Didn't know where to post this. My computer is running better now since I cleared my cache LOL, but I was wondering what other basic things I can do to keep it from slowing down too much Seems like I could get rid of a few icons on the front screen, delete Microsoft Edge (never use it) and preinstalled games. 3-4 year old Inspiron for $500 so go figure.
If it has a weak CPU, change from Ms Defender to something lighter. Otherwise there is not much else to do than what is suggested on the net.
There's not much of anything lighter than Defender. It is designed to be light on resources and typically is due to how well it is integrated with the OS. Not to mention, the suggestion is hardly helpful when no alternative is suggested. Deleting Edge is typically not recommended and may actually hinder performance of some tasks for some users. This is because the OS needs a browser for several of its own tasks. If Edge is no longer there, the OS needs to track down the alternative. The hit, if there is one, is typically negligible. But again, for some users, it is noticeable. The better solution, if you don't want to use Edge, is to simply set your preferred as the default, and don't use Edge. Sadly, you told us nothing about your computer, other than it is a 3 or 4 year old Inspiron. I recommend leaving the PF alone and just let Windows management. Contrary to what some want us to believe, Microsoft and Windows know how to manage system resources very well. Unless you are a true expert on memory management, best to leave those settings to those who truly are experts. How much free disk space do you have? What kind of drive(s)? Is Windows current? How much RAM do you have? What are your temps? Is your system clean of heat trapping dust? Do you have a bunch of programs (including auto-updaters) loading with Windows you don't regularly use? Did you dink with any default settings?
This won't make a huge difference, and some will disagree with me, but I'd encourage you to download and install Kerish Doctor (https://www.kerish.org/en-us/). Then, run a full scan under "maintenance" and then run the modules under "optimization". Then, allow KD to run and do it's thing on a daily basis and your computer should continue to sing along. While I've never had an issue with Kerish Doctor, I would encourage you to make an image backup before doing the above.
87% free disk space Windows should be current. Will double check. Inspiron 3668 12gb ram 3ghz processor Temporary files is what you're were referring to? I've just cleared the cache. I don't dink with defaults, but I'll have to look into auto updaters. Heat trapping, did you mean like taking an air can and spraying off the vents? Thanks for the recommendation to not touch anything pre-installed. Appreciate it.
That is no weak CPU so the Av is not the problem. Check background tasks, schedules and do a sfc /scannow to check that the Os is ok. When a lot happens in the background a Pc slows down over time.
Did just do the Dell update. It was previously automatically updated on Dec 2nd. It was also fragmented, but that too is set on auto I believe once per week.
It would help if you post the specs of your computer and also, open Task Manager and post the memory usage percent shown in the Processes tab.
If dust has built up and restricting air flow, then yes. But not just the vents. If left unchecked, the intake fans will pull in enough dust over time to blanket everything inside the case, including fans, heatsinks, and the heat sensitive components like memory chips and voltage regulator modules (VRM). Yes, temporary internet files and cookies. You can do this with Windows own, Disk Cleanup, or, if already installed, CCleaner. If still low on free disk space, you can uninstall programs you downloaded and installed you don't use. Other measure involve moving the Downloads and Documents folders to other drives. However, if 87% of your disk is unused, free disk space should not be the problem.
Both. For Ms you can get info from the net besides the obvious that you see can be inactivated, for own programs, your own knowledge. Defender scans now and then in the background and that can have a significant negative impact. Can be turned off and done manually instead.
If you don't have a SSD and can afford one that is probably your only real option for a speed increase. All of what has been posted are good suggestions but overall it is a lot of work to see little return.
Does turning off programs during startup STOP them permanently? I was fiddling around with them to see if my boot time is faster. It will be things like OneNote, virus, Edge etc.
"Stop" them? No. It just prevents them from loading every time you boot/reboot Windows. You can still start them manually any time you want, just as you call up your other programs. Having programs start with Windows can be a huge time saver. But any time you have programs running (even in the back ground) RAM and CPU resources are being consumed by those programs. If you have lots of RAM and a fast processor, no problem. But if not, and you have many programs starting with Windows, it can impact overall performance of your computer. Let's say you have CCleaner installed on your computer. This is a fine program, IMO. But even in my case, I don't use it every day. In fact, I might only use it once a month. So do I need an "auto-updater" for CCleaner starting with Windows, running full time, and checking for updates every hour? No! If a new update came out since the last time I ran CCleaner, I can manually check for updates next time I manually run CCleaner.
