A slow computer is one of the most common complaints we hear from customers across Clarkson, Butler, Joondalup and all of northern Perth. The good news is that many slowdowns are caused by software issues — not hardware failure — and can be fixed for free in under an hour. Try all of these before spending any money.
Restart Your PC
Many people leave PCs on for weeks. A fresh restart clears RAM and stops memory leaks from background apps.
Check Startup Programs
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Startup tab. Disable everything you don't need starting automatically.
Run Windows Update
Outdated Windows can cause slowdowns and security issues. Settings → Update & Security → Check for Updates.
Free Up Disk Space
Search "Disk Cleanup" in the Start menu. Run it and also clear the Recycle Bin. Aim for at least 15% free space.
Scan for Malware
Open Windows Security → Virus & Threat Protection → Quick Scan. Malware is a common hidden cause of slowdowns.
Check RAM Usage
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Performance tab. If RAM is above 85% while idle, you may need more RAM or fewer apps open.
Update Your Drivers
Device Manager → right-click your graphics card → Update Driver. Outdated GPU drivers slow down the whole system.
Adjust Power Settings
Control Panel → Power Options → select High Performance. Balanced mode throttles your CPU to save power.
Clear Browser Cache
A bloated browser cache slows page loads. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Clear Browsing Data → All time.
Disable Visual Effects
Search "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" → select "Adjust for best performance." Noticeably faster on older PCs.
Still Slow After All That?
If your PC is still sluggish after working through this list, the issue is likely hardware-related. The two most common hardware causes of persistent slowness are:
- Old spinning hard drive (HDD) — replacing it with an SSD is the single biggest performance upgrade you can make. A $150–$220 investment at BITS Perth can make a 5-year-old PC feel new.
- Insufficient RAM — if you regularly have many browser tabs and apps open, 4GB of RAM is no longer enough in 2025. Upgrading to 8 or 16GB is often affordable.
- Malware or a virus — some infections hide from standard scans. Our professional malware removal service costs from $99 and includes security hardening.
We carry out SSD upgrades, RAM upgrades, virus removal and full tune-ups for customers across Clarkson, Butler, Joondalup, Mindarie, Wanneroo and all of northern Perth. Free diagnosis — you only pay if you proceed.
Still Struggling With a Slow PC?
Bring it in or call us. We'll diagnose it for free and tell you honestly whether a repair or upgrade is worth it.