I'm having a frustrating issue with my Asus Zenbook 15 running Windows 11. My laptop often runs extremely slow right from the startup, about 80% of the time. It doesn't matter if my CPU and memory usage are low—it's just slow to respond. I've tried a variety of fixes, including running multiple scans with Windows Defender, refreshing the OS, and even checking for malware, but nothing seems to help. The problem even temporarily disappeared for a while after some troubleshooting, but returned when I attempted to use the NordVPN app for the first time. Uninstalling Nord didn't resolve the slowdowns either. I'm at my wit's end and would love some advice on how to get to the root of this issue and what steps I should take next.
3 Answers
If this started after installing new software, there might be lingering issues even after uninstallation. Try doing a clean boot of your system to see if it improves performance. This can help identify if there's a software conflict causing the slowness.
You might want to try checking the Event Viewer and Resource Monitor. When your laptop starts to lag, run Resource Monitor and take a look at the CPU and disk tabs. Also, in the Event Viewer, check under Custom Views for Administrative Events to find any errors during the times when your computer is misbehaving. It might give you some insight into what's causing the slowdown.
Have you checked if your laptop is overheating? Sometimes, a computer will slow down to prevent damage if it's getting too hot. Make sure the vents are clear and that you're not blocking airflow when you're using it.
Yes, I’ve kept the vents clear. It was running fine for those 10 days, even during gaming sessions, so I don't think it's heat-related.