6 Quick Ways to Clear RAM on Your Windows 10 PC. RAM(Random-Access Memory) is an essential component of the computer, which is located in the motherboard of the PC. It is the place where the computer stores the short term data for quick access and use. With the help of RAM, the computer can execute tasks faster.
In Windows search, type disk cleanup. Select Disk Cleanup from the results. If you are using Windows 8, do the following: From the Start screen, type cleanmgr to open the Search charm. If you see in the Memory section of the Resouce Monitor then you’ll find a Modified section for Memory in the display. So, if you want to clear such memory then you got to use this command.
Anyone who regularly works with a computer and has to deal with software which requires a lot of processing power knows how important powerful hardware is. Most people immediately think of the processor or graphics card (especially when the focus is on image and video editing). However, the main memory is also of fundamental importance for the smooth operation of the system and other software. This memory is required by the processor to manage the data of running programs and services or processes. The capacity of the main memory has a decisive influence on how many applications can be loaded simultaneously and how quickly data can be processed.
In principle, the more memory, the better. However, since the costs also play a role and the RAM memory cannot be expanded, many people use a fairly simple trick when the memory reaches its limits - deleting processes that are no longer required from the cache, and creating space for the data that is relevant for your current activities. This increasing your RAM. So all you do is clear the RAM or free it up.
Random access memory (RAM) is an important and fast type of short-term storage your computer uses to hold data that is in-use. This short-term storage is used for whatever applications your computer is running, such as browsing or word processing. RAM clears when you shut down your computer. This document, titled « How to Clean Virtual Memory of a PC? », is available under the Creative Commons license. Any copy, reuse, or modification of the content should be sufficiently credited to CCM.
- Free up your RAM – here’s how
What is the function of the main memory?
The main memory, also called RAM memory, is the central storage unit for all data that is required for programs or program parts that are currently running and for all active system processes. This memory, whose data is automatically lost when the computer is switched off, is accessed directly by the processor. If there is not enough memory available to process the relevant data during such an access attempt, the execution of the respective application will not work. The more processes take place simultaneously and the higher the system requirements of the executed programs, the more important a high capacity RAM becomes.
Which factors are vital for an efficient RAM?
The performance of the main memory is affected by the following three factors:
- Access speed: time required for successful access (write or read operation)
- Data transfer rate: a value that indicates the amount of data that can be transferred in a given time
- Memory capacity: available RAM
These three things are essential for the efficiency of the main memory in managing processes to be executed. Capacity is of particular importance, as it sets a strict limit to the storage capacity. For example, if an application requires 2 gigabytes and another 3 gigabytes of memory over a longer time, both cannot run simultaneously if only 4 gigabytes of memory are available. However, when it comes to processing a large number of temporary processes, access speed and data transfer rate come into play. The faster the individual data is processed and then disappears from the main memory, the faster space is freed up from the RAM for new processes.
Why is it a good idea to clear your RAM? And when should you do this?
A slow PC can be frustrating, especially when you need to problem solve and use your computer quickly. An ever decreasing performance of the computer is often connected with straining the RAM. On the one hand, it is already automatically occupied by the operating system and system processes, on the other hand, it gets a bit fuller with every open program. Often it is of little use to close programs again. The latter is due to the fact that all files are rarely deleted from memory when you close an application. In addition, there are programs and processes that are active but not actually needed. For the above reasons, it may be advisable to clear the RAM if your computer shows signs of a significant decrease in performance
Free up your RAM – here’s how
Even if you are unsure whether your computer's memory is actually too full, you can try and free it up anyway. This way you’re only pre-empting an operation that would be performed automatically when you turn off your computer (but save the files you are working on so that your work results are not lost). In general, you have three different options for clearing your RAM manually:
- Empty the working memory via the task manager of your system
- Write a script that releases used memory
- Use an external tool that has a function for emptying RAM memory
The following sections explain what you need to do in detail.
To clear the RAM in Windows 7, 8, and 10 via the task manager
The task manager has long been an established feature in Windows systems. The background service lists running applications, services, and processes and also provides an overview of CPU and memory usage. Opening the Windows service works across all Windows versions by pressing the key combination[Ctrl] +[Shift] +[Esc]. Press these three buttons simultaneously to open the interface. Alternatively, you can also use the Windows search: Simply enter the term “Task Manager” and then click on “View running processes with Task Manager.”
