There are times when your windows environment seems to become sluggish and you might think something is wrong with your computer hardware. In most cases, it is your windows speed that needs a little bit of tweeking to get it up to snuff again. Here are some quick tips where you might want to look at to increase your windows speed.

1) Disk Cleanup and Defrag:

Perform a disk cleanup first then do a disk defrag and then another disk clean up after that. It is recommended to defrag your hard drive last and at least once a month and do not use your computer while defragmenter is running. You can find both of these utilities under Accessories then System Tools in the  windows startup menu.

2) Optimize Registry:

Optimize the registry with a third-party application. Many of these registry cleaning  programs are available on the Internet, including freeware, shareware (paid programs) and commercial applications that are released as free trials. If you are not familiar with the registry, do not try to edit it manually because the registry is very important to the Windows operation and you can cause some ill effects in windows.

Download  a good freeware program such as the Registry Genius program and it will clean up your registry as well as other areas.  But always remember to create a restore point before uninstalling software.

3) Use Msconfig:

You can use a builtin windows command called msconfig under the RUN option located in the windows startup menu.  Just type msconfig in the RUN option and this utility will allow you to enable or disable startup programs running during the windows bootup to the desktop. Just be careful when using msconfig that you do not uncheck unfamiliar items and do not experiment with settings in any other tab. Doing so could prevent your Windows  from booting up properly!

4) Physically Clean Inside of Computer:

Clean your Computer’s Inside. In other words, dust off the fans with a can of air because dust blocking the fans and heat sink inside the computer can cause performance problems such as memory problems, power supply problems, and mainboard problems due overheating up and possibly shorting out other components. Also, you want to keep your computer in a well ventillated area to keep it cool at all times.

So there you are.  I just mentioned a few quick tips to keep your windows speed in tack and up to snuff. There are alot more ways but the ones I mentioned earlier are just a few. Stay tuned for more later on.

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When it comes to connecting to the Internet, there are  five connection mediums that are the most common in use.

1) You can use a dialup connection which is plugged into your phone outlet and is the oldest and slowest kind of connection to use.

2) You can use a wired broadband connection such as cable or DSL that will let you browse the web faster but  you will still be plugged into the wall or modem/router with an ethernet cable. Your laptop or PC will be in a fixed location where you cannot move it around while you work.

3) You can use a wireless connection builtin to your laptop or via wireless usb network adapter that will allow you to be more mobile within a certain range of your routers allowable signal area. You need to set up a router in your workspace which will allow you to move around more readily to allow access to the Internet within the routers coverage area. Where most people make the mistake is maximizing or optimizing the routers coverage area, there by limiting their mobility for better and faster Internet access.

4) You can use a Satellite company such as HughesNet, WildBlue, and ISP1. There are other third party satellite internet providers but the ones mentioned earlier are the most common ones.

5) You can use your cell phone company’s  Internet wireless devices which are also connected via  a usb connection that will allow you a broader coverage range compared to a routers coverage range and tend to be more expensive. Here you are not limited to your home or office only but instead you have almost the same coverage as your cell phone which is much more flexible in your internet mobility.

What ever connection medium you decide to choose or use, internet connection problems are caused by many factors and just too many to name in a single article.  But in general, the internet connection problems are going to be caused by either software or hardware issues.

What I mean by software issues, the internet connection problems can be caused by browser issues such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari just to name a few.

Network card or wireless device software driver issues for usb wireless adapters or built-in wireless devices within the laptops may be either corrupted or not configured properly. Windows network system file issues such a the winsock or the registry database may be corrupted.

Software firewalls may be corrupted or blocking a port  Virus, spyware, or malware infectons may be occurring or the program itself may be corrupted causing the internet connection not to work at all.

Now as far as hardware issues, there are many factors involved in this area as well. Hardware problems such as ethernet cables, Cable/Dsl modems, routers both wired and wireless, satellite dishes, network cards, wireless devices, and possibly your neighborhood internet service providers may be the cause of the whole internet connection problem.

As you can see, there are many factors involved when it comes to internet connection problems. I will explain in more detail on my upcoming posts about this subject matter on Internet connectivity issues. Stay tuned!

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Along with viruses,  Malware is one of the biggest threats to computer users on the Internet today . It can corrupt your browser, redirect your search attempts, cause annoying pop-up ads, track what sites you visit, and generally causing havoc to your computer operation. Malware programs are usually poorly programmed and can cause your computer to become unbearably slow and unstable, in addition to all the other troubles they can create.

