Updating Your Computer

In today’s economy, many of are holding back from purchasing anything that is not necessary. A new computer is not a necessity. Especially, if a new computer has Vista installed! A substantial majority of my customers do not want to lose their Windows XP, and get Vista. Many are waiting for Windows 7, and preferably after the first Service Pack!

 

Current trends for computer purchases are toward laptops(notebooks) and now “Netbooks”. The laptops almost always have Vista (for $150 extra, you get to pay for Vista, and then pay again for XP!). So, if you computer has gotten slow, you are in a quandary. Pay $500 and up for a laptop (with Vista), pay $ 400 and up for a “Netbook”, with very limited functionality, or save the money and live with that old slow dog you have now?

 

Well there is another option: Update your current desktop! Updating, would include a full reload of Windows XP, and minor memory addition, or perhaps a bigger hard drive. Updating can be done for less than $100, plus  extra for memory and/or hard drive if needed. By doing this, you can keep your current XP, until Windows 7 and the first service pack are out. Your current desktop, could still serve as a Internet access workstation. You would probably add a Windows 7 laptop, in 2010 or later.

 

Best Candidates for Updating:

 

• CPU Speed of at least 2 Ghz (to determine CPU Speed, click - CPU Speed

Older computers of less than 2 Ghz probably would still be relatively slow, even after updating. They would most likely need to be upgraded, or replaced. In some cases, an updated CPU could be installed, which would then make it a candidate for updating. For more information on upgrades - see Upgrades

• "Slow Computers!"

After you've had a computer for some time, maybe 2-3 years, it becomes quite slow, because it has too much "stuff" on it, and could really use some "cleaning". Many of my customers have been pleased with their computer "speed" after I've done a "Format/Reload". In many cases, I had to do a format reload, because of serious corruption by viruses, or other failures, and the imroved speed was a bonus!

 

What does "Format/Reload" include?

 

• Backup of documents, pictures, e-mail, music, etc.

• Testing of hard drive, to ensure that it is in good physical condition, adequate size, and speed.

• Format the hard drive, and erase old Windows load, old data, and any corruption that was there.

• Reload Windows XP, including all Windows updates

• Re-install device drivers

• Install Antivirus program, to prevent re-infection

• Re-install documents, pictures, e-mail, music, etc.

 

What Else is Involved in "Updating?"

 

Memory

 

Windows XP performs well with 512MB RAM (memory). If your PC has only 256MB, then you may need additional memory (typically less than $50). Some users who use their computer mostly for just surfing and e-mail, found that 256MB was adequate.

 

Hard Drive

 

Computers in the past 3 years have hard drive of 80GB or more. This would most likely be OK to continue to use. I check the size and condition of the hard drive, as well as how much information you typically use, to determine if a newer or larger hard drive is warranted.

Have a question, or to get free quote:

 

call: 254-8228

 

email at: norm@cnaw.biz