Does it slow a computer down by having a lot of stuff stored on the desktop?

Question

It is better to store under my Documents in various files?

Answer 1

No. It does not slow the computer down to have files stored on the desktop as opposed to the documents folders.

It might slow you down, if you cannot find a file on the desktop due to all the clutter.

The thing that will slow your computer down most of all is background tasks. If you install programs that run in the background, they take processing power from the applications you want to be using. Spyware, adware, and viruses will also consume processing power; basically, the more junk you have installed, the slower your computer will run.

Having lots of files (regardless of where you store them) can slow your computer down a little, depending on the speed of your hard drive. Run disk defragmenter if you are concerned about this... but I recommend you run defrag overnight, because it takes a long time. I would also suggest booting in safe mode (press F8 while the computer boots) or from the CD that came with the computer (if it can boot Windows), because any background process that accesses the hard disk will cause defrag to restart.

Answer 2

Storing things on the desktop doesn't slow the computer down, but having a lot of desktop icons is usually a symptom of having a lot of programs installed. (Since most programs like to slap a shortcut on the desktop.) Having a lot of programs installed CAN slow the computer down, especially if they run in the background all the time. If your PC is running slow, go into the Control Panel and use the Add/Remove Programs feature to clear out some of the software you don't use. That'll help speed things up.

As far as using the My Documents folder, that's largely a matter of convenience and organization. My desktop tends to be horrendously cluttered because I'm kind of disorganized. ;)

Answer 3

Well, technically yes and no. It does depend if you are storing actual files on your desktop, or if they are contained in folders. Also, it depends on the size of the actual files (ie. mp3's, avi, jpg's). Every file on the desktop (loose files, not those in folders) have to be loaded into RAM when the computer boots up, which can dramatically slowdown your bootup speed. After bootup however, there is minimal difference at best where the files are stored. Now, if you have a marked slowdown in performance speed there are several things that can cause this. There are 3 major milestones on a harddrive that will cause it to be sluggish when it reaches certain capacity markers (25%, 50%, and 75% full). Obviously, the more full your harddrive, the longer it will take to access your information since it has more data to dig through. Another probable cause of a sluggish system can be your neighborhood friendly defrag. If you save and delete files on any kind of regular basis your information can become fragmented. Which in essence can muck things up, since your computer has to remember where all the individual bits are to any given file. This can be easily remedied by using the system defrag. This can be reached my going into 'My Computer', right clicking on your hard drive, selcting Properties, and then click the button labeled 'Disk Cleanup'.

Answer 4

Yes and Yes
It slows the boot up down a bit and can be quite chaotic for the user to find files when using the desktop as a storage location. Try to store installation files elsewhere, like "my documents", and keep the desktop as shortcuts only. You can bundle similar shortcuts into folders on your desktop as well.

see here
http://www.proz.com/topic/47881

Answer 5

It sort of depends. I have know it to slow start up but the only reason I could find it affecting it after boot is if the computer was fairly slow to begin with and redrawing the screen might take some speed away, but that's "iffy"

Answer 6

If definitely slows a computer down by storing things on the desktop. The desktop is just for essential, everyday use icons. Everything else is better off in the my docs. folder.

Answer 7

Yes it will. Especially in XP, the items on the desktop are cached (that is loaded into memory) for quicker access. That is why, after all, you have the icon on your desktop.

I would recommend that any icons that you don't store unnecessary icons on the desktop and only leave the Windows standard ones. (My Computer, Recycle Bin, etc...)

Answer 8

It doesn't really matter where the files are stored. The only way to speed things up is to get rid of the extra files.

It's easier to find things if they are sorted in a logical manner, but it won't help your computer's performance.

Answer 9

Doesn't make a difference. What will slow you computer down is having a lot of background apps running.

Answer 10

It could be. But you should try deleting the temperary internet files, clearing the history, and deleting all the cookies. And going through and erasing all the programs you dont use anymore.