Windows 7 is slow. Not initially, but just like all versions of Windows, your computer will eventually experience performance issues. Windows 7 seems to handle slow-downs much better than previous versions, but they do occur. Fortunately, Windows has a way of helping users determine what is causing the problems and offers suggestions on how to correct them. The Performance troubleshooter will automatically find and fix problems by finding the things that will typically slow down a computer, such as how many users are currently logged on to the computer or whether too many programs are running at the same time.

If Windows 7 Is Slow Run The Performance Troubleshooter

To determine why Windows 7 is slow, you need to navigate to the Control Panel and type troubleshooter in the search box as shown below. This will bring up several options.

Windows 7 Is Slow

Select the top option, Troubleshooting.

Windows 7 performance issues

Under System and Security, select Check for performance issues.

Troubleshooting Windows 7

When the Windows 7 performance troubleshooter launches, click Next.

Windows 7 is slow

You will likely see several problems if Windows 7 is slow. You should read and act on any recommendations Windows recommends to correct the performance issues. In the example above, Windows detected that we had programs loading at start-up that do not need to be loaded automatically when Windows boots. By disabling these programs, we can decrease the amount of resources those programs consume.

Windows 7 Is Slow Conclusion

Overall, Windows 7 is a performance powerhouse, and uses resources quite efficiently. If your Windows 7 is slow despite using the performance troubleshooter, consider trying these additional options:

  • Run Disk Cleanup to remove unnecessary files. A full hard drive can cause performance issues when Windows runs low on space.
  • Run Disk Defragmenter. Once you free up space, run the Disk Defragmenter utility to organize your data. You can get to both of these utilities by navigating to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools.
  • Run a Registry Cleaner. Registries can, over time, become cluttered with old data and bits and pieces of programs you have uninstalled. A registry cleaner will safely get rid of those entries.
  • Add more memory. Adding RAM can drastically improve the speed of your computer.

Visit our forums if Windows 7 is slow and you need additional help or get more computer repair tips with our Windows 7 articles.