The laptop is very slow - what should I do? The Ultimate Guide to Speeding Up

Has your laptop started to work like a “snail on crutches”? Freezes when opening the browser, “thinks” for about five minutes before launching the program, and the cursor twitches like in a slide show from the 90s? The problem is familiar to millions of users - and there is always a solution. In this article we will analyze all possible causes of brakes — from a cooling system clogged with dust to viruses in the background, and we’ll also give step by step instructionsHow to restore your laptop to its former performance. No water, only proven methods.

Let us warn you right away: if your Lenovo ThinkPad or ASUS ROG suddenly started to slow down after updating Windows, the algorithm of actions will be different than for the old one Acer Aspire from HDD. We took into account all the nuances - from budget models to gaming monsters. And if after reading there are still questions, at the end of the article there is a detailed FAQ with answers to typical cases.

1. Diagnostics: why is the laptop slow?

Before treatment, a diagnosis must be made. Laptop brakes are divided into two categories: software (software related) and hardware (problems with hardware). Here's how to tell them apart:

• 🔍 Software brakes: The laptop is slow in certain applications (for example, only in Photoshop or Chrome), but otherwise behaves normally. Often accompanied by errors like “Not enough memory”.
• 💻 Hardware brakes: laptop slows down always - even when loading BIOS or in safe mode. It may get warm, make noise from the fan, or suddenly turn off.
• ⚡ Mixed cases: for example, a laptop slows down due to overheating, which is caused by a clogged cooling system And A background program is running at the same time, loading the processor.

To pinpoint the culprit, use the built-in Windows tools:

1. Click Ctrl + Shift + Escto open Task Manager.
2. Go to the tab Performance and see the download CPU, RAM, Disk And GPU.
3. If some component is loaded at 90-100% for no apparent reason, the problem has been found.

Pay special attention Disk: if its load is constantly at 100%, and the read/write speed is below 10 MB/s - your HDD or SSD on the verge of death. In this case, backup your data urgently!

2. System cleaning: remove junk and unnecessary programs

The most common cause of brakes is clogged system. Over time, temporary files, caches, remnants of deleted programs and duplicate documents accumulate on the laptop. Here's how to fix it:

2.1. Disk cleaning using standard means

Windows has a built-in disk cleanup tool:

1. Open This computer, right-click on the system disk (usually C:) and select Properties.
2. Click Disk Cleanup, then Clean system files.
3. Check all the boxes (especially Temporary files, Cart, Update log files) and press OK.

2.2. Removing unnecessary programs

Many programs install background services that slow down the system. To remove them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Apps & features.
2. Sort programs by installation date or size.
3. Remove everything you don't use (especially McAfee, Norton, WildTangent Games and other “bonus” utilities from the laptop manufacturer).

For deep cleaning we recommend utilities CCleaner (free version) or BleachBit (open source). They will remove browser cache, registry junk and program remnants that standard Windows tools do not touch.

⚠️ Attention: Don't use "registry optimizers" like RegCleaner or Wise Registry Cleaner. They often break the system by deleting critical registry keys. Standard cleaning via CCleaner.

3. Optimization of startup and background processes

If the laptop slows down immediately after turning it on, it's your fault startup. Many programs (especially instant messengers, cloud storage and antivirus programs) are added to startup and eat up resources. Here's how to fix it:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Go to the tab Autoload.
3. Disable everything except antivirus and drivers (for example, NVIDIA GeForce Experience or Realtek Audio).

Particularly aggressive in this regard:

• 📱 Messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord.
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox.
• 🛡️ Antiviruses: Avast, Kaspersky, ESET NOD32 (it’s better to leave them, but set up exceptions).

For advanced users: If your laptop is slow due to high CPU usage when idle, check Windows services. Some of them can be disabled:

1. Click Win + R, enter services.msc.
2. Find services Superfetch (or SysMain in Windows 10/11), Windows Search, Diagnostic Policy Service.
3. Double click on the service, select Startup type: Disabled and press Stop.

4. Check for viruses and malware

Viruses and mining bots are a common cause of slowdowns. They can secretly use your laptop resources to mine cryptocurrency or send spam. Even if you have an antivirus installed, it does not always detect all threats.

4.1. Scanning with standard Windows Defender

In recent versions of Windows, built-in Defender became quite powerful:

1. Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Security.
2. Select Protection against viruses and threats → Quick scan.
3. For a deep scan, click Scan Options → Full Scan (mines the processor, but finds hidden threats).

