why do computers get slower over time?

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Rx Senior
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I used to think it was all in my mind. Maybe i'm used to newer, faster computers elsewhere so the older ones seem slower. Or that internet browsing and programs become more complicated and take up more memory.

But I think i'm finally starting to realize this is wrong. Computers simply get slower. You can do a factory restore and format the computer but it only compensates for some of the decreased speeds.

I think i really started to change my views when I notice the deterioration of a smart phone in one year or so.


am i crazy?
 

Breaking Bad Snob
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The less room you have on your hard drive and the more processes you have running in the background, the slower it will run. These accumulate over time.

You have to do preventative maintenance on a computer like you do a car. When is the last time you defragged or ran a virus scan? How much RAM do you have?
 

Rx God
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companies like Norton create viruses to slow you down and sell their products. You need a new laptop every 2 years max.
 

Rx Senior
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The less room you have on your hard drive and the more processes you have running in the background, the slower it will run. These accumulate over time.

You have to do preventative maintenance on a computer like you do a car. When is the last time you defragged or ran a virus scan? How much RAM do you have?

not only defragged, i've did a factory restore and it isn't much faster....better, but not "brand new"
 

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Zeroing out the harddrive may help a bit, before doing the factory reset... that way you'd actually be starting fresh. Even when you format, it just erases the "pointers" to data (the data itself is still there). Also, harddrives do deteriorate - they spin at 5400/7200rpm for the most part, and at some point they will fail. I have a smallish file server in my home (small case, two harddrives mirroring eachother) and swap out my laptop at least once every two years for something faster.
 

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not only defragged, i've did a factory restore and it isn't much faster....better, but not "brand new"

The only difference before and after the restore is the data on your H.D... if you reformat your H.D. (wipe it clean), then it should be exactly like brand new.

I use a program called Auslogics Boostspeed to keep my computer running fast... it cost a few bucks but it works pretty well.
 

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I make 20 bucks a pop cleaning up computers that have slowed down. Could probably charge more but it is a simple fix. Most have virus/spyware/adware etc... unnecessary programs running in the back ground... hard drives that need defragmented, registry errors, maybe registry refrag, lots of broken shortcuts.
 
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Zeroing out the harddrive may help a bit, before doing the factory reset... that way you'd actually be starting fresh. Even when you format, it just erases the "pointers" to data (the data itself is still there). Also, harddrives do deteriorate - they spin at 5400/7200rpm for the most part, and at some point they will fail. I have a smallish file server in my home (small case, two harddrives mirroring eachother) and swap out my laptop at least once every two years for something faster.


WTF...in English, please.
 
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The only difference before and after the restore is the data on your H.D... if you reformat your H.D. (wipe it clean), then it should be exactly like brand new.

I use a program called Auslogics Boostspeed to keep my computer running fast... it cost a few bucks but it works pretty well.


As fast as new PC's/laptops these days?
 

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You need a new laptop every 2 years max.

Could have fooled me, mine is four years old now, use google chrome as my browser, keep crap off the hard drive, defrag on a weekly basis.

p.s.I use avast for protection, free and better than Norton.
 
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Could have fooled me, mine is four years old now, use google chrome as my browser, keep crap off the hard drive, defrag on a weekly basis.

p.s.I use avast for protection, free and better than Norton.

Mine is like 7 years. ISP recently upgraded high speed to an even faster level.
 

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PS, I have never ran an antivirus program. Had this computer for 4 or 5 years. Never had to replace a single part. Got 1 virus and it was the exact same day I tried out Google Chrome instead of Firefox.

I just scan with Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware once a month and don't download shit that looks iffy.
 

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