My laptop is slow, hanging or overheating — what to do
Hardware & Devices · 11 views
A slow or hanging laptop is our most common ticket — these steps fix most cases in under 15 minutes.
1. Restart properly. Click Start > Power > Restart (not Shut down, and not just closing the lid). Many machines run for weeks without a real restart, which alone causes slowness.
2. Close what you are not using. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, click the CPU and Memory column headers, and close (End task) anything heavy that you are not actively using — especially multiple browser windows with many tabs.
3. Check disk space. Open This PC and look at the C: drive bar. If it is red (less than 10% free), empty the Recycle Bin, delete old files from Downloads, and move large personal files out.
4. Check for Windows updates. Start > Settings > Windows Update. A pending update that never finishes installing will slow the machine badly. Install and restart.
5. For overheating: keep the laptop on a hard, flat surface (not on a bed/pillow which blocks the vents), and make sure the fan vent is not clogged with dust. If the fan is loud all the time or the laptop is hot even when idle, raise a ticket — it may need a cleaning or thermal service.
6. Still slow after all of this? If your laptop is more than 3 years old it may be due for replacement under our refresh policy. Raise a ticket with the subject "Laptop slow — replacement check" and include the asset tag; we will check its age and either service or replace it.
Still stuck? Email [email protected] or raise a ticket from the Help Center — include your asset tag (sticker on the laptop) and a screenshot if possible.
1. Restart properly. Click Start > Power > Restart (not Shut down, and not just closing the lid). Many machines run for weeks without a real restart, which alone causes slowness.
2. Close what you are not using. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, click the CPU and Memory column headers, and close (End task) anything heavy that you are not actively using — especially multiple browser windows with many tabs.
3. Check disk space. Open This PC and look at the C: drive bar. If it is red (less than 10% free), empty the Recycle Bin, delete old files from Downloads, and move large personal files out.
4. Check for Windows updates. Start > Settings > Windows Update. A pending update that never finishes installing will slow the machine badly. Install and restart.
5. For overheating: keep the laptop on a hard, flat surface (not on a bed/pillow which blocks the vents), and make sure the fan vent is not clogged with dust. If the fan is loud all the time or the laptop is hot even when idle, raise a ticket — it may need a cleaning or thermal service.
6. Still slow after all of this? If your laptop is more than 3 years old it may be due for replacement under our refresh policy. Raise a ticket with the subject "Laptop slow — replacement check" and include the asset tag; we will check its age and either service or replace it.
Still stuck? Email [email protected] or raise a ticket from the Help Center — include your asset tag (sticker on the laptop) and a screenshot if possible.
slow laptophangingfreezeoverheatingperformance