What We Talk About
When We Talk About Upgrades
Things fall apart, the Central Processing Unit cannot hold. The computer that seemed so shiny and new when you took it out of the box a year or so ago now seems to take forever to do the simplest tasks—saving a medium-sized spreadsheet, opening a new window in your browser.
You're waiting for the menu you just clicked to drop and you're waiting for the machine to reboot and you're waiting, waiting, waiting. Godot will show up before you're done with all the waiting.
Why Computers Run Slower
There are plenty of reasons formerly peppy computers slow down. The good news is, there are also cures for each and every one of them. Considering the positive effect most of these solutions provide, they are also quite inexpensive (see our most bang for your buck page for more).
Often, adding some more RAM, for example—our computer uses the PC 2700 DDR memory. We already have 512 MB installed, but being as another 512 MB stick is selling for only $86 USD retail, which would, 1.) give our system 1 GB worth of RAM and 2.) the fact of which would make our geeky hearts go pitter-pat, its pretty much a no-brainer for us. 'Cause we're geeks, you see.
Operating System Bloat
Over time, operating systems experience bloat—from programs being installed and uninstalled, from a build-up of what's often colorfully described as Internet sludge, or from simple file corruption—hey, it happens.
The best solution is reinstall the OS, a relatively simple procedure with lots of details that cannot be ignored, not the least of which is backing up all of your data and your Internet and e-mail passwords.
We warranty that, one way or another, we will have your older machine running like it did when you first got it. Or better.
Want to upgrade your computer? Visit our sister site, NextTech Home
Updated: November 18, 2005