How to fix a very slow laptop?

muchomurka said:

Not true. According to https://www.techarp.com/guides/compl...re-cpu-list/3/ this AMD E1-2100 processor is not vulnerable by Meltdown and Spectre exploits, so it lacks speculative execution optimization. In this case, installing SSD has minimal effect onto computer speed. See Let's run Win10 on really really old hardware - Page 24 - Windows 10 Forums post for further information.

There are basically two things that can be upgraded on that computer - HDD to SSD and RAM. So you think upgrading the RAM to the max of 16GB from the 4GB it likely came with from the factory would offer a greater performance boost than an upgrade from HDD to SSD?

Both the RAM and SSD upgrades make sense only after processor upgrade. *) It is not always possible; lowend CPUs are often soldered to notebook motherboard, and if it can be done (processor is placed in socket and motherboard supports different CPUs), it is task for PC technician, anyway.

*) I own older netbook Asus EEE with soldered Atom N450 processor, tried to add RAM & test SSD in it, still very slow & processor utilization very high during long time after start. I decided to use that SSD in other notebook where it makes much better job.

It is possible to disable unneeded tasks & services, it may improve response a bit. Unfortunately I still did not found/made reasonable list of them & howto. And overall efficiency of these changes applied to lowend system remains questionable.

Buying some more powerful system (not necessarily new) is the best alternative I think.

Yeah, she has AVG and Windows Defender running at the same time...

I'm not familiar with either! If both serve the same function, then both are fighting each other for priority and control to complete its function.

If AVG is not a licensed install, then perhaps a temporary uninstall might prove beneficial?

Installing any 3rd party AV should disable WD so it doesn't run all the time while some of it's functions are retained, like possibility of manual scans.

Norton and Microsoft did some behind-the scenes wrangling. Windows Defender used to never show up in Task Manager. Within this past year, Windows Defender showed up alongside Norton. Any slowdown may or may not be coincidental with Meltdown/Spectre software remediation that came to pass.

CountMike said:

Considering performance of that machine, an SSD would do wonders for it's responsiveness.

Agreed, considering the computer also came with a 5400 RPM HDD.

I think that laptop's fine with Windows 10. Windows Defender would automatically be disabled if you have an installed AV anyways.

It all matters to which processes is killing the drive, very typical for windows 10.

Hi folks

as others have suggested SSD would be the easiest and probably the most effective.

Of course there's always a facetious answer !! (please don't take offence but I think it's quite funny : ) get a new one !!!

The SSD though is the best idea - forget about RAM increase (unless you can easily add more) - most laptops have a very limited space

Reminds me the other day in a pub with a friend talking about making money on the Stock Exchange
question was how to make a small fortune

My answer was start with a large one. !!

Cheers
jimbo

RingTailCoon: Run Task Manager when your system starts. If it looks like on the picture (high CPU & lazy disk), then buying SSD is definitely waste of money, regardless of number of high-ranking users which recommend it. Only the main bottleneck matters.

muchomurka said:

RingTailCoon: Run Task Manager when your system starts. If it looks like on the picture (high CPU & lazy disk), then buying SSD is definitely waste of money, regardless of number of high-ranking users which recommend it. Only the main bottleneck matters.

The opinion is running about 3 for an SSD to one against. But, hey, the majority is not always right!