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Should I Perform a Frest Start?

Anonymous
2019-05-16T20:57:36+00:00

My laptop had gradually started running apps and games slower recently. So I decided to see if there was a way to fix it in my settings and found the "Fresh Start" button. I read everything about it but I'm not sure if I should try and attempt it to see if my computer runs faster after its done. But I still have some questions about it like "Is it basically a computer factory reset with come apps being kept" or

"Can I choose apps and files that I want to keep before I actually do it." Those are the main two questions I have about doing a Fresh Start"

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-05-16T21:52:21+00:00

    Fresh Start is a drastic measure that you shouldn't enter into casually. It's something to do when your computer is hopelessly messed up and there's no other way out. You wouldn't knock down and re-build a house to fix a slow faucet; in the same way you wouldn't wipe out your entire computer and start again from scratch unless you absolutely had to. In addition, a so-called 'fresh start' needs lots of preparation and there are many details and 'gotchas' to be aware of. Don't do it unless you really, really have to.

    There's no mystery to why a computer runs slowly: it's got too much to do. To make it run as fast as it can, remove jobs that it doesn't really need to be doing so it can devote more of its resources to working on tasks that you really want it to do.

    There are several ways to do this - I always like to start with the low hanging fruit. If you open Task Manager to the Startup tab, you'll see a list of all the programs that start themselves with Windows and run in the background along with Windows. Do you really need to have all that stuff? If not, you can eliminate many of them and hand the processing capacity they are using back to Windows.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-05-16T21:19:48+00:00

    Would trying to update certain drivers help fix some of my performance issues? If so which ones would help this issue? I just don't want to risk doing something I'll regret later on with the limited information I have about performing a Fresh Start.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-16T21:01:06+00:00

    Hi Ian. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP here to help you.

    Fresh Start removes the factory preinstalled apps that your computer maker includes (aka bloatware not wanted by many) and only reinstalls Windows and it's native apps. So if you have a favorite factory app (like the Dell Phone app I like) then first make sure there's a way to reinstall it from the PC maker's Support Downloads web page for your exact model - this is also where you should be updating your drivers from regularly to be most thorough.

    Even though the Fresh Start reinstalls WIndows it doesn't wipe the drive clean first so cannot be called a Clean Install. If you want to see what's involved in the gold standard Clean Install read over the illustrated steps in this link which compile the best possible Clean Install of Windows which will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given, has zero reported problems, and is better than any amount of money could buy: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post helped you, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-16T21:22:27+00:00

    Sure, Ian. You should always have the latest drivers from the PC or device maker's Support Downloads web page.

    To update your drivers and BIOS/UEFI firmware from PC or motherboard maker's Support Downloads web page, locate the full model number, Serial Number or Dell Service Tag on sticker. Compare the latest drivers available for download with the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu. Make sure you have the latest BIOS or UEFI firmware, Chipset, Display (Video), Sound, USB3, Bluetooth, Network and all other drivers, or else download and install the latest now.

    Updating drivers from the Device Manager or Windows Update is rarely enough. The most basic thing we need to learn to maintain a PC is keep the latest manufacturer's drivers installed from their Support Downloads web page.

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