With Windows 10 dropping support for continued security updates, now any PC not on Windows 11 (or Linux) can be considered an ageing piece of tech. Of course, you can still use these machines, as many of us are still running on Windows 8, 7, or even older operating systems.
They might seem painfully slow, but some of these cobwebs can be cleaned off, leaving you with capable systems that are still useful in many ways, even if they’re not on the cutting edge. Here we want to explore what these can do, and how you might get them running like near-new again, and breathe life into the platforms now gathering dust.
Older Machines Are Still Capable
We tend to think of modern computer systems as infinitely faster than the ones we grew up with, and while this is true in some aspects, how this plays out can be contradictory. For an example of this, consider loading up a program like Word today, and how it used to load on an older Windows XP or Windows 7 system.
Your modern computer hardware is at least hundreds of times faster, yet the difference in loading times isn’t really that pronounced, especially if you’re using a solid-state storage drive. This is because program efficiency and optimisation are no longer a must for many developers; it’s just a case of making it ‘good enough’. In other words, if you’re running software developed for older machines, it will still run just fine.
There are also exceptions in instances of modern software that emphasise optimisation as a core part of design. Online software like that on UK casino websites is a perfect example of this. These titles, like 12 Stars Ablaze and Slingo Starburst, are developed to work even on older and less powerful mobiles, so they’re well-suited to playing on older PC platforms without performance issues. While it’s not always the case, software running well on mobiles can show the way.
Cleaning an Older Platform
Getting older platforms to run at their former high speeds isn’t especially difficult, only really requiring cleaning of hardware and software. The hardware part requires you to unplug the system, take off the side, and use a can of compressed air to blow out the dust (in an open area like the outdoors). More intense dust buildup can require more work, but it’s rarely a huge task.
The slow loading speed of older systems is usually due to software bloat. Sometimes this happens because of the programs we install over time and forget about, other times it happens because of preinstalled bloatware.
To address this, first back up any data from your computer onto external media. Next, you’ll want to go into the list of installed programs, using the Add or Remove Programs feature of Windows. Remove absolutely everything you don’t use, and restart.
Following this, remove anything you don’t use from Startup. You can find how to open Startup on your Windows version with a simple Google search. If you’re unsure what a program is in Startup, you can Google that too. Disable any you don’t want, and restart again.
With these simple steps, you’ll have access to a computer that, in many cases, will load and run much faster than it has in years. Whether you’re jumping into new interactive software or just using it as a dedicated retro word processor, there are a lot of choices of where to go from here. It’s better than adding to the e-waste problem, and if you’re planning on getting rid of a machine anyway, what do you have to lose by trying this out?