BitTorrent operate global discovery servers and the synced directories can also use DHT if enabled, both of which mean that static IPs are not required. Syncs can also be operated without either of these - they can use LAN discovery and a list of static hosts.

I think the length of time it took to be officially recognised by Microsoft puts weight behind your question. I'd noticed it was slow for ages - even for freshly-installed machines. I didn't think too much of it, as it was always on old hardware.

And you're right, you weren't arguing. I apologise for flying off the handle at you when I should have been aiming elsewhere, your comment did not deserve that.

I got a leaflet through the door this week from our local neighbourhood watch. It said that the police's attention was on sorting out the dog poo and rowdy behaviour from people leaving one of the pubs. I live in such a lame area and I'm genuinely grateful for it.

In the unlikely event that anyone is this deep, looking for meaningful advice, I offer it here. I could address parent's other foaming-at-the-mouth rants, but I'd just be repeating other explosive and rude comments I've already made on this article.

"4) Dump the System Restore from time to time. This is just junk removal. It has its place and can be of great help. But if you have not installed any new in say the last month, disable it, to clear out the trash, and reable it."

No. Do not "dump" it ever. Follow the Control Panel into "System and Security" and then "System". Click on the "System Protection" link from the left-hand pane. You will notice a setting for each fixed disk for System Restore. On the disk that's so hurting for free (i.e. wasted) space, click it then click "Configure".

Here you can choose how much disk space it consumes and you can then completely forget about System Restore until it saves your bacon. You will be glad that you let Windows decide when to delete Restore Points because I can assure you: it knows better than you do.

But PC Tools' software is convincing and alarmist, surely it wouldn't lie to me!

There is no garbage in WinSxS. Windows keeps old or unused files for a reason. You shouldn't be deleting these - manually via a Microsoft tool or otherwise - unless you are low on disk space. Windows does its own automatic passes of storage directories and removes things it doesn't need itself. As the OP said, the size reported by Explorer of WinSxS is the only "garbage" because of the way the contents are handled and linked.

Things aren't as simple as the XP days, for better or for worse. However, in my experience reading the technical details of Vista+'s new features, they are usually for the better. They also make sense once you read up on them at a site that is authoritative and experienced.

I heard you have to reverse the direction of the SATA cable to clean that crap out. Same goes for slow broadband - either reverse the Ethernet cable or turn the WiFi router upside down.

You forgot to turn off System Restore as well! System Restore killed my SSD! Once it's dead we can start on the carcass of the DNS Client service. Pretty sure Microsoft is using that to spy on my web habits...

"You are welcome on my lawn."

Always wondered about people with fences around their property. Seems unnecessarily antisocial to me.

Why don't you diagnose the fault and actually help them, instead of siding on the side of bullshit? If the slow-down is that bad it should be pretty obvious to someone with some technical skill.

That was a one-off bug that slowly accumulated over a very long time for a rather obscure reason. Please provide compelling evidence. Or at least bullshit that looks, from a distance, like something evidence-shaped.

Oh I dunno. You haven't seen the state of some of the servers I've been asked to take over. Let's just say the word "iolo" and "Windows Server" should never been seen in the same screen.

"Disagree"? Parent has provided proof. You can't disagree with what is factually correct.

If you are asking "Can I delete this random directory in my system directory?" then the answer is either:
"Here's a page on Technet explaining what it is for. Read this, then do not delete it."
or:
"If you have to ask, no."

Stop fucking around with things you don't understand and maybe your operating system will stop going slowly or breaking. Did you even look at the logo of sites like www.howtogeek.com? You're actually taking these people seriously, and going about ripping the innards out of Windows on the advice of some whack jobs?

Bingo. If the system is slow, you diagnose it. Once you diagnose it you fix the cause.

Either that or you just wildly accuse the registry, Microsoft or a conspiracy by RAM manufacturers. The Internet told me that registry cleaners and driver boosters work, so they must! Anyone blaming their damn thongs on anything but their washing powder is just...I'm sorry. I just couldn't help myself :-)