What is the Difference Between the Hard Drive and Memory?

When learning about computers, often one of the most difficult concepts to understand is the difference between a Computers Memory ad its hard drive space. It makes sense to be confused, as they both use similar terminology and measurements, but they actually preform different tasks in the computer.

Table of Contents

• What is Hard Drive Space?
• What Happens if You Don’t Have Enough Hard-Drive Space?
• How Do I Find Out How Big My Hard Drive is?
• How Can I Get More Hard Drive Space?
• What is Computer Memory?
• How Do I Know How Much RAM is Installed?
• How Do I Get More Memory?

What is Hard Drive Space?

A computer uses its hard drive to save data. When you save a picture or a Microsoft Word Document to your desktop, you are saving it to the computers hard drive. When you install a new computer program, you are installing it to the Computer Hard Drive.

Today, hard drive space is usually described in Gigabytes(gb.) Gigabytes are often called gigs for short, so you might hear someone say they have a 120 gig hard drive.

Most computers at least have a 120 Gigabyte Hard Drive, with many having over 400 gigs.. Each Gigabyte is made up of 1024 Megabytes(mb,) so a 120 Gigabyte Hard Drive has 122880 Megabytes(mb.)

Terabyte hard drives are also becoming much more common and are very inexpensive. 1 terabyte is 1024 Gigabytes.

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What Happens if You Don’t Have Enough Hard-Drive Space?

Not having enough hard drive space can cause a number of problems. In very serious cases, it will actually cause Windows to not turn on or to move incredibly slowly. It is not uncommon for this to cause a Blue Screen of Death, which is nickname for the blue warning screen with white writing that Windows will sometimes show.

Most often, however, not having enough hard drive space is more of an inconvenience, as you will simply not have enough space left to to install any programs or files.

Typically, music files and movies take up the most space, so if you are running low, deleting some of these types of files may be the best choice. People rarely have enough word documents to actually take up a significant amount of space, although pictures can add up quickly and if you have enough can use a significant chunk of your hard drive.

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How Do I Find Out How Big My Hard Drive is?

In Windows XP, you can open “My Computer” and the amount of hard drive space will be displayed. In My Computer, you can also right click on your hard drive and select properties, to see a more detailed view of your hard drive space.

If you are using Mac OSX, right click on the hard drive icon that is on the desktop and select “Get Info.” This will tell you how many files are on the hard drive and how much space is being used.
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How Can I Get More Hard Drive Space?

One of the quickest ways to free up hard drive space is to remove any unwanted videos and music files, as these tend to take up a great deal of space. It is also possible to uninstall unneeded programs and to clear your temporary files.

However, sometimes if the hard drive space is too low, you will not even be able to uninstall any programs or delete any files through windows, without causing an error.

Another option is to install a second hard drive, which may be a better option, as you will be able to save all of your data. The price of hard drives has dropped tremendously over the last few years, so this is often the best choice. Remember that music and videos typically take up the most space on most peoples computers, although pictures and computer programs can also take up a good deal of space.
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What is Computer Memory?

Like a hard drive, computer memory is usually measured in either Megabytes(mb) or Gigabytes(gb.) Memory is often referred to as RAM, which stands for Random Access Memory.

Memory is used by computer programs to temporarily store data and every time you turn off your computer, anything stored on the Memory is deleted. For example, if you are playing a computer game, the level you are on might be stored in memory.

The reason computers use Memory to temporarily store data instead of the hard drive is because it can be accessed much quicker than the hard drive can, but most operating systems also use hard drive space like memory as well.
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How Do I Know How Much RAM is Installed?

In Windows XP, you can right click on “My Computer” and Select “Properties.” In Vista, you can right click on “Computer” and select “Properties.”

If you are using a Mac OSX, click on the Apple in the left hand corner and select “About This Mac.”
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How Do I Get More Memory?

