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Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Top 3 Ways to Quickly Optimize Windows Vista
is an undoubtedly resource hog on your PC and can be somewhat slower in relation to Windows XP. If you have upgraded to Windows Vista or bought a new PC with Windows Vista and are unhappy with the performance of your machine with this operating system or your performance seems to be degrading more and more over time, then take a look at these simply and easy to implement tips to increase the performance of your Windows Vista system.
1. Reduce Number of Startup Programs: At Computer start-up, Windows Vista loads several programs designed to make it easier for them to open immediately when you click their icons.
This can be beneficial for programs that you use frequently. However, the more programs that load automatically when Windows Vista starts, the more time it will take for your computer to finish booting up and the slower the overall performance of your machine will be.
You will need to decide which programs you want to start automatically and which to eliminate from the start up process. Follow these steps to use Windows Defender to identify startup programs and disable those you no longer require to load at machine boot-up:
a. Click START then select ALL PROGRAMS. Next, click WINDOWS DEFENDER.
b. Select TOOLS and then click on SOFTWARE EXPLORER. A Category box will open and you will need to click STARTUP PROGRAMS.
c. A long list of programs will be displayed at this time. To disable the automatic startup of a particular program, simply find the program and click DISABLE. You will then confirm your selection by clicking YES.
d. After scrolling down the list and disabling certain programs from starting automatically, click APPLY and then OK. You will be asked to restart your machine, select OK and your Windows Vista should restart more quickly depending on how many programs you removed from startup.
After completing these steps, ensure you have not caused any program issues, by attempting to open or run a program you have removed from startup. If there are any issues, just follow the steps above to re-enable the program at startup . You should perform this action at least quarterly or as needed to maintain increased Windows Vista performance.
2. Limit Number of Visual Effects: Windows Vista offers many more standard visual effects than Windows XP and to be honest, these look pretty cool. However, these bells and whistles can be performance hogs, especially if your machine barely meets the minimum requirements for Vista, and the cause of unnecessary system stalls or crashes.
The first one to look at disabling is the transparent glass effect, but you can choose up to 19 additional effects to turn off one by one or have Windows optimize for best performance using the following steps:
a. Click the START button, then click CONTROL PANEL. Select SYSTEM AND MAINTENANCE and then click PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND TOOLS. Next, click ADJUST VISUAL EFFECTS.
b. Select the VISUAL EFFECTS tab and select the radio button to have Windows ADJUST FOR BEST PERFORMANCE. If you would like to adjust the visual effects individually, select the radio button for CUSTOM and choose which visual effects to keep active.
c. Finally, click APPLY then OK and you are done.
After completing these steps, you should experience a noticeable increase in overall Windows performance as less of your computers memory is required to maintain your operating system.
3. Keep Windows Vista Clean: There are several things you can do to drastically increase the overall performance of your computer system just by cleaning out the cobwebs, such as uninstalling un-needed programs and registry cleaning. The regular cleaning of Windows Vista is necessary to keep your machine operating at optimal performance. Follow these steps to clean up Vista:
a. Uninstall: some programs come with the ability to run an uninstaller and remove the program from your system and others do not. For those that do not, you will need to click START to access the CONTROL PANEL.
Once in the Control Panel, select the PROGRAMS option and click UNINSTALL A PROGRAM. Once you locate the program you want to uninstall, select it from the list and then choose the tab that says, UNINSTALL.
You will be asked by Windows to confirm your choice and once done, will begin uninstalling the program. This does not necessarily completely remove the program from your PC, there are software utilities available to completely remove programs from your computers hard drive as well as clean up the entries left in your Windows registry.
b. Windows Registry Cleaning: throughout the life of any computer systems using Microsoft Windows, hardware and program errors are inevitable. Installing, Uninstalling, and general usage of programs and hardware leads to eventual errors and sometimes corruption in the Windows registry.
The registry is the foundation of your operating systems as it determines how each program and each piece of hardware should run and, therefore, impacts the speed and overall performance of your system.
The registry is very technically complex and should only be manually cleaned by someone who knows exactly what they are doing as mistakes here could require reformatting your hard drive.
I recommend using a registry cleaner or even better a system optimization program that will not only clean and fix your system registry, but also clean up system files, completely uninstall programs, fix errors, remove un-needed startup programs, and boost the overall speed and usability of your computer.
If your PC is still operating slowly or you are not seeing any performance improvements after using the above tips, it is possible that your system may be infected with a virus or spyware.
Some symptoms to look out for if you suspect a virus are slower PC performance, the sound of constant accessing of your hard drive for no apparent reason, programs that start without you opening them, or corrupt files or programs. Always keep your anti-virus software up to date and run the program regularly to prevent infection.
