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The Accidental Techie’s Guide to Keeping Aging PCs Alive

The Accidental Techie’s Guide to Keeping Aging PCs Alive. Piet Sanchez, InfoTAP Jeff Hancock, San Diego Futures Foundation. Introductions. Welcome Overview of session Speaker Background Housekeeping. Agenda. The Boot Sequence Performance Parts Hands On Lab Break Operating Systems

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The Accidental Techie’s Guide to Keeping Aging PCs Alive

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  1. The Accidental Techie’s Guide to Keeping Aging PCs Alive Piet Sanchez, InfoTAP Jeff Hancock, San Diego Futures Foundation

  2. Introductions • Welcome • Overview of session • Speaker Background • Housekeeping

  3. Agenda • The Boot Sequence • Performance Parts • Hands On Lab • Break • Operating Systems • References • Q/A

  4. Boot Sequence • What happens after you push the power button? • ROM software loads • Checks parts • Identifies errors (if any) • Loads settings (stored in CMOS) • Starts loading Operating System

  5. Motherboard

  6. ROM (Read Only Memory)

  7. RAM

  8. AGP Video Slot

  9. Keyboard/Mouse

  10. CMOS

  11. CMOS Battery

  12. CPU

  13. IDE Hard Drive Connectors

  14. PCI Slots

  15. EISA Slots

  16. Printer Port (not USB)

  17. Preview • Boot Sequence • Power goes on • Built-in software loads into RAMmemory • Checks the PC for broken parts • If all is good, loads settings and the operating system from the hard drive

  18. Performance Parts • What are the critical parts that affect performance? • RAM Memory • Hard Drive • Other • CPU • Backplane

  19. Brief Explanation • Working together • RAM, otherwise known as “memory,” and hard drives are constantly working together to make your computer function • Performance of one can affect performance of the other and vice versa • Upgrading only a hard drive or only memory will not always resolve performance issues • The CPU is not usually a big factor

  20. Brief Explanation • What does “I need a faster computer” mean? • You need… • (A) more RAM memory, • (B) a faster, larger hard drive, • (C) most likely both • or (D) a new computer if you can’t do any of the above

  21. RAM • What is it? • Stands for Random Access Memory • Active programs must run from RAM • RAM works directly with the CPU • Unlike ROM, RAM can be upgraded • The more RAM you have, the more programs you can run, the “faster” your PC will be

  22. RAM • How does it affect performance? • Operating systems load into and out of memory all day long • Applications must reside in memory • Eventually your PC runs out • Files start swapping between RAM and the hard drive • Result: SSSLLLOOOOWWWW

  23. RAM • How can I upgrade it? • PCs have different memory capacities • Most can be upgraded to 256MB minimum • Some require replacement of all existing memory • Others can take add-on chips in existing vacant slots • Check with manufacturer or memory suppliers (www.thechipmerchant.com)

  24. Hard Drive • What is it? • Your PCs master file cabinet • Software, files, operating systems…almost everything is stored on the hard drive • Hard drives are also used as a type of virtual “RAM”

  25. Hard Drive • Average sizes range from ~2gb (minimum) to 40gb • Hard drives can’t be upgraded • They can be replaced • Additional drives can be added • Serious contributor to performance issues • Over time, hard drives begin having trouble keeping track of files

  26. Hard Drive • What does that involve? • Installing the new drive • Reinstalling the operating system • Reinstalling the applications • Copying files • OR • Backup the old drive, install the new one, and restore everything from the backup

  27. Other Parts • CPU • Central Processing Unit, otherwise known as the processor, Pentium, etc. etc. • Performs all functions and calculations as fast as it can • Executes all of the commands • Some CPUs can be upgraded • NOT the first place to look for performance issues

  28. Other Parts • Backplane (huh?) • The data road inside your PC • EVERYTHING flows from one place to another on the backplane and similar “roads” • Backplanes have their own speed, usually much slower than the CPU • Can not be upgraded • Not a substantial performance part unless you do a lot of digital media work

  29. Exceptions • What do these upgrades NOT help with? • Internet speed • Streaming media • Graphics-intensive applications (although RAM and HD upgrades help a bit) • Number crunching (that’s the CPU’s job)

  30. Hands On Lab • Remove and replace RAM Memory • Remove and replace hard drives • Discuss options for migrating data from one drive to another • Take parts out • Identify ports • Ask questions

  31. Break 10 minute break

  32. Operating Systems • What is an operating system? • Software that makes the computer functional • Runs the mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, video settings • Makes it possible to store files and keep track of them

  33. Operating Systems • Examples Include • MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) • Windows • MAC OS • Unix (Linux, FreeBSD, HP-UX, Sun, etc., etc) • Novell Netware

  34. Windows • Windows 98 • Pros • Small “footprint” • Relatively fast on older PCs • Doesn’t need as much hardware to run • Not as vulnerable to viruses

  35. Windows • Windows 98 • Cons • No security • Doesn’t network easily • Doesn’t support newer web technologies • Aging…

  36. Windows • Windows 2000 • Pros • Secure • Stable • Made for networking • Not too resource intensive

  37. Windows • Windows 2000 • Cons • Doesn’t include some graphics or media support • Lacks some hardware or other peripheral drivers • Not as user-friendly • Requires slightly more hardware

  38. Windows • Windows XP • Pros • Excellent combination of user-friendliness and security • Stable • Great for networking • Lots of web features • “Latest greatest”

  39. Windows • Windows XP • Cons • Very resource intensive (will use all the hardware you can give it) • Target of virus developers • Requires frequent updates • Takes a lot of hard drive space

  40. Settings and Maintenance • What features do they have in common that might impact performance? • Internet • Temporary files and allocation of temporary file storage • Screen redraw or resolution on older machines/Win98 might impact graphics performance

  41. Settings and Maintenance • What features do they have in common that might impact performance? • Foo-foo stuff • Mouse trails • Shadow text • Desktop effects

  42. Settings and Maintenance • Sample • Windows XP Performance Options This will make for a very slow computer UNLESS you have a lot of RAM and a fast CPU

  43. Settings and Maintenance • What features do they have in common that might impact performance? • Startup programs • What is this stuff? • Loads automatically when you start the PC • May be “spyware” • Start / Run / MSCONFIG

  44. Settings and Maintenance • What features do they have in common that might impact performance? • Disk Defragmenter • Optimizes hard disk performance • Remember, over time, hard disks have a hard time finding stuff

  45. Settings and Maintenance Before After

  46. Resources • RAM • http://www.thechipmerchant.com (San Diego company) • Hard drive info • http://www.dummies.com (search for “hard drives”) • Local Training • http://www.vortexdata.comhttp://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/rop/courses/computer.html

  47. Questions and Answers

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