{"id":26057,"date":"2024-03-07T16:57:10","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T15:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=26057"},"modified":"2024-03-07T16:57:16","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T15:57:16","slug":"tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 14 Tips, Tricks &#038; Hacks to Speed Up Your Laptop and Make It Feel Like New"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681d297524a1\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681d297524a1\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681d297524a1\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Upgrade_to_an_SSD\" title=\"Upgrade to an SSD\">Upgrade to an SSD<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Add_More_RAM_If_Possible\" title=\"Add More RAM [If Possible]\">Add More RAM [If Possible]<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Close_Unused_Applications\" title=\"Close Unused Applications\">Close Unused Applications<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Deactivate_Startup_Processes\" title=\"Deactivate Startup Processes\">Deactivate Startup Processes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Uninstall_Unused_Applications\" title=\"Uninstall Unused Applications\">Uninstall Unused Applications<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Restart_Your_Laptop\" title=\"Restart Your Laptop\">Restart Your Laptop<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Perform_a_Disk_Cleanup\" title=\"Perform a Disk Cleanup\">Perform a Disk Cleanup<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Reinstall_Windows\" title=\"Reinstall Windows\">Reinstall Windows<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Update_Windows_and_All_Necessary_Drivers\" title=\"Update Windows and All Necessary Drivers\">Update Windows and All Necessary Drivers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Install_a_Lighter_Operating_SystemDebloat_Windows\" title=\"Install a Lighter Operating System\/Debloat Windows\">Install a Lighter Operating System\/Debloat Windows<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Should_You_Install_Tiny10_or_Ghost_Spectre\" title=\"Should You Install Tiny10 or Ghost Spectre?\">Should You Install Tiny10 or Ghost Spectre?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Disable_Visual_Effects_Animations_and_Transparency\" title=\"Disable Visual Effects, Animations, and Transparency\">Disable Visual Effects, Animations, and Transparency<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Adjust_Your_Laptops_Power_Plan\" title=\"Adjust Your Laptop\u2019s Power Plan\">Adjust Your Laptop\u2019s Power Plan<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Remove_Any_Potential_Malware\" title=\"Remove Any Potential Malware\">Remove Any Potential Malware<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Repaste_Your_CPUGPU\" title=\"Repaste Your CPU\/GPU\">Repaste Your CPU\/GPU<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#How_Can_I_Speed_Up_My_Laptop\" title=\"How Can I Speed Up My Laptop?\">How Can I Speed Up My Laptop?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Why_Is_My_Laptop_So_Slow\" title=\"Why Is My Laptop So Slow?\">Why Is My Laptop So Slow?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#What_Can_I_Upgrade_In_My_Laptop\" title=\"What Can I Upgrade In My Laptop?\">What Can I Upgrade In My Laptop?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/tricks-to-speed-up-your-laptop\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>We\u2019re always on the lookout for new ways of speeding up our devices, be they computers, laptops, phones, or tablets. If there\u2019s one thing we can never have enough of, <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-makes-a-computer-fast\/\">it\u2019s <em>speed<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When inspiration strikes, we need the fewest number of obstacles and <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-computer-suddenly-slow\/\">hurdles<\/a> and loading screens so as to strike while the \u201ciron\u2019s hot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A pause or a break of any kind can not only be detrimental and jarring, but it can very well <em>derail<\/em> that crucial moment of inspiration.<\/p>\n<p>The same holds true for any other seemingly mundane task like, say, answering emails \u2014 hardly a joyous activity.<strong> The faster one can go through one\u2019s work, the less of a burden it is.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s best computing devices are both devilishly fast <em>and<\/em> expensive. They command a premium for their cutting-edge chipsets, jaw-dropping displays, and top-notch craftsmanship. <strong>But what if you\u2019re still using a laptop that\u2019s a few years old? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What if all you need is for it to be a <em>wee<\/em> bit faster? Do you <em>have<\/em> to run out to your local hardware shop and buy something more powerful or can you, conversely, make a few adjustments, upgrade a <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-to-upgrade-first-pc-performance\/\">component or two<\/a> and, in doing so, attain that slight (but vital) increase in speed and performance?<\/p>\n<p>There are many different ways in which one can speed up one\u2019s laptop. Some of them can be harnessed within a matter of minutes if not seconds. Others, however, will require you to roll up your sleeves and do a bit of \u201cgrunt work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Either way, if your laptop isn\u2019t performing all that well, there\u2019s really no need to fret as there are <em>multiple<\/em> different methods and \u201ctricks\u201d you can employ to speed it up without having to break the proverbial bank.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26067\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster.jpg\" alt=\"Tips to make your laptop faster\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26067 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Tips to make your laptop faster\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Tips-to-make-your-laptop-faster.