Comments on: Hold On, Laptop, Hold On http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/ Personal Finance + Savvy Living = Save for Tomorrow, Enjoy Today Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:49:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paying On Time - Credit Cards » Remember When? Round-up of Blogger’s First Posts http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/comment-page-1/#comment-10129 Paying On Time - Credit Cards » Remember When? Round-up of Blogger’s First Posts Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:00:26 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/#comment-10129 [...] Well Heeled Blog: September 2006 [...] [...] Well Heeled Blog: September 2006 [...]

]]> By: Margo http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Margo Wed, 22 Nov 2006 23:41:35 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/#comment-6 I have a 6 year old PC, and luckily I was dating someone at the time who could: -Safely move all my data (intact) temporarily onto one of the hard drives of his 3 networked home computers; -Wipe my hard drive; -Partition it so now 1 drive runs Windows, and the other holds my data. It's easier to defrag now -Add extra RAM. The processor is kinda slow but I'm trying to hold out for another year or two - until I really need a new computer for B-school. Then, I plan to buy in August on the Sales Tax Holiday - in NC, tax is 7% so that's a lot of cash - plus retailers time their sales to coincide w/ the back to school tax holiday. I have a 6 year old PC, and luckily I was dating someone at the time who could:

-Safely move all my data (intact) temporarily onto one of the hard drives of his 3 networked home computers;
-Wipe my hard drive;
-Partition it so now 1 drive runs Windows, and the other holds my data. It’s easier to defrag now
-Add extra RAM.

The processor is kinda slow but I’m trying to hold out for another year or two – until I really need a new computer for B-school. Then, I plan to buy in August on the Sales Tax Holiday – in NC, tax is 7% so that’s a lot of cash – plus retailers time their sales to coincide w/ the back to school tax holiday.

]]> By: Wanda http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Wanda Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:45:00 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/#comment-5 Thanks Kira! 7 years seem very ambitious... but hopefully my laptop will hold on for just a couple more. :)--> Thanks Kira! 7 years seem very ambitious… but hopefully my laptop will hold on for just a couple more. :) –>

]]> By: Kira http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Kira Tue, 05 Sep 2006 10:48:00 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/#comment-4 I wrote a whole post on this cause both you and Ms. MiniDucky had the same issue. ;) http://pennyfoolish.blogspot.com/2006/09/how-to-save-old-pc-computer-dont.html I wrote a whole post on this cause both you and Ms. MiniDucky had the same issue. ;)

http://pennyfoolish.blogspot.com/2006/09/how-to-save-old-pc-computer-dont.html

]]> By: Kira http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Kira Mon, 04 Sep 2006 20:34:00 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2006/09/02/hold-on-laptop-hold-on/#comment-3 Unless you think that the problems are hardware related, I'd see if you can get any results by reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling Windows. If you've had it a long time, things just accumulate in your registries and make things run pretty slow.. plus you might have some spyware or something slowing it down. If you bought it new, it might have reinstall disks with it. So here is what I would try before buying a new one: 1. Defragment it 3 or 4 times and see if that helps, if you don't do that regularly. (I don't know how techie you are but it's under Accessories - System Tools.) 2. See if your school has a site license for Windows so you can download a new copy of Windows. (BTW, what version are you running? For an older computer I would recommend Windows 2000. Not as pretty but works faster. Your school may only have XP available though.) 3. Get more RAM installed, if you can. This won't be cheap but it will be cheaper than a new laptop. 4. If absolutely necessary (ie you don't have the install disks, and your school doesn't have a Microsoft license) you can buy XP Home for about $100, I think. Your laptop should last for YEARS - I have a 7 year old laptop which works just fine, but we do reinstall windows about every 2 years. ;) Defragging is a good start though. If you need help on how to reformat, email me (pennyfoolish@gmail.com). Unless you think that the problems are hardware related, I’d see if you can get any results by reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling Windows. If you’ve had it a long time, things just accumulate in your registries and make things run pretty slow.. plus you might have some spyware or something slowing it down. If you bought it new, it might have reinstall disks with it. So here is what I would try before buying a new one:

1. Defragment it 3 or 4 times and see if that helps, if you don’t do that regularly. (I don’t know how techie you are but it’s under Accessories – System Tools.)

2. See if your school has a site license for Windows so you can download a new copy of Windows. (BTW, what version are you running? For an older computer I would recommend Windows 2000. Not as pretty but works faster. Your school may only have XP available though.)

3. Get more RAM installed, if you can. This won’t be cheap but it will be cheaper than a new laptop.

4. If absolutely necessary (ie you don’t have the install disks, and your school doesn’t have a Microsoft license) you can buy XP Home for about $100, I think.

Your laptop should last for YEARS – I have a 7 year old laptop which works just fine, but we do reinstall windows about every 2 years. ;) Defragging is a good start though. If you need help on how to reformat, email me (pennyfoolish@gmail.com).

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