All About Computer

Due to many requests I will discuss virus removal. This is of great importance these days as newer and nastier viruses are being released all the time. The best offense is a good defense so it is imperative to haveanti virus protection. If it is too late to protect and you already have a virus read on.

As I said, the best offense is a good defense. Of all the software you buy the one you should not skimp on is an anti virus program. I have heard several stories recently of people paying $350.00 to have a virus removed and the operating system reinstalled. This really doesn’t make any sense because installing an operating system requires formatting, (erasing), the hard drive which would eliminate any viruses contained on it anyway. Protect yourself first and avoid being put in that position. Once you are infected you must act quickly. Delay will just allow it to change more of your system settings. If the virus gets into the root of your system it can be very difficult to remove. This is called a root kit virus and they attach themselves to necessary system files. With that being said I suggest that you proceed with caution because deleting the wrong files can cause great damage to your system, sometimes so bad you are unable to boot up at all. Here are links to two free root kit anti virus programs. The first is from Sophos. I haven’t used it yet myself but they do have good reviews. Just go to sophos.com and look for the free scanner.

The second is from AVG and I have used this one. It is fast, thorough, and free. To get this free program do a search for "rootkit virus removal free AVG" with a space between each word. Before you use a root kit anti virus it is imperative that you disable ALL real time scanners from your anti virus, spyware, and adware removers as well as your firewall as these will produce false positives. Use extreme caution when you choose to delete anything a root kit anti virus finds. If you are unsure about what to do go online and do a search for virus index, or virus definitions. Noy only will you find out if the file you have is a virus, you may find virus specific removal instructions…..

Before you begin scanning for spyware follow this tip. Use a cleaning program to clear out junk files and temp files first. It will cut down on the scan time for your anti virus. Don’t forget to purge your temporary internet files and cookies too. You also need to make sure your programs have the latest updates.

Here is what I do when I am presented with an infected computer. I will run two anti virus programs, one at a time. I will scan two or three times with one until it doesn’t detect anything anymore, then I will uninstall it including the virus vault. Then I install a different anti virus and run it several times, the choice of programs is up to you. Here are two other options for you. Get Microsofts free malicious software removal tool from this link. http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx I also run Spybot and Adaware afterwards just to make sure I got everything. Spybot is for spyware but it definitely will find a virus too. Once you think you have found everything I suggest making sure. There are a few sites that offer online scans. The only one I have used before is Kaspersky and it is free and thorough. You just go to the site and let it scan. At the end you will get a report that shows any malware left on your system. Just do a search for their site and specify "free scan".

After removing any viruses from your computer it is always a good idea to clean it up. Use your cleaning utility to clean the system and registry. After that run your defragmenting program. You will also need to,(VERY IMPORTANT!), empty your programs virus vault. If you have a program that can wipe the files do it. You should now be at a nice clean system state. This is the perfect time to set a restore point and use your backup program to create a new backup. You do have a backup program don’t you?

So, you’ve been enjoying your new computer the last few months, and as time has passed by it has been getting slower and slower. It’s finally to the point that it’s almost unusable, and is driving you nuts when you do use it for recreation or to do work. So what do you do? Pick it up, throw it away, and buy a new one? Nope. The correct answer is to call tech support or search the Internet and see if you can find out what is wrong with your computer and fix it. Sometimes you will need to buy a new computer, especially if your current one is like ten years old. But if you’ve only had it a few months to a few years, then most likely you just need to do some basic cleanup and updating of the software you have on your computer. Before you start to panic or rush out to buy a new computer, you should try the tips I have here for you to see if they will get your computer up and running like new again.

1. Update Software

I know some of you reading this might already know that it makes sense to upgrade your software such as virus and spyware protection software, but what a lot of people probably don’t realize is that updating all your other software programs will also help to improve the speed of your computer. Sure your software might do exactly what it’s supposed to perfectly, but the reality is that your software is full of glitches and bugs that can be fixed by downloading patches. By downloading these patches it won’t only improve the efficiency of your computer and software, but it will also improve its security. Updating your software is different for each program.

