Restored Computer Hardware

Hardware is an aspect of your computer that doesn’t require the need to be changed that often, unlike software. So if your hardware shouldn’t need to be changed that often you want to make sure that when you purchase it you are buying a piece of hardware that will last.

A lot of people overlook the need and responsibility of PC hardware and instead concentrate primarily on software. Without the correct hardware your PC will fail to function correctly.

The term hardware can be fixed to many aspects of your computer, with the main aspect being your motherboard. The motherboard is classed as the heart of your computer; its main purpose is to provide electrical and logical connections. Without a motherboard your computer will not be able to function. Components such as external storage, controllers for video display and sound are attached to the motherboard via edge connectors and cables.

The central processing unit (CPU) is also found on the motherboard and acts as another important piece of computer hardware. The CPU performs most of the calculations which enables a computer to function. The CPU and the motherboard are found within the tower of your computer as is the computer fan, needed to keep your computer at a safe temperature and your power supply, which is obviously needed to ensure your computer has power to function. Along with all of these you will also find your computers sound card and graphics card within your computer tower. Your graphics card, also known as a video display controller, is important to your computer as it is what enables you to get a good resolution and without one you would not be able to watch videos, play games or even clearly see flash images on websites.

One last hardware feature of importance that is kept within your computer tower is the computers hard drive. The hard drive is the storage area of your computer system. All your programmes and applications as well as images, music, video and all forms of media that is on your computer are stored within your computers hard drive.

All of the previously mentioned hardware is stored in the tower of your computer but there are aspects of computer hardware that are visible on your computer such as removable media in the form of a CD drive, DVD drive, floppy disc and USB ports.

When it comes to buying these pieces of computer hardware most people head straight to the biggest brand store and pay over expensive prices for hardware that you could have got a lot cheaper from another avenue. If you are looking to buy computer hardware there are a number of options open to you rather than just buying new. For example there are computer fairs that are held, which sell all forms of computer hardware at very reasonable prices; if you know what you are looking for you will be able to find a great deal at a computer fair. However if you would prefer buying from a retailer have you considered buying used hardware? Please don’t be put off by the term used what is meant by this is you would be buying new hardware that has been returned by customers and restored by the retailer. Dell is a prime example of a store that frequently sells hardware that has been returned and has been repaired to new standards.

All of the equipment is new and only has minor issues such as a slight dent. Retailers such as Dell sell restored equipment within their store and also do so over the Internet on sites such as eBay. All of this equipment comes at a discounted price with around 10-40% being taken off the original price depending on the level of interest. So next time you require to purchase computer equipment, shop around instead of just settling for a high price.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-carolyn-clayton-1268.html

Speed up the computer performance with the regcure

All the computer systems work in a good condition when they get the regular maintenance by the expert. While installing and uninstalling the software, drivers and hardware in the computer, these usually leave the remnants in the registries of the computer. This can cause the tangling of unused software, broken drivers and the incomplete command signals. All these things can lead to slow down the speed of the computer and sometimes if these minor problems do not handle properly then it may lead to the big problems, including the not responding of the important programs, system crashes and the computer freezing. All these problems can be solved by various methods, including fixing manually and using the registry cleaners, such as regcure.

One of the safest and easiest options is the registry cleaners, including regcure. This cleaner provides you with a free scan that helps you see all the corrupt files that are responsible for destroying the working and speed of your computer. You should use these registry cleaners as this is one of the latest and best technologies. RegCure registry cleaner is designed to provide the most upgraded maintenance and prevention tool to the computer users. This program offers the wide range of feature available in the market along with free customer services. Regcure download is also very easy and after downloading you can also come across with the various regcure review.

Once in a while all the computer users definitely face the problems of slowing down the performance of the computer and computer crashes. When someone buys the new computer, at that time it works like a race horse and user find it really exciting using the new computer. But over time, registry of the computer is cluttered and overloaded with the numerous applications and the file. The registry of the computer is considered to be the hub and it is also one of the important parts of the main operating system. This includes the storage of all the important information of the vital files which help to run the computer properly. If some of these files become corrupt then this can cause the slow down of the computer.

RegCure is using the best technology which helps to examine the complete registry of the missing, corrupt and the obsolete entries. This registry cleaner is compatible to almost all the third party files and Microsoft products. RegCure helps to find out all the remnants which leave on the registry due to the fail installations, un-installations, spyware applications and disabled drivers.

Benefits and features of this program:

· This helps in the Automatic Removal

· It also shows the complete scan progress

· It also modifies the invalid Files

· It also finds out the Invalid Interface Entries

· It also determines the Invalid Shared programs called DLL’s

· It offers the free customer services

If you also want to download the regcure registry cleaner then start using the regcure download available at www.regsoftreview.com. Through this site, you can get the complete information related to the prices. Here you can also find the regcure review given by its users.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/operating-systems-articles/speed-up-the-computer-performance-with-the-regcure-891866.html

Upgrading the Graphics Card

A graphics card is one of computer hard drive that arranges the videos and pictures that show up in your computer. So, the picture quality of your movies you watched or games you played are determined by your graphics card. The graphics card or often also called video card is placed and attached inside the motherboard. It has to be placed fit and securely in the motherboard. It is very important because your graphics is determined by video card.

You have to know that there many kinds of graphics or video card. You have to choose the best one to fix to your need. When you want to upgrade your graphics card, it is just a simple, because it is only about the matter of the slot. There are two slots; PCI or AGP, you can choose one of them for your graphics card. What slot you are going to choose is depended on your computer. AGP is a better one because it has a better technology, it transfer the data much faster than the PCI one. But it is different if your computer is under 2000 producing year, most of such kinds do not have AGP slot or maybe it will not be faster. AGP also has many different speeds; 1x, 2x and many more.

It is important for you to choose the best slot for your graphics card; which the best one AGP or PCI. Every computer certainly has PCI slot for the graphics card, so it is free for PCI graphics card to use in any computer. But if you need the faster graphics card, you should use the AGP one and be sure that your computer has the suitable slot. You can understand about it by asking to the costumer service of the computer manufacture via phone or email, reading the guideline book of your computer, or you can open your CPU to see the brown slot on the motherboard. The brown slot usually stands for the AGP graphics card and for the PCI graphics card; it is usually colored in white. But there are some computers make it different. The other thing you must remember is the AGP slot is smaller than the PCI’s. So you can see the differences without any hesitate of being fault.

There are still many people who can use a computer but they do not understand about what there inside. For you who do not know much, I tell you that there are two things about graphics card that should be known. First to know is the memory size. It is important to know how large the memories of graphics card RAM. The large memory is good to have, but it is better if it is suitable with our needs, what we are going to do with such memory, so that it will not be wasting much money. Second to know is how great the capability of the graphics card, because there are many unimportant technical terms such as floating points, pixels, etc. All the needs to see is the DirectX capabilities if you are a windows user. DirectX is the software that is usually used to process the information of the graphics; it means that you have to have a graphics card that used the newest DirectX version. You can know the most up to date version of DirectX by surfing in Microsoft website.

If you have made sure all of your tools and parts of your computer is fixed, you can just install the upgrading of your graphics card. It is just a simple thing to do. You just need to shut down your computer and make sure that every part has not been run. Then open up the case of you CPU and take the cover off, so can see the inside of the CPU. If there is still a useless slot, you can take it off and save it, it can be used next time you need it. This is a simple but all you have to concern is the careful. Make sure that you will not make some damages. Be careful when you remove the old graphics card.

