Windows 11 and an incredibly slow, new Dell desktop

CMB62 · Apr 12, 2026

BunnyJ said:
And get 8GB more RAM.

As a neophyte, kind of shocking that a “new” Dell desktop would have these issues due to insufficient RAM and HD. But I take your point. So I need MicroCenter to install an SSD, double the RAM, and go through all of the crapware running that I can’t identify? And do I also need to move my tens of 1000s of photos off the Desktop folder and into My Photos, is that also creating slowdown issues? Thanks.

BunnyJ · Apr 12, 2026

Well you got an affordable model and they can give you the inexpensive parts. The processor is decent, but you really need more RAM to run Win 11.

I have 64GB. I doubt the number of photos on it are causing the issue nor is the stuff supplied by MS. The PC is doing just what the designed it to do, basic stuff. BTW,, you can get an external drive to hold your photos.

HTH

Fishmill · Apr 12, 2026

CMB62 said:
As a neophyte, kind of shocking that a “new” Dell desktop would have these issues due to insufficient RAM and HD. But I take your point. So I need MicroCenter to install an SSD, double the RAM, and go through all of the crapware running that I can’t identify? And do I also need to move my tens of 1000s of photos off the Desktop folder and into My Photos, is that also creating slowdown issues? Thanks.

You chose near the bottom of the Dell barrel when you bought it....for whatever reason.

Minimum RAM; spinning hard drive rather than SSD; i3 Intel CPU rather than i5 or i7, etc.

Even if you were knowledgeable and did a good job of maintenance, you would be hindered by the spinning hard drive more than anything else.

I'd have Micro Center diagnose your issues and evaluate all of your hardware. Your current hardware is likely in good working order, but you'd likely want them to do a CLEAN INSTALL of Windows onto your new SSD. NOT merely "go through all of the crapware running".

You DON'T need to buy Windows again. Don't get talked into that.

You'd owe Micro Center for labor, any new RAM, and a new SSD.

I don't know if you are still under Dell warranty. If you are, that status might go bye-bye because of your planned alterations.

You can certainly move from 8 gb RAM to 16, but it might cost you 200 or 250 bucks. You'd most likely want them to REPLACE the 8 with a new "kit" of 16, NOT add 8 to your existing 8. You could get by with 8 RAM total, but I fear your future lack of maintenance will lead to insufficient RAM issues in the future, so I'd buy a new kit of 16 GB total (2 sticks of 8 GB each).

Tell them to preserve your data (photos, etc), but as I told you earlier in this thread, you better assume they will vaporize your data when you walk in the store. It's entirely up to you to back up your data yourself so you can reload it onto your new SSD after you take it back home IF THEY BOTCH THE JOB.

Have them diagnose and report back to you before new hardware is discussed and cost is finalized.

Be specific with them, not vague.

It's up to you to decide how large your new SSD has to be...what capacity. We don't know if your current hard drive is nearly full.

Decide yes or no if you have any use whatsoever for Microsoft's "OneDrive". Some do, some don't. If you don't, tell Microcenter you don't, so they can disable or uninstall it. It might be part of your current troubles. We don't know. It could be that OneDrive is trying to deal with your thousands of photos when you don't need it to be involved with them at all. We don't know.

Total bill for this might be 500 or more. You might at least consider starting over with a whole new PC with a stronger CPU, more RAM, and an SSD to start with, but that's likely in the 1000 plus category at current price levels. Your budget is unknown.

BunnyJ · Apr 12, 2026

8GB of DDR4 RAM,, 80 dollars, 1TB SSD.. 150 ish

Jorgen E · Apr 12, 2026

CMB62 said:
3. So it does appear to be 1 TB, but the 7200 rpm means it is mechanical and not solid state, am I right about that?

Is that alone the reason this thing is so slow, is that some antiquated feature? (But my 10-year-old cheap-ass ASUS laptop I use for my business must have much older components, and it's plenty fast without any of the problems of the desktop).

Your HDD is a bottleneck, but not making the PC act as it does (unless it’s faulty somehow)
It should be relative OK after booting/ start Windows.
CPU and RAM could be better, but again - OK for Office and browsing.
I would start with BIOS and ver./configuraton and drivers for it. Then fresh install from new 25H2 image and ONLY
necessary drivers from Dell

glasskuter · Apr 12, 2026

Since your thread is so long, I'm not sure anyone as mentioned this.
While your lack of ram and HDD drive are definitely contributors, for simple tasks like browsing and email, many folks can operator with similar specs.

