Nothing can be more frustrating than a new, slowing laptop. Spending a few minutes waiting for your device to load up a single web page can frustrate anyone. But what’s the reason for it lagging? Here are some causes, and attached are some helpful tips to solve the issues and prevent performance blockages. If you are struggling with slow processing after buying a laptop, this information will help you save a lot of time.
Insufficient Memory:
If the laptop has insufficient RAM, it is bound to slow down. That is so because it’s the main memory. It helps your laptops to enable you to multitask. RAM is a volatile memory used for temporary storage, whereas hard drives are for permanent storage. The operating system uses RAM to store applications & programs for quicker access.
Having said that, it gets overloaded too. (When you go beyond its capacity) And when such situations happen, the computer processor needs to access the hard drive instead of RAM, which slows the processing. Upgrading memory can be a quick solution and affordable. However, not all devices come with an upgrade option. Check if your system offers the one.
Slow Processor:
While many high-end processors are available in the market, many users continue to buy laptops that are underpowered and suffer from slow processing. The processor of the computer defines how fast it can perform. The CPU is one such component that you can’t upgrade, and at the same time, it’s one of the largest contributors to power usage and consumption. If you have bought an underpowered CPU, you can’t expect it to perform super blazingly fast.
Bloatware:
When you buy a laptop for the first time, you may find a lot of software preloaded. Some of them you will never use. Maybe there are toolbars, antivirus software, add-ons and other things you would never find valuable. These are the bloatware that slows your machine down.
If you have bought a new laptop, check the pre-installed software before installing your own. Decide the usefulness of the existing software and uninstall anything that doesn’t work. Go to the laptop’s settings and select apps. Now uninstall everything that isn’t solving any purpose.
System Updates:
If your laptops start to slow down as soon as you initiate it, this may be because of system updates. Laptops do periodic Windows updates. For example, the Windows 10 automatic update enhances the laptop’s security. Here you can do much in this case but look on the positive side that your laptop security is at the top level.
These automatic updates happen any time of the day, so let the laptop handle these. You can check the status of Windows updates and queued installation on the Settings app and under it, Update & Security. While Windows itself does regular updates regarding security and glitches in the operating system, you should also ensure that your software is updated for browsers, applications, and drivers to run various devices.
Overheating:
A laptop can overheat when the CPU is running fast to process requests. You will also notice the fan working hard to dissipate all the heat generated during such a process. Today’s laptops are quite thin, and so are the fans. As a result, they are unable to move air out fast. Getting a cooling pad can help you ease the overheating.
Also, try avoiding opening multiple programs at the same time, especially resource-intensive ones like Photoshop, Microsoft Office etc., that take up most processing power to run smoothly.
Hard drive:
While the hard drive is less common, some laptops come with it. These are similar to a record player with a needle reading the data (instead of an album). These drives are comparatively slower than today’s SSDs (solid state drives), which have no moving parts. And hence data reading is faster.
If you got a laptop with a mechanical hard drive, you could upgrade to an SSD. However, ultra-slim laptops have limited upgradability. Also, remember, replacing hard drive drives isn’t easy. There is a lot to look after, such as computer casing, power and data cables to do so. If you are unsure of how to do it, get professional help.
Caches & Cookies:
For every session you visit a webpage, the web browser stores or caches a small file in a temporary internet file folder. Similarly, cookies are stored which contain your browsing history and personal details. Over time with constant usage, these files tend to build up. If you regularly clean these files. You can run your laptop faster and save valuable disk space. To do so, go to the Settings menu and find something similar like Clear browsing data or Clear cache & cookies.
Conclusion:
In a situation where none of the above tips to improve the speed works for you, it’s an indication that one or more components of your laptop are damaged. For this, you may have to get support from a professional.
