How can I prevent startup programs from slowing down my PC?

1. Disable any extra or unnecessary programs from automatically starting up with your computer. To do this, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then click the “Startup” tab and click “Disable” on any programs you don’t need/want to start every time you boot up your PC.

2. Check for malicious programs that could be running in the background. Often, viruses and other malicious programs will set themselves to run at startup and can cause a lot of lag upon startup. Run an anti-malware scan with your preferred security product to keep your system secure.

3. Update your drivers and hardware. Outdated hardware and software can cause programs to run slow or not work properly. Check for updated drivers for your PC’s components and make sure your software is always up to date.

4. Check for disk errors. Disk errors can be caused by a failing hard drive, or even from regular user activities. Running a disk error check should help you identify and fix any disk errors that may be slowing down your startup.

5. Make sure your PC is free of clutter. Files that are stored on your PC and are taking up a large amount of space can cause it to run slower. Clean out any files that you don’t need, or save them onto an external hard drive or cloud storage service.