Laptop Slow Starting or Running

There are many factors that can make a computer run slowly. The most common ones are:

  • Insufficient RAM. This is the computer's internal "working" memory. Everything you do with the computer gets loaded from the hard drive into the RAM to be processed. If the computer doesn't have enough space in the RAM, it will temporarily save something else from the RAM back to the hard drive, which is a slow process in computer terms. The computer can end up spending more time shuffling data on and off the hard drive than it spends doing what you wanted it to do! Usually, it is possible to add more RAM to the computer to solve this problem.
  • Unnecessary Programs. Many of the programs in your computer load components automatically when Windows starts, even if you are not using them. These programs can be removed (or at least disabled) so they are not automatically loaded, making your computer start more quickly. This will also reduce the amount of RAM being used, which can also help make things work more smoothly (see above). Old or unneeded programs should be removed to reduce startup times and make the computer more responsive.
  • Malware. This is the general name for viruses, trojans, worms, adware, scareware and other unwanted software that has undesirable behaviour. These types of program are often written by criminal gangs either to steal information which can be used for various types of fraud or to target advertising to you or simply to control your computer, perhaps to use it to send junk email. Even if you have up-to-date anti-virus software, it may not detect all infections. Malware should be removed from your computer as soon as possible.
  • General Windows "fluff". Computer programs often create temporary files and other data which are not removed when no longer needed. This data "fluff" can build up over time and contribute to making the computer slower than it should be. Files can also become fragmented and scattered around the hard drive. The defragmentation process can reduce this problem. See Maintenance below.

Our engineers can evaluate the state of your computer to determine the cause of slow operation and remedy it for you.