“My computer is so slow”
Slow computer? Find the cause, not a guess
A computer that takes minutes to start or freezes when you open a second tab usually has one of a handful of causes. Some you can check in ten minutes. The rest a technician can find on your screen.
How to recognize it
- Minutes pass between the power button and a usable desktop
- The mouse stutters or programs show Not Responding
- It got slow all of a sudden, often after an update
- The disk light stays on or the fan never rests
- Web pages load slowly on this computer but fine on your phone
What you can try yourself first
- Restart it properlyChoose Restart, not Shut down. On Windows a normal shutdown keeps part of the old session, so a restart is the real fresh start. Many computers have not had one in weeks.
- Look at free disk spaceWindows: Settings, System, Storage. Mac: Apple menu, System Settings, General, Storage. A nearly full disk slows everything. Empty the trash and the Downloads folder first.
- See what starts with the computerWindows: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, open Startup apps and disable what you do not need at every start. Mac: System Settings, General, Login Items. Disabling does not uninstall anything.
- Let updates finishA computer in the middle of a large update is slow until it is done. Open Windows Update or Software Update, install what is waiting and restart when asked.
- Count the browser tabsEvery open tab uses memory. Close the ones you are not using and remove extensions you do not recognize.
When to stop and call us
- It is still slow right after a restart with nothing open
- You hear clicking or grinding from the computer. Stop using it and back up what you can
- Slowness arrived together with pop-ups or new programs
- The whole office is slow, not one machine
- You are deciding whether to repair it or replace it and want a straight answer
How a remote session fixes it
On a remote session the technician reads what the computer itself reports: what is using the processor, memory and disk, what loads at start-up, how full and how healthy the drive is, and whether something unwanted is running. That separates a software problem we can fix on the spot from a hardware limit.
If the fix is software, we do it in the session. If the honest answer is more memory, a solid-state drive or a new computer, we tell you which and why, so you spend money once.
Questions
My computer is running slow. What can I do right now?
Restart it, check that the disk is not full, turn off start-up programs you do not need and let pending updates finish. If it is still slow with nothing open, the cause needs a closer look.
Is it worth fixing an old computer?
Often yes, sometimes no. It depends on the hardware inside, not the age alone. We look at it during the session and give you a direct recommendation either way.
Do I need to buy clean-up software?
No. The tools already built into Windows and macOS are enough when someone knows where to look.
Related problems
Help with this across Colorado
Remote sessions work anywhere with an internet connection. On-site visits are for business clients, by appointment.
Still reading? Just call.
(720) 222-0110Mon–Fri 8 AM–6 PM Mountain. For emergencies, call or buy a session any time and we answer as fast as we can.