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Community Newsletter: Q&A: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced?
- 4/27/07 2:22 PM
Replace or not replace?
by yukiuk - 4/14/07 4:25 PM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Janet - Crikey mate, is your computer actually displaying all the symptoms you describe? Without knowing the exact details of your computer's age and hardware specs it is difficult to give concrete advise.
Most of the behavior you describe can be caused by an overload of infections, spyware, adware or viruses etc. This can be rectified by submitting your computer to the local techy for a professional clean of the hard drive. This process is relatively inexpensive BUT you will lose all your important data and favorite programs. Your technician can give you advise in this area.
The greatest reason for upgrading to a new computer is 'technological redundancy'. Computer technology is advancing so rapidly that even relatively new computers can quickly become superceded.
The bottom line is that your best bet is a visit to your local technician, with computer in hand for diagnosis and advice on the best course of action.
Regards (and good luck) JIMBO
Computer CPR
by div_ - 4/14/07 6:33 PM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This is going to be a short answer.
Basically from the problems you have the best solution would be to completely delete everything on your computer (completely erase the hard drive) and re-install your operative system. Of course this is the easiest way and it will only work if what you have is a software problem. If you have data that you would like to save just store it on some DVDs or use a file-hosting site.
Well... Good luck with your computer.
div_
When to dump your old computer and get a new one...
by Wolfie2k5 - 4/14/07 7:23 PM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Janet,
My easy answer - a computer is ready for the scrap heap only when it's dead. When it won't power up, won't boot and there's no signs of life. And even then there may still be hardware that can be salvaged from the box and used again. Just because your operating system has issues - corruption, viruses, spyware infestations, etc... doesn't mean it's ready to be thrown out. Your data can be backed up and Windows can be reinstalled, bringing it back to near factory specs.
The $64,000 question here is what exactly is wrong with the computer. Is it infected with viruses/spyware/adware? Any of these items can cause the symptoms you're describing. And they aren't "fatal" for the computer.
Simply backing up data and then copying the files over to another computer MAY solve the problems temporarily - but if one or more of the files are infected with something - you're only going to be moving the problem from one computer to the other. Buying a new computer will speed things up if you're crapware free - for the moment. All computers tend to slow down with age.
Whenever you use your computer, more and more stuff gets written to the hard drive. Every email you get and save gets written to it. Every time you install something new - something gets written to it. Over time files no longer get written to the hard drive in one big chunk. The drive's controller finds open spaces and starts filling them in wherever it can and that leads to slow performance. If you have to find a file that has parts located in 3-4 or more places, it takes extra time to read the whole thing into memory. If your system is free of viruses, spyware and other assorted junk, you could simply try doing a disk cleanup (found in the All Programs/Accessories/System Tools menu)and removing all the deterious from your hard drive and then defragmenting your hard drive.
Unfortunately, given your description, it sounds like there's a bit more going on than a fragged hard drive.
The first thing to do is to make sure your computer is free and clear of crapware - i.e. viruses, spyware, adware, etc... You can do this by going to Trend Micro or Panda Software's web sites and using their online antivirus scanners to neutralize any threats and double check to make sure your files are in good shape. Be sure to scan the entire computer!
Now then... With the first steps out of the way - you will want to evaluate the hardware. The first question you need to ask yourself is how OLD is the hardware in question. If it's more than say, 5 years old, then you quite probably want to either upgrade or get a new one. The reasoning here is hardware that gets to be 3, 4, 5 or more years old is likely to be a lot less reliable than newer stuff. I recently had to rebuild my server (vintage 2001 hardware). To make a really long story short - hardware does wear out and you WILL need to consider your options.
If the hardware is newer than say, a few years, and the hardware itself is fast enough for your needs, and you're not interested in Windows Vista, then a new computer could easily be overkill. As the old cliche goes - No sense throwing the baby out with the bathwater. You've got a few options open to give your old computer a new life - backup your data and reinstall Windows from the install or reinstall/restore CD(s). This will restore the computer's software to it's original state - but will also wipe out any and all applications you've installed which means you'll have to reinstall at least the ones you are currently using. While this may seem drastic - buying a new name-brand computer will probably be a similar experience.
