October 20, 2025
Tech Quizzes

Questions about optimising device performance

Questions

  1. What are the first steps to speed up a slow Windows laptop without reinstalling the OS?
  2. How can I improve battery life and performance on a mid-range Android phone?
  3. What impact do background apps and startup programs have on a computer’s performance, and how should I manage them?
  4. Why does my PC become hot and slow under load, and what can I do to reduce throttling?
  5. How can I optimize a Mac for better overall responsiveness without losing data?
  6. What role do storage health and drive type (SSD vs HDD) play in system performance, and how should I maintain them?
  7. How can I optimize gaming performance on a PC or console without sacrificing visuals too much?
  8. What are safe and effective ways to declutter and optimize apps and data on iOS and Android?
  9. How important are software updates and driver updates for performance, and what’s the best update strategy?
  10. How do you diagnose and fix performance problems caused by malware or bloatware?

Answers

  1. First steps for Windows:
  • Check for malware and run a reputable antivirus scan.
  • Update Windows, drivers, and BIOS/UEFI.
  • Disable startup programs you don’t need (Task Manager > Startup).
  • Free up disk space, run Disk Cleanup, and consider offloading or deleting unused apps.
  • Check for resource-heavy processes in Task Manager and end or adjust them.
  • Ensure enough RAM is available; consider adding more RAM if possible.
  • Use a power plan set to Balanced or High Performance, not Power Saver.
  • Turn off unnecessary visual effects (System > Advanced system settings > Performance).
  • Consider upgrading to a faster storage solution (SSD) if on HDD.
  1. Android battery and performance tips:
  • Update OS and apps; enable battery saver modes when appropriate.
  • Limit background processes for apps with high drain (Settings > Apps > Battery usage).
  • Disable animations (Developer options) and reduce screen brightness/refresh rate.
  • Use adaptive battery and adaptive brightness features.
  • Uninstall or disable bloatware and unused apps; clear cache where sensible.
  • Check for apps misbehaving or consuming wakelocks; reboot if needed.
  • If performance is poor, consider a factory reset after backing up data.
  1. Background/startup impact:
  • Many apps run background processes eating CPU, RAM, and battery.
  • Disable unnecessary startup items and background refresh for apps.
  • Use task manager/monitoring tool to identify resource hogs.
  • Consider using “Pause updates” or data sync settings for rarely used apps.
  1. Heat and throttling:
  • Clean fans/vents, improve airflow, ensure vents aren’t blocked.
  • Use a cooling pad for laptops; keep the surface cool.
  • Update BIOS/firmware to fix throttling issues and optimize power management.
  • Check for malware or background processes consuming CPU.
  • Apply fresh thermal paste if the device is old and temperatures remain high (professional service).
  • Under sustained load, lower in-game/app quality or fan profiles to reduce heat.
  1. Mac optimization:
  • Free up disk space and keep macOS updated.
  • Manage login items and resource-heavy apps (System Settings > Users & Groups > Login Items).
  • Use Activity Monitor to close heavy processes.
  • Reset NVRAM/PRAM and SMC if you notice strange behavior.
  • Keep Finder and Spotlight indexing in check; reindex if needed.
  • Consider adding RAM or upgrading storage to an SSD depending on model.
  • Run Maintenance Scripts (macOS handles this; you can force via terminal) and clear caches.
  1. Storage health and drive choice:
  • SSDs dramatically improve responsiveness; ensure TRIM is enabled.
  • Regularly monitor health using SMART data and vendor tools.
  • Keep at least 10-20% free space on SSDs for performance.
  • Defragmentation is not needed for SSDs and can shorten lifespan.
  • On HDDs, defragmentation can help; ensure you have backup in case of failure.
  • Enable automatic maintenance tasks (OS scheduling).
  1. Optimizing gaming performance:
  • Update drivers and game patches; enable appropriate graphics settings.
  • Optimize in-game settings to balance FPS with visuals (resolution, shadows, textures).
  • Use GPU scaling, V-Sync or G-Sync/FreeSync as appropriate.
  • Close background tasks; ensure power plan is set to High Performance.
  • Consider disabling overlays and background recording if not needed.
  • Ensure cooling; clean fans and ensure good airflow.
  1. Decluttering iOS and Android:
  • Uninstall unused apps; clear app caches where possible (Android).
  • Review storage usage and offload or delete large files, photos, and videos you don’t need.
  • Use cloud storage for media and app data to keep local storage free.
  • Reset app permissions to minimize background activity that isn’t needed.
  • For iOS, offload unused apps and manage iCloud storage; optimize Photos.
  1. Update strategy:
  • Keep OS and drivers current for security and performance fixes.
  • Enable automatic updates for critical security patches; test updates if you’re in a production environment.
  • For major OS upgrades, back up first and verify compatibility with key apps.
  • Monitor release notes; sometimes a minor update can fix performance bugs.
  1. Malware/bloatware fixes:
  • Run full-system malware scans with reputable software; remove detected threats.
  • Use reputable uninstallers to remove stubborn programs; reset browser settings.
  • Clean up startup items and scheduled tasks that look unfamiliar.
  • Consider a clean install if the system remains sluggish after all tunings.
  • Restore from a trusted backup if issues persist and you suspect software corruption.