Lenovo Thinkpad L440 Is Operating Slowly

If your Lenovo Thinkpad L440 is operating slower than expected, follow this troubleshooting guide.

Running too many applications while using your computer can cause it to operate at a slower rate than normal. There are several ways you can minimize the amount of tabs or applications open on your ThinkPad to allow for faster processing speeds.

• Going to the “Start” tab on the taskbar and typing in “Task Manager” into the search bar will show you all the current applications your device is using.
• You may view the memory of the ThinkPad and click “End task” for any programs that are using too much Random Access Memory (RAM) in the Task Manager.
• This may increase the rate at which your device runs by eliminating unnecessary background applications.
• Another way to see how many applications your device is currently running is by clicking the “^” arrow in the task bar near the Wi-Fi and battery settings.
• By right clicking any of these programs, you can hit “Exit” or “Quit” to terminate any applications you are not currently using.

Sometimes the device can be infected with malware which can cause the device to operate slower than normal. In order to prevent this, you can follow one of these steps

• Downloading antivirus software such as Norton Internet Security, McAfee VirusScan, and Symantec AntiVirus that can scan your device for malware and quarantine them to prevent them from infecting your device.
• Running annual scans with antivirus software can help prevent malware.
• Checking your operating system to make sure your software is up to date so that it has the latest security patches and applying automatic updates will ensure you are always up to date. Make sure to back up your files beforehand in case the update fails to properly update your system.
• Turning on the Windows Firewall can also help to prevent malware from infecting your computer. To turn it on follow these steps:
  1. Go to the control panel on your computer.
  2. Navigate to system and security in the control panel.
  3. Under system and security click on open Windows Firewall.
  4. Click "Turn on Windows Firewall" and ensure that it is on for both public and private networks.
  5. Click on the checkbox to notify when Windows Firewall blocks a new app, so you know what app gets blocked.
• To prevent getting malware in the first place, avoid opening unsolicited emails and email attachments and always delete them so you don’t accidentally click them.

As more and more of the computer’s storage space is used by applications, documents and other files, a computer can see a notable decrease in its performance. It is recommended to remove unused programs and files to save on space. This is especially imperative if your device does not have an additional drive for extra storage. In this case, all files will be stored on the C Drive, taking up valuable space where important system files are kept. Below are three ways of improving operating speed by freeing up computer space.

This can be done in two ways, through the Control Panel or through Settings. These two methods can find different installed programs that the other one may not be able to view so it is important to check both for unused applications.

Control Panel Method

1. Begin by clicking on the windows icon and searching for the Control Panel.
2. Then click on "Programs," clicking then on "Programs and Features." This should bring you to a list of applications on your computer.
3. Right click on a program and click "Uninstall."

Settings Method 

1. Begin by clicking on the windows icon and searching for Settings.
2. Then click on the search bar in settings and look up "Add or remove programs." This should take you to a list of apps installed.
3. On the right side of each program bar there should be three dots. Click on this icon then choose "Uninstall."

1. Begin the process of using Disk Cleanup by clicking the Start button.
2. In the search box, look up "Disk Cleanup" and click on it when it appears.
3. Select which drive you want to clean if prompted to.
4. Then select "Clean up system files" in the description section.
5. Check boxes for the type of files you want to delete on the left-hand side of the application name. A good idea would be to remove data from previous installations of Windows. This can be done by selecting the Previous Windows installations check box.
6. A message should then appear, and you will then select "Delete files."
7. Refresh the file explorer in the drive you cleaned to see the result.

1. Begin by closing all applications then continue on only after all applications have been closed.
2. Press the keys Windows icon key and R together. This should bring up a popup, type "%temp%" inside the text bar.
3. Inside the temp folder hold shift and click on the first and last file in the folder. This will delete all the files possible. You may receive an error stating that some files cannot be deleted. If this happens do not try to delete these files and ignore them.

Keeping your ThinkPad up to date on the latest software is important towards the upkeep of your device. Running an old version of Windows can cause delays in processing speeds and prevent your ThinkPad from operating efficiently. To check if your device’s software is up to date:

1. Click the “Start” icon in the task bar, then type “Settings” into the search bar.
2. On the left-hand side of the settings app, select “Windows Update.”
3. Once you have clicked that tab, it will display “You’re up to date” if your software is running the most current version of Windows.
4. You may also click the “Check for updates” button to ensure that there are no new updates you may need to install.
5. If there is an update needed, there will be a button that displays either “Restart now” or “Download & install” with the name of the version of Windows to be installed.

Overheating can be caused by either internal or external factors. Increased fan noise, as well as the device being hot to the touch, can be some signs of overheating.

If you are using the computer on your lap for an extended period of time, especially while charging, this can restrict airflow to the device, causing it to overheat.

• Remove the device from the affected area, and place it on a hard, flat surface so the feet are elevated, and proper air flow can be restored.

If your screen is too bright for an extended period of time, this can cause the computer to overheat due to the increased amount of power needed to keep the brightness high.

• Look down at the keyboard and press the button that has the brightness icon printed on it (This may be F4, F5, or F6) with a minus "-" in order to lower the brightness of your screen.

Alternatively, to prevent this issue in the future, Windows 10 offers a feature called Adaptive Brightness that will automatically change your brightness based on current lighting conditions. To turn on this feature,

1. Navigate to the Settings menu.
2. Then click “System” on the left side.
3. Then click “Display.”
4. Select the “Brightness” option.
5. Check the box next to “Change brightness automatically when light changes.”

It is important to keep your device up to date as older software can cause overheating. Consult the System Updates tab to see how you can update your device. ⏎

Internally, the CPU can be overworked if too many applications are drawing significant power. This will also cause it to overheat.

• Consult the Background Applications tab to see how you can remove applications that are not needed.

Alternatively, consult the Malware tab as malware can also cause strain on the CPU.