Page 22 - Oct 2024 News On 7

TECH TALK

Dr. Jim's Computer Repair
Jim Sanders

Another month has gone by and here I am contemplating what to write for the Tech article. I could write about
Microsoft’s announcement of a new operating system (Windows 11). I know I have clients that still use Windows 98,
XP, Vista and Windows 7. Now there are reasons they still require these older operating systems and I help them keep
those systems running. No need to panic though Windows 11 won’t start rolling out until later this year and Windows
10 support will continue until 2025. I was on the betta testing of Windows 10 before it was released and will be doing
the same with Windows 11. We shall update this subject when I get a chance to play with the new OS.
Let’s talk about when it is a good time to upgrade your computer and which direction you should go. First and
foremost; what is your main use of the computer? Do you simply surf the internet and check emails? Are you
upgrading because your laptop is slowing down or your system simply does not meet your needs any longer?
Let’s tackle the slower computer and possible solutions to update and not upgrade.
Computer running slow, this could be as easy as having a tune-up done to your system to clean out unwanted
software and possible malware or viruses. Many times, a tune-up will make your system run like a new computer.
Computer start-up taking forever to load? This could be caused by TSR (terminate and stay resident), this is software
that has been installed on the computer that loads when you start your system and stay running in the background.
Some software does need to run in the background to keep your system running but there are many that do not need
to be there. The other reason your computer could be taking forever to load is a failing hard drive. Hard drive
technology has changed over the years, most systems older than 5 years have SATA drives which have moving parts.
Picture an old record player with a record playing. This is very similar to a SATA drive with the plater (record) and the
read write HGA (needle). Over time moving parts start to wear out. Hard drives can be replaced and upgraded to the
newer technology SSD. SSD drives load much faster and have no moving parts so in theory should last longer. Memory
(RAM) may be another way to speed up an older computer. Most systems in the last five years came with 4GB of RAM
(Random Access Memory). RAM can be upgraded on most computers but keep in mind it is system dependent on the
make and model of the computer. Upgrading to a minimum of 8GB is recommended as a base amount.
Lots of things to ponder for sure. If you are thinking about purchasing a new computer but want to see if your older
system can meet your needs; we can asses your system and point you in the right direction.
Until next time.
Dr. Jim