Microsoft rolls out Windows Updates to fix known issues with systems, enhance the security of systems after analyzing existing security issues, and changing the built of Windows 10 systems through featured updates. However, many users have reported issues where their system slows down after updating Windows.
While the causes could be many, slowing down of the system has usually been observed after security updates and Feature updates.
Whenever the system slows down due to any reason, our first approach should be to open the Task Manager and check the disk utilization. If any specific process is causing high disk utilization, we would have to troubleshoot it accordingly.
The generic troubleshooting for slowing down of the system after a Windows Update is as follows:
1] Roll back the security update
2] Roll back the features update to previous build
3] Boot into Safe Mode and then perform a Clean boot
4] Update the drivers
5] SFC scan
Solution 1] Roll back the security update
In case the security update slowed down the system (which is common) you could consider rolling it better till a better version of the update is launched at your own risk. Here’s the procedure to roll back a Windows Update:
1] Click on the Start button and then the gear-like symbol to open the Settings menu.
2] Select Updates and Security >> Windows Update >> View update history.
3] Click on Uninstall updates and it would populate the list of recent Windows Updates.
4] Right-click on the latest security update and select Uninstall update.
5] Restart the system and check if it makes the situation any better.
Solution 2] Roll back the features update to previous build
1] While keeping the SHIFT key pressed, click on the
.
2] Once the system reboots in the recovery mode, go to Troubleshoot >> Advanced Options.
3] Select Go back to previous version of Windows.
Solution 3] Boot into Safe Mode and then perform a Clean boot
1] Boot into the system in Safe Mode and explained here.
2] Check if the issue persists in Safe Mode. If not, either the issue is with a program or a driver.
3] Now boot the system in clean boot mode and try to isolate the possibility of any program slowing down the system.
Solution 4] Update the drivers
In case your system work worked fine in Safe Mode, there’s a possibility that some driver might have been messed up with by the Window update. Here’s the procedure to update drivers in Window 10, however, it is very difficult to update all drivers one by one. Hence, we could use a third-party software to help with the same. We could also use the Automatic update option on Intel’s download center.
Solution 5] SFC scan
It is quite possible (and happens a lot with feature updates), that the system files are messed up with and go corrupt or missing. Rolling back to the previous build might be helpful in this case, but if not, we could we could perform an SFC scan to retrieve the files. Here’s the procedure to perform and SFC scan.
Hope it helps!
Recommended for You:
Visit the Solution Center to Explore Articles
Interior
Exterior
Lawn
More
Articles
House
HouseX
Auto
AutoX
Health
HealthX
Pets
PetsX
Services
ServicesX
Unneeded programs may be slowing your computer down, so take a look at how many programs you use and how often you use them, says Molnar. (Photo by Katelin Kinney)
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Whether you use a PC or Mac, everyone’s computer slows down eventually. One highly rated provider shares 10 reasons your computer may be slowing down.
Whether you use a PC or Mac, everyone’s computer slows down eventually. Here are a 10 possible reasons your machine isn’t running as fast as it used to, and how you can fix the problem.
1. Too much in the trash bin.
You can never underestimate how important it is to take out the trash. When you delete files, they aren’t immediately wiped from your hard drive. It puts them in holding area of the hard drive. They are left there and not deleted so that they can be restored, just in case they were deleted by mistake.
You always want to check the contents for anything important before you empty it. Emptying your recycle bin can speed up the computer's performance and add room to your hard drive.
2. A dirty desktop.
A cluttered desktop makes things disorganized and hard to find, but it can also slow computers down. The purpose of the desktop is to be interactive, not to store files. Its job is makes it easy for you to navigate your computer and give you information.
If you have a large amount of files on your desktop, it is slowing down your computer. Those files need to be reorganized in your other folders. If you have multiple widgets running on your desktop or dashboard, they could be slowing your computer down also.
3. Too much in cache.
Caches helps make things faster and easier to get to, but too much in your cache could be slowing your computer down. The same goes for temporary Internet files.
If you do a lot of web browsing, this is probably the main reason your computer is slow. In Windows, close all the Internet browsers, open up “Internet Options” and click delete in the “Browsing History” section.
