Yes, A Local Computer Repair Shop Can Probably Restore Your Old PC: Here's How
published 1/17/2020It's estimated that in the next 5 years, 1 billion computers will be discarded globally.
Perhaps you have an old PC sitting in your garage, and you've been doing some cleaning. You happen upon it and decide that you should throw it away since it's barely even operable anymore.
But consider the stat above: 1 billion computers - discarded! Do you really want to be adding to excess electronic waste? Is your computer really dead, or is it salvageable?
Before you throw away your PC, bring it to a local computer repair shop first. In this article, we'll tell you how they can help restore your old PC.
Install More RAM
Random access memory (or RAM) is an essential part of running modern software. Your operating system can temporarily store data in RAM, enabling it to run software (such as your Internet browser) at faster speeds.
If your computer doesn't have much RAM available, it might struggle to run. The good news is, it's fairly straightforward to get additional RAM added.
If you have a laptop, it may or may not have the capacity to be upgraded. It's best to bring your computer into a professional, and they can let you know exactly what your options are.
These days, operating systems (such as Windows 10) and Internet browsers (like Google Chrome) use an awful lot of RAM. You might be surprised at what a difference additional RAM can make.
Generally speaking, you should have at least 8 GB of RAM if you want to have a smooth experience when using your computer. Any less than that and your system might struggle to run modern software and operating systems.
Switch to a Solid State Drive
When your computer retrieves information (such as your personal files), it needs to read them from your computer's hard drive.
Solid-state drives are lightning-fast compared to traditional hard drives. This means that you can move large files around your computer much faster, the programs installed on it will open up incredibly quickly, and the operating system itself will even boot up in a flash.
Solid-state drives have now become much more affordable, so it's well worth considering incorporating one into your computer. The only downside to a solid-state drive is that you get a lot fewer gigabytes for your money.
What some people will do is install their operating system and specific programs on the solid-state drive and use an external storage drive to store the bulk of their files. That way, you get the speed only a solid-state drive can offer, but you still have a good amount of storage space for the bulk of your data.
Remove Any Viruses and Malware
Quite often, computers that are considered old and out of commission have simply been infected with malware, making them slow and sluggish.
In some cases, malware might be able to circumvent anti-virus software, making it incredibly difficult for the average user to be rid of it entirely. At computer repair shops, removing stubborn viruses is literally half of the job.
If you have an old computer that has a virus you just can't remove, there's a good chance a computer repair shop will be able to remove all traces of malware within a single afternoon. A computer can go from being almost unusable to being stable and fast, simply from having certain bits of malware removed from it.
Reinstall the Operating System
Sometimes, it makes sense to start again from the beginning. Any good computer repair shop will be able to reinstall the operating system, giving you a "clean slate" computer.
While it's certainly possible to accomplish this yourself, it's worth outsourcing the job to a good computer repair technician if you're not comfortable doing it yourself. Make sure you make backups of all your files before committing to an operating system reinstallation.
A computer repair shop can also install a new operating system that isn't full of all the bloatware that usually comes prepackaged with your computer. A lot of the time, this bloatware is totally useless to you and all it does it take up valuable system resources. Removing all of this bloatware from your system is an excellent way to speed up your PC, particularly if you don't have a very powerful computer.
If you choose to upgrade to a more modern operating system (such as Windows 10), you might also want to consider adding more RAM to your computer. Newer operating systems like Windows 10 need a bit more RAM than their older counterparts.
They'll Fix Broken Components
If part of your computer or laptop has been physically broken, a computer repair shop can install a new part for you. Things like fans, screens, and keyboards break all the time, so computer repair technicians are very experienced in fixing them quickly.
A shop may need to order the part for you, or if you're in luck, they may already have the spare part you need.
Trust in Your Local Computer Repair Shop
The next time you think about just chucking your old PC, you might want to think again. It may seem like a broken computer, but in the right hands, new life can be breathed into it!
If you have some valuable data that you can't get off of it, then it's always worth a try to have it fixed by a local computer repair shop before you throw it away for good. You never know - it may be repaired so skillfully, you'll have a fully functional computer again!
Want to get your old PC restored? Then find a Data Doctor location near you now!