Step by step
Define when it is slow
Record startup, opening apps, switching tasks, saving, browsing or all activity. Note when it began and recent updates or installs.
Observe while reproducing
Use the operating system’s task or activity monitor to watch CPU, memory, disk and network while the slowdown occurs.
Reduce startup and background load carefully
Disable non-essential startup items one at a time, pause known sync or scan tasks briefly, and keep security software active.
Check capacity and health
Confirm free storage, pending updates, overheating symptoms and hardware diagnostics. Back up data before repairs or resets.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Slow action reproduced
- Resource use observed
- Recent change identified
- Free storage checked
- Startup changes recorded
- Backup confirmed before reset
Common problems
Usage looks normal but interaction freezes
Check storage health, thermal throttling, drivers and external devices; record exact freeze times for logs.
One browser is slow
Test extensions, profile, tabs and hardware acceleration before changing the whole computer.