Then, you can start to get your new graphics card out from the box and remove it from the cover. Move it in to the PCI or AGP slot on the motherboard. Push the new graphics card in its both sides so that it will totally fit to the slot. And then use a screwdriver to screw the graphics card into the slot holder so that it can not move to any where. Next, connect all of cable that have to be connected to the card such as a power supply connector, audio cable and many more. You have to make sure that everything is connected in the right place. You can read the manual of the card to avoid the connection fault.

When you have finished the card installation, you must put on your computer case back, plug everything back as before, and you have well done all of it. Try to start up your computer and your desktop need to be installed the card driver. You can install the driver from the CD or Floppy disk that you got from the graphics card. But if you desktop do not need the driver it means that it only needs the generic driver of the Windows. Now you have understood about the graphics card and how to install and upgrade it. You will need the knowledge sometimes. Do not be lazy in knowing and studying something because where ever you will go it will give advantages for you.

Article resource : http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/upgrading-the-graphics-card-846131.html

Laptop Computer Cooling Pads For All

Do you have a laptop computer? Where do you use it the most? On your lap, in the car, while traveling, in bed, while watching television - actually anywhere since you can take it and go.

I find that I use my laptop computer the most on my lap, in bed or in my favorite chair. After all that is why they call it a laptop right? Do you notice when you use the laptop either for gaming (which can lead into hours) or just for writing articles (which could lead to long hours too) that the laptop starts to get your legs very hot? Have you ever placed your laptop on the bed - I mean just for awhile? Then you remember where it is and try to pick it up and it is really hot? My son called me the other day and his laptop got accidently turned on in his backpack - he failed to notice for three hours. He said it was so hot he could barely touch it. What can you do to prevent your laptop from getting so hot?

There are three top choices out there you can look at. They are the Belkin Laptop Cooling Pad, Belkin Ac Adapter or the Vantec Lapcool. All three are worth the money, but all have their little quirks, so keep reading to find the one that best fits your needs.

Belkin Laptop Cooling Pad cools your computer very nicely. You can purchase one ranging from $19.95 - $29.95. They have a one year warranty, gentle slope to prevent wrist strain or to help those who have carpel tunnel syndrome, raises the screen to help reduce neck strain, fits into your laptop bag, also contains a convenient compartment for USB cables and grip pads to prevent your laptop from slipping out of your lap.
If you are going to type on a table top, the cooling pad has a built in stand that folds out to allow the air to circulate. There are no big bulky adapters to deal with, just a small USB cord that plugs into your laptop. With all of these features, I found it hard to believe that it was so cheap.
Belkin has another product called the Belkin Ac Adapter Stand. This is also a very good product from Belkin, although it is not as good as the Belkin Cooling stand. When you place this stand on the table, you must reach back and flip up a plate in the rear portion of the stand. If you are not careful and just blindly reach back to flip the plate, you can risk touching the fan. Now this is not too bad, you will not cry, but it is an irritating design flaw.

Vantec Lapcool is another great laptop cooler. It comes with a 12 month parts and labor warranty. The greatest feature was a variable fan speed which the other two did not. It also has four extra USB ports, which if you have an older or cheaper laptop, you might just have one USB port. This comes in handy if you have flash drives and other extras that take a USB port. It also has an eight in one memory card reader. Now this almost makes this product a must buy.
How many people have a digital camera? I do and I found out that my computer did not support the memory card that came with the camera. So, I had to constantly plug the camera into the USB port to download my pictures or videos. This was just a hassle and almost mad the digital camera not worth the effort. But with the eight in one memory card reader, my camera's memory card fits in and I can download the pictures in a flash. It does cost a little bit more (around $47), but if you are having a problem with memory cards this may just be worth the money.

Another laptop cooling solution is the Vizo Xena Mini Laptop Cooler. This is a miniature cooler that can fit into the laptop's cabinet and is easy to carry around. It does not require an external power connection - it comes with a USB connection and draws its power directly from the USB port. And finally, another great feature is that it has adjustable feet so that you can control the angle of the cool air flow in the cabinet.
In the long run, getting a laptop cooling pad just makes sense. Your laptop keeps cooler so while you are working it is not heating you up and it prolongs the life of your computer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Here's A Quick And Easy Way To Solve Computer Problems

Computer system is prevalent everywhere and in every aspect of life. Today, every small and big scale industries have taken up to computer systems to manage, organize and flourish their work, with speed, reliability and consistency. Although we depend on computer systems to a large extent for solving our problems, still we do not pay much attention about the problems related to the computers. A computer problem, unless encountered by a user, he /she do not realize what effects it could have on their lives. Dealing with computer problems could be both time consuming and expensive, if not the mental agony of the user.

Various reasons can lead to a problem in computer systems. Computer problems can take place due to the faulty handling by the user or by some other unmanageable factors or a combination of the both. The malicious programs, more commonly known as viruses, spy-wares or malwares, which hinders the normal functioning of a computer, mainly gets into the system, through the internet or file sharing between different nodes. The other factors like heat or magnetism, static electricity shocks or power fluctuations, extreme accretion of dirt on the hardware or knocking or dropping the hard drive casing, incorrect or crashed software or an improper computer handling reasons to several computer problems.

When a PC system is encountered with a computer problem, its normal working is affected and its performance is compromised. The computer making quiet grumbling noises, the operating system taking too long to startup or shutdown, menus popping out, computer showing no signs of power at all, applications not working properly, frequent hanging of the system are some of the symptoms that signifies that the PC system is facing some computer problem. Computer problem could be either because of a fault with the hardware or a fault with the software.

There are some steps that can make sure that the computer system functions free of any error by fixing computer problems. The subsequent tips are a fundamental guideline that can be used to keep the PC maintained to run efficiently, increase component lifespan and also help in reducing the overall likelihood of PC problems. The number one reason for computer crashes is hardware conflict. Each hardware device communicates to other devices through an interrupt request channel (IRQ).

A user should keep back up of all essential data. It is one of most crucial steps. It prevents the data from getting lost or corrupted, when the computer is in state of malfunctioning. These data can be later restored after fixing computer problems. A user should have an antivirus installed in the computer, which can fix computer problems like malicious threats and bugs. It is recommended that the installed antivirus should be updated. The registered software is usually less crashed, and a user should always use registered software, in order to run the computer smoothly. The various hardware components like Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, etc. should be kept clean. One should always keep the computer away from any magnetic fields. Thus when the computer is running out of problems one should get it fixed as quick as possible.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/heres-a-quick-and-easy-way-to-solve-computer-problems-850464.html

Best Ways To Maintain Your Computer

It can be very boring to work with a computer that runs very slowly, and more so, freezes every now and then. You can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly by just following simple guidelines. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Vista to more efficiently maintain your computer and safeguard your privacy when you're online.

Free up disk space
By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

Use Disk Cleanup to:

• Remove temporary Internet files.
• Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
• Empty the Recycle Bin.
• Remove Windows temporary files.
• Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.
• Remove installed programs that you no longer use

Run Windows Update Weekly
So, what's so important about running Windows Update? Well, it's pretty simple really. There are numerous security holes and bugs in Windows, for that reason, it's important to make sure that you have all of the latest updates and patches installed on your computer.

