Storage drives should be defragmented. USB sticks must be ejected. Antivirus software program slows down your PC. Who isn’t aware of these widespread “wisdoms” about Windows?
But are any of those Windows myths really true, and the place do they arrive from? Our editorial workforce will get to the backside of all of it and separates truth from fiction.
This article was translated from German to English, and initially appeared on pcwelt.de.
Myth 1: USB sticks have to be ejected!
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Many individuals declare that USB storage media, reminiscent of flash drives and exterior USB drives, have to be ejected by way of “Safely remove hardware.” But is that this nonetheless obligatory nowadays?
Ejecting USB storage media ensures that the transferred and saved knowledge stays intact. Nevertheless, many individuals ignore this step and take away the stick with out pondering. The extra step of correctly ejecting it may be a nuisance, so it’s usually forgotten, which has precipitated error messages in previous iterations of Windows.
Microsoft acknowledged this drawback and launched an answer that has been out there in Windows 10 and 11 since October 2018. The new “Quick Remove” operate permits exterior {hardware} to be eliminated at any time with out having to first click on “Safely remove hardware,” and higher but, the setting is activated by default.
Although this answer could be very handy and tailored to most individuals’s wants, it has one main downside: Quick Remove now not caches your knowledge. Caching ensures a continuing backup of the knowledge, however slows down the switch pace.
Answer: No, utilizing “Safely remove hardware” earlier than yanking out USB drives isn’t required any extra.
Myth 2: Drives have to be defragmented recurrently!
Another delusion considerations the fragmentation of drives and knowledge below Windows. It’s usually mentioned that these drives have to be defragmented recurrently to take care of their pace. But is defragmentation even obligatory at this time?
Modern drives, particularly strong state storage (SSDs), now not want defragmentation. Newer drives retailer and retrieve knowledge in a different way than older laborious drives.
On older laborious drives, knowledge was saved on magnetic disks and needed to be processed by transferring read-head and write-head models. When a file was erased from the laborious drive, gaps have been created that might be utilized by different recordsdata. Over time, this led to fragmentation of the recordsdata as they have been saved in smaller fragments in several places on the laborious disk. The intention of defragmenting the laborious disk was to convey these fragments collectively and retailer them in a single steady file, which shortened the entry occasions to the recordsdata.
In distinction, SSDs retailer knowledge in digital reminiscence cells organized instantly on the drive. There aren’t any transferring elements storing recordsdata in several places, and thus no fragmentation.
Answer: No, on trendy methods with SSDs, defragmentation is now not obligatory and should even shorten the life expectancy of SSDs. That’s why defragmentation is definitely deactivated by default below Windows 10 and Windows 11 if an SSD is put in in the system.
Read extra about our picks for the finest SSDs.
Myth 3: Antivirus software program slows down your PC!
Foundry
It’s repeatedly claimed that putting in antivirus software program on a Windows system slows down your PC, however is that this true in any respect?
Installing antivirus software program on a pc may cause the system to decelerate as a result of the software program requires sources. If your antivirus performs common scans, this may have an effect on the operation of the laptop and trigger applications to begin or reply extra slowly.
But trendy antivirus applications have options that reduce system load by solely changing into energetic when wanted. In addition, many computer systems at this time have highly effective processors and reminiscence which might be able to dealing with the execution of antivirus software program with out noticeable delays.
Nevertheless, it’s vital to notice that not utilizing antivirus software program will increase the threat of malware infections, which might have an effect on the laptop’s efficiency and, in the worst case, even destroy vital knowledge. Well-configured antivirus is due to this fact an vital part for the safety and stability of any laptop.
Answer: No, trendy antivirus software program now not noticeably slows down your PC. This misunderstanding dates again to the time of Windows 95 and Windows 98. Today, it’s a good suggestion to at all times preserve antivirus working in your system.
Read about our prime picks for the finest Windows antivirus software program.
Myth 4: Windows Game Mode doesn’t assist in any respect!
You’ll usually discover individuals debating whether or not Windows 10 and 11’s Game Mode actually has an affect on gaming efficiency. Again and once more, rumors swirl that Game Mode doesn’t actually convey something in any respect.
They’re incorrect. Windows Game Mode can enhance the efficiency of PC video games by decreasing background processes and non-essential system actions to unencumber extra sources for the recreation. This may end up in a better body price, shorter loading occasions, and an total higher gaming expertise.
Game Mode also can improve the stability of video games by stopping potential conflicts with different purposes and processes on the laptop. However, some gamers have observed that the distinction when Game Mode is turned on is probably not very vital, particularly if their laptop is already highly effective. It’s additionally vital to notice that not all video games will profit from having Game Mode enabled, as older or well-optimized video games might present no noticeable distinction.
Answer: Windows 10 and 11’s Game Mode can positively pace up video games, however its advantages are primarily seen on much less highly effective methods and with much less well-optimized video games. Read our in-depth testing on how Windows 10’s Game Mode makes unplayable video games playable… generally for the full image.
Myth 5: Google Chrome consumes a variety of RAM and slows down Windows!
