Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025

[wiggydiggy]

"Microsoft's Windows Defender anti-virus software will sporadically take over all hardware performance counters and use them in a way that reduces system performance significantly."

Google "Counter Control" - I was about to junk my W10 laptop when I discovered this.

Cheers. I had a quick skim of the top results and there are a couple of programs I'll try first.

 

[DaveReading]

Cheers. I had a quick skim of the top results and there are a couple of programs I'll try first.

That sounds like a sensible approach.

I suspect this is where you'll end up: https://www.techpowerup.com/download/counter-control/

I can't get over how much it has improved the performance of my machine. It's a bit of a pain that you need to re-run it every time the PC boots or wakes from sleep/hibernation, but that's a small price to pay.

 

[Alex321]

Thats just a case of you not explaining the terminology rather than her struggling with the tech.

Yes I know that. But it as more to illustrate how even intelligent and well educated people can be unaware of what we more tech minded people take for granted without even thinking about it, and which we often don't realise is not understood by most.

Those suggesting installing Linux, and saying "it isn't a steep learning curve" are speaking from the POV of somebody with a decent knowledge and understanding of computers (as I was then).