Computer Upgrades: The Most Important Question by Michael Quarles
Of all the concerns you may have about your computer, there is one that overrides all of them. Can it do the jobs you need it to do? If your main needs are a machine for balancing your checkbook, doing a little word processing, and surfing the web, then almost any computer of recent vintage will... If you need more hard drive space, you can get a bigger drive, or just add an extra one. ... Is there enough space on the hard drive? ... Installation isn’t that hard. ... If you have a PCI slot open, adding a firewire card is as simple as plugging one in.

Choosing The Right Motherboard - A Buyers Guide by Harry Love
When it comes to choosing the right Motherboard, you may want to start out by finding out exactly what a Motherboard is and what it is for. A motherboard is the main part of your computer, if you have ever opened up your tower or brain, as I like to call it. ... When you go to pick out the motherboard, make sure you choose one that is compatible with the hardware you already own, such as your hard drive, CD or DVD drive, floppy drive, processor, audio video cards, or any other external or internal ports.

Microsoft Has Decided to Drop Support for Windows 98 by Mickey Lieberman
Are you aware of the fact that on or about July 11, 2006, Microsoft will be dropping support on Windows 98? If you are still using Windows 98 or Windows 98 SE, make sure you have all the updates that you want or think you need. Speaking from personal experience, on March 31, 2006, something got... The hard drive was reformatted and Windows was re-installed from a emergency restorable cd that came with the computer. ... The ultimate solution, provided by the second level of tech support was to download all of the individual files (38 files, 19.8 MB) to my hard drive and then run from there...

What Causes "Inaccessible Boot Device" Stop Error 0x0000007B? by Jason Perry
An inaccessible boot device stop error can be caused by any of the following and typically associated with an error in the Windows operating system or hardware upgrade. Some common causes could include: * A boot sector virus * Corrupt Windows registry * Upgrading the motherboard in your... * Moving a boot drive from one computer to another * Bad or partially connected data cables * Bad sectors on the hard drive * Power surge or outage The most commonly recommended solution to this inaccessible boot device error is to format the hard drive and run a fresh reinstall of the operating...

Memory (RAM): Some FAQs by Logan Rokwild
Why should I upgrade my computer’s memory? Upgrading your computer’s memory is probably one of the easiest and cheapest ways of boosting its performance. More memory translates into faster computing. Compare the situation with your own work desk. As your work load increases, so does your paper... There are several indicators of insufficient memory – the computer working slower than normal, the hard disk drive audibly working ‘hard’, you having to wait long for applications to start. ... If RAM is too cluttered, it will have to retrieve information from the hard disk drive more often,...

Is That PC Still Worth Keeping? by Scott Dary
Computers... We love 'em and love to hate 'em. But before you trash that old PC and buy a new one, you may only need some tweaks, fixes or upgrades. Many PCs come with too little memory for it to run at its full potential. They also come with a lot of programs that you don’t need and that load... Hard drive – If your hard drive is bigger than 10 GB, you’re fine. ... When Windows XP was first released, many computers came with a minimum of RAM and you would probably benefit from an upgrade. ... But keep in mind that hard drives get old and fail.

Upgrade Your PC With These Computer Parts by M Johnson
Like most people after buying a new laptop or desktop computer the like-new feeling goes away very quickly. Why? One reason is technology changes so quickly it is almost impossible to keep up, or is it? Instead of buying a new PC every year or so a better idea is to upgrade the computer... A very easy and inexpensive PC hardware component is to add an external hard drive, or if you have experience with computer tech, an internal hard drive can be replaced. ... Upgrading to an internal hard drive is not too difficult, but it does require some knowledge of the internal parts of a computer.

Building a Computer - Is it Right for You? by Ryan Griffith
The parameters used to be a little more clear. You could easily save money by building your own computer. All you needed was the basic know-how, the time and initiative, and wah-la! You had a good computer at a better price than you could buy new. But things have changed over time. ... Down the road I'll upgrade further to more hard drives (the new motherboard is SATA compatible) and a new flat panel monitor. ... Partial Upgrade vs. ... Your customized computer should be easy to work on, repair, and upgrade for a good while.

Simple Steps to Buying a Laptop by Sezer Bozkurt
It’s easy to be confused by all the different options when purchasing a laptop computer. There are literally hundreds of models to choose from for all different prices. The key to finding the right laptop for you is determining firstly what your needs are going to be, then determining how much... A standard laptop hard drive size would be around 100gb. ... If you need to store large files such as videos then you would have to consider getting something with an upgraded hard drive. ... Laptop hard drives are a lot smaller than desktop hard drives.

The Importance of Your Computer Power Supply by Alan LeStourgeon
Inside your computer is a component that is the lifeblood of your hardware system. It is responsible for your motherboard, your hard drives, your CD and DVD drives, and a half-dozen other possible components. For many people, the only part they see of this important component - the power supply... Adding a second hard-drive, more memory, or a newer motherboard are all excellent reasons to upgrade your power supply. ... You might have your hard drive and your DVD player going at the same time. ... It is not unheard of to have a power supply fail - and take a motherboard or hard drive with it.