Tips, Tricks and Practice

Updates…

nicky81 — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:06:07 +0000

Hello friends,

My blog would be transfered to a new domain and hosting. Feel free to have a look:

http://www.nicksyam.com

Better Performance Step 2

nicky81 — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:03:37 +0000

Clean: Washing out junk data quickly
Put Windows in the bath tub now and throw in a couple of highly effective cleaning agents

1. Thoroughly Cleaning old Windows versions

If Windows has been used for a long time, there are sure to be dozens of useless files stored on the hard disk, which slow down the system. You can get rid of them with CCleaner

Click "Analyze" after installing and starting the tool. After a few seconds you will see how much disk space the tool clears up and which files will be deleted. Clean the disk with "Start CCleaner".

2. Purging the Registry correctly

Vista users should now delete all abandoned and defective entries in the registry database with CCleaner via "Registry". Under Windows XP, it is better if you use NTRegOpt because this tool closes all the loopholes that are created after the cleaning and rewrites the registry.

Using NTRegOpt is as easy as using the CCleaner. Click OK after install and start in order to start the cleaning process. Once the tool has finished its work, then reboot the computer. This process takes longer than usual because the registry is optimized during this time. To make up for that, the system works noticeably thereafter.

3. Speed up Windows start

Lots of programs saved in your computer do exactly as they please. Many applications consider themselves to be so important that they trigger an auto-start command in the system without being requested. That means that every time the computer is booted up, they are started together with Windows, which is not always the user’s intention. As a result of this, the start sequence becomes considerably longer and manually shutting down most of the unwanted windows immediately afterward because they simply aren’t needed, certainly isn’t fun.

The Ashampoo StartUp Tuner 2 lists all auto-start entries and allows them to be individually deleted or to be deactivated. If the user proceeds with caution in this area, and at least deactivates all of the unnecessary entries, then they will be able to enjoy a clearly faster start to Windows.

4. Finding Duplicates and Empty Files

Files with zero bytes confuse the user, duplicate ones occupy storage space. The only thing to do: get rid of them.

Download Duplicate File Finder , the tool does not require any installation. Specify the Windows partition in "Add Path" for instance "C:\". Activate "include empty files in search" to get rid of empty files as well. Search the selected hard disk with "Start Search" and this process is slightly time consuming.

You can get rid of the duplicate files with "Delete all duplicates", as long as you are not dealing with protected system files in the process. Now clean the empty files using "View and Delete empty files". The latter doesn’t get you any storage place but keeps your drive better organized.

5. Getting Rid of Setup Files and ISOs

Do you install new tools frequently? Then it is worth tracking down old set-up files because you often forget to delete them after the installation. The same is applicable to old iso files that were once mounted in a virtual drive. Deleting this files gives you a lot of empty storage space.

Better Performance Step 1

nicky81 — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:07:36 +0000

Spring Clean for Better Performance

Start the big clean by removing the old drivers and unnecessary software. Replace unnecessaryly bloated programs with sleeker alternatives.

1. Uninstall Old and Unneeded Programs and Softwares

The greed for software can be overwhelming at times: ‘Quickly download this tool; i might need it sometime or other’. The next thing you know, the hard disk is soon filled with programs that you have used only once or will never use.

Go to Control Panel and from the Programs windows, uninstall everything that is not required. You can quickly get rid of these memory hogs with Revo Uninstaller. The tool lists all the installed applications immediately after starting. Mark all programs, softwares or applications that is unneeded one after the other and remove the unnecessary things with ‘Uninstall’.

2. Remove Old Drivers

Outdated and defective drivers are often responsible for system crashes. The Driver Magician Lite shareware updates the system with the latest drivers.

The tool immediately displays all the located drivers after starting. Click ‘Select All’ and save the files with ‘Start Backup’ on a USB stick. It took around 25MB of disk space.

Subsequently, select all the drivers once again and click ‘Update’. It would searches for latest versions on the web and offers them for download. But, this doesn’t work for the free versions. But as the tool list all the updated drivers with the version numbers and manufacturers, you can find the right file easily with the manufacturer and download it, or you can activate the update function for about USD30.

3. Replacing Bloated Programs

The real system brakes are applications overloaded with features. For example, the sleek and quick Nero has been mutated to a multimedia monster over time, which takes up a bewildering 1.2GB of hard disk in the standard installation.

Replace these bloated programs with sleek, free of cost alternatives from the freeware scene such as CDBurnerXP for Nero

Antivirus for Gamers

nicky81 — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:00:38 +0000

Gamers need antivirus as well…

Symantec announced the availability of Norton Antivirus 2009 Gaming Edition recently, giving gamers a piece of mind by protecting assets earned on massive multi-player games.

* Gamer Mode - keeps gamers protected and wont bother them while they are in the middle of a game

* All backgrounds activities are suspended while in game play

* smart scheduling - holds all resources intensive actions such as system scans until the computer is idle.

Everyday Security I

nicky81 — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 08:50:20 +0000

When it comes to security and computers, most people think the well-advertised threats of viruses, spyware or adware.

But the fact is that most of us are more vulnerable to the prying eyes of our neighbours, bosses, friends, or the people in the coffee shops next to use who might be reading our e-mail than we are to malicious trojan horses and worms.

Secure Your File

Password-protection of files on a pc could be done at application level. That means you would use the application that created the file to create the password protection.

Use password in Word through Tool menu, select Options and then from the Security tab, put a password in the ‘Password to open’ box. Certain mainstream applications allow such security, as well. Consult the Help file of the application to find out.

One way to password-protect other kinds of files is by using a file compression utility such as Winzip or Winrar, and assign a password to the resulting Zip or Rar file. Or you could enlist the help of a third party utility that will encrypt files and folders for you such as AxCrypt or FolderLock.