To use the task manager to empty the working memory under Windows 7 and other versions select the “processes” tab:
Now go through the list of active processes and search for those that you do not need – for example, because you have already closed the program. Select the corresponding processes with a left or right click and press “end task” to close them permanently and clean up the working memory piece by piece.
Empty memory via script: the necessary steps
An interesting alternative to memory management via the task manager is to write a script that frees up a specified amount of RAM when it is executed. That sounds like a complex task at first glance – but you don't need any programming experience. A small entry in a simple text document created for this purpose is completely sufficient. To create a script to clear the RAM, proceed as follows:
Create a new text document by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting “new” and “text document” in the pop-up menu:
Open the created document and insert the following line of text:
Then save the file under the desired name. Make sure that ANSI is set as the encoding form if the editor offers an appropriate option. The last step is to replace the default extension .txt with the extension .vbs. Only in this way can Windows determine that the file is a script.
You can now execute the script simply by double-clicking it. The code proposed here automatically releases 32 megabytes of main memory, and this process can be repeated as often as required. Of course you can also adjust the amount and empty 128 megabytes (“Space(128000000)”). However, the value should never exceed half of the built-in memory size – otherwise there is a risk of program errors or even system crashes.
How to clear RAM with external tools
If you want to use an external solution instead of the system-internal possibilities for memory cleaning, this is also possible without problems: there are various programs that were developed especially for this purpose and are mostly freeware. One of the most popular tools of this kind is Wise Memory Optimiser. The program by the developer company WiseCleaner is completely free of charge and available for all current Windows systems. After you install and start Wise Memory Optimizer, you will be taken to the main screen of the application, which displays both the occupied and free memory. With a single click on “Optimize Now” you can use the tool to empty the memory under Windows XP up to 10.
Under the tab “settings” (the gear symbol), you can activate auto-optimization. Use the slider to specify how much should be cleared from the RAM automatically (for example, if less than 1280 MB is free, then the RAM should be optimized).
As an alternative to Wise Memory Optimizer, you can also use the tools RAMRush or Mz RAM Booster to clear your RAM.
If your Lenovo laptop running slow in Windows 10, try the seven useful solutions on this page to work out.
| Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| Fix 1. Clean out the dust | Your Lenovo laptop running slow on Windows 10 may result from heavy dust in fan and heat sink...Full steps |
| Fix 2. Check memory usage | Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then select Task Manager. In Task Manager, select the 'Performance'...Full steps |
| Fix 3. Free up disk space | To speed up your Lenovo laptop, you can clean your computer for more space and increase C drive...Full steps |
| Fix 4. Disable unnecessary startup | You can disable some programs in Startup so they don't run when your PC starts and speed up...Full steps |
| Fix 5. More useful solutions | Run antivirus software, upgrade RAM, upgrade HDD to SSD, disable Windows 10 automatic update...Full steps |
Lenovo IdeaPad 330 Running Very Slow on Windows 10
'My Lenovo IdeaPad 330 (256GB SSD, 8GB ram) was very slow and laggy. I have some trouble logging in - I have to force shut down at the time. Later the Chrome and Adobe crashed and were unresponsive for a while. I ran Malwarebytes, and then Avast and no viruses were detected. My laptop is still slow. What's the matter with it? How can I make it faster and gain better performance of it?'
Why Is My Lenovo Laptop So Slow
The possible causes may vary, and it's hard to list all the reasons without a deeper diagnosis. Nevertheless, most of the possible reasons that cause Lenovo laptop slow fall into the following categories:
- The dust inside your laptop
- Malware or virus infection
- Very slow startup
- Low disk space
- Outdated or failing hardware
- Windows update problems
Effective Solutions to Lenovo Laptop Running Slow Windows 10
Before you take actions, you can make some quick fixes:
- Make sure that you've tried to restart the laptop several times if the 'slow boot time' happened for the first time.
