Diagnose a Slow Performing Computer

If your PC or Mac is running slowly, it’s typically the result of a either a software problem, an operating system optimization issue, or faulty hardware. The best way to diagnose what's behind a slow-performing computer is to work through a list of possible issues until you notice a change.

Steps

Diagnosing Windows Software Problems

  1. Press ⊞ Win+D to view the Windows desktop.[1] The next command you run needs to be run from the desktop.
    • Windows software problems often lead to system slowness. Fortunately, software issues are generally easy to diagnose and fix in any version of Windows.
  2. Press Alt+F4, then select “Restart.” The computer will now reboot.
  3. Log in with an Administrator account. If you’re the only user on the system, your account is an Administrator account. Wait about 5 minutes for the operating system to load before continuing.
  4. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to launch the Task Manager. This program is designed to help you figure out what’s hogging your resources.
  5. Click “More Details” if you’re using Windows 10. Windows 10 shows fewer details by default, so if you see this message, click it before continuing.
  6. Navigate to the “Processes” tab. At any given time, your computer is running a lot of processes—some of these are launched automatically by Windows. Some programs even launch several processes (this is normal). Notice the category columns containing percentages. The percentages show how much of each resource is being used right now. The process names are listed in the left column.
  7. Click the top of each column to sort each by percentage utilized. You will want the highest numbers to appear at the top. Each column represents a different resource:
    • CPU: This column shows the percentage of processor (the “brain” of your computer) resources utilized by each process.
    • Memory: Shows the percentage of RAM used each process.
    • Disk: Newer versions of Windows use this column to report how much hard each process makes the hard drive work.
  8. Select a process and click “End Task.” If you see any of the processes nearing 100% utilization of any resource, it is likely the culprit of the slowness. Using the “End Task” feature will kill the process, which should improve system speed. Keep in mind that some programs will automatically relaunch processes. If you don’t know what the process is, try searching the net for “what is [name of process].”
  9. Press ⊞ Win+R and type msconfig.exe if you’re using Windows 7 or Vista. This will launch the System Configuration panel. If you’re using Windows 8 or later, move to the next step.
  10. Click the “Startup” tab.[2] Here is where we control which programs start when the computer boots. Having too many programs start at boot time slows down your computer. Programs that are set to start at boot time are marked with a checkmark (Windows 7 and earlier) or listed as “Enabled” (Windows 8 or later).
  11. Disable startup applications. If you’re using Windows 8 or newer, select a program, and then click “Disable.” Users of Windows 7 and Vista should remove the checkmark next to any apps you don’t want to launch when the computer starts.
    • Note that certain applications require certain startup programs to run properly. Look at the “Publisher” or “Manufacturer” for hints on what programs this startup program might effect.
    • You can always re-enable startup programs later.
  12. Press ⊞ Win+S, type performance, then click “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.” Often Windows is slowed down by certain visual features of the operating system.
  13. Select “Adjust for best performance.” If you had “Adjust for best appearance” selected previously, this was likely contributing to the slowness of your system.
  14. Press ⊞ Win+R, type msinfo32 and press ↵ Enter. Confirm that your system meets (and hopefully exceeds) the minimum requirements to run your software by comparing the computer specs found here to the software manufacturer’s manual.
    • RAM: Scroll to “Installed Physical Memory” to find the amount of RAM installed on the system. These days, a PC with 4GB of RAM or less is going to perform rather slowly compared to one with at least 6GB.
    • Processor: Some programs require a certain speed or type of processor. Compare what’s listed here to what’s required by programs you need to use.
  15. Check Windows for malware.[3] Adware and spyware could be slowing down your system. Use this guide to help you scan for and remove rogue applications that may be hogging your resources.
  16. Restart your computer. After you’ve completed the steps in this method, try using your computer as you normally would. If you don’t notice an improvement in speed (and have already verified that your hardware specs meet or exceed the needs of your software), try optimizing your hard drive and checking the hardware.

