![]() If something is highlighted in red, it might need an update, or it might have a malicious component (here's looking at you, Chrome!). Similarly, on a Mac, run Activity Monitor and see if any program is using up all the CPU or Memory by clicking on each option. Right-click on the Windows taskbar and run Task Manager. However, Windows 10 automatically performs optimizations that are better adapted to your internal hardware every Wednesday around 2 a.m., or Thursday morning if you turn off the computer at night. You might be tempted to run Disk Cleanup or Defragmenter, which were both recommended ten years ago. Second, it could be old or malicious software, and that can get hairy. Doing this is recommended yearly for maintenance and may help the system run faster. If it is a desktop tower rather than a laptop, open up the case and spray out the fans after touching the metal inside to prevent static electricity from shocking the system. Use a can of air to spray out the vents safely. ![]() It can corrupt Windows, cause startup failures, etc. Dust "blankets" inside will make the computer run slower or shut down as heat builds up. If the system shuts down after several minutes, it may be overheating. For a Mac, you press D, although its test is an unhelpfully short 4 minutes. I usually find the Windows startup test unsuccessful, but hey, you can try that too. ![]() Select Troubleshoot, select Advanced, then click on UEFI settings. To enter the diagnostic tool, your best option is to hold down the shift key while restarting the machine from within the desktop, not by using the power button. We used to recommend the manufacturers' tests, and some manufacturers still include a separate diagnostics partition that you reach using a keyboard shortcut while starting. The most likely point of failure is the hard drive where your documents, pictures, and even Windows (or Mac or Linux) live. If any components are starting to fail, you have difficult decisions ahead. However, if you notice your computer is much slower than expected, you need to ask yourself first: is it hardware, my internet, or software? My article assumes that you want to troubleshoot before taking it to an expert.įirst, you need to test the hardware. Let's face it: computers, like people, slow down as they age.
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