What are the warning signs that any PC needs to be replaced?

Here is why... First , I still have AMD K2 266mhz, AMD Athlon XP 1.7 gb, AMD Athlon 64 3.2 ghz, and AMD Athlon 64X2 4.6 ghz. My biggest regrets is giving up my oldest and first one... Intel 12mhz , yes 12mhz but it seemed broken and I never really had time to poke around to see if I could save it with a spare harddrive. However it looked like the mobo was on the fritz.. Well, I still have my MS-DOS 6, Windows 3.1, Windows 95 upgrade, Windows 98 upgrade, Windows XP (one SP1 and two SP2). I still have the old 5 and quarter inch floppy disk drive working. So you see, I am not giving them up. They are still useful, because I still have old DOS games to boot as well as shoeboxes of sharewares. I still have a 2.5 gb hardrive. I can go on and on. I formatted and reinstalled all kinds of operating systems I have as I move up. I move working motherboards around and reused all the older periphals. Ah, I still have the old mousesystems mouse with wheel and side button (my favorite one but not workable with XP) Any operating systems below XP I dont connect to the Internet or I will be slimed by adware and spyware the first second I turn on the computer with older operating systems like Windows 98 and below. They are ancient and vulnerable but still usable as standalones. They are where I installed old apps. Remember Duke Nukem and Whiplash?? A computer is made of many componenets that can be reused . I know I am not answering your question, but the answer is easy. There is no easy answers but you have to really understand the guts of a computer to be able to extend the useful lifetime of your computer. Do you know what a powersupply is? Do you know what a video card is ? Do you know what a ethernet card is? Do you know what a case is? Do you know what a harddrive is? Do you know what a Cdrom drive is? Do you know what a fan is? Do yo know what a usb card is ? Do yo know what RAM is? Do you know what a monitor is ? Those are what yo can pull out and save for future reuses. You can always sell them at Ebay or Craiglist whatever! Computers are great, arent they?

Janet computers can go on for quite a number of years before being replaced, and quite often if you know what your doing or you have a friend that knows a bit about computers you don't actually need to replace it at all as it's quite often cheaper to upgrade the existing system.

The recovering of the system all depends on what you want to use the computer for. If you only want to use your computer for surfing the internet and office work and the computer is up to about 5 years old then there should be no need to change the computer at all. If however you want to use your computer for serious gaming, like playing Oblivion or Sims 2 then an upgrade might be on the cards.

The main thing that causes the problems you have described below is Windows. Windows is a bit of a hoarder of old junk. This means that over time your computer gets more and more full of junk files that Windows no longer needs and just keeps because it can't actually remember what it put them there for in the first place.

The first thing to try is to re-install Windows from the beginning. To do this firstly back up your entire hard drive as all the files will be gone.

Next insert your Windows XP CD into the computer (you might need to create this using a recovery program that was installed on your computer if it's a branded computer like Dell or Compaq or something)

Restart the computer, as long as your computer BIOS is set up correctly then you it should start loading from the CD, if it doesn't you might need someone who knows about computers to go into the BIOS and change the boot order to start with CD-ROM not Hard Drive.

Go through the setup process of Windows, Windows might detect you already have Windows installed and ask you if you want to repair it, say NO as this will just add even more junk to the files! When you get to the "Partition" screen that shows all your existing partitions on your computer delete the partitions and let Windows recreate them and quick format them. Carry on to the end of the Windows installation and when your computer has this fresh version of Windows installed you should see a significant speed increase. One other important thing is ensure you are using a legally licenced version of Windows, and not an illegal copy. Microsoft have put various protections in Windows XP and if you try to bypass the copy protection it will cause serious problems with your computer and not allow you to update your software, which will open up your computer to various security issues.

Now if that doesn't make a significant difference there is still hope. Most local computer engineers are able to upgrade your computer to be a really fast computer for about

Signs to get your PC changed,
For sure your PC will not scream and say please leave me alone and will never say I got tired or I am ready to retire.
Your PC performance and activities are the indication for earthier changing or empowerment.
? Request processing time to get the out but.
? Resolution, when you play movies or display any colorful material.
? Browsing, internet browsing and downloading.
If you notice your PC is not performing very well and not meeting your requirement, it is the time to change.
But you still can do some changes to get good performance by using some ton-up tools or hardware upgrading or changes.

