Quick answer
Do a full restart, then open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and see what's using your CPU, memory and disk. Trim startup apps, free up disk space, run a malware scan and install updates. If the disk sits at 100% and it's an old hard drive, that's your bottleneck — and an SSD upgrade is the fix.
THE 7 FIXES
Try these before spending a cent.
- Actually restart itNot sleep — a full Restart. Many PCs run for weeks between reboots, which lets memory leaks and half-finished updates pile up. This alone fixes a surprising amount.
- See what's hogging resourcesOpen Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and click the Processes tab. Sort by CPU, then Memory, then Disk. If one app is pegged near 100%, close it — and consider whether you still need it.
- Cut down startup appsIn Task Manager, open the Startup apps tab. Disable anything with "High" impact that you don't need the moment you log in (chat apps, updaters, cloud tools you rarely use). They all slow your login.
- Free up disk spaceA nearly full drive slows everything down. Aim for at least 15% free — empty the Recycle Bin, clear old Downloads, and turn on Storage Sense (Settings → System → Storage) to keep it tidy.
- Run a malware scanOpen Windows Security → Virus & threat protection and run a full scan. Malware and unwanted "free" toolbars are a classic cause of a PC that's suddenly crawling.
- Install Windows and driver updatesGo to Settings → Windows Update, install everything pending, and restart. An out-of-date system — or a stalled update stuck retrying — drags performance down.
- Check the hardware honestlyIf Task Manager shows disk at 100% and the PC has a traditional hard drive (not an SSD), that's almost certainly the limit. An SSD and a little more memory will transform it — far cheaper than a new machine.
If a scan finds real malware — not just cookies — don't simply delete it and move on. On a work computer that can be a sign of a wider compromise. Disconnect it from the network and get your IT provider to check what happened and whether anything else is affected.