Spam Mail

nicky81 — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:55:40 +0000

Have you received more spam than ever before? Do you know how these people are getting your e-mail address.

Senders of spam and potentially harmful e-mail use a number of tactics to secure your e-mail address. If you have posted your e-mail address anywhere on the internet, it can be “harvested” by programs designed to scour the internet and retrieve freely available e-mail addresses.

To prevent this from happening, never post your e-mail address anywhere on the internet - including message boards and personal websites - in an altered form.

If you must post your address somewhere online, write it in a form that is understandable by humans but not by a machine, such as “yourname - at - hotmail.com”

Also, take advantage of the multiple e-mail accounts provided by most internet service providers (ISP) today, and set yourself up at least two accounts: One that you hand out only to friends and collegues, and another that you give to anyone else - including online stores.

When you give out your e-mail address to anyone online, you simply never know whether that address may ultimately end up in the hands of mass marketers or spammers.

Related Topics:

E-mail ‘Bomb’?

How Secure is the Windows Firewall?

Want Some Cookies?

Should ‘I Agree’ to Spyware

Email ‘bomb’?

nicky81 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:19:40 +0000

What is an e-mail bomb?

An email ‘bomb’ refers to an immense number of email messages sent to an account in an effort to bring the account down.

When an email server is flooded with email messages, it is unable to devote cycles to other email users and effectively become useless. An account that receives an email bomb will also experience an interruption in the transfer and processing of legitimate mail, as well.

Email bombs are particularly problematic because even if an email server is brought down in an attempt to stave off the problem, the email server will resume where it left off when it is restarted, continuing to deliver the messages that constitute the bomb.

Hackers can send email bombs using tools that are not too difficult to obtain. Another type of bombing occurs when a user signs someone up to multiple newsletter services and other automatic email generation services that can bring a person’s inbox to its knees.

The good news is that most individual users rarely have trouble with email bombs.

The bad news is that the only way to recover from en email bomb is probably to contact your internet service provider to obtain help. It may be necessary for you to disable or change your email address, at least temporarily.

How Secure is the Windows Firewall?

nicky81 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:40:06 +0000

Since Service Pack 2 of XP, each new version of Windows already has a firewall on board. But what is the Microsoft Firewall suited for?

Windows XP
Microsoft felt compelled to do something about the security of their operating system only after the Blaster 2003 worm massacred Windows computer. Unfortunately, the XP firewall cannot do much either. Even simple things such as checking the outgoing connections do not work. But nevertheless, the programs protects against worm attacks. That at least helps temporarily when you are unprotected, before you get a real firewall and Windows updates.

Windows Vista
For the first time ever, Microsoft developed an “Out-Bound-Firewall” for Vista to check the outgoing connections as well. However, since many inexperienced users had problems in the beta test with this function and certain programs, this feature was immediately deactivated. However, you can bring the enhanced functions back to life: Enter “Windows Firewall with Advanced Security” in the program search of the Vista start menu in order to open the detailed settings menu on your screen. Note that the Vista firewall is not as safe and comfortable as its commercial contemporaries.

Seven Must-do Tasks

nicky81 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:23:42 +0000

1- Cleaning of Data Storage Medium:

Clean the hard disk of all types of junk files. This can be done at night or alongside your daily work. Download CCleaner and install it with standard settings. Subsequently, the tool starts and clears the hard disk of any junk data. You can choose from Windows or applications in the cleaner settings under which there are a range of diverse file options

2- Defragmentation

Defragmentation is a part of hard disk cleaning. The data storage medium cleaning and defragmentation cannot start simultaneously. This is best done at night because you should not work on your PC when defragmentation is in process. Moreover, data fragmentation must not be carried out too frequently. Windows provides its own tool yet I’m not recommend it but it’s just enough and no more. Try the free IOBit SmartDefrag.

3- Virus Scan

The scan should always run in the background; this is provided by almost all virus scanners.
Updates regularly and scan manually at least once a week.

4- Windows Update

Always update the operating system for security and stability reasons.

5- Anti-Spyware

Like the virus scanner, anti-spyware should always run in the background despite a regular updates and weekly manual scan by user.

6- Backup

Avoid crises of hard disk crash with backup that can be run at night.

7- Data Synchronization

Before a meeting, business travelers need not spend two hours on the laptop synchronizing data. Instead update data regularly.

Solutions for Booting Problems for XP (III)

nicky81 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:42:20 +0000

Initiating Kernels - The NTLoader gives the command to the Windows kernel

Error: Computer hangs - The PC hangs when it shows the message “Windows is booting…”.

Solutions: Microsoft Help further - The Windows developers present several solutions for the numerous errors under http://support.microsoft.com/KB/314477

Starting Windows Services - The Smss.exe, winlogon.exe, Isass.exe and services.exe services are started

Error: It’s raining bluescreens! System crashes due to bluescreens or cryptic error messages - Windows simply hangs from time to time

Solutions: Checking the system for viruses - It is possible that you have fallen prey to trojans. Boot in the safe mode and remove the virus. Repair XP with the help of the Setup CD if you do not reach the desktop.

Logging In - Windows ask you to enter user name and password

Error: No Access! - Error message “Incorrect user name or password”

Solutions: Canceling the password - If you have made the password resetting disk, you can access you computer with it. Or else, the Linux based “System Rescue Disk” at http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page is quite useful

XP Revs UP - Desktop. icons and programs that start automatically are loaded. Windows can now be operated.

Error: All types of errors - The system hangs, there are system crashes, bluscreens; anything is possible here

Solutions: Checking the system throughly - Check all auto-starts with “msconfig.exe”, use a virus scanner. The problem can be solved in the safe mode.