Is your HP laptop taking forever to start or load simple programs? In today’s fast-paced world, we expect our devices to keep up with us, but unfortunately, even the best laptops can slow down over time, leaving you feeling frustrated and unproductive.
In this article, we will walk you through a step-by-step guide to optimize HP laptop performance and making it run more smoothly.
What Are The Causes Of a Slow HP Laptop?
Slowdowns on laptops don't happen all at once; they develop over time. Before we tackle the slow laptop fix, let's explore the most common causes and reasons for a slow HP laptop. Understanding them will help you to pinpoint the specific issues preventing your system from functioning properly and devise solutions.
Insufficient RAM (Memory)
If your HP laptop doesn't have enough RAM to accomplish the tasks you put it through, its performance may slow down. The system uses the hard drive as virtual memory when memory is low; however, this is much slower than RAM. That is why, when you multitask, you may experience lag.
How To Fix It
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Close any programs or browser tabs that are currently running but not in use.
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Turn off unused startup apps.
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Check Task Manager to see which apps are using a lot of memory.
Malware And Viruses
Your HP laptop may slow down if it has viruses or malware on it. Malicious software most of the time runs silently in the background, using the processing power and memory of your system while also risking your personal information. Because of this, you may also notice frequent pop-ups, crashes, or unusual system behaviour. That’s why it’s essential to regularly remove bloatware HP devices come with, as well as uninstall unused apps, to free up system resources.
How To Fix It
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Use Windows Defender or your existing antivirus program to run a system scan.
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Use a reliable anti-malware tool.
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Ensure your antivirus software is up to date to stay safe from the latest threats.
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Avoid downloading files or data from unverified sources.
What Quick Wins Can Help You Speed Up Your HP Laptop?
It's frustrating when your laptop lags and interferes with your workflow. But before we move towards advanced fixes, there are a few easy steps you can follow that can make your HP laptop run smoothly again.
Disk Cleanup For Your HP Laptop
If the hard disk of your HP laptop is nearly full, the system struggles to access the necessary data, resulting in lags, slowed performance, and longer load times.
Once the available storage of your HP laptop falls below 10-20%, it becomes difficult for Windows to manage background processes, which can slow your laptop down by up to 50%, making even simple tasks annoying. That’s why it’s necessary to regularly clean up HP laptop storage to keep performance smooth.
How To Fix It
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Click the Start button, type Disk Cleanup in the search box, and open the program.
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Perform a quick scan to identify temporary files, installer files, and cached web pages that are no longer needed.
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Choose Clean up system files to access more options, including removing old system files such as previous Windows versions.
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The program will then delete the selected files and free up space on your hard drive.
Uninstall Unused Applications From Your HP Laptop
Applications that are rarely or never used might accumulate on laptops over time. These applications take up storage space and can slow down your system by running background processes without you realizing it. Removing them can improve performance and free up important resources on your HP laptop.
How To Fix It
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To display installed apps, click the Start button and select Settings > Apps > Apps & Features (or check All Apps).
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Click Uninstall to uninstall any apps you are no longer using.
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Restart your laptop to ensure changes take effect.
What Are Some Advanced Fixes For Your HP Laptop?
If these simple and quick fixes are unable to resolve your HP laptop’s slowdown, then it's time for you to move on to advanced fixes that can improve the performance of your HP laptop.
Upgrade To SSD
Installing a solid-state drive (SSD) can enhance your laptop's speed by decreasing startup times and improving the performance of apps. This is particularly helpful if you use photo and video editing tools or run many programs.
If your HP laptop doesn’t support an internal SSD, you can use an external SSD via USB 3.0, which can still provide a noticeable performance boost. Make sure the SSD you choose works well with your HP laptop and operating system.
RAM Upgrade
Your HP laptop may become slow over time, particularly if you have been using it extensively for longer than two years. This usually happens because your system's memory is being continuously used, and older laptops might not have enough to handle modern software demands.
8GB of RAM is typically sufficient for daily tasks such as browsing, streaming, or working on documents. However, if you use your HP laptop for gaming, video editing, or heavy applications, a RAM upgrade HP is one of the most reliable ways to speed up HP Pakistan laptops and ensure smoother multitasking.
Moreover, you can also check HP Support Assistant, which is usually pre-installed to monitor the overall condition of your HP laptop.
What Are the Prevention Tips for Your HP Laptop From Slowing Down Again?
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Refresh system memory by frequently shutting down your HP laptop rather than putting it in sleep mode.
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Update Windows and other programs to ensure optimal performance and security.
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To increase storage space, uninstall unnecessary files and apps.
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Turn off unused startup apps to reduce boot time.
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To prevent malware problems, use dependable antivirus software and perform routine scans.
Conclusion
A slow laptop can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the world. With a few simple fixes, your HP laptop is good to go. However, if it still struggles to keep up, it might be time to consider an upgrade. Visit the Intag Laptops website to explore the latest models, as well as reliable refurbished HP laptops.