While troubleshooting a Windows 10 desktop that users report has become noticeably sluggish over the last week, a junior technician immediately concludes that the hard drive is failing and recommends replacement. Which of the following statements BEST explains why this conclusion may be premature?
Solid-state drives never cause slow performance, so the issue cannot be storage related at all.
Sluggish performance can result from software conflicts, resource exhaustion, or malware, so additional diagnostics are required before replacing hardware.
Any sluggish performance indicates that the motherboard is at end of life and must be replaced immediately.
Windows automatically disables underperforming hardware; therefore the hard drive must already have been disabled.
Sluggish performance can be caused by many non-hardware factors, including excessive background processes, insufficient RAM, outdated software, or malware infections. Because these software and resource issues are common, a technician should check Task Manager, perform malware scans, and review update status before blaming hardware. Replacing parts without these checks can waste time and money.
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What are common software issues that can cause sluggish performance?
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How can malware affect system performance, and what are the signs?
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What diagnostic tools can help identify performance issues in a system?