Recent Comments
Comment by Jonathan on Will ID Theft Protection Save Your Digital Bacon? (May 1, 2025 09:35 PM)
Steve_k2 We have always used a separate computer and follow the plan you outline. I don't think you are "missing something"! I would add you still n...
Comment by kristofau on Does Your Computer Need an Oil Change? (April 29, 2025 01:33 AM)
This is the first time in years that Bob has not endorsed PC Matic when talking malware. I've given up on PC Matic after working with them for months ...
Comment by bb on Does Your Computer Need an Oil Change? (April 28, 2025 11:01 PM)
Practicalman: One does not have to update drivers. One does not have to update BIOS. One does not have to update programs. Only do so if you have a...
Comment by Hill on Does Your Computer Need an Oil Change? (April 28, 2025 10:13 PM)
To Practicalman- If it ain't broke, don't fix it....
Comment by Practicalman on Does Your Computer Need an Oil Change? (April 28, 2025 08:08 PM)
I am a longtime fan and user of CCleaner, running it at every startup and shutdown, but have always only chosen the free version. It keeps reminding m...
Comment by Renaud Olgiati on Does Your Computer Need an Oil Change? (April 28, 2025 06:18 PM)
Another important point is to regularly clean the mechanical side of things, like blowing out the dust and lint that accumulates inside the case, and ...
Comment by Fred on Does Your Computer Need an Oil Change? (April 28, 2025 05:41 PM)
So glad CCleaner is back....
Comment by Gia on ZAP Your WiFi Intruders! (April 25, 2025 07:46 PM)
Namoi (and others): What this article is talking about is the Windows "Network Discovery" feature. This is far from being a reliable tool and depends ...
Comment by Nomi on ZAP Your WiFi Intruders! (April 23, 2025 09:09 PM)
I was able to find "view network computers and devices" following your instructions, but I don't know what to make of what I see there. How do you na...
Comment by chris on ZAP Your WiFi Intruders! (April 23, 2025 07:33 PM)
What I like about "wireless network watcher" is it's ability for the user to assign identifiable names to each device. It makes it extremely easy to ...
Memory Articles
Adding Memory: A Silver Bullet for Your Computer?
Does your computer seem slow or sluggish? The problem may be too little RAM memory. But “add more RAM” is not the solution to every case of poor performance, and buying more RAM memory than you need or can use is just a waste of money. Read on to learn the ins and outs of adding RAM memory and how much memory is the “sweet spot” for Windows and Apple computers...
...Do Memory Optimizers Speed Up Your PC?
An AskBob reader says “My computer is getting bogged down lately, especially when I have more than one program open. And the other day I got a 'low memory' warning. I've been looking into memory optimizers for Windows, but there are widely varying views as to how effective they really are. What is your opinion?” Read on for my take on memory boosters and optimizers, and why a shortage of available RAM memory might be a GOOD thing...
...Will a Memory Optimizer Speed Up Your PC?
An AskBob reader says “My system seems to be getting bogged down lately, especially when I have more than one program open. And the other day I got a 'low virtual memory' warning. I've been looking into memory optimizers for Windows, but there are widely varying views as to how effective they really are. What is your opinion?” Read on for my take on memory boosters and optimizers, and why a shortage of available RAM memory might be a GOOD thing...
...[SILVER BULLET] Add Memory to Speed Up Your Computer?
Is your laptop or desktop computer slow or sluggish? The problem may be too little RAM memory. But “add more RAM” is not the solution to every case of poor performance, and buying more RAM than you need or can use is just a waste of money. Read on to learn the ins and outs of RAM memory and how much memory is the “sweet spot” for Windows and Apple computers...
...Low Memory, Sluggish Computer (and brain)?
Yesterday I forgot where I left my phone and car keys. Perhaps if my brain had more free memory available, I would have remembered that I set them down on a messy tool bench, while searching for 1-inch screws to fix the front porch door, and umm, what was that other thing I had to do? Like your brain, a computer works better when there's plenty of memory available to process information and multi-task. So let’s see how we can address a low-memory situation before it becomes a real problem…
...Will Adding Memory Speed Up Your Computer?
If your laptop or desktop computer is slow or sluggish, the problem may be too little RAM (Random Access Memory). But “add more RAM” is not the solution to every case of poor performance, and buying more RAM than you need or can use is just a waste of money. Read on to learn the ins and outs of RAM memory and how much RAM memory is the “sweet spot” is for most computers...
...Is Low Memory Bogging Down Your Computer?
