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What's the best part of my PC to upgrade first? What PC components are upgraded - and for what reasons? Should I upgrade the CPU using an Overdrive processor? Should I reformat my hard drive or reinstall Windows after a problem? How best do I upgrade to Windows 95 or Windows 98? Can I recover deleted or lost files? How do I get Windows to load for troubleshooting? What do I do when Windows doesn't shut down properly? What's the best part of my PC to upgrade first?This may be the most common question asked by PC owners who are ready to speed up their system or get it to work better for them. The answer can be complicated, but it's based on a simple premise: Find the bottleneck. What demands do you place on your PC that most strain its abilities? Is it processing power? Graphics, like with games? Or are you running out of storage space? In order to determine what should be upgraded in your system, you need to understand the subsystems within your PCs and consider what you use your system for. Then, decide which subsystem is slowing down your work the most, and upgrade components of that subsystem first. There are three basic subsystems in a PC-processing, input/output and storage. Processing comprises the central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), and cache memory, along with other subsystems. These systems work together as the "thinking" parts of your PC, allowing data to be processed and handed back to other subsystems that display the results on your computer screen or accept input from the keyboard. Input/output includes your computer monitor, the video interface (and/or video RAM) used to display images on your monitor, your printer, your modem, input devices such as the keyboard and mouse, and your upgrade ports (for connecting printers, modems and other devices). Storage refers to hard drives, floppy drives, CD-ROM drives, and removable media such as Zip or tape backup drives. Once you've determined which subsystem most affects the tasks you perform on your PC, you can decide if that subsystem is creating enough of a slowdown for it to be worth upgrading. If your computer is only a few years old, the following upgrades are the most likely to increase your computers speed:
What PC components are upgraded - and for what reasons?There are three basic reasons to upgrade the internal components of your PC: speed, increased quality or capabilities, and additional storage. Within each reason are a number of actual upgrades you can perform on your computer. The following lists show the type of upgrade and why it makes the PC better. Speed
Quality and New Capabilities
Storage
Should I upgrade the CPU using an Overdrive processor?Upgrading your computer's CPU with an Overdrive (or similar) processor can be a cost-effective way to increase the performance of your computer. An Overdrive processor is simply an add-on CPU that replaces your original CPU, allowing your computer to process data at a higher level of performance. While this if often a good idea, it's more important to consider the overall system before investing in an Overdrive processor. If you've determined that processing is the only subsystem that is creating a bottleneck in your system, then opt for the Overdrive. You might decide to upgrade the processor if your computer is aging and your work focuses on computer-aided design (CAD), image manipulation, animation, or video production. You could also upgrade the processor if you noticed that your machine was taking a long time to recalculate spreadsheets or create tables in your word processor. If, instead, you know that your video interface, RAM, and cache RAM are also contributing to the slowdown, you may be better served by upgrading those components first. These are the components that tend to most affect the performance of computers used by business professionals, teachers and gamers. You may also find that, once all your needs have been categorized and the costs have been added up, you're better off upgrading the entire motherboard (which might include a faster processor, more cache RAM, and better video circuitry) or buying a new computer. Do I have enough RAM?Most computers that are even six months or a year old have less RAM than is optimum for good performance using Microsoft Windows. RAM usage depends on the operating system you use and the way you work. Up to a point, RAM can actually speed up the performance of your operating system and applications. After that minimum is reached, additional RAM allows you to work with larger documents and with more applications at one time. Although the official requirements from Microsoft may vary, you should generally abide by the following RAM recommendations, in megabytes (MB), for optimum performance:
I've got something I'd like to upgrade or add to my system. Should I upgrade internally or externally?While many PC upgrades are interface cards that must be installed internally, other types of upgrades offer options. For instance, both internal and external modems are available; external modems simply plug into a serial port on the back of your PC. Similarly, removable media drives, CD-ROM drives, image scanners and other peripherals can be added through the ports on the back of your computer, or by way of internal interface cards. Each type of upgrade has its advantages:
Should I reformat my hard drive or reinstall Windows after a problem?No! Most problems can be solved through much less destructive means. You'll find that there's rarely a reason to reformat your hard disk, and doing so may not have the result you intend. If you have a virus, for instance, it may survive a hard disk format. That means you're putting your data at risk and not necessarily killing the root problem. Likewise, a Windows problem may not be solved by reinstalling Windows over itself - Windows doesn’t overwrite every file, and you may find you've lost your personalized settings and special drivers, but not solved the root problem. Instead, you'll see that there are less destructive alternatives throughout this book. Bottom line? Reformatting or reinstalling Windows should be the very last option you consider. How best do I upgrade to Windows 95 or Windows 98?Stepping up to Windows 95 and Windows 98 isn't the nightmare that many people make it out to be. In reality, it's a painless few hours for the vast majority of Windows 3.x users. To make the transition as smooth as possible, make sure you take these preliminary measures:
Note: By "data" I mean the documents and files that comprise your unique work. If you still own the original diskettes or CD-ROMs for your applications, you can reinstall them if you have any trouble. You should still back up any patches or upgrades to that software that you may not have saved to floppy diskette or removable disk.
