Slow laptop since it is 5-6 months new

[Varun_9]

I'm using lenovo laptop with 2.5GHz processor and 4gb RAM. It came with default Windows8 to me and I've updated it to Windows10.1..... It has been annoyingly slow since I started using it and after upgrading to Windows10.1, it became dead slow. The start-up, opening any software, everything is slow.

Please suggest some tips to speed it up

 

[Colif]

Visit the web site of laptop maker and see if you have the latest drivers as that can slow your access time down.

 

[photonboy]

PRINT THIS IF USEFUL FOR REFERENCE:

The original W8 speed may simply be what it performs at, especially if a slower CPU like many of the AMD, or Intel Celeron processors.

W10 should be almost identical to W8 though.

This sounds like:
a) missing driver, or
b) failing main drive (HDD/SSD), or
c) data corruption

Things you can try:
1) confirm GPU is supported (for AMD I think only HD5000M and later has support for W10)

2) don't install drivers if uncertain they are supported.

3) add the Intel software too to scan for drivers:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/

other:
4) Buy an SSD, then install W10 to it directly (don't clone).
a) backup important data, passwords etc to a USB drive (can buy a USB adapter to copy back later, but some stuff may need to be copied with Windows running)
b) write down program names to reinstall later for easy reference
c) buy an SSD such as the Samsung 850 256GB (see pcpartpicker)
- many laptops use 7mm height
- test if possible in another PC, or via a USB adapter-> https://www.amazon.com/SANOXY-inch-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B003Z2NIH2
recommended: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3kL7YJ/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam
lower budget solution: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/gf98TW/a-data-internal-hard-drive-asp550ss3240gmc

I use the BlacX dock for $30 which supports 2.5" and 3.5" HDD and SSD drives. It's quite handy as you can swap drives (unmount and shutdown though). The USB3 version may have problems.
https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Sata-HDD-Docking-Station/dp/B0012Z3MKW/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1467108413&sr=1-5&keywords=blacx

$20 right now and should work about the same as BlacX:
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Drive-Docking-Station/dp/B0099TX7O4/ref=sr_1_8?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1467108413&sr=1-8&keywords=blacx

For non-Prime you need $50 or more for shipping so this plus an SSD might make sense. One I linked, or Kingston V300 for $65 so it's about $100USD+ roughly to upgrade if you get both items.

5) Install the SSD
6) boot to the W10 media (link to create at end of post)
7) do NOT enter a key when prompted (MS will assign one as it can detect you had W10 installed before)

8) finish MS updates
9) setup wi-fi password
10) install anti-virus

11) test for performance
12) make a BACKUP IMAGE to a USB drive if possible (Windows backup or similar)
13) open Device Manager (right-click Start) to see if anything missing

If any issues now, then ask again online. Windows 10 should install most drivers. The only issues I've had are:

a) older AMD drivers not supported
b) multi-GPU setups not supported (need switching software like NVidia Optimus to switch between Intel and NVidia GPU, and W10 may not auto download the proper software for that)
c) Card reader (though earlier OS drivers have worked in everything I tried. That includes a Vista driver working for W10 with an 8-year-old laptop)

Summary:
Hope that helps.

If you have issues still, or don't think an SSD would help then try to be as SPECIFIC as possible about the performance issue.

To me, it sounds a lot like a failing hard drive.

 

[photonboy]

Other:
1) I forgot to mention you can TEST the hard drive using diagnostic software from the manufacturer.
If unsure where to get, you can use the Hitachi DFT tool-> https://www.hgst.com/support/hard-drive-support/downloads#DFT

Download WinDFT and run the setup executable to install. Then, select your drive and run "quick test" and if it passes run the extended test (takes hours). Other programs call these test "DST" etc (Drive Short Test). DLT (Drive Long Test) and some tests are destructive though they should WARN you, and not work anyway if they are your OS drive.

2) You may need to run this test using a different COMPUTER->
a) shut down laptop
b) remove drive, and drive connector (don't lose the end piece)
c) attach to desktop PC (preferably via SATA connection, though USB adapter will still work albeit slower)
d) if PC boots using this drive, go into BIOS and change boot order back to the original OS drive
e) install diagnostic software in Windows then test, OR
f) make a boot CD/USB and test outside of Windows (you could do that for your laptop as well. I doubt that there's anything wrong wit the rest of your laptop. May not be anything wrong with the drive either.)

Each company should have a tool to make a bootable diagnostic, though you can try something like the ULTIMATEBOOTCD. www.ultimatebootcd.com

3) Run MEMTEST86 for a full pass as well www.memtest86.com (also on ultimatebootcd, which can also run from a USB stick)

4) Some hard drive errors can be fixed by doing a Low Level Format, though be warned it deletes everything. You could:
a) make a Windows backup image
b) run UBCD-> Active killdisk Free (takes several hours as it overwrites every location)
c) reinstall Windows as discussed above (so plan it out carefully, especially if you don't have easy access to another computer)

 

[Colif]

Fresh install of Win 10 could fix it too, he did say he upgraded. That would flush any old drivers away. PC generally always feels faster after a fresh install anyway.