Spyware are types of programs that are becoming more and more common on the internet and are installed on your system without you knowing about it. These programs typically watch your activity on the internet and some even attempt to collect your private information and passwords.
They will also invariably cause some performance issues. Check for spyware or adware on your system with one of the anti-spyware programs available for best results.
Optimizing your Windows Vista operating system regularly will keep your system running smoother, prevent errors and lock-ups, increase your internet speed, and safeguard your privacy all at the same time.
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Monday, August 24, 2009
Nokia to enter PC industry with first netbook
Nokia had earlier this year said it was considering entering the laptop industry, crossing the border between two converging industries in the opposite direction to Apple, which entered the phone industry in 2007 with the iPhone.
Nokia has seen its profit margins drop over the last quarters as handset demand has slumped, and analysts have worried that entering the PC industry, where margins are traditionally razor-thin, could hurt Nokia's profits further.
"We are fully aware what has the margin level been in the PC world. We have gone into this with our eyes wide open," Kai Oistamo, the head of Nokia's phone unit, said to a news agency.
"There's really an opportunity to bring fresh perspective to the PC world," he said, adding that Nokia would introduce extended battery life and continuous connectivity.
Nokia has produced PCs before, but divested the unit in 1991 when it started to focus on the mobile phone industry.
But Nokia's first netbook, the Nokia Booklet 3G, will use Microsoft's Windows software and Intel's Atom processor to offer up to 12 hours of battery life while weighing 1.25 kilograms.
Netbooks are low-cost laptops optimised for surfing the Internet and performing other basic functions. Pioneered by Asustek with the hit Eee PC in 2007, netbooks have since been rolled out by other brands such as HP and Dell.
"The question is: How will Nokia differentiate? This is already a crowded market. If they manage to differentiate it's going to give them competitive advantage," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi.
Cut-Throat segment
Research firm IDC expects netbook shipments this year to grow more than 127 percent from 2008 to over 26 million units, outperforming the overall PC market that is expected to remain flat and a phone market which is shrinking some 10 percent.
"Nokia will be hoping that its brand and knowledge of cellular channels will play to its strengths as it addresses this crowded, cut-throat segment," said Ben Wood, director of research at CCS Insight.
"At present we see Nokia's foray into the netbook market as a niche exercise in the context of its broader business."
Nokia's choice of Windows software surprised some analysts who had expected the company to use Linux in its first laptop.
Analyst Neil Mawston from Strategy Analytics said the technology choices were a good win for the US companies.
"We believe ARM and Symbian are among the main losers from the Nokia Booklet announcement," he said.
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009
How To Protect Your Laptop – From Theft And Data Loss
The Frightening Truth:
Laptops have become one of those devices that is quickly going, and in some cases, already quickly gone from something that only techies or high level business people owned to something that even a poor college student finds a way to afford. This is simply that our lives become wrapped around these objects. Think of the cell phone. Ten to 15 years ago it was again only the techies or important business people that owned a cell phone. Now even elementary school kids have them so parents can be in constant contact when necessary.
We all have had the moment when we though we had misplaced our cell phone. Imagine losing your laptop. Not only is it a fairly significant expense, but think of the data you have on there. You probably keep a file with account numbers, you have your family pictures stored there, maybe music, movies. The list is a long one and an important one.
Therefore, make sure you follow the recommendations in this article on how to protect your laptop.
The convenience of the laptop is obvious. The computing power and versatility are equivalent to most desktop computers. With the advent of wi-fi we can be on the internet almost anywhere and be emailing, chatting, writing, surfing the net or shopping, all anywhere in the world.
Here are some daunting statistics for laptop loss from 2008:
Relevant Data Loss and Data Breach Statistics
- 1 in 10 …laptop computers will be stolen within the first 12 months of purchase.
- 97% …of lost and stolen notebooks are never recovered.
- 50% …of organizations reported laptop theft.
- every 43 seconds …a computer is reported stolen.
- every 3 days … an information security breach is reported in the U.S.
- 82% …of all PC’s will be mobile devices by 2008, increasing 4 times as fast as PCs.
- 4,425 …laptops reported left behind in Chicago taxis during a six month period.
- 56 million …individuals affected by significant U.S. data security breaches, 2005.
- 1 billion …PC users expected by 2010, up from 660-670 million today.
- 57% …of corporate crimes are linked to stolen laptops. The latest crimes of espionage and sabotage are theft of executive personnel devices to access vital financial or personnel data.
( data source: http://datarevoke.com)
How Much Does Laptop Loss Cost?:
That completely depends on how you look at it and who is doing the looking….
Personal Laptop:
The actual cost here is the cost of the laptop and if stolen while in the laptop bag (most often this is the case) then you’ve lost all your accessories as well. Not to mention possibly your wallet, MP3 player, passport (eek!). Obviously the actual cost of items and the intangible loss of items such as wallets, all your stored music, your passport, etc. are vastly different.
