你需要一台新电脑吗?

As your computer gets older, it’s likely to get slower 和 slower. 启动需要很长时间, 弹出窗口一直都在出现, 而且再也没有新车的味道了. 你应该换掉它吗??

大多数时候，答案是否定的. 而电脑在物理上也会磨损, 死亡的部分, 比如风扇和硬盘, 通常是便宜又容易更换的吗. 除了, while computers are still getting faster 和 cheaper every year, the rate of improvement is much slower than it used to be. Your computer isn’t going slow because it’s physically declined, but instead because of its software. Poorly written software could be the root cause of your computer slowing down, 显示广告，甚至可能感染病毒. If software is the problem, it’s likely easy (和 inexpensive) to fix.

Most computers have a tool that lets you reset it to its factory defaults, wiping out everything on the computer 和 letting you start fresh. You need to back up your important documents 和 software first, but you would need to do that anyway if you got a new computer. Copy all of your documents, pictures, 和 music onto an external hard drive. Make sure to back up your Herzing supplied Office 2013 install file too. This file can probably be found in your Downloads folder 和 usually has a very long name (see image). []

After you clean your computer, the next step is to keep it clean. 首先安装一个好的防病毒程序. 付费的杀毒软件比免费的要好, but any antivirus software is better than having none at all. 软件下载建议 NOD32.

Second, avoid installing additional protection or cleaning software. Multiple antiviruses on the same computer can cause problems, 和 most software that claims to clean your computer or keep it running fast is not worth the money. Install as little on the computer as you can - the fewer things on it, the better. Besides these programs, we recommend students install the following:

• adobereader 11 is vital for students because it’s hard to view 和 sign printable documents without it. Many papers 和 course materials are in PDF format, which Adobe Reader opens.
• 这三款浏览器(火狐, 铬, 和 Internet Explorer) have different benefits 和 issues. There are tasks that work better in one browser than another, 和 occasionally a task that might require you to use a specific browser. 软件下载建议你把这三个都准备好.
• MPC-HC is a video player that can play almost any format that exists.
• Java JRE 8 (最新版本)需要播放一些演示文稿.

If you have questions about whether your computer is strong enough to hold up for the entire semester or need assistance in cleaning it up to make it run better, contact the IT Help Desk (866-508-0748 x10000) 和 we will be happy to assist.

默丁Emrys is the Herzing IT Help Desk lead, 和 has been with Herzing大学 for over five years. He came to Herzing with more than fifteen years of experience as a system administrator 和 technical support specialist at several 威斯康辛州 Internet providers.