Today, a computer is made with integrated circuits and other “Solid State” parts, and that includes the processor.   To believe a computer  gets slow with age, well, It’s simply not true. These parts don’t wear out. Even the processor is controlled consistently like from the first day it was installed. So, what makes the computer become slow over time? The user. Yes, the computer was designed to work at a constant speed, and doesn’t rust with age. So, what is happening? Consider what occurs after it comes out of the box and is plugged in and turned on for the first time.

      When a computer is first new, it comes typically with a startup program that has you add your name, and connect to the internet. In the steps, it even strongly suggests you use the antivirus software that came with it, and if none, best get a good antivirus software. Then, it suggests you make sure the operating system has all the updated fixes and improvements on it.  With each restart, the machine seems ready to work. Keep in mind that when you restarted it, the processor now is doing a little more work than when you first plugged it in, because now the processor is not only going through the original setup, but now its checking registry and operation of the Virus software.  Still not a problem.

      So, now besides having the ability to surf the web, we all want to have the machine retrieve our email. Once we configure whatever mail server we use, the  mail start coming into our mailbox. Later and when the machine is started, now it not only goes through its basic startup, checks the registry, it now starts retrieving your email, while looking to see if there is any new operating and software updates out there, and that includes the virus software program. The processor is working the same speed, but doing more work. Some emails, and other programs need files to be downloaded. With downloads, space I used, and with software downloads that are installed, they come with there own settings and configurations. Next time the computer starts up, it now goes through it’s system startup, checks all the registries, checks the locations logs of the downloaded files, runs the virus scan program, seeks updates on the internet, and retrieves your email. That processor is still working the same speed as when it was first plugged in, but now does so much more work, and as time goes on, updates are found, you will create or download more files and install more software, and there will be times where virus or adware is unintentionally downloaded…but the processor is still working the same speed it did from day one. In short, the more we add the more work the processor does, but at the same speed it always did. Processors don’t slow or rust. They are integrated circuits. Like a car alternator, they work or they don’t; there just is no middle ground.

    A real visualization is like taking a small Honda Civic, and start loading newspapers to deliver daily. You get accustomed to driving around, and the weight is distributed to the houses, the small car goes faster and handles curves easier. Now, Sunday comes, and the Sunday paper, with all those adds, are much heavier, and are loaded in the same Honda. The workload weight has multiplied, but it is still the same Honda.  Another example is that I own a Freightliner Century, which will pull up to 46,000lbs. You cannot put that weight in or behind that Honda. That pore car won’t go. In the same sense, my Freightliner rides and handles the roads and hills much better when pulling 11,000 pound load; and still, 11,000 lbs. won’t save time if even get far in that Honda. So, are you hurting the computer by adding so much files and software? No. But that processor is still going at the same pace with much more work to account for.

      Some things to consider when you wish to start a computer faster may be to buy an external hard drive and save your personal files and pictures on that. This actually serves two things; it spares the computer from starting up (in your perception) slowly, as long as the external hard drive isn’t attached until the computer is up and ready (that covers speed), and secondly, if you plan to surf the web, and the hard drive is disconnected, no spyware can track your files and personal information. You still have to install the software on the internal hard drive. Trying to install it on an external hard drive me allow the computer to appear to start up faster, but using that program may run slower, since the computer and processor is now working with the software on an external hard drive; which will be slow to work with.  Another thing to consider is to take account of the software you no longer use and uninstall them. That way, the computer starts up and no longer seeks the registry for the unused programs.

      Don’t forget to occasionally go to the Administrative folder, and click on the system folder, to find the Disk Clean program, and the Defragment program. This helps keep the files closer and the available space more accessible, and not scattered. I’ll do a few more Blogs on using external hard drives later. Just know, a computer doesn’t get slow, instead, it stores, installs and uses whatever you add to it, and at the same pace as when it was first plugged in.