A slow laptop is a serious impediment to getting any work done in today’s world. If you are facing a laptop that is frequently in a state of slowdown, you need to do some investigation to root out the causes and get the laptop back to optimal functioning as soon as possible.
The first indication that your laptop has slowed down is if there is a time lag between different tabs opening and closing and if each click takes more than a few seconds to materialise.
The most common explanation can be a buildup of excess data files, cache, viruses, and other junk, or worse, a genuine hardware problem. Each problem has different approach for fixing, so instead of investing time or money in all the solutions, it is better to narrow down whether the laptop slowdown is due to any one of these reasons (or a combination of all of them). Many of the solutions can be inexpensively administered yourself but some do require professional assistance.
The Virus Trap
An accumulation of viruses is one of the major causes of a laptop slowdown especially since it can happen over time through regular usage such as opening websites for research. Many websites may appear safe but are in fact malicious and without a solid subscription to good antivirus software, no user can hope to steer clear of viruses in today’s internet world. It is interesting to note that even an antivirus software may not protect against certain threats so a buildup of viruses is more or less inevitable and needs to be cleared out every now and then.
Some ways to avoid the entry of viruses is to first make sure that your Operating System is always updated. And you have precautionary steps such as using Internet Security and Antivirus software packages. Furthermore, be thoughtful of which websites and links you click on and which emails you open. Keep in mind that each year, more and more Australians are being targeted by scammers usually from overseas countries like India and Africa.
Importantly, always keep the antivirus running at all times and do periodic scans if there is suspicious activity. If you are utilising free antivirus software, opt for one that offers decent protection across the board against a wide variety of threats. Also, make sure to scan storage devices often as downloaded files or transferred files via USB can also carry hidden viruses without you realising it.
Free Up Hard Drive Space
When a laptop is used regularly for different tasks the existing hard drive can become insufficient when compared with the user’s requirement. Additional space is always a blessing and the lack of it can cause any computer device to slow down. Even if the user’s requirements have not changed, simply old saved data that cannot be deleted can use up space.
An SSD (solid-state hard drive) is a popular type of hard drive for newer laptop models nowadays although it is also suggested to shift as much of your data (pictures, videos, documents) on to external hard drive when possible to free up usable space.
Technical explanation: when you work on your laptop computer, each program you open goes through complex calculations (called input/output operations). The data stored on a normal Hard Drive is accessed through Cylinder-head-sectors, and as you delete or install new programs, addresses of programs change and become cluttered. That is why Solid State Drives are much faster as they work on different technology to access data. Here at The Electronic Fix we can upgrade your laptop SSD as well as thoroughly perform computer security audits. Simply contact us
Hardware in Need of Repair
Hardware damage can also slow down a computer, although requires a professional computer technician to identify, repair or replace laptop hardware parts. Hardware problems must be handled by a professional repairer since it poses risks (such as electrical shock or further damage to parts) to do it yourself. Living in Brisbane and have a laptop that works slow?
Installed a new battery and hard drive in my old MacBook Pro 2012 and turned it into a powerhouse. Brilliant service. Fast. A real pleasure.
Whether your laptop model is HP, DELL, Lenovo, Acer, Asus or Mac, we can make sure it works fast, in fact, we can actually make it work faster than its original factory state.
Contact Us for a Better Service
The Electronic Fix in Brisbane and surrounding suburbs offering laptop computer repairs, upgrades and part replacement as well as fixes game consoles. To learn more visit: Alderley, Arana Hills, Ashgrove, Aspley, Enoggera, Everton Hills, Everton Park, Ascot Brisbane, Bridgeman Downs, Carseldine, Clayfield and Services section.
