When trouble strikes, it’s easy to forget the basics. Before you seek help, try to resolve the problem yourself.

Close apps you’re not using. That will keep them not straining system resources.

Restart. This will clear out digital detritus (such as temporary files) and free up system memory and other resources.

Enter your problem into a search engine. You might find a quick fix at a user forum or an expert site. In some cases you can post a problem to get feedback from other users.

If a virus scan is running, pause it until you’re finished working. Scans hog system resources, slowing everything down. Set auto scans for times you’re not using the computer. Don’t skip antivirus software entirely, because malware can really mess with your system. Also set Windows for automatic updates so that you get the latest security patches.

Still no luck? Restore your system. Use the built-in utilities on your Windows PC or Mac. Unlike a full factory restore, that won’t erase all of your files and require you to reinstall apps.