Lorenzo – Herrera Un-Splash
When talking about computers, there is the actual life – the life before it fails, and there is refresh life – when you proactively plan the replacement of the computer system before its failure.
Actual Life:
I think, I can answer that question with some certainty.
Recently, I had two of my customers systems fail and they were the ones I built 10 years ago. I have some systems maybe a little older still out there. So, from my experience, it seems like the literal life of a computer is around the 10 year mark, although your mileage may vary. In this instance, I am talking about desktop systems – Laptops have a shorter life.
Why do they fail, there are no moving parts in them like a car it’s just electronics right?
Well yes, but everything does fail eventually even electronic things. These two computers failed for different reasons. Computer number 1 had a motherboard failure and computer 2 had a CPU. You might be thinking replace the parts and move on, and well it is really not that simple.
A computer is a commodity of parts put together to form a working system, and when those parts fail it is very hard to find replacements over time because they are not being made any more. Manufactures have moved on to the latest technology.
Computer 1 Motherboard Failure:
If your motherboard fails, then you have to find the exact same model so all the parts you had on the previous motherboard will still work on the replacement. If you can, you will still want to use those parts because you will not be able to find them new. If you did find them new, they would cost an arm and a leg just because of the commodity aspect.
Computer 2 CPU Failure:
In the case of computer number 2, you need to find the exact same CPU for replacement. Let’s say the motherboard is capable of using both an i3 and an i5 core. If the computer was originally using the i3, you need to find the same exact model of i3 core. Depending on how the backup was done you may not be able to substitute the i5 core, even though the motherboard can use it – If you try, It will end up as a HAL incompatibility, and you will not get your computer back up and running on the old backup, if you made one. You will have to do a clean load and load the data by hand – hours’ worth of work.
Remember computer 1 motherboard failed, so, yes you could replace the motherboard, if you could find the exact same one, and how long before the CPU fails, or any of the other components.
Everything Does Fail:
So, everything, does fail eventually, and not long ago I wrote a blog talking about computer failure and the bath tub curve you can read more about it here at the Anatomy of a Computer Failure: So, if you want to push the computer and get the absolute most amount of life out of it go ahead, but be prepared for the forth coming fail, and it will happen at the most inconvenient time.
Refresh Life – Computer Refresh:
So, computer refresh talks about replacing your computer before failure. If you are using your computer daily and it must be working, and you cannot be without it. Then look at computer replacement at the 5 or 6 year mark. Yes computers can fail out of box – new, but as time goes by the bathtub curve, in the Anatomy of a Computer Failure:, indicates after a year or so, if it has not failed by now, it probably won’t. As time goes by, at the 5 or 6 year mark the curve starts to head up exponentially. This part of the curve says if it has not failed by now the probability of it is increasing.
Below is an example from the Arnold Consulting Case files of a spectacular fail of a business computer used past its refresh life.
Case Files Arnold Consulting:
All the case files I have, are actual experiences that I have had over the years with customers, and this is probably the most spectacular fail. I was in this real estate office, and doing network management on one of their computers that kept track of commissions for their agents, and I noticed that it was really old – I mean like 12 years old. Before I left, I spoke to the owner of the agency, and I mentioned that computer I was working on should be replaced – my car is not that old. The Owner replied, “We don’t have the budget to replace.”
I advised him the computer is one of the ones we do backup, but it still should be replaced because if it does fail it will take time to get a new one and get it tested, and that may take a week or two. Two days later, I get a call from the office, and that computers power supply caught on fire along with some paper next to it.
The fire happened during office hours, but can you imagine if it were not office hours? That whole floor would have went up in flames – because they did not have the budget to replace a $700.00 computer at the time. I guess the computer did not get the memo – don’t fail. As it was, it did take time to get a new computer on line and get the backup reloaded, and it cost more than $700.00 in downtime and repair cost.
What a lot of people do not realize is, it’s not just the cost of replacement of equipment, it is the time the equipment is down and not productive, and the potential information loss. When you proactively replace, there is a lot of mitigation of the risk. The one thing that you can absolutely cannot control is the unexpected failure, and that does happen – However that is why you back up the system.
Computer Refresh to windows 11:
Windows 10 is coming to an end in October 25 2025, and that is not that far away. So, now is the time to look at updating your computer systems with new hardware, new OS, or both.
When Windows 10 ends in 2025, it does not mean that Windows will just stop working, but what it does mean is Microsoft will stop providing updates, and in some case may leave your computer vulnerable to virus attack.
If you are a business, it is essential that you update windows because what will happen is your line of business apps, LOB, will fall out of support with the older operating system. Even though the computer works fine and the App works, when you have a problem with the business app or windows, neither company will support you.
Do I have to get a new Computer to run Windows 11?
If your computer ran Windows 10, it will more than likely run windows 11. If your system is an older windows 10, you may want to look at a computer refresh.
So, where is your company in its update to windows 11?
At Arnold Consulting, we specialize in computer disaster recovery / business continuity systems, however we do other things like antivirus, encryption, and network design – trouble shooting. If your company is looking to update your network and computer systems give us a call, and we come in and take a look at what really needs updating and what does not – we follow Microsoft best practice when designing networks.
If you are reading this from Alignable, I would really appreciate your vote for small business of the year 2024 in Elgin.
Sincerely,
Rick Arnold – Arnold Consulting Owner