Before one can blame hardware one has to troubleshoot a slow computer using the process of elimination to determine what it is NOT.
Here is the proper way to troubleshoot a slow computer.

Things to try:

1. Perform a clean boot to eliminate software conflict causing the issue. If it doesn't happen in a clean boot, you have some software conflicting with Windows. Brink's procedure will help you weed out which one. Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial

2. Make sure you have no corrupt system files that is causing this problem. Open a command prompt as administrator and type
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Restart computer

Open another cmd prompt as admin and type sfc /scannow
Pay attention to the scan results to see if SFC found anything it could not repair.

3. disable fast startup Turn On or Off Fast Startup in Windows 11

4. After windows fully loads, right click on start button and select task manager. Look at the column headers. Are any resources running at 100%? If so, click on that header to sort the processes to show those hogging the most resources to be at the top.

5. update your bios to latest and update graphics driver from the manufacturer,

6. Run disk cleanup. In search box search for "disk", In search results RIGHT click on Disk Cleanup & select 'run as administrator'
Along with what will already be checked, also put a check by Previous Windows Installations and Temporary Files

7. You have an HDD, Defrag it. search 'defrag'. In search results select "Defragment and Optimize" drives. The app will tell you which drives are fragmented and need to be optimized

8. Check for Malware using Malwarebytes Free. Scroll all the way down in this link and select Malwarebytes Free.
Download Free Windows 10 Antivirus | Malwarebytes

Do a full scan. Quarantine (or remove) anything that Malwarebytes detects. Restart the computer.

9. Test to see if issues remain while in safe mode? Boot to Safe Mode in Windows 11 Tutorial

JLArranz · Apr 12, 2026

Please right click in the Start button in the bottom left corner, click on "Device Manager", and click in the small white triangle at the left of "Disk drives". Please post what appears just below "Disk drives". It's the disks models you have.

My Windows 11 is a miniPC with 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB eMMC, a kind of "lower speed" SSD, likely superior yet to most HDDs as Windows disk.

I have found a comparison between my processor (a Celeron J4125) and yours, that is about 3 times faster.

Intel Celeron J4125 vs Intel Core i3-10105 - Benchmark, comparación y diferencias.

Intel Celeron J4125 vs Intel Core i3-10105 – Benchmarks, especificaciones y comparación. ¿Qué CPU es más rápida, eficiente y mejor para juegos y trabajo?

www.cpu-monkey.com

I have also found a comparison between your processor and my most powerful one FX8350 (AMD's top line in year 2012). This old computer has 32GB RAM and a SATA SSD, and it's a lot faster than my miniPC. It has Windows 10 b/c it's fine as it is and Windows 11 would be a risk in it (now it's set as UEFI-GPT w/ CSM...). Your processor is about double as fast.

AMD FX-8350 vs Intel Core i3-10105F - Benchmark, comparison and differences

AMD FX-8350 vs Intel Core i3-10105F – Benchmarks, Specifications & Comparison. Which CPU is faster, more efficient, and better for gaming & productivity?

www.cpu-monkey.com

Faster processor, same amount of RAM as in my Windows 11 (and faster), I think your problem is the disk, one of two options:

- It's a SLOW HDD. Not all HDDs are slow. I have several Seagates ST1000DM003 and similar that can do over 200 MB/s in their fastest zone and have high quality firmware/mechanics. In firmware I may have an even faster WD6400AAKS (it doesn't lose speed reading linearly from up to 3-4 zones at the same time) bought in year 2007, but it only reaches 120 MB/s in its fastest zone. I've seen modern models in economic builds that only do 80 MB/s or less.

- It's a FAILING SSD, eMMC or similar. Personally I've seen this only in pendrives, in the worst case they go to 3 MB/s (it isn't a typo, three megabytes per second). Despite this they're reliable if you have patience. I have also seen some users complaining about speeds of 10 MB/s or less in scam-SSD's (not you case) and in failing ones.

========================================

The 1st step is ascertaining and posting you disk model following the instructions in the first paragraph.

DarkShadowMD · Apr 13, 2026

I'm inclined to go with the suggestions of other guys here, you are running 8 GB of RAM, since Windows 11 24H2, Windows can't simply run fast on 8 GB systems, because it loads up a bunch of useless stuff, like webview, resume, and other features that run in background even if you disable them, except webview, that cannot be disabled and can chug a huge amount or memory... in 8 GB systems can take up to 30% of your RAM.

You need at least another 8 GB (16 GB total) to run a bit more comfortably. If you need to run complex software, 32 GB is your minimum.

