Why do computers get slower over time?
phuschnickens
Beverly Hills, Michigan Member
I feel guilty even asking this question because I know it's been asked billions of times. I've seen the obvious answers but applied those practices with poor results. I'd like to hear from icrontians.
I do some work on people's computers... often it is because they complain that they're computer is running slower than it used to.
The first thing I do is check for signs of malware and do any removal necessary. Next I turn off startup programs using msconfig. I do any memory upgrades I deem necessary/possible. Windows updates. I try to trade out any bloat programs for less hungry alternatives.
What else can I do? I sometimes feel like after I try the same things on the same customer's computer a few times in the same year that eventually all I can say is, "I don't know why it's slower than it used to be... just get a new one". Please help.
I do some work on people's computers... often it is because they complain that they're computer is running slower than it used to.
The first thing I do is check for signs of malware and do any removal necessary. Next I turn off startup programs using msconfig. I do any memory upgrades I deem necessary/possible. Windows updates. I try to trade out any bloat programs for less hungry alternatives.
What else can I do? I sometimes feel like after I try the same things on the same customer's computer a few times in the same year that eventually all I can say is, "I don't know why it's slower than it used to be... just get a new one". Please help.
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Again, I know this is probably one of the most asked tech related questions but I guess I'm basically asking "what would you tell your customer?"
I'm seriously inclined to say "Computers get slow as operating systems and the software they run continue to bloat with updates. The expectation that software companies had of this laptop when you bought it in 2005 is much different than the expectation those same software companies have now. This PC could run the 2005 version of Skype much better than it can run the 2011 version of Skype. Time to upgrade." And then I'll point to a Moore's Law line graph.
Is that an ill-advised solution? I've been doing pc work like this for years but I feel like it's time for me to reach out and ask for some guidance when I run into repeat "slow computer" customers.
Every situation is different, but what I run into is allot of users that are doing everything they can to milk early XP era hardware. It's admirable to try and defer if you have meager needs, but eventually everyone that wants to compute has to just get on modern hardware and software.
My recomendation for old XP machines is to reformat and install Linux Mint 11 anytime they will let you. 90% of the time the roadblock you encounter with users is the lack of native Itunes support. If it were not for that, I'd back up the important files, gut XP and install Linux Mint each and every time. Linux runs better on older hardware, and users are less likely to bork the OS again.
Most of my customers are from a very nice part of town. A lot of doctors, lawyers, etc. I often deal with the stay at home mommies. Money is not an "issue" but it doesn't mean they want to spend it. Linux is a great suggestion as far as functionality goes, but as far as the best decision for me to make as a business person not sure it's my move. I think these kind of people don't want to f*** with linux... they just want the standard thing. They'd deal with getting used to it for a little bit but eventually they'd end up getting a new PC and I'd lose them to geek squad or the like.
Big thanks though for reinforcing my intuition and they always ask what they can do with their old computer so I think Linux Mint 11 might be the answer.