Alternatively, you could also attempt to use one of the plethora of registry cleaner/repair utilities. A word of warning: These utilities, while they DO simplify cleaning up the registry, they should only be used by people who really know what they're doing. By deleting the wrong registry keys, you can trash your entire Windows installation and your only option then would be to reinstall everything anyhow. This should only be attempted by those who know what's safe and what's not.
At any rate, you might simply want a professional to take a look at the computer and see what they think about it. If you DO go down this road, make sure you get someone who's impartial (i.e. NOT someone with a vested interest in selling you a new computer just because). You might also want to get a 2nd opinion.
Now then, if you DO decide it's time to get another computer - you can do numerous things with your old one - from wiping it out and giving it to the kids, or to a charity, or reusing it as networked storage or simply turning it into a recycling center. The options are nearly endless.
Warning signs of something else
by MichaelF - 4/14/07 7:34 PM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Janet
Being an owner of a computer business that has seen a lot of problem computers I would have to say that your symptoms give me no indication that your computer needs replacing. It may, or may not, but your answers give information to a different question. Let me explain.
If you brought your computer to me with the symptoms you describe my first thoughts would be that this computer is badly infected by adware and spyware and most likely has a virus or 2. It could also indicate that your main hard drive partition is full and that your hard drive needs a clean up of unnecessary programs, temporary files and media that probably needs putting onto external media and removed. Actually the more I think about it your symptoms do indicate a full hard drive. If your computer has run out of space for a decent size swap file and cannot create the print spooling files then all those things described will occur.
In the first instance your computer may just need the required utilities run and your computer cleaned up such as updated antivirus and spyware tools. In the second instance your hard drive needs cleaning up as described above. at worst you may need a bigger hard drive but more information is needed as your hard drive could have been partitioned into several logical hard drives and you may have plenty of space on one of these other hard drives. I have ssen this before when well meaning friends have set up computers like their own without explaining how to benefit from multiple partitions.
To determine if you need a new computer I would need answers to a completely different set of questions such as, how mauch RAM, how big is your hard drive, and what processor do you have as well as what do you want to do with your computer and what applications do you want to run to see if the specifications match your requirements.
So in summary your symptoms indicate a problem that could occur to the most modern computer on the market today and requires some generally minor maintenance. A new computer on these symptoms would be like performing heart surgery when you need a haircut.
If you post answers to the questions I posed I could more accurately determine if you really need a new computer.
Good luck
Michael F
New PC
by HotlipsH - 4/14/07 10:22 PM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I would not recommend you purchase a new PC just because you are having a few software problems, if everyone did that, then- well if i did that i would buy one a year.
Admit idly i didn't have as many prob as you but i did have quite a big prob with my operating system (XP) recently, and had to wipe the whole HD and re in stall the lot (Make shore you back up all your important programs & files b4 you do anything like what i am suggesting). If you have any doubts then get an expert to do it.
What i am saying is that only purchase a new PC if you want to upgrade, or it is going to cost more to fix it than to replace it.
Good luck what ever you decide.
I recommend that you get a Toshiba, my work just bought a M110 for $900, witch for the price and specs was a great buy. What ever you decide make shore you buy something with enough memory, processing power, etc for what you are using it for.
Take it to a pro, i am def not one, but i don't think you can do any thing else but wipe and start over- That would be the easiest way any ho
When a computer is all but dead.
by hugo65 - 4/21/07 2:58 PM In reply to: New PC by HotlipsHComputers can be restored! A hard disk can be replaced, as can a CPU (the chip that makes your computer "Go"), Memory, Video/Graphics Card, Sound card etc with something a bit more up-to-date. The only thing that might die is the PSU (Power Supply Unit (the bit with the main Fan in and sits in the top right hand corner at the back of your PC)) but these like everything else can be replaced piecemeal and won't cost you the arm and a leg it would if you went out and bought a new PC!
