Cleaning an older PC
Cleaning an older PC
Yes, but as I mentioned earlier, typically after I complete the cleaning routing I described above, they are satisfied and the PC operates smoothly for a considerable period. It seems to be more about software issues rather than malware, since they regularly run Windows Defender virus scans and Malwarebytes on all machines, which occasionally detect some threats.
Windows 11 doesn't perform defragmentation on SSDs. It has an automatic optimization using TRIM to maintain performance, but it doesn't include traditional defragmentation. It would be extremely foolish if Microsoft were still doing this in 2025.
no, that's not the issue, catching a virus now doesn't significantly boost the old PC's speed, whereas the thorough cleanup we mentioned does...
Poor habits by users, causing the PC to get infected, are often the main issue. But, whatever.
I use ccleaner and don't notice any additional options to explore. Slow? When I click on run, it takes a few seconds before finishing. If your system is using an HDD, think about upgrading to an SSD.
I agree with the suggestions to reset and reinstall. Also, configure user levels so that individuals experiencing issues with malware cannot install without a password. You shouldn't allow untrained users to make installation decisions. Although it's less convenient, this approach enhances security significantly. Considering the age of these devices, I also advise reminding your user base not to conduct any banking or transaction activities on those labeled as ~10 years old.
There is a common misunderstanding that Windows does not defrag SSDs. In reality, since Windows 8, the system has defragmented SSDs once a month when System Restore and volsnap is activated to enhance Volume Shadow Copies. Further details are available in the main FAQ section for the defrag command. By default, Windows, including version 11, also performs TRIM on SSDs weekly and does not permit manual defragmentation—only TRIM ("Optimize"). It should be noted that Windows does not verify whether an SSD has been removed, such as when a clone of an SSD is placed on a HDD. To restore manual defragmentation, you must manually run Windows Experience Index, which was straightforward in earlier versions (simply click "re-run the assessment"), but in newer Windows it requires a different approach.
Running a command prompt as an administrator and executing winsat formal will allow Windows to recognize the HDD again and let you manually defragment it. Defragmenting once a month has minimal impact on SSD lifespan, and the SSD controller automatically rewrites outdated data cells to maintain integrity. Some cells affected by recent defragmentation will remain untouched because Windows Vista determined that consolidating blocks larger than 64MB was unnecessary—something done in XP’s defrag tool. Consequently, the drive’s firmware must still monitor and rewrite those specific cells to prevent significant degradation or data loss.
Regarding CCleaner, it was acquired by Avast, which was previously purchased by Norton. After more than 30 years, it seems that even Norton eventually encounters issues with long-term storage.