Why is My Laptop So Slow?

“Why is my laptop so slow?” must be one of the most frequent laments of any computer user. After all, we expect our devices to respond quickly. Speed and responsiveness are two of the top selling points of any modern computer. Thus, if our laptops are slow to respond to our commands, our own response is likely to be severe frustration. What is happening? There are a number of reasons why your laptop computer might be slower than usual, and many of them are entirely fixable. Here are some things that every laptop user should know.

Aging computers are more likely to slow down.

If you’re wondering “Why is my laptop so slow?”, then you should also ask yourself how old it is. The more years a laptop computer has behind it, the more likely it is to be slowing down. Part of the reason is simply that older computers didn’t run as quickly as modern computers. The larger reason, however, is that computers will gradually wear down over time, and eventually need to be replaced. Hard drives, in particular, have mechanical parts and thus wear down quickly. If this is the case, then you may need to replace part of—or even all of—your laptop computer.

Viruses can slow down your computer.

Malware can also be the reason that your laptop computer is running more slowly than usual. This is especially likely if you notice other signs of a virus, such as unexplained windows that keep popping up or repeated computer crashes. If this happens, you should take your laptop to a computer store immediately to have the viruses diagnosed and removed. Then, install a security system to protect your laptop in the future.

You may have too many programs automatically opening.

When you start up your computer, there are a number of programs that will automatically begin running. However, not all of these programs are necessary. In fact, having too many programs running at startup can cause your laptop to slow down. Go into your Task Manager and shut down any programs that are running that you do not need open. Then, go to Startup and disable any programs that you do not need to run automatically when you start up your computer. In many cases, this will help to speed up your computer’s responsiveness.

You may not have enough memory on your computer.

If your hard drive is almost full, then your laptop may respond by slowing down. When this happens, you should do a deep clean of your laptop in order to remove any unnecessary files. These may include programs you no longer use, duplicate folders, temporary files, and anything else that is needlessly taking up space. Once you’re finished with this task, be sure to empty your Trash. Finally, restart your laptop. If space was the culprit, then the slowness issue should be resolved. If your laptop is still slow, however, then you’ll need to take a different approach.

Upgrading your computer can prevent slowness.

There are a number of steps that you can take in order to keep your laptop speedy and efficient. Along with having a high-quality security system to protect your laptop from malware, you should consider updating your operating system. You may also want to replace your old hard drive with a solid-state drive, which have much faster access time. You should also take a more thorough look at your laptop’s operating system. Is it out of date? If so, then that could be slowing down its responsiveness. There are numerous possible causes for a slow computer, so it’s important to investigate all of them.

When in doubt, take your laptop to an expert.

If you’re frustrated with the slowness of your laptop, a computer store in your area may be able to help. Simply take your device to their staff and ask, “Why is my laptop so slow?” An experienced computer technician will be able to check your device for any security vulnerabilities that might be slowing it down, and they will also be able to determine whether your system is out of date. Instead of spending endless hours trying to fix your laptop on your own, bring it to a professional for the capable repairs you deserve.

When you’re having trouble with your laptop, don’t hesitate to bring it in to Smart Parts PC. Our store can offer you all of the services you require for your computer, including virus removal, data recovery, and screen repair. Our computer specialists are proud to provide great service at a price you can afford! We also sell pre-built parts and computers, so you’ll be sure to find the equipment you need. No matter how old your device is, our experts will be glad to take a look at it. Want to learn more? Call our Tucson store today at (520) 468-2320 with your questions.