I know this is barbaric, given the RAM crisis we are living through... but sadly, Microsoft haven't addressed this, and your system will constantly slow down, because 8 GB is simply not enough nowadays...

CMB62 · Apr 13, 2026

glasskuter said:
Since your thread is so long, I'm not sure anyone as mentioned this.
While your lack of ram and HDD drive are definitely contributors, for simple tasks like browsing and email, many folks can operator with similar specs.

Before one can blame hardware one has to troubleshoot a slow computer using the process of elimination to determine what it is NOT.
Here is the proper way to troubleshoot a slow computer.

Things to try:

1. Perform a clean boot to eliminate software conflict causing the issue. If it doesn't happen in a clean boot, you have some software conflicting with Windows. Brink's procedure will help you weed out which one. Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial

2. Make sure you have no corrupt system files that is causing this problem. Open a command prompt as administrator and type
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Restart computer

Open another cmd prompt as admin and type sfc /scannow
Pay attention to the scan results to see if SFC found anything it could not repair.

3. disable fast startup Turn On or Off Fast Startup in Windows 11

4. After windows fully loads, right click on start button and select task manager. Look at the column headers. Are any resources running at 100%? If so, click on that header to sort the processes to show those hogging the most resources to be at the top.

5. update your bios to latest and update graphics driver from the manufacturer,

6. Run disk cleanup. In search box search for "disk", In search results RIGHT click on Disk Cleanup & select 'run as administrator'
Along with what will already be checked, also put a check by Previous Windows Installations and Temporary Files

7. You have an HDD, Defrag it. search 'defrag'. In search results select "Defragment and Optimize" drives. The app will tell you which drives are fragmented and need to be optimized

8. Check for Malware using Malwarebytes Free. Scroll all the way down in this link and select Malwarebytes Free.
Download Free Windows 10 Antivirus | Malwarebytes

Do a full scan. Quarantine (or remove) anything that Malwarebytes detects. Restart the computer.

9. Test to see if issues remain while in safe mode? Boot to Safe Mode in Windows 11 Tutorial

I appreciate your detailed suggestions, and I also believe (without much factual basis) that it's not simply the RAM issue alone. The problem is, every time I try to follow even detailed instructions like yours, something goes wrong in the process and I don't know how to fix it. Something like "update BIOS" - I have no idea how to do that and would probably crash the whole system or accidently delete some key files. I have no idea how to do a clean boot or what that means, etc. etc.

What I need is somebody to come to my house and do all of these things, someone who knows what all of this stuff means and how to work through these steps. But I can't find that guy, or at least someone I can be confident knows what they're doing. But thanks.

CMB62 · Apr 13, 2026

Jorgen E said:
Your HDD is a bottleneck, but not making the PC act as it does (unless it’s faulty somehow)
It should be relative OK after booting/ start Windows.
CPU and RAM could be better, but again - OK for Office and browsing.
I would start with BIOS and ver./configuraton and drivers for it. Then fresh install from new 25H2 image and ONLY
necessary drivers from Dell

Thanks. How does one do a "fresh install"? What is a 25H2 image? How do I know which are the necessary drivers from Dell? This is why I need someone to do this for me. Could someone do it through remote access, or would they need to be there in person?

CMB62 · Apr 13, 2026

Fishmill said:
You chose near the bottom of the Dell barrel when you bought it....for whatever reason.

Minimum RAM; spinning hard drive rather than SSD; i3 Intel CPU rather than i5 or i7, etc.

Even if you were knowledgeable and did a good job of maintenance, you would be hindered by the spinning hard drive more than anything else.

I'd have Micro Center diagnose your issues and evaluate all of your hardware. Your current hardware is likely in good working order, but you'd likely want them to do a CLEAN INSTALL of Windows onto your new SSD. NOT merely "go through all of the crapware running".

You DON'T need to buy Windows again. Don't get talked into that.

You'd owe Micro Center for labor, any new RAM, and a new SSD.

I don't know if you are still under Dell warranty. If you are, that status might go bye-bye because of your planned alterations.

You can certainly move from 8 gb RAM to 16, but it might cost you 200 or 250 bucks. You'd most likely want them to REPLACE the 8 with a new "kit" of 16, NOT add 8 to your existing 8. You could get by with 8 RAM total, but I fear your future lack of maintenance will lead to insufficient RAM issues in the future, so I'd buy a new kit of 16 GB total (2 sticks of 8 GB each).

