What to Do When a Computer Is Slow

“It's slow” describes a symptom, not a cause.

Identify when it is slow

Is startup slow? Is one application slow? Does the problem happen all the time or only when several programs are running?

Check the obvious dependencies

Storage capacity, memory use, updates, background applications, network access and hardware health can all affect performance.

Separate local and network problems

A cloud application that responds slowly does not necessarily mean the computer itself is slow.

Look for changes

A new application, update or device may have changed the environment.

Decide whether repair or replacement makes sense

If the computer is reliable and the limitation can be addressed, an upgrade may be worthwhile. If it is unsupported or repeatedly failing, replacement may be the better long-term option.

Diagnose first. Buy second.