Home and small business computer users both go through the process of replacing old or malfunctioning computers. Choosing the best system and planning ahead for the replacement process can significantly simplify the tasks involved and ensure a successful purchase and migration.

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Items to Consider Prior to Purchasing

For more information about selecting and implementing new computers see http://www.htstechtips.com/2009/05/28/ten-downsides-of-an-aging-computer/ , “Downsides of An Aging Computer – Tech Tips.” For Computer Tech Tips, tech news & computer support visit http://www.htstechtips.com

The needs, requirements, expectations, and available budget will vary with each person or business and there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer. Here are a few general recommendations that will help:

1. Don’t buy at the very top of the technology curve or at the very bottom. That great deal at the low ball price may not be such a great bargain in the long run. Look for the sweet spot in the middle of the market that provides solid performance without paying the premium for cutting edge technology. You will tend to get the greatest bang for your buck with these mid-market systems and they will have a longer effective lifespan than the lower end “bargain” systems.

2. The first decision point in selecting a new computer is whether to buy a laptop or a desktop computer. Laptops are portal and self contained but tend to cost a bit more for the same amount of processing power. Desktop computers allow you to buy any size monitor you want, have more external connections and may have more processing power (especially video processing) but take up more space, have more cables connected to them and are not easy to relocate. Other benefits and drawbacks can vary based on specific models.

3. Give serious consideration to a “desktop replacement” laptop instead of a desktop. Many of these systems can be configured with a bright, high-resolution 15″ or larger LCD display and have enough horsepower to meet most users’ needs. External devices such as a mouse, keyboard, PDA, etc. can easily be connected via USB ports. And combined with a wireless network you’ll no longer be tethered to a desk with your computer.

4. The more RAM the better. Too little RAM can have a measureable impact on computer performance, so get at least 4GB or more if your budget allows. The good news is RAM prices have decreased significantly in the last couple years.

Data and Software Migration

After purchasing a new computer there are a several things to consider in migrating from your existing computer. The process is not as simple as throwing a switch and planning for the migration process effectively will make the things easier and more manageable. Common steps in migrating from one computer to another include:

1. Configuring settings for software that was pre-installed on the new computer.
2. Installing all required software programs on the new computer — This is the time where your efforts in keeping all of your original CDs for your programs neatly stored on a bookshelf or in a cabinet pays off. Be sure to include an Internet security package on the new computer.
3. Transferring all user data files (documents, spreadsheets, email, photos, graphics, database files, etc.) to the new computer system
4. Transferring configuration settings for items such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, network connections, and email accounts.
5. Configuring system setting such as the Windows desktop and other display parameters.
6. Installing any necessary printers on the new computer.
7. Performing an initial backup of the new computer.

An important consideration in migrating from one computer to another is how the data will be physically copied. Options include: copying files to CDs; copying files to an external hard disk drive; copying files to a flash drive (USB memory key); transferring files across a network; or even backing up to and restoring from an online data backup service. Regardless of the method, planning the migration in advance will be time well spent.

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The review "Replacing a Home or Small Business Computer – Planning Ahead" was last updated on 25/10/09.