Can Microsoft Make My Pc Run Slow?

I know my question sounds silly and I am the last person to get caught up in conspiracy theories but this is a question I am still asking.

My PC was going very slow and sluggish. I've done what I can to see if I can resolve this issue. I've used CCleaner and Glary Utilities to clean it. I've defragmented it.

Then I checked for malware. I made sure the following programmes were up-to-date and got then to run full scans: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, SUPERAntiSpyware and Windows Defender. They all reported no problems.

Next, I decided I'd work through Majorgeeks' Read & Run Me First Malware Removal Guide. I'd got as far as Step 1 in the Windows 10 specific instructions, i.e. downloading the software. At that point a message opened on my screen to say I needed to restart to update Windows. I thought it'll do no harm to have Windows up-to-date before I do the rest of the malware procedure so I did the restart.

Since I've done the restart my PC is no longer sluggish. I'm fully aware that if B occurs after A it does not mean A is the cause of B. However, I'm still left wondering if simply updating my PC was all that was required.

How likely is it that updating Windows has resolved my problem? Could this be a temporary thing and the sluggishness returns? May be the restart temporarily resolved thigs because everything re-loaded. Is it a case of watch and wait to see what happens?

 

What, exactly, is "My PC"?

Mayhap a (real) reboot was all that was needed (W10 defaults to using a 'hybrid' restart/reboot, dumping User data but holding onto System data over the restart. If your System state is buggy, you keep that bugginess across default W10 restarts). 'Fast' Boot, or real Boot...

 

I have re-read my OP. I now see I didn't give any details about which OS I use. It's Windows 10. I'm writing this reply on a different machine but could get further details if they were required.

 

An OS doesn't run on fresh air alone, it also needs compatible hardware, any chance of details, please?

Winver would give us some details of which of the (hundreds of?) W10 builds you are running today.

 

I'll give details of Windows but it'll be tomorrow. I'm still at another PC right now so can't access those details.

As my problem appears to be software related would you please explain how details of hardware will help. I'm not saying they won't but as I don't know how/why I'd be interested to know.

 

We'll explore those most recent Windows Updates next but some of them, and/or the previous batch, might have a direct bearing on the performance of your hardware, specifically the CPU if they're related to firmware patches for Meltdown/Spectre. It's also possible that you take drivers from MS which can also have impact on the hardware performance.

 

OK, but as I say I can't do that today. I use Belarc Advisor (BA). Would the details it gives be OK. I'm sure BA will know more about my PC than me. Just the make and model or anything else?

 

BA would be fine for the Update KBs, if it lists them in date installed order, a link to your Speccy data sheet is best for your hardware specifics, though only an internal visual check will give any info on the PSU.

 

Now, I don't know, at all, what info you'd like. Take as a starting point the concept I've never even heard of computers and explain from that point what info you'd like to know.

 

I'll write it up when I get time, busy now.

 

Hi, satrow. I'm enquiring to see if you can find time to help with this. The annoying (I'd like to use a more profane word) PC is getting slower. I think it's reached its teens and is starting to become petulant.

 

did you defrag the drive at all.

 

Yes, I did. Please see my OP where I do say I have defragmented it.