Five Basic Computer System Maintenance Tasks Every Long-Time PC User Should Know. Over time, Windows can accumulate temporary files and preview caches. Software installations may also include unwanted or malicious installers, which can make a computer slower with continued use. Reinstalling the system can be inconvenient for many users—even though some computer-maintenance tools can reinstall it with one click in about ten minutes—so many people would rather avoid it. This article introduces ways to keep a computer running more smoothly without reinstalling Windows.
Source completeness: The Chinese source title promises five practices, but its supplied body contains only the first two. This translation preserves the available material and does not infer the missing three.
① Use an Original Windows Installation
GHOST-based Windows images can have advantages, such as a shorter installation time and, in some cases, a quick or unattended setup. However, some may remove components from the original system, which can make the installation on your computer unstable. They may also include programs you do not want, including potentially malicious software or Trojan horses. The source describes this as particularly frustrating after, for example, spending hours downloading a game.
An original Windows installation is described as more stable and cleaner: it does not bundle unwanted software or malware inserted by another party.
② Disable Automatic System Updates
People who use a computer regularly may have seen an automatic-update prompt appear during work or a game, or found that a computer would not start promptly when they needed it because the screen remained on a system-update message for hours. The source recommends turning off automatic updates after activating an original Windows installation.
For users who do not want to upgrade to Windows 10, the source gives this historical procedure for removing the upgrade notification: after turning off updates, open Control Panel → System and Security → Windows Update → View update history → Installed Updates, locate update KB3035583, right-click it and uninstall it.