A slow computer is one of the most common IT issues Hamilton365 is called to assist with for home users and small businesses in Brisbane. Here are the seven most common causes and what to do about each.
Programs that launch automatically at startup consume memory before you even open anything. Review and disable unnecessary startup programs in Task Manager (Windows) or System Settings (Mac).
Windows and Mac both need free disk space to operate efficiently. Under 10–15% free space significantly degrades performance. Clear temporary files, empty the recycle bin, and uninstall unused software.
Modern web browsers and applications are memory-intensive. 8GB is the minimum for comfortable general use; 16GB is recommended for business use. If the computer is consistently using 80%+ of available RAM, a RAM upgrade is often the most cost-effective performance improvement.
Malicious software running in the background consumes resources and causes erratic behaviour. Run a full scan with Windows Defender or a reputable third-party tool.
Pending Windows or macOS updates can cause slowdown. Ensure the operating system and drivers are fully updated.
Traditional spinning hard drives are significantly slower than SSDs. Replacing an HDD with an SSD is often the single most impactful hardware upgrade for an older computer.
Too many browser extensions, too many open tabs, and outdated browser versions all contribute to slowdown. Audit extensions, close unnecessary tabs, and keep the browser updated.
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