Yesterday I forgot where I left my car keys. Perhaps if my brain had more free memory available, I would have remembered that I set them down on the tool bench in the basement. Like your brain, a computer works better when there's plenty of memory available to execute tasks and process information. So let’s see how we can address a low-memory situation before it becomes a real problem...
...Does Your Computer Need More Memory?
If your laptop or desktop computer seems sluggish, the problem may be too little RAM (Random Access Memory). But “add more RAM” is not the solution to every case of poor performance, and buying more RAM than you need or can use is just a waste of money. Read on to learn the ins and outs of RAM memory and how much RAM is the “sweet spot” is for most computers...
...Will More Memory Speed Up Your Computer?
If your desktop or laptop seems sluggish, the problem may be too little RAM (Random Access Memory). But “add more RAM” is not the solution to every case of poor performance, and buying more RAM than you need or can use is just a waste of money. Read on to learn the ins and outs of RAM and how much RAM is the “sweet spot” is for most computers...
...[SOLVED] The Out of Memory Error
A reader asks: 'My computer is giving Out of Memory and Low Memory errors and I can't continue without restarting. Do I need to delete some files, get a new hard drive or is it something else?' Here's the solution to this common problem...
...Do You Need More Memory?
If your desktop PC seems sluggish, the problem may be too little RAM (Random Access Memory). But “add more RAM” is not the solution to every case of poor performance, and buying more RAM than you need or can use is just a waste of money. Read on to learn the ins and outs of RAM and how much RAM is the “sweet spot” is for most computers...
...HOWTO: Upgrade Memory to Boost Performance
Ask any geek how to speed up your computer and you will probably get the question, 'How much RAM do you have?' Adding more RAM memory is supposedly the panacea for sluggish performance, slow screen refreshes, thrashing hard drives, and most other symptoms of a struggling, overloaded computer. Here's what you need to know...
...Upgrade Your Memory for Better Performance
I'm often asked about how to add or upgrade a computer's RAM memory. If your computer doesn't have adequate RAM, it may be really slow when you open more than one program. If you want to upgrade your memory but you're not sure what kind to buy or where to get it, here's some practical help...
...Solving the Out of Memory Error
A reader asks: 'My computer is giving an Out of Memory error and I can't continue. Do I need to delete some files, get a new hard drive or is it something else?' Here's the solution to this common problem...
...How to Upgrade Your Memory
Adding more memory to your computer is usually the most cost-effective way to get a significant performance boost. But choosing the right RAM for your computer, and finding the right amount at the lowest price, is often a mysterious challenge. A memory configurator can help you get it right. Here's how...
...How to Fix 'Low Virtual Memory' Errors
Recently I installed a game on a friend's computer and when we tried playing it, we got a message saying 'Your system is low on virtual memory.' Does that mean I need to buy more memory, or could it be a software error? Can you please help us fix this problem?
...Do I Need a Memory Optimizer?
My system seems to be getting bogged down lately, especially when I have more than one program open. And the other day I got a 'low virtual memory' warning. I've been looking into memory optimizers for Windows, but there are widely varying views as to how effective they really are. What is your opinion?
...What Kind Of Memory Do I Need?
My computer only has 1GB of RAM, and is really slow when I open more than one program. I want to upgrade my RAM to 4GB, but I'm not sure what kind to buy or where to get it. Can you help?
...How Much Memory Do I Need?
Whether you are buying a new computer or upgrading an existing one, memory or RAM is an important consideration. Buy too little memory and your entire system will be slowed down, overworked, and some programs may not run at all. Buy too much memory and you're wasting money. To determine how much memory you need, let's look at the hardware and software you have (or plan to buy) and how you intend to use it...
...Memory Upgrade
Adding more memory to your computer is usually the most cost-effective way to get a significant performance boost. But choosing the right RAM for your computer, and finding the right amount at the lowest price, is often a mysterious challenge. A memory configurator can help you get it right. Here's how...
...Virtual Memory
What's the difference between virtual memory and real memory? And how can I add more virtual memory to my computer?
...Vista ReadyBoost
What exactly does ReadyBoost do? Is it the same as adding RAM, or is it more like a disk cache? I've read varying reports as to whether or not it really boosts performance on Vista or Windows 7. What do you know about ReadyBoost?
...Adding Memory
If your computer seems to stagger under the burden of your commands, responding slowly, freezing or timing you out; if working at your system feels like bicycling uphill, consider adding extra memory. Adding memory to your computer isn't so hard -- here's a step-by-step guide to figuring out if you need more RAM, learning what kind to buy and installing it yourself...
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