Why does Windows get so Cloged up with stuff overtime?

[xelloss]

Why o Why does windows over time take 15 mins to load up after restarting? Is there a reason? Or what, its kinda getting old having to reformat my computer every 6 months. Anyway was wondering if there was any reason.

[jdhore]

Why o Why does windows over time take 15 mins to load up after restarting? Is there a reason? Or what, its kinda getting old having to reformat my computer every 6 months. Anyway was wondering if there was any reason.

there are a few reasons:
1. Windows doesn't have a Journaled file system...i'm not sure what specifically does, but i know it helps with the performance
2. Windows uses a lot of centralized files/directories to store all the important files (registry, /Windows/System32) so when those areas get "clogged", your system runs like crap...Linux doesn't do this.
3. Windows is not a self-optomizing OS
4. Windows was badly coded
5. most software for Windows was badly coded
6. there are (on a daily basis) a TON of bugs in the OS and they've failed to be fixed.

[striker1211]

A windows install doesn't die, people kill it. Been running xp since dec 2003 and she purrs like a kitten.

[tokenuser]

A windows install doesn't die, people kill it. Been running xp since dec 2003 and she purrs like a kitten.Ditto. Its only clogged bacause of the amount of crap people load on it, and don't delete properly.

"Journaled file system"?? Give me a break. Windows sets system restore points as well. You should always set a restore point before installing something new, so that if the new software does break your system, it can return to the last known good state.

Centralised files - Linux doesn't have them? WTF?? Step away from KDE and Gnome ... look under the hood. Linux has them as well.

Windows is not a self optimising OS. What OS is? Linux? Not by a long shot. Windows does dynically adjust pagefiles and caching, and prioritise thread priorities. All modern OSes do.

Windows was badly coded. And collaborative coding from the Linux community introduced good coding practices to Linux? Who are you kidding. You have to give MS credit for not abandoning its legacy base. Code written for DOS 2.0 will still run on Windows machines without recomiling. Try that on a Linux kernel. Windows biggest problem is its complexity due to its need to support a shitload (tm) of hardware out of the box without the need to recompile the application.

Most software on Windows was badly coded. And once again ... you know this how? What about software on Linux boxes. Take a look at the source code listed over at sourceforge, then tell me what good and bad code is. Bad code is not exclusive to Windows - it is everywhere that someone who once looked at PHP and thinks RoR is the best thing since Ada and now calls themselves a "programmer" is.

OS Bugs. <shakes head> Go take a look at Bugtraq and get back to me will ya? MS is continually fixing bugs, and notifying users of the fixes. Linux users are not looked after nearly as well.

Please - Linux is a great OS, MacOS X is a great OS ... they each have their uses and purpose (except desktop Linux - its great as a server, but blows on the desktop). Don't come into a Windows group to spread typical Linux fanboi FUD.

[gavilan1010]

Why o Why does windows over time take 15 mins to load up after restarting? Is there a reason? Or what, its kinda getting old having to reformat my computer every 6 months. Anyway was wondering if there was any reason.

Well IDK, my computer isnt the best one in the world but ive had it for a year and a month I think and its had its bad times but it runs pretty smooth, I have AMD Sempron Processor, 512MB Ram (Upgrading soon), 160GB Hardrive, ATI Radeon Express 200 Graphics card. soooo...

IDK really, there are a few things you can do though like:

Using this guide will increase performance. Run XP-AntiSpy, Shoot The Messenger and Unplug n' Pray first before going through this guide since those utilities will disable some of these Services for you. Use the Guide in combination with the following list. If you are not 100% sure about a service leave it on its default state. The goal is not to turn off as many services as possible but rather to disable only unneeded services.

Instruction - Go to Start, Run, type "services.msc" and press enter. Left-click on the status bar twice to filter all the started service to the top. Double left-click on the Service Name you wish to change. Change the "Startup Type" to either Manual or Automatic, then select "Apply" and "OK", repeat for all of the following:

The following is a list of Services that you can Disable on most systems for increased performance:


Disable Alerter
Disable Distributed Link Tracking Client
Disable Help and Support - (If you use Windows Help and Support leave this enabled)
Disable Indexing Service
Disable IPSEC Services
Disable Messenger - (Shoot the Messenger and installing SP2 will disable this)
Disable Portable Media Serial Number - (Leave enabled for use with Security Dongles)
Disable Remote Registry Service
Disable Secondary Logon
Disable SSDP Discovery Service - (Unplug n' Pray will disable this)
Disable Telnet
Disable Upload Manager
Disable Wireless Zero Configuration - (If you are on a wireless network leave this enabled)



And also get ATF Cleaner (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Secure-cleaning/ATF-Cleaner.shtml) It "looks" like a crappy software but its lower then 2MB and gets rid of all the Temp files, cache ect...