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>And so, with that little introduction out of the way, let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> You can think of this article as a primer of sorts \u2014 a short and succinct list of options and tips on improving your laptop\u2019s performance and overall responsiveness. We\u2019ll delve deep into <em>certain<\/em> methods but we\u2019ll have to cut it short with <em>others<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Otherwise this article would be as \u201chefty\u201d as a Stephen King novel. That being said, we\u2019ll make sure to include all the necessary links and related articles for those who wish to delve even deeper.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Upgrade_to_an_SSD\"><\/span>Upgrade to an SSD<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re still running Windows (or Linux) off a <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/ssd-vs-hdd\/\"><em>mechanical<\/em> hard drive<\/a>, the absolute <em>first<\/em> thing you need to do is go out to your local hardware shop and buy a solid-state drive (or SSD, for short).<\/p>\n<p>SSDs are <em>much<\/em> faster than their old, archaic predecessors; <strong>running your operating system of choice off an SSD will make a <em>world<\/em> of difference in regards to both speed <em>and<\/em> overall responsiveness.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You don't even need to be that demanding of a user to harness its benefits, either, as each and every single task (including boot up times) will be performed and executed <em>many<\/em> times faster than it would on a mechanical hard drive.<\/p>\n<p>Also, there\u2019s really no need to splurge on an <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-nvme-ssds\/\">NVMe SSD<\/a> \u2014 a regular <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/ssd-types\/\">SATA-based<\/a> one will suffice.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about this procedure, make sure to watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1E_1QFy9Xtc?si=YUgi-6Bhoz99bMZ-\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1E_1QFy9Xtc?si=YUgi-6Bhoz99bMZ-\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Add_More_RAM_If_Possible\"><\/span>Add More RAM [If Possible]<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If your RAM is full, your laptop will quickly (and most noticeably) start grinding to a halt. It\u2019ll feel woefully unresponsive, with even the most basic tasks needing <em>eons<\/em> to execute.<\/p>\n<p>Buying <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/does-more-ram-make-pc-faster\/\">more RAM<\/a>, therefore, would be your best option as there\u2019s no other way for one to circumvent and handle this particular problem.<\/p>\n<p>With full-fledged desktop PCs, that\u2019s really not an issue as they\u2019re fully modular and, as such, <em>upgradeable<\/em>. Laptops, on the other hand, often don\u2019t have this \u201cluxury.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Most modern ultrabooks have their RAM soldered onto the motherboard. Larger models (14\u201d\u201418\u201d) still come with at least <em>one<\/em> available SO-DIMM slot, so you\u2019ll have to do a bit of digging in order to find out whether <em>your<\/em> laptop, in particular, can be upgraded.<\/p>\n<p>4GB of RAM simply isn\u2019t enough in today\u2019s day and age, especially with Windows being as big of a resource hog as it is. 8GB is <em>sort of<\/em> an okay middle ground for <em>most<\/em> users (those who are wholly undemanding), but we would still advocate for going with 16GB.<\/p>\n<p>For more information on upgrading your laptop\u2019s RAM, make sure to watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p_JadqnKtPM?si=YeVOF39rlL8NDRox\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p_JadqnKtPM?si=YeVOF39rlL8NDRox\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Close_Unused_Applications\"><\/span>Close Unused Applications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Any piece of software that happens to be open will always take up a portion of your RAM, regardless if it's running in the background. Closing these applications will free up your RAM and make your laptop run faster.<\/p>\n<p>To do so, open up <strong>Task<\/strong> <strong>Manager<\/strong> (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and you\u2019ll immediately be presented with a list of all active processes.<\/p>\n<p>On the right-hand side, you\u2019ll see just how big an impact they have in regards to your CPU, RAM, disk, and network.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_26058\" style=\"width: 1793px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26058\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26058\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1.png\" alt=\"Task Manager\" width=\"1793\" height=\"1129\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1.png 1793w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1-1024x645.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1-768x484.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1-1536x967.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1793px) 100vw, 1793px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26058\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26058 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201793%201129%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Task Manager\" width=\"1793\" height=\"1129\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201793%201129%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1793w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1793px) 100vw, 1793px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1.png 1793w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1-1024x645.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1-768x484.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1-1536x967.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/task-manager-1.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-26058\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: PCMag<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Now simply right-click on any process, and then click on <strong>End task<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Checking your list of processes can also be beneficial <em>overall<\/em> as it will allow you to better understand your workflow and which applications, in particular, tend to leave the biggest mark performance-wise.