Many of the malware will install themselves in your computer even after you think you have deleted them, or hide themselves deep within Windows, making them very difficult to clean.

Although also considered to be malware, programs such as viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and everything else generally detected by anti-virus software can not be treated here, and the use of the word malware will be referred to software that describes the categories listed below.

Users can be infected by malware in several ways. Malware often comes bundled with other programs such as Kazaa, iMesh and other file sharing programs. These malware programs usually create pop-up ads, sending out the revenue from these ads to the owners of these programs. Other malware are installed from websites, pretending to be software needed to view the site. Other malware install themselves through holes in Internet Explorer as a virus would causing you to do nothing but visit the wrong Web page and become infected.

The great majority of malware must be installed by the user. Unfortunately, getting infected with malware is usually much easier than eliminating it, and once you have malware on your computer, it tends to multiply.

Types of malware:

Malware can be divided into several broad categories: Adware, spyware, hijackers, toolbars and dialers. Many, if not most malware programs will fit into more than one category.

It is very common for people to inerchangeably use the words adware, spyware and malware. Most products that call themselves spyware or adware removal will actually remove all types of malware.

1)  Adware is a type of program that places advertisements on your screen such as pop-ups, advertisements embedded in programs, advertisements placed on top of ads on websites, or other ways that writers can think of to show you an ad. The pop-ups generally are not stopped by pop-up blockers, and often do not depend on you having Internet Explorer open. They can show up when you play a game, write a paper, listen to music, or anything else. If you surf, the advertising will often be related to the web page you’re viewing.

2)  Spyware programs that send information about you and your computer to somebody else. Some spyware simply send the addresses of sites you visit or terms you search for  to a server somewhere else. Others may send back information you type into forms in the Internet Explorer or the names of files you download. Still others search your hard drive and report back what programs you have installed, contents of your e-mail client’s address book (usually to be sold to spammers), or other information  on your computer such as your name, browser history , usernames and passwords, credit card numbers and your phone number and address.

Spyware often works together with toolbars. It can also use a program that always runs in the background to collect data, or it can hide itself in the Internet Explorer when it runs without being detected.

3)  Hijackers take control of different parts of your browser, including your homepage, search pages and search bar. They can also point you to some sites when you mistype an address or stop  you from going to a website such as sites that combat malware. Some will even redirect you to their own search engine when you try a search.  Hijackers almost exclusively target Internet Explorer.

4)  Toolbars plug into Internet Explorer and provide additional functionality such as search forms or pop-up blockers. Google and Yahoo Toolbars are probably the most common examples, and malware toolbars often attempt to emulate their functionality and appearance. Malware toolbars usually include characteristics of the other malware categories. Any toolbar that is installed through sneaky means falls into the category of malware.

5)  Dialer programs that set up the modem to connect to a 1-900 number. This gives the number of owners with money while leaving you with a huge phone bill. There are some legitimate uses for dialers, such as for people who have no access to credit. Most dialers, however, are installed silently and trying to do their malicious work undetected.

In conclusion, malware is kind of like the new kid on the block and the are many programs that can eliminate this bug but one of the best programs is Malwarebytes.  Click here to download Malwarebytes  to download your copy of the software  before it is too late. This program is very cheap insurance compared to  the expensive cost for data recovery.

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How to repair the DVD or CD drive on a PC:

There are many problems that can happen to your DVD/CD drive on your computer. The following steps show you  how to repair your DVD/ CD drive. These steps will help you see more clearly how to solve the problem that you may have.

Step 1.

First examine the disc you are using making sure it has no stains, dirt or scratches on the surface of the disc since it could prevent the DVD/CD drive from working properly. Clean the disc with a cloth before replacing it back inside the drive.

Step 2.

Clean the laser inside the drive with a DVD/CD laser drive cleaner. If the laser is gathering dust, it can block the laser from reading the disc and the device will not be able to function properly.  Get a can of compressed air while the door is open and blow air inside the drive to eliminate the dust from the laser mechanism inside the DVD/CD drive.

Step 3.

You need to ensure that the drive was not disabled from your computer. If your internal drive is not enabled, open up the case and look inside. There will be two connectors that should be connected to the back portion of the drive.  If the connectors have become undone, then reconnect them back to the drive because it can cause the DVD/CD drive not to work at all.

