The computer runs very slowly when starting up and while in use.
The computer runs very slowly when starting up and while in use.
It seems the issue began after I powered down my computer overnight. It took some time to shut it off completely, and I wasn’t sure what caused it since I left. When I turned it back on this morning, it booted up in about 5 to 10 minutes and ran very slowly. This pattern repeated every time I restarted. I ran a full scan for corrupted files, checked both SSDs and confirmed they were healthy. I also replaced the thermal paste on the CPU, which I hadn’t done in over a year. A virus scan came back clean, and the startup applications worked fine. I attempted a factory reset of Windows 11, but it got stuck twice at the 62% mark. My system specs are: Ryzen 7 5700X CPU, Gigabyte B550 X MBO, RTX 4060 GPU, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, G.Skill M.2 512 GB NVMe SSD, and an SSD with 1TB capacity. In Task Manager, the CPU usage spikes when I open programs but normalizes afterward. Memory usage is around 29% with no background apps, and the disk utilization stays near 50%.
Consider performing a new Windows setup. A factory reset relies on your previous operating system, which may not function properly if it's faulty. If the fresh installation encounters problems, there are two possibilities: either the second SSD is defective and the status reading is incorrect, or your CPU is failing. You can test the second SSD by loading your OS onto it.
You're experiencing uneven drive usage with two SSDs, and TaskManager displays a 50% utilization. It seems one drive is at full capacity while the other remains idle. The Windows TaskManager might be inaccurate, possibly showing one drive at 100% and the other at 0%. You're likely dealing with a single SSD handling both drives. To identify the issue, check the drive health using tools like CrystalDiskInfo and capture the relevant data. Reviewing the SMART table can help confirm any disk health concerns.
You can perform a fresh Windows installation on the same SSD, and it will delete the old files automatically. The process should also repair any corrupted files.
It's likely due to me relying mainly on the first SSD (512 GB) for everyday tasks while using the second one just for gaming.
For new installs, it's best to erase the whole drive. Save any important data first, then use a USB stick to run the installer. Clear all partitions and start fresh with Windows. Your 1TB secondary should already contain the data you need. If it does, just use the USB stick. Reminder: I recommend unplugging your 1TB drive during installation to protect your games and partitions. Edit: If you need assistance, I can provide some links.
Another point to note. You mentioned testing with your 1TB drive, and if it fails, you should enter Windows. It will still start very slow and difficult. This video is useful for helping you with the media creation tool on Windows 10, Windows 11, and related downloads. Just need a 16GB USB drive (or more if needed). Thanks for your patience. This seems to be the most straightforward way I've found for checking drive issues without false optimism.