A Guide to Diagnosing a Slow Windows PC

Are you experiencing a slow Windows PC? Don't worry! This guide walks you through diagnosing your slow computer, even if you're a new user. We'll assume you can boot into Windows, but everything is running slowly.

Step 1: Open Task Manager

There are multiple ways to do this:

• Right-click the Windows Start button (on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen), then click "Task Manager" in the context menu, or
• Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape simultaneously.

Step 2: Expand the Task Manager Window

Once Task Manager opens you may see a simplified view. To access the full view, click "More details" in the bottom-left corner of the window.

Step 3: Examine Your Components' Performance

In the expanded Task Manager, select the "Performance" tab. Here you'll see your computer's components — CPU, memory (RAM), and disk. Check if any of these are at or near 100% utilization — that's usually the source of a slow PC.

Possible Issues and Solutions

Extra Checks Worth Doing

By following these steps you can identify the cause of your slow Windows PC and take the right action to fix it. If the disk is the culprit and it's an old MBR install, see our guide on converting MBR to GPT while you're modernizing.