Slow OS
Slow OS
My setup includes an Intel Core i5 4690k, Asus Z97 Pro Gamer, MSI Gtx 970, and several high-end components. After a clean install, my PC feels sluggish—especially with Windows 8.1 Pro. I’ve had to reinstall twice because the first time some settings changed caused crashes and non-booting. Now things run slower: mouse lags, Task Manager takes over ten seconds, drives load is delayed, and startup items are slow compared to older systems. The boot time is about six seconds after the BIOS splash. I’m curious why this happens despite having the OS on my SSD. Is it normal for Windows to behave this way after multiple installs, especially with the “clean” option used? Please advise if this is typical or if there’s a better approach.
Is your SSD operating in AHCI mode? If not, navigate to the BIOS settings, switch it to AHCI, and then attempt to reinstall Windows again. To verify if your performance is lower than expected, I recommend downloading CrystalDiskMark, running a benchmark, and sharing the findings here.
Also noticed the CPU usage hits 100% right after launching Windows.
Consider turning off indexing and launching the OS in safe mode to observe any differences. Have you attempted to operate the system without using the HDD? It might be helpful to run a diagnostic tool to verify its health. I suggest using the WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic tool: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=Dg8BWh