Improve Your Computers Performance

Is your computer slow, do applications crash often. Many people would consider buying a whole new computer to fix the problem. Buying a new computer would solve the problem but there are built in tools to help you do this cost free.

Disk Defragment

Disk Defragment sounds quite scary doesn't it. It sounds like it is designed to destroy everything on your Hard Drive, it is actually designed to rearrange items on your Hard Drive so Windows and Applications can get access to the files faster. I recommend you do this at least every month(In Windows Vista you can schedule times to defragment).

To access Dick Defragment:

• In Windows Vista click start and type in Disk Defragment and click Disk Defragment”
• In Windows XP go to start, all programs, accessories, system tools, Disk Defragment

In Windows Vista a window (screenshot above). In Windows XP a different window will appear (screenshot below).

In Windows Vista click “defragment now” in Windows XP click “Defragment”

Defragmenting can take quite a while so be patient.

Disable Start-up Programs

When you start up your computer some applications load in the background(many that you don’t use) causing start-up times to slow down.

To access “msconfig” in Windows Vista press start and type in msconfig, than click msconfig. User Account Control my pop up asking for a username and password.

In Windows XP press and hold down together the Windows Key and “R”, type in “msconfig” and press enter.

BE VARY CAREFUL HERE. DONT DISABLE RANDOM THINGS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

Go to the “startup” tab. Uncheck all programs you don’t need to startup in the background. (Note: Don’t uncheck security software). Click apply and close the window.

Disable Services

Services are like mini programs running in the background. Unfortunately these little programs take up lots of power. To disable certain services get to “msconfig”again. This time click the Services tab. Make sure to check “hide Microsoft services”. Now disable all services you don’t need. If you don’t know what a service is (ie.syshep) expand location header and you will find out that it is an iTunes helper. Don’t disable any services that say essential on them.

Remove Documents

It is quite easy to remove documents. Press start click documents, select what documents you don’t need, and press the delete button on your keyboard.

To be continued…

Remove Unused Programs

Most people have many unused programs on thier computer which causes the computer to slow down. Removing unused programs will help allot .

To remove programs:

• In Windows XP click start, Control Panel, click add or remove programs
• In Windows Vista click start, search programs and click Programs and Features

Select the programs you don’t need and click remove.

Disable Visual Effects

Disabling Aero in Windows Vista and visual affect’s in Windows XP will also speed up your computer

You can disable visual effects in XP by going to the Performance options window.

You can disable Aero in the Appearance Settings window in the Control Panel

After doing these things your computer will start to speed up

Written By: Louis Mark

Vista/7 More Secure than OSX and Linux

Security is always a highlycontended subject, and last week Microsoft claimed that Windows Vista and Windows  7 is the world’s most secure OS, beating both Linux and Mac OS X.

Here’s what Microsoft’s chief operating officer Kevin Turner had said

 

Vista today, post-Service Pack 2, which is now in the marketplace, is the safest, most reliable OS we’ve ever built. It’s also the most secure OS on the planet, including Linux and open source and Apple Leopard. It’s the safest and most secure OS on the planet today. Everything that we’ve learned in Vista will be leveraged in Windows 7, but certainly when we broke a lot of the compatibility issues to lock down user account controls, to lock down the ability to manipulate states and all the things, that was a very painful process for us to grow through, but we had to do it. And the reason that Windows 7 will be successful is because of the pain we took on Vista. Because from a compatibility standpoint, if it works on Vista, it will work on Windows 7. If it doesn’t work on Vista, it won’t work on Windows 7.

 

The My OS is better then yours is pointless and benefits nobody.

As a Windows user I can’t help but believe that Windows is more secure than any other OS but the facts actually prove that Windows is really more secure than any other OS. Intact almost all tests agree with Kevin Turner and I. The only reason Windows has so many viruses is because most people use Windows, therefore virus makers can make much more money off infected PC’s. If you don’t agree here is a analogy I made:

If you had the choice to rob a house with only $1 in it with all the doors unlocked, or the choice of a house with a $1,000,000 in it with tight security which would you choose. The average guy with common sense would pick the second one. Windows would be the house with $1,000,000 and OSX & Linux would be the first choice.

Tripp Zao

April 23 2009

Copehagon User Experience- Is This What Windows 7 Should Have Been

Copenhagen User Experience from Copenhagen Concept on Vimeo.

User interface designer Cullen Dudas doesn't work at Microsoft. Yet. But from the looks of this stunning demo of his Copenhagen User Experience design concept, Microsoft might want to hire him before someone else does. Could this be a first look at Windows 8?

