Do Well-Maintained PC's Become Slow Over Time?

[deepgrewal22]

I am well versed on computer upgrades, maintenance, and repair. I have a Pentium IV 1.60GHz with 1.2GB of RAM (Windows XP Media Center 2005) which I have owned since 2001. Over the years, I have swapped out practically all original hardware with newer units (CD/DVD +/-RW Drive, HDD, RAM, Video Card) without any problems.

I usually format the hard drive and reinstall (from a Ghost image or clean install) everything every 1.0 - 1.5 years. I apply updates and patches as they are available. I realize that the CPU is only clocked at 1.60GHz, so I don't purchase newer bulkier software. My computer's specs are more than enough for all of the software I run.

Lately, I have noticed that the computer is not as fast as it once used to be. Having more than a few application running at one time now causes it to perform very slowly. (Yes, I have effective virus and malware protection). I work in IT and have checked for any sort of unwanted programs or adverse behavior so I know that there aren't any issues there.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION
Does the motherboard and other hardware (RAM) actually become slower over time regardless of how well it is maintained? I didn't used to think so, what do you think?

Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[deepgrewal22]

Thanx for all of your replies. I have tried most of what the replies recommended. I disabled Ad-Watch 2007 (a TSR spyware program from Lavasoft). This program was spiking my CPU usage at 100% at certain times/events. I also downloaded a registry cleaner and ran the cleaner; that seemed to have made a difference as well. The computer is running comparatively better than last time. I will probably buy some more RAM and perform another clean install from scratch (much later on).

Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[burtsbees]

I have found that cleaning the CPU heatsink fins improves my computer's performance---I have dogs that shed, and it gets clogged every so often. By the way, what registry cleaner did you use?

Burt

 

[kjv1611]

On the part about Ad-Aware being bad, I'd have to disagree. Ad-Watch I am sure is bad, and I personally think that any real-time spyware/adware scanner is bad news. When I tried Windows Defender before on my machine, and others I worked on, it caused more problems than it was worth. I haven't used it in quite a while. It did the same thing deepgrewal about Ad-Watch in using way too many CPU cycles. I have also tried Spyware Guard - same thing - too many CPU cycles. PC Tools spyware program works great as a scanner, but it's real-time protection did the same thing.

I have cleaned many PCs that were infected with viruses and spyware/adware/malware on many different occasions. The use of Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, SpywareBlaster, RegScrubXP (only works on XP and maybe Win 2000 to the best of my knowledge), and the free online scan at

http://housecall.trendmicro.com

as well as an updated AV program - usually AVG always seems to clear up most if not 100% of the issues. As a matter of fact, I've only worked on one computer that I can remember where there was a virus or spyware app that I just couldn't seem to get rid of - it's been a couple years ago. If I had AVG Antispyware available at the time (formerly ewido), then maybe I could've gotten that one - oh, and I did not know about the free online scan by TrendMicro at that time, either. That machine happened to be on a home network of a handful of PCs, where all of them had a fair amount of malware/viruses, and that particular PC was really really bad!

Another program that seems rather useful is

http://www.ccleaner.com

. I actually haven't used this one until recently.

deepgrewal,
Glad to hear that things seem to be a little more now in order. Please do post what Registry cleaner app you used, so others can have it as a reference.

Also, if you want to make sure your PC is clean, you could download "hijack this" and post a scan log from it over at forum760.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[deepgrewal22]

kjv1611,

I have also been in the removal of malware business for many years now. There was one computer that I couldn't fix and it was infected with Sasser (lsasss.exe). Here;s my routine for fixing an infected PC:

(1) After installing and updating the following suites:

SpyBot, AVG, AVG Root Kit, Ad-Aware, Adware Blaster (proactive), and A-Squared

(2) I boot up the infected PC in Safe Mode and run complete scans (will take a few hours).

(3) I also turn off system restore to eliminate one of malware's most popular hangouts.

It was Sasser that made me personally switch my O/S to Linux. Since about 2005 I have been using Linux with no problems. My Windows XP machine has always been troublesome (even If I went by "the book").

In order to speed up the computer that this entire thread is about, I did use CCleaner, and a registry utilitiy called Abexo Free Registry Cleaner:

http://www.download.com/Abexo-Free-Registry-Cleaner/3000-2094_4-10434887.html?tag=lst-6-7

I'm sure I am throwing out an arguable tidbit of information, but I usually go to Cnet and get some of my freeware from them. Many of you may disagree, but this is my way of doing it.

Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[cdogg]

kjv1611,
I haven't used Ad-Aware in more than 2 years, but I can vouch that in over 50 computers, Windows Defender is doing just fine. After installation, there is no noticeable difference in performance that I've seen either. In fact, you don't even remember it's there unless it catches something.

The best prevention in a work environment is to restrict web content/access. When a computer somehow still manages to get infected, reimage it. Reloading Windows (especially from an image) usually saves time and is more efficient than trying to clean an infection with multiple utilities leaving the chance that something was missed.

Without taking a scientific approach in collecting and analyzing the results, it's hard to say either way for sure.
"To each his own" I suppose!

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[deepgrewal22]

I agree that performing a new installation (either from image or clean install) is the best way to eliminate malware. Many of the PCs I worked on were for clients who did not want to spend the money on purchasing a new copy of the OS (many clients did not keep OEM restoration software). So the only options I had were to "burn" them a copy of my legitimate OS or just clean out their computer the best that I could. I was running a legitimate business and didn't want to violate licensing issues, so I would perform the latter.

I also just started using Windows Defenderabout 2 weeks ago, and have had no problems or performance issues with it either.

Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[kjv1611]

I wonder if maybe the issues I had with Defender previously have been fixed now, or either they were related to using the multiple apps - maybe that particular one didn't get along well with the other 3? I might consider taking a look at it again. I did like the user interface and options, but I just hated it using so many CPU cycles. I'll have to think about trying it with and without other software whenever I finally get around to setting up my new build at home - hopefully w/in the next couple of weeks: I'm currently waiting on a particular transaction to take place.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me