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Archive for the ‘Memory’ Category

How To Correct A Continually Rebooting Computer

07 Aug

When you sit down at your computer desk and press the power switch on your desktop, the last thing you want to experience is a continually rebooting computer.

There are a variety of causes that contribute to this problem, from something as simple as a stuck power button to a much more serious problem as your power supply slowly failing. Other causes for this problem may be overheating PC components, or viruses affecting your system.

Now, if you’re like the rest of us, having a computer that reboots constantly is not our idea of a productive day. So how do you diagnose this problem and where do you start to to make corrections. Here are some common but often overlooked causes and solutions that will get your system running again.

First take a look at the power button and see if its stuck in the socket. If so, you may be able to simple tap the front of the case to release the button. In some cases, you may have to remove the system unit cover to get the button to return to the out position.

If you cannot stop the computer from rebooting by pressing the power button and releasing it, turn off the power switch in the back of the computer next to the power supply. If your power supply do not have a power switch, you will have to unplug the system from the wall outlet.

This must be done as soon as possible so that the constant rebooting will not damage components such as the hard drive. Constant rebooting also have the danger of power surges that can further damage larger components such as the motherboard.

Second you check your computer’s software by checking to be sure no virus or malware have not effected your hard drive. Virus and malware are small software that is downloaded along with other files that is designed to cause mischief.

To remove any viruses and malware, use a anti-virus program that will search your hard drive and remove these file quickly. These files can cause such damage as wiping your hard drive of all data or hijacking your web browser so you have no control over your online surfing.

If you find no malware on your computer, take a look at your BIOS to see if it has become unstable or has been changed. BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System and is a small program designed to check all components for proper operation when the computer is turned on.

If your BIOS has been changed or if you’re not sure if its been changed, try to reset the BIOS settings to the default settings after you access the BIOS as the computer reboots.Once inside the BIOS, you should have the option to load your default settings, save the change, and reboot the computer.

However, there are times when a continually rebooting computer will not allow you to access the BIOS. You can then reset the BIOS by removing the system unit cover and locating the jumper on a three pin header.

You must consult your computer or motherboard manual to properly perform this procedure and it should be done as a last resort. Before making any changes to your BIOS, you should backup your BIOS if your computer reboots at long intervals.

After checking your computer’s software for its rebooting problem, you must check to be sure hardware is not at fault. This problem may exist because one of your memory modules are unseated from its socket . Memory modules are long, narrow sticks that attach to the motherboard.

Remove any static electricity from yourself, remove the system unit cover and check these memory modules to be sure they are secure. Check the connections to the hard drive and the connections leading from the power supply.

Power supply connectors should be checked if you’ve done work inside your computer recently. Power Supplies are known to slowly fail and lead to rebooting problems. There is no way to check an ailing power supply and this should be considered the problem as a last resort.

Following these steps will help you correct any computer that continually reboots itself. If no virus or malware is found, carefully and thoroughly check all connections. And if the problem still exist, the most likely cause would be the Power Supply.

Otis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting the knowledge and confidence of every computer user. Sign up to receive his informative articles every month and learn PC Repair absolutely free.Sign up now at http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com

 
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Ddr Memory

05 Aug

Double data rate random access memory, or DDR RAM, is a memory technology used for storage and high-speed retrieval of data on a computer. It builds on the now-obsolete Single Data Rate (SDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory, and enables the computer to achieve greater bandwidth by double-pumping data. That is, the transfer of information is doubly fast with a DDR RAM.

The more recent versions of DDR RAM are DDR2 and DDR3, which have faster memory bus signalling capabilities and clock frequencies. DDR2 operates at a clock frequency of over 400 MHz. The central powerhouse of your system operates faster and more efficiently on such improved memory circuitry, retrieving information faster and enabling you to run multiple applications.

It must be remembered that if you want to upgrade the memory of a computer that uses DDR1, you cannot buy a DDR2 module and use it to supplement a DDR1 chipset. The slots for DDR1, 2 and 3 are different. Some motherboards, however, have slots for all these DDR formats. The booklet on the motherboard should tell you how to install additional RAM on your computer. Sixty-four bit processors often support more than 3.5 GB of DDR RAM. A 64-bit Windows Vista system, for example, will support memory of up to 128GB.

A DDR RAM operates at a lower voltage than an SDR RAM, resulting in lower power consumption. Though it has the same architecture as an SDR RAM, a DDR RAM has 184 pins, instead of 168. It also has a single notch at the connector, not two. The bus width of DDR memory is 64 bits per channel. Most DDR-based chipsets come with matched pairs of modules and are made for processors that are 1GHz or faster.

What a DDR RAM does is, it performs twice as many operations as an SDR RAM per clock cycle. The advent of DDR RAM was hailed as a landmark development that revolutionised the technology of random access, or volatile memory, but recent developments that have resulted in revision of DDR models have been just as interesting. At the beginning of the millennium, aspersions were cast on the use of DDR memory in home PCs, but now, all those doubts are gone and one can hardly live without the reassuring pace and efficiency of a DDR RAM. A big difference in systemic performance, coupled with improved BIOS efficiency, is an undoubted result of the quantum leap from SDR to DDR.

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How To Correct A Slow Running Computer

03 Aug

You push the power button on your computer and 5 minutes later you’re finally ready to start computing.It seems as though it takes forever and a day for your computer to get going,Why?

Most likely,the main reason your system is dragging the ground is because of all the junk that runs in the background that you don’t see.These are applications you may have installed over time.