Updates fall into 3 major categories: High Priority, Suggested and Drivers. At a minimum you must install the High Priority updates. I can't stress this enough. If Windows Update tells you that you should install a High Priority update - install it! If you're on dial-up and the file is large, you can either order a CD or have Microsoft mail it to you, or you can leave your computer online all night to download it then. Which ever the case is, make sure that you install it.

Suggested updates are just that and those are not as important. Feel free to install them if you wish, but don't feel that you have to. That being said, you should know that if you do install a suggested update, you need to make sure that you visit Windows Update again because there may be an High Priority update for the Suggested one that you just installed. As for the Drivers section, I usually recommend that you steer clear of this one unless you're currently having difficulties with the device the driver is for. I've run into too many cases where Windows Update says that there is a new driver for my sound card. After I install it, my sound card no longer works. Not a huge deal to fix, but a PITA for sure, so unless YOU know that you need the update, I wouldn't install it.

After you have applied any update, always go back to Windows Update to make sure that there isn't another patch that you need to download. I know it sounds silly, but it's true, often times there are patches for patches, so keep returning to Windows Update until it tells you that you have no High Priority updates left to install.

If you are on a broadband Internet connection (DSL, Cable, etc), then I recommend that you turn on "Automatic Updates" to download and install automatically. This way you're always up-to-date. If you choose not to do this, then I recommend that you check Windows Update at least once-per-week at a minimum.

Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals-monthly is optimal-there are other times you should run it too, such as when:

• You add a large number of files.
• Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
• You install new programs or a new version of Windows

Detect and repair disk errors

In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

Install Anti-Virus And Update Daily
When was the last time you updated your Anti-Virus software? Can't remember? Then chances are you are out of date. Most anti-virus software companies are now charging an annual fee to keep your virus definitions current. If you haven't paid for an update in the past year, then your anti-virus doesn't have an up-to-date list of what nasties to protect you from.

This is especially true if you haven't done anything since you purchased your computer. Most computer companies give you a 30 - 90 day version of the anti-virus software that comes pre-installed on your machine. They expect you to purchase a full version somewhere down the road. If you haven't, then rest assured you're vulnerable. Personally, I think it's hogwash that a company wouldn't give you a full version of the software. I know it's in an effort to cut down on costs, but by providing only 60-90 days of protection, it gives the consumer a false sense of security. "But anti-virus software came with my computer." I often hear from clients when I tell them that they have to purchase a new version of the software. It's just not right, 'nuff said.
So what do you do? You have three options:

A) You can either purchase an update through the software that is currently installed.
B) You can uninstall the old virus software and purchase a new version from the company of your choice.
C) You can uninstall the old virus software and install a free Anti Virus product such as AVG Anti Virus.

Most people are going to go for the free software and I don't blame you. It's what I use for my personal computer and I've been using it for over a year and really like it. Regardless of what option you choose, make sure you set it to update automatically and to run a full virus scan once a week. Most do this by default, but double-check just to make sure.

Protect your computer against Spyware
Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, Spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, Spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat Spyware, you might want to consider using Microsoft Windows Defender, which is included in Windows Vista, and is available as a free download for Microsoft XP SP2. Alternatively, there are other free anti-Spyware software programs available.

Article source : http://www.1888articles.com/best-ways-to-maintain-your-computer-0v7o5q427w.html

How to Clean a Laptop Properly

This is very important make sure that the cleaning solution does not contain any Ammonia as this may damage your screen and laptop. So be sure to check the ingredients if you are using any household product like a glass cleaner. You will find most Computer shops stock specialized cleaners. Most of these cleaners are made up of approximately 50% distilled water and 50% rubbing alcohol or isopropyl so you could make the solution up yourself.

Before starting any cleaning ensure it is turned off and unplugged for obvious reasons. If the laptop has excessive dust/dirt then give it a quick blast with the compressed air, do not shake the can of compressed air. Use you small brush or cotton bud to clean the larger particles between the keys. Just to dislodge them and then use the compressed air once again. Next use a damp cloth for the surface dirt on the keys and panel. Any ports or buttons maybe cleaned using the brush or cotton buds then use the compressed air to remove the remaining dirt. If you would like to clean the fan on your laptop, some fans cannot be seen, use the cotton bud to hold the fan steady as you clean and use the compressed air. The reason for this is because the power of the air may make the fan spin faster than it was designed to, it could cause permanent damage. If your laptop has a floppy drive, CD ROM/DVD ROM drive or card port then open then up and use the compressed air to clean them out. Be careful not to touch the lens within the CD/DVD as this could damage it. When cleaning the screen apply the cleaning fluid to the cloth and not directly on to the screen itself. Use slow smooth continuous motion to avoid leaving streaks. Use as much of your hand as you can while cleaning the screen as small pointed objects even your fingers can damage it. The case is cleaned the same as the screen and when completed you will have a laptop that looks as good as new.

If you are experiencing problems reading from your CD's or DVD's then you should purchase a CD/DVD cleaning disk. These can be obtained from most Electrical and Computer stores.

I have heard of people using a plastic card like a credit card wrapped in a cloth to clean between the keys.

Caution

Do not use any solutions that contain Ammonia as it could damage the laptop.

Do not shake the can of compressed air. The can has liquid within it and this will create a vapor that is not good for your laptop. So keep the can upright when spraying. Make short bursts (1 second) in the area you wish to clean. Do this 2 or 3 times and rest the can for at least 20 seconds to allow the liquid to settle and then repeat if necessary.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/laptops-articles/how-to-clean-a-laptop-properly-844918.html

Top Tips for Buying the Right Laptop Computer

Laptop computers have increased in popularity over the last ten years and it is now very common for at least one member of a household (if not all) to own one. The models have evolved massively in terms of their power capabilities, extra features and security levels and the range of models on the market today is huge.

If you plan to invest in a model for the first time then there are a number of aspects to consider before you make your purchase. Everyone will have their own priorities and specific requirements when it comes to choosing the right model but there are a number of basic issues that you should address before starting your search. Check out the top tips below to help you decide on your new computer.

• Try out the keyboard to make sure it fits your fingers - miniature keyboards are fine if you only rarely press a button or if you have small fingers. If you must have a small keyboard and still want to type comfortably, consider fewer keys (which have multiple functions) rather than lots of small keys.
• If you intend to travel a lot with your laptop then make sure that it is sturdy enough to stand up to constant movement. Avoid flimsy hinges and catches which might break off in transit or if accidentally knocked. Also, if you intend to work a lot whilst traveling on the train for example then make sure that the pointing device can cope with vibration. Palm rests in front of the keyboard can help provide a stable base to minimize vibrations.
• Decide how much weight you can physically cope with carrying around. Most notebooks are reasonably light but most require power leads and external mains transformers which can add weight. You may also need to carry business papers and other equipment with you so make sure that the combined weight is comfortable enough to carry on a daily basis and not damage your back or shoulders. Laptop computers often come with a bag so it may be best to opt for the rucksack variety as the two straps are far better for spreading the weight.
• When it comes to choosing the machine specification, go for one which is only slightly more powerful than you think you need now. When you are considering processor speed, memory and hard disk capacity the same rule applies, go for the model that does what you need it to do for you now. Specifications change so fast that yesterday's top of the range computer quickly becomes tomorrow's entry-level machine. If your laptop does what you want, at a price you can afford then forget about how much better you could have done if you had put off buying it until tomorrow, there will always be newer models.

