Published: January 2026
Last month, my PC took 8 minutes to start.
Eight. Minutes.
I'd press the power button, go make tea, come back, and it was still loading. Opening Chrome? Another 3 minutes. Switching between tabs? Frozen. Playing a simple game? Lag every 5 seconds.
My cousin kept saying "Buy a new PC, yours is dead." But I couldn't afford that. A decent PC costs Rs. 80,000-150,000 in Pak. I needed my slow PC to work NOW.
If you've searched "why is my PC so slow and laggy," you're probably in the same boat. Your computer used to be fast. Now it's painfully slow. Every click takes forever. Programs freeze. Games stutter.
Here's what nobody tells you—most slow PCs don't need replacement. They need cleaning and maintenance. Simple fixes that take 30-60 minutes but make your computer feel brand new.
Let me show you exactly what worked for my PC. After these fixes, my startup time dropped from 8 minutes to 45 seconds. Chrome opened instantly. Games ran smooth.
Why Your PC Becomes Slow and Laggy Over Time
Before fixing anything, understand why computers slow down.
It's not magic. It's not "old age." Specific things happen that kill performance.
Too Many Startup Programs
Every time you install software, it adds itself to startup. After installing 20-30 programs over months, your PC tries to open everything at once during boot.
My PC was loading:
- Zoom
- Teams
- Chrome
- 3 antivirus programs (yes, three)
- Random software I installed once and forgot
No wonder it took 8 minutes to start.
Hard Drive Nearly Full
Your hard drive needs 15-20% free space to function properly. When storage hits 90%+ full, Windows struggles to write temporary files. Everything slows down.
I checked mine. 98% full. Only 5 GB free out of 500 GB.
That alone was killing performance.
Outdated or Corrupt Drivers
Drivers connect your hardware to Windows. Outdated graphics drivers especially cause lag in games and videos.
My graphics driver was from 2021. No updates in 2 years. Games stuttered constantly.
Malware and Bloatware
Malware runs in the background eating resources. Bloatware (pre-installed junk software) does the same.
My PC had 14 programs I never installed. Dell bloatware, random toolbars, "PC optimizer" scams.
Dust and Overheating
Physical dust blocks airflow. PC overheats. Processor throttles down to cool itself. Performance tanks.
I opened my PC case. Dust everywhere. Fans completely clogged.
Too Little RAM
If you have 4GB RAM or less, modern Windows and programs will struggle. Multitasking becomes impossible.
My laptop had 4GB. Running Chrome with 10 tabs maxed it out completely.
Why Is My PC So Slow and Laggy: Real Solutions That Work
These fixes are in order from easiest to most involved. Start from the top.
Fix 1: Disable Startup Programs
This single fix cut my startup time from 8 minutes to under 2 minutes.
Steps:
Windows 10/11:
- Right-click Taskbar
- Task Manager
- Startup tab
- See the list of programs that load at startup
- Right-click programs you don't need → Disable
What to disable:
- Zoom, Teams, Skype (unless you use them constantly)
- Adobe updaters
- Steam, Epic Games
- Random utilities
- Anything with "Update" in the name
What NOT to disable:
- Antivirus (Windows Defender is fine)
- Graphics drivers
- Sound drivers
I disabled 23 programs. PC started 5x faster immediately.
Fix 2: Free Up Hard Drive Space
You need at least 20% free space. Here's how to clean storage fast.
Delete Temporary Files:
- Press Windows + R
- Type temp → Enter
- Select all files (Ctrl+A)
- Delete
- Press Windows + R again
- Type %temp% → Enter
- Select all → Delete
Freed 6 GB for me instantly.
Remove Unused Programs:
- Settings → Apps
- Sort by Size
- Uninstall anything you don't use
I removed old games, expired trial software, duplicate programs. Freed 35 GB.
Clear Downloads Folder:
Your Downloads folder probably has years of junk.
Open it. Delete everything you don't need.
Freed 12 GB for me.
Use Disk Cleanup:
- Search Disk Cleanup
- Select your main drive (usually C:)
- Check all boxes
- Clean up system files → Check all again
- Delete
Freed another 8 GB.
