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Narrow down the slowdown
- Startup: is the delay before sign-in or after the desktop appears?
- One app: does the rest of the computer respond normally?
- Internet: are local files and offline apps still responsive?
- Everything: do typing, menus and opening files all pause?
Record when the problem began, any message on screen and whether it occurs consistently. Include the model and operating system if known.
Explain recent changes
Tell us about new software, updates, damage or a storage warning. If the issue began after a particular change, that is useful evidence, but it is not proof of the cause.
Do not install an unfamiliar cleaner or grant remote access to a stranger promising an instant repair. Avoid sharing private documents or account details when describing the delay.
Protect files before major changes
Back up important files before a reset, reinstall or hardware change. If you cannot make a backup, make that clear in the enquiry. Ask which proposed steps could affect your files, apps or settings.
An upgrade should be considered only after compatibility and the likely cause are checked. Replacing storage or adding memory is not a universal answer to a slow computer.
Prepare your assessment request
A useful message names the laptop model, operating system, where the delay happens, when it began and any recent changes. Add your Ontario location and ask for the next assessment step and an upfront quote.
Before approving work, agree on what improvement will be checked and which issues fall outside the repair. See the computer repair enquiry guide and visit checklist.