You should defrag your system regularly to avoid any issues, but if you do see warning signs they should not be ignored and be given the proper attention immediately. Defragment will increase your storage and create a more organized database system and reduce data processing time. You will notice that your system is running faster, programs run smoother and overall your system performs better.

The registry can be more difficult to deal with, there is no simple tool to clean it out, you have to download a registry cleaner or try to do it manually line for line. Cleaning your registry manually is not recommended as it creates a risk of altering a program or even your operating system to a level that it is unstable or unworkable.

If you encountered Malware such as Spyware, Adware, Trojans or any viruses your registry may store them even if you think they have been deleted. This malicious software can create havoc on your system and may even cause it to stop working all together.

So, using the Defrag tool at least once a week will help to maintain your system. But to really thoroughly clean your registry you should download a registry cleaner and if you use your system a lot, run it once a week as well. Your PC requires regular maintenance and having the right tools and the knowhow can make all the difference on how well your system performs.

Understand Your Needs

Think about what you are using your computer for. If you are using it for basic functions such as Word and maybe Power point or surfing the internet, then you only need a basic video card. If you plan on using your computer for high resolution video or photo software or 3D gaming, you will have to spend a little more to get the results you are looking for.

Know Your Compatibility

You have to ensure that the video card you choose will fit into the system you are upgrading. If your system had integrated video, be sure there is an available expansion slot on the motherboard for the video card. In newer PC’s there should be an available PCI express slot available, older systems may have a regular PCI slit and both newer and older systems may have AGP slots. You may want to run that new game with all the bells and whistles and may even be willing to spend the money for that 512MB video card, but if your system will not run that type of card, you will have wasted your money. Check your motherboard documentation to ensure that the newer graphic cards are compatible before you spend a fortune.

Your monitor will have something to do with your decision on a video card. If you have a monitor that supports HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) then you should select a card that will support it in order to take full advantage of the display features.

Stick To Your Budget

Even if you want the best card on the market, always be sure to stick within your budget. Compare prices on Video Cards. There is a wide range in between pricing for the basic cards to the ones with the newest technology. Know how much you can afford before you walk into the computer store and stick to that number and try not to get carried away by the sales pitches or the units on display. If your monitor or your system won’t support the card, the images will not look the same at home as they did in the store models.

Norton Ghost

Norton will protect all of your system files, including pictures and video. You can set scheduled backups and have your data placed on network drives, recordable disks, external hard drives and many other options. Norton will allow you to backup a full image of your system so that if any of your system files are damaged or corrupt, you will still be able to recover your data and start Windows. Your files will be compressed so that you can backup more in less time and you are given the option to backup everything or just what is needed. You can even only backup data that has changed to save time with your back up feature.

Don’t wait until it is too late to think about backing up your system. Whether you use your computer for business or personal use, the data you have stored on it is important to you and needs to be protected.

To set up a RAID configuration you will need matching hard drives and a RAID controller. Your hard drives can be SCSI, ATA or SATA and depending on the type of RAID configuration you choose, you can have a variety of number of hard drives. You can use unmatched hard drives in certain configurations, but it is not a true RAID set up without matched disks. The drives should match storage space as well as transfer speed and performance. If the speeds do not match up, the controller will use the weakest drive.

The RAID controller connects to the data cables from the hard drives and is responsible for conducting all the data processing. You can find RAID controllers in the form of add on cards or they can be found integrated onto the existing motherboard.

You can have an optional hot swappable drive bay included in your RAID configuration; it will allow a failed hard drive to easily be removed from a live system without risking the current configuration of the system. You can simply slide the bay out; replace the drive with a new one and never have to shut the system down.

You can run a RAID configuration on any operating system as long as you have the appropriate available drives from the RAID controller’s manufacturer. If you have access to an operating system that already contains all the RAID drives you can easily clone it to another disk using software like Norton Ghost.

There are a wide variety of RAID configurations that can be used. Two of the most common configurations are below:

RAID 0: This has been argued to not be a true RAID array as it is not offering any redundancy. This configuration will alternate where it writes the data between two drives. So, if one goes out you lose what was on it. This is a great configuration for boosting speed on your hard drive, since it uses data transfer within two or more drives, it is processed more quickly. This can double the speed of having a single bootable drive.

RAID 1: This is most basic array that offers the redundancy. It uses two hard drives or more and all data is written to both drives. You will still notice an increase in speed, but it will be slightly less than that of RAID 0. The configuration is made to act as a mirror with the drives on the system, so that if any drive fails, all data will be saved on the remaining disk or disks.

No matter what set up you choose, there are many different configurations that will work to speed up your hard drive data processing time as well as protect your data.

• Click on the Start Tab
• Choose All Programs
• Select Accessories
• Click System Tools
• Click Disk Defragmenter

Once you click the Disk Defrag link you will be taken to the options screen. From this dialogue box that appears you will be given the option to set up a regular scheduled Defrag. It is recommended that you set up a time so you never forget to do it. Always choose a time that will be convenient, your system needs to be on and since it may slow things down a bit, it is best that you are not using it at the time.

You are also given the option to select RUN NOW, this will start the program and begin the Defrag of your hard drive. You can select the options as to what you want to Defrag before you begin under the Select Volumes tab.

Cost

The cost of a laser printer will far exceed that of an inkjet printer. When it comes to ink, you will pay more to replace toners in the laser printers than with the inkjet ones, but the laser printers will last longer.

