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Question

Sudden overall computer lag

Mar 26, 2016 10:06AM PDT

A few days ago, I left my computer afk for an hour while I went out to dinner with family. When I came back, I went on to my computer and watched videos on youtube again, and that's when I started to notice a problem - my computer began to lag more and more. Attempting to pause a youtube video resulted in a long wait that was sometimes upwards of 20 seconds. Making the video fullscreen resulted in more waiting (~10 seconds), and opening a new tab or typing took forever. I thought that this only applied to Google Chrome, as that was the web browser I was using at the time, but I closed that and began to play Terraria - that's when I realized that the lag was in the computer and not in any specific program (when I restart my computer, it's perfectly fine for about 10 minutes, then it's laggy as hell again).
Previously, none of this would've happened. My computer wouldn't even lag if I had multiple processes open (CS:GO, ~10 tabs (Google Chrome), Photoshop, Sony Vegas Pro 12, FL Studio 12 and more could be open with no traces of lag whatsoever). I bought this laptop about 8 months ago and it's only lagged like this for the past few days. I did a large amount of things in an attempt to fix the issue, and none of it worked. Here is a list of what I've attempted to do:
- System Restore
- Disk Defragment
- Disk Cleanup
- Uninstalling unwanted/un-needed programs
- Deleting temp. Files
- Altering Google Chrome settings (even though lag is from my computer itself and not chrome)
- Resetting my computer (Re-installing Windows)
- Checking the Task Manager and seeing what takes up the most RAM/memory, then finding a fix for that (didn't work because there were so many different process - both background and foreground processes - that took up memory altogether
Also, computer specs: OS (Operating System) - Windows 10. Processor - Intel(R) Core(TM) I5-5200U CPU @ 2.20GHz 2.20GHz. Installed memory (RAM) - 8.00 GB. System type - 64-bit Operating System, x64 based processor. I don't know if the Product ID would be necessary for something like this, so I'll only include it if someone asks for it in a reply.
As I've previously stated, this has never happened before on this computer (or on any other computer of mine, in fact), so I've been pretty confused. I honestly have no idea as to what to do next, I've done everything I could think of and am looking for help here. If anyone knows anything about computers that could possibly help with my problem, please reply asap. Thank you in advance, and I hope you all have a great day. Grin

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
(NT) Have you
Mar 27, 2016 9:50AM PDT
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sorry about that.
Mar 27, 2016 9:52AM PDT

Have you changed a ti virus programs ?

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I apologize for the bad typing
Mar 27, 2016 5:14PM PDT

I again trusted my LG G4 and got messed up in the mix with this cluncky Cnet forum on Android.
Hopefully this will be fixed in the future

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Answer
Since it does this with a factory recovery.
Mar 26, 2016 10:25AM PDT

I'm thinking hardware. One of last years recurring odd lag sources was failing hard drives. The thing that seems to test a person's resolve on this is the test we use. We clone the drive to a new drive and test with the new drive. You can try the drive makers test on the drive but for some reason the maker's test passed yet changing the drive fixed the issue. The old drive does have some value as we slip it into some USB case but treat it as suspect.

PS. Added later. Tell more about your cleaning schedule. For laptops I like to see 1st of the month canned air on the vents. For desktops, seasonal to every other month canned air cleanings.

Post was last edited on March 26, 2016 10:26 AM PDT

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I'm confused...
Mar 26, 2016 10:53AM PDT

Failing hard drives? Wouldn't that mean that my computer would be constantly lagging? When I start up my computer it's fine for about 10 minutes...

I have a warantee that says that if my computer breaks for any reason, it would get replaced for free, but I can only do it twice in the span of 4 more years. Replacing hardware not exactly the greatest choice, as I have a laptop and also have no idea where anything goes or how I can access it, and that's the problem. The only thing I can access without bringing it into a store with professionals (in my case, Best Buy) is the battery, and there's no need for that...

(Also, I clean my vents once a month. For this month in particular I did it 3 times, because I heard dust accumulation could cause over-heating and lag to a computer, but it didn't solve anything.)

I can take it in to check what would be wrong, because I don't want to buy hardware without knowing for sure what's actually causing the problem, but that's the most I can do for now.

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No.
Mar 26, 2016 11:00AM PDT

It's one of those things I've seen a lot of last year. It can be fine for a time then slow down.

Since you did a factory restore my view is it's hardware. Unless you are installing something that's not in the factory image.

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Thank you.
Mar 26, 2016 11:07AM PDT

I will get this checked as soon as possible, thank you for your advice.

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check hard drive space left available
Mar 27, 2016 3:36AM PDT

when space gets short, it can do this too.

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This is awkward...
Mar 27, 2016 12:27PM PDT

I was going to get my laptop checked out, and I switched it to the "high performance" mode... and it made everything go back to its normal speed.

So... Uh, yeah.

Thanks for all of your help, I'll get my computer checked out next time this happens.

(Also, "when space gets short, it can do this too." I have 700GB free out of the total 950 GB, it shouldn't be a problem anyways.