First Lets define "Computer Memory"
There are two types of computer memory we need to be concerned with. One is the hard drive which is like a library of programs and everything else stored on the computer.
The hard drive remembers its stored information even when the computer is shut off.
The second is called "RAM" which stands for "Random Access Memory" and goes blank when the computer is turned off. RAM is where the computer loads programs from the hard drive to run them. RAM is much much faster than the hard drive. If you don't have enough RAM your computer will run very slow. The reason is "Hard Drive Caching", the computer uses part of the hard drive as fake RAM and the hard drive is slow compared to RAM therefore the slow down. Low RAM is a common problem for computer users that purchased discounted computer systems. Often when I help a customer purchase a new computer from Dell we opt for additional RAM. The rule of Thumb is 1GB for XP and 2GB or 3GB for Vista
Always Touch the bare metal case of the plugged in/turned off computer before touching any electronics. This discharges static electricity in you body that could damage the parts. Unplug the computer before adding or removing components or just call me. expereric@gmail.com
RAM can cost from $50.00 to $200.00 and is easy enough to install. $80.00 is a common figure for an upgrade. My recommended option would be to call me to figure out how much you need to order and find the best price and then install it for you. For the same $45.00 service call charge I can also clean up the computer and install a memory management program which would allow your computer to run faster.
Hard drives are now measured in hundreds of Gigabytes compared to RAM measuring a few Gigabytes.
RAM is considered very fast and Hard Drives slow.
Hard drives have far more storage capacity these days and usually you will use only a fraction of the space available. only people with special applications or who stockpile large amounts of data will need to consider larger hard drives. Also those who opt for Image Backups need to consider a larger external drive discussed in the backup section.
A common Hard Drive size is 200GB. 500GB External USB or Firewire Hard Drives cost about $150.
Defregmenting your hard drive
I am referring to de-fragmenting your hard drive NOT the registry, that's covered in the other article .
Your hard drive which is the library that stores information On your computer becomes fragmented overtime.
Fragmentation occurs when programs and files are added and removed especially when removed as it leaves blank spots.
These blank spots end up all over your hard drive and are then filled in as you add files and programs.
Here is the catch, Windows will break up a file or program to fit into several available blank spots left over on the drive. this means your file is not all in one place and when you access it the drive needs to find all the pieces and put them together before you can use it. (causing a delay)
The average user should de-fragment their hard drive about every six months and power users that are adding and removing programs weekly should de-fragment their computer about once per month or even once per week. The built in windows defragmenter in adequate for this.
START/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter
Cleaning and defragmenting the registry is best left to experts as many problems can occur and damage the operating system and leaving the computer in-operable. A trained service technician will know how to back up the registry and how to restore it in case of unexpected trouble. Call me.
It is, however, necessary overtime to clean and defrag the registry for good performance and to resolve errors that creep into the system.
Don't forget that I routinely perform this service during my service calls.
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By Eric Landry, The Computer Consultant in Sarasota, Florida
Email Eric Landry in Sarasota Florida at: expereric@gmail.com
Serving Sarasota Florida From Sarasota Square Mall to The Meadows.
