Basic Information

Windows 10 is also in 2023 a popular and widely used operating system. Although Windows 11 is released since 2021 Windows 10 is still current. Windows 10 will be supplied with security updates until October 2025. Until this time Windows 10 can be used safely without any disadvantage.

The situation is different for Windows 8.1 and for sure for Windows 7. These systems are “end of life” (EOL) and should not be used anymore becauase of a lack of system security. Also an Anti Virus Software doesn’t compensate that there are no security updates offered by Microsoft anymore.

Windows 10 can also be installed and running on older Hardware. Microsoft writes that Windows 10 is able to be functioning on devices with at lease 2 GB of RAM and a 1 GHz processor (CPU). These low system requirements tempt to install Windows 10 on older hardware.

But to not be disappointed by the low performance a trick needs to be done.

The Problem

If you installed Windows 10 on weaker hardware the slow speed of the system and reduced usability could be an issue. The reaction to a click could take up to a few seconds and this can be very annoying if you want to work efficient and effective.

Also to work with several programs at the same time could lead the hardware to its limits.

But there is a trick to reduce the RAM occupation of Windows 10 and to speed up the system.

The Fix

Click to the Windows Start button in the left lower corner of you screen.

Type then “performance” into the search bar. As a search result “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows” will be in the search result list.

Now this Windows opens:

Now click on “Adjust for best performance” and then “OK”.

Restart your computer!

After the reboot of the computer the Memory/RAM fingerprint of Windows 10 will be much reduced and the computer operates much faster than before.

If the computer still doesn’t operate fast enough a hard disk drive replacement could be considered.

Advice

On old computers often the hard disk causes a performance bottle neck and slows down the whole system. Old HDDs (hard drives) should be replaced with SSDs (Solid-State Drives) and old SSD should be replaced with new SSDs.

This procedure takes more efforts and to reinstall Windows 10. Technical skill is needed as well.

Conclusion

Windows 10 is still current for the next years and if the main task of the user consists in browsing the internet, writing emails and creating documents and spread sheets older hardware can be sufficient. The trick described above can make a significant difference in the speed of the system.

If a low budget solution is required, instead of buying a new computer a hard disk drive change can speed up the computer as well.

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