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PCs can be confusing, sometimes even scary, but that's not really necessary at all. Especially when it comes to simple hardware upgrades, repairs or software updates.
Of course you can pay the expensive technicians to fix your Windows system for you, but why would you? Because of technical support, there is often a tendency under the grass: Most of you can easily save yourself, saving you a lot of money.
To begin with, we'll discuss three repairs for which you almost never have to pay someone else.
Change or add RAM
Do you know how to change an old-fashioned video game cartridge or how to insert a disc into your DVD player? Then you have the basic skills you need to exchange RAM. Most PCs, especially laptops, provide easy access to your RAM. On laptops you can usually easily remove it by loosening a few screws on the bottom of the housing.
Once the screws are removed and your laptop is open, you only have to pick up the old stick and click on the new memory - it only fits in one way, so it's wrong. (If you're upgrading a desktop, you'll also need to snap any end of the stick with a lever. These levers keep the memory in place.) Despite all the warnings, RAM is surprisingly robust. Be a little careful, but scared you do not have to be.
There are some exceptions like MacBooks and Ultrabooks that solder their RAM to the motherboard, but such machines do not really count because you can not upgrade them.
The hardest part of changing the RAM is not the physical installation, but the purchase process. You must ensure that you purchase the right kind of RAM for your system based on the type of motherboard supported, such as DDR2 or DDR3 plus the speed, which is referred to as Megahertz (MHz). Once you know these two things you can get started.
Usually you can find this information on the website of the manufacturer of your PC. There are also tools like Crucial System Scanner and CPU-Z that collect this information for you.
Replace a laptop keyboard
Like RAM, many laptops can easily be replaced. This may be necessary if your keyboard has not survived a can of soda or because of wear.
To replace a keyboard, you usually need to remove a number of screws, carefully slide the keyboard out of the housing and disconnect the data cable connected to the motherboard. To install the new keyboard, do exactly the same, but in reverse order.
Note that this is usually the way laptop keyboard works, but there will be exceptions. The best way to investigate what your laptop needs is to search YouTube for a video about switching the keyboard of the same (or similar) laptop. Google's and Youtube have a lot of videos with explanations that show the process well. Lakeland Computer Repair is also a good source for such maintenance. After some research, you can decide whether you need to change the keyboard itself.
Should you ask yourself where to get a replacement keyboard: services like eBay and Marketplace have been there.
Reinstall windows
You do not need anyone to install your operating system. Not really. And that's double when you run Windows 8.1, which has built-in tools for reinstalling Windows. If you plan to upgrade to Windows 10, the process should be even easier in the future.
The most important thing to know about running a clean install of windows is that you must first backup your personal files to an external hard drive. Then use your system disks and start the clean installation process. You will also need to reinstall additional software such as Microsoft Office. Depending on the method of purchase of that software, you will need to either download it from the manufacturer's website or install from discs after Windows is running.
Just make sure you have your product codes at hand when it's time to reinstall Windows. If you're not ready, and manage all your software licenses up before you reinstall Windows.
Repairing a PC can be stressful, but once you have completed one of these tasks, the other two are a piece of a penny.
Computer Assistance
So far these memory tips, you may have some questions that are not answered in this article. If you need help with your computer, you can always call the Windows Helpdesk or call for computer repair services. We are happy to answer you and stand ready to help you with all your computer problems.