4.2. Checking with specialized utilities

If Defender doesn't find anything, but the laptop still slows down, use:

• 🛡️ Malwarebytes — finds adware and spyware.
• 🔍 AdwCleaner — removes ad viruses and unnecessary browser extensions.
• 💻 Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool — portable scanner from Kaspersky (does not conflict with other antiviruses).

After scanning it is necessary restart your laptop — some viruses are blocked only after a reboot.

⚠️ Attention: If the antivirus finds files like coinminer or trojan.bitcoinminer, your laptop is used for mining. Immediately remove the threat and change passwords for important accounts - they may have been compromised.

5. Update drivers and BIOS

Outdated or incorrectly installed drivers can cause slowdowns, especially when it comes to video card, chipset or drive. Here's how to update them correctly:

5.1. Updating drivers through Device Manager

1. Click Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand categories Video adapters, Disk devices, Network adapters.
3. Right-click on the device and select Update driver → Automatic search.

5.2. Manual installation of drivers from the manufacturer's website

Automatic update does not always find the latest versions. It's better to download drivers manually:

Component	Manufacturer	Drivers link
NVIDIA video card	NVIDIA	nvidia.ru/Download
AMD graphics card	AMD	amd.com/support
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth (Intel)	Intel	intel.ru/support
Chipset, sound, USB	Laptop manufacturer (ASUS, Lenovo, etc.)	For example, for Lenovo: pcsupport.lenovo.com

Pay special attention to drivers drive (SSD/HDD). Outdated controller drivers can reduce read/write speeds by 2-3 times. To check disk speed, use the utility CrystalDiskMark.

How to update BIOS correctly?

Updating the BIOS is a risky procedure, but sometimes necessary (for example, to support a new processor or fix critical bugs). 1. Download the firmware from the official website of the laptop manufacturer. 2. Connect your laptop to a power source. 3. Follow the manufacturer's instructions (usually you need to run the EXE file or update through the BIOS). ⚠️ Do not turn off the laptop during the update - this may make it inoperable!

6. Hardware problems: overheating, dust, malfunctions

If software methods do not help, the problem lies in "hardware". Most often the culprits are:

• 🔥 Overheating - due to dust or dried thermal paste.
• 💾 Faulty drive — HDD with bad sectors or “dying” SSD.
• 🔋 Worn out battery - can cause voltage sags and sudden shutdowns.
• 🖥️ Lack of RAM — 4 GB of RAM in 2026 is not enough even for office work.

6.1. Cleaning dust and replacing thermal paste

If the laptop gets very hot (CPU temperature is above 85°C when idle), it needs to be cleaned:

1. Turn off the laptop and disconnect the battery (if it is removable).
2. Unscrew the back cover (there are disassemblies for each model on YouTube).
3. Blow the dust with dry air (not a vacuum cleaner!) or carefully remove with a brush.
4. Remove the cooler, clean the heatsink and apply new thermal paste (eg Arctic MX-6).

To monitor temperature use HWMonitor or Core Temp. If after cleaning the temperature does not drop, the problem may be degraded thermal paste or faulty cooler.

6.2. Checking the health of the drive

If the laptop slows down when working with files (copies take a long time, freezes when opening documents), check the condition of the disk:

1. For HDD: use CrystalDiskInfo. If the status Pre-failure or Anxiety — urgently copy the data and replace the disk.
2. For SSD: check the parameter Total Host Writes (total amount of recorded data). If he is close to TBW (disk resource), the SSD will soon fail.

6.3. Upgrade RAM and storage

If your laptop is slow due to lack of RAM or a slow HDD, the best solution is upgrade:

• 🖥️ RAM: The minimum comfortable volume in 2026 is 8 GB (16 GB for games and graphics work). Check how many RAM slots your laptop has (via CPU-Z on the tab SPD).
• 💾 Storage: Replacing HDD with SSD gives a 3-5 times speed increase. Suitable for budget models Kingston A400 or Crucial BX500. For gaming laptops - Samsung 980 Pro (NVMe).

Please check compatibility before purchasing:

• For RAM: type (DDR3/DDR4), frequency (for example, 2400 MHz), maximum supported volume.
• For SSD: interface (SATA or NVMe) and form factor (2.5" or M.2).

