Buying a used computer is a fantastic way to save money as long as you are cautious about which computer you purchase. The biggest consideration with buying used computer is that shortly after you get it all set up and running it crashes. Below are few of the primary items to examine prior to buying a used computer. Purchasing a used computer is also a perfect way to get a system loaded with upgrades such as a USB TV tuner for very little or for free.

The hard drive is very important and probably the last component of a computer that you would want to fail. The problem with inspecting hard drives is that many of the failures are due to mechanical issues that cannot be detected without opening the hard drive case is not recommended. So a hard drive that will failure very soon may not show any outward signs that it is deteriorating. There are a number of mechanical components in hard drives that can fail. Hard drive failures can also be caused by heavy wear and tear. One of the most common hard drive components to fail is the read/write head that accesses and writes data to the disk as it spins. Over a time the risk of failure or malfunction of a hard disk increases.

Hard drive failures from certain data related issued can be detected and prevented by a full system scan. Bad disk sectors can be detected and often times fixed by a system scan. The scanning time depends on the capacity and size of the hard disk of the used computer. Performing a disc scan is not difficult but many skip it because it can take a few hours to do a full scan. It is not advisable to skip this step.

Another component to inspect is the central processing unit (CPU). CPUs can freeze completely or cease to operate properly. Freezing can occur due to overheating. Dust and dirt accumulate on the fan and heat sink which prevents them from keeping the CPU at a safe operating temperature. It is fairly easy to check if the fan is functioning properly by listening to it and looking for excessive dust. An even, low pitched hum is the sound of a fan operating properly. Rattles, squeaks or variations in the sound or the volume can indicate a fan that is on the verge of failure.

If you are buying a monitor it should have crisp colors and be bright. Dull or muted colors are signs that a monitor is near the end of its life. Monitors should not flutter or have lines and should not make more than a very low hum. The health of a monitor is even more crucial if the computer has a USB digital TV tuner.

The operating system should also be checked. It is normal for a computer to run slower over time due to software being added and removed from a system or too many programs running in the start folder. The registry can also become cluttered with deleted programs. Unfortunately, inspecting a computers operating system is something that only expert computer users can do effectively. A computer should not take overly long to boot up. Probably the best option after you purchase the computer is, if you are comfortable with it, to reformat the hard drive and reload the operating system and all drivers and programs.

All other hardware should also be checked. This includes, devises like CD or DVD drives, the drawers should open and close smoothing and you should be able to read data from a disc and if they are writable drives you should be able to write to a disc. Other items that should be inspected are the USB TV tuner card, mouse and keyboard.

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