Such utilities as scanner drivers, and hard drive monitors can swallow up memory and cpu processes,not to mention adware and spyware creeping into your system.These affect both your computer’s bootup process and performance during normal operations.

Another reason for slow pc bootup and performance may be the simple fact that your computer is aging. Computers running Windows 98 and Windows Me with cpu speeds of 500mhz or less are good candidates for slow operation.These system often have inadequate RAM Memory as well.

OK,so you,re no doubt asking, how can you correct this ever present,nagging problem.If your system was purchase when dinosaurs roamed the earth,consider upgrading by adding more memory,a larger hard drive,and if possible a faster cpu.

You can free up hard drive space by deleting files and applications you don’t use often.Improve performance by not overlooking basic pc maintenance.Running scandisk and Defragment are crucial to pc preformance.And try third party memory management programs.

Running scandisk will find and attempt to correct errors on your hard drive.System Defragment will free up hard drive space by re-arranging files in an orderly manner.This allows the cpu to find files much faster and not have to roam all over the hard drive to load files into memory.

You can get more bang for your buck by purchasing a faster computer however.When adding the costs of components and the increase in speed and performance you will gain,you may come out better to purchase another system.

Windows operating system have a utility named Msconfig that can display programs that bootup and instantly run on your computer. To start Msconfig,select Start,Run,and type “msconfig” without the quotes,in the Run dialog box.Msconfig does not show all programs running in the background however.

If you have Windows XP as your operating system, try to delete all files in the prefetch directory. Windows XP Professional monitors files that are used when the computer starts and when you start programs.

When Windows XP Professional monitor these files, it prefetches them.Prefetching data is the process whereby data that is expected to be requested is read ahead into the cache. Prefetching boot files and applications decreases the time needed to start Windows XP Professional and start applications.

These files if not deleted will lower system resources and slow pc performance by loading programs that are no longer being used.To delete these files,open C,your system drive, and go to windows/prefetch.Delete all files or at least those more than 3 weeks old and, reboot.

Try to check to see if your computer and the CPU Chip are not overheating. Excessive heat will cause your system to perform much closer.Make sure your computer is well ventilated

A really neat and free utility that does a great job at displaying all programs is Merijins free startup utility which configure programs at http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml.This utility is simple to use and should not add more burden to your computer.

Another utility called Process Explorer ,Sysinternals Tutoring at http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html can be used and this utility allow you to disable each program.

And when it comes to correcting slow computer performance, you can be your own worst enemy.And just how is this? The word procrastination means to put off today what we can do tomorrow. Such simple tasks as running scandisk and defrag are often put off until a more convenient time.

Don’t let procrastination or anything else get in the way of boosting the performance of your computer. You’ll thank yourself many times over when you see the results. You will also have the knowledge to help others boost their computer’s performance as well.And that can always be a blessing to someone.

Otis F. Cooper is the author of the award winning PC Super Pack,the Computer Training By Video course.For hundreds more free PC repair tips,sign up for his bi-monthly newsletter and learn the PC free at http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com

 
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Computer Memory – When and How to Upgrade

01 Aug

Since installing computer memory, also known as RAM is a pretty simple and straight forward task; I will first focus on why you might need an upgrade.  RAM stands for random access memory. It is defined as computer memory available to the user for creating, loading, or running programs and for the temporary storage and manipulation of data, in which time of access to each item is independent of the storage sequence.

So what does that mean? Just know this; RAM is one of the most important factor in a computer’s performance. Adding memory will enhance your computer’s overall performance. But you can’t just go to the computer store and purchase a 4GB stick of RAM. There is a bit of research involved.

If you’ve built your own computer, then you should have the user’s manual for the motherboard you installed in your system. The user’s manual will list the maximum memory supported for the motherboard. It will also give you the memory standard. If you purchased your computer, you can visit the website of your computer’s manufacturer to get this info.

Example:

The DX38BT provides 4 DIMM sockets using Dual Channel 240-pin DDR3 with a total capacity of up to 8GB-64bit. You can install DDR3 800/1066/1333MHz Memory.

This example is from the user’s manual of a motherboard. You don’t need to know what it means, but you do need to realize that only this type of memory will work in your computer.

4 DIMM sockets means you can put up to (4) memory sticks in your computer and together they cannot exceed 8GB. So, you can have one 8GB stick (but they aren’t selling those yet), two 4GB or four GB sticks. They must be 240-pins. This represents the size and configuration of the stick. The DDR3 800/1066/1333MHz deal with processing speeds. The main thing to keep in mind when upgrading your RAM is to get the correct size memory. Make sure the RAM you purchase adheres to the user’s manual’s or website’s recommendations.

Ok, enough technical mumbo, jumbo. Now for the easy stuff; let’s install our new memory. If this is a factory computer, you might first have to get over your fear of opening your computer. Trust me, it’s not as hard as it may seem. It is more difficult finding the correct memory for your computer than it is installing it. (Remember, static electricity is a CPU killer, so be sure to ground yourself prior to touching any of the inner workings of your computer.)

Once inside, simply locate the RAM, unclamp the retaining clips and remove them from the DIMM. Take the upgraded RAM, align it with the DIMM, and push it straight down into the DIMM until the retaining clamps secure the RAM in place. You may need to fix the retaining clips on the RAM manually. And you are done. Now, wasn’t that easy?

Lee Jones is a computer enthusiast who enjoys building computers in his spare time. To get your FREE Computer Build Budget Workbook, FREE tips, advice and suggestions, Check me out at: PC Builders Delight

 
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