I usually do, when "tweaking" my friend so called "Market" PCs, aka dell, hp etc. Especially DELL/HP loads a lot of their own softwares during the bootup, which causes more or less tens of seconds to boot time and then CPU time, because they use memory and CPU time...for nothing. That means you can check "DELL" updates and **** like that manually. No need background running DELL processes for that. Then, disable all background processes(use cortana, write background process, and disable them all), then like @Alexhousek said it, download Keris Doc, install it (not realtime), apply updates it wants to install. Then do what alex said about Kerish Doc. After that, uninstall Kerish Doc. Then dowload o&o shuttup, apply recommended tweaks of it, apply, and reboot.
I honestly do not get, what makes PC slow/fast? I have just bought a cheap laptop with 1.1GHz CPU and it is faster than my desktop PC with 3,2GHz and NVMe?! Defender can bring any PC to it's knees, it is the first thing I disable, I hate icons loading one by one.
That, of course is nonsense. Especially with an updated W10 and W11. Any security program can bog down a computer. There certainly are several much worse than defender. It is biased, unfounded comments like that, frankly, destroy threads. As far as your cheap laptop you just bought being faster than your PC, it is probably due to dinking with your PC, changing the defaults so much because you believe you know what's better for our systems than all the PhDs, computer scientist, and professional developers at Microsoft. The fact you say disabling something is the first thing you do suggest you are stuck in ancient history when it comes to modern operating systems. But, this thread is not about you or your computers.
Is it me or anyone can feel the above comment quite harsh and aggressive? I do disable MS Defender as well and can notice the difference too!
It is. Why? Because it is just another opportunistic bash at Microsoft and their products. There is no evidence whatsoever that Defender is the OPs problem here. If someone does not like Defender, fine. But why not simply say that? Why totally exaggerate an issue (that 100s of millions of users are NOT experiencing) by claiming it "can bring any computer to it's knees"? Total nonsense.
@TairikuOkami wrote "it can bring..." not "it brings..." or "it always brings..." or "it for sure brings..." A possibility nothing for sure. No there's no evidence currently but if OP experiments then there could be evidence. If a software deserves bashing whatever the maker is then one is entitled to do it. IMHO. Happy Holidays @Bill_Bright
I know what he said, Mr. X. I quoted it. The OP never even said he's using Defender. It's a factory built Dell. It could have easily come with Norton or McAfee preinstalled that he is still using - those two, among many others, have been known to bog systems down. Why not say that about Norton? McAfee? Or AVG? Malwarebytes? Or better yet, simply say, many antimalware programs have been known to bog systems down? But no. It was "Defender" and "to its knees." To be sure, contrary to what I am sure some will think, this is not me defending Defender. I don't really care what security folks use as long as they use a decent program, keep it and the OS current, and they avoid risky behavior, like being click-happy on every unsolicited link they see. This is just me trying to ensure the OP and other readers are getting unbiased, and helpful and true facts in order to solve their problems. Now in the spirit of the holidays, Peace! And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all too.
MS Defender used to slow down some machines in the past including mine, Not anymore especially with fast computers. If I disable Defender, there is absolutely no change in speed with my machine. Conflicts with other security software could cause a general slowdown.
Ms Defender still slows down pc:s and there is a whole net filled with testimonies to that: https://www.google.com/search?q=Ms ...ome..69i57.14483j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 I have an older pc that is not existing according to you and Mr Bill_Bright, it gets slow with Ms Defender. Especially over time. I help people now and then that experience the same thing. A couple of days ago i had a conversation with a guy who does support for his mothers classes, he inactivates Defender for hear because she uses cheap and weak pc:s that are slow. With Defender, they become painfully so! There are billions of pc:s in the world and to say, in a conclusive way, that none slows down by Defender, especially after reading a bit from the above link. is just a silly behavoiur.
