HP makes some good laptops, but not all of them are strong and fast.
Let’s be honest, how many times have you been frustrated when your HP laptop was running slowly? You don’t need to worry whether it is on the latest Windows 10 OS or the older Windows 7 OS because this problem will always exist.
A HP laptop will slow down over time, just like any other technology device. It’s just like the law of nature. The performance issue may signal something wrong if it occurs too soon or too frequently. A laggy computer decreases productivity and this slows us down which means we can’t do anything else while waiting for it (for example going out). This can also cause us some stress because we’re always thinking about how long it’ll take before our laptops become usable again.
There are a number of factors behind this problem – from software malfunctions to old hardware. The good news is that many culprits are easily fixable once you identify them. Here we’ve listed five possible causes, matched with five solution based fixes for each one so you can quickly address the problem at hand.
1. Viruses and Malware
Viruses are known to do many things, some of which can be detrimental to your computer. Not only can viruses crash your PC and steal data from you, but they can also take up valuable CPU space and cause your computer to work slower than usual; or even worse – other times these malicious programs are just trying to monitor what you’re doing online so they can bombard you with nuisance pop-ups all day long. This is why it’s important to remember that if the laptop gets really hot when you browse certain websites then this means there are probably a lot of ads on those pages (usually with video content or animation); so make sure to remove them as soon as possible!
How to Fix It: Using light-weighted antivirus or malware removal software
Eliminating malicious threats can dramatically improve your system’s overall performance. But, how would you know if your machine was infected? What would be the best way to eradicate them once you discovered them? There are many security programs available that could take care of this task for you. For instance, Microsoft offers a free Windows Defender program (formerly known as Microsoft Security Essentials) which may not work well enough alone and has already failed some antivirus tests. Why is Windows Defender not good enough, you might want to continue reading here: Should you use it? Not Yet!
The best defense against malware threats are those which are lighter on system resources while at the same time can catch all possible instances of malware. It is a good idea to use Bitdefender Antivirus Plus as an example. Lightweight yet powerful, it updates often and doesn’t impose significant demands on the operating system; making it a perfect match for HP systems.
2. Hard Drive is Getting Full
Computers tend to run slower when there isn’t enough room left for them to operate. Sometimes this happens when a hard drive reaches over eighty-five percent capacity and begins slowing down as it tries to process data at times of peak activity. One can tell how much space is available by clicking on the Start icon in the bottom-left corner of their desktop, navigating to This PC on Windows 10 (or My Computer in Windows 7), right-clicking the desired hard-drive, selecting Properties from that window and viewing the amount of total storage displayed below; which usually takes up less than one fifth of all available space per file type.
How to Fix It: Deep cleaning
There is no better way to ensure the health of your PC than CleanMyPC – this application has a set of cleaning tools that will free up space, freeing you from having to worry about how much space there is left.
If you have the time and can tolerate some new jargon, then please attempt to clean up your hard disk manually. Firstly, run Disk Cleanup (Windows 7 – go here; Windows 10 – go here) to eliminate all of the temporary files that build up on your computer over time (search for it with the start menu). Next, un-install any programs that you no longer want or need. If your HP hard drive is still above 85% capacity than maybe it’s best if you started transferring those larger obsolete files onto an external HDD. Items such as old family photos, projects from school or past work archives may not be accessed on a daily basis so they’re perfect candidates for saving onto an external HDD!
3. Running Too Many Programs at Once
Along with a hard drive, a computer’s RAM is used to store most of the software being run at any given time. Run too many programs simultaneously, and it fills up quickly which causes performance to suffer greatly. If this is your problem when using an HP laptop – then open Task Manager (through right clicking on Taskbar) and sort through each application by how much work it has made your laptop do and identify which one could be affecting performance the most.
How to Fix It: Close out programs and have better computer habits
The Task Manager gives you a visual representation of your process, but there are other ways to go about speeding up your computer. For starters, don’t try and do too much at once! Multitasking slows down processing time so try using the Task Manager to see which programs consume the most CPU time. For instance, Firefox is known for sucking up extra battery life while Chrome has been reported as running smoother.Another way to optimize your HP laptop is to remove unnecessary programs that start automatically when you turn it on. This can usually be accomplished by uninstalling these apps instead of disabling them from auto-starting up. CleanMyPC is an easy-to-use app for this purpose.
4. Windows Registry and Device Driver Issues
You can think of the Registry as a database containing information about the programs you’ve installed and the system files of Windows OS. As time passes, the registry becomes cluttered due to an accumulation of data from applications being added or removed. Typical symptoms are message pop-ups and slow performance from your computer – especially when launching new software applications. Similar problems may arise if there are outdated or missing device drivers; this can lead to hardware failures as well as instability in the operating system itself.
How to Fix It: Clean registry and update drivers
It may seem difficult to fix system registry errors and device driver problems, but it’s actually quite straightforward with software like CCleaner. This handy program provides more than just the typical errors; it also optimizes performance through repairing other factors that could slow your PC down.
5. Old or Failing Hardware
Computers age quickly in human years – or maybe double-dog years. Older hardware can’t keep up with the demands of newer technologies. HP computers that are over 5 years old probably run sluggish due to their age.
How to Fix It: Upgrade Hardware Components
Before you go trading or reselling your old HP computer, consider hardware upgrades. Simply adding some more RAM can help your computer handle intensive programs much better; and allow for multitasking once again. This article from the HP Help Center will guide you through every step of upgrading your computers memory.
If you want to speed up your HP laptop and don’t want to buy a new one, upgrading your hard drive with an SSD (solid-state drive) can provide significant benefits over a conventional HDD because of the advantages they have over HDDs. It may not be practical for all laptops, but it can be more affordable than getting a new one. If you’re going to do this, read this HP SSD upgrade guide before proceeding so you know what to expect.
What to do when your HP laptop touch-pad or mouse freezes up?
When the mouse or trackpad on your HP laptop freezes, follow these steps to reset it. If it’s convenient for you, shut down the laptop and disconnect the power cord before removing the battery. Press and hold the on button for about 10 seconds to allow any residual power left in the system to drain out. Put the battery back in and turn it on as usual – soon enough, all of your cursor movement troubles should be solved!
