A question that arose out of my VISTA ALERT special column reminded me that many people have no idea what is on their computers. What kind of processor, video card etcetera? How much RAM memory? What programmes do I have installed?
These are questions most of us never wish to hear or feel the need to be able to answer. That is for the most part as it should be.
But what if you want to upgrade your RAM? What is RAM you ask? Random access memory (usually known by its acronym, RAM) is a type of computer data storage. It takes the form of integrated circuits that allow the stored data to be accessed in any order — that is, at random and without the physical movement of the storage medium or a physical reading head. RAM is a volatile memory as the information or instructions stored in it will be lost if the power is switched off.
Why would you care about RAM? Well, whether you are considering buying a new machine or have an old machine you would like to have run a bit faster, RAM is one of the most important considerations since it has a big effect on how fast your machine runs. This is important no matter what your connection speed (dial-up, DSL, Cable or Satellite) is. How fast your computer loads and runs software depends on how much RAM you have. The newer programs are RAM hungry and it will only get worse for the foreseeable future. So let’s say you have a decent computer and for the most part you are perfectly happy with it. From time to time, though you notice that is seems slow to load or run a programme. A reasonably inexpensive (less than $80) solution is to add RAM to your existing machine. You can never have too much RAM.
This is when knowing a bit more about your machine comes in handy. When you go to the local computer store and you want to buy RAM, the salesperson is bound to ask you what kind and how much RAM do you want? Some of my faithful Bulldog readers already know the answer to this question because they wrote and asked me. For most people how much RAM is on their machine and how much can, in fact, be added is one of the great mysteries of the Universe. Here is a simple way to discover everything (and more) you ever wanted to know about your computer.
It is a simple (and of course dear readers, free) programme. It is called the Belarc Advisor. You can find it by going to: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html.
Download and install the Belarc Advisor.
When you run the programme, it will search your machine and provide you with every aspect of your machine, hardware, software and other useful features, in detail. It takes a minute or two to scan your machine. There will be a pop up that appears telling you of the progress. When it has finished, the Belarc Advisor will open a browser window and you will learn more about your machine than you ever thought possible. From your operating system to the specific information about the model and system serial number along with every piece of software and hardware on your machine, you will have information that can be helpful and useful, no matter how technically minded you might or might not be. The RAM information will be available under the ‘Memory Modules’ section. It will tell you what you have, but it will also tell you if you can add RAM memory to your current system.
Now, look down and you will see the type of antivirus software installed and if it is running properly. All your Microsoft installed ‘hotfixes’ (Windows Updates) are displayed and you will learn if they were installed properly.
Below this information is a list of all your software. It lists not only the name of your software but displays the licence and my favourite the all important key codes (what you must punch in to prove you paid for the licence). This can be helpful information if you ever need to reinstall software but do not have (or in my case) cannot find the original jewel box or CD sleeve with the required key code. A software showstopper.
I suggest you print out a copy of your Belarc Advisor report and keep it in a safe spot.
This information can also be helpful if you ever have to call technical support. It will give you the ability to answer questions about both your software and hardware that can speed the pain (and usually desperation) of calling a tech support 800 number. Should you want to know if your graphics card can be up-graded or how much memory you have, or how much you can add, simply print out a copy of the report and bring it with you to the computer store.
Take a look as well at some of the software you have installed. You will likely find you have software you have installed that you no longer need or use, as well as some software you probably never knew you had. You can uninstall this extra ‘stuff’ and you may find your machine runs a bit faster and it may speed up your ‘boot time’. This is one of those downloads that perhaps may not immediately need or use, but the information provided just may save you time and money in the future.
And the next time someone asks you what is on your computer, you can confidently say,
“How much do you want to know?”
As always dear Bulldog readers, let me know how you fared with this or if you have any questions or comments.
Monday, October 22, 2007
How Do I Find Out What Is On My Computer?
Saturday, October 6, 2007
!VISTA ALERT!
Microsoft’s much ballyhooed release of the VISTA Operating System has come up against a wall of problems. From its delayed release (which in Micro-speak is normal procedure) last January through the early months of summer, there have been so many complaints about Vista that even Microsoft has decided to stop pretending everything is fine. They have extended the sales of the ancient XP into June of 2008. If you have built a better mouse-trap you don’t keep selling the old mouse trap. So what does this all mean? Why should you or anyone care?
Well, here is the gist. If you or someone in your family is planning on buying a new computer this week, this month, this fall odds are you will end up with Vista OS on your new machine. There are compatibility problems. Translation = your old printer, DVD player/recorder, scanner to name but a few may not have drivers available for Vista which means you cannot use them until Vista’s next upgrade called Service Pack 1 SP1. Some items will not work even then. Certain programmes will not work or run on Vista without a.) complicated upgrades/downloads b.) endless hours on the phone with tech support in Bangladesh-India and beyond.
Since January, I have had any number of requests from clients with brand new machines, often with premium razzle-dazzle specifications (a heck of a lot of money for stuff you’ll never use), complaining that their faithful printer, scanner or what-ever peripheral no longer works. DELL which pushed VISTA and a bunch of extras on a number of unsuspecting clients eventually decided to relent around late spring and told those who bought their machines with VISTA Upgrades, to revert to XP. Why? Often even brand new DELL Printers would not work with the brand new VISTA OS on brand new DELL computers.