A good magazine such as PC World or computeractive will help you when the going gets tough and you will learn a whole heap of other stuff that might help you. The future is brighter - your computer can be fixed and it won't be too painful to do it yourself! Hugo65
All Computers are outdated when sold.
by loriwest - 4/15/07 1:35 AM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The reason I say this Janet is not because the usefulness of old computer equipment is lost, but because the latest technology is still in the works all the time. Like I say when the question of buying a car comes up; "Don't buy the first model year of ANY car. Let the bugs get worked out first and if it's a good model, it will improve in a short time." So don't rush out to buy the latest, greatest gear untill the bugs get worked out. This is all to say that we all have outdated stuff to some degree. Not one of my computers in my house is newer then four or five years. Ten year old devices in my network aren't uncommon. My favorite keyboard is fifteen years old and I'll jump through tiny little hoops to get it working on any computer I wish to use full time. This is'nt always possible though and in some cases if you wish to use some operating systems or programs, you must upgrade the hardware first. Vista (as I've read so far) seems to be all about forcing upgrades in your hardware to get in working fully. This is something I don't look forward to at all. XP left out enough of my tried and trusted componants as it is. To late to make short of this I know but it comes down to what you can afford and what you want to run for software. Upgrades will be needed right away if you plan to move up to Vista soon but alot still can be done with the old stuff. One idea is to get your smart techie friend (we all have one right)to turn your old XP or 98 or whatever machine into a hardware firewall or print server or web server. I took the first modern Windows PC machine I build %100 ten years ago into a personal web server. Perhaps like me your family memebers like to browse for ideas in the kitchen to make dinners more enjoyable. A seven year old '98 with a small CRT under the TV makes for more Internet fun in another room. The cook gets help from there easy as well and the old equipment isn't doomed to the land fill. This brings up the biggest reason I use the old stuff. It simply is not a good idea to throw all these old electronic devices into the land fill as many contain poisons that will come back on us eventually. So I say we keep the old Dino's lumbering along for as long as we can make use of them. If you upgrade to a new machine, strip the old one down to a modem and make it your answering machine and weather console near the front door. Maybe use that old laptop for a wireless music jukebox by storing songs on a central network disk and connecting the laptop to and amp and speakers out in the garage for summer BBQ's. I for one will always take the old drives and put them in as secondary's when I get a new pc just so personal files and settings are easy and fast to move onto the new one.
Well good luck and try to find some use for us old guys as many times we can still proform old tasks just as well as before, taking the load off your flashy new guy in town.
Warmly, "old in ohio" Mark
Life, Death or Reincarnation?
by ralphclark - 4/15/07 2:06 AM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Windows is a very opaque system and when the OS starts to misbehave, quite often you will not be able to determine the cause or the cure.
With Windows, fault logging information is usually hidden in some proprietary binary format only viewable with the correct proprietary log viewer, AND this app doesn't actually show you enough information to identify what went wrong, AND in many cases the logging facility was not even turned on in the first place AND you can't find where you have to go to turn it on. So you will be lucky if you even get a cryptic error message and a 5-digit error code.
Reports of similar symptoms on the net, even those quoting the same error code, will be found to elicit a range of half informed guesses in response and none of these will help. Because the error code isn't specific enough to identify the fault. It usually doesn't even tell you which software component it was that caused the error!
At this point, when you are forced to give up the search for a specific cure, the conventional wisdom says "re-install Windows".
However just consider the amount of work that this entails - installing and configuring the OS, then loading up the service packs and all the hotfixes - and then doing the same for each and every application you had installed - assuming you can even find the install disks.
It's a huge undertaking and there is no guarantee of success as the cause of the problem might be one of the hundred or so updates you had to install to bring it up to date. Also bear in mind that WinXP is now nearing the end of its (supported) life, so you are sinking all this effort just to preserve a patient that will soon die anyway.
Some will say its just not worth the candle and let it die. However there is a third alternative: Repartition the hard drive and install a free Linux distribution.
How does this help?
Well in the first place, it is easier than rebuilding the old install because in the vast majority of cases you can source all your OS and application updates from the same place and the whole process is automated. So it will take you far less time and effort to get your install up to date than it would to do a Windows re-install with all your old apps.
Secondly it will completely solve any software- or configuration-related malfunction problem you were having.
