Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was written by Michael Thompson-Brown and by How.com.vn staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Michael Thompson-Brown is a Cybersecurity Expert based in Portland, Maine. He is the owner and founder of PCRescue!, a company that provides cybersecurity and data management solutions to small businesses and individuals. Michael has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry and is a certified ethical hacker. He is passionate about helping clients protect their data and systems from malicious attacks and helping them optimize their online presence and reach. He received a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Western Governors University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Is Windows 10 lagging or failing to respond at all on your computer? There are lots of fixes for your computer running slow or laggy. This How.com.vn article will show you how to fix Windows 10 when it is slow and unresponsive.
Steps
Adware and malware are types of programs that can compromise your computer's performance and create security weaknesses. There are specialized third-party programs designed to find and erase adware and spyware.- You can download the free and popular Malwarebytes. Download the software, open it, and click Scan Now to find any malicious files. If Malwarebytes finds any, it will automatically quarantine those files so they can't harm your computer. Run this software occasionally to check for adware or malware.
- The best way to avoid adware and malware is to never download anything you're not sure of, and never agree to install anything extra that comes packaged with software you choose to install.
Check for viruses and other immediate threats. The best way to defend your computer against truly malicious threats is with a powerful antivirus program. Windows users have access to good free options, like Windows Security, that work at least as well as paid brands. Install them and allow them to run in the background at all times. When you first install them, or if you suspect a virus may have been missed, you can run them manually as well.- Since new viruses are always being designed and released, it's very important that you allow your antivirus program to update as often as it needs to. Normally, this should take place in the background, without you having to do anything.
A failing or outdated drive may slow your computer down. To update it, search and open Device Manager. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, then type "Device Manager" and click the search result to open Device Manager. This will take you to a list of all of the hardware (like your Bluetooth driver) installed on your computer.[3]
Scroll to and select the category that is slow and unresponsive. Based on what functions have been slow or unresponsive on your computer, click the arrow next to whichever hardware category you would like to update. For example, if you’re noticing a lag while typing, you might select “Keyboards.”
Right-click a hardware element and select “Update driver.” Repeat this process for each element under your selected category.[4]
Expert Q&A
- QuestionCan I defrag a solid-state drive?
Michael Thompson-BrownMichael Thompson-Brown is a Cybersecurity Expert based in Portland, Maine. He is the owner and founder of PCRescue!, a company that provides cybersecurity and data management solutions to small businesses and individuals. Michael has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry and is a certified ethical hacker. He is passionate about helping clients protect their data and systems from malicious attacks and helping them optimize their online presence and reach. He received a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Western Governors University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Cybersecurity ExpertUnlike traditional hard drives with mechanical arms, SSDs do not suffer from fragmentation issues. Instead, if your system is slow with an SSD, it's more likely due to an excessive number of running programs or errors in the file system. Windows provides built-in tools to address file system errors, which can contribute to slowdowns. As for defragmenting an SSD, it's generally unnecessary and can even reduce the lifespan of the drive, as SSDs have a limited number of write cycles.
Tips
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References
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/restart-reboot-your-pc-110262aa-fc79-1c33-7b00-c140ae3a6dac
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-the-latest-windows-update-7d20e88c-0568-483a-37bc-c3885390d212
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-drivers-manually-in-windows-ec62f46c-ff14-c91d-eead-d7126dc1f7b6
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-drivers-in-windows-ec62f46c-ff14-c91d-eead-d7126dc1f7b6
- ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/disable-applications-from-running-on-startup/1/
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/disk-cleanup-in-windows-8a96ff42-5751-39ad-23d6-434b4d5b9a68
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026616/windows-10-disk-cleanup
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