Speed up Windows 10?

[AlexC1981]

As an experiment I just tried running my 32 bit Windows 10 2GB RAM Atom tablet with six youtube video tabs open on Edge. I was using the sixth tab to try different HD videos and it was running absolutely perfectly until I tried to switch back over a few of the other tabs. Now it's frozen up.

Saying that, if you don't overload it, it's nice and snappy and Edge runs faster on it than Firefox does on my 24GB twin hex-core Xenon tower. A 4GB i5 should run Windows 10 and Edge perfectly with multiple tabs. Edge is pretty decent now you can finally get Adblock for it.

OP, do a clean install or the "reset" option that was posted in the link above. Make sure you get rid of any dodgy toolbars and use a light anti-virus like Bitdefender.

[MarkRSi]

If it's been running for a few years and/or been 'upgraded' to Windows 10 from a previous version, it might benefit from a refresh. Preferably the option which effectively wipes the drive and re-installs Windows 10. I've done this on a couple machines which were slow, suffering BSODs and few other weird issues and both have been fine since.

ETA basically zedx19's link

[tankplanker]

Reasonably modern versions of windows will use as much RAM as it can by caching more. Comparing memory utilisation between a 8Gb and a 4Gb machine isn't really helpful as the 8Gb machine will be caching more and keeping more in memory. Microsoft did a lot of work to make Windows 10 run far better than previous versions of Windows on 4Gb of RAM, it should be more than enough for most web browsing.

This really does sound like a problem with the PC build rather than a lack of resources.

[Richyboy]

I've got Microsoft edge running with three page tabs. In the resource monitor there is running one microsoftedge.exe and six microsoftedgeCP.exe. One of the microsoftedgeCP.exe is taking the most memory, about 1800mb. Microsoftphotos.exe is running and using 500mb, its no where to be seen in the programs opened below.

[TonyRPH]

OP - visit this page which explains how to open Task Manager in Windows 10.

Once you've opened Task Manager, click on "More details" at the bottom left, then go to the "Performance" tab.

Take a screenshot of that (it should look like below - and then post it here).

[Richyboy]

Since I've been looking into this the mouse feels like someone is trying to move it, like resistance when dragging. Its become a lot slower, letters appear by delay when typing.

[hyphen]

You don't have a lot of RAM (4GB) and it is maxed out.

What is using it all? (Click on the Processes tab, then click on the Memory column so its sorted in a descending order).

[chris285]

I think you have used all the ram and it is then using the page file as well as the c drive is sat at 100% as well as the ram, take a look at the highest use processes and could help you figure out what us draining but cpu is sat fairly high too

[Northbloke]

Interesting discussion as mine has started doing something similar.

Opened up Task Manager as above and it is Amazon Drive that has my disk at 100% clicking and whirring away for ages.

I've just got it (with Amazon Prime) and it did a huge backup of photos last week but should be stable now.

Can I just close it/turn it off or will that screw up something?

[blueg33]

I run a surface pro 3 i5 with 4gb ram and 128gb ssd. Using edge I can browse with loads of open windows (15 plus) with no appreciable slowdown, even when one window is streaming a movie

Its slower with ie or firefox but still not an issue that is really noticeable

[TonyRPH]

OP, in TaskManager, please go to the "Processes" tab, and then click on the "CPU" column to sort the CPU usage by process.

A small arrow will appear - ensure that arrow is pointing down.

Take a screenshot of this - we will then be able to see which process is using so much CPU.

Then, in the same TaskManager screen, click on the "Memory" column, and ensure it's sorted in the same way (small arrow pointing down) and then take a screenshot of that too.

You have some process (or multiple processes) using a lot of RAM, CPU and disk (there is a lot of disk activity).

My primary suspicion is either a virus, or something has gone awry with Windows 10.

Please report back.

ETA: Sample screenshots:

Edited by TonyRPH on Thursday 8th December 11:54

[Richyboy]

I restarted and it appears to have improved. I think surface pro doesn't do well waking up from sleep constantly.

[zedx19]

When was the last time you restarted it?

[chris285]

Yeah i'd only use sleep if you are coming back to it that day and shut down each night, there is a file that is used to keep the sleep state that uses disk space as well which i forget the name but i bin off having a desktop

[TonyRPH]

That still seems to be using a lot of memory.

Mine is only using 54% (also has 4gb) and I have Edge open with 6 tabs.

Sort by memory and post a screenshot.

It may just be doing updates, in which case it might be svchost.exe running away with memory.

[ging84]

I'm not sure what i should be more outraged at
that it's nearly 2017 and there are still people out there who don't think to try rebooting a windows machine that is under performing, or that it still can work.

[grumbledoak]

chris285 said:

Yeah i'd only use sleep if you are coming back to it that day and shut down each night, there is a file that is used to keep the sleep state that uses disk space as well which i forget the name but i bin off having a desktop

I assume you mean hiberfil.sys. If you have an SSD and Win8 or better Windows boots so quickly that you can "turn that st off":
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15140/what-is-hiber...

[anonymous-user]

I've got the 8g i5, no speed issues here at all.

Unfortunately you cannot upgrade the ram on these either.

Nothing to lose other than a bit of time by re-installing and seeing if things improve with a fresh install.

Mine fell over and had to be re-installed when the anniversary update came out, it's been perfect since.

[heebeegeetee]

Good morning, my 10 day old basic Acer has been showing this for the past 40 minutes. Is there anything I can do?

[TonyRPH]

Despite the warning about not turning it off, I have indeed powered them off in that state...

Which usually solves the problem.