You can typically upgrade your memory, but there are many different types of memory, so you need to make sure you get the right type for your computer. Usually, you can find this information in the Computer’s Manual or by visiting the Manufacturer’s Website.

The Operating System is also a factor in how much memory you can use, as Windows XP will only recognize up to 3 Gigabytes of Memory, so adding anything more would be a waste of money.

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Why is My Computer Running Slowly

Often, many computer users will notice that over a period of time, their computer begins to run much more slowly than it did when they first got it. There are several reasons this can happen and since this is sometimes a sign that the computer could be infected with a virus, it is not something that should be taken lightly.

Viruses and Spyware

If your computer is infected with spyware or some other sort of computer virus, this will often cause the computer to run much more slowly than usual. Most people will also notice a change in the way their Internet browser works as well.

For example, when a computer is infected with malware, which is a broad term used to describe malicious software, it is common to start getting a lot more pop-ups than usual.

Another common change is that whenever a standard search is preformed in Google or Yahoo, the results are always for the same site.

You may also find that you keep on getting a strange pop-up that says your computer is infected with a virus and you need to purchase a special anti-virus program to fix it. However, if you are seeing this, it almost always means your computer has already been infected with a virus and your privacy has been compromised.

There are actually a number of different types of malware, including spyware, which steals all of your personal information and tracks your online activity, and adware, which causes advertisements to show up on your computer and in your web browser. These and other types of viruses will not only cause your computer to move much slower, but also means that your privacy and security have been compromised.

Too Many Programs Running

While often a slow computer means that it has been infected with spyware or some other sort of computer virus, this is not always the case. It is also sometimes caused by running too many computer programs at once.

This can happen because, pretty much every time you install a new computer program, it sets itself up to start when your computer turns on.

Each program that starts when the computer starts uses up precious resources, so after a few of these programs have been installed, it will begin to slow down the computer.

One way to tell if this may be a problem is to look at the Icons that are in the bottom right hand corner by the clock. Each of these icons is a computer program that is running and using resources. There are a few of these, like wireless network tools and sound controls, that are needed, but most of them are not.

In practice, it is almost always better to only allow the essential programs that your computer needs to properly function to start when you turn on Windows. This includes things like Firewalls and Anti-Virus Software. Other programs, like Yahoo Messenger, which are not required for the computer to properly function, should not be allowed to start when you turn on the computer and instead only when you use them.

What is Bloatware?

Bloatware is software that is installed by the computer manufacturer. Almost all computer manufactures, like Dell and HP, include a great deal of bloatware on their computers, as they are paid by the software companies to add these unnecessary programs.

Often, when you buy a new computer, it is packed with so much bloatware that it runs extremely slow from the first time you use it. Or, if it doesn’t run slowly right away, it will once you install a few of your own programs. Uninstalling and removing bloatware is essential for ensuring that your computer will run as quickly as possible.

One way to avoid getting computers with bloatware, or at least getting less bloatware, is to order using a business account, as most manufacturers do not cripple their business class computers as much as they do their personal ones.

However, even with business class computers, it is still usually necessary to spend some time removing bloatware.

The Computer Does Not Have Enough Memory

Another reason computers can run slowly is because they do not have enough memory. Memory is used by software to store data and variables. If you do not have enough memory, it will cause your computer to run very slowly. Often, memory problems can be minimized by uninstalling unnecessary software and bloatware.

It is important to note that even though Memory and Hard-Drive Space are often described using the same units of measurement, GB or Gigabytes, they are not actually the same thing. However, not having enough hard-drive space can also cause problems.

Welcome to the Learning Center

Hello and thanks for stopping by.

At Knightdale Computer Repair, we know how important it is to not just fix the problem, but to also help provide our clients with the tools to better protect their computer systems. We offer the learning center to help teach our clients about how to safely manage their system and get the most out of their computer. We will also provide some information about the goings on in Raleigh and the surrounding area.

If you ever have any questions or would like to share your thoughts with us, you can leave us a comment or give us a call.