Speed

Speed is a factor that laser printers have over the inkjet competition. You can print out much more in less time with a laser printer than you can with a standard inkjet printer. This is something that is a great feature, but is it really needed?

Clarity and Resolution

When it comes to print resolution and clarity, the laser printer will always win. The inkjet printers on the market are getting close to catching up with the competition, but they will never have the same clarity as the laser printers. If you are not using your printer to print out professional high gloss documents or photos that need to be impeccable, there may be no need to pay the extra expense for a laser printer. Just printing out black and white or colored documents you will see little difference between the two printers and inkjets have come a long way and offer high resolution printing for photos and other documents.

There are a variety of different types of RAM. Your computer’s motherboard will be equipped to handle either one or possibly two different types, but you have to be sure you know what is compatible with your board before you buy new memory.

DDR or SDRAM is most likely what you will be shopping for. DDR is faster than SDRAM and has available speed options of DDR 1, DDR 2 and DDR 3.

So- Dimm is laptop memory and has all the same specifications as DDR desktop computer memory but comes in a smaller size to fit into laptops and net tops.

The faster the Mhz is on the memory, the faster your system will process data. You have to again look at your motherboards specifications and ensure it can handle the speed of the RAM. Higher speed RAM will work in systems that are not capable of running at that speed, it will just not get the full effect of the memory’s performance.

The size of the memory will also increase your systems performance. The more memory you have installed, the more data that can be stored for instant use and data processing times will greatly increase. You do have to be sure that the amount of memory you are installing in your system that it is capable of reading it. If you install 6GB of memory in a 32 bit system that is only capable of reading 4GB, then you have lost 2GB. The memory will still work; you just won’t get the full benefit of what you paid for.

So, when you are looking for RAM, consider what type of operating system you are using, 32 bit or 64 bit and the amount of RAM that your motherboard will be capable of reading before you waste your money on larger high speed RAM that is just wasted in your system.

If you are using your PC for gaming, you will most likely want to ensure you run a 64 bit operating system environment and that you install as much RAM as possible. The more memory you have installed on your system the better it will run, the faster it will perform and the less chance of lock up due to insufficient memory you will have.

A good idea is to bring your old RAM with you to ensure you get the right type and have your motherboard manual ready to examine your options for larger, faster pieces of RAM.

Start Up Programs

The more programs or applications you have in your Start Up, the longer it will take for your system to boot and you will have fewer resources when it finally does. You can remove the items in your Start Up buy going to Start then Run and typing it “msconfig” and hit enter. The dialogue box will have a tab named Start Up, click that and then uncheck anything that is unneeded for Start Up.

Device Drivers

If your device drivers are corrupt or outdated it could cause your system to be slower at boot up. Be sure you have the latest device drivers for all your hardware on your system. Your Operating System should also be updated frequently to ensure you have all the necessary system files to keep your PC running smoothly.

You can check for patch updates for applications that are in your start up by going to their manufacturer’s page.

Defrag

Running the Defragment tool on your PC at least once a week will greatly improve its overall performance. Your files are stored on your hard drive and many times they become scattered and need to be reorganized. The Defrag tool will compress the files and remove any bad clusters found on the hard drive. You can run this by going to Start, then All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and then clicking Disk Defragment. You can either choose to RUN NOW or you can schedule a regular maintenance routine. It is a good idea to schedule the maintenance weekly and set it for a time when your PC will be on but a time when you will not be using it.

Registry

Your registry can be a great hindrance for your PC boot time, with a corrupt or bloated registry you will encounter many problems from a slow system, long boot up times, locked up pages, system shut downs to even programs and applications malfunctioning. It can be tedious and risky to try to alter your registry on your own, it is best to download a registry cleaner and allow the program to handle the issues. You can find several registry cleaners online and many are offering free trials. Just remember to always back up your registry before you make any changes, in case the changes create problems for your computer or its applications.

If you notice your system acting different in any way, either bogging down during use or a slow start up time, you should start running some of the maintenance tips above immediately. If you allow the problem to get worse, the problem may not be able to be fixed without wiping out your entire system.

If you notice that your system is running slower, bogging down during use or even locking up when you use certain devices, it may be due to a corrupt or incorrect driver.

The Windows operating systems have update buttons that allow you to quickly scan your system and find the updates, patches or drivers that you need for all of your devices. If you have installed a new device and find that it is not working properly, it may have an older driver that is not compatible with your operating system. You can always go to the manufacturer’s website to find the updated driver you need. It is important that you always keep your system updated to the latest version drivers if you want it to run smoothly and at its peak performance level.

Interference

When you notice that your connection is suddenly dropped and there seems to be no real explanation, look around the home for frequency interferences. Many times it is a microwave or a cordless phone that is causing the issues and by changing a frequency on your phone you may see a more solid connection.

Updated Router

You may experience a weak or slowing signal when you are using an older router. You might need to look into purchasing a newer one to get the strongest signal. If you still have issues with performance in certain areas of the home that are not near the router, get a booster to enhance the strength and give a more consistent signal throughout the home.

Drivers

Always check for updated drivers and keep your system running smoothly. Many times a weak signal is due to outdated drivers and with a simple visit to the manufacturer’s page you can begin enjoying a faster, more reliable internet.

Security

If you have an open connection then anyone who is in the area can use your bandwidth. When you set up your wireless network be sure to create a password to protect those around you from slowing you down. If you live in an apartment building and have an open connection, everyone in the building can ping off your signal and they save on internet bills and you lose on signal strength.

If you have issues that cannot be resolved with the above tips you might need to replace your Wi-Fi card.