4.
Over time, PCs get slower. It’s inevitable; even uninstalled programs occasionally leave junk in your registry files, and as technology advances your computer can struggle to cope. If you install a lot of programs, it’s more than likely that a few of them continue running in the background, starting up with your computer and not stopping until you’ve turned it off for the day. The first thing you should do is access the startup folder, in your start menu, and actually look at all the programs that start when your computer does. If you don’t actually use them all the time, disable them. You can start them when you need them.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, defrag your hard disc – twice. You can find the disc defragmenter with a simple search. That should clear up many of the unnecessary files which are slowing down your PC. You should really do this and run a program like CCleaner on a regular basis once you’ve sped up your computer this time to prevent the problem happening again.
If nothing else works, you may need more memory. This can be purchased and almost always installed by you. Make sure you first find out how much memory your computer can hold (the maximum is 4GB for 32 bit PCs) so you don’t buy more than your computer can hold.
5.
If your sound suddenly becomes wonky or, worse, your screen shows up strangely or the display crashes often, your computer is not necessarily headed for the bin. The problem may be down to your sound card or video card, depending on the problem. There’s a simple fix for this that actually works most of the time. You’ll need to visit the manufacturer’s website and download new drivers. If you have a laptop and the sound or display cards are built into the motherboard, find the company from whom you purchased your laptop and ask them for the appropriate drivers.
If this fails, and you have a desktop, you may choose to replace your sound or video cards. Usually this is easily done; just find out the socket type for your PC and choose the appropriate, more powerful card. Keep in mind that a more powerful card will demand more of your PC, and as such if you’re making a significant upgrade it may be worth replacing your power supply as well.
6.
Older hardware and software often struggle to work on newer computers. With Windows Vista in particular, there are many cameras, webcams, and microphones that simply don’t work. Older games will also cease working on newer systems. If you fear that you have hardware or a game that won’t work on your new PC, you have a few options. First, if you’re running Windows 7, using Windows Virtual PC may solve all of your problems.
PCs running Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise can install Virtual XP mode, which essentially turns the computer into Windows XP and will work with all software that worked on that operating system. This is designed for businesses which normally use applications that worked well under XP, not consumers.
If your hardware doesn’t work properly, you may be able to find a workaround that helps. Popular equipment will have other users trying to make it work, and someone may have found a solution. If not, Windows 7 is designed to work with more devices than Windows Vista, so it may well be worth an upgrade if your equipment is essential and expensive to replace. There are websites which tell you precisely what equipment will work on the new OS. Don’t invest money on a fancy new camera until you can ensure it will work with your PC.