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Deactivate_Startup_Processes\"><\/span>Deactivate Startup Processes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This one\u2019s crucial. Whenever your laptop boots up, a series of programs \u2014 which you may or may not need \u2014 always boot up with it. This, naturally, results in decreased performance.<\/p>\n<p>To mitigate this, open up <strong>Task<\/strong> <strong>Manager<\/strong> (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and then click on the fifth icon on the vertical menu.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1404\" height=\"1474\" class=\"wp-image-26059\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager.png\" alt=\"Startup apps from Task Manager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager.png 1404w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager-286x300.png 286w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager-975x1024.png 975w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager-768x806.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1404px) 100vw, 1404px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1404\" height=\"1474\" class=\"wp-image-26059 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201404%201474%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Startup apps from Task Manager\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201404%201474%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1404w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1404px) 100vw, 1404px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager.png 1404w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager-286x300.png 286w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager-975x1024.png 975w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager-768x806.png 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/startup-apps-from-task-manager.png\"><\/p>\n<p>Now you'll be presented with a list of applications that always start up alongside Windows whenever your laptop boots up.<\/p>\n<p>You can also check their status (whether they're enabled or disabled) and just how big an impact they have (Low, Medium, High).<\/p>\n<p>To stop any particular program, simply right click on its name and then click on Disable.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, you can simply search for \u201cStartup Apps\u201d and be presented with the exact same information.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Uninstall_Unused_Applications\"><\/span>Uninstall Unused Applications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Windows comes pre-installed with a bunch of applications you most likely do not need.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, you\u2019ve probably accumulated a bunch of programs you no longer need over the months and years of using your laptop.<\/p>\n<p>So, to free up storage space (and lighten the proverbial load), open up <strong>Control<\/strong> <strong>Panel<\/strong>, set the <strong>View by<\/strong> option to <strong>Category<\/strong> (in the upper right corner), then click on <strong>Uninstall a program<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>A list of installed applications will now pop up. Simply right-click on any application and then click on Uninstall.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-26060\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program.png\" alt=\"Control Panel - Uninstall a program\" width=\"1566\" height=\"914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program.png 1566w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program-1024x598.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program-768x448.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program-1536x896.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1566px) 100vw, 1566px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-26060 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201566%20914%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Control Panel - Uninstall a program\" width=\"1566\" height=\"914\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201566%20914%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1566w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1566px) 100vw, 1566px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program.png 1566w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program-1024x598.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program-768x448.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program-1536x896.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/control-panel-uninstall-a-program.png\"><\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, you can search for \u201c<strong>Add<\/strong> <strong>or<\/strong> <strong>remove<\/strong> <strong>programs<\/strong>\u201d and be presented with the exact same list (albeit in a slightly different window).<\/p>\n<p>Here you\u2019ll have to click on the three dots next to each individual program to be able to uninstall it.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"800\" class=\"wp-image-26061\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps.png\" alt=\"Installed Apps\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps.png 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps-1024x400.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps-768x300.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps-1536x600.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"800\" class=\"wp-image-26061 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Installed Apps\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps.png 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps-1024x400.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps-768x300.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps-1536x600.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/installed-apps.png\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Restart_Your_Laptop\"><\/span>Restart Your Laptop<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Restarting your laptop is <em>essential<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>You don't need to do it <em>every<\/em> day, but restarting once or twice a week is bound to result in a noticeable boost in performance \u2014<strong> a full restart clears out temporary files (amongst other things) and frees up resources.