Is it a Intel or AMD? what speed is it? How much RAM do you have? What size is your harddrive? Do you use Windows XP? Do you still use a mouse with a ball under it? Do you have USB? Do you have DVD rom? Do you still have the big cathode ray monitor (boxy monitor)? Do you have ...? If you dont know, and if you had been having your present computer for more than 4 or 5 years, you might as well go out and buy a new computer system . You can still save your old computer and you never know what will happen..

Dear Janet,I think you have to go over your settings and check them for any wrong settings.If you don't know how ask a computing friend.I had it myself and found out that it was my settings togethr with too many programs and the wrong programs.Succes Hans van Lint at hans51@zeelandnet.nl.

Everything mentioned above usually points to a machine that just needs some routine maintenance. Long ago, Apple used to recommend a yearly (or semi-annual) refresh of the operating system - that is, just a routine over-top install, in order to correct any system files that had gotten torqued along the way. Microsoft didn't recommend this with Windows, because their marketing department believed it lent the notion that Windows was somehow less-than-perfect.

Indeed.

There's usually little to no harm in simply reinstalling the operating system. You'll often find things that had stopped working, suddenly work again. You'll also need to re-do all kinds of updates, since those usually get blown away with an OS reinstall.

As to the question of "when does your computer need to be replaced?" Honestly, most don't at the moment. The real time to upgrade is when your operating system and programs you use require far more resources than your system can provide. If you're still running a P3/500 with 256 megs of RAM and want to install Windows Vista, then yes, get a new machine. If your latest game requires a faster processor, AND a hotter video card, AND more RAM, and more hard drive space... it can make more sense to replace the machine than it would to upgrade each component - plus, the warranty on the entire machine is nice.

Dear User:
You need to discard your computer when one of these things occurs: 1) it emits heavy black smoke; 2) it makes a noise like a scalded monkey; 3) its signal lights don't work; 4) no connection can be established between input and output (i.e. between the keyboard and screen/output ports); 5) when your cpu will not handle the requirements of your software and can't be upgraded at reasonable cost.
The problems you list (unless a tech has verified situation #4) are internal software problems, probably a corruption in your registry. A good tech can probably solve these in 3 to 4 hours of work and also most hardware problems. Of course that will cost you several hundred dollars.
If it's an old machine you might want to scrap it anyhow for financial reasons or for reasons of future economy. (i.e. why put money into an obsolete machine when a new one will cost less and do your work better?)
The practical answer to the above question involves analysing your hardware setup: how powerful, uptodate, upgradeable is it? You can always pull the harddrive (if it still whirs) and rescue your programs/data. So, select the cheapest solution for your situation: repair or replace.

Hi Janet,

buying a new PC is like buying a new car. All the reasons for replacing it are a combination of cost and personal preference like status. So some people buy a new one (trading in the old one) every year). With PCs that would be about every 6 months.

All the indicators you listed can be reduced to some hardware or driver problem. Some of them could be fixed with a new component such as a new hard drive or memory which wouldn't be to expensive and may be necessary to recover current data. When considering that a new computer would already have a new one the real determining factor would be when the cost of replacing a component or components would exceed about 50% of the cost of a new computer. Sometimes just a thorough cleaning of the inside of the computer case of collected dust and/or replacing a few fans can alleviate some of your difficulties. It all depends too on how technically inclined you are to dealing with hardware components. Perhaps finding a good computer service center would be the best bet. Kind of like finding a good mechanic who can advise you reliably about the various cost options. May I reccommend myself for both automotive and PC mainternance?

Even a new computer will need periodic maintenace to keep it running smoothly since only mainframe types of computers are operating in an environment with cooled and filtered air and even they are constantly under supervision to maintain reliability.

Another feature (or bug) of replacing a computer is the OS(Operating System) which may require learning new ways of controlling factors like security and data storage. Here I can't stress enough the importance of backing up important documents and files. OS and programs can always be reinstalled hopefully even the latest Microsoft System. However the Documents and Files used are fundementally irreplacable. Anyone that has learned to work with one system will probably learn to work with a new system pretty quickly so that isn't a major concern but one that must be included in the cost analysis.

