Is Your PC Too Sick to Save?

The nightmare scenario is familiar: You are sitting at your computer browsing the Internet or working on a document, when out of the blue, your system crashes and leaves you in the dust. At first, you would probably worry about permanently losing all of your files, documents, and so on. If this is a recurring problem, though, at some point you may begin to wonder if your PC is too “sick” to save. Is it time to simply pull the plug and get a new one? We asked a couple of technology experts about their recommendations.

What to look for
According to the experts, there are various signs that could spell trouble for your computer: It’s running awfully slowly and takes forever to open files and send emails, and there are strange sounds emanating from it. If your computer is overheated, it can also cause severe problems to the point of permanently damaging your system. Be wary of spyware and viruses, which can considerably slow down your PC. Sudden power outages during storms can also cause harm, and water damage can also prevent your equipment from functioning properly. However, this doesn’t always mean that you should kiss your PC goodbye and invest in a new one.

According to John Breeden II, Senior Technology Analyst/Lab Director at Government Computer News, “It’s not possible for a computer to become permanently damaged with normal use. You won’t get a virus which will destroy your hardware. It might kill your data, but physically, your system will be fine. If it gets put in water, that’s one thing, but if you’re just sitting it on your desk and working with it, odds are it will pretty much last forever.”

Steps to take
Breeden recommends steps to resolve your computer glitches. First, run a scan with some type of utility suite. “It may be that your computer is working fine,” he explains, “but just can’t handle what you’re trying to run on it.” Adding memory can also help. “Even if you meet the minimum requirements for software, things will still run slowly if you don’t meet the recommended specs. If you are too behind the curve, it may be time to buy a new system.” He cites a gaming system as an example because the software advances rapidly.

A program that Breeden highly recommends for fixing system errors is System Mechanic, which he explains is easy to use because “you don’t have to be technical to use it. You just push the ‘fix’ button, and it does its thing. You can, however, use it to really dig into a system if you’re technically inclined, so it’s the best of both worlds that way.”

A security engineer we talked to advises to watch out for unusual noises coming from your computer. Frequently, this spells trouble for the hard drive, at which point you might want to consider taking it to a professional who can then try to salvage your data.

According to our experts, the average lifespan for most computers is four years, but you can extend its life even further by adding more system memory, for example.
“What normally happens,” Breeden explains, “is that software gets more demanding over time, and that is what leaves computers in the dust. So your computer is still good until the software you need to use has become too advanced for it.” This can occur, for example, “when you want to buy an office suite or game, and your computer’s minimum specs are lower than the specs printed on the box,” Breeden says.

Precautionary measures
Most of the glitches users encounter are easy to fix. By taking a few simple precautionary measures, you can keep your computer up and running for a long time to come. Our experts weighed in with tips and suggestions. First, you can prevent spyware and viruses from infecting your system by investing in a good anti-virus program and continuously updating it. As the security engineer explains, the greatest danger that viruses and malware cause is usually the ability to steal credit card and other pertinent information. You also need to install the updates for your operating system (e.g., latest updates for Windows). In addition, steer clear of clicking on suspicious links, which may prove harmful.

The “formula”
Our security engineer also recommends using a formula to figure out if it’s time to ditch your old PC and invest in a new one: Take the original purchase price (say, $600), divide it by the years you've owned it (say, 2) and subtract the cost of 1 hour of computer support (say, around $85) = 215.

“When the computer repair amount starts to come close to the computer cost (original amount/years owned), or if you have to frequently repair the computer, it’s time for a new one,” he says.

-- Tara Taghizadeh --