Pc being very very slow after reinstall

Key Observations​

1. High SSD Usage: Your SSD is consistently spiking between 50% to 100% usage, which is a clear indicator of a potential issue within Windows. This can occur due to:
   • Background processes or services consuming excessive resources.
   • Disk indexing or system updates running in the background.
   • Corrupted system files or drivers.
2. Previous Experiments with Linux: Running rf -rm / was an extreme action that likely resulted in deleting all data on that partition, including any potential boot files for Windows. The complete removal of partitions during a reinstall can sometimes cause the system to misidentify or inefficiently use the SSD.
3. Ubuntu Performance: The fact that Ubuntu is performing well suggests that the hardware is functioning correctly, and the issue seems specific to the Windows installation.

Steps to Diagnose and Resolve the Issue​

1. Check Task Manager:
   • Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check the Processes tab to see which processes are using the most disk resources. Look for any unusual suspects that may be causing high disk activity.
2. Disable Windows Search Indexing:
   • Search for "Indexing Options" in the Windows search bar, access it, and temporarily disable indexing for your drives. This can sometimes alleviate unnecessary disk usage.
3. Check for Malware:
   • Run a complete scan with Windows Defender or any other trusted antivirus software to ensure that malware isn't the cause of the problem.
4. Update Drivers:
   • Make sure that all of your device drivers, especially the SSD and chipset drivers, are updated. Head over to the Asus support page for your TUF Gaming A15 to check for the latest drivers.
5. Run DISM and SFC Scans:
   • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following commands to check and repair system files:
     
     Code:

      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
     sfc /scannow

6. SSD Firmware Update:
   • Check if there's a firmware update available for your SSD. Sometimes manufacturers release updates that can improve performance.
7. Consider a Fresh Install:
   • Since you've already attempted this, make sure you are performing the install with the latest Windows ISO from Microsoft's website. This ensures that no legacy files are left behind.
8. Check Unnecessary Startup Programs:
   • Go to the Startup tab in Task Manager and disable any programs that aren't needed at launch. Reducing the number of programs that run at startup can significantly improve performance.

Final Note​