When Cullen first began working on Copenhagen, he started with a question: "How could one reenergize, reinvigorate the very essence and soul of Windows?" After a look at his revolutionary user interface that keeps what's good about Windows 7 and tosses the rest, we think his question has been answered with a slam dunk.

Written By: Sarah Zao

The Windows Ads You Never Saw

I found some Window’s “Rookies” ads I found on http://www.windows.co.uk that have never been aired outside the United Kingdom

I have to admit that I like these 3 ads better than the American & Canadian ads. I will see what else I can dig up.

Sorry kid I don’t think you’ll be a millionaire for that video of your sister

Written By; Louis Mark

Stay Secure on Windows Live Messenger

Windows Live Messenger is the worlds most used instant messaging client. Hackers will try to find any way to infect your computer to steal your money by use of things like :

• Phishing Attacks
• Viruses
• Worms

Windows Live Messenger is a top target for hackers because so many people use it.

By now you’ve most likely been sent a like like this one sent from a hacker posing as one of your friends:

Of course you would have clicked one of those links thinking that it was from one of your friends. When you click the link’s you find out that it had a virus! To prevent this from happening you should

1. Look for suspicious behaviour. If your friend logged on sent you a link and logged off it is most likely a hacker
2. If you try to reply and you get no answer it is most likely a virus'
3. If the hacker sends the link while appearing offline it is most likely a virus.
4. Have anti-virus software
5. If you are not sure if a link is safe go to:http://safeweb.norton.com/ and check.

Hackers manage to hack your Windows Live account by simply asking for you password!

It is extremely important that YOU NEVER EVER GIVE OUT YOUR PASSWORD TO ANYONE, EVEN A FRIEND. I took this screenshot above which asks you to type in you password. As you can see this looks much like the Windows Live ID login screen so the average user would put in their e-mail address and password.

To know if the website asking for your password is really legitimate look in the URL bar to see if it green. If it is white or red it is most likely fake.

File Sharing

Often people will send you files through Windows Live Messenger. To protect yourself make sure you have proper Anti-Virus software and:

• Look at the file format, never accept uncommon file types or .zip or .exe files
• Ask your friend “Did you send me a file”

Written By: Tripp Zao

Microsoft Punches Apple’s ads back with Laptop Hunters

Microsoft latest attack ad’s agents apple are called Laptop Hunters. These 3 ads feature 4 people hunting for a laptop below a certain price. Of course

they all complain about the prices of Mac’s. Most people say that this ad campaign actually got them to switch back to Windows; it turned out that Microsoft can get something right.

CNBC has Lost it's Mind

Regular, non computer geeks, are very confused enough about buying a Mac or PC so CNBC decided to clear things up by breaking the true cost of Mac and PC ownership. Wait, I did not know that Mac’s had battery that lasted all day.

According to CNBC Silicon Valley Bureau Chief (a ridiculous title) PC’s need many more things to perform as well as Mac’s such as:

 

Product:	Price:	The Truth:
Norton Anti-Virus	$50 Year	I got Norton Internet Security for $30 from Canada Computers.All OS’S need Anti-Virus software.
Multimedia Software	$80-$104	What the hell is he talking about, Windows Media Center has all the multimedia you need.
Photoshop	$140	Only professional photo editors need it. The average user only Needs Photo Gallery.
Video Editing	$100	Comes with Windows
Music Software	$100	Why would you need music software. Windows Media Player has all you need.
Geek Squad Visit	$129	Most Mac’s and PC’s will need to visit Geek Squad

He also said Mac’s get 6x the battery life (not true) faster processors (not true) and higher screen resolutions (not true).

Last time I checked you could get very decent anti-virus software for free, Mac’s don’t come with Photoshop or endless battery, and iTunes is free and OSX and Windows. There are very decent free photo editing software on Windows  like Google’s Picasa and is just as good or better than iPhoto. It’s finny how he forgot to mention how Windows Live is 100% free and Apple’s Mobile Me (the Windows Live equivalent) charges $100 a year.

There are reasons not to get a PC like there are valid reasons not to get a Mac. But this guy is on a news program as a reporter and the public will believe most things the news tells them, if he’s going to go on TV and tell people why Mac’s are better than PC’s go ahead, but he should know what he’s talking about. I hope this guy gets fired and has to wash is mouth out with soap. :)

Mac’s have a battery that last all day, C’mon guy!!