Shutterstock.com/Evan Lorne
Google Chrome and different Chromium-based browsers (like Microsoft Edge) “consume” a comparatively great amount of RAM in Windows in comparison with different browsers reminiscent of Mozilla Firefox. But is that this an issue? How does it have an effect on the system?
It’s true that Google Chrome is thought to make use of a comparatively great amount of RAM in comparison with different internet browsers. The purpose for that is that Chrome begins a separate course of for every open tab to make sure that closing one tab doesn’t have an effect on the stability of different tabs or the browser as an entire.
Whether this can be a drawback will depend on your particular circumstances and system. If a pc has adequate RAM, Chrome’s extra reminiscence consumption could also be negligible and haven’t any affect on the laptop’s efficiency. But in case your laptop has restricted RAM and Chrome takes up most of it, it might probably have an effect on the efficiency of different purposes and the system as an entire.
Usually, Chrome’s RAM consumption could be decreased by taking measures reminiscent of closing tabs that aren’t wanted or disabling extensions. If you’re consistently working low on RAM, nonetheless, utilizing one other internet browser that requires much less reminiscence could also be an efficient various.
Answer: The comparatively excessive RAM consumption of Google Chrome isn’t actually an issue below regular circumstances. In truth, it’s pushed by a function that enhances browser stability. People with older or memory-constrained methods ought to preserve fewer tabs open, or swap to a much less resource-intensive browser like Mozilla Firefox.
Should you improve your RAM? 5 issues to contemplate.
Myth 6: Windows PCs get slower over time!
It’s usually mentioned that Windows PCs decelerate over time, however is that this true? What can customers do about it?
Over time, it’s doable for a Windows PC to turn into slower, which could be as a result of varied causes. Here are some contributing elements:
- Hard disk fragmentation: If your laborious disk is fragmented, the read-head of the laborious disk has to maneuver extra to learn the recordsdata, which might result in decreased pace. In trendy methods with SSDs, nonetheless, this level is eradicated, as we defined above.
- Outdated {hardware}: As your Windows set up ages, so is your laptop’s {hardware}, which might probably result in slower efficiency. New working system options also can put extra pressure on outdated {hardware} and thus decelerate your system.
- Operating system overload: Overloading the working system may cause it to decelerate because it struggles to deal with all the processes which might be working. This is attributable to an increasing number of applications and instruments that customers set up on their system over time.
- Malware infections: A pc contaminated by malware could be slowed down by extra processes run by the malware.
Answer: Yes, Windows PCs can decelerate over time, but it surely’s nowhere as pronounced as some individuals appear to assume and pushed primarily by working numerous software program directly. There are measures you possibly can take to revive efficiency to an more and more sluggish Windows PC, reminiscent of eradicating unused applications, updating {hardware}, scanning for malware infections, and cleansing up your laptop. Windows has instruments for all of those.
Myth 7: Windows 10 and 11 spy on you!
Since the launch of Windows 7, Microsoft has been amassing so-called telemetry knowledge about the person’s use of the working system. But is it true that the working system spies on the person?
Windows 10 and 11 acquire knowledge to enhance the efficiency and stability of the working system, in addition to to enhance the performance of Windows Update and the Windows Store. Some of this knowledge could be thought of private info, which is why there have been considerations about Microsoft’s privateness practices in the previous.
Microsoft
But your Windows privateness settings could be adjusted to disable (or at the least restrict) the assortment of sure knowledge as a lot as doable. Additionally, you possibly can select whether or not you need crash knowledge and system surveys despatched to Microsoft.
It’s vital to notice that a few of the knowledge assortment settings are enabled by default, nonetheless, and customers might not at all times concentrate on precisely what knowledge is being collected by Microsoft.
Answer: Yes, Microsoft collects a considerable amount of telemetry knowledge from Windows 10 and 11, a few of which might be thought of private knowledge. Concerned individuals ought to rigorously verify their Windows privateness settings and modify them accordingly. But saying that Microsoft is responsible of focused spying goes too far.
Myth 8: Linux is essentially sooner than Windows!
Many critics of Windows wish to accuse the working system of being essentially slower than free working methods primarily based on Linux. But is that this true?
Microsoft/Larry Ewing
It’s a really advanced query with no clear reply. Linux is commonly praised for its effectivity and stability, and may due to this fact run higher on older or much less highly effective methods than Windows. It’s additionally very adaptable and could be optimized for particular necessities. On the different hand, Windows is thought for its ease of use and compatibility with a variety of purposes and {hardware}. Because of its widespread use, there are additionally a wide range of help and useful resource choices.
But it’s vital to notice that the efficiency of Linux and Windows will depend on varied elements reminiscent of {hardware}, drivers, configuration, and optimization. In some instances, Linux could be sooner than Windows, whereas in different instances Windows could be sooner than Linux.
It finally will depend on your wants and what duties should be carried out in your system.
Answer: No, Linux isn’t essentially sooner than Windows. Both working methods have their benefits and drawbacks. The reply to this query hinges fully in your utilization wants.
…. to be continued
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