Sometimes you have to do it manually from inside the program itself, and other times it’s automatic. For programs like virus and spyware protection software, you should set it to automatically update. If you have other programs that auto update themselves set them to do so also. This will keep you from having to worry about updating your software yourself. For the rest of your software that doesn’t automatically update itself, checking for updates at least once a month for them should be sufficient. It may seem bothersome to update your software especially if you have to do it manually, but you will be glad you did in the end and your computer will thank you for it.

2. Update Your Operating System

Along with updating your software you also need to update your operating system regularly. Your operating system is just another software program and like those other programs, it is also full of bugs and glitches that need to be fixed with updates. Windows has the option of letting you set it to update itself automatically or to update it manually when you feel like it. To adjust this option in Windows XP, go to Start>Control Panel, and click on Automatic Updates in the Control Panel window. In Window Vista go to Start>Control Panel, and click on Windows Updates. In the Windows Updates window click on Change Settings in the left pane. Regardless of which version of Windows you are using you will have the same options to choose from which are:

1. Automatically Download and Install Updates

2. Automatically Download updates, but let me choose when to install them.

3. Notify me but don’t automatically download or install them.

4. Turn off Automatic Updates.

The recommend setting is of course to automatically download and install updates, but you can choose whichever settings you want then click apply to save the changes you make. Regardless of how you decide to handle updating your operating system, making sure that you do it regularly will definitely help your computer to run smoother and improve its security.

3. Defragment Your Computer

As you use your computer and add and remove files and software, overtime some of your files become fragmented and spread out over the hard disk. As time goes along this will get worse and worse and eventually your computer will slow way down. This is because the computer has to search the hard drive longer whenever you attempt to use your files. In order to fix this problem it’s as simple as running the Disk Defragmenter Utility that comes with Windows. To run Disk Defragmenter go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Defragmenter. Once the program opens up, to start the defragmenting process just click the button that says Defragment and let it go on its own. Because defragmenting your hard drive uses all your system resources, its best to do this only when you don’t need to use your computer. I recommend you start it defragmenting at night right before you go to bed because depending on how fragmented your hard drive is, it could take several hours for the process to complete. Once the defragmenting process is done, your files will be put back together properly, and you should notice a significant increase in the speed of your computer, especially if it’s been awhile since you last time you did it.

4. Delete Junk Files

Has it ever seemed like your free space on your hard drive is getting smaller or it takes longer to search for a file you can’t find even though you haven’t added any new files or software on your computer? This is due to fragments of files that get left behind from daily tasks you perform on your computer. Whenever you download files from the Internet or delete files to the recycling bin, bits and pieces of files are left behind that you can’t see and most likely don’t know about. These are the "junk" files that are created automatically by programs for temporary use but aren’t deleted after the programs are done using them. These files include cookies, temporary Internet files, log files, error log files, temporary miscellaneous files, and System Restore points created every so often by Windows. This might sound like it would be lots of work to remove all of these useless files, but fear not there is a built in program called Disk Cleanup that will delete all these files for you.

To run this program go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools> Disk Cleanup. Once the program is open you will be shown a window with a couple tabs and a few options to choose from. The first tab that you see lets you choose which junk files you would like to remove. Below this window it shows you how much free space you will gain from deleting these files. Even if it’s only a few kilobytes, still run the program. I have found out from using it that even if it says it will free up a few kilobytes, it usually frees up 1-5GB of space. Once you are done selecting which files you want to remove, click the Ok button at the bottom of the window. Once the process is done it will automatically close. Along with deleting these junk files, if you haven’t had any problems for awhile with your computer you can free up additional space by clicking the More Options tab in the Disk Cleanup window and clicking the Clean up button in the section titled System Restore. This will delete all but the most recent restore point. Once you’re done deleting all your files close the program if it doesn’t close by itself and your done.