If you build your own system from scratch then upgrading defective components may be the best option. I would guess that you don't or your question wouldn't be here. The cost of building a completely new system usually exceeds the purchase of a package solution. What it all really comes down to is what you want the computer for. Do you want it to work and make money for you like a Pick-up or work as a status symbol like a Ferrari or Porsche. In some cases the status will make money for you too. It all depends on your needs and your clientele. Both will move your data around. Given the traffic situation a new one won't necessarily move it any faster.

Reliability is probably the most important for you and the components in a new PC will need to be reliable ones particularly the hard drive which is where most of your data is stored. I have my own preference for hard drive manufacturers and if you have one one that has only lasted about 2 years. You might look for a system with a diffrent Hard drve or specify your preference when buying a new PC. I've seen drives from one manufacturer last in excess of 15 years without failure and others fail within about 10 months which is in the warranty period but the replacement didn't last any longer either. Fotunately that manufacturer no longer exists. For some one who replaces their PC every 6 months that wont be a major problem. You have to consider moving all your pertinent data to a new system as well. That will have to be done in the event of a hard drive failure anyway. However with a new PC and OS you will need to know beforehand if your data will even be compatible with the new one. Documnents won't be a major problem they can usually be converted and with some editing of the formatting can even be improved. Data base files can be a real dizzy spell. Probably a good time to turn on the coffeepot or prepare yourself with adequate refreshments for the process.

Change is aways a dangerous game but can also be very exciting and the results even more so... especially if you are well prepared. A nephew or niece might even be thankful for the hand-me-down PC if they don't already have one. If they have a better one maybe it really is time to consider a new one.

Have some fun while your looking for a solution to your problem.

Nelson Price
originally Morgan Hill, CA
currently in Germany

Of course I shouldn't even ask this because I'm sure you did it all, but have you run regular check disks, defragmentations,disk cleanups, virus scans and spyware scans - using updated definitions?
PC housekeeping can keep things running smoothly for much longer. I am a member of a game player's forum and many times users complain about crashing that can be helped by thorough housekeeping.
Windows Live OneCare can run on line free scans on your pc to check for disk tidiness, registry errors, malware. I use it regularly, particularly the registry scan.
And in the last resort - have you ever reformatted the pc? Never done it myself, but my friend is always doing it and her pc runs much better than mine!
Sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs here. Hope you get some good advice from proper experts.

I should have said in my previous answer that my friend's pc had an attack of failing to open and going to the safe mode screen all the time. Luckily she had extended warranty. This year she has had a free new motherboard, hard drive and power unit. The RAM chip was so filthy it looked like a lump of dirt and was shorting out every time she booted up. The power unit blew dramatically as the engineer tried to power up the pc. It's working like a dream now, but if it hadn't been for that extended warranty it would be on the scrap heap. Did you get a look inside the pc to check for lethal attacks of dirt and fluff?

This is non-technical but prehaps a different way to answer the question.
For you to consider giving the computer away to some poor soul, you'd start from scratch; reformatting the hard drive and re-loading an operating system, perhaps upgrading the memory and then load some programs. If all that worked and you felt comfortable passing the computer to a friend... then I ask you, why you wouldn't consider doing all of the above for yourself.
Yes, you'll lose your information. Was it that reliable? You might try saving all of your data files to a memory stick or CDs or an external hard drive, but you may be re-introducing your troubles back onto the computer.
Look at it this way. A new computer doesn't come with all of your old data loaded on it, so why not really clean up this one and start over.... unless you just want a new computer.

I've always thought the replaceing a computer is a personal decision. I built my first computer, so even though it was a hard road, I finally found the point where what I wanted to do was no longer possible on my current setup.

If what you're most concerned with is email, web-browsing, basic computer usage, then a computer that is 3,4 or even 5 years old will suit you fine and you can breathe new life into it. backing up your precious files with an external hard drive and reinstalling your OS (Windows) is an easy way to see what it used to do for you!

But, if your getting more upset about large files not loading fast enough, complicated web pages not loading, or you wanna get into some fancy gaming or design, perhaps a new computer is the best route for you.

That being said, figure out your price point (sub $1000, $1000-$1500, etc.) and then consider the features you need. For peripherals, get lots of USB support. If you have 3 digital cameras, get a multi-card reader. Save lots of music or photos? Get the massive (100GB+) hard drive. With processor technology flying off the shelves, its best to just go and play with a few demo computers to see if you like the speed. The computer the salesman says is "last years technology" may be perfect speed for you, and $400 cheaper to boot.

