A Factory Reset ideally should have revitalized your Windows computer or laptop, but there are many users who find that the system is just as slow as before, if not worse, if the Slow Computer. A sluggish computer after a reset is a situation that many people face, but the good news is that the performance can be restored if you take the right steps in the correct order.
This in-depth article will explain to you the reasons why your computer is slowing down after a reset, and the specific ways to solve the problem.
✅ Why is Your PC Slow After a Factory Reset?
Windows does a clean installation after a factory reset but that doesn’t necessarily mean the performance will be perfect. Some invisible troubles can be the main culprits if your system is running slower than usual:
1. Outdated or Missing Drivers
Windows picks up a few drivers that are most compatible with the installed hardware, but they are not always completely optimized for your hardware.
2. Background Processes Consuming Resources
Immediate after installation, Windows is busy running tasks such as indexing, Defender scanning, update checking, telemetry collecting, and more.
3. Lack of System Updates
New installations do not cover the latest feature or security updates which are mostly performance improvements.
4. Malware Left on External Drives
A reset only affects internal drives. Any malware present on USBs, external HDDs, or secondary partitions can easily continue its malicious work infecting the system over and over again.
5. Excessive Startup Programs
Many non-essential applications will appear after a reset and restart themselves without your permission, therefore, the startup time will increase drastically.
6. Disk Fragmentation
On older HDDs in particular, file scraps left over can really mess up read/write operations after the reset.
7. Hardware Bottlenecks
Combining contemporary SSDs with old-fashioned CPUs or RAM may lead to severe imbalance and queuing issues.
🔧 Step-by-Step Fixes for a Slow Computer After Factory Reset
Follow these crucial steps to get maximum benefit.
1. Establish a Stable Internet Connection
The first and foremost thing is to make sure your internet connection is working reliably.
- Connect via Ethernet if possible.
- Update your network adapter driver.
- Run cmd → ping google.com -t to ensure packet consistency.
2. Immediately Run Windows Updates
Post-reset, it is important that you keep your Windows updated.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
- Install everything, including optional updates.
- Reboot after each round of updates.
Do not stop here, keep doing it until you get a message that there are no more updates.
3. Perform a Full-System Malware Scan
Note that even clean install is not safe if infections are hidden in external drives however.
- Open Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.
- Do a Full Scan.
- Include all drives in the scanning process.
- Use anti-malware software like Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool if you want a newly done deeper scan.
4. Install the Latest Hardware Drivers
Default drivers often degrade performance. Do this:
- Open Device Manager.
- Search for anything suspicious with a yellow triangle.
- Right-click > Update driver.
- For GPUs and chipsets, go directly to:
- Intel Driver & Support Assistant
- NVIDIA GeForce Experience
- AMD Adrenalin Software
💡 Tip: First install the chipset drivers always and thenGPU and peripheral drivers.
5. Reconfigure Startup Programs
Too many startup apps can slow down your PC.
- Open Task Manager using Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Locate the Startup tab.
- Turn off non-necessary programs such as:
- Spotify, OneDrive, Discord, Zoom, Adobe Updater, etc.
It is advisable that you only keep those apps running that are necessary and are used for antivirus.
6. Optimize Your Disk (Especially HDDs)
Windows takes care of SSD optimization automatically but if you have an HDD then:
- Go to “Defragment and Optimize Drives”.
- Choose your OS drive.
- Press Optimize.
Take use of programs like Defraggler for a more elaborate optimization of your HDD.
7. Clear Temporary Files and System Cache
Any new install of the Windows system besides the software is surely full of waste of SDs.
Use Storage Sense:
- Launch PC Settings → System → Storage.
- Switch on Storage Sense.
- Run it once to get rid of:
- Temp files
- Delivery Optimization files
- Recycle Bin content
Or, Use Disk Cleanup:
- Type cleanmgr in the Run dialog.
- Select C: drive.
- Tick all the options, especially:
- Windows Update Cleanup
- Temporary Internet Files
- System error memory dump files
8. Use a Dedicated PC Repair Tool (Optional)
If you like having something that is in charge of cleaning up on your behalf, then you can consider the following:
- Get Fortect, Restoro or CCleaner and install it.
- Perform a deep scanning.
- Allow it to repair the registry problems, junk files, and the inactive system services.
Besides, they also cover overheated devices as well as missing updates.
The computer is still very slow, and you have to find ways to improve the performance.
You might be experiencing the problem of a
9. Upgrade Hardware If Needed
Still sluggish? You may be suffering from hardware mismatch.
| Component | Recommended Minimum (2025) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-Core @ 3.0GHz+ |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | SSD (Not HDD) |
| GPU (if gaming) | GTX 1650 / RX 6500 XT |
💡 Even with SSDs, slow DDR3 RAM or older dual-core CPUs can be a huge bottleneck.
10. Monitor Background Activity and CPU Usage
Make sure that no service or application is using more than its share of resources.
- Go to Task Manager > Processes.
- Arrange items by CPU, memory, and disk.
- Check any that are over 30% all the time.
If after checking it you find that services like Windows Search, SysMain or Telemetry are in the top during the whole time, consider disabling them.
🏁 Final Thoughts: Regain Your PC’s Performance After Reset
It is quite normal that your Windows runs very slowly after a factory reset — however, with some fine-tuning right after the reset, your machine can be faster than it was before. Systematic works like applying Windows updates, installing drivers, scanning for malware, and clearing startup programs, these operations are at the heart of your machine running at its best.
Never let a factory reset become a source of your frustration. Be in charge, proceed stepwise, and assure you your PC’s resurrection.