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Perform_a_Disk_Cleanup\"><\/span>Perform a Disk Cleanup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Click on the Start button (or simply press the Windows button on your keyboard) and then type \u201c<strong>Disk<\/strong> <strong>Cleanup<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here you'll see a list of files which can be removed from your computer. This includes temporary files, thumbnails, shader cache, and so on and so forth.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_26062\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26062\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26062\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/disk-cleanup.jpeg\" alt=\"Disk cleanup\" width=\"450\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/disk-cleanup.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/disk-cleanup-276x300.jpeg 276w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26062\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26062 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20489%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Disk cleanup\" width=\"450\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20450%20489%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/disk-cleanup.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/disk-cleanup-276x300.jpeg 276w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/disk-cleanup.jpeg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-26062\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Kingston<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Tick the right boxes on the left-hand side and then click on &#8220;Clean up system files&#8221; to start the process.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reinstall_Windows\"><\/span>Reinstall Windows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This, essentially, is your last resort. If it's been a while since the last time you reinstalled your operating system, it's arguably easier to go for a factory reset than to eliminate and uninstall all the bloatware which may have accumulated over the years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>As always, make sure to back up all of your most valuable files and projects before proceeding.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To perform a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/give-your-pc-a-fresh-start-0ef73740-b927-549b-b7c9-e6f2b48d275e#:~:text=To%20reset%20your%20PC%2C%20go%20to%20Start%20%3E%20Settings%20%3E%20Update,Restore%20preinstalled%20apps%3F%20to%20No.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">factory reset<\/a>,\u201d go to <strong>Start<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Settings<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Update &amp; Security<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Recovery<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Reset this PC<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Get Started<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Update_Windows_and_All_Necessary_Drivers\"><\/span>Update Windows and All Necessary Drivers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Running Windows Update probably won't do much, but it's still worth the shot. Search for <strong>Windows Update Settings<\/strong> and then click on <strong>Check<\/strong> <strong>for<\/strong> <strong>Updates<\/strong> in the upper right-hand corner.<\/p>\n<p>Download any update that's available and then restart your laptop.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_26063\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26063\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-26063\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/check-for-updates.png\" alt=\"Check for updates\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/check-for-updates.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/check-for-updates-300x210.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/check-for-updates-768x538.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26063\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border wp-image-26063 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201024%20717%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Check for updates\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201024%20717%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/check-for-updates.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/check-for-updates-300x210.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/check-for-updates-768x538.png 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/check-for-updates.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-26063\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Windows Blog<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Install_a_Lighter_Operating_SystemDebloat_Windows\"><\/span>Install a Lighter Operating System\/Debloat Windows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Windows, despite being the most popular operating system on the planet, is by no means the most <em>polished<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a pretty big resource hog and, needless to say, just because it <em>can<\/em> run on nearly any kind of hardware doesn\u2019t mean you ought to install it.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a bunch of lightweight <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/best-lightweight-linux-distro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linux distros<\/a> out there, all of which are a much better option. If you <em>need<\/em> Windows for whatever reason, you still have options: <strong>you can either install the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.makeuseof.com\/windows-10-ltsc-version-explanation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>LTSC version<\/strong><\/a><strong> or, alternatively, debloat your <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/christitus.com\/windows-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>current<\/em> installation<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This obviously requires a fair bit of savviness, but it\u2019s well worth doing. Windows, in most cases, simply isn\u2019t a good option for underpowered laptops, so you might as well <em>remove<\/em> all of its features which you deem unnecessary.