Whereas, if the original problem was actually caused by faulty hardware, I can pretty much guarantee that the fault will expose itself clearly enough for you to be able to go on the net and find a specific answer. Linux forum answers tend to be a lot clearer and involve a lot less handwaving than the Windows ones, mainly because Linux's internal dialogue is made easily available through a bunch of traditional plain text log files.
So if you had sufficient space to retain the old Windows installation when you repartitioned for the Linux install you may well find that in finding and rectifying a hardware fault under Linux, this has also cured the problem with Windows. At which point you can go back to using Windows again. If you still want to, that is 
When is it time to upgrade
by richardstobart - 4/15/07 2:36 AM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There are a couple of ways to view this problem. Has Windows tied itself in knots and needs a refresh or is it the hardware that is showing its age? Does the PC still do what you need it to? Can you afford to 'treat' yourself to a new PC?
Try to figure out where the problem lies and if one or more of the following will help extend the life of your PC by a couple of years.
1. Will a new hard drive with a fresh installation of your version of Windows help? Usually hard drives are the first pieces of hardware to wear out as they have moving parts whereas most of the other components will be limited to heat damage and dry joints. Replacing the hard drive gives you the opportunity to create more space, do a spring-clean on your filing structure, reinstall the operating system and applications and load the latest drivers. You can keep your old hard drive intact in case you forget to copy something over or make a mistake and need to start again and restore from your old drive. For the same money or less you should be able to buy a larger, faster drive and for a couple of extra dollars, upgrade the controller too, increasing throughput.
2. Adding more memory usually speeds up an older machine. It is unusual but not unheard of that memory starts getting faulty bits, and with the cheaper non-parity memory does not alert the operating system of faults. More memory will usually just give a faster response time of the PC, faster switching between applications and less reliance on the slower disk swap file. New memory doesn't usually solve reliability problems.
3. Get the latest service pack for your operating system and refresh all your peripherals' drivers. Going up to the latest greatest OS version, Vista, is probably not a good idea if you are sticking with hardware that is a couple of years old but a service pack update will ensure that you are not still experiencing issues that have already been fixed by the software vendors.
4. Get out the vacuum cleaner and a bottle of surgical spirits and give the innards a clean. Dust in the fan can cause noise and reduces efficiency of the airflow.
The alternative to all of this is to treat yourself. Consider a Mac Mini, which for a couple of hundred dollars, allows you to keep your existing peripherals but get a new machine. (Note that if you are planing on running Parallels and running Windows within OS X, you will need to upgrade the Mini's memory.) You can always just install Boot Camp and run the machine as a new Windows machine but you will be missing out on the great OS X experience.
Salvage?
by Flirkann - 4/15/07 7:22 AM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Ugh, I hope you haven't experienced all of those symptoms Janet.
Some of the symptoms you describe can be fixed by a comprehensive clean out and re-initialisation of the data on the hard drive - back up what data and settings you you want to keep, locate all the installation packages and cds, then wipe the drive and start over.
If the computer is less than 5 years old it would most likely still be powerful enough for your needs, making this a worthwhile option to consider.
The document corruption on the other hand hints at a worn out hard drive which needs to either be replaced or be put through a level 2 SpinRite treatment.
So, there's my thoughts on why you don't need to get a new PC.
You may have been looking/yearning to get a more powerful computer for some time now, or even considering moving to Vista "shudder", both of which provide the neccesary justification to get that newer PC.
If you feel the technical inclination, I'd certainly recommend trying to salvage the old PC if it's worth the effort, otherwise start looking at the deals on offer.
