Reparing Your Computer

Hillbilly61

Here's a new thread. Be as technical as you like!

Other than junking it, what have you done to extend the life of your computer? It could be something big or small.

An example: The +/= key on my laptop quit working. A keyboard failure. To avoid the loss of the PC during the 2+ weeks of repair time, the failed key was reassigned to a little used key. This was remapped to the ] and (shift) } key. Those keys are never used. To boot, the actual keys were pulled off of the key board and swapped.

A $250 fix w/2+ weeks of downtime solved with a free Microsolft download and the effort to pull off and swap the laptop keyboard's indictors.

Any other ideas/fixes out there?

kawizx9r

Uhm, sorry for being vague but this is a GREAT add-on I had in an old computer of mine. It's a utility that, when a computer is powered down, it drew all remaining power from all components and distributed them to the fans inside the computer. Over time, greatly extends the life of products AND keeps them a bit cooler longer considering your computer remains hot after being shut off because the fans power down immediately with the computer.

Hillbilly61

'Got a link to the mfgr (if physical) or name (if software) of said device? The idea of this thread is not to be too vague.......

kawizx9r

Yea sorry it was years ago, it wasn't software, it was hardware-based. It interconnected between components and the PSU throughout the PC. If you were a cable neat-freak this just wasn't for you, but then again this wasn't made to aesthetically please the eye. Still vague I know it's just fuzzy, it wasn't a name brand product either, but the idea was genius.

Sherardp

I just ordered the parts to build a new one as we speak. My old desktop crashed, I think my video card failed. Rather than buy another AGP card, I'm building a new system. Going quad core AMD Phenom II, Gigabyte mobo, Antec case, Vid Card, 4GB DDR3, and more. Bought the 27 inch LCD monitor last week. My 22" Samsung is shot.

I updated my daughter's pc to my old Athlon 3200, 2GB DDR2, 21 inch LCD. She's happy. Just waiting on the mailman

Knucklehead

I'm no PC geek aside from my H/T PC Ive had the same e-machines PC now for 7 years, I upgraded the speakers and monitor and an upgrade to the RAM is the only thing Ive done to it. I do leave it running 24/7 365, not sure if its true but Ive read that powering a PC on and off is very hard on it. Oh yeah, I do vacuum out the dust about once every 2 months.

bruss

i quit buying pre assembeled dell's, HP's and such.. It is much easier to maintain a PC you have put together IMO

renowilliams

bruss wrote: »

i quit buying pre assembeled dell's, HP's and such.. It is much easier to maintain a PC you have put together IMO

I totally agree. I have been building my own computers for 15 years and its the only way to go. I tend to get 5 to 6 years out of my main pc now. I subscribe to the following philosophy with regard to my computer" If its doing what I need it to do,then leave it alone" This has worked well for me. Yes, I could build a faster and more up to date computer, but why bother.

John30_30

This is just a freeware software site that you can noodle by every once in a while.
Most of their stuff is crap, some of it is really junk, but every once in a while, they'll have a real jewel like an Undelete app or others.

The kicker is that it's a 24-hour timeframe of free. The software companies get free publicity. Read the comments by others if you're thinking about one.

free stuff

Sami

anonymouse wrote: »

Number two is to periodically cleanse it of all the unwanted junk, trojans, and simply pieces of software you do not use

Well, those things should not be there in the first place if you use your computer correctly, especially the trojans. If you have trojans running on your computer, you're doing something seriously wrong.

anonymouse wrote: »

wipe the OS clean and start afresh.

That seems to be trend nowadays unfortunately. I do not personally endorse that route unless you're a computer novice.

CuE0083

All I ever did is add more RAM to mine

Rivrrat

On the computer we have now, I've had to put in a new power supply and a new hard drive.

mmadden28

anonymouse wrote: »

The number one thing that will keep a PC going is more RAM. As windows and antivirus software gets more bloated, it takes more RAM just to do the same things it did before.

...

It should be noted that while you can continue to add RAM to your hearts content ( or what your MB will support), your OS will limit what can be used. Unless you are using a 64bit OS, you will be limited to 3.5 to 4GB of memory.

Memory, available hard drive space, CPU power, Video Power, etc etc all depends on what you need your computer to do for you.

mmadden28

I say every once in awhile, open the PC up and clean out the dustballs, esp where the intake and exhaust fans are, and on any heatsinks. That will help extend the life of a PC.

Sami

mmadden28 wrote: »

I say every once in awhile, open the PC up and clean out the dustballs, esp where the intake and exhaust fans are, and on any heatsinks. That will help extend the life of a PC.

Yep, air duster bottles should be at any geeks rooms, along with the Red Bull cans...

greymatter

anonymouse wrote: »

The number one thing that will keep a PC going is more RAM. As windows and antivirus software gets more bloated, it takes more RAM just to do the same things it did before.

Number two is to periodically cleanse it of all the unwanted junk, trojans, and simply pieces of software you do not use but which load services in the background or clutter up the drive. Periodically back up you data and wipe the OS clean and start afresh.


Other than these two I am not a huge fan of upgrades. With new computers being as cheap as they are, the upgrade path for CPU's, video cards seldom has a whole lot of ROI as technology generations change every year or two.

RAM is very important for your computers health indeed.

VR3

I own an Acer.

I just pray alot.

Kex

greymatter wrote: »

RAM is very important for your computers health indeed.

Greymatter, welcome to the forum, on this 4th of July holiday. Is there a reason why you have posted so many one line responses to various, unrelated topics today, your first day here, or is there something that we can help you with?

Hillbilly61

renowilliams wrote: »

I totally agree. I have been building my own computers for 15 years and its the only way to go. I tend to get 5 to 6 years out of my main pc now. I subscribe to the following philosophy with regard to my computer" If its doing what I need it to do,then leave it alone" This has worked well for me. Yes, I could build a faster and more up to date computer, but why bother.

+ 1o Renowilliams! The very same experiance 100% and for the same timeframe for desktops. You buy/assemble and do not look back until the machine does not fit your needs/espectations.

Laptops seem to be a different deal. If it dies then after valient repairs, it turns out to be, more or less, junk.

John30_30

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

I own an Acer.

I just pray alot.

Praying is a good thing in nearly any situation. I "handed down" my 2 1/2-year old Acer laptop to my wife. Never had a lick of trouble with it, bought it refurbished.
My daughter got one of their little netbooks after beating the crap out of her Dell Inspiron for 4-5 years; it's a cool little dude, solid state Hd Drive, 5-6 hour battery life.

mmadden wrote: »

I say every once in awhile, open the PC up and clean out the dustballs, esp where the intake and exhaust fans are, and on any heatsinks. That will help extend the life of a PC.

Absolutely the Power Supply in a desktop, CPU fan(s) & sink. I just use a compressor with adjustable air chuck. Laptops are a bit trickier to get at the fans and cooling ducts, which are not as powerful as PC fans, but every few years maybe also need a cleaning.