Upgrading and Using Your Current Laptop Versus Buying a New One
There are a lot of choices when it comes to computers. In all actuality, many of us use multiple computers every day. Our smart phone starts off our day waking us up replacing that old alarm clock. We read the news on our phone replacing the paperboy. Next, we heat up a packaged breakfast in the microwave. It’s time for work. We turn on our laptop and start to pound the keys. It seems slow. Now we start searching the Internet for a new one. WAIT! Do we really need a new laptop? Let us consider some options.
Laptop Options
My laptop is around 8 years old. While many think that it’s ready to go, I purchased it with a CORE I7 central processing unit (CPU). Let’s start looking at options to make it more efficient.
Antivirus Software
There’s a lot of good options, and I’ve been using the free version of AVG for years. Here’s the link - https://www.avg.com/en-us/homepage#pc . They have a paid version, but I’ve never had any issues with the free version as long as I keep it updated. Look at the free download above and follow the instructions. It works great and is easy and will do the job for most people.
Internal
Random Access Memory is one of the cheapest and first things to consider to speed up your computers. The question is what type of memory do I need. First, I need my model number. I checked the back of my computer buy no luck, and the manual was long gone. What to do?
I have Windows 10 on my computer. Here’s the steps
1. Type “run” in the Type here to search in the lower left corner
a. This brings up the command prompt
2. Type “msinfo32” to bring up the system information screen.
3. Under System Summary, look up the System Model
a. Mine is 700A3A
4. Under System Summary, look up the Installed Physical Memory (RAM)
a. Mine is 4 GB
5. Search the Internet to find the type and amount of RAM my computer will handle
In my case, I find that my laptop can take up to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM. It’s available for about $40 from a number of resources online. That seems like a good deal so I order it.
Installation is easy. Here’s the link to a three minute video that will walk you through installing the memory - https://www.memorystock.com/memory/Samsung700Z3ANotebook.html . After a few minutes I’m up and running and things are moving along a better place.
Disc Clean Up
Type Disk cleanup in the “Type here to search” box on the lower left hand side. This will run the configuration to see how much in extra files is being stored on your computer. Mine had 28.3 MB in Temporary Internet FiIes, 8 GB in Downloads, and 1.87 GB in the Recycle Bin. Select “OK” below and the system removes these unnecessary files.
Decision Time
My computer runs faster than it did. What I really notice versus the new computers I looked at during my BestBuy visit is the start up. The new ones start up quicker than mine. However, when it comes to running programs that I use every day, mine is still doing the trick. Therefore, I’ll continue with this one until I need to upgrade to Windows 11. All-in-all, not a bad upgrade for around forty bucks.