5. Delete Unused Files

Along with deleting the junk files off your computer, you can also get increased performance from your hard drive by deleting files that you do know about but don’t use. This includes software and all personal files you create or download such as movies, music, and pictures. Sure you might be playing only one or two PC games right now it might look cool to have 50 games installed at once, but if you’re not playing them, remove them. Sure your hundreds of pictures look cool going across the screen for the My Pictures screensaver, but do you really need them all on your computer? If the answer is no then it would probably be better if you saved them all to CDs or DVDs and deleted them from your computer too.

6. Scan for Malware

Not only should you update your virus and other malware protection software regularly, but you should also actually use it. Because new forms of malware are released every day once in awhile viruses or spyware will get into your computer that your software can’t detect. Because of this reason, it would be wise to run a virus and spyware scan on your computer at least once a week. Doing this will ensure that you are virus and spyware free, even if your program didn’t automatically detect it on its own and again will increase computer speed.

7. Scan for Registry Errors

So you’ve scanned for viruses, removed junk files, defragmented your hard drive and are still having speed issues or you computer is still crashing when running programs. If none of these things did the trick, then the problem could be and probably at least partially is the fault of registry errors. The registry is like the central control and brain of all data on your computer in Windows. Almost every file you create and every program you add or remove creates entries in your system registry. Also just about any time you remove files or software, it creates registry errors. Unlike the previous tips, you will have to find a program that is designed for fixing registry errors rather than using features built into Windows. Most of them are self explanatory as to how to use them, but the one I recommend is Glary Utilities. It is the one I use personally and it finds several registry errors every time I run it. Once you pick a program you like, install and use it quite often as registry errors add up quickly. Fixing these errors will definitely make your system performance increase and be more stable.

8. Turn Off Startup Programs

Taking forever to startup seems to be a common problem for a lot of people I know. The reason your computer takes forever to start Windows and show your desktop is because of the number of programs it has been told to start on startup. A lot of these programs are unnecessary to have running at startup such as instant messaging software. The good thing is that you can turn these programs off if you choose to. To turn these programs off, go to Start and type System Configuration in the Run box and press enter. Once the System Configuration program has opened, click the startup tab. Here are all the programs listed that will startup when you first log into Windows. IF you see programs that you recognize such as Yahoo IM or AIM, uncheck them and click on Apply. Except for programs that Windows needs to run and virus and malware scanning software, pretty much all other programs can be safely deselected. Once you have made the changes you want to, close the application and restart your computer for the settings to take effect. Next time your operating system starts up you should definitely notice an increase in boot time if you deselected several of the programs. If not, then turn off some more programs or you can try my next tip.

9. Add More Ram

Sometimes, even when there is nothing wrong with your computer it will still seem to be running slow. This could be because the programs you are using on it require more memory than you currently have available in order to run smoothly. The solution, add more RAM to your computer. Adding more RAM will allow you to run more programs at the same time, and give your existing programs more memory to run in. This is especially useful for people who play a lot of games or do a lot of video and photo editing. These types of programs tend to use a lot of RAM. The downside to having to possibly add more RAM to your computer is that it costs money and requires a little tech knowledge of computers. When buying more RAM for your computer you first have to find out exactly which type it uses. Then you or someone you know has to take the side of your computer off and look for the existing RAM. Most computers have multiple slots for RAM and the chip is just a long rectangle. Installing the RAM is as simple as just placing it lightly in the slot and then pushing it into place. Once it’s secure, put the side back on your computer, turn it back on and it’s good to go. It’s as simple as that.

10. Format Your Computer

So, you’ve tried all my previous tips and your computer is still running sluggishly. The last thing you can try that pretty much always fixes your problems when all else fails is to format your hard drive. Formatting your hard drive will completely wipe all files on it. This means that any errors you might have been having do to file errors, operating system errors or viruses and other malware, are now completely gone. There are few options you have for how to format your hard drive. One option is to use the recovery discs that come with most all retail computers. This method will automatically format and then reinstall your operating system and all trial software that came on your computer the first day you bought it. Another option is to boot your computer from a disc using your Windows operating system disc and running the format hard drive option from there. A third option, which is the one I usually use, is to use a Live-CD version of Linux and use a drive formatting program on it to format my hard drive, then reinstall your operating system from its install disc.