When a major computer company’s tech department tells you that the solution to your tech problem is to get rid of the new operating system so its own equipment will run, you know things have gotten a bit out of hand. I have advised all my friends, relatives, clients and most people I do not seriously dislike NOT to buy a VISTA upgrade or a new computer with VISTA pre-installed. Why? Experience from almost 20 years with Microsoft’s concepts of new operating systems, especially in the past 12 years. ‘New’ since the new Windows and Windows 95 operating systems has come to mean, not quite ready for prime-time. VISTA brings back post-traumatic flash backs of once useful software, hardware suddenly rendered seemingly useless.
Though eventually all the hype and hyperbole about VISTA will die down and Microsoft will provide the necessary fixes, repair bugs and solve/resolve hardware compatibility problems, and VISTA will be a decent OS solution, that time has NOT arrived.
From two particularly egregious examples in the past week of little or no service from the OEM (computer speak for the company that sold you the computer, i.e., Toshiba, DELL, ACER etc.) and confusing information from Microsoft itself, I felt compelled to ask our fearless leader/editor/publisher for some emergency space in our on-line version of the Daily Bulldog.
I strongly recommend that if you are planning on buying a new PC computer that comes with VISTA preinstalled, WAIT. If you absolutely need the new computer now and between the Holidays make sure it is VISTA ready but buy it with XP installed with a VISTA upgrade included in the price. I have seen and tested the beta version of SP1 for VISTA and it resolves some but certainly not all issues, but even that is not yet available for the general public. Beta in computer-speak means test product. So, the final version will not be available for download until sometime early in 2008. Notice the qualifier I used, ‘sometime’. The original time frame for a Service Pack 1 release for VISTA was October/November, that is not going to happen.
Eventually VISTA will actually run well on most of the new machines and to be fair there are improved and long over-due security improvements and some other useful features. It is potentially more stable and has other nice features. BUT, I emphasise that time is not now.
THE SOLUTION:
If you are going to buy a machine between now and the year end Holidays here is what I recommend. Make sure the computer has at least 2 GB (Giga-bits) of RAM memory, a multi-core 64-bit processor from AMD or Intel with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz (gigahertz) or better, a separate video card with at least 128 MB (mega-bits) preferably 256 MB and DVD Super/Multi-Drive + CD-Writer.
This is more than enough computer for the foreseeable future. It will run RAM and graphic hungry VISTA programmes well and efficiently. It will run future software efficiently as well as your favourite old stand-bys. If you must buy VISTA, buy the Ultimate or Business version because they come with a free Vista-to-XP downgrade direct from Microsoft. That is right folks you read it correctly. Microsoft offers ‘official’ downgrades to XP ‘free of charge’ but only with their high end versions. Since XP sales have been extended until June of 2008 by Microsoft – the closest to an admission that VISTA was released before it was ready you will ever see from Microsoft – I would recommend you stick with XP until then.
If you do not absolutely need to upgrade your current machines, wait until around July of 2008. You will spend much less money for your new computer, since cutting edge in October 2007 will be ho-hum by July of 2008. The bugs, plagues and hassles in VISTA will be worked out by then and most likely you will have a reasonably hassle free transfer.
A Special Note for dial-up Internet users: If you have dial-up Internet services definitely WAIT before you buy VISTA. Even without the litany of complaints outlined, your phone line will be in near constant use connected – if you are lucky - with a near steady stream of up-dates that will take up and waste endless hours of your time. A friend recently spent an entire day from 9 in the morning until 11pm at night to do a ‘regular’ VISTA up-date. Enough said.
In the meantime, unless you are directly and immediately related to Bill Gates, or Michael DELL or the Hewlett and/or Packard families or have relatives with lots of Toshiba/Lenovo stock, or simply have too much extra cash lying around, save yourself endless hours of frustration, angst and fury – WAIT before you buy a XP to VISTA upgrade.
If you absolutely must have that new machine, then follow the guidelines and suggestions above. You will be very glad you did. For those of you who have written and called and messaged me about your problems with VISTA, I am trying to get Microsoft to extend their VISTA-to-XP downgrade to the more humble VISTA Home Premium, but do not hold your breath. I will do my best to provide work-arounds but I cannot guarantee I can resolve all your issues.
For the happier souls who have not bought a VISTA OS machine, you may feel like you are behind the crest of the tech wave, but I assure you, your lives will be easier and less complicated and you will end up with the best of the best of technology, to wit; Technology that works at an affordable price.
http://dailybulldog.com/
Well, here is the gist. If you or someone in your family is planning on buying a new computer this week, this month, this fall odds are you will end up with Vista OS on your new machine. There are compatibility problems. Translation = your old printer, DVD player/recorder, scanner to name but a few may not have drivers available for Vista which means you cannot use them until Vista’s next upgrade called Service Pack 1 SP1. Some items will not work even then. Certain programmes will not work or run on Vista without a.) complicated upgrades/downloads b.) endless hours on the phone with tech support in Bangladesh-India and beyond.