So, there is my commentary on what to get a new computer. in Short, Know what you use it for, know what you want to use it for, and know whats most important to you in design. In the end, your computer should reflect you. Mine has lights on it

If you are have several of those problems all at the same time, it may be the time to consider replacing your system. Most of the problems mentioned in your question might be fixed by something as simple as an 'in place repair install' of Windows XP. Data corruption is usually a sign of a faulty hard drive which is usually a sub-$100.00 component that is fairly simple to replace. My general rule of thumb when it comes down to replacing my system is when it will not do what I want it to. I guess it comes down to how comfortable a person is when it comes down to digging into a system and replacing defective components and reinstalling your operating system. Most people know some kid down the street that just lives for the day he can dig into a computer and do repairs for very little cash.

I believe it's purely economics.
Obviously, there are number of things that can cause the demise of a working system. As much as most of us will suffer through declining speed (due to changes and updates of the OS and apps running on the computer over time), the incidental part replacement (such as a hard drive, or keyboard, mouse, maybe memory), it's what the net-out-of-pocket amount that will answer our decisions of when to replace. There's any number of problems that 'stop you in your tracks, but when the repair costs start exceeding about 60-65% of the cost of a new and current system, that's when our fantasy minds begin envisioning the shiny new hunk-o-hardware. The curve on the costs of new computers continues to slope downward, while the curve on the costs of replacement parts (which are comparatively more likely to be at full retail) hasn't kept pace. So, when a component that is hardwired or stamped onto the motherboard fails, or a flat-screen on a laptop goes goofy and finally gives up the ghost, it's time.
Also, for most computer users, they aren't knowledgeable in how to work on a desktop, and obviously not a laptop. So you have to add in the additional shop or labor charges when computing that 60-65% factor.

A guideline on when to toss an old computer comes down to money. What will it cost to get it to do what I want, compared to what it will cost to replace it. A desktop is usually cheaper to replace or repair compared to a notebook. A good rule of thumb is that if a desktop is three years old, and the cost to correct a problem is above $200 - $250, it may be better to look at replacing it. Many people look at the fact that they paid $700 - $800 for a desktop several year?s ago, and think $200 to repair it isn?t all that bad. The same system they bought a few years ago has about dropped in half in price. A notebook is more expensive to repair than a desktop, but the comparable price for a new one has dropped more than desktops in the past few years. One also has to think of the cost & hassle if purchasing a replacement vs. repairing the old one. Transferring data from the old to new, trying to find drivers for the peripherals you are keeping for Vista that comes on the new systems, finding out that you have to buy updates to your old Quicken, Office, other applications, to run under Vista, are all situations that need to be added to the formula.

If you have multiple I/O devices and applications currently in use, these have to be added to the complete value of your system when deciding whether to buy new of fix, as some will not run under Vista.

I would talk to a few places to get a total cost, then base my decision on the money.

Janet,
The signs you've described may result from a number of issues, from a potentially failing hard drive to software corruption to virus infestation.

If you are having difficulty booting up your computer, the hard drive boot sector may have been corrupted. If that's the case, the drive will need to be replaced. If you own an older computer, the cost to replace the hard drive may not make sense relative to the cost of a new system.

If the system boots, but you are having trouble getting your system to perform cerrtain tasks, you may want to consider using antivirus software if you haven't already done so. You may also want to consider reinstalling your troublesome software, as the reinstallation may fix the problem you're having.

As far as extending the life of your current system, you could consider adding memory, particularly if your system seems to be running slow (although defragmenting your hard drive and clearing caches of temporary files will also help). Again, if you have an older system, the cost of adding memory may not make sense.

For me, the decision to replace te system usually comes when I find that I no longer have the system rwesources to run the software I would like to purchase, or when replacing or upgrading components approaches 50% of the cost of a new system.

good luck with your decision.

The least expensive?but perhaps the most annoying?would be to back up all your files to an external hard drive, reformat the internal hard drive, and reinstall Ms Windows from scratch. If there?s no hardware errors, this will give you a clean bill of health?and if it?s just the hard drive going bad, this will prevent you from losing your precious data.