Tell them to preserve your data (photos, etc), but as I told you earlier in this thread, you better assume they will vaporize your data when you walk in the store. It's entirely up to you to back up your data yourself so you can reload it onto your new SSD after you take it back home IF THEY BOTCH THE JOB.

Have them diagnose and report back to you before new hardware is discussed and cost is finalized.

Be specific with them, not vague.

It's up to you to decide how large your new SSD has to be...what capacity. We don't know if your current hard drive is nearly full.

Decide yes or no if you have any use whatsoever for Microsoft's "OneDrive". Some do, some don't. If you don't, tell Microcenter you don't, so they can disable or uninstall it. It might be part of your current troubles. We don't know. It could be that OneDrive is trying to deal with your thousands of photos when you don't need it to be involved with them at all. We don't know.

Total bill for this might be 500 or more. You might at least consider starting over with a whole new PC with a stronger CPU, more RAM, and an SSD to start with, but that's likely in the 1000 plus category at current price levels. Your budget is unknown.

Thanks for the suggestions. The hard drive is less than 25% full, if I recall, so it's not that. While I've never knowingly activated or paid for OneDrive, it well might be the problem if it is somehow scanning a million photos and iTunes songs every time I turn it on. Hell, it might even be the iTunes program, which I understand Apple doesn't even want to support anymore and which operates terribly slowly on the old machine as well as the new one.

I have backed up all the photos and iTunes songs on an external hard drive, so it's no problem if they wipe the whole thing and start over with the upgraded hardware. The problem for me is reloading everything the way it was before - iTunes, Edge, Windows. I have Outlook on my work laptop, but I don't know if that means I can install it on the home PC, or how to do that - I have no idea what the product key is or even any of the passwords I used when I bought the laptop almost 10 years ago.

This the the problem for me with any kind of clean install - it's not the data I'm worried about, it's getting it all set up again so I can use it. It's unbelievably slow now, but at least I know where everything is. Once I wipe it and try to reinstall everything, who knows what will get lost or not work properly. For example, I tried to keep Windows Live Mail from the old HP machine, saving all of my personal emails, only to find it was no longer available or supported by Microsoft on the Dell machine. So I no longer have personal email capability on the new machine, at least not with Live Mail. So frustrating.

Fishmill · Apr 13, 2026

Most anything other than hardware replacement can be done remotely. But it would be on you to find and trust someone who could do it.

Dell has presumably already done that, according to your earlier posts in this thread. Without success.

We don't know at this moment what is going inside the PC or what led to your issues. What are your possible resources, since you can't do it yourself? Best Buy Geek Squad? Micro Center?

Either could do the job if half-way talented, but you are apparently reluctant.

Who else? It sounds like you want a house call. I think that would eliminate Micro Center. Geek Squad is probably hit and miss. Random 20 year old who lives and breathes PCs and spends his waking hours at your local JC computer lab?

You are in the heart of Silicon Valley. Probably dozens of people talented enough within a square mile, but can you find them? Yellow Pages? "Leroy's Computer Service"?

Even if you were magically fixed, with an SSD and more RAM, why wouldn't you be back in an unknown jam within 6 weeks or 6 months due to some combination of inattention and lack of interest/knowledge? That's even more likely if you don't change hardware. And changing your interest level and habits may be a non-starter.

You're in a tough spot if you can't live with the current situation and also can't make a leap of faith to SOMEBODY.

Not much more I could add, given all you've said since you started this thread about 4 weeks ago.

glasskuter · Apr 13, 2026

Sorry you are having so much trouble. Most of the advice you have been given includes links to written step-by-step tutorials. I understand, for a newbie, things can be quite daunting but we've all been there.

You keep calling the device "new" but that's a 10th generation machine so it's at least 5 years old. You mentioned something about copying programs from your old computer. You can not copy applications. You have to install them new. You can only copy personal files.

And yes, I can see that your issues are beyond your expertice to solve.
That leaves your only option to be, as others suggested, to find a reputable repair shop near you, even if you have to travel to a larger town. Ask your friends for recommendations. If you have a library, ask them if they know of a good repair shop.

Beware of allowing anyone you do not know remote access to the computer ,especially sites you find on the web advertising remote support. Most of them are scam artists.

Good luck.

CMB62 · Apr 14, 2026

glasskuter said:
Beware of allowing anyone you do not know remote access to the computer ,especially sites you find on the web advertising remote support. Most of them are scam artists.

Yup - exactly what I've been worried about. Which is why I've been living with this problem for a year with no resolution.

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