by Richard Tausch

I am often asked these questions. I’ll start with memory. Upgrading memory may or may not have a significant impact on performance. The reason is that there are a number other components to a computer that also affect speed and performance and those include CPU speed, number, and type, Bus speed, running programs, TSR’s (these are programs that run in the background), malware, Network connections/ISP, and a host of other items.

People are at times inclined to buy more memory based on something that a friend, acquaintance, or their own intuition tells them…..and while I am not against it, there are other things to consider before or in lieu of replacing memory or getting a new computer when better performance is desired. Here is a list of items that progress from the easiest to implement to the most difficult (either in time and or cost):

1) CHECK THOSE SPARK PLUGS…..

Well okay, not exactly….but you can possibly increase the performance of your system by having a Techie person tune up your computer. This involves the Techie going through and removing startup items that do not need to be running in the background (your tech guy will know what these are). It also includes removing programs you no longer need (that would be determined by you and your Techie) as well as changing a number of settings (won’t go into details here), and possibly upgrading to a newer service pack, etc. But it is possible that this could make all the difference in the world by having a simple tune-up done. The entire process can take as little as 30 minutes if you have been running windows updates all along and the service pack is the latest version – or over an hour if the windows updates are backdated and need a lot of catching up.

2) ADS, ADS, EVERYWHERE…..

If you find unusual things going on with your system such as pop-ups, excessive slowness, being taken to a site that you did not chose, you may have Malware and need a Malware scan and removal. Having a Malware scan done can possibly turn up quite a number of little programs that attempt to redirect you to a specific site (browser hijacks) or even pretend to find virus’s and want you to purchase their virus removal program (fraudware) or a host of other anomalies. Most end-user systems have far more Malware instances these days than they do outright virus instances ….….at least that has been my experience when working on customer computers. Without going into details, the main difference is with Malware, someone is trying to make money from you as in the aforementioned ways, and with virus’s, someone is trying to hurt you.

There are a number of free and pay programs for removing Malware which will be discussed in next months Insight of the Month article.

3) YOUR NETWORK AND YOU…..

If you are using a basic ISP high-speed account and have a family of 5 all on the internet, there is a chance that your bandwidth is the source of your computers slowness. A Techie person can test your bandwidth at peak usage to determine if upgrading your high-speed would have a significant positive impact. If so, you could consider upgrading your DSL to a faster plan for roughly $25.00 more a month or for Comcast cable users, a Comcast Business account for $30.00 more per month. This could make the difference if your issues are related to bandwidth that results from a number of computers accessing the network at the same time (browsing, listening to music, watching youtube videos, etc).

4) A BRAND NEW IMAGE…..

So let’s say you have tuned-up your computer, removed possible Malware, and your internet speeds are normal and your system still does not appear to run like it did when it was new, then what? Is it time to turn your computer into an oversized doorstop, an undersized boat anchor, or test its resilience with that shiny new hammer? Not just yet…..

If you still have the installation discs that came with the computer or a restore partition (a partition on the hard drive with the restore software) then you could have the computer reimaged. This involves copying off all your data files to an external drive, DVD, or USB flash drive and then returning the computer as close as possible to the factory state and putting all your files and programs back. Reimaging can correct registry and program corruption and that makes this process a good choice because you are returning the computer to a pristine operating system and program state.

But this is not a free service and unless you have a solid understanding with the undertaking of this process and can do it yourself, it is best to have a Techie do it. This type of service can run between $75.00 and $150 on up. The end result is that there is a great chance your system will run optimally again (similar or identical to when it was new). That is the good news. But if we are talking about a laptop or desktop that is 3-6 years old, with the changing technology, it may be better to sell it for a couple hundred bucks, or give it to a relative and buy a new computer, especially because you can purchase a decent new one for less than $500 these days. The choice is yours.

5) ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS…..

The holidays are here! And now may be the time to put that new computer on your own Christmas wish list and put your old computer to sleep. Maybe you can buy one as a gift to you to start the New Year. It seems January is a busy time for us Techies because we get so many calls from people who received a new computer over the holidays and want certain things configured. Perhaps you can start 2010 with a bang…or at least with the thrill of a new computer!

The fact is – if you have a computer that is 3-5 years old, the cost of having the memory bumped up including installation could run you $150-$200. And as mentioned earlier, reimaging can cost you time and money as well. And as mentioned at the start, memory does not improve the other native hardware such as CPU, bus speed, which over time becomes outdated and not practical or in some cases not possible to upgrade. And as mentioned, these days you can get a decent home or home office laptop/desktop for less than $500. Because of those excellent prices, a new one is often the best choice when weighed against the costs of replacing the memory, etc., and or reimaging.

Just to recap, here are the main reasons in a nutshell why I personally think a new system is better than adding memory or reimaging:

a. Reimaging can cost you about 40% of the cost for a brand new computer

b. Memory will not increase the native performance of the other hardware such as CPU, Bus speeds, etc.

c. The physical age (if 3-6 years) of the hardware, especially a laptop can lead to hardware failure after you have spent all that money on memory or reimaging.

d. Future operating systems and programs may not be compatible with your existing hardware.

So if your computer is old and fading fast, I would recommend considering steps 1, 2 and 3 at the top of this article. If that doesn’t produce enough of a positive impact on performance, choice 4 or 5 may be your only options. Again…..the ultimate choice is yours.

I hope this article has provided you with insight as to what incremental steps may be needed for you to stay productive in your computing environment in the wake of a computer that is not performing.

And just think, if you implement one or more of the above items, your system may be so fast, you could get a speeding ticket on the information highway….yeah, I know that was so corny but I just had to say it!

Here’s to happy computing speeds,
Richard

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