The next option would be to get a new Ms Windows?based PC, which really comes down to two sub-options: one with Windows Vista or one with Windows XP. Vista may seem like the smarter choice, since it?s more future-proof, but there?s so many different versions that you?d better read up and make sure that a) the version you?re getting will do everything you need, and b) the computer you?re getting can actually run the version you need. (As an aside, my brother-in-law bought a new computer with Windows Vista, a few weeks ago, and it?s so bad that he?s actually spending the extra money to buy a copy of Windows XP, to replace it.)

The last option?and in my opinion, the best?would be to upgrade to a new Macintosh. Although the new version of Mac OS X (codenamed ?Leopard?) has been pushed back to October, the current version (Mac OS X v.10.4.9 Tiger) is in many ways more advanced than Windows Vista, and it?s mostly immune to the kinds of problems you?re describing. Please note that I said ?mostly?; Macs aren?t perfect, but they have the significant advantage of the hardware and software coming from the same manufacturer. Look around your house at all the various appliances?your TV, microwave, toaster, perhaps a DVR, etc.?and you?ll notice that they?re all made by a single company. That?s why you don?t have to worry about the TV?s software: it?s made for that specific TV, maybe at the outset for all TVs by that manufacturer, but certainly not for 5,000 different TVs from 100 different manufacturers and let?s hope to high Heaven it works with all of them. A Macintosh is about as reliable as any other appliance, and in the event it does break down, you know exactly who?s to blame. (The single manufacturer model is also why Macs tend to be so much less expensive than their Windows-based counterparts.)

One last thing: if you?re holding out on making the switch to a Macintosh, remember that there?s many different options?some of them even free!?for running Ms Windows programs on a Mac. Frankly, I don?t think there?s any more reason to look elsewhere.

Good luck, Janet, and let us know how it goes!

Your issues all sound like they are software related. The solution might be a simple as backing up your data in some fashion, then format your hard drive and reinstall your OS, all of your applications and your data. If you don't have the skills necessary to do this yourself, a PC savvy friend could help. Even if you had to pay to have this done, it's bound to be cheaper than a new PC.

Of course, this all depends on how old your system is. If your system is not at least a Pentium 4 or the equivalent, and unless it has the ability to hold at least 512Mb of RAM, it might be time to replace your hardware.

The question implies both fault categories: SW and HW to be the problem.
I have used PCs before IBM PC appeared, daily, heavily. Any number and type of problems have appeared.
HW: when the HD begins to sound loud or act erratically, it is time to move your stuff onto a new one, voluntarily. I used to consume one HD per year, in the 90'ies. If the screen breaks, you'll have a good excuse to by a whole new laptop, the one you always wanted to have. Broken connectors still deserve to get repaired by a shop. A new laptop battery is a good investment, too.
SW: Windows keeps increasing the size of the Registry as you go, so after two years or so of normal use, the HD needs to be reformatted, and all programs and data reinstalled. As far as I know, there is no way to reduce the registry size, so to improve the response time of your PC to various commands. That is a major problem in today's operating systems. But hey, you CAN do it to your PC, but your own body must carry all the life's wear and tear all the way to the end. Reformatting is not an option for us (yet).

Arrrgh... You are asking questions about your operating system, not your computer hardware. And that is probably the paradigm that would mean the most to their bottom line. You are falling into a trap where you feel you need to buy a whole new system every two years. And the reality is that you do. Not necessarily because your computer is obsolete for your purposes, but more likely because your operating system is changing from under you (although temping, I will not even touch stability issues). A fair assumption would be to say money motivates these changes. However, one could ask if it is fair to impose these changes on you? You might point out no one is imposing changes on you. But then, why does your operating system appear to be breaking down? It is likely products you have recently bought expect newer operating systems. And the people who sell those products what to sell to the largest audiences. It all sounds some what out of control does it not? What can you do? Buy smart next time.

When you can not cope up with the latest audio and video release, especially the graphics. Also, when you are installing a programs that have higher requirements for the graphics. This results to slow start up, longer time opening of files and undesirable frame rate for the video.

But first of all, kindly check your PC if it is upgradable. It is more cheaper to add/replaced cards than buying a new PC.

While the gist of this weeks question may seem to offer some plausible reasons for replacing your current computer, "Don't be misled"...

