|
Turn your PC Into a lean, mean computing machine for free BILL HUSTED COX NEWS SERVICE Toronto Star With extra info in "bold type" from Elsie Hetherman.
ATLANTA-How would you like to have a computer that runs faster, crashes less and has more space for storage on its hard disk for free? Here's how. |
|
There are programs on the web that claim to clean up your REGISTRY.
The Registry is the HEART OF WINDOWS and should not be touched by the un-initiated. I have looked at it a couple of times and even changed it to fix a problem, but it takes a lot of research before doing anything. It should also be backed up before making any changes in case one screws up. (BJ) My Advice:- DO NOT TOUCH THE "REGISTRY" I
would not encourage anyone who is not very, very familiar with the
workings of the Registry to even look at it. Putting faith in an unknown
program, downloaded from the web, could be the yellow brick road to
computer perdition. |
|
Defragging (Lovely word) Defragment your hard disk: When you use the defragmenting program that comes free with Microsoft, it takes data that had been stored on the disk in a controlled method that utilizes the unused (or deleted) areas on the hard drive for file storage. The file data may be spread across a number of areas and are linked together by Windows. It keeps a track of where each segment is. When a program wants that file Windows skips around the hard drive to collect up all the parts.Defragging the hard drive puts all those small segments into one area so Windows can load it all at once and save the time of skipping around to gather up all the bits. Clearly just doing that will decrease the time that your computer takes to load up information. This should be done at least 3 times a year although XP is pretty good at keeping the programs and data efficiently. (EH) The program also organizes data so that the ones you use most often are placed in the fastest parts of the hard disk. How to: Press the Start button, go to Accessories, then System Tools and select Disk Defragmenter. That works for modem versions of Windows. Those with Windows 98 and ME should first run another free program, found in the same folder, called ScanDisk. |
|
Temp(orary) Files What's so important about Internet Privacy? Every time you open a browser to view a web page, order something online, or read your email in a web based viewer that information is stored on your computer for later use. Whether you are viewing the weather online, reading sports, catching up on the latest world news or viewing something a little more private, all that information is stored in your computer. Windows operating systems store all this material in what are called Temporary Internet Files or cache. Web pages may store bits of information about who you are when you visit web sites in files called cookies on your computer. Your web browser will store a list of web sites you've visited and places you've gone in a history file in your computer. Even if you are not online, programs will store histories of the files you've opened, played, or viewed. Generally there might not be any reason to worry about all these files in your computer, but what if you sell your computer and all that information is left for someone else to see. Maybe friends and relatives visit and use your computer and you don't want everyone to know what files you are running on your computer. Then you are going to want to know how to delete these files. Even if you are not worried about privacy on your computer, you may be surprised to realize how much hard drive space all this information takes up. If you are running out of drive space, you may want to delete these files. How can I delete these files? For Internet Explorer 5 and above, you can follow these directions to clear out temporary files and delete cookies. 1) Open Internet Explorer and
click on Tools To clear the Internet History in IE: 1) Open Internet Explorer and
click on Tools To clean up other temporary files on your computer in Windows 98 or higher: 1) Click Start, Programs
(or All Programs), Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More info Temp files: Windows should look after cleaning out temp files however this doesn’t always happen completely. The best way to clean temp files on XP is to go to Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup. This should clean out all your temporary files in one go. This can take a while to run.. (EH) Further you can check to see if your hard drive has errors on it is to go to "My Computer" and right click on the "C" drive and go to "Properties" Select "Tools" and run "Error Checking". This is on XP and may be titled differently on other Windows versions.
