Sluggish laptop -- any suggestions?

@Megahertz, I'm just using the built-in Windows Defender.
@zbook, is the System Extensive Test (loop until error) what you're looking for?

Compumind said:

@garyfritz -

it might just be easier (and faster) to backup all your data to an external device and re-image your computer from scratch with the last revision of W10.

Just a thought.

I agree. Most of the time a Clean install is the less time consuming.
Try first a Refresh Windows 10

garyfritz said:

@Megahertz, I'm just using the built-in Windows Defender.
@zbook, is the System Extensive Test (loop until error) what you're looking for?

Yes, the system extensive test should test all major hardware.
It can also be ran as a loop until failure to make multiple tests.
Run this overnight as it will perform the long tests while you are sleeping.
The next AM perform component tests as needed (some are interactive).
Please take pictures of the results and post images into the thread.
If there are any problems posting images please use share links (one drive, drop box, or google drive)

I ran the Extensive Tests for 11 hours. No errors.

garyfritz said:

I ran the Extensive Tests for 11 hours. No errors.

Look's like your hardware's OK on the face of the UEFI tests. What's the size of your C: drive and how much space is left? Have you run at Cmd prompt:

Code:

cleanmgr

I found that released 2GB of space occupied from leftover update files. Also run Cmd (as Administrator) and type:

Code:

defrag C: /A

just to check that optimize has been working properly so your drive hasn't got a large fragmented space. I'd also run a separate scan on the drive, eg with Free Malwarebytes, to ensure there's no viruses present. I wouldn't wholly rely on Defender.

I see you've looked at Task Manager, but are you sure there's no unusual activity going on. Recently I found high power usage on Antimalware Service Executable when I was trying out something on my PC, but I knew what was causing it. Are you sure there's no Apps running that you don't need that are consuming a lot of overheads?

On the Power Manager profile configuration there is a specific set for CPU utilization: Max and min.
High performance profile is normally 100% and 30%.
See what is set on the profile you're running.

I think this is what you mean?