Tip: Your first and best source for new drivers is always the hardware manufacturer's Web page. Can I recover deleted or lost files?Yes. In Windows, you can recover most files that you've deleted by checking the Recycle Bin, a storage facility that temporarily holds files you've deleted. The Recycle Bin has no jurisdiction in DOS, however. If you want protection there, you should purchase a utility program like Norton Utilities. Norton's Recycle Bin captures deleted programs in DOS as well as Windows, so you can recover any accidentally deleted files. There are some other DOS utilities you can use to recover deleted files, but they're less reliable. Since DOS has not native protection built in for recovering deleted files, anything you do to the hard disk before attempting recovery - saving new files, optimising the hard disk, and so on - can potentially wipe the file away forever. As soon as you realize you accidentally deleted something, you should s everything and try to get it back. If you're using a pre-Windows 95 version of DOS, you can try Microsoft's Undelete command. Otherwise, use a third-party program like Norton Utilities. How do I get Windows to load for troubleshooting?Windows doesn't always load properly - sometimes it'll freeze halfway, and sometimes you'll have a conflict with a certain file (like a video driver) that prevents Windows from starting at all. Windows 95 has a special mode - called Safe Mode - designed to get you into Windows in just such a situation. Safe Mode launches without starting any driver that might cause problems, like the CD-ROM, advanced video drivers, or network connections. Freed from possible conflicts, you can troubleshoot Windows safely. To get into Safe Mode, press F8 when the "Starting Windows 95" message appears. Choose "Start Windows in Safe Mode" from the menu. To check for errors in your computer's startup sequence, you can also choose Step-by-Step Confirmation, which allows you to see the effect of every command in the autoexec.bat file and config.sys file as they're executed. What do I do when Windows doesn't shut down properly?Any number of problems can cause your PC to never make it all the way to the screen that announces "It is now safe to shut down your PC". Instead, it'll hang on for all eternity - or until you just shut it off - on the screen that says "Please wait while your computer shuts down". If this problem plagues you, there's some good news and some bad news. The good news is that it is fixable. The bad news is that any number of problems can cause this annoying quirk, so you may need to try a number of things to get it working. Start by checking the bootlog.txt file in your C:\Windows folder or your C:\root folder. It will end with a line that says "terminate=" or "EndTerminate=". The last item should lead you to the source of the problem. If it says "KERNEL", that indicates things proceeded normally. Any other item is a warning flag. Also look to see that every item has a "terminate=" and "EndTerminate=" entry - if a driver (such as Unload Network, for instance) is missing "EndTerminate=", then that driver is probably the culprit. Note: While the file should end with either "terminate=" or "EndTerminate", all the intermediate entries in the field need both "terminate=" and "EndTerminate=".
Say no to everything else. If Windows shuts down properly this time, you know what to do: experiment by enabling drivers and files one at a time.
If none of those solutions work, you probably have defective hardware that is impeding "Windows" ability to shut down. Data LossLosing Your
Critical Data DriveKnowing how your computer stores data makes it easier to understand the causes of data loss. Hard disk drives store data on one or more metal oxide platters, which spin at a rate of 3,000-10,000 revolutions per minute, holding magnetic charges. A read/write head attached to an actuator arm hovers 1-2 microinches (one millionth of an inch) above the surface of the platters. Data flows to and from these heads via electrical connections. Any force that alters this process may cause data loss to occur. Despite technological advances in the reliability of magnetic storage media, data loss continues to rise, making data recovery more important than ever. Ontrack engineers have identified three trends that are leading to this increase in lost data. 1. More data is being stored in smaller spaces. Today's hard drives store 500 times the data stored on the drives of a decade ago. Increasing storage capacities amplify the impact of data loss, making mechanical precision more critical. 2. Data has become more
mission-critical. 3. Backup tools and techniques are not 100% reliable. Most computer users rely on backups as their safety net in the event of data loss (a recommended practice). Ontrack research indicates that 80 percent of its data loss customers regularly back up their data, only to find them less than adequate at the critical moment they need to restore them. Backups assume that hardware and storage media are in working order; that the data is not corrupted, and that your backup is recent enough to provide full recovery. In reality, hardware and software do fail and backups don't always contain current enough data. Leading Causes of Data LossHere's a list of
the most common causes of data loss. Click on the cause of data loss to
see a listing of possible symptoms, examples and ways you can protect
your data. Possible Symptoms Error message stating the device is not recognized Previously accessible data suddenly gone Scraping or rattling sound Hard drive not spinning Computer hard drive doesn't function Examples Electrical failure Head/media crash Controller failure Preventive Measures Protect electrical components by using computers in a dry, shaded, dust-free area Protect against power surges with an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) Do not shake or remove the covers on hard drives or tapes.
Human Error (32 percent of all data loss)Possible Symptoms Previously accessible data suddenly gone Message similar to "File Not Found" Examples Accidental deletion or drive format Trauma caused by drop or fall Preventive Measures Never attempt any operation, like installations or repairs, with which you don't have experience Avoid moving your computer, especially when it's in operation Software Corruption (14 percent of all data loss)Possible symptoms System messages relating to memory errors Software application won't load Error message stating data is corrupted or inaccessible Examples Corruption caused by diagnostic or repair tools Failed backups Configuration complexity Preventive Measures Back up data regularly Use diagnostic utilities with caution Computer Viruses (7 percent of all data loss)Possible Symptoms Blank screen Strange and unpredictable behavior Error message stating "File Not Found" Message announcing virus appears on screen Examples Boot sector viruses File infecting viruses Polymorphic viruses Preventive Measures Use a good anti-virus package Obtain software from reputable sources Scan all incoming data, including packaged software, for viruses Natural Disasters (3 percent of all data loss)Possible Symptoms While floods and earthquakes have obvious symptoms, brownouts and lightning strikes often leave no clues Examples Fires Floods Brownouts Preventive Measures Store tested backups in an off-site location Install a UPS Don't store critical data in a flood plain
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