Remember when your PC was fresh out of the box and super-fast? Those were the days, when boot times were less than the time it takes to hard-boil an egg.
All computers slow down with use. The more you install and uninstall software, add and delete files, change personal preferences and tweak system configurations, the more you leave a trail of file remnants, fragmented drives, registry conflicts, and errors that impair PC performance.
Even a new PC may show premature signs of “age” — that is, longer processing times, system crashes, and programs that lock up inexplicably. The frustrated PC owner may give up on an “old” computer with perfectly good hardware to purchase a brand new unit — only to repeat the cycle.
Spyware, insufficient memory, and worn-out hardware are usually blamed for waning performance.
But while spyware’s a factor in many PC slowdowns, it’s rarely the only factor. And while your system may have loads of RAM, it still won’t suffice if your system manages memory badly.
As for the age of your hardware, there’s no physical reason why it should run any slower...