the Open field and click OK.

Open the Run dialog box and enter “%temp%”

Step 2: Select all the files by pressing Ctrl + A and press Delete to permanently delete the junk files after 30 days. If you want to delete them immediately, press Shift + Delete.

Select all files and delete them permanently

Disable graphic effects and transparency

Some computers with powerful configurations can use graphic effects and transparency for visual enhancements. However, if your device has a mid-range or weak configuration, this feature can cause the computer to run slow or lag. To disable graphic effects and transparency, follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the main screen and select Personalize.

Select Personalize from the right-click menu

Step 2: Select Color > turn off Transparency effects > uncheck Start, taskbar, and action center and Title bars.

Turn off transparency effects and graphic effects in the Color menu

Set power scheme to High Performance

When setting the power scheme to High Performance, the computer will operate at maximum power without consuming excessive energy. This configuration improves system performance, prevents lagging, and sluggishness. Follow these steps to enable High Performance mode:

Step 1: In the Windows search bar, enter and select View advanced system settings.

Click on the Windows search bar and select View advanced system settings

Step 2: In the Performance section, select Settings.

Select Settings in the Performance section

Step 3: Click on Adjust for best performance > OK.

Check Adjust for best performance and click OK to confirm

Disable System Restore

System Restore is a feature that allows your computer to roll back to a previous state in case of issues. However, System Restore may consume a significant amount of memory, causing the computer to run slow. To fix this issue, disable System Restore using the following steps:

Step 1: In the Windows search bar, enter and select View advanced system settings.

Select View advanced system settings in the Windows search bar

Step 2: Click on the System Protection tab > select Configure.

Select Configure under System Protection

Step 3: Check Disable system protection > OK.

Check Disable system protection and click OK

Defragment the hard drive

Data files scattered on the hard drive can contribute to a slow computer. To address this problem, you can initiate the disk defragmentation tool using the following steps:

Step 1: Access This PC or My Computer, then right-click on the drive that you want to optimize and select Properties.

Access This PC or My Computer to defragment the drive

Step 2: In the Tools tab, select Optimize.

Step 3: Click on Analyze all when the Optimize Drives dialog box appears.

Click on Analyze all when the Optimize Drives dialog box appears

Use Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a tool designed to remove junk files that can affect computer performance. Since Disk Cleanup is integrated into the Windows operating system, it is easy to use. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box, then type “cleanmgr” in the Open field and click OK.

Open the Run dialog box and type “cleanmgr”

Step 2: Select the drive that you want to clean up in the Drives section and click OK.

Select the drive with the most junk files and click OK

Uninstall unnecessary programs

Some unnecessary programs can cause a slow computer. Therefore, you need to remove them to free up space for other applications to operate. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Search for and select Control Panel from the Windows search bar.

Select Control Panel to access the running programs

Step 2: Select Programs and Features.

Step 3: Right-click on each unnecessary program and select Uninstall.

Right-click and select Uninstall for each program you want to remove

Avoid running too many applications and antivirus software

Antivirus software helps eliminate files of unknown origin and malware. However, these software programs can consume significant system resources and cause conflicts when running simultaneously. This can result in the computer running slow or lagging. Therefore, select and use only one antivirus program on your device.

Running multiple antivirus programs can cause conflicts and slow down the computer

Additionally, some antivirus software performs data checks for websites and applications. Therefore, when browsing the web or using certain applications for the first time, the software will conduct checks, which can slow down data loading and causing lag. However, on subsequent visits to the same websites or applications, this phenomenon will not occur.

Change the Power scheme to High Performance

In High Performance mode, the computer will operate at full power while minimizing energy consumption. Changing the Power scheme to High Performance can improve system speed. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I and select System.

Step 2: Go to Power & sleep and select Additional power settings.

Select Additional power settings in Power & sleep

Step 3: Check Ultimate Performance.

Select Ultimate Performance to activate the high-performance mode

Prevent the computer from overheating

A computer that generates excessive heat is a cause of lagging and affecting the performance of the CPU. Using a cooling pad or fan can help minimize overheating.

Use a cooling pad to address overheating issues

Upgrade RAM

RAM is responsible for storing all the files of the programs running on your computer. Upgrading RAM can significantly improve device performance, minimizing slow computer issues.

Upgrade SSD

SSD is responsible for reading, writing, and storing data. However, the specifications of the SSD also affect the computer’s speed and processing capabilities. If your computer frequently experiences slow performance, consider upgrading your SSD. This will optimize your PC’s functionality, reducing the slow and sluggishness.

Upgrade your SSD to improve computer performance

Disable startup applications with Windows

In some cases, unnecessary applications configured to start with Windows can cause a slow computer. To address this issue, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R, then enter “msconfig” and click OK.

Step 2: Select the Services tab > check Hide all Microsoft services and remove unnecessary tasks. Finally, click OK to confirm.

Select Services, Hide all Microsoft services, and remove unnecessary startup tasks

Step 3: Select the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.

Select Open Task Manager in the Startup tab

Step 4: Right-click on each program that you want to disable on startup and select Disable.

Right-click and select Disable for each program you wish to stop running in the background

Disable background apps on Windows

Background apps on Windows are known to cause a slow computer. To disable these apps, follow these steps:

Step 1: In the Windows search bar, click on Background apps.

Click on Background apps in the Windows search bar

Step 2: Select the running apps and turn them Off.

Conclusion

The above compilation of causes and troubleshooting methods for a slow computer will undoubtedly help you better understand and conveniently apply when encountering similar issues. Apply these tips to optimize your computer’s performance and rid yourself of the “slow as a snail” experience.