Since January, I have had any number of requests from clients with brand new machines, often with premium razzle-dazzle specifications (a heck of a lot of money for stuff you’ll never use), complaining that their faithful printer, scanner or what-ever peripheral no longer works. DELL which pushed VISTA and a bunch of extras on a number of unsuspecting clients eventually decided to relent around late spring and told those who bought their machines with VISTA Upgrades, to revert to XP. Why? Often even brand new DELL Printers would not work with the brand new VISTA OS on brand new DELL computers.
When a major computer company’s tech department tells you that the solution to your tech problem is to get rid of the new operating system so its own equipment will run, you know things have gotten a bit out of hand. I have advised all my friends, relatives, clients and most people I do not seriously dislike NOT to buy a VISTA upgrade or a new computer with VISTA pre-installed. Why? Experience from almost 20 years with Microsoft’s concepts of new operating systems, especially in the past 12 years. ‘New’ since the new Windows and Windows 95 operating systems has come to mean, not quite ready for prime-time. VISTA brings back post-traumatic flash backs of once useful software, hardware suddenly rendered seemingly useless.
Though eventually all the hype and hyperbole about VISTA will die down and Microsoft will provide the necessary fixes, repair bugs and solve/resolve hardware compatibility problems, and VISTA will be a decent OS solution, that time has NOT arrived.
From two particularly egregious examples in the past week of little or no service from the OEM (computer speak for the company that sold you the computer, i.e., Toshiba, DELL, ACER etc.) and confusing information from Microsoft itself, I felt compelled to ask our fearless leader/editor/publisher for some emergency space in our on-line version of the Daily Bulldog.
I strongly recommend that if you are planning on buying a new PC computer that comes with VISTA preinstalled, WAIT. If you absolutely need the new computer now and between the Holidays make sure it is VISTA ready but buy it with XP installed with a VISTA upgrade included in the price. I have seen and tested the beta version of SP1 for VISTA and it resolves some but certainly not all issues, but even that is not yet available for the general public. Beta in computer-speak means test product. So, the final version will not be available for download until sometime early in 2008. Notice the qualifier I used, ‘sometime’. The original time frame for a Service Pack 1 release for VISTA was October/November, that is not going to happen.
Eventually VISTA will actually run well on most of the new machines and to be fair there are improved and long over-due security improvements and some other useful features. It is potentially more stable and has other nice features. BUT, I emphasise that time is not now.
THE SOLUTION:
If you are going to buy a machine between now and the year end Holidays here is what I recommend. Make sure the computer has at least 2 GB (Giga-bits) of RAM memory, a multi-core 64-bit processor from AMD or Intel with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz (gigahertz) or better, a separate video card with at least 128 MB (mega-bits) preferably 256 MB and DVD Super/Multi-Drive + CD-Writer.
This is more than enough computer for the foreseeable future. It will run RAM and graphic hungry VISTA programmes well and efficiently. It will run future software efficiently as well as your favourite old stand-bys. If you must buy VISTA, buy the Ultimate or Business version because they come with a free Vista-to-XP downgrade direct from Microsoft. That is right folks you read it correctly. Microsoft offers ‘official’ downgrades to XP ‘free of charge’ but only with their high end versions. Since XP sales have been extended until June of 2008 by Microsoft – the closest to an admission that VISTA was released before it was ready you will ever see from Microsoft – I would recommend you stick with XP until then.
If you do not absolutely need to upgrade your current machines, wait until around July of 2008. You will spend much less money for your new computer, since cutting edge in October 2007 will be ho-hum by July of 2008. The bugs, plagues and hassles in VISTA will be worked out by then and most likely you will have a reasonably hassle free transfer.
A Special Note for dial-up Internet users: If you have dial-up Internet services definitely WAIT before you buy VISTA. Even without the litany of complaints outlined, your phone line will be in near constant use connected – if you are lucky - with a near steady stream of up-dates that will take up and waste endless hours of your time. A friend recently spent an entire day from 9 in the morning until 11pm at night to do a ‘regular’ VISTA up-date. Enough said.
In the meantime, unless you are directly and immediately related to Bill Gates, or Michael DELL or the Hewlett and/or Packard families or have relatives with lots of Toshiba/Lenovo stock, or simply have too much extra cash lying around, save yourself endless hours of frustration, angst and fury – WAIT before you buy a XP to VISTA upgrade.
If you absolutely must have that new machine, then follow the guidelines and suggestions above. You will be very glad you did. For those of you who have written and called and messaged me about your problems with VISTA, I am trying to get Microsoft to extend their VISTA-to-XP downgrade to the more humble VISTA Home Premium, but do not hold your breath. I will do my best to provide work-arounds but I cannot guarantee I can resolve all your issues.
For the happier souls who have not bought a VISTA OS machine, you may feel like you are behind the crest of the tech wave, but I assure you, your lives will be easier and less complicated and you will end up with the best of the best of technology, to wit; Technology that works at an affordable price.
http://dailybulldog.com/
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