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/chromeenterprise.google\/os\/chromeosflex\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ChromeOS Flex<\/a> is yet another (potentially) viable option.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_26068\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26068\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-26068\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Chrome-OS-Features.jpg\" alt=\"Chrome OS Features\" width=\"1000\" height=\"642\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Chrome-OS-Features.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Chrome-OS-Features-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Chrome-OS-Features-768x493.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26068\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-26068 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201000%20642%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Chrome OS Features\" width=\"1000\" height=\"642\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201000%20642%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Chrome-OS-Features.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Chrome-OS-Features-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Chrome-OS-Features-768x493.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Chrome-OS-Features.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-26068\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/chromeenterprise.google\/os\/chromeosflex\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chrome<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>To learn more about its strengths and weaknesses, make sure to watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B6px1dpKUGw?si=1s3CeO1qv5OLavb7\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B6px1dpKUGw?si=1s3CeO1qv5OLavb7\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Install_Tiny10_or_Ghost_Spectre\"><\/span>Should You Install Tiny10 or Ghost Spectre?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>You should <em>not<\/em>.<\/strong> These modified ISOs, faster and more lightweight though they are, are nowhere near safe and secure.<\/p>\n<p>You should never trust third parties and seemingly random and unverified developers with your data as there have been many instances where nefarious individuals purposely injected their work with various forms of malware.<\/p>\n<p>The same holds true for <a href=\"https:\/\/atlasos.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AtlasOS<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/revi.cc\/revios\/download\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ReviOS<\/a>. They might be legit overall, but they still pose a security risk in one way or another.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Debloating Windows <em>yourself<\/em> is much safer and, frankly, quite easy, too.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To learn more about one such custom ISO (and why installing it might not be the best possible choice), make sure to watch the following video:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UICz1S1xuHo?si=BFSa24BvI7y2C9kk\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UICz1S1xuHo?si=BFSa24BvI7y2C9kk\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disable_Visual_Effects_Animations_and_Transparency\"><\/span>Disable Visual Effects, Animations, and Transparency<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Windows has a few fairly taxing special effects built in, including transparency and animations. These effects, while by no means crippling, are a fair bit more demanding than one would expect.<\/p>\n<p>To deactivate them, simply search for &#8220;<strong>Visual<\/strong> <strong>effects<\/strong>&#8221; and then, once the appropriate window pops up, disable both Transparency <em>and<\/em> Animation effects.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"796\" class=\"wp-image-26064\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects.png\" alt=\"Visual effects\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects.png 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects-1024x398.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects-768x299.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects-1536x597.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"796\" class=\"wp-image-26064 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%20796%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Visual effects\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%20796%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects.png 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects-1024x398.png 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects-768x299.png 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects-1536x597.png 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/visual-effects.png\"><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re on Windows 10, you can access these options by opening up the Windows menu, searching for <strong>System<\/strong>, and then going to <strong>Advanced<\/strong> <strong>System<\/strong> <strong>Settings<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Advanced<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Performance<\/strong> <strong>Settings<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Visual<\/strong> <strong>Effects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>There, you need to click on <strong>Custom<\/strong> and then select which animations you want to turn off. Click on <strong>Apply<\/strong> once you're done.<\/p>\n<p>For transparency effects, search for <strong>Color<\/strong> <strong>settings<\/strong> and then scroll until you find the <strong>Transparency<\/strong> <strong>effects<\/strong> option. Click on the toggle on the right-hand side to disable it.