Best of luck - Daniel
traduza-me para portugues;nao sei ler ingles
by loruca12 - 4/15/07 9:19 AM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
por favor envie-me em portugues ou não poderei responder
Remember Computer is just a machine which has HW & SW
by Mezy_diana - 4/15/07 11:57 AM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well accoring to me a computer is just a machine which is built on complex hardware and works based on the software installed on it.From my personal experience as hardware tech support for Hewlet Packard there is nothing that cannot be fixed on a comp. Imagine a second hand tyre being replaced on a new ferrari, No matter how good a driver you are and no matter how good the car is still it is running on a bad set of tyres and similarly bad car with brand new tyres will also do no good coz no matter how good the tyre is the car will still perform the same. So its the same concept on the PCs as well. The Hardware on the comp is like your car and the Software that runs your car is your software which are like tyres, Both of them need to go hand in hand. So my point here is, if your comp starts only in safe mode then there are two possibelities, one HW and two SW.If it is HW it might be a problem with the graphics card or the display adapters or some time even the memory on the come. If it is SW it might be a problem with some program installed on the comp or the OS itself. In both the cases if we know what the problem is we can fix it. If the problem is that the comp never gets into the windows desktop then it might be a cleare cut issue with the OS, i.e if there were any changes that were made both HW or SW in the OS regestry that was not healthy for the comp. 70 to 80% of the time a OS repait will fix the problem but if repair does not work you can always formatt the OS. If you comp stops printing then there might be a problem with the printer ot self or the port or the driver or the software that was suppose to be installed. The trick here is to identify where the problem and isolate it. And if the MS files get correpted when you try to save it then it might be a virus issue or problem with micro soft software it self, reinstalling which will fix the problem. So my point here is, Computer is just a machine. If one knows how to use it and isolate what the issue with the comp is every thing can be fixed. As far as replacement is considered, you can always upgrade to your requirements as time pass on. Repacement will be an expensive move if you have this tendency to break.
warning sign to watch out for
by Dombalah - 4/20/07 8:29 PM In reply to: Remember Computer is just a machine which has HW & SW by Mezy_diana1. Its so old you cant get parts.
2. You look inside and the Capacitors are bulging or leaking on the Mother Board.
3. You've added everything including the mud flaps and it still isn't fast enough to run any of those new programs.
4. You can't install that new Hd or other goodie because there just isn't enough space inside the box. This is especially true of machines with proprietary components.
Most of the time you can just nuke the system (Reformat and reload windows) and it is just like bran new. Just remember most retailers would rather sell you a new machine than have you get it fixed. They are usually inexperienced Parts-Replacers not real Technicians. In conclusion, the main reason to replace is Age and Speed. Its as simple as that.
I did
by mauckland - 4/15/07 3:08 PM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When I started my IT company after leaving my last employer, I sold my old desktop PC and bought a Sony PCG-GRT916V laptop (P4 with all the bells and whistles at the time). It has and still does server me well for Adobe Photoshop work, photos, website design, on onsite usage like diagnostics and system backups when I'm with clients.
I have noticed of late that it is lagging. I do however in the laptops defence install and test allot of applications, so this is more then likely the cause.
As this model only has 3 usb 2.0 ports, I also use a usb 2.0 hub as I run my Sony P990i, HP Printer, TomTom One, external hard drive, Microsoft usb optical mouse, and Logitech usb keyboard at the same time. For the internet I use a Netgear DG834N wireless RangeMax Next 4 port adsl modem/router, and run that via network cable and wireless to the laptop. I use netgear because of the built in firewall to add security, ability to map ports for vnc and web servers, and that I also run 3 other pcs plus customers systems as well.
Laptops are very handy, and with modern day laptop technology they are becoming as powerful as PCs, but lighter, more stylish, and a lot more handy/mobile. Prices area also begining to full inline with PCs, such as Asus entry level core 2 laptops with Windows Vista Home Premium pre-installed for as little as £580 inc vat from Microdirect.co.uk
I hope that helps.
When to change your PC
by sabyjpinto - 4/15/07 11:27 PM In reply to: What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Literally, there are no signs to change your PC. All so called BSOD's or system crashes or even Hardware being outdated should not bother you as long as your system is working fine or even has a few software crashes or probably may need a few hardware changes. Changing your entire PC depends on your technological usage, your storage needs and/or your urge whether to be technologically updated or not. For basic needs like Music, emails and basic internet, even an old PC with Pentium III & windows XP works fine. If you need PC for higher & faster internet browsing, for running high end softwares and games, for critical data storage & for Faster computer speed, you definitely need a new computer. I personally own an old P-III 750 Mhz with 40GB HDD which I use for Music and basic internet use like emails. I have been using it for the past 5 years & its good as long as i feel the urge to get a new one. so as i told it depends on your use and definitely money if you have that it to spend that extravagantly on a new state-of-the-art PC.
Saby P
Dell Technician
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