After this, my PC went from 98% full to 68% full. Everything got faster immediately.
Fix 3: Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated drivers cause stuttering and lag.
Steps:
For NVIDIA Graphics:
- Download GeForce Experience app
- Install
- Check for driver updates
- Install latest driver
For AMD Graphics:
- Visit AMD Driver Support
- Enter your GPU model
- Download latest driver
- Install
For Intel Graphics:
- Visit Intel Driver Support
- Download Intel Driver Assistant
- Scan and update
My games went from constant stuttering to smooth 60 FPS after updating my graphics driver from 2021 to 2025 version.
Fix 4: Scan for Malware
Hidden malware eats your CPU and RAM in the background.
Use Windows Defender (Free, Built-in):
- Windows Security (search in Start menu)
- Virus & threat protection
- Quick scan → Start
Takes 5-10 minutes.
If you want deeper scan:
Download Malwarebytes Free (trustworthy, actually works).
- Install
- Run full scan
- Remove detected threats
I found 23 pieces of malware. Random browser extensions, fake PC cleaners, adware.
Removed them. PC instantly felt snappier.
Fix 5: Disable Visual Effects
Windows animations and effects look nice but slow old PCs.
Steps:
- Search sysdm.cpl → Enter
- Advanced tab
- Under Performance → Settings
- Select Adjust for best performance
- OR customize: Keep only these checked:
- Show thumbnails instead of icons
- Smooth edges of screen fonts
- Apply
My laggy PC felt 30% faster after this. Windows opened instantly instead of fading in slowly.
Fix 6: Upgrade RAM (Physical Fix)
If your PC has 4GB RAM or less, adding RAM is the best upgrade.
Check your current RAM:
- Right-click This PC → Properties
- See "Installed RAM"
If you have 4GB or less:
Buy another 4GB or 8GB stick (costs Rs. 3,000-6,000 in Pakistan).
I upgraded from 4GB to 8GB. Multitasking became possible. Chrome with 15 tabs no longer froze my PC.
Where to buy in Pakistan:
- Hafeez Center, Lahore
- Saddar, Karachi
- Local computer shops (bring your PC details)
Fix 7: Clean Physical Dust
Dust blocks airflow. PC overheats. Performance drops.
Steps:
- Turn off PC
- Unplug everything
- Open side panel (usually 2 screws)
- Use compressed air can OR soft brush
- Clean fans, vents, components
- Close panel
My PC was running at 85°C under load. After cleaning, dropped to 60°C. Performance improved noticeably.
Warning: Don't vacuum inside PC. Static electricity can damage components. Use compressed air only.
Fix 8: Disable Background Apps
Windows 10/11 lets apps run in background even when closed.
Steps:
- Settings → Privacy → Background apps
- Toggle OFF apps you don't need running constantly
OR (Windows 11):
- Settings → Apps → Apps & features
- Click each app → Advanced options
- Set Background app permissions to Never
I disabled 18 background apps. RAM usage dropped from 85% to 55%.
Fix 9: Run Windows Update
.jfif)
Missing updates cause bugs and slow performance.
Steps:
- Settings → Update & Security
- Check for updates
- Install everything available
- Restart
My PC had 47 pending updates. After installing, several bugs disappeared and performance improved.
Fix 10: Consider Clean Windows Install (Last Resort)
If nothing works, fresh Windows install makes your PC feel brand new.
Before doing this:
- Backup everything important (photos, documents, files)
- Have your Windows license key ready
Steps:
- Download Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft
- Create bootable USB
- Boot from USB
- Install Windows clean (select "Custom Install")
I did this on my old laptop. Went from 8-minute startup to 45 seconds. Felt like a new PC.
Why These Fixes Work (The Real Reasons)
.jfif)
Most "PC optimization" advice online is nonsense. Registry cleaners, RAM boosters, "speed up" software—all useless or harmful.