Regardless of which method you choose, the result are the same, a computer that you’ve had for awhile that is now like it was the first day you bought it. Before you do this though, make absolutely sure you have backed up all of your personal files to an external hard drive or to discs as these will now be gone if you didn’t . The only downside I can think of to formatting your hard drive in order to make your computer fast again, is that its time consuming. Once you format it, you now have to re install all the software you use and download all your updates and patches again. This does however beat the alternative of buying a brand new computer. Despite being time consuming though, once you have your computer back to its working state again, it will definitely be running at full speed again.

So there you have it, 10 quick and easy tips that will get your computer running fast again without costing you much if any money.

If your PC’s Internet Explorer starts having errors that lead to frequent program crashes or if it behaves in unusual manner - such as taking you to strange web sites you don’t care about, it’s time you take a serious look at what’s happening. These signs point to a problem, like corrupted files or malware hijacking, and you need to resolve these core problems to be able to make Internet Explorer work as it was before.

Frequently, the causes of Internet Explorer crashes are registry issues. The registry being a central component in the architecture of all 32-bit Windows versions, it needs to be error-free and clear of clutter to run smoothly. The registry in fact is the database where settings and options for the hardware, operating system, software, programs and users are stored, and any changes in it invariably affects the computer, one way or the other. Unfortunately, the registry can contain obsolete data and be full of useless entries, such as those left behind by uninstalled applications, after quite some time. These extra and unnecessary baggage causes system slowdown and occasional program crashes.

The registry is also a main target of malware apps that get into a computer system. Usually, these rogue programs not only copy their payload into the registry but also alter, remove or replace registry values of targeted applications. Internet Explorer, for example, may have keys where the home pages are stored changed permanently - and no amount of tinkering with the browser’s settings would restore it to its previous state.

One can easily ignore these seemingly petty annoyances. But the truth is, not acting quickly once browser problems are detected may in time bring about more serious implications. Some malwares that took residence in the registry may in fact do harmful actions, such as using the PC to attack or spread to other computers or stealing users’ personal information. It really pays to keep the registry clean and error-free, as this ensures smooth and worry-free PC operations.

Of course, cleaning the registry is better said than done. Considering the importance of the registry in the grand scheme of things, an innocent deletion or addition of values may render the system unstable or inoperable. This is why registry cleaning tools were developed - to precisely clear up the clutter and restore the all-important registry to its clean, trouble-free condition.

Trying to find all the latest Microsoft driver updates can be a very frustrating and tedious chore if you go about it the usual way, but it really doesn’t have to be. Today we have an alternative means for staying up to date with all the latest updates, as well as making sure we’re using the best ones for our system.

Drivers are an extremely important part of your PC’s performance, simply because they are what make your devices work. With so many different models of all types of components, computers actually only communicate with them on a very basic level. They send generic signals out to a device whose corresponding driver then translates into commands and functions the device understands. Without the correct driver, not only are you missing out on some of the best features a device has to offer, but you are highly vulnerable to errors and system instability.

Unfortunately, drivers are the type of thing where you only know if they’re not working properly once a device stops responding or errors start appearing. Add in the fact that tracking down the right drivers that you need has you spending lots of time and energy using a search engine and wading through page after page of useless information, the whole idea of keeping up to date and well optimized seems nearly impossible. But it isn’t.

Microsoft driver updates can be tracked easily using automatic driver software. These programs not only make sure your system is the most up to date it could possibly be, they also do standard driver health checks which ensure that you’re using the best, official, and most importantly, working, driver for your devices.

Scanning your system and identifying all its devices, these software titles will then make a report based on their findings. From there, you are given the option to download and install the most up to date, official and correct drivers for your system.

So if you’ve been frustrated trying to find all the latest Microsoft driver updates, give one of these software titles a try. You may be shocked to learn just how out of date your system really is.

