Replacing slow, obsolete parts in your computer can sometimes be a lot cheaper than buying a new one, and extend the life of your current PC for many more years. Many times, just a few small upgrades can make a world of difference in your computer's speed and overall performance.

You can achieve the most performance boost by upgrading your computer RAM, video card, and/or hard drive. But -- before you decide whether an upgrade is the right choice for your computer, you'll want to find out what hardware or software your computer currently has. We recommend that you download and run a free software tool called Belarc Advisor. Belarc Advisor will generate a quick report with all your hardware and software components listed.

Once you have your report generated, you are welcome to give us a call (847-348-3489) for a free consultation and we'll be happy to go over the list with you and explain which upgrade options would provide the biggest "bang for your buck."

Here is a quick overview of the main upgrade options to consider:

1. Upgrading your RAM
   RAM is often the cheapest and most significant upgrade you can give your computer. If your computer is older, it may have less than 1GB of RAM currently installed. This currently allows your computer to operate at only a fraction of it's overall capability. Upgrading to up to 4GB of RAM may increase speeds tremendously.
2. Upgrading your Video Card
   If you, or members of your family, enjoy playing PC games, you will want to consider upgrading your computer's video card. It's quite possible that your current computer only has onboard video graphics, which is placing a great deal of processing burden on your motherboard. Upgrading to an advanced video card (which is separate from the motherboard) will improve the speed of your computer.
3. Upgrading Your Hard Drive
   If your current hard drive has low storage space left, you should upgrade to a larger drive. Having more space will make your hard drive run cooler and work less. If you're low on space, your hard drive will bog your computer speeds down as it struggles to manage and move around your data. But more than that, the Hard Drive is a MECHANICAL device, and it wears down over time (due to fritcion), resulting in slower access to data and programs. Cloning your hard drive is best done BEFORE your run into problems.
4. Upgrading Your Power Supply
   Most power supplies that ship with name brand computers are cheap, generic and ineffective at keeping your computer running cool. Upgrading to a modular power supply will more effectively pull hot air out of the computer case. The cooler your PC, the faster it will run.
5. Upgrading Your Operating System
   If you're running Windows XP or Vista, it's time to consider upgrading to Windows 7. Windows 7 is easier on your system, more secure, more robust, and faster than all of it's predecessors. (see our earlier post on "Can my PC run Windows 7?")
6. Upgrading Your Computer Monitor
   If you have an older computer monitor, you should consider upgrading to a large 20" HD monitor. Your experience with your computer and the internet will change dramatically and you'll find it more enjoyable.

With our fragile economy, sometimes upgrading your computer is the best option for extending the life of your PC and improving overall performance. If you're considering any possible upgrades, we are happy to discuss your options further to help you make an intelligent decision that will reap you benefits for years to come.

Computer keyboard shortcuts are designed to save you valuable time and productivity. Yet, many computer users opt to stick to long-form commands, because they are afraid it will take too long to memorize shortcut combinations.

The truth is, memorizing shortcut commands is easy and will eliminate unnecessary steps. Your hand muscles and cartilage will not have to work as hard and you will free up more time than you may think.

In this week's post, we've decided to feature our list of the top 10 keyboard shortcut commands we believe will be the most useful to you:

1. Ctrl + F
   This command opens the Find function in any program you are using. This includes your Internet browser as well to find text on a page.
2. Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc
   This command quickly switches between open programs moving forward. Pressing Ctrl + Tab will switch between tabs in a program. Adding the Shift key to Alt + Tab or Ctrl + Tab will move backwards.

   If you are using Windows Vista or 7, you can press the Windows Key + Tab to switch through open programs in a full screenshot of the Window.

3. Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert
   This command copy's the highlighted text or selected item.
4. Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert
   Use this command to paste the text you've copied from the clipboard to the spot your cursor is resting.
5. Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y
   This command will undo any change you've just made. For example, if you paste text, pressing this command will undo that paste. Usually, you can press this command multiple times to continue to undo previous commands further and further back in the order they were performed. Pressing Ctrl + Y will redo the undo.
6. Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow
   Use this command to move your cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. To highlight one word at a time, hold down Ctrl + Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction.
7. Ctrl + Backspace
   Press this command to delete a full word at a time instead of a single character at a time.
8. Ctrl + P
   This command will print the page you are currently viewing. This includes programs such as Microsoft Word and your Internet browsers.
9. Ctrl + Home / End
   Use this command to move your cursor to the beginning or the end of your current document.
10. Page Up / Spacebar and Page Down / Spacebar
    These commands will move your current document in either direction one full page at a time. When browsing the Internet, these commands will move your scrollbar one full page at a time in the direction you indicate.

These commands are easy to learn, and will save you a lot of time throughout your day. Every second that you waste in unnecessary steps adds up to minutes, hours, and days throughout the years you use your computer. Taking a few minutes to learn these commands now is well worth the investment for the long term.

If you are interested in our "Personal Computer Tutor" program that is customized for YOUR needs, give MAX Communications a call to setup a free consultation. 847-348-3489 

As each day passes, and we enter further into the technology age, people become more reliant on computers to play vital roles in their personal and business lives.

It's interesting to note that although this phenomenon continues to progress each year, the average computer user does not take any preventative measures to preserve their personal data, programs, and overall daily workflow.

That is why we decided to dedicate this article to helping our clients plan ahead to prevent any dreadful circumstances that can come from relying so heavily on a device that is not preserved in some backup state.

We've prepared a quick guide to creating your personal "home computer first aid kit," you can have peace of mind in knowing that your pictures, videos, programs, files, settings, banking data, etc. are recoverable should your computer crash or hardware fail.

3 Elements of a "Home Computer First-Aid Kit"

1. You'll want to start by bringing your computer to a perfect state of operating. Many times this can be acheived by re-installing Windows, updating your Windows updates, optimizing your personal settings, installing all of your favorite programs, organizing your personal folders and files, etc. We realize this is a lengthy step to take, but it is important to establish a "perfect state of operation" where your computer is running at optimal performance.
2. The next step is to create a "system image" of your hard drive. There are various tools you can use to create an image of your computer. In layman's terms, a "system image" is like taking a picture of your hard drive that can be stored on a DVD (or two). That "picture" can then be restored onto your hard drive at any time. If your computer ever crashed, or you were interested in purchasing a new hard drive, this "system image" would come in handy as a convenient way to restoring your computer back to that perfect state.
3. The next step in creating a "Home Computer First-Aid Kit" is to choose an online or offline backup system. There are websites online that will automatically backup your personal files (e.g. pictures, videos, music, software data, etc.). You can also purchase an external hard drive that has auto-backup capabilities.
4. Once you have your "system image" and auto-backup system in place, you'll have peace of mind in knowing that your data, programs, settings, etc. are all recoverable.

We realize that some of these steps are advanced and not everyone would feel comfortable performing them. Many of our clients hire us for the re-install, system imaging, and auto-backup installation. You are welcome to implement these steps yourself. If you feel you would rather a professional handle them, we are happy to assist.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to protect your computer. We receive calls every week from clients who've lost everything, and it can be an extremely sudden and costly situation to be in. You can prevent this from happening to you if you go in with a plan.

Contact MAX Communications at 847-348-3489 if you have questions, or would like assistance with these tips.

Home Computing Tip-of-the-Month:
We've decided to focus this month's Home Computing Tip-of-the-Month on an important global effort to curb electronic waste. Below, you will find free computer recycling options for you to safely dispose of your electronics in a way that will not harm the environment.

Did you know that up to 43 million metric tons of electronic waste are not recycled each year? Instead, they are dumped into landfills and end up in third-world countries where children and parents strip the toxic material down for cash. Many of our clients that we speak to about this don't realize that computers can contain chromium, nickel and zinc. Even worse, LCD monitors can contain mercury.

The following graph shows the dire state of recycling in 2007 of TVs, Computer Products, and Cell Phones.