Diagnosing a Slow Mac

  1. Press the power button on your Mac, then click “Restart.”[4] Before going any further, try rebooting your Mac. Sometimes this can improve speed drastically. Wait a few minutes after the system reboots to move on.
  2. Click Finder from the dock to view the files on your Mac.[5] Now we’ll look for applications that can be deleted. Make sure you’ve backed everything up before deleting any files.
  3. Click “Applications.” Here you’ll find a list of all of the applications installed on the computer. Look through the list to identify programs that you no longer use.
  4. Drag unused applications to the Trash.[6] Some programs will ask for a password before moving to the trash. Type it if prompted.
    • Built-in programs like Safari and iMail cannot be removed.
  5. Browse through the folders on the left to locate unneeded files. Desktop, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and various other files may be full of things you no longer need.
  6. Drag unneeded files to the Trash icon on the dock. Another way to do this is to Ctrl+Click the icon and select “Move to Trash.”
  7. Double-click “Utilities” while still in Applications, then select “Activity Monitor.”[7] Activity Monitor will help you figure out if certain programs are hogging your memory, CPU or hard drive. The processes running on the computer are listed in the left column of the monitor.
  8. Click “CPU” to see if your processor’s being overloaded. Look at the percentage listed in the first column (%CPU). You can sort the column by percent by clicking on its header. Programs with higher percentages are using more of your computer’s processing power.
    • If a single program is using the majority of your CPU resources, contact the developers of that program to request tips for improving performance.
    • There’s a chance the program may require a faster CPU. If there are no alternatives to this software option, give Apple Support a call to ask for options.
  9. Click “Memory” and “Disk” to view the same information for the RAM and hard disk. The same logic applies—the higher the number, the higher of an impact the process has on the hardware. If any of these resources run (steadily) over 75%, check with the Apple store for suggestions on hardware upgrades.
    • If just the Memory is running high, ask an Apple technician about upgrading the RAM in your system.
    • If Disk usage is high, you can add another hard disk. SSD (solid state) drives are the fastest and most reliable types of drives that can be installed in your computer. An Apple technician can help you figure out which option best suits your needs.
  10. Navigate to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login items. Here you’ll find a list of all programs configured to start up when the computer does. Having too many programs in your automatic startup list can bog down your system.
  11. Click the name of an item, then click the “-“(minus) button to remove a program from automatic startup. You can always launch a program after startup by clicking on its icon in the Applications list.
    • Don’t remove programs from this list unless you know what they are.
    • Programs like Spotify, Utorrent, Photoshop, don’t NEED to start at boot time. If you use these programs or any other non-essential software which appears in this list, you can safely remove them.
  12. Check your Mac for malware. If you’re seeing pop-up windows, experiencing slow web browsing, or otherwise suspect that malware or adware has invaded your computer, see this article for detailed instructions on how to search and destroy rogue software on your Mac. It’s a good idea to regularly check all computers for malware.
  13. Click the App Store icon on the dock, then click “Updates.”[8] The slowness you’re experiencing may be the result of a software issue that has been corrected by an app update. Here you’ll find available updates for the operating system and individual applications.
  14. Click “Update” to install an update. Alternatively, you can choose to install all available updates by clicking “Update All” at the top of the list. Software updates can take several minutes to install, depending on the speed of your hardware.
  15. Navigate to "System Preferences > Extensions > All" to deselect unused extensions. In this area, you’ll see “helper” programs (called “extensions”) that are installed by third-party applications. Remove the checkmarks from any extensions you don’t use.
  16. Open Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Information to view the hardware specs. If you’ve made it this far without speeding up your system, you may need to upgrade your hardware. Click the “Memory” tab to find out how much RAM you have, then compare it to what’s required by the software you run normally. Do the same with the “Storage” tab.

