BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I didn't mean each new version of windows is slower than the last. I meant it seems once Win comes out with a new release, say win10, then win7 keeps getting slower and slower each time you update, install a fixpack, to the older version. As usual, my Win10 has been getting slower since win11 has been released.

The win registry is a nightmare, and left to it's own devices, you will eventually end up with a convoluted mess, thus the reason all sorts of software exists to "clean" your registry. I recon if you never install or uninstall software, this will be less of a problem, but for most, the registry gets more and more convoluted as time goes by. Many, including in this thread will re-install win, even format their HD, re-install win and all their software rather than mess with the registry, which is a nightmare. Often, many will cry VIRUS, but it's rarely ever a virus, unless you consider win its own virus. Worse, often virus protection causes as much harm as anything. Some of that crap should be illegal.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

You know, I just don’t have these issues and have run regedit once (recently) in maybe a dozen years to remove the OneDrive folder. I keep the OS and aps that require it patched to the the latest rev, occasionally run Malwarebytes and benchmark only if there’s a reason such as new storage. Every now and then, I take a look at my temp and performance monitor, and maybe once a year, I vacuum the dust from the computers. I’m careful what sites I visit and what SW I download and what emails I open, but I probably have at least 50 aps of various types on my fastest machine and probably 20-25 on the others. There are 5 computers in my office (1 Win 11, 3 Win 10s, 1 XP SP3 for a special application and 4 IOS devices). I never run CC Cleaner or any similar aps - I just use the native Windows Ap (settings/storage) to clean temp files and the recycle bin. Everything just works.

The more stories I read like yours, the more I’m convinced that the best approach is to just use the machine, keep it patched, employ safe computing practices and leave it alone and quit tinkering with it. I repeat: if you have to remove thousands of registry entries, you’re doing something wrong or constantly installing unnecessary aps and then deleting them. If your machine is getting slow, back up your data (it already should be), format the disk, and then reinstall the OS and Aps. I only need to do that with a new OS or a new build.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

All I can say is that my wife used to SIT there staring at the screen while that ridiculous Dell just sat there... Could not stand it any longer and had an iMac24 delivered yesterday... My wife asked me WHY I did not tell her about apple before ? I told her you get what you pay for and TODAY she is ecstatic... ALL Apple now... Phones,Pads,Pods,Puters !

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Glad your wife is happy, and if Macs work for you, then God bless and carry on, but this is not a case of you get what you pay for - Macs are not inherently superior because they cost more. You could have bought her a new PC and accomplished the same thing, but it might require a bit more computing skill. Macs are an excellent choice for situation like yours, so congratulations.

delder Loc: Maryland

delder Loc: Maryland

Great observation!
I have sometimes observed that users who continually try optimizing their Computers can cause as many issues as they solve.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

if your system is slow. Download Glary Utilities, ( free version )
then in the top bar click 1 click Maintenace
Then click registry cleaner , shortcuts fixer, temp file cleaner and startup manager. Do NOT click disk repair or tracks eraser. let it run and youll be surprised by all the errors on your computer .
Then when u have time under advanced tools run Drive defrag and registry defrag.
I run this every week and have never had a problem and it keeps my system going strong.

NOTE IF you are not a computer person, dont run anything but what I mentioned unless you know whatyou are doing. hope this works

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

DO NOT defrag any SSD drives. Defragmenting drives is for magnetic spinning platter drives only. SSDs do not benefit from defragmentation and will simply wear out sooner if you defrag them. They will not run any faster.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Just a comment: DO NOT defrag SSDs

Edit: Bill, you beat me to it my microseconds

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It's all good.

Sometimes it seems that what once was up is now upside down, and maybe inside out. Tech changes. What worked in 2002 is no more.

I remember waiting and waiting and waiting for drives to defrag in the 1990s. We THOUGHT they were fast. Not as fast as not having to do it at all!

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Had you been running OS/2 then and an HPFS instead of DOS crap, you would never needed to defrag. HPFS ironically was developed by MicroSloth and they didn't even use it.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Markets favor cheap, lowest common denominator, de facto standards, and high end, high convenience, high utility items. The stuff in the middle tends to get lost. Taking the high road first with a new product innovation is a great profit strategy... It often forces everyone else to go cheap or get caught in the middle.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I remember when I laughed at the head of our IT department when they switched from UNIX, the worlds greatest OS to Windows, the Worlds worst OS and he told me WIN never crashed on him, he just had to re-boot periodically. We went for one or two computers supporting over 100 terminals in each of 100 office's to over 100 PC's running Win in each office. He later admitted he made a $6 million mistake. It was way more than that. Just think 1-200 hard drives vs 10,000 hard drives.

BTW, you need to run the registry cleaner suggested above and see what it tells you about your clean registry.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Macs are inherently superior because the OS is based on the UNIX kernel. It's proprietary and closed system might be a problem, I've always stayed away from Macs. There is a profound advantage to running an OS that is used by the vast majority of the world, even if the OS itself sucks. If all you do is photo stuff, then sure, get a Mac. But if you use your computer for a wide variety of things, then you are likely STUCK with Windows. Software and hardware developers all go after the 90% market, even if it is full of nasty garbage that makes computing life like running through 2 feet of mud.

delder Loc: Maryland

A note on above:

Having used Wintel from DOS on up, I find a difference between "Consumer" and Enterprise Computer Requirements.
Actually used UNIX in Telephony applications, but found DOS/WINDOWS more suitable in a residential environment.
[ NO immediate on-site IT support department]
The Terminal vs Smart Terminal/ Desktop configuration choice has been debated for DECADES!
I can agree with a more centralized [UNIX] approach in an Enterprise level data center with clients working on common applications wit DIRECT IT support, but not so much for Residential applications.