There is nothing more frustrating than a computer that is running so slowly you almost feel as though you could complete tasks faster manually. It’s bad enough when you are in the office working on a PC, but when out in the field on a laptop with a customer in front of you waiting for some key facts and figures, it goes beyond annoying.
Are You Using Windows or Apple?
That lag could very well cost you a new contract! It could be that you have too many apps running in the background, but it could also mean that you simply need more memory. So how do you tell if you need more memory? Just follow a few simple steps and you will be able to tell, once and for all, whether or not your laptop needs a memory upgrade. While there is a difference between the Apple OS and Windows, let’s assume you have a laptop running Microsoft. If you are using an Apple laptop, you will need to use their diagnostics in much the same way.
First Things First – Diagnostics
Before you even think about adding memory, you should run a simple memory diagnostic test. To do this, you need to locate your command prompt. Every version of Windows accesses the command prompt a bit differently, but when you’ve found the command prompt simply type in “mdsched.exe” and follow the command prompts. If you have any open programs, it is best to save your work and close them down at this point because your laptop will need to reboot as part of the test.
Once rebooted you will be told if Windows found any problems with your memory. If those little memory sticks have any issues, it isn’t worth trying to add memory. At this point you might as well upgrade instead of adding extra cards. Apple will have a similar procedure, so always run a memory diagnostic program before trying to see if you need more.
It’s Now Time to See If More Memory Will Speed up Your System
There are a few ways in which you can determine whether or not your laptop would perform better by upgrading RAM, random access memory. If you need more memory, it’s RAM being referred to and this is that little card plugged into the mother board. In other words, it’s a piece of hardware. Whether you choose to use third-party software to determine if you have sufficient memory or a test from within your operating system, the outcome will be that you should have a definitive answer on whether or not an upgrade will fix your issues with speed.
Sometimes you will simply need to up the amount of RAM if you use memory-intensive programs. No matter how fast your clock speed is, if you have insufficient memory for your programs to move files around as needed, your laptop will seem to lag. Also, it is important to only add memory that is compatible with your computer. Typically, you will find this information on the site where you order your memory. This should solve the issues you are having. Just make sure to follow the directions for installation carefully.
