The laptop takes a very long time to load when turned on - what to do in 2026?

You pressed the power button, but instead of the usual desktop you see a spinning circle or a black screen for 5, 10, or even 20 minutes? Laptop booting slowly is one of the most annoying problems faced by users. Windows 10/11, macOS and even Linux. The reasons may lie in both software and hardware failures - from processor overheating to a dying drive.

In this article we will look at all possible reasons, for which the laptop took a long time to turn on, and we’ll give step by step instructions for diagnosing and troubleshooting. You will learn how to check disk drive, optimize startup, update BIOS/UEFI and even what to do if the problem is hardware. No fluff - just specific actions with explanations for users of any level.

1. Diagnosis of the problem: why does the laptop slow down when loading?

Before you begin “treatment,” you need to understand at what stage the delay occurs. Slow loading can manifest itself in different ways:

• 🔄 Long appearance of the manufacturer's logo (For example, ASUS, Lenovo, HP) is a problem at the level BIOS/UEFI or hard drive.
• 🖥️ Black screen after logo (indicators are on, but nothing happens) - driver conflicts or bootloader failure are possible.
• ⏳ Windows spinning circle (or “Windows preparation”) - freezes during system initialization.
• 📁 Long password entry after the desktop appears, autorun or background software is overloaded.

To more accurately determine the bottleneck, use the built-in tool Windows Performance Analyzer (for advanced users) or a simple test:

1. Turn on the laptop and time the time until the desktop appears.
2. If the download takes more than 1–2 minutes - the problem is critical.
3. If laptop freezes at one stage (for example, on the logo Dell or welcome screen) - this indicates a specific failure.

Critical point: if the laptop not only takes a long time to load, but also periodically turns off during the boot phase, this is a sign of overheating or a faulty power supply. Check your processor temperature immediately (more on this below).

2. Checking the hard drive (HDD) or SSD: the main reason for the brakes

In 70% of cases, slow loading is due to disk drive. HDD degrade over time, and SSD can go into mode read-only when cells wear out. Here's how to check the disk status:

For Windows:

1. Open Command line as administrator (click Win + X → Terminal (administrator)).
2. Enter the command to check disk health:

   wmic diskdrive get status

   If the status OK — the disk is physically intact. If Pred Fail - a hoarder on the verge of death.

3. For in-depth diagnostics, use CrystalDiskInfo (free utility). Download it from the official website and check the parameters:
   • 🔴 Reallocated Sectors Count — if the value is > 0, the disk begins to crumble.
   • 🟡 Current Pending Sector — bad sectors that have not yet been reassigned.
   • 🟢 Power-On Hours - number of hours of work. For HDD critical value is 50,000+ hours.

For macOS:

Open Disk Utility (Programs → Utilities), select the drive and click Checking volumes. If an error message appears, repair or replacement is required.

Symptom	Probable Cause	Solution
Laptop freezes at manufacturer's logo	The bootloader is damaged or MBR	Bootloader recovery via bootrec
Welcome screen takes a long time to appear	Overload startup or services	Cleaning msconfig And Task Manager
Black screen after Windows logo	Driver conflict (often after updating)	Loading in Safe Mode + driver rollback
The laptop turns on but does not boot the system	Damage to system files or disk on the verge of death	Check sfc /scannow or disk replacement

If the disk is damaged:

• 💾 For HDD: try it defragmentation (built-in Windows utility) or replacement with SSD.
• 🚀 For SSD: Update the firmware via the manufacturer's utility (for example, Samsung Magician for Samsung SSD).
• 🔧 As a last resort - clone the disk to a new one using Macrium Reflect or Clonezilla.

3. Optimizing startup: how to remove unnecessary programs

One of the most common reasons for long loading times is oversaturated startup. Many programs (especially Antivirus, Steam, Discord, Telegram) add themselves to startup, slowing down the system. Here's how to fix it:

Method 1: Through Task Manager (Windows 10/11)

1. Click Ctrl + Shift + Esc → go to the tab Autoload.
2. Sort programs by column Impact on launch.
3. Disable everything except:
   • 🔒 Antivirus (for example, Kaspersky, ESET).
   • 🎮 Video card drivers (NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software).
   • 🔊 Sound utility (Realtek Audio Console).

Method 2: Via msconfig (for older systems)

Click Win + R, enter msconfig → go to the tab Autoload. Uncheck unnecessary programs.

For macOS:

Open System Preferences → Users and Groups → Login Items and remove unnecessary applications.

⚠️ Attention: Do not disable system processes with names ctfmon.exe, svchost.exe or explorer.exe - this may cause Windows to not work.

4. Updating BIOS/UEFI and drivers: hidden reasons for slowdowns

Outdated version BIOS/UEFI or conflicting drivers may cause loading delays. This is especially true for laptops Lenovo, HP And Acer, where manufacturers regularly release patches to fix bugs.

How to update BIOS:

1. Find out your laptop model (click Win + R → enter msinfo32 → find the line System model).
2. Go to the manufacturer's website (for example, support.lenovo.com) and find the section Drivers and software.
3. Download the latest BIOS and follow the instructions (usually the file .exe, which needs to be run as administrator).

Important: Do not interrupt the BIOS update process as this may result in inability to turn on laptop!

