The most common reason for slow computer performance is the hard disk, which is a non-removable area that stores all the information available from your computer. The hard disk may slow the computer’s performance as a result of a deteriorating ability to store data efficiently.
Two useful tools provided by The Windows operating system include: Disk Cleanup and Check Disk. On a weekly basis, it is recommended that the computer’s hard disk be cleaned of any temporary files and checked for errors.
The best solution to complete all of these tasks is to create a preventive computer maintenance plan through Windows, which allows you to automate these individual tasks.
How to Cleanup Your Hard Disk
Temporary files are one of the items that will eventually start to slow down the efficiency of your computer. Temporary files build up on your computer over time, and there are a number of sources where these temporary files come from including the Internet.
In order to clear your PC of these temporary files, The Windows Disk Cleanup tool should be run once every week. Due to the fact that The Windows Disk Cleanup tool requires user input to complete its designated task, it is important that when setting up the tool to run automatically you choose a time when you are typically on the computer so you can provide this input. You can do this by following the steps below:
Use the Create Basic Task Wizard
Select the Open the Properties dialog for this task and then click the Finish check box
On the Settings tab, select the Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed (Checking the box will ensure that the task starts the next time you are logged on to your computer)
How to Check Your Hard Disk For Errors
Errors on your hard disk, which are created when a computer program in use crashes, can also slow down your computer.
The Check Disk tool corrects these errors on your hard disk, resulting in better PC performance. About once every week, you should run the Check Disk utility.
Note: You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps. If you aren’t logged on as an administrator, you can only change settings that apply to your user account.
April 8, 2014 marks the retirement date for the world’s longest-ever supported operating system, Windows XP.
This means that newly discovered security holes will not be patched by Microsoft. As a result, over time, the operating system will become increasingly insecure for users. That date also marks the end of support for Office 2003, so if you’re running both, you’ve got a lot of upgrading to do.
According to Conceivably Tech the market of OS users supporting Windows XP is about 38% of the market. That means that almost one in ten people need to be made aware of the risks of using XP after April 2014.
The best option for users interested in upgrading is Windows 7. It took a lot of inspiration from Apple, and once you get used to the slight changes it all feels much more productive and useful.
Microsoft has written a farewell post here, although it’s nowhere near as sentimental as we’d have liked. The majority of computer users in the world would have seen Windows XP for a large portion of their computing life, and it seems somewhat sad to see it go. What do you think?
BarCamp Jonesboro is an “un-conference” for technology professionals and enthusiasts; kind of like a conference, but less…corporate.
Hosted on the campus of ASU, sponsored by leading-edge technology companies and local businesses, staffed and organized by local volunteers and featuring presentations by you and your peers. BarCamp Jonesboro is a full day of technology, creativity, networking, and education.
Windows 7 has a built-in tool called Previous Version that allows users to recover files they mistakenly delete. In order to recover deleted files you have to first make sure that System Restore is enabled so that Windows can
Previous versions screenshot
create restore points. These restore points are what you can revert a folder to in order to recover the files that existed at that time and date.
Step 1 – Making Sure System Restore Is Enabled
You can verify that System Restore is turned on by right-clickingComputer and selecting Properties. Next, you’ll want to click the System Protection tab and then click the drive you wish to turn on System Restore. The C: drive is usually the drive selected. After selecting the desired drive and clicking OK, System Restore will be turned on if it was previously off.
Step 2 – Recovering a Changed Document in Windows 7
Open the folder where the file was located.
Right-click in the white space within that folder.
Select Properties and click OK.
The Properties screen will then pop-up. In this screen, select the Previous Versions tab.
The Previous Versions tab will then display various versions of changed or deleted files in that folder. These versions are based on automatic restore points created by System Restore.
Choose the version time and date you wish to revert back to.
Then click Open.
You will then see all of the previous versions of files in that folder according to the time and date you selected.
To recover one of those files, rick-click the file and select Send to and then choose the folder you wish to save the file to.
That’s it! Now you know how to recover lost files. It’s a handy, useful tool that Microsoft built into Windows 7. We recommend you take full advantage of tne Previous Versions tool as it will save you headaches down the road.
A computer virus is a software program that spreads from one computer to another interfering with the computer’s operation. It may corrupt or delete data, use an e-mail program to spread the virus, or even delete everything on the hard drive.
If you have one or more of the following symptoms, your computer could be at risk (from Microsoft):
The computer runs slower than usual.
The computer stops responding, or it locks up frequently.
The computer crashes, and then it restarts every few minutes.
The computer restarts on its own. Additionally, the computer does not run as usual.
Applications on the computer do not work correctly.
Disks or disk drives are inaccessible.
You cannot print items correctly.
You see unusual error messages.
You see distorted menus and dialog boxes.
There is a double extension on an attachment that you recently opened, such as a .jpg, .vbs, .gif, or .exe. extension.
An antivirus program is disabled for no reason. Additionally, the antivirus program cannot be restarted.
An antivirus program cannot be installed on the computer, or the antivirus program will not run.
New icons appear on the desktop that you did not put there, or the icons are not associated with any recently installed programs.
Strange sounds or music plays from the speakers unexpectedly.
A program disappears from the computer even though you did not intentionally remove the program.
[box type=”note”]Although theses are common symptoms of a virus infection, they might also be caused by hardware or software problems.[/box]
If you think your computer is infected by a virus, why not take advantage of our $99 Spring Cleaning Special?