|
|
Check for virus’ etc. Clean up: Download a good anti-spyware program and clean your computer of those pesky adware and spyware programs that are likely to sneak into your computer. This should be done at least once a month and the best right now is "SPYBOT"http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html Since many of these programs run constantly without you knowing it - taking up computer power - you will get a shocking increase in speed after using a " SPYBOT" How to: Go to www.safer-networking.org and download the free SpyBot program. Be careful. This program is so popular that hackers have been known to redirect download requests to programs that aren't free. If you are taken to another site or asked to pay, don't do it. Spybot does other things that Norton or your anti virus program doesn’t do. Spybot checks downloads that happen by accident etc. Run other updates before running "Spybot" Run "Spybot" updates every month. See the Web for downloads of "Spybot" "Spybot" creates "registry" back up. (EH) |
|
Virus problems Sometimes Norton AntiVirus detects an unknown virus that can’t be eliminated with the current set of virus definition files. Or, you have a file that you think is infected that is not being detected. You can store files in a special area called the Quarantine. Files in the Quarantine cannot interact with the rest of your system, so if they are infected, the virus will not spread. From the Norton AntiVirus Quarantine, a file can be sent over the Internet directly to the Symantec Security Response experts, formerly known as the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (SARC), for analysis. The Symantec Security Response experts determine if your file is infected. If the file is not infected, they report the results to you. If a new virus is discovered in your submission, they will create and send you updated virus definition files to detect and eliminate the new virus on your computer. You must have an Internet connection to submit a sample and an email address to receive a reply. You are notified by email with the results of the analysis within seven days. In addition to Quarantined files, the Quarantine stores two other groups of items: Backup Items: For data safety, Norton AntiVirus is preset to make a backup copy of a file before attempting a repair. These backups are also stored in the Quarantine. After the repaired file is verified, you can delete the infected item from the Quarantine. Items Submitted To SARC: Files sent to SARC for analysis are isolated. After receiving the results of the analysis, you can determine what to do with the item. If you don’t want to keep the contents of the infected file, you can delete the infected file from Quarantine, which deletes the file from your computer. Be aware that if you delete a file from Quarantine , you will not be able to use the file again. The file and its virus will be completely and safely deleted from your computer.1 In the Norton home page, click on AntiVirus main window, click Reports. 2 Click View Reports next to the Quarantined items option. 3 In the left panel of the Quarantine, click Quarantined Items. 4 Select a file in the list of Quarantined items and click Delete Item. You are prompted to confirm that you want to permanently remove the item from you computer. 5 Click Yes to delete the file. Copyright© 2000-2002 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.(EH) |
|
Start up Some programs start automatically every time your computer comes on. If there are too many programs starting up, that can slow things down. So remove any programs that you don't need. Have as few as possible programs starting when you turn your system on as it doesn’t take near as long to start your system if there are only a couple of automatic start ups. (EH) How to: Just press Start and then look for the Startup folder in your list of programs. To remove a program, simply right click on it and then select delete. |
|
Cookies Cookies: Go to our website http://www.spsc753.com/ and read the article provided my Mike O’Neill on what cookies do……in most cases you do not want to delete or clean off "cookies". Cookies set up many items automatically by saving this info and the next time you visit the web site you were searching, the information is already stored for you ie: name, address, telephone number etc. A particular Web site is the only site that can determine your information if you provided it. (EH) |
|
Out with the old Remove programs you no longer use. In almost every PC there are old programs that are no longer used. Besides taking up storage space, really old programs can create conflicts that cause computer crashes. Especially in XP. It isn’t very tolerant of "Legacy" programs. How to: Click on the Start button, go to the Control Panel, then go to Add/Remove Programs. Do not manually remove programs unless you know what you are doing. If you think you know what you are doing, ask your spouse if you are correct in thinking that you do. |
|
Screen clean Take a minute to clean the screen of your monitor. Dirt can create smeared images and dull colors. How to: Only try this with a conventional monitor. If you have a flat-screen LCD or plasma monitor, follow the manufacturer's instructions. For regular monitors, spray some garden-variety window cleaner on a clean cloth or paper towel. To clean all monitors, whether LCD or not, one should never use Window Cleaner, for all monitors use a slightly damp cloth with a little bit of Dishwashing liquid, then wipe clean with a damp cloth (not on the monitor itself) and then wipe clean.(EH) |
|
More housecleaning This time, take a look at the photos, music files and other data stored on the machine. Delete stuff you don't want or need. If you don’t often use some of it but aren't sure you want to delete it forever, make a back-up copy. How to: Just right-click on the file and select delete |
|
Put Windows to work The operating system has an automated program that will attempt to do some housekeeping of its own. How to: Click on Start, then Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools and finally Maintenance Wizard. Then simply let the program run. NB: In XP click the Start, then select Help & Support. Then select Performance and Maintenance. This is not automated. |
|
Transferring files to other media How to make back up copy: Insert a "CDRW" into your "D" drive or a "floppy disc" into your "A" drive. Open Explore and right click on the folder or file you want to copy before deleting, click "copy". Go to "D" or "A" drive and right click "paste". I do this when I back up any files because it is less complicated than following a back up procedure. (EH). Alternately drag the file(s) to the appropriate drive and drop it there. It will be copied directly to it. |