An experienced
technician can immediately tell which course of action to take on a problem
machine and begin running diagnostics. Unfortunately, if said machine is
running Windows XP or lower, it’s probably more cost effective to just replace
the machine than to repair it. It can be frustrating (both for me and the
client) that a seemingly simple repair can cost more than the computer is
worth. Well here are a few tips for both preventative maintenance and simple
repairs that you may be able to do yourself. Note that most of these repairs
are for older computers and not for virus removal. Some of these steps are
intended as a sort of last resort before buying a new computer. Backup your data before doing anything!
Option 1:
Before getting into possible fixes,
you may want to stop and think about what is really important on this computer.
If you don’t rely on any third party programs such as Quickbooks or Turbotax or
Outlook, then you could just wipe the drive and start over. Most old computers
come with a reinstallation CD. If you do not want to use this option (as it IS
risky), move on to step 2.
***If
you proceed with this step, it is CRITICAL to backup ALL DATA***
Pop the reinstallation CD in the
drive and turn on the computer. If the BIOS is configured
properly, then you should soon see
the prompt “Press any key to boot from CD…”. Press
a key quickly and simply follow the
prompts. Once your install is done, make sure to run
all the Windows Updates, install
your Internet Security Solution (Antivirus), and then
you can transfer all your data back
(pictures, music, documents).
If after this entire process is
completed and your problems return after a short time, it
may be the computer itself
that is the problem. Call 617-396-7044 or visit MooreITHelp.com to see how much
it may cost to get your computer running like new again. We can also help you
pick out a new computer and transfer all your old data from your old computer
to your new one.
Option 2:
If you are lucky, there is a chance
that your computer’s poor performance is due to simple “wear and tear”.
Fragmentation, filled caches, and registry errors can cause computers to act
flaky or even stop working all together. Here are a few simple steps that can
be used for both repair and preventative maintenance.
·
System
Cache:
Clearing the system cache and
temporary files can be an easy way to clear up hard drive space. It can even
solve problems you may be experiencing on websites that use to run just fine. When
you visit a website, your browser downloads many files from that website so
that it may load faster the next time you visit it. That’s all well and good,
but soon those files are going to add up and take up a good deal of space. In
the event that said website has been updated, these old files can interfere
with the download and execution of the updated files. A good program to
automate this process, along with obtaining other bonuses such as registry
cleaning, I recommend CCleaner: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
Instructions for clearing cache in
Internet Explorer
If you have the latest version
of Internet Explorer, IE9, click the gear icon in the top right.
o Go
to Safety > Clear Browsing History.
o Select
"Delete Files."
o Delete
Temporary Internet Files.
In Internet
Explorer 7 or 8:
o Go
to Tools > Internet Options.
o On
the General Tab under Browsing History, select "Delete Files."
o
Delete Temporary Internet Files.
·
Defragment
your hard drive:
I’m sure you have all heard the
broken record “Defragment! Defragment!” Well in case you are wondering why
techs (and self proclaimed techs) keep telling you this, here is a good article
you can read: http://www.geekgirls.com/2010/03/why-defrag/
To defrag, you can either use the
Windows defragmenting tool or download Defraggler from http://www.piriform.com/defraggler.
Defraggler has been reported to do a better job than the Windows defragmenting
tool and also gives you some more options.
·
Run
any applicable Windows Updates:
I don’t know who started this rumor,
but I have had several clients try to tell me that Windows Updates are “bad”.
Windows Updates are latest bug fixes for Microsoft Windows, including fixes for some possible DoS attacks and even applicable
driver updates. They are critical and can solve many common issues. Either use
the built in application in the Control Panel or go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
and follow the prompts.
If these
steps do not seem to solve your issue, feel free to give us a call at 617-396-7044
or visit MooreITHelp.com to see how much it may cost to get your computer
running like new again. We can also help you pick out a new computer and
transfer all your old data from your old computer to your new one.
