At Digibyte, one of the main reasons for submission of PC's and laptops for repair is because thay are running incredibly slow. There are several factors that can cause this problem and can either fall into the software or hardware category. The hardware factor is quite often due to the condition of the hard drive and this is normally due to wear and tear after 3-4 years depending on amount of use. The only remedy here is to have the hard drive replaced by an experienced technician. Other factors can be faulty or insufficient RAM (Randon Access Memory), voltage variances from the PSU or worst of all, faulty components on the motherboard or the central processing unit (CPU). As an everyday user, there is not a lot you can do apart from take the machine to your favourite repair technician for diagnostics, repair and advice.
However, there are routines available on Windows that enable the "everyday user" to maintain and optimise the performance. These are found in the START menu under ACCESSORIES and SYSTEM TOOLS.
1. Open CONTROL PANEL - ADD OR REMOVE PROGRAMS (Program and Features in Vista & 2007) and Uninstall all old programs that are no longer required.
2. There you will find DISK CLEANUP which guides you through clearing out "clutter" in the form of invalid/oblique and redundant temporary files which helps speed up searching and scanning the hard drive.
3. Also in System Tools is the option to DEFRAGMENT. This tool collects up fragmented files from the same family, groups them back together and puts them back down on the hard drive. The effect of this is also faster searching and also frees up some space on the hard drive. Allow plenty of time for this routine as depending on how big the drive and how much data you have on it, this routine can take from 45 minutes to 4 hours!
4. Open INTERNET EXPLORER, Select TOOLS and INTERNET OPTIONS, choose DELETE Browsing History. Clear out Temporary Internet Files and Cookies especially but also History as well if not needed.
These simple steps will certainly improve the performance of your machine, however, for a full and thorough "tune up" then there are some excellent utility suite programs out there although there are alsoo some very dodgy and damaging ones too! So be warned!! One of the most effective and well reviewed speed and performance boosters out there is quite definitely BOOST SPEED (we use it all the time). Run this program regularly and stay away from the computer repair shop!
Friday, 21 May 2010
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Tips to Buy a Computer or Laptop
When purchasing a new computer or laptop, it is important to set out a clear picture of what you will be expecting to achieve with the new machine. This advice also prepares you confronting the extremely keen PC shop salesman who's objective may well be to sell you more than you really need! I found this useful article which may give you some helpful advice.
If you have decided to go in for a brand new computer, this might be a daunting task. There are so many things that need to be considered. If you a new entrant into the world of computers, this could be even more daunting. Apart from choosing the best configuration, you are also faced with the task of ensuring that your computer does not start giving you a headache as soon as you bring it home.
When you plan to go in for a new computer, you will need a good checklist so that you get it right. The following are some good buying computer tips.
1. Define your budget and plan how much you are going to spend. When you set a budget, prepare for flexibility, since there might be marginal differences between what you plan for and what you actually get.
2. Decide the uses of the computer. Once you are clear about what you are going to use it for, you will be able to get a better idea of what components you will need to get fitted in. You do not need to go in for every component in the market and make a hole in your savings, just under the tag of "latest configuration".
3. Plan for the future is one among the top buying computer tips. Remember that technology is ever changing. Therefore, you might need to upgrade your computer as time goes by. Ensure that when you get your computer, it allows you to upgrade it.
4. Balance out the performance of the machine. This is often overlooked when a person buys a new computer. Quite often, people are so obsessed with the latest processor, that they forget to check on how much memory they need to get that processor performing perfectly. This will, in turn, lead to major headaches later on in time.
5. One of the most important buying computer tips is to get the proper software bundled into the computer and good post sales support. This is especially useful if you are not tech savvy. In these instances, all major software will come pre-installed with your machine, and you will just need to switch it on to use. In the even if your having any issues, there will always be support available to resolve your issues.
6. Ensure that the components you get are of good quality. There are many people who have their own local makes of hardware. While these come at a lower price, they prove to be costlier in the long run. Therefore, go in for quality components as this will save money for you as well as reduce the chances of your computer crashing.
7. Maintain a backup of your computer in the case of any crashes. This can be done if you have a disk drive. You can also get a backup disk at the point of purchase of your computer.
8. Shop around for the best deals. It is unwise to step into a shop and try to buy the best that they have. Remember that not all computers cost the same in all places. Therefore, try to get a better bargain and a better offer before you settle on just one.
To find out more about guide and tips on buying a computer you can go to Buying Computer Tips
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