4. Old software.
Keeping your computer updated could be a greater part of its health than you think. When companies update the software, this software is meant to work better with your operating system.
You want to make sure your hardware, your operating system, and your software are all on the same page. Sometimes new updates have bug fixes that can improve the overall operating speed of your computer.
5. Too many programs.
Unneeded programs may be slowing your computer down. Take a look at how many programs you use and how often you use them. The more programs you have, the more connections they make to your OS, and the more it bogs down your computer.
When you remove them, make sure they are fully uninstalled. Application leftovers can use up a lot of space and slow your system down. If you have a Mac, “AppCleaner” is a great application to make sure you have all the corresponding files deleted.
6. Too little space.
Because of the way “Virtual Memory” works, RAM files get swapped out onto the hard disk. If the hard disk doesn’t have very much space, it will slow the process down. If your computer has less than 10 percent of the total hard drive space free, it will begin to slow down.
7. Too many fragments.
Fragmented data can cause the read/write function of your hard drive to slow down. Set up a schedule to defragment your hard disk regularly. In Mac OS X, it is also helpful to verify and repair the disk and disk permissions.
8. RAM.
A computer’s RAM makes all the difference in the world. It can determine a great deal regarding the speed of your computer. If you have made other improvements to speed up your computer and it doesn’t seem to make a difference, your RAM may be the problem.
First, try resetting it. On a Mac, hold down command-option-P-R right after it’s powered on. It should go black and restart normally, but a whole lot faster. Windows users will have to download a program like “RAM Def 2.6 Xtreme” to reset your RAM.
If resetting it doesn’t work, you will need to buy more RAM. Check with the machine’s manufacturer and the tech specs to make sure what you intend to get is compatible with your machine.
9. Bad fonts.
Not all fonts are good. Fonts downloaded from the web could be fine, but some are bad. Font errors can slow down your computer. Make sure all of your fonts are valid, as some of them may be harming your computer.
10. Too many processes.
Computers can slow down from low CPU performance. Check what processes are running, as some of them may not be needed. Editing the startup items can also speed up your computer.
You can do many other things to speed up your computer, but try these first. They may work for you.
About this Angie’s List Expert: David Molnar is the owner of Dave’s Computers, providing computer service in Hillsborough, N.J. Since 2012, Dave’s Computers has specialized in computer repairs, keyboard replacement, data backup, virus and spyware removal and more. You can follow this #ALExpertscontributor on Twitter @DaveComputers and on Google+.
As of March 11, 2014, this service provider was highly rated on Angie's List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check Angie's List for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie's List.
Answers
PAGE CONTENT:
Why Is My Computer Running So Slow
Quick Fixes to Windows 10 Suddenly Extremely Slow
Advanced Fixes to Solve the Suddenly Slow Windows 10/8/7
Windows 10 PC Running Very Slow all of a Sudden
'I've had this PC for about 1.5 years now, and it's always worked fine and fast. Then about a week ago it started being very slow suddenly. From launching an application (Outlook, Chrome, etc.) to right-clicking. It's just very slow. Nothing was installed and prior to then, everything I did was routine. This is very weird. Please let me know if you have any ideas on what I can do next!'
Why Is My Computer Running So Slow
How often do you feel frustrated with your computer acting up, being slow, or freezing up? This list does not cover all the reasons, but when it comes to personal computers it should give you a head start on understanding what causes slow performance specifically for Windows-based machines.
Your computer was running for a long time without a reboot
Not enough free hard drive space
Hard drive corrupted or fragmented
The computer is Infected with a Virus or Malware
Hardware conflicts and outdated drivers
Too many background programs
Computer or processor is overheating
Your version of Windows (or any other platform you may be using) or other software is out of date
Hardware failure
The computer is too old..
Part 1. Quick Fixes to Windows 10 Suddenly Extremely Slow and Unresponsive Issue
Now that you have known the reason why your Windows slows down suddenly, you can follow the quick fixes to solve your problem and speed up your PC or laptop.
Method 1. Reboot your computer
If your computer has not been rebooted recently, make sure to reboot it before following any of the fixes below.
