PC Advise

Family and friends often ask me questions about fixing PC problems, upgrades, buying PCs, etc. Here I've compiled some topics I think are the most useful.

Performance Enhancements

  • If you're still running Windows 3.1 or Win95, consider upgrading to Win98. I've found it to be much more reliably with fewer lockups, faster because of it's 32 bit file allocation table, and easier to upgrade when Microsoft releases patches for problems they've fixed.
  • Defragment your hard drive occasionally. To defrag the drive, select My Computer, then click the right mouse button on your C: drive. This should be done about once a month.
  • Set your swap file to a fixed size. Do this by selecting the System icon in the Control Panel. Then select the Performance tab and Virtual Memory. Set the minimum and maximum swap file size to the same value. Although doing this will tie up disk space you'll notice an increase in performance. Make sure you set it to a large enough value so you don't run out of memory (both physical and swappable memory).
  • Consider adding more physical memory to your PC. With memory prices as low as they are, this is an affordable option. But beware as your memory modules may not be usable with a new motherboard.
  • If you're PC has a Pentium processor running at 75MHz to 100MHz, consider replacing the processor with a faster chip. Make sure your motherboard will support it. Pentium chips running at 200MHz or faster will give a significant speed increase.

    Buying a New PC

  • Mail order isn't always the cheapest way to go. Things to consider regarding price are sales tax and shipping charges. Some mailorder companies charge sales tax even if they're an out-of-state company.
  • Buy a bigger monitor. Avoid 14" and 15" monitors and go with at least a 17". It's one device you typically don't upgrade.
  • Assess your needs before you set a price limit. Although the sub $1000 PCs will get you going, the technology may quickly become outdated.
  • Don't try to build your own PC unless you're willing to accept some risk. It's difficult to beat packaged systems especially if they include the operating system.
  • Don't buy from shopping.com on the internet. I ordered a product from them and when I didn't receive it I cancelled my order. A month later I received the product, and had to fight them to get a credit when I returned it. They don't return phone calls or answer email. Avoid them!
  • If your new PC comes with 64MB of memory, make sure it's one 64MB chip. Likewise with any other memory size. I'd also recommend spending a little more for 100MHz memory modules instead of 66MHz memory. The newer motherboards have a 100MHz bus.
  • After you buy your PC, you'll typically see the prices drop. Don't cry! They depreciate faster than any other consumer product except lettuce. You pay the price for technology.
  • Good customer service before and after the sale should be a high priority to you. If they don't answer a question prior to the sale, go somewhere else.
  • If you can afford the higher price of an Intel Pentium II processor, go with it. The Celeron and AMD processors are much slower even though they say their a Pentium processor.

    Surfing the Web
    Here are some of my favorite's and thing to avoid.

  • Egghead Computer Auction Site is a great place to buy products at prices that are hard to match. Some are reconditioned and since it's an auction, you'll have to be patient. It may take several days to get the product at a price you're willing to pay. But I feel more comfortable bidding on a product from a company that an individual, which is how most auctions work.
  • For price comparisons of some of the best web sites, check out Shopper.com (not www.shopping.com). They check and report prices on products and even sort the list by the best prices.
  • If you're looking for new software or utilites, try ZDNet for product demos, shareware, freeware, and some good advise on anything PC related.
  • If you download large files, get Go!Zilla for faster downloads. I can't believe Microsoft hasn't implemented this type of file download.
    Places to avoid on the internet
  • Any site that requires your mother's maiden name to register. Since banks often use your mother's maiden name for verification, I think web sites that ask the question are unethical.
  • Any site that requires a credit card to register.

    Page design by Sam Sayers, 1998, 1999