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 Knowing what kind of memory to purchase and install is not as difficult as one might think. On the surface, this is an imposing task for someone without much computer experience. There’s a lot to find out before I make my purchase. What kind of memory do I need to purchase? How many open slots do I have for memory? How much is too much memory? How much is too little memory?

However, like any new task, an easy-to-follow set of instructions and a willingness to learn go a long way. This is a task worth learning for anyone who wants to boost the performance of a computer by adding memory. Plus, it isn’t that difficult to find out how much memory is currently installed, what memory module sizes by the computer, and how much memory is already installed on the computer.

Whenever I want to upgrade the memory for one of my computers, I usually go straight to the hard case. Obviously, the computer needs to be turned off for this task. Once the case is open, I can easily identify how many empty modules I have as well as discovering how many I already have installed.

Unfortunately, if all of the slots are full, I will need to remove some of the memory modules in order to install larger modules. However, I need to refer to my operating system manual and find out the maximum amount of memory that my computer can hold.

Installing more memory than the machine can handle is not going to give me access to the extra memory. In fact, it can create processing problems for me if I install more than my computer can use. My computer might not even be able to recognize that I have sufficient memory to complete a task if I have installed more memory than my computer can handle. In most cases, the manual for the operating system will list a recommended memory allotment as well as the maximum memory allotment. I can also examine the operating system of my computer to get this information.

If I consult the manual for my computer system, I will be able to identify the type of memory that I need to install. Additionally, I should be able to locate specific information on the minimum, maximum, and recommended memory for my specific computer model.

On a system with Windows, finding some answers to the above questions can be as simple as going to the start menu. From start, navigate to the control panel and locate the system properties or information. From this location, I should be able to pick up some information on my computer’s memory. For a custom made computer, it will be necessary to check the manual for the motherboard in order to determine the specifications for the type of memory utilized.

 Every once in a while, my computer refuses to shut down completely. Sometimes, it simply freezes up and does nothing. Other times it starts to shut down and then suddenly restarts.

This can be so frustrating, but not as frustrating as not knowing what to do when the computer refuses to shut down. This problem of not knowing what steps to take to correct the situation might be a direct result of the fact that so many different circumstances can create a computer that refuses to shut down.

The first step that I might take when troubleshooting this problem is to close all running programs before attempting to shut the computer down again. Since one of my computers is more than a dozen years old, it needs a memory upgrade that I haven’t gotten around to completing yet. Upgrading the memory on a computer can help with some computer issues including shut down problems. Too little memory might cause the computer to freeze up. Therefore, upgrading your memory to a higher capacity could eliminate the problems with shutting down the machine

On random occasion, I set my computer to restart when I shut it down. So, I double check this feature whenever my computer reboots after I shut it down. System failures can also account for a reboot, so checking your system’s error log is another option.

Another one of the first strategies I take is to check that any current updates have been installed on my computer. Updates are often designed to resolve incompatibility issues or bugs so it’s essential to have these.

Since a variety of malware applications can create all sorts of problems with computers including shut down issues, another one of the first strategies I take is to run my anti-virus and anti-spyware software programs. Deleting anything that appears to have infected my computer might resolve the issue. If it doesn’t, then I need to move on to the next strategy.

Eliminating any unnecessary programs should not only speed up my computer’s processing, but also, it might resolve any issues with shut down. Cleaning up my computer is a task that occurs on a regular basis. Not only does it increase the computer’s processing speed, but also it minimizes incompatibility issues. Therefore, I am going to delete any old applications, documents, and files that I no longer need.

Checking to see if the computer errors that my machine experiences are occurring during the time that my machine has issues with shut down might also help to identify the problem. Once the errors are fixed, the problem might resolve itself.

If I need to shut down the computer manually by holding in the power button, it isn’t really a shut down issue. Rather, if that happens, it is a power down issue that you need to resolve. Additionally, shut down issues with specific operating systems might have a fix from the manufacturer, so checking their website is another viable option for resolving the issue.

 My computer can be a wonderful machine when it is in proper working order. However, on those rare occasions when it gets stubborn and refuses to recognize my CD or DVD drive, it can be so frustrating. Any number of problems might occur when attempting to use my CD or DVD drive.