Try to un-install shit you dont use or software that came with the computer and you dont intent using.

RUN A VIRUS SCAN!

If you have the time, De Frag your hardrive,
How to use (command line):
1. Click Start.
1. Run.
2. Type in "defrag c:" in the box
1. Press Ok
2. Change c: to something else if it should differ.
3. A box will appear, and close automatically.
1. When it closes, you are done. Just wait.

Try to turn off programs, or fix the settings of them, the ones that run at start up.

Do you leave your computer on for long periods of time? while not using it? even though it seems crazy but if you leave a computer on and not using it for a LONG period of time, eventually your system gets slower and screws uo, I recommend putting sleep or just shutting it down.


Now if your willing to shed out some cash, I would recommend a better processor, and also BIG part of a fast computer some more RAM, I only have 512 and im waiting for a special to get 2 more Gigs of RAM.



Very long post, but I hope it helps you

[masherscf]

I used to have an old PC, A Pentium 200 MMX, if you can remember that far back. I installed windows 98 and it kept crashing. I said to myself, this sucks I'm installing Linux. Guess what? Linux couldn't even get by the disk check because of the number of errors coming off the CPU. It turns out that the Windows 98 was much more robust than the current Linux kernel.

I haven't reinstalled Windows XP since I got it and it runs fine and isn't bunged up.

[jdhore]

Ditto. Its only clogged bacause of the amount of crap people load on it, and don't delete properly.

[QUOTE]"Journaled file system"?? Give me a break. Windows sets system restore points as well. You should always set a restore point before installing something new, so that if the new software does break your system, it can return to the last known good state.

a Journaled FS is why in Linux and OS X there is no defrag and it has been known to help with performance...and system restore in Windows has never once actually "saved" a dying/dead Windows install for me, plus, even though data recovery is an important part of the FS, you don't have to make it happen (if a file randomly goes missing, the FS finds it and fixes it itself...no user intervention needed) and i've never had to recover anything from a Linux file system personally.

Centralised files - Linux doesn't have them? WTF?? Step away from KDE and Gnome ... look under the hood. Linux has them as well.

that is somewhat correct, but not to the extent of what Windows does...with windows, most of the files for the OS are in /Windows or /Windows/System32, with Linux, they're all spread between /var, /opt, /usr, /boot, /bin, /etc, /root, etc.

Windows is not a self optimising OS. What OS is? Linux? Not by a long shot. Windows does dynically adjust pagefiles and caching, and prioritise thread priorities. All modern OSes do.

As i'm sure you don't know, Linux and OS X both have daily, weekly and monthly cron jobs that run to clean out all the crap...and not just logs and page files, plus it does the caching, pagefile adjusting and the priority crap.

Windows was badly coded. And collaborative coding from the Linux community introduced good coding practices to Linux? Who are you kidding. You have to give MS credit for not abandoning its legacy base. Code written for DOS 2.0 will still run on Windows machines without recomiling. Try that on a Linux kernel. Windows biggest problem is its complexity due to its need to support a shitload (tm) of hardware out of the box without the need to recompile the application.

Linux has good code practices because there are very rarely security issues for Linux and if one does pop up, there's usually a patch or a fix for it within a few days unlike Windows where only M$ employees can look at the code, build an update and push it out once a month. what you are saying about the legacy base is semi-true, but Linux software doesn't really die, it just grows...i'm sure people are still doing support/making new versions of CLI spreadsheet apps for linux and i'm sure there are people that use them on a daily basis and you don't have to recompile most things in Linux...unless you're using Gentoo which really doesn't count. Oh, and i almost forgot 2 things, 1st, that legacy base you're talking about is gon in Windows Vista...they removed all 16-bit support from the OS (Linux still has 16-bit support) and the 2nd thing is that Linux supports a shitload of hardware OOTB and the only time you have to even come close to reinstalling is if you want to change architectures...

Most software on Windows was badly coded. And once again ... you know this how? What about software on Linux boxes. Take a look at the source code listed over at sourceforge, then tell me what good and bad code is. Bad code is not exclusive to Windows - it is everywhere that someone who once looked at PHP and thinks RoR is the best thing since Ada and now calls themselves a "programmer" is.