In general issues such as the ones outlined can be resolved by doing one of the following:

1) Restoring your computer to an earlier point in time. Windows provides this is an option that allows you set up to regularly scheduled restore points.

2) Some computer come with a resort/recovery partition per installed on your machine (Look under my computer). This will allow you to restore your computer back to the factory install level (pristine).

3) Then if worse comes to worse there's always the ole format and reinstall. This worked for me some years ago when my machine got a virus and slowly deteriorated to the point where it wouldn't boot. After I did the reinstall, it ran like a champ for several years to come, until I sold it. Which brings me to another point, "IF" you do NOTHING else make sure you have virus protection on your computer with an active subscription for regular updates. I CAN NOT stress this enough. Most ISPs like SBC and others provide virus protection as a part of their service.

Now, to the crux of this weeks question, the bottom line is, it's time to replace your computer when it reaches it limitations in memory, cpu, etc. Many situations can be over come by upgrading your hard drive, adding more memory, installing a DVD burner etc. but there also THAT point of diminishing return (Upgrading your old PC is just not worth it in the long run). With technology changing as quick as it does and the basic price, relatively speaking, of PC coming down there in lies the question "Do I or Don't I" - "Feeling luck Punk".

Good luck.

i have had the same problems as you and resolvedmost of them by rolling my machine back a year. however i think that my problems were started by a virus, do you have a good antivirus and do you scan frequently. also is it up to date?

First, none of the "warning signs" sighted have anything to do with PC replacement. Don't confuse OS stability with hardware obsolescence. Any PC can be re-loaded with OS and application software when, for whatever reason, it fails to work for software reasons.

When something inside the PC fails, and can be replaced for nominal cost, do that (hard drive, DVD-R RW, etc.). Replace the PC when, loaded with the OS and application suite of choice, its performance is no longer satisfactory. This might include the inability to support some new peripheral that you just have to have, or run a new power or memory-hungry application.

Even when the OS works, applications conspire to bog the PC down. They love to add something to the "tray" -- pre-load a big hunk of code so you don't know how poorly they're written when it takes a few seconds longer to load them. Put twenty or more applications on a single PC and the odds of one of them throwing a nutty and secretly chewing up the machine's resources are pretty high.

Ironically, "anti-virus" software most often takes the PC on a one-way trip to snooze-ville -- especially the "suites". In an effort to make the PC safe, it makes it useless!

Before replacing that PC, buy a new larger hard drive (they're cheaper every day), re-install the OS on that with the original drive setup in the "back seat". Re-install the software you need to run and pull back all your data. Chances are, the PC is just fine. Later, that second hard drive can be a backup point for important data, personal setting and even an image of the primary drive if you buy the right software.

The obvious sign is when unable to find replacements for failed hardware components. If the part is no longer manufactured, its a pretty safe bet support will be limited at best. Adjunct to this is the older systems inability to accept newer versions of failed components.

With considering the myriad of configurations and varied uses we have for PC's from the perspective of the extremely good engineering that goes into making the components. Very long life cycles are experienced. Simply because a PC no longer holds the much coveted and ever shifting, 'state of the art' classification, does not mean it needs to be replaced.

Conversely, when one part fails, the entire system becomes a candidate for replacement. This opens up an entirely different topic for discussion centered around the User and their intended use of the system.

The short answer is: When a component of a PC has failed or fails to preform to the Users expectations (also, 'ever shifting') a determination of whether the PC should be replaced, should be made.

i have been thinking on during the same thing with mine but i research and i think i found something that will make pc like new and that buying a copies of Regcure this is euppose to make an old pc like new it find all the problem and fix them better than you can imgine for a small fee of 46.69 dollar this will take care of your problem once and for all check this out on www,download.com read the info and send me a email bnack and let me know where u can buy it im having a heck of time to find it i hope this help you in making your decision to buy a new pc or make your old pc run like you just bought it besides it will save you money

Telling someone that there is one certain problem that could happen to your computer that means you need to get a new one is almost impossible. This is because there are, as sad as it seems, almost a limitless number of issues that can happen to a computer that could lead one to purchasing a new one.

What I found to be the best advice is not necessarily what is the issue, but what is the cost to fix it. Any issue one may face with his/her computer can be fixed; some are just more expensive than others. Sometimes you need to reinstall the OS and other times you need to replace a piece of hardware, but in any case, it is possible to fix.