Laptop computers are PCs designed to be used on the move so you need to make sure that the model you go for is as robust in form as it is in function.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/top-tips-for-buying-the-right-laptop-computer-888086.html

How to Fix Slow Computers

Every last bit of has its flaws and the computer is no exemption, there are troubles that everyone will come across. The pace of the computer decelerates. From easy tasks like typing or browsing the net, the work becomes a drudge. Minutes seems to drag on as the program loads up. Hints are here to help you restore that slow computer:

Ending all application programs and rebooting your computer is the greatest and smoothest way to fix a slow computer. More often than not, this is one of the main causes of the trouble, people would run their programs or applications almost all day and that usually tend to be the main reason.

Check Over if you have any newly installed applications in your computer. The hard drive and the computer memory might be the key to finding out the main problem, if these new applications are occluding up the memory then common sense would tell that this is the trouble. Take note that these files are too big for the memory or the hard drive to manage. Take Out these files from the memory or from its folders to lighten up the pace of your computer. Observe the speed of your computer after you've done erasing the software and rebooting your computer.

Scanners, printers, and the like that are physically wired to the computer could be one of those reasons. The standard way to check out if this is the cause is to remove the hardware off the computer and reboot the system.

A virus infection is one of the leading reasons of this problem. These viruses including pop-ups are illegitimate programs that suck the life out of the computer rendering it to almost into nada. A virus scan and a pop-up blocker would be the better medicine for this problem.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alberto_Maeses

How to Get the Maximum Speed of Your PC Or Laptop

A PC or a laptop may take ages to respond to any command you feed into it. This is called performance. Your PC or laptop may take too long to load the information you need urgently. Sometimes it will crush when performing light tasks. You might have realized that the speed of your PC or lap top keeps on going down. Unlike when it was new when its speed was fastest, now it seems to work in slow motion. This is annoying and probably you are asking yourself what the problem is. Well look no further, the problem is with the registry.

Registry refers to the database where all the information pertaining to the PC or laptop is stored. Whenever new installations are made to the PC or laptop, a new key comes along. This key is added to the many other keys in the registry. The PC or laptop will require this key so that it can load, recognize and run the new software that you have installed. Therefore, every time the PC or laptop is started the registry settings have to be loaded for all the programs that is has. Registry issues come in here. Due to the many installations made which are uninstalled now and then, the settings in the PC registry are altered. This brings about a reduction in the speed of your PC or laptop. You need the best registry cleaner to clean it up.

The best registry cleaner will remove any registry keys that have been left because of any program that is uninstalled. Consequently, these keys accumulate to form clutter. This clutter is not valid. It is corrupted and cannot be recognized by the registry. There is in existence the best registry cleaner software in the market today. For you to increase the speed of your PC or laptop is advisable to consider them. The best among the software is called registry easy. It is known to do a good job for your PC or laptop.

The problems with the PC or laptop are spread all over the computer system. First there is need to identify these locations. Registry easy comes with a free scanner that scans for these invalid entries. The scanner will identify the exact location of the entries and the danger they may cause your PC. This award-winning cleaner has an algorithm. The algorithm has a detector of high performance. It will detect the invalid entries quickly and the errors that may exist in your PC. All the errors and invalid entries are presented in the form of a list. From here, you can choose or select the lists that you want to clean up. Registry easy the best registry will automatically do the clean up. Your PC does not have to be a bother anymore. Again, you do not have to buy a new PC or laptop. Use registry easy the best registry cleaner and regain the speed that you require.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cribat_Sam

Causes Of Data Loss And Storage Devices Damage

There are a lot of storage devices used to store data but the most common used ones are the CDs, DVDs, memory cards, memory sticks and undoubtedly the hard drives. All these storage devices have on major flaw in common, they are not infallible and this means that the data stored on them can be lost or damaged through a number of unforeseen failures.

Fortunately, there are companies that employ data recovery specialists that can recover your data by using special techniques, software and tools. Data recovery can sometimes be performed by the user of the damaged device by using software but there is a high risk of failure that can result in permanently erased data or damaged storage devices.

There are a number of conditions that can cause a storage device failure and they include heat, water, impacts and power interruptions. Other causes can be viruses.

Heat damage will usually be caused by fire but in the case of electronic devices and storage media, overheated equipment is the cause in most cases. For instance, in room with an ambient temperature that is too high, the air cushion thickness will be reduced by the air pressure. The hard drive heads might touch the recording plate and data will be damaged or lost.

In the case of hard drives, this kind of damage can also be caused by physical shocks or high vibration levels.

Most drives, but not all, have a seal that goes around the sides of the drive. If the seal is broken, the drive if prone to environmental contamination. The air is not very clean and with a damaged seal, particles from the air can grind the recording plate generating corruption or lost data.

If a hard drive is wet, water damage can occur even if it is turned off. Water is corrosive and will damage the metals found inside the hard drive generating microscopic pitting.

Data recovery specialists have both the required skills and the resources to perform a successful data recovery operation. This ensures a good chance that if you experience any data loss you can recover the data, be it sentimental data or business related information.

The best advice is to keep a backup of the data that is important to you, this way you can avoid the expense of data recovery. If a backup is not available, expert services provided by data recovery specialists is a must.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-dalvin-5016.html

Identifying How Much Memory You Need on Your New Computer

If you've already been shopping for a new computer, you've probably noticed the great difference in prices among the latest models. Often, this price difference is directly proportional to the amount of memory the computer has. This makes sense too. The more memory you have on a computer, the more you will be able to do with the programs and other processes. But what you may also have noticed is a great range of possibilities in terms of memory storage. This can lead to the great computer question of the day - just how much memory is enough for you?

What are You Using Your Computer For Now?

Memory on a computer can be compared to the space that you have in your home. If you have more space, you can put more things in your home. The same can be said for your computer's memory. The more memory you have, the more programs you can run and store on your hard drive. But if you don't have to use a lot of programs on your computer, you probably don't need to have a lot of memory.

Right now, write down all of the things you use your computer for right now: email, word processing, etc. This will give you a sense of the memory you actually need from the computer you choose. Be realistic about the uses for your current computer so that this assessment can be accurate for your computer shopping comparison.

What Do You Plan to Use it For Later?

Of course, you might also be getting a new computer because you have big plans for that hard drive. In that case, try to figure out just what programs and processes you will wan to run in the future. Think big for this question because you are gathering the information you need to determine exactly how much memory you will need for your computer.

Again, make a list of the programs you will want to use on your new computer, in addition to any programs that you might buy separately, like games and office productivity software. If you can, try to make a list of these programs along with their requirements for memory usage on your hard drive. These numbers will be found on the back of the software packaging.

How Much Memory does Your Current Computer Have?

A good standard of measurement for the amount of memory you need on your computer is your current computer. Think for a minute about how well your computer is running right now. If you don't have any troubles running the programs you need, you might already have found the right computer memory measurement for your new computer.

However, what you might also want to realize is that this number from your current computer includes old software programs that you might have to upgrade on your new computer. For example, the overall platform of many new computers is a new operating system, which takes up far more space than older versions of the same software. This is simply something to keep in mind as you are calculating your future needs.

How Much Memory Do You Need?

If you have to have a number for the memory you need on your new computer, there are several ways to calculate this. The good news is that many computer retailers will have lists or quizzes that will guide you to the proper number for your needs. But in the absence of that, here are some simple guidelines:

1GB is standard for basic operating systems dating before 2007 and for using basic programs like email and word processing.
2GB is recommended for newer operating systems as well as for running MP3 programs and photo storage.
2GB+ is recommended if you are running graphical programs or multiple operating systems

These are fairly accurate recommendations, though you might want to consider one other possible way to make sure you have what you need.