Business or Corporate Laptop:
Here the intangible costs can be astronomical. We have heard it on the news more than once and most of us have had it hit us directly with someone in the corporate world losing one or more laptops with critical customer data on it. The cost the hardware is only about $4000, the information carried upon it was could be worth millions..
Of course, to get to valuable proprietary information is not the reason for all laptop thefts some laptop thieves head try to quickly sell the laptop as-is. However, some data indicate that about 10 percent to 15 percent of those laptops are stolen by criminals intent on selling the data.
How to Protect Your Laptop:
With this in mind, what can we do as individuals to prevent our own personal loss?
Laptop Security Cables:
This is one of the lowest cost and one of the most effective deterrents to theft. As with most theft attempts, even a small amount of effort can make a huge difference. For this to work you need to make sure that your laptop is equipped with the appropriate feature to attach a cable. This is called a Universal Security Slot.
It is important to pay attention to what you are attaching the laptop and cable to. You sometimes have to think like a thief. If you really wanted to get that laptop could you? If you answer is yes, then you need to add more security. Consider looping the cable through a hole drilled in the lag of the desk. If you just loop it around the leg than all it takes is some one strong enough to lift the desk enough to slip the cable under the leg and whoosh! your laptop is gone…
Keep Your Laptop Out of Sight:
If you are not with your laptop then it should be secured in a locked drawer or in the possession of someone you trust (for the short trip to the restroom for example). Especially if you are in a public place like an airport, bookstore, or your favorite coffee shop. Never leave your bag alone.
Some laptop cases scream “I have a laptop in here!”
Try to use a carrying case for your laptop that may be a bit beat up or at least not look like it obviously contains a laptop. This may be difficult to do but can be a real effective way to have a thief move on to the next victim without bothering your precious laptop inside your ugly bag.
How to Protect Your Data:
I’m sure you’ve had moments when you couldn’t locate a file that you knew you had stored on your laptop. The feeling of panic can be terrible until you find it. Imagine your hard drive failing (it happens!). You would lose all your important files – pictures, videos, everything.
Therefore, first and most important is external storage. External storage can be something as simple as a USB Flash Drive also known as a thumb drive (about the size of your thumb….) or a large external drive (about the size of an average hardcover book)
The type of external storage you select will depend on your needs. If you just keep basic files (i.e. “Word” documents or spreadsheets, etc) then a thumb drive could be enough (and they are very inexpensive) and can store up to 32 Gigabytes of data or if you are willing to pay a bit more they are larger storage capabilities available. If you plan on storing large files such as lots of photos and videos then you may need to step up in capacity with an external hard drive. They store up to 2 “Terabytes” (2000 Megabytes) of data.
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Mac Versus PC
When choosing what kind of computer to get next, will it be a Mac or a PC? This seems to be the question on most people’s minds. Although, for some this issue is a no brainer. For example, my mother has used Apple computers ever since computers became the thing to have at home. Over the years she has changed and upgraded her computer and has never had any issues with her Mac. On the other hand, my father used to share the Apple computer with my mom until he had to buy me my first computer for college. When he did this, he bought me a Gateway computer, which is a PC. Because he liked the way the PC functioned from a business perspective, he wound up buying himself a laptop that was a PC.
One thing to keep in mind is that for a long time, it has been known to many that Apple computers are geared towards those who are more “creatively” inclined while people who own PCs tend to be more business oriented (I.e. school, work, etc.). Whether this is true or not, I can’t say for sure, but one thing is for certain; my mother used her Apple computer primarily for a business that she had started which was a desktop publishing business that required her to come up with all sorts of creative ideas for invitations, diplomas, and books, etc. On the other hand, my dad was a business man, working for Avis at the time and preferred something that was more “down to business” without all of the frills or applications needed for more creative endeavors.
If and when the opportunity arises, I would like to get an Apple laptop. There is something in the way that the two types of computers, Apple versus PC are marketed that make one more visually appealing to a certain type of person over another. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is something that is definitely more appealing to me whenever I look at the Mac laptops versus a regular PC. From the way things are displayed to the picture quality and, yes, the applications it has a totally different appeal than a PC laptop.
When you are trying to decide on which computer is best for you, however, don’t make the mistake of buying something simply based on how it looks. Rather, you need to take everything into account. Questions that you should be asking the sales person should include topics such as overall performance, battery life, sound quality, picture resolution, additional equipment that would need to be purchased and susceptibility to viruses for starters. Also, with technology changing and advancing as quickly as it has, you may want to reconsider spending a ton of money on a computer that you may wind up trading in soon before you know it. Personally, I have had my desktop computer now for the last five or so years. It was struck by lighting once, which caused me to have to replace the CPU, and now it doesn’t function as well (if at all, depending on the day) which is making me think about other computers. However, if you work for a company that allows you to have a computer to take home (like I do), then you may not need to think about Macs versus PCs at all!