7. Optimizing Windows for Maximum Performance

Even on a powerful laptop, Windows can slow down due to unnecessary visual effects and background processes. Here's how to make it easier:

7.1. Disabling visual effects

1. Click Win + R, enter sysdm.cpl and go to the tab Additionally.
2. In the section Performance click Options.
3. Select Provide the best performance or manually disable animations.

7.2. Setting up the swap file

If you have little RAM (4-8 GB), correctly setting up the paging file will help avoid slowdowns:

1. Go to Settings → System → About → Advanced system settings.
2. In the section Performance click Options → Advanced → Edit (swap file).
3. Uncheck Automatically select the size of the paging file.
4. Install Specify size: Initial – 1.5 × RAM, Maximum – 3 × RAM (for example, for 8 GB RAM: 12288 MB and 24576 MB).

7.3. Disable search indexing

The indexing service constantly scans files, loading the disk. To disable it:

1. Open Services (services.msc).
2. Find Windows Search, right-click and select Properties.
3. Install Startup type: Disabled and press Stop.

After these manipulations, the laptop will become more responsive, especially on weak hardware.

8. Last resort: reset Windows or reinstall

If all else fails, what remains is radical solution - Reset or clean install Windows. This will remove all programs and settings, but will return the laptop to factory performance.

8.1. Reset Windows while saving files

1. Go to Settings → Update & Security → Recovery.
2. Click Start under the item Restore your computer to its original state.
3. Select Save my files (will remove programs, but leave documents).

8.2. Clean Windows installation

If resetting does not help or the system is damaged, you need a clean installation:

1. Download Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website and create a bootable USB flash drive.
2. Boot from the USB flash drive (you may need to disable Secure Boot in BIOS).
3. Delete all partitions on the system disk and install Windows again.

⚠️ Attention: Before resetting or reinstalling be sure to make a backup important files to an external drive or cloud. Use Macrium Reflect or built-in File history on Windows.

After reinstallation, do not forget:

• 🔑 Install all drivers (see section 5).
• 🛡️ Install an antivirus (for example, Bitdefender Free).
• 🔄 Disable startup of unnecessary programs.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about laptop brakes

❓ The laptop slows down only in games. What to do?

If the brakes only occur in games, check:

1. Video card and processor temperatures (should be below 85°C under load).
2. Video card drivers (update via NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin).
3. In-game graphics settings (lower resolution, disable ray tracing).
4. Background processes (close Discord, browser, Steam via Task Manager).

If the laptop still slows down, it may not have enough power. Check the game requirements on the website System Requirements Lab.

❓ After updating Windows, the laptop began to slow down. How to roll back?

If the brakes started after the update, try rolling back:

1. Open Settings → Update & Security → Recovery.
2. Click Start under the item Go back to a previous version of Windows.
3. Follow the instructions (rollback usually takes 20-30 minutes).

If the rollback option is not available, try uninstalling the latest update manually:

1. Open Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features → View installed updates.
2. Find the latest update (by date), right-click and select Delete.

❓ The laptop slows down on the battery, but works fine from the network. What's the matter?

This is a common problem with many laptops. Reasons:

• 🔋 Energy saving mode: Windows automatically reduces battery performance. To fix:
1. Open Control Panel → Power Options.
2. Select a scheme High performance.
3. Click Set up power plan → Change advanced settings.
4. Install Maximum performance for processor and video card.

🔌 Worn battery: If the battery holds less than 30% of its original capacity, it needs to be replaced. Check status via Battery Report (enter at the command line powercfg /batteryreport).

❓ How to check if my laptop mines cryptocurrency?

Signs of mining:

• High CPU/GPU load (50-100%) without running programs.
• The laptop gets very hot and makes noise even when idle.
• Increased energy consumption (the battery runs out in 1-2 hours).

To check:

1. Open Task Manager and sort processes by CPU/GPU load.
2. Check unknown processes through VirusTotal.
3. Use Process Explorer (from Microsoft) for detailed analysis.

If you find a suspicious process (for example, svchost.exe with a high load), remove it through your antivirus and change the passwords for all accounts.

❓ Is it worth using “optimizers” like Advanced SystemCare?

No, it's not worth it. Most "optimizers" (like Advanced SystemCare, AVG TuneUp, Glary Utilities) not only do not speed up the laptop, but also:

• Install unnecessary software (adware).
• They break the registry and system settings.
• Slow down the system with background processes.

Exception - CCleaner (to clear cache only) and Defraggler (for HDD defragmentation). All other tasks are best solved manually or using standard Windows tools.