Keeping Your Options Open

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on memory right now, there are ways that you can add more memory in the future. Simply ask the computer dealer how many open memory slots there are in the computer you want to buy. If you have room to upgrade your computer by 1GB, that's usually plenty of extra room for the home user.

You can also check this by looking at the memory storage for the sold model as well as right clicking the My Computer icon to see the system information. If you see a number that is higher than your memory storage, that means you can increase the memory to that number.

Memory is the key to running programs without any problems, but it's not the only thing to look at when you are shopping around. However, it is certainly going to make things easier for you in the long run.

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-grant-eckert-6677.html

PC Maintenance and Improving Performance

Once you bring your personal computer home from the store or receive it in the mail there is no one around to offer basic personal computer maintenance tips for cleaning up and improving performance of your computer. Maintenance and cleaning up of your PC should be part of a regular routine to ensure that you don't have any long-term problems with the computer. Unfortunately most basic computer users may not understand the mechanics of a computer or may feel intimidated with the maintenance. There are really simple steps anyone can take to ensure that your computer will continue working at the level it did when you first pulled it out of the box.

One of the first files to become acquainted with on your computer is the System Tools, located under the Start Menu, then Programs, and Accessories. The System Tools houses basic maintenance tools like Disk Defragmenter, Disk Cleanup, Backup, Scheduled Tasks, and System Information and ScanDisk on some Microsoft Windows computers. Strange that these files are located in Accessories because they really are the key to keeping your system running correctly and helping to improve performance as the computer ages.

On a regular basis you want to go to My Computer and then right click on the Local Disk (C Drive) and open up the Properties. This allows you to see how much space you are using and how much you have left to use on your computer. Under Tools in this area you can usually perform a scan of the disk. If you cannot run a disk scan from here, your Microsoft should have a disk scan available under the System Tools. It is important to run this disk scan to determine if there are any errors or problems running on your computer and the disk scan will repair those potential problems. Some experts recommend doing a thorough disk scan the first time and then a basic disk scan up to once a week to keep your computer performing at top conditions.

After this it is important to regularly perform a disk cleanup, which is located either under Properties under the C Drive, or under System Tools. Be aware that both the disk scan and the disk cleanup can take quite a bit of time and it is best to before these maintenance tools when you will not be using the computer. Set a routine with yourself like performing the disk clean up and disk scan on Saturday night while you are watching movies with your family. After a disk cleanup, it also helps to regularly perform a disk defragmentation. A computer hard drive will begin to fragment over time, which means that programs that once worked in conjunction have become separated over time and may not be in the proper place to work well on your computer. This can slow down processes or make using certain programs difficult. Using the disk defragmenter can pull together those pieces again and return things to working order.

Basic maintenance routines that will ensure your computer runs at peak performance start with simply getting rid of files you do not use. If you have old word documents, software programs you have not used in a long time, or pictures and music you are not using, delete them from your computer. Remember that once you delete them, they do not automatically disappear, but instead go to the recycle bin and it is just as important to empty the recycle bin as it is to delete old files.

Old internet files can also cause your computer to slow down. Often with a Disk Cleanup there will be an opportunity for you to get rid of temporary internet files, but you can also get rid of them on your own by going to your Temporary Internet files in Microsoft Explorer. Click on Tools then Internet Options, General Tab, Temporary Internet Files, and Delete Files. As well, take time to clean out any other temporary files you may have acquired, like downloads from the internet. Depending on the model of your computer, the temporary files could be in different locations, but most often when you go to Disk Cleanup and scan there will be an option to get rid of temporary files as well.

One of the other helpful and easy ways to maintain your computer's performance is to always run your protection programs, use a personal firewall when accessing the computer, and always install software updates available for Microsoft and protection programs. Keeping up on regular maintenance and setting a routine for updates on the computer will ensure that your computer performs the way it was intended to when you first brought it home.

Article source : http://www.russelldarden.com/computerarticles/article.php/27-10-2008PC-Maintenance-and-Improving-Performance.htm

5 Easy Ways To Speed Up Your Laptop

Does your notebook seem slower than molasses these days? Do you often find yourself coming to the point of heartache and even yelling a few choice words at your machine? If so, then the simple steps listed in this article are for you.

In this article we will take a look at some of the easiest things that you can do to automatically speed up your laptop. And as a bonus, all of these tips can be done for free!

1. Defrag - How can defragging your hard drive speed up your notebook? Maybe by explaining how a defrag works, you will see how important it is.

When your hard drive is new and has no data on it, things get stored in blocks easily. When files and/or programs are stored in nice chunks, they can get accessed quickly – This is why your hard drive is blazing fast in the beginning. As time goes on things start to slow down. Files get deleted and this creates empty blocks in the hard drive.

New files and programs will get saved to these empty blocks, only they aren’t all together – They are spread out. When files/programs are spread out among different blocks of storage, they get accessed much slower. Defragmenting your hard drive brings related files and programs back into a nice big block. This is achieved because your computer knows which files and programs are related through their address.

2. Empty Recycle Bin – This one is pretty self explanatory, and may even seem like a non issue. Maybe it is, but there are plenty of people that keep their recycle bins full, all the time. If something is in the recycle bin, you might as well empty it.

3. Erase Temporary Files – The internet as well as your operating system often store temporary files in special folders. These temporary files are just that, temporary, but they often stay on computer for a number of days or even indefinitely. I don’t recommend going and deleting stuff in folders if you are unsure of what you are doing. Thankfully though, there are many programs out there that will go through and delete unnecessary files for you.

You can set many of them up to run periodically, and they will do many of things talked about in this article. You can find many of these programs on freeware download sites.

4. Spyware & Adware Removal – Both spyware and adware are real computer killers these days. You have probably been bombarded by offers to buy programs that will get rid of all the junk on your computer – The simple answer is you don’t need to get these programs. You can find freeware ones all over that will work great. I like to use two programs simply because sometimes one will find stuff that the other won’t. My favorites are Ad-Aware by Lavasoft and Spybot – Search and Destroy.

5. Hard Drive Space – Ok, I’ll admit, this one may not be free. If you have deleted everything off of your hard drive that you possibly can and you still have a shortage of space, you are simply going to need a bigger hard drive. If you have less than 500 megabytes still available for storage space, I highly recommend getting a bigger hard drive, as a computer with a filled up hard drive will perform very sluggishly.

By periodically doing all of the above you can generally keep your notebook in tip-top shape, and save your yelling for something else.

Article source : http://computerarticles.net/articles/Computers/5-Easy-Ways-To-Speed-Up-Your-Laptop.html

Computer Security - 10 Tips to Protect Your PC From Malware Attack

Computer users have to deal with all sorts of security threats each day, computer viruses, computer worms, hackers, phishing, spyware. These malicious attacks may damage your boot sector, system BIOS, software and data files, cause disruption of internet traffic, create back door to allow unauthorized access to your computer, and steal confidential information from you. So how do they spread over the internet?

Malware including computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are spread via email, instant messages and file sharing. Computer viruses need a host program to run whereas computer worms are self contained and replicate automatically. Trojan horses usually do not replicate, they are downloaded and run by the computer users pretending to be some innocent programs, such as free games or free screensavers.