- Make sure you have all the latest Windows updates installed on the laptop. If you are on the Internet when your Lenovo laptop is slow, make sure all browser plugins are up-to-date.
If these brief fixes don't work, try the following advanced workarounds one by one to solve the Lenovo laptop running slow problem beautifully.
Method 1. Clean Out the Dust
Your Lenovo laptop running slow Windows 10 may result from heavy dust in fan and heat sink. Tiny dust has a small impact on computer performance. Still, if your laptop collects a lot of dust, it will affect the computer's ability to cool itself, which may affect system performance and running speed.
In this case, you use a screwdriver or something like that to open your laptop correctly, then use a vacuum cleaner or a can of compressed air to blow the dust off the vents.
Method 2. Check Memory and Memory Usage
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then select Task Manager. In Task Manager, select the 'Performance' tab > 'Memory'.
First, see how much you have total, and then check the graph and see how much RAM is being used.
Here's some info about the minimum memory requirements for Windows 10:
- Windows 10 (32-bit) can run on a PC with 1 GB of RAM, but it runs better with 2 GB. For better performance, add memory, so you have 3 GB or more.
- Windows 10 (64-bit) can run on a PC with 2 GB of RAM, but it runs better with 4 GB. For better performance, add memory, so you have 6 GB or more.
You can open Resource Monitor to end some process to free up some memory space. Right-click the process and click end process.
Method 3. Free Up Space and Increase C Drive to Speed Up Lenovo Laptop
If the hard drive or the system drive of your Lenovo laptop is nearly full, it will definitely lag. You can check for low disk space on your computer and improve performance by freeing disk space or increasing the C drive.
How to check for low disk space and clean up the disk drive
To check for low disk space:
- Select the Start button, and then select 'Settings' > 'System' > 'Storage'.
- Under Storage, your drives will be listed. Note the amount of free space and total size for each drive.
If there are a few or even no free space on your hard drive caused by tons of useless junk files, temporary files (Automatically delete Temp files), large files, or dozens of third-party applications, how to clean them up? Well, it's natural for you to start manually checking the files and programs stored on the PC. But, that can be way too time intensive.
EaseUS Partition Master, the partition software, comes with quicker and easier ways to solve the Lenovo laptop running slow problem effectively.
How to increase C drive to speed up Lenovo laptop windows 10
Except for the system optimization function, EaseUS Partition Master is an ultimate partition manager, which enables you to resize/move partitions, wipe data, clone, merge, create, format, and delete a partition. What's more, an advanced disk/partition conversion function is also available for you to convert FAT to NTFS, MBR disk to GPT, or GPT disk to MBR. Now, let's see how to use this tool to increase the C drive on your Lenovo laptop to improve performance.
Option 1. Extend System C drive with unallocated space
- 1. Right-click on the System C: drive and select 'Resize/Move'.
- 2. Drag the system partition end into the unallocated space so to add it to the C: drive. And click 'OK'.
- 3. Click 'Execute Operation' and 'Apply' to execute the operations and extend the C drive.
Option 2. Extend System C drive without unallocated space
- 1. Right-click a big partition with enough free space on the system disk, select 'Allocate Space'.
- 2. Select the system drive at the Allocate Space From (*) To section, and drag the end of System C drive into the unallocated space. Click 'OK' to confirm.
- 3. Click 'Execute Operation', it will list the pending operations, and click 'Apply' to save the changes and extend the C drive.
A Solid State Drive runs much faster than that of a Hard Disk Drive when it comes to choosing a boot drive for Windows computers. If you're tired of waiting too long to boot up Windows OS on your HP PCs, why not invest in an SSD? Use the best hard drive duplicator software to upgrade HDD to SSD without reinstalling Windows.
Method 4. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs
When you turn on your PC, some programs start automatically and run in the background. You can disable these programs, so they don't run when your PC starts.
How To Clear Ram On A Laptop
Many programs are designed to start automatically when Windows does. Software manufacturers often set their programs to open in the background - you don't realize they're running, but they'll open quickly when you go to use them. This is helpful for programs you use a lot, but not for programs you don't often use because it increases the time it takes Windows to start.
- Select the Start button, and then select 'Settings' > 'Apps' > 'Startup'.
