My laptop got extremely slow all of a sudden.

Hello Metamorphu,

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

It sounds like you're dealing with a system performance issue that isn't immediately obvious from Task Manager, and there are several factors that might be contributing to the slow performance. Let's break down the potential causes and solutions systematically:

1. Possible Background Processes or Resource Conflicts

• Even though Task Manager shows everything as fine, there might be background processes consuming resources that don't show up clearly in Task Manager. You can try using Resource Monitor (by typing it in the Windows search bar) to get a more detailed look at CPU, memory, disk, and network usage.
• Check for disk activity: Your system may be experiencing high disk usage, which could cause long delays in loading applications, even if Task Manager doesn't show a specific process eating up CPU usage. High disk usage could indicate issues with your hard drive or SSD (like wear and tear or a failing disk).

2. Disk Health Check

• Use chkdsk or a third-party disk diagnostic tool to check the health of your drive.
  • Run Command Prompt as administrator and enter chkdsk /f to scan and fix any issues on your drive.
• If you're using a hard disk (HDD), upgrading to an SSD would drastically improve performance, especially with slower read/write speeds on HDDs. Disclaimer: Running chkdsk can check the file system and file system metadata of a volume for logical and physical errors. To avoid any trouble for you, do not cancel or interrupt chkdsk, and back up important data.   For more information, please refer to this chkdsk | Microsoft Learn.

3. Update BIOS/UEFI Firmware

• Sometimes, an outdated BIOS can cause issues with hardware detection and system stability. Ensure your BIOS/UEFI is up to date. If you haven't done so yet, visit your laptop manufacturer's website for the latest BIOS update. Disclaimer:  If you are going to modify BIOS Settings, please back up all your personal files first to ensure you do not lose data.

4. Driver Conflicts

• Even though you've updated drivers, it's possible that there is a driver conflict, especially with your graphics cards (NVIDIA and AMD Radeon). Since you have two GPUs, the system may be having trouble managing the switch between the integrated Radeon GPU and the discrete NVIDIA GPU.
• Try reinstalling the drivers for both GPUs using the following:
  • For NVIDIA: Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove all NVIDIA drivers and then reinstall them using the latest version from NVIDIA's website.
  • For AMD Radeon: Similarly, remove all AMD drivers using DDU and reinstall the latest version from AMD’s official site.

5. System Configuration and Services

• Since disabling non-Microsoft services worsened performance, it might be useful to reverse these changes and return your system to the default configuration. Some essential services are necessary for system stability, and disabling them could cause unintended consequences.
• Test in Clean Boot Mode: How to perform a clean boot in Windows - Microsoft Support
  1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
  2. Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and then click Disable all.
  3. Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
  4. Disable all startup items.
  5. Restart your computer.
     Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.   
     These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get back on track.
  Now check if the issue persists. If it stops, you can narrow down which service or program is causing the issue by re-enabling them one by one and testing after each.

6. Memory Usage

• Check if the RAM is being fully utilized or if there's any unusual memory leak. Task Manager will show RAM usage, but for more detailed memory diagnostics, try Windows Memory Diagnostic (type mdsched in the search bar). This will help detect any issues with the physical memory itself.

7. Performance Power Settings

• Check if your laptop is set to Power Saver mode. In Windows, go to Control Panel > Power Options, and set it to High Performance. This ensures that the CPU and GPU are running at full potential.

8. Overheating or Thermal Throttling

• Sometimes, if the CPU or GPU gets too hot, the system will throttle performance to avoid damage. Check your laptop's temperatures using tools like HWMonitor or CoreTemp to see if the CPU/GPU temperatures are too high, and if so, clean the laptop's fans and vents to improve airflow. You can also try a cooling pad if you suspect thermal issues.

9. Try System Restore

• If the problem started just a couple of days ago and you suspect a recent update or software change, using System Restore to go back to a point where everything was working fine might help resolve the issue.
  • Open Control Panel, search for Recovery, and select Open System Restore.

10. Windows Event Logs

• You can look for system errors or warnings in Event Viewer. Type eventvwr into the search bar and check under Windows Logs > System and Application. Any critical errors or warnings here could give you clues on what's causing the lag.

Conclusion:

1. Disk Health Check and possibly upgrading to an SSD if you're using an HDD.
2. Reinstall GPU Drivers using DDU to resolve potential conflicts.
3. Test for overheating or thermal throttling.
4. Try System Restore to undo any recent changes that might have caused this issue.
5. Ensure you're in High Performance mode and not Power Saver.

Hopefully, one of these steps will lead you to the cause and a solution for your laptop's performance issue!

Best Regards,

William.Y | Microsoft Community Support Specialist