The drive might not recognize the disc at all. The disc label and the contents of the disc might not appear in Windows Explorer. The drive might take forever when attempting to read the disc. It might even make funny noises- my first clue that something isn’t quite right. In fact, the drive might just get stubborn on me and even refuse to eject the disc.

No matter what the problem happens to be, a few troubleshooting strategies are in order here. Perhaps the first step is to eject the disc from the drive, for most cases, and examine it for any obvious signs of damage including scratches and cracks. If the disc is one that I have recently purchased, I can try to get a replacement from the manufacturer. Reputable manufacturers will usually replace defective discs when requested. Once I get the new disc, I can attempt to use it in my drive again and see if it works. In most cases, this strategy works if the original problem resulted from the damage on the disc.

Next, if the disc is dirty or scratched and cannot be replaced, I can attempt to clean it. A soft cloth, one that is lint-free, should be used to gently clean the silver side of the disc. Alternatively, I can use a disc cleaning kit. I know not to ever use a paper towel since that will only create new scratches on my disc.

To clean the disc, I am going to use the cloth to wipe it from the center toward the outer edge. Circular motions can also create new scratches so I am careful never to do that. Once I am finished cleaning the disc, I can see if the drive can access it. If this works, great! If not, I am back to cleaning the disc, only this time, I am going to use a commercial cleaning solution designed for use with CDs or DVDs or a water-dampened cloth. Once I am finished re-cleaning the disc, I can see if my computer’s drive can read it. If not, I am moving on to the next troubleshooting strategy.

Now I need to attempt to use the disc in another computer either at home, at a friend’s home, or at work. If the disc works, the problem is with my disc drive. If the disc does not work, the problem remains with the disc. Throughout this stage of troubleshooting, I also need to make sure that I am inserting the disc in the right drive. For example, I need to place the CD in the CD drive and a DVD in the DVD drive. This might seem silly to even mention this, but even for veteran computer users, it is possible to inadvertently place a CD into a DVD drive if you are distracted at the time. Plus, some CD drives might not support CD-RW discs so that could also create a compatibility issue. DVD drives are easy to recognize since they typically have a DVD logo displayed on them.

To fix persistent problems with the DVD or CD drives, I might need to uninstall the drive and replace it with a new one. Additionally, I can check for updates for my software and see if that resolves the issue.

 How can I fix the problems that my computer is experiencing if the problems are stemming from its RAM? Do I even want to bother trying to fix such problems? The obvious answer is that I do want to try and resolve these issues and I’ll tell you why in the next paragraph.

Random Access Memory or RAM is the memory that my computer uses whenever it runs specific programs. It is the working memory that exists on a computer. A long time ago, someone once told me to think of RAM as being equivalent to short-term memory. That really cleared up the whole matter for me in a matter of seconds.

RAM stores the data that I am currently accessing or utilizing on my computer. This fact makes RAM essential to the proper functioning of my computer as well as anybody else’s computer. If the RAM isn’t working, then chances are that I won’t be working on the computer for very long either.

Fortunately, diagnosing and resolving this particular computer problem pertaining to RAM isn’t too difficult. If I have recently replaced or upgraded my computer’s RAM, and my computer isn’t recognizing it, I can troubleshoot with two different strategies.

Incompatible RAM is one of the most likely causes of memory problems. Since RAM is available in a number of different types and specifications, it is important for me to identify the type of RAM that my computer needs before making the purchase and replacing or upgrading RAM on my computer.

First, I need to check to see if I have properly installed the memory, securing it firmly in its socket. If I have done so, then I should check my computer’s requirements for the maximum amount of RAM that I can install. It might be possible to install too much, leading to incompatibility issues. If this is the case, I simply need to remove the extra RAM. Plus, I should check to make sure that I have installed the correct type of RAM for my computer.

If all of the above are in proper order, then I can take the opportunity to clean the modules. I need to clean both the pins and the sockets with a bit of rubbing alcohol and a clean cotton swab, being careful not to leave any residue on the module.

Additionally, if the memory problem persists, I can switch around the order of my computer’s memory modules to see if that makes any difference. In the event that my computer has more memory sockets than I currently need to use, I should ensure that I have installed the memory in the sockets with the lowest numbering.

