Storage drives must be defragmented. USB sticks should be ejected. Antivirus software program slows down your PC. Who isn’t acquainted with these widespread “wisdoms” about Windows?

But are any of those Windows myths really true, and the place do they arrive from? Our editorial crew will get to the underside of all of it and separates truth from fiction.

This article was translated from German to English, and initially appeared on pcwelt.de.

Myth 1: USB sticks have to be ejected!

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Many individuals declare that USB storage media, comparable to flash drives and exterior USB drives, have to be ejected through “Safely remove hardware.” But is that this nonetheless crucial at the moment?

Ejecting USB storage media ensures that the transferred and saved information stays intact. Nevertheless, many individuals ignore this step and take away the stick with out considering. The extra step of correctly ejecting it may be a nuisance, so it’s typically forgotten, which has induced error messages in previous iterations of Windows.

Microsoft acknowledged this drawback and launched an answer that has been obtainable in Windows 10 and 11 since October 2018. The new “Quick Remove” perform permits exterior {hardware} to be eliminated at any time with out having to first click on “Safely remove hardware,” and higher but, the setting is activated by default.

Although this resolution may be very handy and tailored to most individuals’s wants, it has one main downside: Quick Remove not caches your information. Caching ensures a continuing backup of the info, however slows down the switch pace.

Answer: No, utilizing “Safely remove hardware” earlier than yanking out USB drives isn’t required any extra.

Myth 2: Drives have to be defragmented commonly!

Another fantasy considerations the fragmentation of drives and information beneath Windows. It’s typically mentioned that these drives have to be defragmented commonly to keep up their pace. But is defragmentation even crucial right this moment?

Modern drives, particularly strong state storage (SSDs), not want defragmentation. Newer drives retailer and retrieve information in another way than older exhausting drives.

On older exhausting drives, information was saved on magnetic disks and needed to be processed by shifting read-head and write-head models. When a file was erased from the exhausting drive, gaps had been created that could possibly be utilized by different recordsdata. Over time, this led to fragmentation of the recordsdata as they had been saved in smaller fragments in numerous places on the exhausting disk. The purpose of defragmenting the exhausting disk was to carry these fragments collectively and retailer them in a single steady file, which shortened the entry instances to the recordsdata.

In distinction, SSDs retailer information in digital reminiscence cells organized straight on the drive. There are not any shifting components storing recordsdata in numerous places, and thus no fragmentation.

Answer: No, on fashionable techniques with SSDs, defragmentation is not crucial and should even shorten the life expectancy of SSDs. That’s why defragmentation is definitely deactivated by default beneath Windows 10 and Windows 11 if an SSD is put in within the system.

Read extra about our picks for the best SSDs.

Myth 3: Antivirus software program slows down your PC!

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It’s repeatedly claimed that putting in antivirus software program on a Windows system slows down your PC, however is that this true in any respect?

Installing antivirus software program on a pc may cause the system to decelerate as a result of the software program requires sources. If your antivirus performs common scans, this will have an effect on the operation of the pc and trigger applications to start out or reply extra slowly.

But fashionable antivirus applications have options that reduce system load by solely turning into energetic when wanted. In addition, many computer systems right this moment have highly effective processors and reminiscence which might be able to dealing with the execution of antivirus software program with out noticeable delays.

Nevertheless, it’s essential to notice that not utilizing antivirus software program will increase the chance of malware infections, which might have an effect on the pc’s efficiency and, within the worst case, even destroy essential information. Well-configured antivirus is subsequently an essential part for the safety and stability of any pc.

Answer: No, fashionable antivirus software program not noticeably slows down your PC. This misunderstanding dates again to the time of Windows 95 and Windows 98. Today, it’s a good suggestion to all the time preserve antivirus operating in your system.

Read about our top picks for the best Windows antivirus software.

Myth 4: Windows Game Mode doesn’t assist in any respect!

You’ll typically discover individuals debating whether or not Windows 10 and 11’s Game Mode actually has an impression on gaming efficiency. Again and once more, rumors swirl that Game Mode doesn’t actually carry something in any respect.

They’re flawed. Windows Game Mode can enhance the efficiency of PC video games by decreasing background processes and non-essential system actions to liberate extra sources for the sport. This may end up in a better body price, shorter loading instances, and an total higher gaming expertise.

Game Mode may enhance the steadiness of video games by stopping potential conflicts with different functions and processes on the pc. However, some gamers have seen that the distinction when Game Mode is turned on will not be very vital, particularly if their pc is already highly effective. It’s additionally essential to notice that not all video games will profit from having Game Mode enabled, as older or well-optimized video games could present no noticeable distinction.

Answer: Windows 10 and 11’s Game Mode can positively pace up video games, however its advantages are primarily seen on much less highly effective techniques and with much less well-optimized video games. Read our in-depth testing on how Windows 10’s Game Mode makes unplayable games playable… sometimes for the complete image.

Myth 5: Google Chrome consumes lots of RAM and slows down Windows!

