Ewing Enterprises
A computer Based Small Business

 


Disk Jockey Services

Contact Me:


 

Ewing Family Pix

 

   

PC Desktop Consulting Services

I'm often asked:  "Why does my computer run so slow?"

    Click here to review possible reasons for a slow running computer 

 

In my business I do the following:

  1.  Repairs and Upgrades
    1. Troubleshooting
    2. Repairs to Windows, all versions
    3. Board Replacements
    4. Motherboard upgrades
    5. Power Supplies
    6. Upgrade of audio & Video cards
    7. Virus & Malware cleanups
    8. cleaning hard-drive of slow-down temp, cookies, other internet slowdowns

       
  2. Computer Recycling and Custom Built machines  (Click here for description)
    1. 1 year Parts & Labor for all computers if they are returned to me for repairs.
       
  3. Software installations, Configurations, Upgrades
    1. Troubleshooting
    2. Word Processors
    3. E-Mail
    4. Office Products
    5. Most software programs installed
       
  4. Hardware installations
    1. New Computer installations
    2. Custom built PC's to your specifications
    3. New Motherboards
    4. Modems
    5. Hard drives
    6. Floppy Drives
    7. DVD Drives
    8. CDRom Drives
       
  5. Help Desk services
     Phone and site support

 4-5 basic reasons for slow running computers:

                 (1)  Answer:  Basic speed of the computer.  Old computers may be running at less than 1000 MHz per second, today's modern computers run at 2-3000 MHz per second.  Typically, a computer 5 years old will run around 5-800 MHz, 8 years old around 2-400 MHz.  It will usually take a new motherboard and a new CPU chip to solve this problem.

                (2)  Answer: Speed of the Harddrives purchased about 10 years ago ranged from about 3600 revolutions per minute (rpm) to 4900 & 5400 rpm.  Today’s modern drives run nearly twice as fast, typically about 7200 rpm or more; however, the data transfer rates of these harddrives are doubling and tripling over the data transfer rates of the older drives.  Modern caching techniques also improves the performance of newer harddrives.

                 (3)  Answer: Insufficient random access memory (RAM) installed in the computer (this is temporary storage during data processing).  This causes the operating system to have to write data to the harddrive for later retrieval and processing, then rewriting it back to the drive only to retrieve it etc...  If the harddrive is an older slower model, this write and rewrite process causes the computer to run slowly and seem to hang at times.  If your "page file" is set to a small size, the write/rewrite time makes the computer run even slower.

                 (4) Answer: Viruses, Malware, and Spyware that has infected your computer.  If the computer used to run relatively fast but has slowed up recently, this may be the cause.

                  (5) Answer: Harddrive is fragmented.  Harddrives file your data on the first available spot on it's disk.  If there isn't enough room for the whole file, then the file is broken up and filed in other vacant spots on your disk.  It's possible that one file could be occupying 5 or more segments.  This causes the computer to have to search for the pieces of the file.

Options for repairing the above:

        (1)  Above:  Replace the Motherboard and Central Processing Unit chip with modern faster models.

              (2) Above:  Change the current harddrive to a faster model, usually larger, and move the data and programs to the new harddrive.  You may also need to upgrade your operating system from Windows 95-98/ME to Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7.  I don't recommend using the "Home" editions of these operating systems; I recommend the "Professional" editions for more functionality and compatibility with modern software and hardware.  Except for NEW computers that are made and tuned to Windows Vista or Windows 7, I don't recommend these operating system be installed on older machines due to incompatibility problems with hardware and older software.  Typically, Microsoft's first editions of their operating systems don't run well on older machines until they have put out several "fixes" and "enhancements".  If you want to newer operating systems, or if you need their functionality, it is probably best to either buy a new machine or rebuild the older case with a new Motherboard/CPU.  Upgrading the older machine allows you to keep your existing CD drives, case, and floppy drives.  We could even add a new CD-DVD drive and still be less expensive than a new computer.

                (3) Above:  Purchase and install additional RAM memory chips.  With today’s software requirements for memory, you should install approximately 1 GB of RAM or more.  Many computers  were/are being sold with only 256kb and 512kb.  Older machines may have 128kb or less.  It's not difficult to add additional memory; there are usually extra memory slots available.

                (4) Above:  Obtain Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware software, keep it updated, and run it at least once per week to eliminate infections. To prevent these infections from happening, I recommend Symantec's Norton Internet Security and related software.

                (5)  Above:  Defragment your harddrive.  Remove "junk" files (.tmp, .old, .bak, and zero byte files).


If your computer is not running as fast as you would like, contact me and I'll stop by and take a look.  From my visit we can discuss your computer in more detail and explore your options.  This initial visit to the Reno/Sparks area is free. 

I do make trips to No. Nevada areas so it may be possible to do a no cost visit to those areas as well.  Alternative is to bring/ship me your computer (less monitor, keyboard & Mouse).