Optimizing Your Windows Hard Drive

  1. Press ⊞ Win+S to launch Search, then type defrag.[9] If your computer isn’t running as fast as it used to, your hard drive may need optimization. A great place to begin is defragmenting the hard drive. You’ll see a few search results that contain the word “defrag.”
  2. Select “Defrag & Optimize Drives” (Windows 8 and later) or “Disk Defragmenter” (Windows 7 and Vista). A new screen will appear containing a list of your hard drives.
  3. Select the hard drive, then click “Analyze.” You’ll want to select whichever drive is listed as “Windows.” The analysis will take a few moments.
  4. Click “Defragment Disk” if the drive is more than 10% fragmented. Defragmenting the hard drive can take several minutes to a few hours to run. The end result will be a faster-performing hard drive.
  5. Press ⊞ Win+S to launch Search, type cleanup, and select “Disk Cleanup.” Excess files may be slowing your computer down, and Disk Cleanup can help you remove ones that are no longer needed.
  6. Choose the drive labeled “Windows” from the list, then click “OK.” If the drive does not say “Windows,” select the C: drive. Disk Cleanup will scan your hard drive, which may take several minutes depending on its size.
  7. Click each file category name to learn more. When the results of the scan appear, you’ll see the types of files Disk Cleanup suggests you delete. Clicking each category name will show details about what the files are used for.
  8. Remove checkmarks from the files you don’t want to delete. Disk Cleanup will only delete files with checkmarks next to them.
  9. Click “Clean Up System Files,” then confirm by clicking “OK.” Disk Cleanup will now delete your files. This process may take several moments.

Checking Your PC Hardware

  1. Right-click your hard drive in “My Computer” (or “This PC”) and select “Properties.” If you’ve been experiencing slowness while using your PC, you may be wondering if the hardware in your system is failing. We’ll start by checking the hard drive. You’ll see a list of Windows hard drives on the screen.
  2. Click “Tools,” then “Check.” If there are no errors found on the hard drive, you’ll see a pop-up message that says you don’t have to check the drive. Move to the next step.
    • If errors are found, the program will attempt to repair the hard drive. In most cases, this will be successful.
    • If the errors cannot be repaired, now would be a good time to back up your personal data and get a new hard drive. This one is dying.
  3. Press ⊞ Win+S to launch the search box, then type mdsched.exe.[10]. Press ↵ Enter to launch the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool. This tool will test the RAM (stands for “Random Access Memory”) on the computer. RAM is hardware memory inside your computer.
  4. Click “Restart now and check for problems.” When the computer restarts, it will automatically run a RAM test, then reboot once more to display the results. If any errors are detected, the RAM should be removed from the computer and replaced with new RAM.
  5. Listen for noisy fans.[1] Put your ear near the back of the computer and listen for squealing, flapping, or louder-than-usual whirring. Some fan noise is okay, but if you hear irregular fan noises, the computer may be overheating or the fan might be defective. Call a technician to schedule a repair.
  6. Buy a can of compressed air for cleaning out the air vents.[11] Air vents full of dust can cause processors to overheat and fans to malfunction. These can be purchased at electronics stores and chain pharmacies.
    • Shut the computer down and unplug it from power. Then, hold the air can about 20 centimeters away from the vent to spray them free of dust.
    • Read the instructions on the can to ensure you’re using the product properly.
  7. Plug the computer back in and turn it on. If your computer is still underperforming, try diagnosing Windows software issues and optimizing your hard drive or calling a technician for support.

Tips

  • Before doing any changes to your computer, make sure you have a backup or restore point saved.
  • If you’ve determined the cause of the issue, try searching Google for tips and tricks from other users. You’ll often find links to forums or user groups full of people experiencing similar issues.
  • Call your computer manufacturer to ask for assistance if you run out of options. Many computers come with hardware warranties that include free technical support.
  • Bringing your computer to a repair depot like the Apple Store or Geek Squad can provide additional insight into what may be causing slowness.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-tips-for-troubleshooting-pc-system-slowdowns/
  2. ↑ https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=1868
  3. ↑ https://www.malwarebytes.org/support/guides/mbam/Scan.html
  4. ↑ http://all-about-apple.com/slow-mac-performance-this-article-solves-it/
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19068?locale=en_US
  6. ↑ http://www.cnet.com/how-to/five-tips-to-speed-up-your-mac/
  7. ↑ http://www.techradar.com/how-to/computing/apple/how-to-speed-up-your-mac-1309851/2
  8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201541
  9. ↑ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/improve-performance-defragmenting-hard-disk#1TC=windows-7.
  10. ↑ https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff700221.aspx
  11. ↑ http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN171944#Check-Air-Vents
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