Hackers are not malicious programs, they are computer users who gain unauthorized access to your computer. Hackers look for unprotected network or enter you system via a back door installed by other malware.

Spyware are usually downloaded from web sites, email messages, instant messages or file sharing network. Sometimes, spyware are installed with some legitimate programs when you accept the End User License Agreement.

Phishing is an emerging form of malicious attack. Phishers send out spam messages pretending to be legitimate companies such as banks, financial institutes, PayPal. They would use scare tactic to urge you to update your personal information on phish sites which look remarkably similar to the legitimate company sites. If you log in, the phishers will steal your id and password.

Now that you know how these security threats work, here are 10 tips to protect your computer:

1) Install an antivirus + antispyware program or all-in-one internet security program. Do not run any free scan and free download unless you have done your research on the software developer. Some free downloads can be spyware programs or malware that create security hole in your system.

2) Install security programs that provide active real time protection. Some free antivirus programs can only detect viruses that have already infected your PC. However, if your computer is already infected, you may not be able to reach the free virus scan sites at all.

3) Keep your internet security programs up to date. New viruses, spyware, worms are coming out every day, you need the most updated definition database to block these threats.

4) Install a firewall program and configure your firewall program to block any unsolicited inbound or outbound communication. This can protect you from hacker attack.

5) Download security patches for your application programs and browser programs. Some programs are vulnerable to malicious attack and the patches can fix these vulnerabilities.

6) Be vigilant and selective about what you download to your computer. Do not download free games, freeware, free music files etc unless you are certain that they are harmless.

7) Be careful with email attachment. Do not open unexpected email attachment even if it comes from people in your address book. An internet security program can protect your computer by scanning the attachment before you open it or save it to your computer.

8) Delete spam messages or install a spam filter. Some spam messages are merely a nuisance but some contain links which land on bogus sites where your personal information can be stolen (phishing). Computer viruses and spyware can also be spread using spam messages. Do not click on the link or open any attachment of spam messages

9) Watch out for hoaxes. If you receive an email message warning you about a computer virus, search the internet to see if it is a hoax. Don't delete any file or spread the message to other people unless you know that the warning is true.

10) Change your password frequently and do not use the same password for all sites. Use complex words with characters and numbers.

To sum up, malicious attacks come in various forms and they spread and attack your computer in different ways. However, there are software tools available to help you fend off these attacks. If you practice all of the above, you can reduce the chance of malicious attack substantially.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/computer-security-10-tips-to-protect-your-pc-from-malware-attack-880255.html

Speed Up Your Computer Performance Tips

Are your computers getting slower and slower each time you use it? Do you still acquire the same computer performance even if it is more than 5 to 10 years old already? Well, if your problem is a slow computer performance I have some tips you might need to speed up the process. These tips will help improve your computer’s performance.

First, if your computer is too old I suggest that you burn your files that are less important. Place it on CD or DVD to give more hard disk and memory space. This will help lessen the files that your computer will need to read on. Like on the start up or when running some applications that will need to read the whole files in your computer. It slows the process due to the fact that your PC specs don’t have the capabilities of the new computers being sold in the market right now.

You can also upgrade your computer components to get better performance. However, if you don’t have money, it is not advisable that you buy CD, DVD or any computer components. Don’t worry because there are still other ways to accelerate the performance of your computer.

Some files are still in your computer even if you already uninstall the programs you installed before. Most of us didn’t know that, right? These files are left over by programs we used before. Now, these files are traceable using some free program out there. It’s not easy to trace them or sometimes we are not sure what files to delete so we end up having no choice but not to delete it. We don’t want to remove something we didn’t know because sometimes we are afraid that we might encounter troubles if we will be deleting these files. It might cause us some problems like the computer will not work properly because the files we deleted actually has a major part in our OS but we assume that it has no use. It happened to me before. So I suggest that you must try a Google search first before deleting the files.

Another way is by using programs like CCleaner. It is a tool you can use to remove unused files in your system. This tool allows your windows to run fast and free some space in your hard drive. It has the ability to clean your internet activities as well.

Next is to lessen the startup program. Remove unnecessary programs on startup so it won’t affect the speed of your computer while opening. Those startup programs make your computer slow while opening because your computer memory has to load those startup programs first. Your memory needs more time to do this that’s why it makes your computer slow. If your memory is not that high, I suggest doing this process to make the loading faster. Well, here is the way how you can lessen your startup programs. Click “start” then go to “run” or on the “search box” of your laptop, type “msconfig”. After that, you will see a pop-up window with lots of choices. Choose the “Startup” tab then uncheck the programs you don’t need to load when your computer starts.

Last thing I know is disk defragmenter. Disk Defragmenter is another computer program designed to increase access speed. Also known as defragmenting, this is the process of rearranging files stored on a disk to occupy contiguous storage locations. The objective of this process is to optimize the time it takes to read and write files to/from the disk. It can be done by minimizing head travel time while maximizing the transfer rate. Disk Defragmenter can also improve the loading time in system startup for computers supported by Windows XP.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/speed-up-your-computer-performance-tips-880509.html

How to Clean Up a Computer - Everything You Need to Know

Do you have a sluggish computer that runs like a baseball catcher with a strong wind blowing against him? Here is a helpful guide that will get your computer running smoothly once more.

1. Free up computer space. Check Uninstall Programs from your Control Panel to see which programs are taking up the most space, or alternately, go to your computer's Program Files folder, right click on folders, and go to Properties to see which ones are taking up the most space. Consider deleting programs that take up a lot of space if you don't use the program much. Use the Windows DeFrag tool to optimize computer storage, or use a tool such as RAMBooster to free up Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer.

2. Reduce unnecessary start up programs and running processes. Programs such as CodeStuff Starter and Startup Manager can help you control which programs load on start up. You can also see which programs are currently running, and choose to end them by pressing the Ctrl-Alt-Delete buttons simultaneously.

3. Clean your computer fan. To do this, you will have to open up the computer Tower and clean the fan using a cloth and an air can. Handy kits for this purpose can be found at an Office Depot or other such store. For an online guide on how to accomplish this, go to E-How.

4. Use a good Spyware scanning program like NoAdware. This way you will get the harmful programs off of your computer. It does cost a few $ but its well worth the price.

5. Uninstall any Norton/Symantec programs if computer speed is an issue for you. Believe me, a sluggish computer can turn into a speed demon, as I myself have experienced with Windows XP, if Norton products are uninstalled. As a study by ThePCSpy.com concluded, Norton is the most sluggish program out there (with McAfee's Virus Scan close behind). Anti-virus programs in general will take up a lot of computer processing power, but other alternatives like Nod32 and Avast! are faster - and free. Besides, who really wants to go through a 2-hour Norton scan only to find a few problems - some of which later get re-found anyway?

6. Delete temp files and cookies. Go to your computer's Windows folder and look for folders titled TEMP, Cookies, or Temporary Internet Files. On shared computers, you can also go to the Profiles folder and in the user folders, should see folders of such names there as well. TEMP and Temporary Internet File folders are storing houses for site-specific files that are then referenced when you go to that site in an attempt to make the site run faster. However, as they accumulate, undeleted files can have the effect of slowing a computer down. Consider deleting cookies for sites you don't trust, since these can contain Spyware, Adware, or viruses.