- Under Startup Apps, find the program you want to stop from starting automatically and set it to Off.
Method 5. Make Sure Your Lenovo Is Free of Malware
A virus, malware, or malicious software could cause your Lenovo laptop to slow. The best way to handle viruses and malicious software is to try to prevent them by running antimalware and antivirus software and keeping it up to date.
You can scan your PC for viruses or other malicious software by using Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender Security Center), which is included in Windows 10. Or you can apply other well-known antivirus software, such as Avast, AVG, Avira, Kaspersky, etc.
Method 6. Upgrade Hardware
The most effective way to solve this problem is by upgrading hardware for a real performance boost.
Upgrade RAM
If your Lenovo laptop runs very slowly when you are doing design work, such as photo editing, video making, 3D modeling, or other similar things with large software, consider adding more RAM (random-access memory). RAM upgrades can speed up Lenovo laptop, and you'll experience fewer system freezes or hangs.
Upgrade to SSD
An SSD has access speeds of 35 to 100 microseconds, which is nearly 100 times faster than a traditional HDD. Replacing your Lenovo's spinning hard drive with a new SSD is almost a solution that promises to improve your Lenovo performance and fix the running slow issue. How to migrate OS from HDD to SSD? Use EaseUS Partition Master Professional again and follow the step-by-step guides below to upgrade your Lenovo to SSD.
Steps to migrate OS to HDD/SSD:
- Run EaseUS Partition Master, select Migrate OS from the top menu.
- Select the SSD or HDD as the destination disk and click Next.
- Check Warning: the data and partitions on the target disk will be deleted. Make sure that you've backed up important data in advance. If not, do it now.
- Then click Continue.
- Preview the layout of your target disk. Then click Proceed to start migrating your OS to a new disk
Note: The operation of migrating OS to SSD or HDD will delete and remove existing partitions and data on your target disk when there is not enough unallocated space on the target disk. If you saved important data there, back up them to an external hard drive in advance.
Method 7. Disable Windows 10 Automatic Update
Don't ignore one truth. Each Windows 10 update causes problems. Even you've tried all the recommended solutions above; it's still necessary to consider a permanent close for Windows 10 automatic update.
It is indeed very annoying to be faced with the automatic Windows 10 Update. Disable the automatic update in every way now.
If your Lenovo laptop is still running slow after you have tried all of the solutions above, you can also ask us for help directly.
To Sum Up
We hope the seven approaches in this article can help you solve the Lenovo laptop running slow problem in Windows 10. Whether your laptop is Lenovo IdeaPad 330, 330s, 320(s), or s145, you can try out with these effective methods. If any tricky comes up and you can't solve it, you can contact our technical support team for help via live chat or email.
Lenovo Laptop Slow FAQs
1. Why is my laptop so slow?
Here are some possible reasons that cause Lenovo laptop slow:
- The dust inside your laptop.
- Hard drive's performance reduction.
- Low disk space.
- Antivirus software may cause your Lenovo laptop running slow.
- Windows 10 update may also cause your PC to run slow.
2. How do I speed up my Lenovo laptop Windows 10?
How to speed up Lenovo laptop Windows 10:
- Disable startup apps
- Disable background apps
- Uninstall non-essential third-party apps
- Clean up hard drive space
- Run defragmentation tool
- Enable ReadyBoost
- Upgrade hardware
- Run antivirus software
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3. How can I improve the performance of my Lenovo laptop?
Tips to improve PC performance in Windows 10:
- Make sure you have the latest updates for Windows and device drivers
- Restart your PC and open only the apps you need
- Use ReadyBoost to help improve performance
- Check for low disk space and free up disk space
- Stop OneDrive syncing
- Disable unnecessary startup programs
- Check for and remove viruses and malware
- Restore your PC from a system restore point
4. How do I clear the memory on my Lenovo laptop?
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To clear the RAM on your Lenovo laptop, you need to open the back cover of the laptop, locate and remove the RAM modules to clean it up. Bur if you are not familiar with computers, we do not recommend that you clear the memory yourself. You can ask a computer professional for help, or take your laptop to the after-sales center for cleaning.