I recently ran into a very annoying issue while using Microsoft Word on my Windows computer.
First, it’s a pretty fast machine, and I kind of figured it wasn’t a hardware issue when I saw that there was a delay between typing characters on the keyboard and displaying characters on the screen. Sometimes there was no delay, but accidentally the delay increased to a second or even a few seconds!
I was pretty sure it had nothing to do with the processing power of the machine, because this is a Core i5 laptop! After a lot of research, I finally managed to figure out what the problem was, and now I no longer have a delay between typing and the appearance of characters on the screen. However, depending on your system, you may or may not be able to fix the problem.
In this article, I will try to go over all the reasons you might have this problem and how to fix it, if possible.
Hardware – graphics card
Even if you have a fast processor, the lag between the keyboard and the screen can be caused by the integrated graphics card. Integrated graphics are much less expensive than dedicated graphics cards and can be a bottleneck when translating text on screen to words.
This is especially true if you are typing very fast, i.e. 40+ words per minute. If you didn’t have this problem before, but now it suddenly appeared, then it’s probably not a video card problem, so keep reading.
However, it is still recommended that you download the latest driver for your graphics card in case there is a hotfix that solves your problem. Most driver updates fix bugs or make things more efficient.
Hardware – memory unit
Although it is rare, if you have a faulty memory module or a memory module that is not installed properly, one of the manifestations of this could be delayed typing. If you know how to test your memory, it would be a good idea to take out the chips and insert them one by one and see if that matters.
You can also run memory diagnostics on your computer using a free program called Memtest86. You can download it here:
http: //www.memtest.org/
Software – lack of resources
Another major culprit is simply a lack of system resources. It doesn’t matter how much memory or how fast your processor is, if all the RAM is in use and the CPU is running at 100%, you will see lag not only when typing, but also when performing normal computer activities.
On a Windows computer, open Task Manager by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC.
Go to the Performance tab and you will see several graphs of CPU and memory usage. Make sure the stripes are not completely green, which means full use.
If you see that your CPU usage is consistently over 50%, then you need to identify which programs are causing the spike and either uninstall them or disable them.
It can also be caused by systems that have a lot of malware installed or viruses. If you suspect any type of infection on your computer, try cleaning your system first.
Finally, make sure you disable any CPU intensive programs like anti-virus software. Often times, antivirus software can go crazy and start scanning everything under the sun, and this can really slow down your system. If your antivirus is running, try disabling it and see if the delay in typing goes away.
Software – Clean Boot
If you have determined that it has something to do with Windows, then the next step is to perform a clean boot. A clean boot basically disables all startup items and all third-party services and then starts the computer. You can read step-by-step instructions on performing a clean boot here:
http: //support.microsoft.com/kb/929135
If you find that there is no input lag after a clean boot, then the problem is either with the service or with the launcher. You will need to follow the instructions to enable items one by one to figure out which particular process or service is slowing down the system.
It takes a little time, but it is better than reinstalling Windows.
If you have a computer from HP or Dell, it’s probably full of bells and whistles. If you have the time, patience, and knowledge, it might be a good idea to simply perform a clean install of Windows You can also delete and delete all these unnecessary things, but they usually remain in your registry.
Both WiFi and LAN enabled
It has also been confirmed that this issue can occur if both Wi-Fi and LAN are enabled on your Windows PC. Disconnect one network connection, then restart and see if the problem goes away.
Other cases
– Make sure you have no free space on your hard drive. If you are low on hard disk space, use a program like CCleaner to delete temporary files, etc. Uninstall some programs to free up space.
– Update all drivers on your computer. Some people said that updating their graphics card and other hardware drivers fixed the problem. If you are using any custom keyboard, make sure you download the latest driver for it.
– If you are using a wireless keyboard, try a keyboard that connects directly to your computer and see if the problem goes away. This could be a wireless keyboard issue.
– If you are using a laptop and are experiencing lag, try removing the battery and see if the lag goes away when typing. Oddly enough, some people say the problem is solved by removing the battery.
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