To give you an idea on the costs for various repairs you are going to be looking at I made a list below. (They might be slightly biased; these are what it costs to repair at Geek Squad)

- A bad Hard drive will cost about $100-150 for about a 250-320gig replacement and $40 to install. If you want to get your data recovered it will be about another $100. After that you will have to install the OS on the hard drive because it will be completely blank, otherwise you can have someone install it for you. Overall about 290 if you want your data from the bad HDD.
- If you have an issue with your OS such as not loading it all together or if it jsut runs very slowly you can take it in somewhere to have viruses and like issues removed or you can simply reinstall the operating system. You can try doing it yourself but once a virus is on your computer it is not as easy as you may think to completely remove. Most repair centers use a variety of programs to assure that everything has been taken care of. Taking it in will cost between 129 and 200.
- An issue with your motherboard is a little more costly than the other issues. The difficulty with replacing it is that it is often the case in which you MUST get the exact same one that was in before to make sure it will be compatible. The replacement cost itself will be between $100-250 and unless you are very computer savvy it is a wise idea to have it professionally installed. The installation will cost around $60 and other costs may incur if the OS needs to be reinstalled after the replacement. Total cost will be around $200-450.
- An issue with RAM is a fairly simple one to fix. A replacement stick will run about $70 for 512MB and about $150 for 1gig and if you must have a professional install it will run about $40. Overall you will be looking at between $70 and $190.
-Issues with other hardware such as DVD drives will run you about the same as the above if not a little less.

When purchasing a new computer you are looking at about $700 for a decent desktop computer so anyone of the issues listed above are still cheaper than a new computer. The only drawbacks you would be looking at are the fact that the saying "whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger" does not hold true for computers, instead they seem to be weaker and even more susceptible to future repairs. Also, for about $300 more you can get a brand new computer with all of the new technology.

When you are deciding if it is cost effective look not only at the price difference between the repair and a new computer but also at the age of your own. If the computer is over five years old don?t spend more than $200 to fix it. Anything under three years would be worth spending maybe $400 to keep it going. For computers less than three years old, almost always get it fixed unless the cost of repairs is more than the machines worth and if it is more than six years old don?t fix it, instead buy a new computer. I hope this helped!

Tyler,
Geek Squad CIA, precinct 611.

Janet,

You didn't mention what you were using and how old it is so your choices may be twofold. First if you have a fairly new PC (less than 2 years old) ad assuming you have all of the software and reinstall or a restore disk, I would suggest backing up all your personal files if you are running XP you can use the file settings and transfer wizard to help you with this. Once you have your backup you can proceed to reformatting your drive and reinstalling everything, remember to apply all of the necessary updates and your virus and firewall protection.

This should eliminate the slow downs you are describing, a good spyware program such as SpyBot (free) or Counterspy (not free) may be in order to avoid a recurrence. If your PC is older than 2 years you are, or may be, at the point of having to ask is it worth it, especially if you are running an OS earlier than XP. If you are could could do an upgrade if your hardware supports it, or consider moving to an OS like Linux if you used your PC primarily for email, web and basic day to day work. There are many Linux programs that make a good substitute if you're not married to a specific Windows product. Linspire is a good Linux distro for those who like a simplified approach, there are others depending on your level of expertise. If you are married to a certain app then with prices the way they are on desktops you may find it cheaper to buy than to upgrade. I used to build most of my PC's but it has gotten to the point where OEM's can do it for a lot less and I just reformat them the way I want them to get rid of the useless they they pawn off. Good Luck.

Hi Janet - Crikey mate, is your computer actually displaying all the symptoms you describe? Without knowing the exact details of your computer's age and hardware specs it is difficult to give concrete advise.
Most of the behavior you describe can be caused by an overload of infections, spyware, adware or viruses etc. This can be rectified by submitting your computer to the local techy for a professional clean of the hard drive. This process is relatively inexpensive BUT you will lose all your important data and favorite programs. Your technician can give you advise in this area.
The greatest reason for upgrading to a new computer is 'technological redundancy'. Computer technology is advancing so rapidly that even relatively new computers can quickly become superceded.
The bottom line is that your best bet is a visit to your local technician, with computer in hand for diagnosis and advice on the best course of action.

Regards (and good luck) JIMBO