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Adjust_Your_Laptops_Power_Plan\"><\/span>Adjust Your Laptop\u2019s Power Plan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Windows has several different presets (or power plans, rather) which can greatly affect performance.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re all aptly named: <em>Best power efficiency<\/em>, <em>Balanced<\/em>, and <em>Best Performance<\/em>. If you\u2019re on Windows 10, these presets have slightly different names (<em>Power saver<\/em>, <em>Balanced<\/em>, <em>High performance<\/em>) but the gist of it remains the same.<\/p>\n<p>To change your laptop\u2019s power plan, do the following:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Windows 11 <\/strong>\u2014 right-click on the battery icon and then click on <strong>Power and Sleep settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Under the <strong>Power <\/strong>category, you\u2019ll find the <strong>Power mode <\/strong>setting. You\u2019re now able to change it in accordance with your needs and preferences. If you want the absolute best performance, make sure it\u2019s set to <em>Best Performance<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re on Windows 10, you can simply click on the battery icon in the taskbar and then drag the slider to whichever power mode you want.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_26065\" style=\"width: 558px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26065\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26065\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/bettery-information.png\" alt=\"Bettery information\" width=\"558\" height=\"317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/bettery-information.png 558w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/bettery-information-300x170.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26065\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26065 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20558%20317%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Bettery information\" width=\"558\" height=\"317\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20558%20317%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 558w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/bettery-information.png 558w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/bettery-information-300x170.png 300w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/bettery-information.png\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-26065\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Microsoft<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Remove_Any_Potential_Malware\"><\/span>Remove Any Potential Malware<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To do this, you can use either <strong>Windows<\/strong> <strong>Defender <\/strong>(which, thankfully, comes pre-installed) or, say, a program like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Malwarebytes Anti-Malware<\/strong><\/a> (which is free).<\/p>\n<p>In fact, you can run <em>both<\/em> as there's no reason not to. If there's any malware, these tools will allow you to eliminate it and, in doing so, speed up your laptop.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to go the Defender route, search for <strong>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>. Then, once a new window pops up, you\u2019ll have the option to perform a <strong>Quick<\/strong> <strong>scan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You can also click on <strong>Scan<\/strong> <strong>option<\/strong> right beneath that button and, right afterwards, opt to perform either a <strong>Full<\/strong> <strong>scan<\/strong> (which\u2019ll take a lot longer but will be much more thorough) or, alternatively, a <strong>Custom<\/strong> <strong>scan<\/strong> (which will allow you to specify which files and locations you want to check in particular).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Repaste_Your_CPUGPU\"><\/span>Repaste Your CPU\/GPU<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Thermal paste <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-long-does-thermal-paste-last\/\">lasts a while<\/a>. As time goes on, though, the paste which was initially applied in the factory, will start to lose its effectiveness.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26069\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop CPU GPU Thermal Paste\" width=\"1157\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste.jpg 1157w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste-300x137.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste-1024x469.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste-768x352.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1157px) 100vw, 1157px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26069 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201157%20530%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Laptop CPU GPU Thermal Paste\" width=\"1157\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201157%20530%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1157w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1157px) 100vw, 1157px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste.jpg 1157w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste-300x137.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste-1024x469.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste-768x352.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2024\/03\/Laptop-CPU-GPU-Thermal-Paste.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Your CPU\/GPU temps will rise, your laptop might thermally throttle and this, when combined with dust and debris which <em>always<\/em> accumulate (unless it\u2019s a passively cooled laptop), will result in a drop in performance.<\/p>\n<p>Now, repasting certain <em>desktop-grade<\/em> components is about as simple and straightforward as it gets.<\/p>\n<p>Repasting the CPU\/GPU in a <em>laptop<\/em>, however, is a <em>lot<\/em> more challenging, and it\u2019s an endeavor most folks rarely, if ever, embark on \u2014 for reasons that need no explaining. It\u2019s a procedure essentially \u201creserved\u201d for the tech savvy among us.