Laptops are delicate computer accessories that should be handled with care to maintain smooth functioning. Laptops, notebooks, and convenient computers enable us to work from anywhere. They can be carried everywhere. They allow a person to work from home, or any other place. If you are travelling and need to carry it, you should ideally use leather bags. Such bags will provide adequate protection for the equipment. They also require accessories such as carry bags which will provide protection to the appliance. Leather bags for laptops provide protection to the accessory and can be carried easily carry from one place to another.

Certain guidelines must be followed while using them. They should:

• Be kept plugged in at all times. This will not drain the battery.

• Not be kept on the lap. Solid surface are best.

• Be used with a surge protector.

• Not be touched with fingers on the LCD screen.

• Not be subjected to extreme temperatures and also not be left in a hot car or freezing environment.

• The chords should not be used with force.

• Not be stored unused for a long period of time as humidity can corrupt the system in a closed environment like a bag or closet.

The bags must be portable and convenient. They should also be compatible to your appliance. A suitable bag will provide protection to the gadget. You may not have a fair idea about the type of bag that is suitable for your laptop. In such circumstances, you can visit any of the stores which house such bags. The shopkeepers will guide you get an appropriate leather bag. You can easily get the best laptop leather bag in various brands. You can also choose from a wide range of colours. You could also compare special company brands and various types of bags.

There are various online sites which provide information on suitable bags for laptops. You can get the desired information from within the comfort of your house. Placing orders for these products is not difficult. You are free to choose from a range of styles, patterns, designs, and colours. Some of the bags are available with additional features such as briefcases & folios. You can also get an extensive range of leather laptop bags, which are fashionably designed to look magnificent. They are manufactured from the highest quality of leather to last for long duration. Long adjustable strap allows a person to carry the laptops in a safe and convenient manner.

Sony VAIO AW11M/H, a HD compatible laptop, is the latest addition of Sony laptop series that intended to give computer users everything what they want. It weighs about 3.7kg and comes with an Intel Centrino 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo P8400 processor, Blu-ray drive and a standard 16:9 aspect ratio LCD screen. It also comes with 4.0 GHz RAM of memory and 320GB of hard disk capacity. This specification is more than enough to run daily tasks, store lots of media files and install many applications without worry of capacity limitation.

Sony VAIO AW11M/H has a screen size of 18.4" with 1680 x 945 pixel resolution. It gives a superb viewing and high image quality, no matter of what you are doing such as to surf internet, watch movies or play games, Sony VAIO AW11M/H is certainly able to meet all your needs. However if you are intended to play high performance games or watch HD movies, it current built-in nVidia GeForce 9300M graphics card might not be the best option. It will be more suitable to run nominal application and online usage.

Sony VAIO AW11M/H has a unique keyboard layout, like in many desktop PC, which comprise of an inline multimedia buttons that allow better user responds and experiences. It also comes with it own pre-installed multimedia software as standard. This model has a vast keyboard layout that makes the whole typing experience more comfortable. Like in desktop PC, Sony VAIO AW11M/H has a separate numeric keypad. This type of keyboard layout is one of its kinds and hasn’t been seen on any other rival laptops.

The touchpad of this Sony VAIO comes in a reasonable size, despite that it might feel slightly small in size. Sony VAIO AW11M/H comes with all the standard ports for ease portability and connectivity. It has an Ethernet port, modem adapter plus 3 USB ports on the right side of the laptop. On the left side of the laptop, it has a HDMI port that allows you to connect over to the 1080i/p devices.

This new Sony laptop series is definitely at the top of it own class. If you are looking for a high quality machine with easy to use features and functions, look no further, your search are finally over, Sony VAIO AW11M/H is the ideal choice.

Due to its durability and reliability the Toshiba Satellite laptop series has been a favorite among corporate and personal laptop users for almost a decade now. Fans of Apple laptops buy MacBooks mainly due to its style and novelty reasons. Purchasers of Japanese laptop brands such as Toshiba and Fujitsu make their purchase for its performance and practicality. Here is a quick review of one of the latest models from Toshiba, the Toshiba Satellite A305-S6908 15.4-inch laptop series.

