A. Anything that you delete from your hard drive, assuming that the recycle bin has also been emptied, will show up as free space on the hard drive. However, a large number of files doesn't necessarily equal a large amount space on your hard drive. Most files are measured in kilobytes (KB) and hard drive space is measured in gigabytes (GB), a factor of better than one million to 1. (one gigabyte = 1,000,000 kilobytes, 1000 times 1000).

To see more about why this is 1000 instead of 1024, click HERE for a previous article where it is explained in detail.  Remember to click Back to return to this article.

As for running defrag, defragging the hard drive will not free up space. It just rearranges the data that is on it, making it more manageable. 

Q. How can I tell how much memory my computer has and if I can install more?

A. Well, you could dig out the instruction manual and specifications that came with it and see what it says. But, I suspect that if you are like most computer users, you don't know where the manual is, and have probably never even looked at it. Most computer manufacturers have stopped printing a manual just because it was rarely ever read. Some include it on the computer and others have it posted on their website. However, this information may be generic, and not specific to you computer. So, here's what you need to do.

First, to find out how much memory you have, right click on My Computer, select Properties, then the General tab. In the lower right corner of the dialog you will see the amount of RAM in your computer.

Some explanation may be needed here. RAM only comes in increments that are powers of 2. Amounts like 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 MB (or 1 GB). If your computer shows any figure other than one of these, or a combination of these, it is because it shares memory with your video device.

Many less expensive computers use shared memory for the video to cut down on the overall cost. If your video cable doesn't plug into a port on a expansion card, separate from the other plugs, it may be using shared memory.

On many computers, the amount of memory reserved for the video is subtracted from the total RAM displayed. So, if the amount of RAM indicated is NOT equal to one, or a combination of the above power of 2 numbers, then the actually amount is the number immediately above the amount shown.

Now you know how much memory you have, but all this doesn't tell you what size the modules are or how many of each you have. As an example, let's say you have 512MB RAM. This does not tell you if you have 1 - 512MB module, or 2 - 256MB modules, or 4 -128 MB modules. To learn this, you will have to open the case and look, or run a neat little program that will identify the memory for you. I use one called CPU-Z that can be downloaded HERE.  It is easy to use, gives you a lot more information about the computer than just your memory, and it is free. Highly recommended.

Now you know how much memory you have, how many modules and in what increments, but still need more information before you can upgrade. Fortunately, there is one memory supplier that I use, "Crucial", that makes it easy for you. Go to www.crucial.com and you will be presented with 2 choices. You can let them scan your computer, or follow the 3 easy steps to enter the information about your computer. Using the automatic scan requires that you are using the computer that you want to upgrade. It requires a small download, but does tell you how much, what kind and where your memory is located. I generally use the 3 step method because I am rarely using the computer I am upgrading but see no problem using their automatic method.

If you use the 3 step method, you will need your computer's manufacturer, the product line, and the model number. i.e.: Dell, Dimension, E520. All this information can be usually be found on the front of a desktop, or the top of a laptop. Once this has been entered, you will be able to see all you need to know about the memory your computer uses. This includes the type, how many slots, how much it can hold, etc. I have found Crucial to be accurate, inexpensive, and fast shipping. When I need memory, that's where I get it.