7. Defragment your hard drive. The Windows Defrag tool will suffice, or you can use a free Defragmenter like Auslogics Disk Defrag. This will sort and compress computer files so the computer can find and use them better, aiding in overall computer speed.

8. Empty your recycle bin. It sounds obvious, but those files are still there taking up space until you choose to empty that recycle bin. So take that extra effort to click and empty the bin!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Raynes

What Exactly is a Registry Repair Cleaner?

A lot of confusion surrounds the registry repair cleaner tool and what it does exactly. In fact, you may be like most computer owners and not even be aware that such a tool exists. Most people that own a computer never find out how a registry repair cleaner can help them until they begin experiencing computer problems. It becomes an important lesson because if the user had been using a registry cleaner on a regular basis the computer problems that are regularly associated with the registry might have been avoided in the first place.

Before you begin to understand the relevance of what task a registry repair cleaner performs, you should learn what a computer registry is. If, like most people, you are running Microsoft Windows as your operating system; then your computer has a registry. The registry is integral to the Windows operating system so much so that without it Windows would not be able to run at all.

The registry is the facility within the computer where Windows stores the certain data and information that requires easy access whenever needed. Without becoming too technical, the items often stored within the registry include: Hardware drivers, System settings, system preferences, system configurations, information about applications that run at start up, software shortcuts, and software installation information.

The more you use your computer the more data and information gets filed within the registry but when you delete software or programs you probably think it will be gone, deleted completely. Unfortunately, this is not always the case as there are often still fragments of data left behind in the registry. This data and information is useless but it slowly builds up and while it no longer exists to your computer it still occupies valuable space in the registry.

Your registry tries to cope with this but eventually it will have an adverse effect on the operating system and your computer may begin exhibiting problems that you never encountered before. Sometimes you will be fortunate enough to be provided with an actual error message telling you that a problem exists within the registry. However, for the majority of the time, the problems are usually more subtle, and you may have no clue as to what the cause might be. Registry problem symptoms can include: operating system crash (blue screen of death), applications and software either taking forever to open or not opening at all, application or software crashes (when the program or software being run reports an error and shuts down), or even just an overall slowing down of your computer.

These problems can be a huge nuisance but with the prudent use of the right software in a regular routine of preventive action they can be easily fixed and even avoided. All you have to do is obtain a registry repair cleaner as this software is designed specifically to make sure your registry is kept clean of unnecessary files and data, it also keeps your computer and operating system running at their optimum level.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/operating-systems-articles/what-exactly-is-a-registry-repair-cleaner-876090.html

Computer Runs Slow - A Hard Drive Problem?

The hard drive is one of the most important component of a computer. The operating system and programs are installed here and all of your data is kept on the hard drive. If you have hard drive problems your computer will not run as well as it should and in the worst case scenario it may not run at all.

There are various different utilities which can scan your hard drive for problems and then attempt to correct those problems. Commonly used utilities with Windows XP include:

1. Disk defragmenter

2. Disk cleanup.

3. Error checker tool.

1. The files stored on the hard drive can become fragmented, over some period of time. Various parts of the file are located in different segments of the hard drive.
The disk defragmenter will take all these file fragments and bring them together so that a complete file is all located at one point. This greatly speeds up access to the file.
The fragmented data increases the work the drive must do thus increasing the load on the drive and can in fact sometimes cause serious and permanent damage.
To minimize and correct file fragmentation the Disk Defragmenter should be run at regular intervals in order to keep the hard drive in good order. The disk Defragmenter is found by clicking on START->ALL PROGRAMS->ACESSORIES->SYSTEM TOOLS->DISK DEFRAGMENT.

2. The Disk Cleanup application allows you to erase unwanted temporary internet files and program setup files from your hard drive. This clears out some space on the hard drive and definitely helps the machine to run better.
You can find DISC CLEANUP by clicking on START->ALL PROGRAMS->ACCESSORIES->SYSTEM TOOLS->DISC CLEANUP. This tool if run at regular intervals will also help to keep your computer running smoothly and efficiently.

3. Error Checker will scan your hard drive for errors in the file system and bad sectors on the hard drive. To locate ERROR CHECKER bring up your Start Menu by clicking on START then click on MY COMPUTER, next RIGHT click on the hard disc volume you want to run error checker on and then click on PROPERTIES.
On the Tools tab click on CHECK NOW in the ERROR CHECKING section. Now in the CHECK DISC dialog box you should click on SCAN FOR AND ATTEMPT RECOVERY OF BAD SECTORS and then click on START. This may take some time as it checks a large hard drive for bad sectors.

Finally find the maker of your hard drive from the user manual or by looking inside the computer. Most hard disk manufacturer offer downloads of tools to test the hard drive for problems.

If your computer runs slow after completing all these tasks you should look elsewhere for the problem. A bloated, corrupt registry is very often the reason for a slow running computer.
The registry is a massive info data bank which stores all of the data needed by the operating system to run the computer and much more.

A large number of data fragments will build up in the registry over a period of time as the computer is used. All windows operated computers are susceptible to this problem unfortunately and it cannot be avoided.
The corrupt registry makes it difficult for the operating system to locate the data it needs to run the computer. This greatly slows down operation of the machine and can also cause freezing and crashing.

Windows XP registry repair software can be downloaded from the internet to solve this problem. The top registry cleaners will first offer to give you a free scan to determine if you have registry problems. You can check the results of this scan before deciding to repair your registry.
We ran tests on a number of Windows XP registry repair tools and found that some were clearly better than others. One in particular found up to 50% more errors than some other registry repair tools and was clearly superior.

We recommend that you use a windows registry cleaner and do not try to personally edit your registry. There are many essential entries in the registry and if you mistakenly remove even one of them you can completely disable your computer. Use one of the top registry cleaners which will quickly and safely do your registry repair the safe way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Mowatt

The Right CPU For You

There are a number of way you can go about choosing a CPU. Some require a little skill and research; others are quite simple. No matter what method you choose though, shop around before you buy a CPU. Both online and offline there can be a massive difference in price ranges for particular CPU, within a range. Don't just buy the first one come across!

BUDGET
The single most common method of choosing a CPU is based on price. People building a PC usually have a final budget that they are aiming for, and they use this as a basic for choosing the CPU.

CPUs can be pricy and will probably the single most expensive component of a PC. There's a huge difference in price between cheapest budget CPU from Intel and AMD and their high-performance CPU offerings, which are going to be expensive, so it's no wonder that people use budget as a way to choose. It makes life so much easier.

There is certain logic to using price to determine what CPU to buy. It has always been the case that the top-of-the-rang, fastest CPUs are always artificially overpriced. Wait a few months and the same CPU will have been replaced by a faster one and the price will drop dramatically.

Buying a CPU based on budget alone might seem like the easy option, but there are some very important considerations to keep in mind:

· SHOP AROUND.
If you are buying your CPU based on price, then do make sure that you shop around for the absolute best deal you can get. Nothing is more depressing for people than to go out and buy a CPU only to find that could have had the same CPU for far less(or could have had a far more powerful a CPU for their money).

· CONSIDER THE MOTHERBOARD.
Be sure to factor in the price of the motherboard. Expensive CPUs generally require more expensive motherboards, so it's vital to consider the total cost.

· FACTOR IN DELIVERY COSTS.
Sometimes, what you gain on price you lose on delivery charges. Elevated delivery charges can be a trick used by stores to allow them to have competitive price yet claw that money back on delivery charges. If you are buying on a budget, then find out how much delivery is going to be before placing the order.

