Microsoft Processes Slow PCs to a Crawl

[engine]

I've just about had enough of Microsoft's processes in Windows 10 slowing my PC to a crawl. Prime candidates are:-
Service Host processes, of different kinds
Runtime Broker

I've already disabled Cortana and its system scanning for files which takes a lot of resources.

I guess, for many, that don't use their PC continuously throughout the day it's not so critical, and they probably don't notice it.

I have removed all programs I don't use, and many of Microsoft's automatic installations of games and alike. But, still, it's slow.
You might say it's down to my machine. I have as much as 55% HD free space, and have cleared cache, I have plenty of RAM free when these processes are not hogging the system, between the hard drive and RAM. I installed additional RAM beyond that the machine was specified.
It's not an old PC.

Clearly, a new machine with an SSD will be much faster, but the problem of these Microsoft processes will still exist.

If I was one for conspiracy theories i'd suggest that MS is doing this to help drive hardware sales.
No, I think it's just incompetence.

[JorgeV]

Hello,

How did you get ride of Corona? I thought I did, but there are still things here and there.

[IanCP]

This is what I used [Pro version down page] - "Pro and Enterprise Users: Disable Cortana via Group Policy"

How to Disable Cortana in Windows 10

[howtogeek.com ]

[lucy24]

If I was one for conspiracy theories i'd suggest that MS is doing this to help drive hardware sales.

And why not, given Microsoft's long history of swiping ideas from Apple? ;)

[IanCP]

Not only Apple. Thirty or more years ago stealing from other small startups who had innovative new ideas, then threatening them with bogus copyright infringement and million dollar lawsuits to beat them down into submission.

Even Apple did that, as a friend of mine could attest - I saw the legal letter served on him. As his solicitor said to him: "Where are you going to get money to fight them? You can't and that is what these huge big city law firms count on to beat you into submission".

[engine]

I really didn't want to buy a new machine. It's not just the cost of hardware, it's the time spent installing and configuring the software. Restoring the data is the smaller of the hassles.

[tangor]

You can hide Cortana, but you can't remove it. Embedded by a zillion layers.

Even Linux benefits from new hardware, though I firmly stand behind using hardware that is STILL VIABLE and CAPABLE.

Clone docks are less then US$50 (most in the $30 range) that will move your data from spinning rust to SSD lickety split, install in place and put the rust on the shelf as your LAST MAJOR BACKUP.

All OS, regardless of maker, are bloating out the wahzoo and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

If speed is the issue, switch to SSD NOW... just pick the right kind of SSD for your critical applications/needs.

[engine]

SSD is not the solution for data because there's no need to load the data fast.

Hard drives are pretty much fine, and are excellent value for money right now.

The problem is the background processes taking place, which have become onerous. These are the problems, and an SSD will be much faster, but the processes are still taking place. This is adding a powerful Ferrari engine to a car that still has to drive through stop-start town traffic.

I'm not the only one with these issues, and it's been going on for a long time. A simple search will show many frustrated users with challenges over system processes.

I have tried disabling as many systems processes as possible, without compromising the system integrity, but, typical of Microsoft, they bounce back, so it's an ongoing tuning issue.

I have run all the legitimate "cleaners" and routines you can imagine to remove unwanted bloat, but i'm starting to think i'll just have to accept that "resistance is futile".

[IanCP]

I have run all the legitimate "cleaners" and routines you can imagine to remove unwanted bloat...

Which puts me in mind of an acquaintance of mine way back in the days of early Windows [before 3.1].

Now I was using an Apple 11 back then and I was peripheral to the conversation between these IT fellows in those days. My acquaintance was going on about "Microsoft bloat". He had written a routine which isolated every file that had not been accessed in the previous six months.

If you can remember back in those days HD space was precious - I swear some modern bloated web pages would consume the space of those old HDD.

Anyway he was able to remove from Windows sufficient files to make a difference to him, and the whole system never missed a beat. Kind of reminds me of a small program mimicking the DOS 5 screen and only said "Hello World". That occupied an appalling 750 Kb of space.

[engine]

Yes, I remember those days of small hard drives where space was precious.
I'm sure there are plenty of files Windows dumps on user machines. I am reluctant to delete files, mainly because I don't need to save space.

I've tried rolling back the Windows update which is supposed to be the culprit, but, it won't allow it.

[IanCP]

Obtain the most stable version of Windows you are happy with, download the ISO and install it. Somewhere I have a link to the most suitable download site.

I have had to do that a couple of times, and not just with Windows.

What is the most stable version of Windows you are happy with?

[engine]

Oh crikey, IanCP, I hadn't kept a note of the stable versions.

Every day is a school day, eh!

[finco]

That's one of the Primary reasons I switched from Windows to Ubuntu....

I just can't take all of Windows bloatware again

[IanCP]

I hadn't kept a note of the stable versions

I'm running 1703 quite happily.

This is where I downloaded my ISO's - choose carefully, the options are more complicated than first thought.

[tb.rg-adguard.net ]

That was the site recommended to me on the Microsoft forum quite awhile back.

[engine]

Thanks.

I'm not going to experiment, there isn't time to do all that.
I think i'm going to have to give up on this machine with Windows 10, sadly.

I really don't look forward to reconfiguring the software, whatever I end up doing.