HP EliteBook 850 G9 Fingerprint Not Working Windows 11

The HP Pavilion 14 running slow on Windows 11 with an Intel Core i5 processor is caused by thermal throttling limiting CPU performance, too many startup programs consuming resources, or insufficient RAM for the current Windows 11 workload. I have diagnosed HP Pavilion 14 slowness on multiple units and found that 8GB of RAM on Windows 11 with a browser open alongside Teams or Zoom causes significant memory pressure that slows the system noticeably.

Why HP Pavilion 14 Intel Core i5 Is Running Slow

Thermal Throttling Reducing CPU Clock Speed

The HP Pavilion 14 is a thin laptop with limited cooling capacity. When the CPU temperature exceeds 90 to 95 degrees Celsius, Intel Thermal Throttling Protocol reduces the CPU clock speed to prevent damage. During throttling, the Core i5 CPU may run at half its normal speed, causing noticeable slowdowns during CPU-intensive tasks like video rendering, compilation, or extended browser sessions with many tabs.

Too Many Startup Programs

Windows 11 laptops accumulate startup programs over time. OneDrive sync, security software background scans, manufacturer utility updaters, and browser startup agents all consume CPU and RAM from the moment the laptop boots. On an 8GB RAM system, startup programs can occupy 2 to 3GB of RAM before any user application opens, leaving little headroom for actual work.

Windows Search Indexing Running Continuously

Windows Search builds and maintains an index of files for fast search results. On fresh Windows installations or after large file operations, the indexer runs continuously at high CPU usage for hours, causing the whole system to feel sluggish. Check Task Manager for SearchIndexer.exe using significant CPU if the laptop suddenly became slow.

Fix 1 – Disable Startup Programs

1. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Go to the Startup apps tab.
3. Review each program listed. Identify programs you do not need to start automatically.
4. Right-click unnecessary startup items and select Disable.
5. Common safe-to-disable items: OneDrive (can launch manually), Teams (can launch manually), Spotify, Discord, Skype, game launchers you rarely use.
6. Restart and measure boot time and RAM usage improvement.

Fix 2 – Check for Thermal Throttling

1. Download HWiNFO64 (free) and run it in sensor mode during a heavy task.
2. Look for CPU Package Power and CPU temperature values.
3. If temperature hits 95 degrees Celsius or CPU Throttling shows as active in HWiNFO64, throttling is the cause.
4. Clean the bottom vents with compressed air to improve cooling.
5. Use the laptop on a hard flat surface, not a bed or sofa that blocks vents.
6. Open HP Support Assistant and check for BIOS updates which may include thermal management improvements.

Fix 3 – Switch to Balanced Power Plan

1. Right-click the battery icon in the taskbar and select Power and sleep settings.
2. Set Power mode to Balanced.
3. Avoid Best performance mode for everyday tasks as it keeps CPU frequency high even during idle, generating unnecessary heat on thin laptops.

Per Nurizzati Hamid, who is a university student using an HP Pavilion 14 i5 for online classes, disabling 7 startup programs in Task Manager reduced RAM usage at boot from 5.8GB to 3.2GB, making the laptop significantly more responsive during lectures and class video calls where RAM had previously been almost completely consumed.

Fix 4 – Enable Storage Sense and Free Disk Space

Low disk space on the C: drive slows Windows 11 by reducing the space available for virtual memory (page file). Ensure at least 10 to 20 percent of C: drive is free:

1. Go to Settings, System, Storage.
2. Enable Storage Sense and click Run Storage Sense now.
3. Review the categories in the Cleanup recommendations section and delete unneeded Temporary files, Large files, and Downloads.

See Microsoft’s PC performance tips for Windows 11 for additional optimisation guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much RAM does HP Pavilion 14 Intel i5 have?

The HP Pavilion 14 i5 configurations typically come with 8GB or 16GB of RAM. 8GB is functional for light tasks but can feel limiting with modern browsers and productivity applications running simultaneously. Upgrading to 16GB (if the slot is accessible) improves multitasking performance significantly.

How do I check HP Pavilion 14 CPU temperature?

Download HWiNFO64 or Core Temp and run them in the background while using the laptop. HWiNFO64 shows CPU temperature per core and Package temperature. On the HP Pavilion 14, temperatures above 90 degrees Celsius during normal browsing indicate a cooling or thermal paste issue.

Why is HP Pavilion 14 slow only when plugged in?

Some HP Pavilion units have a power management quirk where being plugged in triggers Windows Update or antivirus background scans that run automatically when AC power is detected. Check Task Manager for high CPU processes when plugging in. Windows Update and antivirus are the most common culprits.

Can I upgrade HP Pavilion 14 RAM?

It depends on the specific model. Some Pavilion 14 configurations have one SO-DIMM slot available for upgrade, while others have soldered RAM. Check the HP Pavilion 14 service manual for your model number on the HP support page to confirm RAM upgrade options.

Conclusion

HP Pavilion 14 Intel Core i5 running slow on Windows 11 is fixed by disabling unnecessary startup programs in Task Manager, checking and resolving thermal throttling by cleaning vents and using Balanced power mode, and ensuring adequate free disk space for Windows virtual memory. Disabling startup programs is the quickest and most impactful fix for 8GB RAM systems where startup program accumulation is the most common cause of day-to-day slowness in normal use.