PERFORMANCE
For some people there's nothing more important than having the biggest, fastest, latest technology. There are number of reasons why people go for the latest technology.

Some commonly quoted reasons are:
· longer technology lifespan (longer before they have to upgrade).
· They want to play games or run software that demands high performance.
· They want the latest and best technology.

Going for the best in terms of performance is going to be expensive. Here are a few tips to help you get the best deals.

Determine How Much Speed You Need How Much CPU power you need depends a lot on what you are going to be doing with your new PC. only you can truly decide how much power you need, but application (general office, gaming, Internet, 3D wire frame and rendering software) you need run will help you decide what range of CPU power you should looking for.

Processor speeds are important indicators of speed, but only when compared with CPUs in the same series. Two other specs-Level 2 (L2) cache and front-side bus (FSB)-also play an important role in overall performance.

Make Sure That "Top of the Range" Is Really "Top of the Range" Seems obvious, but in fast moving world it's easy for technology to take a step forward without your noticing. Also, never trust salespeople to either be honest or have the full facts (sounds harsh but it's true-they are there to sell products to you).

Do your own research, on the web and in magazines. Get information from more than one source, and try to find out if there are any imminent CPU releases from either AMD or Intel that would mean you might be better off waiting a few weeks to get the very latest technology.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/the-right-cpu-for-you-855325.html

Optimize computer performance

Sometimes we feel so annoyed, caused of our computer’s performance. It was slow, long time to execute applications, processing task, or copying and deleting files. This problem occurred caused by several kind of possibility. Another case, some applications not responding, even unexpected quit or computer become hang.

For preventing those problems, we need to consider several aspects below:

Hardware Specification
Some of us are inexpert about how to optimize hardware specification against operating system. A branded computer, by vendor sure already tested for hardware specification versus operating system, but if we assemble computer by ourselves sometimes we don’t know that operating system require certain hardware specification to running. So, don’t installing operating system that hardware specification is to close with operating system requirement.
It is recommended to installing operating system to computer that has much higher hardware specification then the requirement.

Memory Card
Memory card is one of significant hardware that having an affect on computer’s performance. Insufficient memory can cause effect on degradation of computer’s performance. On Windows, physical and virtual memory working together to handle the system cache, processing tasks, and etc. Wrong configuration of virtual memory can decrease speed and performance of computer. For detail how to configure that, you must refer to operating system configuration guide from related vendor. Then, it is recommended to using same speed of memory card (do not use memory card with mix speed, for example do not use DDR 256MB PC2100 with DDR 256 PC2700 at the same motherboard).

Applications
Some applications running as background applications, and they’re using a lot of memory. So many application installed as background application will slow down computer performance. It is recommended to uninstall application that not used anymore or unnecessary. And, do not install many applications with same function; choose the one that suitable for your need.

Hard drive
Using hard disk excessively can decrease hard disk performance. Writing and erase data on disk sector too often, make more long time to file indexing process. It is recommended to use disk defragmenting software to fixing it.
Defragment will organize file in good structure, faster and easier to be indexing and will speed up performance especially for searching file end executing applications.

Virus and spyware
Virus can make any damage for your computer performance, decreasing speed, even damage your data. Then spyware can be harmful of your data, because spy can take your private data. It is recommended to install antivirus and antispyware application to protect to your computer.

System Registry
After uninstalling applications, sometimes we insensibly that process uninstall is not clean, some garbage leaved at system registry. To many unused registry entries in system registry can slow down computer performance, even make computer crashes. Using registry cleaner software is recommended.

This just a little share, hope this will be useful for us.

How to Check and Fix Corrupt Registry in Windows

File corruption is perhaps one of the most widespread registry problem encountered in a Windows operating system. This article will show you simple methods to check if you have a problem with file corruption in your registry.

Aside from file corruption, the Windows registry can have other types of problems. These problems can result in several symptoms. For example, your computer will begin to run slowly. Start-ups and shut downs also become very slow. Your computer may also suffer from stalls, crashes and applications freezes. These are the symptoms that the registry has been muddled by too many useless entries.

Usually you will receive an error message when there is invalid file or entry in the registry. The error message may occur while the computer is performing a task or trying to access an application software. You may be seeing error message saying that you cannot proceed because a certain file is corrupted or missing.

The worst case scenario is when your Windows operating system fails to boot. File corruption can be caused by a virus that has corrupted the registry entries. It can also be caused by a defective or broken hardware. Another possible cause could be incorrect program installation or a bad software.

Solutions For Repairing or Fixing Corrupt Registry

Before you try to repair the registry, you should do a hardware scan first. If the scan detect a hardware problem, All you need is just to replace the defective hardware.

The problem becomes more complicated in the event that Windows refuses to boot, you will have to boot from your recovery CD and attempt to fix the problem. Your computer manual may offer you the procedure for this. If the system cannot be recovered, you will have no choice but to reinstall the entire operating system.

Top Windows Registry Repair Program

Fortunately, there are some great Windows registry repair programs available. These programs can help you solve complicated registry problems including file corruption and prevent the loss of system. Good registry repair program can detect file corruption in a matter of minutes. Once the problems are identified, the program can automatically repair or fix the problems.

However, not all registry repair programs are the same. Make sure that the software can provide you with comprehensive features especially if you have no technical knowledge what is going on with the registry. The ideal registry repair program should be able to back up your registry quickly, scan for problems, clean up invalid entries and repair damaged files. Some programs even give you the option to defragment and scan for viruses.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/operating-systems-articles/how-to-check-and-fix-corrupt-registry-in-windows-469775.html

Simple Tweaks to Fix Your Computer

You must have wondered that why my computer is slow? Sometimes it becomes so frustrating to use a bogged down computer as you can’t save your work and install new software because your computer frequently gets hanged. But there are ways to prevent this, some of the reasons for a slow computer and their fixes have been stated below:

1. System Registry Errors
This is a major reason, why the computer slows down. Many folks do not have a clue about what is Windows registry and how to maintain it.

Like any other part of the computer system, registry entries in the registry are very important. These registry keys contain instructions that tell the software or hardware in your computer how to run. Over the time registry gets bigger in size and messy because computer doesn’t automatically restore the default settings after running the program. Over the time this problem gets worse thus affecting the performance of your computer.

Thus in order to solve this problem you can download registry cleaner software from the internet. This software will clean up the unwanted registry keys thus freeing up valuable space in RAM.

2. Virus
If you download files from the internet then there is possibility that your computer might be infected with a virus. This could be another factor affecting your PC performance. If you don’t have anti-virus software installed on your computer then download it from a site and install it.

In case, it’s not possible to remove the viruses from the computer then you might need to install your operating system again. Remember to back up your data prior to formatting your hard disk.

3. Insufficient RAM
Insufficient RAM could also be a reason for poor performance of your machine. If this is the key cause then upgrade the RAM on your computer.
For a computer having Windows XP operating system, any RAM lower than 512Mb is probably insufficient to present a good user experience. To check your computer RAM, right click on My Computer icon and go to properties.

4. Spyware and Adware
If you frequently surf on net then there are higher chances of your computer being infected with spyware. These spywares are meant to track your browsing activities and then send back the information to their main sites.
Spyware removal software can be used to remove Ad-ware and spyware from your computer.

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/simple-tweaks-to-fix-your-computer-849022.html