SSD and RAM upgrades, and clean Windows reinstalls. Often the cheapest way to make a slow computer usable again.
Most of the slow computers I see aren't worn out. They're held back by one part, and nine times out of ten it's the drive. A PC or laptop that still runs on a spinning hard drive in 2026 takes minutes to boot and stalls every time it opens a program, however decent the rest of it is.
Swapping that drive for an SSD is the biggest single change you can make to an older machine. Windows, your programs and your files get copied across, so it comes back looking exactly as it did. It just stops making you wait.
If it's already got an SSD, the next suspect is memory. 4GB isn't enough for Windows 11 and a browser with a handful of tabs open any more, and 8GB is starting to feel tight. Adding RAM is a quick job on most desktops, and on laptops that still have a memory slot.
Sometimes the hardware's fine and Windows is the problem. Years of leftover software, things starting up that you never asked for, an install that's been upgraded over the top of itself three times. A clean reinstall clears the lot out.
Replaces an old hard drive, or a small SSD that's always full. Windows, programs and files copied across, so nothing needs setting up again.
More memory for machines that crawl with a few things open. I check exactly what your motherboard takes before ordering anything.
A clean install of Windows, with your files backed up first and put back afterwards. For machines that are slow despite decent hardware.
A second drive for photos, music or games, without touching the one Windows is on. Most desktops have room for one.
Fitting a new card, and checking the power supply can actually run it first. Building a gaming PC? See gaming PC repair and builds.
Moving from Windows 10 to 11 on hardware that supports it, with a compatibility check first so you know where you stand.
An upgrade is worth doing when the rest of the machine is still up to the job. A desktop or laptop from the last eight or so years with an Intel i5 or Ryzen 5 will usually feel quick again with an SSD and 16GB of RAM. For browsing, email, photos and office work, that's most of what a budget new machine would give you.
It's not worth it when the processor itself is the bottleneck, or when a laptop has its memory soldered to the board with no slot to add more. A lot of thin laptops are built that way now. An SSD still helps on a machine like that, but it won't fix everything, and I'll tell you so before you spend anything.
Windows 11 is the other thing to check. Plenty of older PCs don't meet its requirements, and the free extended security updates for Windows 10 run out in October 2026. Upgrading a machine that can't run Windows 11 can still make sense if it's only used for a few things, but you should know that going in. My Windows 10 end-of-life guide explains the options.
If you're weighing it up more generally, I've written about whether an old PC is worth upgrading and when to repair and when to replace.
Send me the make and model (a photo of the sticker underneath is perfect) and tell me what's annoying you about it. From that I can usually work out what's inside, what's worth doing, and what isn't. You get an estimate by message or over the phone.
SSD and memory prices move about, so the estimate is checked against what the parts cost at the time. If it turns out the machine needs more than we talked about once I've seen it, you hear the new price first. Nothing extra goes in without a yes from you.
With the part in hand, most upgrades are done the same day. If something has to be ordered it's usually one to three days. Drop it off at mine in Laffak or I can come to you, whichever is easier.
No. The old drive is copied to the new one, so Windows, your programs and your files come across as they were. If the old drive is failing and won't copy cleanly, I'll tell you before going any further and get your files off it first. You can keep the old drive afterwards if you want it.
For browsing, email and office work on Windows 11, 8GB will do and 16GB is comfortable. 4GB struggles. Gaming, photo editing, or living with twenty browser tabs open all benefit from 16GB or more. There's more on this in my guide to what PC specs you actually need.
Nearly every laptop can take a new SSD. Memory depends on the model: some have slots, some have it soldered to the board, and some have a bit of both. Send me the model number and I'll check before you spend anything.
For a machine that's a few years old and otherwise healthy, upgrading costs a fraction of a new one and keeps everything set up the way you like it. For something much older, or a laptop with soldered memory and a slow processor, new can be the better buy. I'd rather tell you that than sell you an upgrade that disappoints.
Usually the same day once I've got the part. If it needs ordering, one to three days. A Windows reinstall takes a little longer than a drive swap, because your files and programs need putting back.
Send me the make and model on WhatsApp, or give me a ring, and I'll tell you what's worth doing.
★★★★★"Mark took my very old and very slow laptop last minute and fixed it so it's good as new again! Highly recommend"
— Sophie Fox, via Google
★★★★★"Mark provided a quick and professional service getting my computer back to its original fast speed. Look no further if you need a computer expert."
— Philip Burrows, via Google