Computer tip #1

Slow PC? Isn’t it time you did something about it then? Here are some tips from Simply FixIT

There are a number of reasons why a PC may be slow and it’s NOT the reason you may be thinking.

Deleting documents, cleaning out emails, deleting temporary files and defragging will all help a little, but there are a few fundamental reasons why computers slow down.

• Over time the Windows software gets corrupted and sometimes needs to be re-installed – this is  called “remastering your computer”. This is something that needs to be done with caution as the process will delete all of your personal information.  Unless you are sure about backing your files up correctly,  then this is best left to an expert who has the knowledge to preserve your information.

• Another reason for sluggish performance could be a lack of sufficient RAM memory. RAM is the storage space that the operating system uses to run programs from.  If your computer has low RAM, then it tries to run programs directly from the hard disk drive, and this causes your system to slow down dramatically.  If you can see the little light flashing away furiously at the front of your computer while you’re using it then this is probably the reason.

• In the past RAM prices were quite expensive, so most computers tended to have the minimum amount of RAM to make them cheaper to sell.  Increasing the computer’s memory is a simple and cost effective way of adding performance to your computer.   RAM upgrades and the price of components have dropped remarkably over recent years this can prove to be a cheap and quick fix.

• Internet security is something we all need on our computers, particularly now when we rely every day on access to the internet.  Be aware that some internet security programs use up more of your computer’s resources than others.   Internet security covers a wide range of areas and tries to run separate scanning and protection engines for each separate function.  Unless your computer has a powerful processor and has sufficient RAM you will find that this alone can be a major culprit when it comes to performance reduction.  Most budget PCs shipped pre-2006 only had 256MB RAM onboard and internet security will need at least 512MB or more.  Consult a specialist about your internet security.

SimplyFixIT started in 1996 with 1 store at Ideal Computing in the Morningside / Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh. Since then it has grown to 4 stores around the city, with more planned for 2011.

It has won awards from all the National computer magazines, recommendations from The Sunday Times, The Scotsman and the Evening News.

They repair all types of computers and laptops, no matter where you bought them from. They are repair partners for Samsung, Epson and Dell, and are now the only Mac Repair Specialists in Edinburgh for non-warranty repairs of iPods, iPhones and even the iPad. For more information on that, please visit http://WeCanFixYourIphone.com

Computer Tips are brought to you courtesy of Ideal Computing –  part of the SimplyFixIT network of Repair Centres.

Tel: 0871 7000 150
Web: http://www.SimplyFixIT.co.uk
Twitter: @SimplyFixIT
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