Yes, there is some "bad/sloppy" code in Linux, but that's one of the reasons it's so great, people who know more than the original coder can make fixes to it and somehow branch it all back and have a very nicely working app...Windows doesn't let you see the source for anything so the only people that can repair/make the OS better are MS employees. i've actually dived into the source of WinXP (i'm not gonna tell you where or how i found it) and i was able just in source to reduce the size of the OS in about half...and keeping all the features.

OS Bugs. <shakes head> Go take a look at Bugtraq and get back to me will ya? MS is continually fixing bugs, and notifying users of the fixes. Linux users are not looked after nearly as well.

Linux users are looked after well...at least Linux HAS a Bugtraq...Windows doesn't even have anything like that...and also, there's the community aspect of going to #ubuntu or #debian on freenode and being able to get support...if i ask a question in #debian, it usually gets answered within about 5 minutes.

Please - Linux is a great OS, MacOS X is a great OS ... they each have their uses and purpose (except desktop Linux - its great as a server, but blows on the desktop). Don't come into a Windows group to spread typical Linux fanboi FUD.

and i'm not even bringing up the fact that Linux is free (as in beer) and it comes built-in, stock with all the apps you'll need for most things (office apps, media players, internet utilities, etc) also, with Debian-based distros, if you use apt-get/Synaptic, there's a simple way to install up to about 20,000 apps.

EDIT: i don't know what distro you guys have used, but i will admit to the fact if you pick the wrong distro, you're gonna be hating life on Linux, you pick the right distro, everything will be good, for me, i found the "right distro" to be a Debian-based distro such as Debian, Ubuntu or DSL.

[jdhore]

I used to have an old PC, A Pentium 200 MMX, if you can remember that far back. I installed windows 98 and it kept crashing. I said to myself, this sucks I'm installing Linux. Guess what? Linux couldn't even get by the disk check because of the number of errors coming off the CPU. It turns out that the Windows 98 was much more robust than the current Linux kernel.

I haven't reinstalled Windows XP since I got it and it runs fine and isn't bunged up.

what Distro did you try?

i've gotten DSL running decently on a Gateway Connected Touch Pad (an old Internet Appliance from the early 2000's)...it even took Win95 about 10 minutes to boot on it

[alexsk8ca]

I think you are all thinking too hard about it, when the answer is really obvious....Porn. You have to reformat every 6 months because you are addicted to porn. Don't worry, you aren't the only one.

[xelloss]

I think you are all thinking too hard about it, when the answer is really obvious....Porn. You have to reformat every 6 months because you are addicted to porn. Don't worry, you aren't the only one.

Well the only porn surfing is on Newsleecher, got adaware, spybot, and zonealarm anti/spyware and antivirus running Do a scan every 3 days~. The laggy ass ATI thing, Logitech for my mouse, Theinternetdownload manager and volume. Thats it. I haven't got like any virus, Trojans, or any spyware i can find. The only thing I really do is reinstall games or Install new games a lot. I also Transcode a lot of video, so I don't know how bad that is, I use Firefox. I download and Move A lot of video files. So maybe its just windows lol.

[alexsk8ca]

Yeah I know what you mean though. I can keep windows very neat and organized, spyware and virus free, for a few months, but I am just too damn unorganized and lazy. As soon as I get lazy my desktop clutters and I stop caring about what I install and delete and before you know it I am pissed off and switch to linux for a month of two. Than I get frustrated with linux and switch back to windows. Will it ever end? I hope so.

[striker1211]

If i remember correctly internet download manager installs a few hooks into the ip stack. It might have a driver too i cant remember but it monitors your internet for http:// and the like to grab urls, and even if u turn it off the hooks stay.

[noonebutme]

If you havent done what gavilan1010 recommended yet, dont.. its not bad advice, but the programs it mentions arent worth installing - you can do all the stuff manually and save yourself from installing more programs. not to mention that the services mentioned arent all the one's needed to disable.

What to do:
start > run > msconfig, go to the 'startup' tab and uncheck everything other then your AV/Firewall/Other security-related programs. Leave AIM/MSN on as well if you use that right after logging in. Everything else (Winamp, etc) can be loaded as needed. This'll disable programs from running when you turn the computer on so windows will have less to do and start up quicker.

