Problem with laptop performance not identified.
Problem with laptop performance not identified.
Over the last month, my laptop has become extremely sluggish, making it hard to complete even simple tasks. I've attempted various solutions myself but haven't managed to resolve the problem. It seems to be operating at very low speeds—around 500-800 ping—even when only basic apps like Microsoft Edge and Windows Explorer are open. This situation is quite frustrating. If anyone can assist, I would really appreciate it. Below are some details about my PC:
- Model: Lenovo Legion 5 2020
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 4800H (2.90 GHz)
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 1650 (Windows Edition)
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home, version 23H2 (regular updates)
The slowdown tends to happen in these scenarios:
1. When copying or pasting many files.
2. After leaving the laptop running overnight with a game open.
3. Once I power it back on after a night.
4. After startup, it slows down but recovers later.
5. The only workaround is shutting it down and restarting, though this sometimes fails.
6. Running two games at once (Dota 2 & Genshin Impact) works fine, but minimal tasks like renaming files or downloading become slow.
I checked CPU, RAM, and GPU usage—everything was normal. No single app was using excessive resources. I only have a few startup programs enabled (Skype, Logitech G-Hub, RealTekAudioService64, SecurityHealthSysTray), and others are disabled. There are also some third-party apps installed, though I'm not sure if any of them are causing the issue.
I tried these fixes:
1. Scanning for viruses with Microsoft Defender—cleaned up everything.
2. Running checkdisk for corrupted files—no issues found.
3. Performing disk cleanup on all drives.
4. Updating Windows to the latest version.
5. Updating BIOS and drivers.
6. Disabling the search indexing option.
7. Removing unnecessary programs.
8. Resetting the PC twice (removing everything, then downloading Windows from the cloud).
Despite these efforts, the problem continues. The slowdown is intermittent, especially when handling mouse movements or running multiple applications at once. I’m unsure whether it’s a software or hardware problem and would be grateful for any advice.
Hey there, from your initial message it seems you've addressed most aspects except a complete setup. It's quite straightforward. 1. Obtain a USB hard drive or pen drive with at least 8GB storage and insert it into your computer. 2. Look up 'Windows USB Tool' on Google and open the link that appears to direct you to Microsoft’s site. 3. Save the application and launch it; it will examine your system and fetch the appropriate Windows version, generating a bootable USB. 4. Keep the USB connected while restarting and verify the PC settings are set to 'boot from USB'. This setting should show briefly during startup, typically using the F key. 5. Upon successful boot from the USB, you'll be prompted about upgrading or performing a custom install. Choose 'custom install' and specify the drive and partition. Wipe all partitions except the main one (often labeled drive 0) before proceeding. Throughout the installation, you’ll need to authenticate with your Microsoft account, choose network and keyboard settings, and language preferences—generally simple. After Windows restarts, you may need to download additional drivers, tools, apps, and games. Ensure your files are backed up on OneDrive or Google Drive to prevent data loss.
Chris, Dang. You're not looking for a detailed walkthrough, are you? Just let me know if you need anything else. Regarding your Windows question, I'm not sure if the official site requires a new license or if it can recognize the one you already have. It's best to check the latest info from Microsoft or your laptop manufacturer.
Hi there, everything works smoothly now. Licensing and activation are usually linked to your Microsoft account, making the process clear. When you start from the USB drive, it either jumps directly to the right Windows version or shows you options to pick. Just choose Windows 11 Home and you're set. If you have a product key (often on a sticker), enter it when asked. If not, click 'don't have a product key' and after installing, Windows will connect your account to the last activation, so you should be good. The main thing to remember about digital licenses is that if you change hardware significantly, Windows won’t auto-activate—you’ll need to follow some steps, but for a laptop this shouldn’t happen.
Chris, I suspect there could be some hidden software interfering with the system. When the laptop slowed down and I attempted to shut it down while a program was running, one unknown application would appear without any visible name, as Windows tried to close it during shutdown. Additionally, occasionally a pop-up would emerge but disappear instantly before I could determine its purpose. I ran scans using Windows Defender, McAfee and Malwarebyte. Prior to the last reset, Malwarebyte detected a threat at C:\Users\MyPC\MyPC\zkavia.exe. I removed that file through Malwarebyte and performed another reset. Although I didn’t perform a full format, I limited installs to certain basic applications and everything worked fine so far. It may take a few days to verify this change. I’ve saved your instructions for resetting the PC in a text file for future reference. It’s reassuring to know that my licenses remain linked to my Microsoft account. I usually avoided formatting my laptop out of fear of losing original licenses, but now I see this worry was unfounded. Thank you for your response—I really appreciate it. I’m new here and it’s nice to see the community supporting each other.