Driver Update:

Outdated drivers (especially for chipset, video cards And network adapters) may conflict when loading. Use:

• 🔄 Manual method: Device Manager → right click on the device → Update driver.
• 🤖 Automatic: Utilities like Driver Booster or Snappy Driver Installer.

What to do if the laptop does not turn on after updating the BIOS?

If, after flashing the BIOS, the laptop shows no signs of life (indicators do not light up, the fan does not spin), try:

1. Disconnect the power supply and remove the battery for 1 minute.

2. Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds (static discharge).

3. If this does not help, contact the service center: you will need to flash the BIOS using a programmer.

5. Check for viruses and malware

Viruses and mining software can not only steal data, but also slow down system boot, loading your processes at early stages. Particularly dangerous:

• 🕵️ Rootkits (viruses hidden in the system, masquerading as system files).
• ⛏️ Miners (use CPU/GPU resources to mine cryptocurrency).
• 📤 Spyware (monitors keystrokes and forwards data).

How to check your laptop for viruses:

1. Boot into Safe Mode (hold when starting F8 or Shift + Reboot in Windows 10/11).
2. Run a deep scan with:
   • Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool (one-time utility, does not require installation).
   • Dr.Web CureIt! (good at finding rootkits).
   • Malwarebytes (specializes in spyware).

If the antivirus finds threats, remove them and restart the laptop.

⚠️ Attention: Some viruses block the installation of antivirus software. If you can’t download the utility, use another computer and transfer it to a flash drive.

6. Hardware problems: overheating, battery, RAM

If software methods do not help, the reason may lie in hardware. Most often the culprits are:

• 🔥 CPU overheating (the laptop turns off or slows down when loading).
• 🔋 Worn out battery (the laptop does not turn on without a power supply or is unstable).
• 🧠 Faulty RAM (blue screens or freezes).
• ⚡ Power supply (insufficient power or unstable voltage).

How to check CPU temperature:

Use utilities HWMonitor or Core Temp. Normal loading values:

• 🟢 Up to 60°C - everything is fine.
• 🟡 60–80°C - dust cleaning required.
• 🔴 Above 80°C - critical overheating; thermal paste or cooler needs to be replaced.

Checking RAM:

Windows has a built-in utility mdsched.exe:

1. Click Win + R, enter mdsched.exe and agree to reboot.
2. After the test, the system will show whether there are errors in RAM.

7. Reset Windows or reinstall the system

If all else fails, the last chance to return the laptop to performance is reset or clean install Windows. This is a radical method, but it is guaranteed to eliminate software conflicts.

Method 1: Reset while saving files (Windows 10/11)

1. Go to Settings → Update & Security → Recovery.
2. Select Restore your computer to its original state → Save my files.
3. Follow the instructions (takes about 30-60 minutes).

Method 2: Clean Windows Installation

You will need a flash drive with a Windows image (you can create it via Media Creation Tool). Algorithm:

1. Boot from the flash drive (in BIOS set download priority to USB).
2. During installation, select Custom installation and format the system disk.
3. After installation, restore your data from backup.

⚠️ Attention: Before resetting or reinstalling be sure to make a backup copy important files to an external drive or cloud. Use Google Drive, OneDrive or physical storage.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about laptop loading slowly

The laptop took a long time to boot after updating Windows. What to do?

Rolling back the update will help restore the previous speed:

1. Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → View update history.
2. Click Uninstall updates and select the last one installed.
3. Restart your laptop.

If the problem persists, try disabling automatic updates via services.msc (disable the service Windows Update).

The laptop takes a long time to load, but after logging in it works fine. What's the matter?

Most likely the problem is startup or background processes. Check:

• Task Manager → tab Autoload (disable unnecessary ones).
• Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc) - there may be hidden tasks from third-party programs.

Also the reason may be slow disk (especially if you have HDD). Replace it with SSD - this will speed up loading by 3-5 times.

The laptop does not turn on at all (black screen, does not respond to the power button). What to do?

Try this:

1. Disconnect the power supply and remove the battery (if it is removable).
2. Hold the power button for 30-60 seconds (static discharge).
3. Connect the power supply and try turning on the laptop.
4. If it doesn’t help, check the power supply (it may not provide the required voltage).

If the laptop still does not respond, there may be a problem with the motherboard or processor. Contact the service center.

Is it possible to speed up laptop boot time using ReadyBoost?

ReadyBoost - Windows technology that allows you to use a flash drive as a cache to speed up work. However, in 2026 she practically useless for modern systems with SSD. If you have HDD, you can try:

1. Insert a flash drive (minimum 4 GB, preferably 8–16 GB).
2. Open Properties flash drives → tab ReadyBoost.
3. Select Provide this device for ReadyBoost technology.

But you shouldn’t expect a miracle - the speed increase will be no more than 5–10%.

How to check if your antivirus is to blame for slow loading?

Some antiviruses (for example, Kaspersky, Avast) scan the system at boot, which can slow down the process. To check:

1. Temporarily disable your antivirus (via the tray icon).
2. Reboot your laptop and note the boot time.
3. If it becomes faster, set up an antivirus (disable scanning on boot in the settings).

Do not leave your antivirus disabled for a long time! After the test, be sure to turn the protection back on.