There is nothing more annoying than a slow computer. Just turn it on — and you’re already waiting. Open the browser — it hangs. Click “My Computer” — you stare at the screen as if into an abyss… Sound familiar? 😬 Then this article is for you. Let’s figure out why the equipment starts to slow down, and what you can do yourself, without a specialist and complex programs.

🧩 Main reasons why a PC or laptop has become slow

🧱 1. Autostart is overloaded

Every time you turn on the system, many programs are launched – and many of them are not needed.

Often the culprits are:

• Driver updates
• Skype, Discord, Telegram
• OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.

What to do:

• Disable unnecessary elements via Task Manager → “Startup” tab.

📦 2. The disk is full (especially the system disk)

When the disk is almost full, the system does not have enough space for temporary files and cache. As a result, everything slows down.

What to do:

• Clean the Downloads, Videos, Documents folder
• Use the built-in Disk Cleanup utility
• Delete temporary files (Win + R → %temp%)

🛠️ 3. Too many background processes

Antiviruses, browsers with dozens of tabs, applications running “in the shadows” – all this loads the RAM and processor.

What to do:

• Close everything unnecessary (especially Chrome)
• Check the “Processes” tab in the Task Manager
• Delete or stop heavy and unnecessary services

🧮 4. Not enough RAM

Today, even for simple tasks you need 8 GB of RAM, and if you only have 4, you are guaranteed to experience slowdowns.

What to do:

• Increase the amount of RAM (if possible)
• Install lightweight versions of programs
• Use browsers that save RAM (for example, Opera, Edge)

⚙️ 5. HDD instead of SSD

If the system has an old mechanical hard drive, the boot and work speed will be very low.

What to do:

• Switching to SSD is the most effective way to speed up your PC.
• Even a weak system “comes to life” after this upgrade.

🐞 6. Viruses or unwanted programs

Viruses can:

• Load the system with mining
• Spy covertly
• Show ads
• Turn the PC into a “zombie” for a botnet

What to do:

• Check the system with Malwarebytes or Dr.Web CureIt
• Remove suspicious extensions in the browser
• Disable incomprehensible processes

✅ How to restore your computer speed: step-by-step checklist

🧹 Step 1: Clean up junk

• Delete temporary files
• Clear browser cache
• Empty recycle bin

Utilities:

• CCleaner
• Clean Master (Windows)

📋 Step 2: Optimize startup

• Win + Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Startup → Disable all unnecessary

💻 Step 3: Uninstall unnecessary programs

• Via Settings → Applications → Uninstall

Remove old games, demos, toolbars and utilities that you haven’t opened for years.

⚡ Step 4: Upgrade – if possible

• Replace HDD with SSD
• Add RAM up to 8 or 16 GB
• Update drivers (via Snappy Driver Installer)
  

🔒 Step 5: Virus Check

Scan your system at least once:

• Malwarebytes
• ESET Online Scanner
• Dr.Web Live Disk (for severe cases)

🧰 Step 6: Update Windows

Updates contain security patches, optimizations, and bug fixes that can also slow down the system.

📊 What to do if nothing helps?

• Try creating a new Windows account
• Check the disk status (chkdsk, CrystalDiskInfo)
• Consider reinstalling Windows – sometimes it’s easier than fixing

A slow computer is not always the end.
Most often, it can be sped up in 1-2 hours of simple actions, especially if you know what to look for.

💡 The main thing:

• Free up disk space
• Clean up startup
• Check for viruses
• Update software
• If possible, switch to SSD