Keeping your computer running smoothly requires that you do a little housecleaning once in a while. Here's a list of tasks to help you get started:
Keep all of your working files in one folder. The My Documents folder is offered by Windows expressly for this purpose.
The benefits of keeping all your files in one place are multiple. One, you know where all your files are, two, it's easy to back them all up at once, and three, your machine will run faster.
Don't put your personal files on the root of the C: drive. If you store a large number of files on the C: root folder you could corrupt your disk file table which could lead to a "NTLDR is missing" error message when you boot the computer. Very bad. If you have personal files on the C: drive now, move them to the My Documents folder.
Uninstall programs that you aren't using. But don't just delete the program. Remove it correctly so it won't cause Windows errors. Go to Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs. Find the program you want to remove in the list, and click the Remove button.
Store your hardware drivers and purchased software installer files off your hard drive. A flash drive works great for this purpose.
When you download a zipped file and expand it, delete the original zip file. You'll never remember later why you kept it.
If you aren't already using one, get a good surge protector and plug your computer and peripherals (printers, scanners) into it. During bad lightening storms, I unplug my computer and peripherals just to be safe.
Practice safe computing. Don't accept software or downloads for which you didn't ask. Delete any suspicious email without opening it. And even if the email came from your best friend, don't open any email attachments with the following extensions: * .exe, .com, .vbs, .bat, .mdb, .reg, and .js.
Clean up your temp files, your temporary internet files, and other junk files about once a month. To do this easily, you can download my favorite program for cleaning, CCleaner from ccleaner.com. Be sure to read the complete instructions from the associated wiki.
Ensure you have the latest Windows updates installed. Go to Internet Explorer, Tools, and Windows Update. Click on the Custom button. (I always use the Custom button so I can check what's going to be installed before it gets installed).
Windows update may ask you to download and install the latest version of itself. Go ahead and do that, then click Close when it's finished, and then Continue. It will then scan again for real updates and offer those. Choose which updates you want to install. Uncheck the ones you don't want to install.
Clean out your email, paying special attention to your Inbox and Sent box. The easiest way I've found is to sort your email box by size of the message, and delete the largest unneeded emails first.
Ellen Davis is the owner of Computer Sense, a website and computer consulting company in Cheyenne, Wyoming. You'll find more expert advice, PC tips and computer assistance on her website at http://www.sensible-computer-help.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Davis
วันพุธที่ 3 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2551
วันอังคารที่ 2 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2551
A Solution When Windows Won't Start Up
Microsoft Windows requires lots of tender loving care to keep it running optimally. In order to tweak settings, run needed maintenance and fix the inevitable glitches, you can search among myriad tools-if you're able to get online.
Most of us, though, don't want to acquire dozens of separate utilities to meet any eventuality, and we need a solution that works when Windows won't even start up.
Spotmau provides an answer with its PowerSuite Professional 2008, a multifunctional and easy-to-use toolkit that provides all the useful utilities you need in one bootable CD. So whether you want to clean up Windows, or you require help getting Windows to operate, PowerSuite has everything you need.
The downloadable software creates a CD-ROM (also available by mail for a small charge) that provides a full suite of Windows utilities, as well as the ability to boot up your PC and diagnose and fix the problem when Windows doesn't open. The PowerSuite CD has easy-to-use interfaces and easy-to-understand directions for any PC user, from novice to expert. This everyday toolset for PC maintenance and optimization also provides an emergency kit for rescuing and recovering your precious data and system.
Whether the issue is speeding up Windows, shredding or recovering data, or backing up and restoring your system, the PowerSuite toolkit has the solution for the task at hand. Among the nifty utilities, you'll find the ability to recover lost passwords and Microsoft product keys, restore your Internet Explorer, and encrypt folders. The PowerSuite CD is so powerful that every PC user should keep one as a necessary toolkit to make sure Windows works the way you want it to, when you want it to.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jocelyn_Liu
Most of us, though, don't want to acquire dozens of separate utilities to meet any eventuality, and we need a solution that works when Windows won't even start up.
Spotmau provides an answer with its PowerSuite Professional 2008, a multifunctional and easy-to-use toolkit that provides all the useful utilities you need in one bootable CD. So whether you want to clean up Windows, or you require help getting Windows to operate, PowerSuite has everything you need.
The downloadable software creates a CD-ROM (also available by mail for a small charge) that provides a full suite of Windows utilities, as well as the ability to boot up your PC and diagnose and fix the problem when Windows doesn't open. The PowerSuite CD has easy-to-use interfaces and easy-to-understand directions for any PC user, from novice to expert. This everyday toolset for PC maintenance and optimization also provides an emergency kit for rescuing and recovering your precious data and system.
Whether the issue is speeding up Windows, shredding or recovering data, or backing up and restoring your system, the PowerSuite toolkit has the solution for the task at hand. Among the nifty utilities, you'll find the ability to recover lost passwords and Microsoft product keys, restore your Internet Explorer, and encrypt folders. The PowerSuite CD is so powerful that every PC user should keep one as a necessary toolkit to make sure Windows works the way you want it to, when you want it to.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jocelyn_Liu
วันจันทร์ที่ 1 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2551
Why and How to Remove Spyware
Spyware?
As you probably know already, the internet is not always a safe place. The internet contains harmful programs called spyware which can make it all the way to your computer and cause serious damage to the files on your computer.
Although sometimes spyware may not cause damage it can track everything that you do and write. This means it can track your credit card details, passwords and anything else that you type into your computer.
What Does Spyware Do?
Spyware programs are the most annoying and troublesome piece of program to circulate the internet. When Spyware programs infect a computer system, it may be relatively harmless or it may be devastating. Some spyware programs are capable of paralyzing a computer system.