These fixes work because they address actual problems:
Disabling startup programs = Less CPU/RAM usage at boot
Freeing storage = Windows can write temporary files normally
Updating drivers = Hardware communicates with Windows properly
Removing malware = No hidden programs stealing resources
Disabling effects = Less GPU/CPU usage on animations
Adding RAM = More space for programs to run simultaneously
Cleaning dust = Better cooling = No thermal throttling
Background apps = Less RAM/battery drain
These aren't tricks. They're actual solutions to real problems.
How Fast Should My PC Be?
After fixes, expect:
Startup time: 30 seconds - 2 minutes (depends on PC age)
Opening Chrome: 2-5 seconds
Switching programs: Instant
Basic games: Smooth (30-60 FPS depending on PC specs)
My 2019 mid-range PC now:
- Starts in 45 seconds
- Opens Chrome in 3 seconds
- Runs games smoothly
- Handles 20+ Chrome tabs without freezing
Not gaming-PC fast, but perfectly usable for work, browsing, light gaming.
When to Actually Buy a New PC
Sometimes PCs are genuinely too old.
Replace if:
- Running Windows 7 or older (not supported, security risk)
- Processor older than 2012-2013
- Still using traditional hard drive (not SSD) AND can't upgrade
- Physical damage (cracked screen, broken keyboard on laptop)
Don't replace if:
- Just slow from maintenance issues
- Runs Windows 10/11
- Processor from 2014 or newer
My 2019 PC would have been thrown away if I listened to "experts" saying it was dead. Instead, I spent 2 hours on these fixes and saved Rs. 100,000+ on a new PC.
For more tech optimization tips:
According to Microsoft's official Windows Support documentation, maintaining at least 20% free storage and keeping Windows updated are the two most critical factors for PC performance.
For detailed hardware upgrade guides, Intel's Performance Tuning Guide provides technical information on optimizing PC hardware.
Conclusion
If your PC is slow and laggy, start by disabling startup programs and freeing up storage space—these two fixes alone made my startup time drop from 8 minutes to under 2 minutes. Update your graphics drivers, scan for malware with Windows Defender, and disable visual effects for immediate performance gains. Adding RAM (from 4GB to 8GB) and cleaning physical dust are cheap upgrades that make huge differences. Most slow PCs don't need replacement—they need maintenance. These fixes cost Rs. 0-6,000 and take 30-60 minutes total. My 2019 PC went from unusable to fast enough for daily work and gaming.
FAQ
Why is my PC so slow all of a sudden?
Usually caused by Windows updates running in background, full storage (95%+ used), or new startup programs added by recent software installations. Check Task Manager for CPU/disk usage spikes. Free up storage and disable unnecessary startup programs first.
How much RAM do I need to stop PC lag?
Minimum 8GB for Windows 10/11. If you have 4GB or less, upgrading to 8GB is the single best improvement. 16GB is ideal for multitasking and gaming. I upgraded from 4GB to 8GB for Rs. 5,000 and PC became 3x faster.
Will cleaning dust really make my PC faster?
Yes. Dust blocks airflow, PC overheats, processor throttles down (slows itself to cool down). My PC ran at 85°C before cleaning, 60°C after. Performance improved 20-30% just from removing dust with compressed air.
Why does my PC lag when playing games?
Outdated graphics drivers, overheating, or insufficient RAM. Update your GPU drivers first (NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software). Check Task Manager during gaming—if RAM hits 100%, you need more RAM. Clean dust from PC fans.
Can I speed up my PC without spending money?
Yes. Disable startup programs, delete temporary files, uninstall unused programs, scan for malware, disable visual effects, and update Windows. These are 100% free and made my PC 5x faster. Only upgrade RAM if these don't help enough.
How do I know if my PC is too old to fix?
If it runs Windows 7 or older, has a processor from before 2012, or has major hardware damage, replacement makes more sense. But if it runs Windows 10/11 with a 2014+ processor, these fixes will work. My 2019 PC felt dead but these fixes revived it completely.
---
Written by Ahmad Khan
I help everyday users fix tech problems without the confusing jargon. Based on real experience, not theory.
---
