Could a nearby lightning strike make my laptop run slower?

A surge can damage electronics without making them completely fail, so the timing is worth taking seriously. But slowdowns alone do not show that the RAM or processor was damaged. Back up important files first, then check whether the laptop is getting unusually hot, whether the fan is running, and whether Task Manager shows a process or disk activity saturating the system.

If the freezes continue, a repair technician can run hardware diagnostics and inspect the charger and power circuitry. A Windows reinstall may help with software problems, but it is not a good first diagnostic and will not fix damaged hardware.

Before reinstalling, check the basics that can make an older laptop feel suddenly worse: free storage space, Windows updates, startup apps, and whether it is running on the correct power mode. In Task Manager, look at CPU, memory, and disk use while the lag is happening. That can point toward a specific bottleneck rather than guessing at parts.

Since this began after a local electrical event, back up your files and keep an eye out for shutdowns, charging problems, or other new symptoms. If those show up, stop using the affected charger and get the laptop checked.

Could be coincidence, especially since it was already sluggish, but I would not rule out electrical damage just because it still boots. A failing drive can also cause long pauses and app crashes, so check its health with a reputable diagnostic tool and make a backup before doing anything that writes a lot to it.

Memory testing can help too, though a clean test does not rule out every fault. If diagnostics report errors or the problem persists after a clean software check, a repair shop is a sensible next step.