Since some computers are designed to detect how much memory has been installed, a problem with this process will also create a problem with recognition of the memory by your system. How I go about this process depends on the version of Windows that I am currently using on my computer. Whenever I need to do this, I simply refer to my manufacturer’s manual. Plus, whenever I install any components to my computer or attempt to clean them, I make sure that the power has been disconnected first.

Every once in a while, the resolution on my monitor screen makes me think that my eyes are going bad. It doesn’t take me long to figure out that it’s just the program that I am using, the document that I am looking at, or the website that I am visiting. More likely than either of those two scenarios is the fact that someone in my family has changed the settings on my computer again. In particular, the screen resolution has been fiddled with in order to meet the specifications of someone else.

The specifications of the screen resolution determine the legibility and appearance of the information that I am viewing. The resolution settings are portrayed with numbers such as 640 by 480, 800 by 600, 1024 by 768, or 1280 by 1024. The numbers represent the number of pixels that are displayed on the screen. For higher legibility or to portray a larger amount of information on one screen, the higher the number of pixels needs to be.

Setting your screen resolution on a high setting will make the information appear smalle. When I use my tax software, I need to lower the screen resolution per suggested guideline to include a lower number of pixels. This strategy makes all of the information larger and more easily seen. Lower resolutions are terrific for vision-impaired individuals as well as for the elderly people who are beginning to have vision problems.

Fortunately, changing the resolution on my screen is an easy process and one that most people can handle on their own. It doesn’t take a lot of computer knowledge at all. In fact, a simple familiarity with the mouse and following directions makes it a simple process.

It’s best to close or minimize all open programs in order to gain access to the monitor screen. Next, simply use the mouse to right click on the screen. A small box pops up with a list of options including active desktop, arrange icons, line up icons, refresh, new, and properties. Using the mouse, I click on the word “properties.”

As soon as I open properties, I see that I have a few choices: background, screensaver, appearance, effects, web, and settings. I need to select the one to the far right of the box, which deals with the screen’s settings. Clicking on this with my mouse, I am faced with two options.

The first one allows me to change my color settings, which I don’t want to do right now. The second choice is to change my screen resolution. It looks like a sliding bar. On my computer, it is labeled screen area. With a simple click and drag of my mouse, I can reduce or increase the resolution to the desired level.

Alternatively, it is possible to go into the control panel and select the Display icon. If the computer uses Vista, the display settings for the monitor are found under the Personalization icon.

Personally, I believe that advanced alerts can be almost as helpful as automatic updates. After all, advanced alerts provide useful information that is part and parcel of the application in the first place. Obviously, I must be interested in these or I wouldn’t have installed the application on my computer in the first place. Of course, for new computer users, this can all be a bit daunting, but I would recommend taking advantage of any advanced alerts as you will soon become more comfortable with the inner workings of the application.

Plus, once you have been receiving the alerts for a while, you can decide how important they are to you. You can choose to disable the advanced alerts at anytime by simply going into the advanced alerts configuration box and changing your settings.

The tab for advanced alerts that I can get for Activeshield can be found at the bottom of the configuration box for automatic update options. Once I select this tab, a new configuration box pops up for the advanced alerts. I am faced with two main questions regarding the display of alerts to decide for my personal computer.

The first one deals with the kind of security alerts that I would like to see. In response to this question, I can select either to display all virus outbreaks and any other security threats or I can select not to display any at all. Yes, you guessed it. I am going to select to display all virus outbreaks as well as any other security threats. After all, I am a curious person and I want to see just exactly what kind of snooping forms of malware are attempting to lurk on my machine. In fact, receiving the alerts might clue me in on the website or e-mail attachment from which I inherited the bug.

The second question deals with whether or not I would like to hear a sound whenever an alert is displayed on my computer. I have two options here as well. The first one, if selected, will allow me to hear a sound whenever a security alert is displayed. The second one, if selected, will allow me to hear a sound whenever a product update alert is displayed. Knowing about product updates ahead of time can prove to be quite useful as well, especially if I’m not downloading and installing my updates automatically. The alerts guarantee that I know about them.