Why is my computer freezing or going slow?

[Andy494]

My HP notebook is always freezing, lagging, or generally running slow no matter what I do. A simple click on the taskbar can take a minute to register (along with opening an app in general). When plugging in headphones, the laptop would freeze for a moment. While playing a game, the ping goes extremely high even on a low graphics setting, and sometimes the laptop even stays frozen for more than 10 minutes unless I do a hard restart. Even then, a hard restart would still not stop the laptop from lagging all over again.
 
I ran all sorts of tests, and nothing was reported back as failing or in need of updates. I tried every suggestion I've found on this website and updated it multiple times, and it doesn't work. I'm not sure what is going on with this laptop

[Raj_05]

Hi @Andy494,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like your HP Notebook - 15 is having some significant performance issues. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and hopefully resolve the problem.

Check for Malware

• Run a full system scan using a reputable antivirus program to ensure there's no malware causing the slowdowns.

Check Task Manager

• Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and monitor the CPU, Memory, and Disk usage. High usage in any of these could indicate what's causing the slowdown.

Update Drivers

• Ensure all your drivers are up to date, especially the graphics card and chipset drivers. You can do this through Device Manager or by visiting the HP support website.

Check for Background Processes

• Some background processes might be consuming resources. Disable unnecessary startup programs and services. You can manage this through Task Manager under the "Startup" tab.

Check for Windows Updates

• Make sure your Windows is fully updated. Sometimes, updates can resolve performance issues.

Perform a Disk Cleanup

• Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool to remove temporary files and system caches that might be slowing down your computer.

Check for Overheating

• Overheating can cause performance issues. Ensure your laptop’s cooling system is working properly and that vents are not blocked.

Run Hardware Diagnostics

• HP laptops come with built-in diagnostics tools. Restart your laptop and press F2 or Esc to enter diagnostics and run a full hardware test.

Check for Hard Drive Issues

• If your hard drive is failing or has errors, it can cause performance issues. You can use tools like CHKDSK to check for errors. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run chkdsk /f.

[Raj_05]

Reinstall Windows

• If none of the above steps work, consider performing a clean install of Windows. Ensure you back up all your important data before doing this.

Check for Power Settings

• Sometimes, power settings can affect performance. Make sure your laptop is set to "High Performance" mode in the Power Options.

Check Hardware

• If you’ve recently installed new hardware (like RAM or an SSD), ensure it’s properly seated. Faulty hardware can cause performance issues.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support