The truth is, the looks and external design of laptops play a major rule in influencing a purchase. The Toshiba Satellite A305-S6908 15.4-inch laptop has a beautiful exterior with smooth high-gloss surfaces and sleek curves. At just below $700 (at the time of writing), this little machine is a bargain. It comes with 4GB Ram and runs on a 2.0GHZ T6400 Intel processor. Its powerful insides make gaming and multitasking a breeze.

Like most laptops today, the Toshiba Satellite A305-S6908 15.4-inch laptop comes with 250GB of hard disk space. The keyboard pad and the palm rest, like the casing is kind of glossy, adding to the cool factor of this laptop. The brilliant 15.4 inch TFT display displays vivid and clear images and also has an anti glare feature that is useful for those who work with their laptops for long periods of time. One of my favorite features of the Toshiba Satellite A305-S6908 15.4-inch laptop is its sounds system. It has two Harman Kardon stereo speakers that produce amazing audio quality (for a laptop). With my previous laptops, due to the unbearable audio quality, I could never use the inbuilt speakers for long periods of time. With the new A305 it looks like I could chuck away my plug in speakers for a while.

Long before the first laptop arrived on the market, the idea behind it was ready. Back in 1968, a "personal, portable information manipulator" was imagined by Alan Kay at Xerox PARC, and this idea was described accurately in his 1972 paper, as the "Dynabook."

A few years later, back in the early days of mobile computing, any so-called "portable computer" had about 20 pounds, and no hard drive, since storage was usually provided by dual 5¼" single-density floppy drives. That’s clear - back in the 1870s, it was too early for laptop hard drives, but don’t worry…we’re getting there right away!

In 1982, when the first clamshell design was introduced in a portable computer, the hard drive still remained outside of it, but since 1983, the term "laptop" started being used, and soon hard drives were also introduced, alongside with CD-ROM drives).

Basically, now we have two generations of hard drives present in laptops - the classic hard drive, and the SSD. A few years ago, I remember that some hybrid drives were also introduced in some higher end laptops, aiming to help save power and increase boot times, by using a flash memory/classic HDD couple, but since it didn’t actually go mainstream, let’s talk about what we can currently call "laptop hard drives," shall we?

Currently, most laptops have 2.5-inch or 11.8-inch hard drives, while desktop ones are 3.5-inch models. Their rotational speed is, usually, 5400 or 7200rpm, and they have at least 8MB buffer memory, and capacities of up to 500GB.

Some producers into the laptop drives market aren’t popular in the desktop drives one, such as Toshiba. It is worth mentioning the fact that, in the last two years, laptop hard drives prices went down a lot, allowing easy upgrades/replacements(easy on the budget, you know…).

At last, we have the solid state drives, also known as SSDs, with capacities starting at 4GB for some netbooks, and up to 128GB. Obviously, this solution is more expensive, but we could see the SSD completely replacing the classic HDD in a few years.

No doubt about it, if you want a cheap netbook, the Linux versions are the way to go. While Windows XP netbooks tend to up the prices of most computers (blame it on its user-friendly interface), Linux mini notebooks keep the prices of these mobile devices down.

Most manufactures offer Linux and Windows versions of the same model. What is known about Linux netbooks is that they are inexpensive relative to their Windows siblings. What is not known is that there are actually different versions of the Linux that are running on current netbook models.

Although most people would prefer a Windows XP, Linux netbooks actually have more advantages to them, including:

* Price

* Energy efficiency

* Free software

* Less susceptibility to malware and viruses

As a whole, Linux is an open-source (and thus free) operating system. Fans of Linux hail it for its reliability. Linux mini notebooks actually boot faster and usually don not crash, unless if you set them on fire.

Since it is open source, different Linux netbooks actually have different versions ("distributions") of the Linux. And each version comes with a different set of user customizations. Also, many of today’s manufacturers develop their own Linux-based software and install them in their own netbooks. If you want to buy a Linux, check what version is installed so you will know what to expect in terms of user experience and software.

For example, the Asus Eee 900 operates on Xandros Linux. With this type of Linux, you can access programs from different tabs on the menu. You can access Open Office and PDF reader on the Work tab, while games and media players are accessed through the Play tabs.