Very slow laptop

toshi · 25 February 2017 at 12:56AM

SusieT wrote: »

I should have said, yes it was running for 15 days, but I wanted to keep it going until whatever the issue was would show itself, as closing and restarting will fix it for a while

Well I don't think this is the way to work, as when starting Windows, so many non essential programs /services are automatically started for "your convenience." Automatically check when new updates are available, load up automatically a small portion of program to run the program run faster when you started the actual program. Each programs can do what they want. Then Results? Eat up your memory and slow down your computer significantly.

EdwardB wrote: »

As you have so little memory you need to cut back on the tasks that run in background, there are three places you need to check.

1. MSConfig Startup
2. Services
3. Task Scheduler

Press Win key and R then type in MSConfig and select startup tab, untick all.

For services, right click my computer and select manage, stop and disable any update tasks, typical ones are two from Google Chrome, Skype, Flash, Java and any others you see that are update

Click start menu and start typing scheduler and Task Scheduler will appear. Leave the Microsoft ones, disable any from Apple or Google plus any that look as if added by non windows software.

Yes, this is the first thing you need to do, Don't let so many program start automatically, This is the first thing you can do with msconfig.

https://www.howtogeek.com/74523/how-to-disable-startup-programs-in-windows/

So far we are talking about more defensive action, preventing from slowing down. but you have got a better remedy.

SSD: NEVER SLOW DOWN YOUR COMPUTER PERMANENTLY

I don't disagree to get extra 2GB memory to run Windows comfortably. If you really want to avoid from slowing down your computer, the answer is replacing slow hard disk with SSD.

This is a 2008 MAC notebook performance test in real environment. (As I tested below, Windows will get the same results, This MAC uses 5400 rpm Hard Disk, Cheap and old Windows notebooks tend to use slower 4200 rpm hard disk, so SSD improvement is even more significant)

2GB memory with SSD is significantly faster than 8GB memory with Hard disk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn6zxoh3oK4

I have tested this with Windows 7 by myself. if my 2008 notebook has a 500MB free memory out of 2GB (2000MB) If you have a SSD, your computer will still run BLAZINGLY FAST until no memory left (i.e. Windows will freeze).
If you use a hard disk, you don't make this happen, Why ? Because the hard disk is too slow to use all of your memory. (i.e. you give up running more application because a hard disk is too slow.)

Paradoxically you use a SSD, you may want to get more memory as you can keep running more application without slowing down.

Your ThinkPad has a decent spec, once you have got a SSD, you will be amazed how powerful your notebook is.

Happy computing