Step 4.

For external DVD/CD drives,  make sure the USB or FireWire ports function properly when the external drive is plugged into the back your computer using a USB or FireWire cable.  As a test, plug in another USB/Firewire device that you know works and see what your results are.

Another test is to plug in your DVD/CD external drive into another computer you know the ports work for comparison of your original ports to determine if  they have gone bad.  If all else fails, you may need to take your computer to a repair shop or call an onsite technician to come over and fix it for you.

Step 5.

Make sure that your motherboard’s CMOS setup or BIOS is configured properly to read your DVD/CD drive and that it is enabled. In most computers, by pressing the F2 function key, at the very beginning of the boot-up process, will enable you to get into CMOS

In summary, by taking these steps, you can be assured that your DVD/CD drive will be repaired properly and you can avoid costly repairs.
Good luck!

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Computer are analogous to automobiles where you have to change parts on occasion, tune up the system at times, run diagnostics to see where the problem might exist, and to follow a scheduled procedure in order to properly maintain your PC computer and keep it running efficiently.

Here are timely procedures to maintain your PC Computer:

Daily:

Back up your data. You do not want to lose yesterday’s work more than you want to lose last weeks work, so your documents, pictures, and use of data should be backed up daily onto an external drive of some sort.

Weekly:

Scan for malicious code. Your real-time anti-virus program is not perfect, evil can slip off it. So to be on the safe side, get a second opinion every week by scanning with another security program.

For the second opinion, you need something reliable, you want something free, and you do not need something with real-time protection. So I recommend AVG anti-virus or Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware. I use both, running one of the first week and the other on the second week.

Monthly:

Run a Disk Cleanup first which is located C-Drive properties then Defrag your hard drive. Over time, your files become fragmented – with a single file across multiple physical elements of the station. Fragmentation can slow your PC and make lost files less accessible. Windows comes with a fine defraggers. In Windows Explorer, right-click the C: Drive and select Properties. Click the Tools tab, then the Defrag Now button. XP users get a button to start the defrag while Vista and Windows 7 gives you that plus an ability to configure scheduled defragging.  Scan your hard drive for errors. You do not look for viruses or worms here, but physical and logical problems with the disk that can make parts of it unreadable. Both the scan and defrag tasks start on the C: Drive Properties’ tab.

To Scan the drive, click Check Now. Check both options, and then click Start. An error message will tell you that Windows can not check the disk while in use. Click Schedule disk check (Vista or Win7) or Yes (XP). So, next time you plan to leave the computer for a few hours (eg sleep), reboot. Windows will take a considerable time (rough guestimate: One hour for each 100GB disk space) before it is ready for regular use.

Twice a year:

Backup your hard disk as an image. Although not as important as a recent backup of your data (see Daily), an image backup of your entire hard disk can be a life-saver should your hard drive crashes or Windows are hopelessly corrupt. A good image backup means never having to reinstall Windows from scratch.

As you can see, there are several steps and scheduled tasks to perform in order to maintain a PC computer properly so that it may last longer and operate more effeciently

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In today’s society, where technology and data become more and more important every day, backing up your data has become more vital than ever.  Much of your life is stored on your computer:  Email correspondence, digital photos, financial information, projects for work, school projects, music and movies. With so much information stored in one place, why would you not want to backup your data?

The first thing to remember is that a copy of a document on your computer does not count as a backup.
Next decide what you want to back up and how to backup your data from your computer’s hard drive. If you have chosen a method of backing up your data, then you have to program that method to back up specific files on your computer.

There are a number options on how to back up your data. Read through the different types below and decide which option would be the best fit for you.

1) External hard drives or flash drive:

External hard drives and flash drives are drives that you plug into your computer. These devices can be plugged into the computer. The data is stored on them and then unplugged and stored in a safe place. These come in various shapes and sizes (some can even store large amounts of data) so that you can buy one that will work best for you.

2) CD or DVD:

CDs and DVDs are options that are similar to external hard drives and memory sticks. You put them in your computer, burn the information you want to backup and then take them out. However, this type of media holds less information than external hard drives or thumb drives and are not recommended as your main source for backing up your data. With CDs,  DVDs, external hard drives and memory sticks are a good idea to check back after you’ve made a backup to ensure that the files are transferred correctly. If your computer crashes and then you find out your backup actually does not work, this experience can be very frustrating.