How Do You Know If You Have Spyware?
Spyware programs are any piece of program that gathers information about computer usage and/or the computer user. Some types of spyware are easy to detect. You will most likely be bombarded by pop-up windows and your home page will change by itself. If you are having trouble detecting if you have spyware or if you know you have spyware you will need to use a software program which will inform you that there is spyware on your computer and delete it.
How Do I Get Rid Off It?
Manually removing spyware applications is a difficult task which is why all internet users need to have a good working spyware removal tool.
Choosing a spyware removal tool can be a very difficult task in itself because there are so many out there to choose from. Too many of these products just don't live up to their name or they maybe spyware or viruses themselves.
Spyware is an annoying program that can work its way on to any computer unless you can fight it. For the top 5 spyware removal tools Check out http://www.spywareremoval.tk/ - Leonie Blyth
As you probably know already, the internet is not always a safe place. The internet contains harmful programs called spyware which can make it all the way to your computer and cause serious damage to the files on your computer.
Although sometimes spyware may not cause damage it can track everything that you do and write. This means it can track your credit card details, passwords and anything else that you type into your computer.
What Does Spyware Do?
Spyware programs are the most annoying and troublesome piece of program to circulate the internet. When Spyware programs infect a computer system, it may be relatively harmless or it may be devastating. Some spyware programs are capable of paralyzing a computer system.
How Do You Know If You Have Spyware?
Spyware programs are any piece of program that gathers information about computer usage and/or the computer user. Some types of spyware are easy to detect. You will most likely be bombarded by pop-up windows and your home page will change by itself. If you are having trouble detecting if you have spyware or if you know you have spyware you will need to use a software program which will inform you that there is spyware on your computer and delete it.
How Do I Get Rid Off It?
Manually removing spyware applications is a difficult task which is why all internet users need to have a good working spyware removal tool.
Choosing a spyware removal tool can be a very difficult task in itself because there are so many out there to choose from. Too many of these products just don't live up to their name or they maybe spyware or viruses themselves.
Spyware is an annoying program that can work its way on to any computer unless you can fight it. For the top 5 spyware removal tools Check out http://www.spywareremoval.tk/ - Leonie Blyth
How to Speed Up Slow Windows XP - Tips on Speeding Up Windows XP That is Slow
If you want to know how to speed up slow Windows XP, there are good news and bad news. The good news is that there are a thousand and one things that you can do with regards to how to speed up slow Windows XP. The bad news is that, the causes of Windows running slow can vary to a huge extent and it is sometimes very hard if not impossible for lay men to find the root of the issue. This article will look at some common causes as well as their solutions.
Too many unnecessary programs installed.
This is a very common issue and people trying to find out how to speed up slow Windows XP should first look at this aspect. Go to the control panel and scroll through the list of programs, chances are you will find some programs that you no longer need. Uninstall these.
Spywares.
With more and more browser tools like toolbars and free software downloads online now, this has become one of the most common causes of Windows slowing down. What happens is that when users install free software or toolbars for their browser, hidden programs may be installed and are kept running every time Windows starts.
These take up memory resources. One spyware may not do much but when you have more of them, the effect is quite substantial.
Download spyware removal tools like Spybots or Adware to address this issue.Unwanted files.
Cleaning up unwanted temp files, cookies, downloaded programs from browsing the web will help to address some of the issues on pertaining to how to speed up slow Windows XP.
You can use the Windows Disk Cleanup tool to do this. Open My Computer, right-click Local Disk, and then click Properties. On the General tab, click the Disk Cleanup button.
Corrupted or Unwanted Registry Entries
This will also happen over time. With the installing and uninstalling of software and device drivers, the Windows registry accumulates a lot of junk data overtime and this can affect the performance of Windows as it constantly refers to the registry for various tasks. Use a registry cleaner to remove junk entries.
George Tho is a webmaster and a techie. Find out how to speed up slow Windows XP with registry cleaners and do a free scan.
Author's review website on clickbank products: http://www.clickbankproductreview.com
Disclaimer: The content of this article is provided for the purpose of education and illustration only. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Tho
Too many unnecessary programs installed.
This is a very common issue and people trying to find out how to speed up slow Windows XP should first look at this aspect. Go to the control panel and scroll through the list of programs, chances are you will find some programs that you no longer need. Uninstall these.
Spywares.
With more and more browser tools like toolbars and free software downloads online now, this has become one of the most common causes of Windows slowing down. What happens is that when users install free software or toolbars for their browser, hidden programs may be installed and are kept running every time Windows starts.
These take up memory resources. One spyware may not do much but when you have more of them, the effect is quite substantial.
Download spyware removal tools like Spybots or Adware to address this issue.Unwanted files.
Cleaning up unwanted temp files, cookies, downloaded programs from browsing the web will help to address some of the issues on pertaining to how to speed up slow Windows XP.
You can use the Windows Disk Cleanup tool to do this. Open My Computer, right-click Local Disk, and then click Properties. On the General tab, click the Disk Cleanup button.
Corrupted or Unwanted Registry Entries
This will also happen over time. With the installing and uninstalling of software and device drivers, the Windows registry accumulates a lot of junk data overtime and this can affect the performance of Windows as it constantly refers to the registry for various tasks. Use a registry cleaner to remove junk entries.
George Tho is a webmaster and a techie. Find out how to speed up slow Windows XP with registry cleaners and do a free scan.
Author's review website on clickbank products: http://www.clickbankproductreview.com
Disclaimer: The content of this article is provided for the purpose of education and illustration only. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Tho
สมัครสมาชิก:
บทความ (Atom)