Method 2. Scan for malware or viruses
If your computer is infected with one or more viruses, this can cause your computer to run slow. Use your antivirus software scan your computer. You can also try to remove the virus without using antivirus software
Run the Windows Command Prompt with the Admin privilege.
Type the command: attrib g:*.* /d /s -h -r -s and hit Enter. (Replace the drive letter g with your own external hard drive's drive letter.)
Method 3. Close background programs
One of the most common reasons for a slow computer are programs running in the background. Remove or disable any TSRs and startup programs that automatically start each time the computer boots. To see what programs are running in the background and how much memory and CPU they are using, open Task Manager. Choose the one and close.
Method 4. Update Windows
Make sure that you have the latest Windows updates installed on your PC. If you are on the Internet when your computer is slow, make sure all browser plugins are up-to-date.
Part 2. Advanced Fixes to Solve the Suddenly Slow Windows 10/8/7
If the quick fixes fail to help you, follow the advanced fixes below.
Fix 1. Delete temp files
As a computer runs programs, temporary files are stored on the hard drive. Deleting these temp files can help improve computer performance. You can use Disk Cleanup to delete temp files, and you can also automatically delete temp files.
Fix 2. Free up Windows 10 disk space
For some serious hard drive issues that might cause a hard drive overloaded and sluggish, you need the advanced help of professional toolkits! Here, EaseUS Partition Master Free is recommended. This free partition manager comes with useful features that can solve the problem perfectly.
Step 2: Click 'Junk File Cleanup'. Then you can click 'Analyze' to let EaseUS Partition Master find junk files on your PC.
Step 3: You can check and choose junk files and click Clean up. All of the selected junk files will be cleaned and deleted from your PC. Click 'Yes' to clean up junk files.
2. Increase system C drive
You may directly click and follow the tutorial here to increase system C drive in Windows 10.
Fix 3. Erase computer and start over
If none of the above solutions resolve your issues, another option is to either reinstall Windows or erase everything and then start over.
Erasing everything and starting over can increase performance by getting rid of old software or drivers that may be on the computer and causing the computer to be slow. Installing a fresh copy of Windows, software programs, and the latest drivers help verify there are no software related issues causing your computer to be slow.
Notice: Do remember back up data before you take actions to erase data.
Facepalm: Windows updates are up to their old tricks. Users on various forums are reporting issues after installing the April 2019 cumulative updates and Windows 7 users appear to be especially affected. Additionally, the updates are conflicting with certain antivirus software like Avast and Avira. This update is another in what's becoming a string of botched updates from Microsoft, going back to October of last year.
Microsoft has confirmed that the April 2019 cumulative update is not playing well with some PCs. On Tuesday, fondly referred to as Patch Tuesday, Microsoft rolled out the April updates to Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 machines. As has been the case recently, it didn't take long for the updates to cause performance issues.
Numerous users on a reddit thread have detailed their experience since installing the update. Some report that Windows has slowed down considerably after installing the update, taking several minutes to reach the login screen or access Task Manager. Others claim their system freezes or hangs up during the boot process.
Latest Windows 10 Update Slowed Down My Computer Download
A post on Microsoft Answers echoes the previous comments, that after installing the update, systems become unresponsive. Interestingly, it also seems the update is posing a conflict with systems running certain antivirus programs. It's become pervasive enough to prompt both Avast and Avira to separately issue statements to their customers. Both companies confirm that the updates are causing problems, especially for Windows 7 users.
It took several weeks until users could install Windows 10's October 2018 update safely
Both Avira and Avast state that the problem is being investigated and the suggested solution is to roll back to a previous version of Windows. Likewise, Microsoft has temporarily blocked the updates from going out until it reaches a resolution.
On the Windows 10 front, the April 2019 Update -- later renamed to May 2019 -- version 1903 brings a few new features including a new light theme, performance improvements thanks to better Spectre fixes, a streamlined Start menu and better search functionality that scans all your drive's files. Also for professional users a built-in Windows Sandbox.
A silver lining is that Microsoft will be less pushy with updates in the future. Starting with the May 2019 update, users will be able to delay updates for up to 35 days, 7 days at a time. This could provide a safety net to avoid serious issues on production machines but most important of all, Microsoft's Windows team should get their act together.