Should I upgrade my computer?
Depends on several factors. The first thing to consider is why you are upgrading. If your computer is working fine, then don't mess with it because you want something newer. If it isn't working properly or is too slow then you might want to upgrade. If you are using Windows 95/98/ME for business, you should consider upgrading to one of Microsoft's business platforms (may we recommend Windows 2000).

Why does my computer seem to run slow?
Your computer may be slow for a few reasons. The most common is too little computer memory. This can be resolved by simply increasing the amount of RAM memory in the computer. Another reason may be that your computer's hard drive is almost or completely full. In this case look at removing some things from your computer (may we suggest starting with your Temporary Internet files, then your Recycle Bin). Lastly, you may simply be over taxing your current processor and other computer hardware. You may be doing this by running multiple applications at the same time. In this scenario, it is best to simply open one application at a time and see it if runs fine by itself.

What are the different types of computer memory?
There are four: ROM, RAM, Cache & HDD. ROM (Read Only Memory) is permanently fixed to the computer's motherboard. This contains hardware specific information and instructions about how to turn the computer on. This amount of memory cannot be increased and the instruction set should rarely, if ever, be changed. RAM (Random Access Memory) is what most people commonly refer to as memory. This contains no instructional set and is used by the computer for temporary storage of information gathered from whatever application you are currently using. An example would be a word document that you are working on, but haven't saved yet. If the power goes off the document is lost. This is the memory you can add to your computer to enhance performance. Cache memory is a little like both rom & ram. It is permanently fixed to the computer's motherboard and cannot be increased; however it contains no instructional set. The computer's processor uses the cache in a similar way as applications use ram. Last is the HDD (Hard Disk Drive) commonly referred to as the hard drive. This is where everything is permanently stored. Using the same word example, when you save your document it is written to the hard drive.

What is the difference between Dial Up and Cable access to the internet?
Primarily three things: Price, Speed & Availability. The price of a dial up account can range from $0 - 25 dollars, while a cable account can cost from $35 - 100 dollars. Maximum speed of a dial up account is 56kbs (56,000 bits per second). Maximum speed of a cable account is 1.44 mbs (1,440,000 bits per second). In the real world both are slower, but any type of cable is still much faster than dial up. Unfortunately cable is not located in all areas and dial up is.

Why does my computer keep crashing?
The most common reasons are hardware limitations and application incompatibility. Simply put, many people load too many applications that require more powerful hardware than their computers have. The only way to resolve this problem is to upgrade your current computer. Others have the hardware resources necessary to run their software applications but, some applications just don't play well together. By that I mean that some applications will not work when both are open at the same time. A work around for this is to simply not open both at the same time. If that is not an option, you can try the software manufacturer's website and see if they have a solution.

Why can't I access the Internet?
In order to access the Internet your PC needs some basic information.
It needs to know how to resolve the name <http://www.microsoft.com/> to an IP address and it needs to know how to get from your computer to the destination. Both pieces of information are readily available by calling your ISP provider.

Why can't I access my network drive?
If you are not currently logged in to network then you will not have access to network drive. Sometimes you may have given valid login credentials but, still do not have access to your network drive. In this case you can either attempt to logon again and hope the log on script runs this time or you can manually map the drive. To manually map a drive you need to know the name of the server and the share name. Once you have obtained these, right click on my computer and select "Map Network Drive". Select a drive letter to use and then in the "folder" field enter \\Servername\sharename. If you want this resource to be available at logon check "Reconnect at logon".

My application is running slow, is there something wrong with the network?
If you are running a client server application, then the speed of the network has direct impact on the performance of your application. It is normal for the network to slow down when a lot of people are accessing it all at the same time. If the network were functioning normally then the only thing that could affect your performance would be on your computer. Some examples are other applications, memory, CPU and disk space. A reboot may some times resolve a slow PC issue.

My account has been locked out, how can I gain access to my computer?
If your account is locked out you should contact your network professional and have the account reset. Only the person with the proper credentials (usually the network professional) can unlock an account.

How can I securely access the network from home?
Your network professional may have a Remote Access Server configured for this purpose that you can dial directly into. Or perhaps she can supply you with a VPN client to use to gain secure access to the network through the internet.