CHRISGROOMS.net

When you delete a file, format your hard drive or erase any data on any type of media in the traditional manner, you might be surprised to know that the file still exists. In this way, you can think of files on a hard drive as a phone book. You can see the files in a listing (such as what is shown in My Computer or Windows Explorer). Each listing in a phone book lists the address and phone number for that person so that you can reach them, and by removing the listing from the phone book, it doesn’t mean that your friend doesn’t live there anymore.

Deletion basically removes the “directory listing” for that file, but the file still exists. So, now it’s difficult to “get in touch with”, because the listing is not there and you can’t get access to it anymore without recovering it. The file still physically exists and will until other data is written where the original file resided.

It is possible for the file or parts of the file to be recovered even after new data is written onto the same area of the hard drive where the original data resided. Though the process at this point is so difficult you have to pay for data recovery. The service is very expensive, because it requires specialized equipment and software. Only experts may be able to recover data at this point.

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These are some smart guidelines for anyone interested in purchasing a new computer or upgrading. It is aimed towards the majority of the public and not enthusiasts.

Whether purchasing a new PC from Dell (or other vendor) or building a custom computer, you want to tailor the hardware to your own needs and requirements. Unless of course you have an unlimited budget and can afford the very best with all the bells and whistles.

Keep in mind that if you will only use the computer for browsing the web, checking email, resizing family photos or any other home activity that does not involve the latest games you don’t need an expensive computer. You would do very well with the most basic options provided by a manufacturer such as Dell. In which case, the most important factor would be choosing a warranty that fits your needs. Although, if you’re buying a computer with Windows Vista, I would recommend 2GB of RAM. At least make sure you don’t buy a computer with Vista that has less than 1GB of RAM.

Arguably the two most important performance factors in a computer are the processor and the memory (RAM), but that is not always true. It is very dependent on the applications that you use. Though for most home and office computers this is true. For multimedia applications and gaming, the most important hardware is your video card and RAM.

For multimedia editing or gaming, I recommend at least 2GB of RAM (or up to 4GB) and a video card which supports DirectX10 and has at least 512MB of memory.

Processors have come to the point that most are fast enough to keep up with the newest games on the market. As long as you have a dual or quad core processor. The “bottleneck” is typically elsewhere though. It will definitely be of benefit to you to purchase a faster processor, but I would suggest when you have a limited budget to spend your money elsewhere first (such as towards RAM).

When customizing a PC through Dell or other companies, you usually have two or three options for processors on one machine. If you upgrade to the next highest processor option, you probably won’t notice more than around a 5% performance difference unless you upgrade to additonal RAM first. This isn’t necessarily true from one system to the next though. One computer may have much slower available processor options than a higher priced PC.
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If you’re not an enthusiast then you may have purchased your computer from a local shop. I would typically advise against this, unless you know your local computer store’s technicians have a background in information technology (as opposed to someone who only has an A+ certification).

If you’re buying a laptop, you should investigate prices directly with a vendor (such as Dell, Gateway, Hewlett Packard, etc) or at least with stores such as Best Buy or Office Max. Though most people will tell you not to. It’s best to go straight to the manufacturer. In any case, look around and investigate prices for new computers. You could save hundreds of dollars.

Don’t buy a computer from any store that sells furniture or primarily products not at all related to computer technology (such as Wal-Mart). Sure you may be able to buy brand name there, but you can do that directly from the manufacturer. If you go through another source you may have less options, there may be additional charges and you may not get all of the facts.

The custom built computers you buy from stores usually are made with the cheapest parts available. This is one reason I have a problem with local stores that deal in computers. That and the computers are built either by inexperienced “technicians” with no real professional credentials. Some employers do require a CompTIA A+ certification, but the A+ certification isn’t indicative of much.

Local shops don’t get the bulk deals that major vendors get. Instead, they purchase parts as cheap as they can find them to keep profits. This is also the case with brand name manufacturers, but you have a much better warranty to back up your purchase and more expertise was put into the configuration of the PC. It’s very hard for anyone to compete with the prices of brand name manufacturers.

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