<\/p>\n<p>Still, it\u2019s actually a lot simpler than one would expect. There are many thorough <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifixit.com\/Guide\/How+to+Repaste+a+Laptop\/158549\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guides online<\/a> and, if you take things slow, there\u2019s really no threat or danger of things going awry. <strong>But, obviously, you\u2019d still be doing this at your own risk.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To learn more about thermal paste and why it\u2019s so important, make sure to read our <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/\">beginner\u2019s guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, if you want to learn more about this process, make sure to watch the following how-to guide:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Pn2ZNOyGMkU?si=ggoe6c_3r5i72yul\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"860\" height=\"515\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Pn2ZNOyGMkU?si=ggoe6c_3r5i72yul\" class=\" lazyload\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are <em>many<\/em> different ways and methods of speeding up your laptop. Some of them are quick and easy to harness, whereas others require a bit of grunt work in order to be implemented and fully utilized.<\/p>\n<p>Either way, there\u2019s a <em>bunch<\/em> of options out there, so you can pick and choose which ones work best in regards to your needs, preferences, level of savviness, and overall budget.<\/p>\n<p>Upgrading to an SSD and adding more RAM is essentially a <em>must<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Then come the many Windows-based optimizations that one ought to employ like shutting down startup processes, uninstalling old programs, disabling visual effects and so on and so forth.<\/p>\n<p>And last but certainly not least, installing a lighter (i.e. less demanding) operating system \u2014 either Linux or a stripped-down version of Windows \u2014 would surely deliver the kind of performance uplift you\u2019re after.<\/p>\n<p><strong>With all of that being said, you mustn't forget that these upgrades and methods, beneficial though they are, can only do so much.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a demanding user, there <em>will<\/em> come a time when you\u2019ll need a more powerful laptop, so think of these \u201ctweaks\u201d as sort of stopgap solution until you (and your wallet) are ready for an upgrade.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s go over a few potential questions regarding this particular topic (and all that it entails):<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Can_I_Speed_Up_My_Laptop\"><\/span>How Can I Speed Up My Laptop?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You have a bunch of different options and methods.<\/p>\n<p>First of all, upgrade to an SSD if you\u2019re still running your operating system on a mechanical hard drive. Then, if possible, add more RAM.<\/p>\n<p>If your laptop is still slow and sluggish, make sure to deactivate as many startup processes as you can, uninstall unused applications, perform a full disk cleanup, update your drivers, disable visual and transparency effects, check for any potential malware, and, as a last resort, reinstall Windows and start from scratch.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Is_My_Laptop_So_Slow\"><\/span>Why Is My Laptop So Slow?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s a myriad of different reasons why your laptop might be slow and sluggish. Maybe you\u2019re pushing it beyond its limits. Maybe it's out of RAM or storage.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe you\u2019re still running a slow and archaic hard drive as opposed to an SSD. Maybe it\u2019s long overdue for a fresh install of Windows or Linux \u2014 due to all the malware and bloatware which may have accumulated over the years.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a bunch of potential reasons and, fortunately, <em>most<\/em> of them are relatively easy to fix.<\/p>\n<p>There <em>is<\/em>, however, a very real possibility that you\u2019ve simply <em>outgrown<\/em> your <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/category\/laptops\/\">current laptop<\/a> and that your needs and workflows require a much more capable machine. <strong>In that case, you\u2019ll <em>have<\/em> to make an investment and buy a newer model.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Can_I_Upgrade_In_My_Laptop\"><\/span>What Can I Upgrade In My Laptop?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In most cases, that\u2019d be the RAM, storage, and wireless network card.<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s a thin-and-light ultrabook, then its RAM might be soldered onto the motherboard \u2014 a trend which took shape so that OEMs could trim their offerings and create bafflingly thin chassis.<\/p>\n<p>14\u201d laptops, more often than not, come with at least <em>one<\/em> SO-DIMM slot, whereas larger ones always come with <em>two<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, 15.6\u201d laptops (and larger) almost always have a secondary M.2 or SATA slot for additional storage.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>What are your go-to ways\/hacks of speeding up your laptop? Let us know in the <a href=\"#comments\">comment<\/a> section down below and, in case you need any help, head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">our forum<\/a> and ask away!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re always on the lookout for new ways of speeding up our devices, be they computers, laptops, phones, or tablets. If there\u2019s one thing we can never have enough of, it\u2019s speed. When inspiration strikes, we need the fewest number of obstacles and hurdles and loading screens so as to strike while the \u201ciron\u2019s hot.\u201d...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2346,"featured_media":26066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[173],"tags":[147],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26057"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26057"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26075,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26057\/revisions\/26075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}