3) Online:

There are many services online that will back up your storage for you. These services will automatically ensure and transmit your data to their servers which provides secure storage at a remote location. If you choose to back up your data to a physical media such as external hard drives and CDs, make sure you back up your data often. With the online services, you can choose how often you want the service to automatically make a backup copy of your information but you have to remember that there are monthly charges for this type of service and it varies from service to service.

In summary, it is always good insurance to back up your data in case of a major hard drive crash.  Choose the method of how to backup your  data that you feel most comfortable with.

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Why do you want to clean your PC Registry?

Cleaning your PC Registry is necessary because, as you continue to work, your PC registry is constantly filled with data. If you want to keep the functional speed of your computer, you must clean your computer registry on occasion. Remember that if your registry becomes corrupted with the unknown and disordered files, the operating system may also crash. So, let’s start with the cleaning task.

How to clean your PC Registry:

Even if you uninstall the programs properly, chances are that the registry can still hold some of uninstalled programs files. So do not try to delete the files yourself, it will be advisable to use a registry cleaning software program. There are several cleaning software programs available for you to start the cleaning process.

Before you start using the computer registry software you purchased, make sure you back up your computer registry to an USB external hard drive or thumb drive. This will help you in case something goes wrong in the cleaning process.

The Registry cleaning software starts by first scanning the registry and then removes all the invalid files found. Some software programs will ask you if you want to correct errors manually or automatically. If you let software do the repairing automatically, this procedure may result in the deletion of critical PC registry files that may be needed to run the computer correctly. Therefore, it would be wise to refer the guidelines that the registry cleaning software recommends and delete files manually as much as possible. You can also consult an online computer repair company in this regard.

If you accidentally delete valid registry entries?

Do not worry. Follow these steps.

Step 1:   Click on the Start menu

Step 2:   Select All Programs and then go to Accessories

Step 3:  Go to System Tools and click System Restore

Step 4:  Restore my computer to an earlier time” should be selected on the system restore wizard and click Next

Step 5:  Now you can select the date you performed the registry clean up and get your computer as it was before running the scan.

If you still have problems, you may call your local PC technician come over or have a technician perform a remote computer repair. Computer support services can solve network problems, software programs, computer fixing and maintenance. Computer Support also provides you with expert advice on technical matters.

The recommended Registry Cleaner Software is Registry Genius which cleans registry and browser history, optimizes system settings, fixes system errors and settings, and speeds up your computer in general. Click here to get your copy!

Remember, it is crucial to always make a backup of your registry before proceeding with any repairs. Good luck!

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There is nothing more frustrating about computers  than when your super fast machine slows down to a crawl. In situations like this it’s necessary to troubleshoot your slow PC to determine why it has become so much slower now than it was before.

Run a Malware Scanner:

Download a malware scanner to find & remove spyware from your computer. Malware, including spyware & viruses, can slow down your computer because it wastes resources to gather information about you, & then it wastes more resources to send it to someone else. If more of those annoying programs running in unison, can put an enormous strain on your computer. The idea is to troubleshoot your slow PC, but if you actually find them, why not remove them as well?

Tune-up your hard drive:

Performing a hard disc diagnostic utilities such as ScanDisk for Windows & Macintosh Disc First Aid. These tools will find problems with the data storage system & correct them or warn you that you must backup your data & replace your hard disc with a newer one. On Windows, you also have a tool called Defrag which will bind the data so that it can be accessed faster.

Check Your Registry:

Microsoft Windows operating systems use what is called a registry to store various types of configuration data. When the system is corrupt in danger of slowing down your computer, or worse, crash. A registry cleaner program will both detect & resolve problems in the windows registry.

Look for Unwanted Drivers:

Drivers are software designed to work with accessories that you’ve installed on your computer. This could be anything from webcams to sound cards. If you’ve stopped using any devices uninstall their drivers. Your device will come with some instructions to remove them from the system.

Find unnecessary software:

Turn off unused programs running in the background. This includes instant messenger programs & idle high number of clients. Such programs consume system resources that other active programs to use.

By performing these tasks, you can vastly improve on the speed of your slow PC.

Click Here to speed up your PC!

Click here to get a copy of a software program optimizer!

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