Maintaining Your IT System

5. Tackling Hardware Problems

Today's PCs are highly modular designs, with modules designed for replacement, rather than repair. With care, you should be able to replace many of the common components inside a PC (but see 1.3, about invalidating warranties).

5.1 Many major components - floppy disk drives, sound cards, network adapters, and so on - are relatively easy to replace.

5.2 Order an exact replacement part from the supplier.

• If a part is obsolete and unavailable, look for equivalent or upgraded replacements. Do not buy without a definite assurance that the new part will be compatible with your system.

5.3 If a hard disk fails, replacing it is a job for an expert. Remedial work has to be done on-site, so you will need outside help.

• If you need more hard disk space, you may be able to add an extra hard drive. This is often easier than replacing an existing unit.

5.4 The principal ways to improve a PC's performance are to upgrade the memory (RAM) and the central processor (CPU).

• Adding more RAM can have a dramatic effect on system speed and should usually be your first step.
• Upgrading the processor can be done if your PC's motherboard is capable of supporting a faster chip.
• These upgrades are usually best done by an engineer. RAM and CPU components are easily damaged by static, and configuring business systems can be complicated.
• If upgrading both your RAM and processor, it may be more economical in the long run to replace the whole PC.