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Google Chrome and different Chromium-based browsers (like Microsoft Edge) “consume” a comparatively great amount of RAM in Windows in comparison with different browsers comparable to Mozilla Firefox. But is that this an issue? How does it have an effect on the system?

It’s true that Google Chrome is understood to make use of a comparatively great amount of RAM in comparison with different net browsers. The purpose for that is that Chrome begins a separate course of for every open tab to make sure that closing one tab doesn’t have an effect on the steadiness of different tabs or the browser as an entire.

Whether it is a drawback is determined by your particular circumstances and system. If a pc has enough RAM, Chrome’s extra reminiscence consumption could also be negligible and haven’t any impression on the pc’s efficiency. But in case your pc has restricted RAM and Chrome takes up most of it, it might have an effect on the efficiency of different functions and the system as an entire.

Usually, Chrome’s RAM consumption might be lowered by taking measures comparable to closing tabs that aren’t wanted or disabling extensions. If you’re consistently operating low on RAM, nevertheless, utilizing one other net browser that requires much less reminiscence could also be an efficient various.

Answer: The comparatively excessive RAM consumption of Google Chrome is just not actually an issue beneath regular circumstances. In truth, it’s pushed by a function that enhances browser stability. People with older or memory-constrained techniques ought to preserve fewer tabs open, or swap to a much less resource-intensive browser like Mozilla Firefox.

Should you upgrade your RAM? 5 things to consider.

Myth 6: Windows PCs get slower over time!

It’s typically mentioned that Windows PCs decelerate over time, however is that this true? What can customers do about it?

Over time, it’s attainable for a Windows PC to turn out to be slower, which might be as a consequence of varied causes. Here are some contributing elements:

• Hard disk fragmentation: If your exhausting disk is fragmented, the read-head of the exhausting disk has to maneuver extra to learn the recordsdata, which might result in lowered pace. In fashionable techniques with SSDs, nevertheless, this level is eradicated, as we defined above.
• Outdated {hardware}: As your Windows set up ages, so is your pc’s {hardware}, which might doubtlessly result in slower efficiency. New working system options may put extra pressure on outdated {hardware} and thus decelerate your system.
• Operating system overload: Overloading the working system may cause it to decelerate because it struggles to deal with all of the processes which might be operating. This is brought on by an increasing number of applications and instruments that customers set up on their system over time.
• Malware infections: A pc contaminated by malware might be slowed down by extra processes run by the malware.

Answer: Yes, Windows PCs can decelerate over time, but it surely’s nowhere as pronounced as some individuals appear to assume and pushed primarily by operating plenty of software program directly. There are measures you may take to revive efficiency to an more and more sluggish Windows PC, comparable to eradicating unused applications, updating {hardware}, scanning for malware infections, and cleansing up your pc. Windows has instruments for all of those.

Myth 7: Windows 10 and 11 spy on you!

Since the discharge of Windows 7, Microsoft has been accumulating so-called telemetry information concerning the person’s use of the working system. But is it true that the working system spies on the person?

Windows 10 and 11 gather information to enhance the efficiency and stability of the working system, in addition to to enhance the performance of Windows Update and the Windows Store. Some of this information might be thought-about private info, which is why there have been considerations about Microsoft’s privateness practices previously.

Microsoft

But your Windows privateness settings might be adjusted to disable (or no less than restrict) the gathering of sure information as a lot as attainable. Additionally, you may select whether or not you need crash information and system surveys despatched to Microsoft.

It’s essential to notice that a number of the information assortment settings are enabled by default, nevertheless, and customers could not all the time pay attention to precisely what information is being collected by Microsoft.

Answer: Yes, Microsoft collects a considerable amount of telemetry information from Windows 10 and 11, a few of which might be thought-about private information. Concerned individuals ought to fastidiously verify their Windows privateness settings and regulate them accordingly. But saying that Microsoft is responsible of focused spying goes too far.

Myth 8: Linux is basically quicker than Windows!

Many critics of Windows prefer to accuse the working system of being basically slower than free working techniques primarily based on Linux. But is that this true?

Microsoft/Larry Ewing

It’s a really advanced query with no clear reply. Linux is commonly praised for its effectivity and stability, and may subsequently run higher on older or much less highly effective techniques than Windows. It’s additionally very adaptable and might be optimized for particular necessities. On the opposite hand, Windows is understood for its ease of use and compatibility with a variety of functions and {hardware}. Because of its widespread use, there are additionally a wide range of assist and useful resource choices.

But it’s essential to notice that the efficiency of Linux and Windows is determined by varied elements comparable to {hardware}, drivers, configuration, and optimization. In some instances, Linux might be quicker than Windows, whereas in different instances Windows might be quicker than Linux.

It finally is determined by your wants and what duties must be carried out in your system.

Answer: No, Linux is just not basically quicker than Windows. Both working techniques have their benefits and drawbacks. The reply to this query hinges fully in your utilization wants.