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Computer Viruses and Trojans - What Are They and What Do They Do?
A virus is known to many as an agent that causes different diseases. They have many modes of infecting all of the members of the animal kingdom. Although there are different types of viruses, they have one commonality; they are all harmful. Nowadays, the term virus has taken a different turn when it comes to the meaning. Now, it is more commonly associated with anything that brings a computer to its demise or to something close to that.
Computer virus has to be the most popular phrase when the thought of internet comes to the minds of most people. The reason is that they remember the destruction it brings. Computers have changed the way all people live. It has become important in all aspects of living may it be politics, religion or business. Just when we thought it could not get better, the Internet came along. Among all of the benefits of the internet, the one that people are most happy about is how it made communication much easier. In the old days, the only connection you have to your loved ones in other countries is through mail or telephone. Now, there are more efficient and faster ways of communicating. You can send an e-mail or a private message which will only take a few seconds and your message will be received immediately.
This advancement took a tragic turn when someone smart enough decided to make a computer virus. A computer virus, sticking to the true meaning of the word virus, is something that infects a computer, jams its programs and causes many problems to the user. It can bring any time of destruction from a small computer glitch to making your whole computer system crash.
Sadly, there are many ways that a virus is transferred from one computer to another. Storage devices such as USB can be a medium to transfer a virus. If two or more computers are connected via a network connection, a virus can be transferred. The most devastating news is that not only can it be transferred offline; it can be transferred online too. The internet became the most notorious aspect of the computer when it comes to getting it infected.
This is why the whole world, or the people who uses computers, rejoiced at the birth of antiviruses. These are the programs that are designed to track down and get rid of computer viruses from its system. Now, there are many ways on how to protect your computer using antiviruses. Although there are many antivirus programs out in the market today, they have one common factor: they prioritize prevention. They gave importance of detecting a virus that is threatening to invade a computer so that they can block it before it can cause any harm. Now, antiviruses are also wise enough to detect viruses that are already in the computer before they were installed and delete or clean it.
Aside from antiviruses, the users can also follow guidelines to prevent their computer from getting infected such as don't access sites that are about pornography since most viruses are found here.
Author Resource:-> Computer Juice offers a community of like minded individuals so you can get help for your computer problems. Visit us at - AVG 7.5 or AVG7.5.
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Choosing the Best External Hard Drive Setup
Backing up the information on your computer's hard drive on a regular basis is one of the most crucial tasks that you can perform and should be at the top of your list of daily things to do. Though external hard drives have been available for a while, it is only recently that they have become extremely popular, compact, and ultra affordable. However, selecting the best external hard drive for backing up your files can be a little confusing especially if you are not really comfortable with technology.
Sure, you could use either DVDs or CDs to back up your files, but eventually all those discs add up. Add in the fact that backing up data using discs is time consuming and discs are easily damaged, and external hard drives become a much more appealing option. Plus, discs take up excess space and can be misplaced. Choosing the best external hard drive for your needs will depend on a few things, though.
One of the first things that you will need to consider when selecting the best external hard drive for backing up your files is the type and size of files you are saving. Some types of external drives are more portable than others, so the best external hard drive for your needs will depend on the types and amounts of files you need to store. For example, if you have tons of graphics, photos, videos, etc., you will obviously choose a drive that is less portable.
If you like being able to carry your files with you, then the best external hard drive for you may be something like a flash drive. Flash drives are great if you need to have your files handy and you do not want to carry around a larger external drive. They fit easily on your keychain or in your purse and come in different sizes from about 128 MB to up to 4 GB, so you can fit a great many files on the drive.
If you backing up all the files on your computer's drive, then the best external hard drive for you is going to be something a little larger. You can purchase an external hard drive with tons of storage - up to a terabyte - that is approximately the size of a paperback book. So while these drives are also theoretically portable, they are considerably larger than flash drives.
One of the best things about the new generation of external hard drives is that you can pack so much more information in a smaller space, making them ultra portable. They do not even need to be plugged into an outlet and can be powered via the USB ports on your computer.
Choosing the best external hard drive is largely a matter of doing your research. If you look in the circulars in the newspaper each week, there are numerous hard drives on sale and the prices are steadily decreasing. In the end, selecting the best external hard drive will be a matter of choosing the drive with the features that work best for your storage needs.
Author Resource:-> Computer Juice offers a community of like minded individuals so you can get help for your computer problems. Visit us at - External Hard Drive or Best Hard Drive.
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