Why Your PC Is Slow — 7 Fixes That Actually Work

Many people ask why their PC is slow, especially when everyday tasks like browsing, email, or file access start lagging. In this guide, we break down the most common causes of poor performance and share fixes that actually work for small businesses and home offices.

The good news? Most of the time, a slow PC fix doesn’t require buying a new computer at all. At Resurge Technology, we help local businesses diagnose slow machines every day, and we’ve found that the same set of issues cause 80% of all performance problems.

Below are the 7 fixes that actually work based on real-world troubleshooting.

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1. Too Many Startup Apps Running

When your computer boots up, it launches a long list of background programs you may not even use—Teams, Zoom, Adobe, Spotify, browser extensions, etc. These eat memory and slow startup time dramatically.

✔️ How to Fix It

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
2. Open Task Manager
3. Click Startup Apps
4. Disable anything you don’t need running automatically

This alone can speed up your boot time by 30–50%.

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2. Your PC Doesn’t Have Enough RAM

Modern apps use much more memory than they used to. Even Chrome alone can eat multiple gigabytes.

Signs of low memory:

• Apps freeze or lag
• Switching windows is slow
• Chrome shows “Not enough memory” errors
• Your PC makes a whirring noise when stressed

✔️ How to Fix It

• Close unused tabs
• Close apps you’re not actively using
• Upgrade your RAM (usually $40–$80)

If you’re not sure what type of memory your PC supports, we can check it for you.

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3. Your Hard Drive Is Old (or Full)

If your PC still has a mechanical hard drive (HDD), it will run 10× slower than modern solid-state drives (SSD).
Even SSDs can slow down if they’re nearly full.

✔️ How to Fix It

• Clean out old files (Downloads, Videos, Recycle Bin)
• Move large files to OneDrive/SharePoint
• Upgrade to an SSD

We’ve upgraded dozens of business PCs in the Rochester area—every time, the speed improvement is dramatic.

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4. Antivirus or Security Software Slowing Things Down

Security matters, but outdated antivirus tools often eat up CPU and slow everything.

✔️ How to Fix It

• Remove old or duplicate antivirus apps
• Use Microsoft Defender (lightweight and built in)
• Avoid running multiple scanners at once

If your business uses Proofpoint, Microsoft Defender, or a third-party tool, make sure only one is set as the primary real-time scanner.

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5. Windows Updates Are Pending

Many people skip updates because they take time, but falling behind can cause instability and sluggish performance.

✔️ How to Fix It

• Go to Settings → Windows Update
• Install all updates
• Restart your PC at least once per week

Updates often contain performance improvements and security fixes.

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6. Too Many Browser Extensions

Every Chrome or Edge extension uses memory—even when you’re not actively using them.

✔️ How to Fix It

• Visit chrome://extensions or edge://extensions
• Remove anything you don’t recognize or use
• Clear your browser cache
• Update your browser to the latest version

For many users, this instantly makes web browsing faster.

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7. Malware or Hidden Background Processes

Sometimes a slow PC is a red flag. Malware, unwanted apps, or processes running in the background can drag your system down.

✔️ How to Fix It

• Run a full scan with Microsoft Defender
• Check Task Manager for suspicious processes
• If in doubt, get a professional diagnostic

Malware today is extremely sophisticated—better to catch it early.

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When You Should Call a Professional

If none of these fixes help, there may be deeper issues such as:

• Failing hard drive
• Corrupt system files
• Driver conflicts
• Memory failure
• Network bottlenecks
• Misconfigured domain policies (common in old on-prem networks)

These issues require more advanced diagnostics.

If performance issues keep coming back, our on-demand IT support can help identify and resolve deeper system problems. You can also schedule a free IT consultation to review your setup.