Then go to the System.INI and Win.INI tabs and uncheck 16-Bit drivers. It's doubtful that you still use 16-bit programs so there's no need for the drivers to be running.

back to services now..
Start > run > services.msc
disable:
Fast User Switching Compatibility Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/fast_user_switching_compatibility.htm) - Unless you have multiple using your computer, disable this.
Help and Support Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/help_and_support.htm) - Unless you rely on Microsoft's built in help/support instead of Google, disable this.
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/imapi_cd-burning_com_service.htm) - Use Nero to burn cd's instead.
Indexing Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/indexing_service.htm) - XP's "Indexing" service doesnt do much. If you need to index your drive, use Google Desktop instead.
Internet Connection - Firewall (ICF) / Sharing (ICS) Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/icf_and_ics.htm) - Hardware Firewall built into a router works better. If you must use a software, get a good one like Sygate Personal Pro 5.6.x
Messenger Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/messenger.htm) - Just disable this. Unnecessary services that spyware usually uses to display ad's.
Portable Media Serial Number Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/portable_media_serial_number.htm) - Unless your overly paranoid(In which case you'd know what this stuff is already) or working for a corporation on their computers/with their data, you can disable this.
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/remote_access_auto_connection_manager.htm),
Remote Access Connection Manager Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/remote_access_connection_manager.htm),
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/remote_desktop_help_session_manager.htm),
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/remote_procedure_call_%28rpc%29.htm), and
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator Servic (http://www.theeldergeek.com/remote_procedure_call_%28rpc%29_locator.htm)- You cant disable all of these(Some are needed for system), but the ones you dont need, disable. Use VNC if you need remote access to your computer instead - Its much more secure.
Security Center (http://www.theeldergeek.com/security_center_service.htm) - This is just an annoyance that doesnt say anything useful. disable it.
Secondary Logon Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/secondary_logon.htm) - Again, if your the only user, disable this.
Telnet Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/telnet.htm) - Insecure. Disable unless you still telnet to various boards for some odd reason.
Uninterruptible Power Supply Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/uninterruptible_power_supply.htm) - You have a backup battery? if not, disable this.
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) (http://www.theeldergeek.com/windows_firewall_int_con_sharing_ics_service.htm) - See the previous note on Built-In firewall services.
Wireless Zero Configuration Service (http://www.theeldergeek.com/wireless_zero_configuration.htm) - unless your on wireless, this isnt needed.
see Here (http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm) for a complete list of windows services / their functions if you want to disable more. Which you can do if you need to.

Also, increase your Virtual Memory size (Right click on My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Advanced > Set to have Minimum size = your ram, and max size = 1.5x your ram(eg 1024 to 1536mb vram on a system with 1 gig ram)

Video transcoding is VERY processor-intensive. That'd be a reason for your computer to slow down (Even with a top of the line Core 2 Quatro, it'd be noticable)

Only program i'd use to clean the computer is CCleaner. Basically empties out %Appdata% (start > run %appdata% to view), internet files created by firefox/IE, and removes invalid registry entries. plus it doesnt run at startup which is a bonus.

[ArmpitOfDeath]

The only serious problems I've had are with app incompatibilities (something that is potentially a factor with any OS) and badly written drivers (ditto).

It depends as with anything else on how you keep it maintained I suppose. If you treat it like s***, it'll run like s***.

[xelloss]

Thanks for the input guys. Ya I mean, I can keep my windows functioning good, its just the start ups after shutting the PC down or restarting. But ya Il look into the stuff you all posted :D

[striker1211]

Google BootVis. It makes windows run the idle tasks (like defragging the boot files) right away. It will also tell you what drivers and services are making the boot so long. For me mrxsmb.sys (i think) is taking 30 seconds, but i think its cuz i have my sharing settings all weird.

[bob-saget]

i've actually dived into the source of WinXP (i'm not gonna tell you where or how i found it) and i was able just in source to reduce the size of the OS in about half...and keeping all the features.



I registered an account just to say you are bullshitting. I hate little kids like you who think they are badass and spout off lies. Microsoft, one of the most powerful companies in the world, employs a ton of experienced coders and developers. To think that their team of 100+ coders with loads of experience can't do what some punk kid on the internet can do is retarded. The source code for XP is so extensive and humongous, the different development teams code each part separately. There is no possible way you looked through all that code, cut out half of it, got it to compile, and reduced the size of the OS. Your stupidity blows my mind.

I can't believe no one else called you on it.

[striker1211]

I registered an account just to say you are bullshitting. I hate little kids like you who think they are badass and spout off lies. Microsoft, one of the most powerful companies in the world, employs a ton of experienced coders and developers. To think that their team of 100+ coders with loads of experience can't do what some punk kid on the internet can do is retarded. The source code for XP is so extensive and humongous, the different development teams code each part separately. There is no possible way you looked through all that code, cut out half of it, got it to compile, and reduced the size of the OS. Your stupidity blows my mind.

I can't believe no one else called you on it.

Indeed, only nt4 and 2k leaked.

[noonebutme]

Am i the only on that thought he just went and used nLite?