Tag Archives: desktop

Speeding Up Your Windows Machine

Posted on by
Reply

When you have used your Windows machine for a while, you are quite likely to notice that its performance is comparatively much slower than it used to be. You may blame it on adware and viruses but you will be surprised to know that the slowing down of Windows over time is in fact absolutely normal. If the lethargic performance of your system is affecting the efficiency of your work, you will be happy to know that usually, you can deal with this problem quite easily and all on your own!

Your computer’s performance can be improved both through speeding up your software and your hardware. Software speeding up can be as simple as tweaking some of your windows settings, spring cleaning your memory or changing your program settings. On the hardware end, updating your hardware components and using the right BIOS settings can go a long way.

The simplest trick here is to ensure that you have the right hardware to support your Windows OS. Your processor version, RAM and hard drive configurations work together to facilitate your computer’s performance but updating the RAM alone can have a noticeable impact on system speed and operability. The BIOS is another often ignored but high influence option. Computer companies often update BIOS versions to address system errors, add features or simply to enhance performance, so make sure you are using the latest version of the BIOS at all times. Tweaking BIOS settings like Boot Order, Quick Power on Self Test and Chipset features can also speed up your system boot up. To enhance the performance of your installed hardware, check that you are using the latest versions of all device drivers.

Users can accumulate a lot of software and data over time which clutters up the computer and slows it down. Start by uninstalling some of your unused applications and program files like games, unused browsers, and messengers. Similarly, clean-up your desktop by organizing all your documents in your My Documents folder and sub-folders. Boot up is much faster with desktop shortcuts than the actual files sitting on your desktop. Another handy trick is to hasten Startup by shortening the list of programs that Windows runs. Remove unnecessary programs from the list and you can fasten the start up process significantly.

Permanent link to this post (381 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)

Why Are Laptop Repairs More Difficult?

Posted on by
Reply

Anyone knowledgeable enough about computers would tell you that laptop repairs are much more challenging and time-consuming than the corresponding repair procedures for a desktop machine. Which can definitely sound discouraging if you’ve got a laptop that’s suffered some damage and needs to be repaired. Why does it work like that though, and what is it that makes laptops so much more challenging to repair than desktops?

It’s all about their architecture – as well as the way their devices work and are manufactured. The first problem is the dismantling process – taking apart a regular desktop computer is easy and straightforward, you just lift the cover of the box and the internals are exposed to you, ready to have you working on them. All the devices and components are conveniently laid out in front of you, making it easy to reach what you need and modify the parts that bother you. A laptop, on the other hand, has to be opened up in a very specific way – this is different for each manufacturer and model, so you can’t simply know what you have to do to get yours opened up – you need to be familiar with all the unique models there are and their intricate differences in their designs.

Once you’ve managed to expose the laptop’s internals, it gets even trickier – while a desktop computer is built pretty much like a LEGO toy, with each part coming in its own place and being detachable afterwards, a laptop is made in a more rigid way. Laptop repairs are dependent on what parts have broken down – sometimes it may turn out that it’s not possible to simply replace them. For example, many laptops have their video cards not as a discrete separate device, but rather as part of the motherboard. This means that you can’t simply take out the video card and replace it, you need to outright replace the motherboard itself – and with it you’ll also find yourself taking out the sound card, network adapter and many other components. In the end, you may find that it costs less to buy a new laptop than to pay for a repair.

Permanent link to this post (366 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)