Speed up ur PC

I have seen many computers, especially older ones that take a long time to boot up and are also very slow on the internet. I devised a list of things you can do to "fix" computers that lag. I've "fixed" many computers this way and people were amazed so I will share it with you.

1. Click a blank spot on your computer, and go to properties. From there you can minimize the video acceleration and resolution settings. Use a minimal setting that you are comfortable with and you will see amazing results.

2. Clean up your desk top by putting all icons in a single folder and date it by renaming the folder.

3. Clear your cookies, the temporary internet files,etc. Also clear your recent documents. You should be careful about clearing the passwords and log in information on your browser.

4. Minimize your start up folder, this will cause your computer to boot up faster.

5. Get rid of any large video files (over 1 giga bytes, for example)
Get rid of any files or folders that you don't need.
Get rid of any programs that you don't need. ( Make sure you have a back up on a cd or dvd, because once you uninstall a program, it's gone.)

6. Do a disk clean up. You do this by going to My Computer and clicking on the properties button. You will see the disk cleanup button there.

7. Use a registry cleaner with extreme caution. The idea is to get rid of all unused registry values but if you remove too many of them, some of the programs will not run.

8. Use anti spyware and anti virus software to run a scan and delete any unwanted virus or spyware.

9. You can also use "utilities programs" to clean out your computer and make it go faster.

The whole idea is to reduce your cpu usage and enable faster access to our files by reducing the over all load on your computer. By following the nine steps above your computer will run simpler and thus faster. (Note: when you get rid of files or programs, make sure you have a back up on a CD or DVD so that you can "put them back" in case you change your mind later.)

Here's another trick you can use if you find that the fonts on your web pages are too small and hard to read. You can change the font settings on the desk top to large fonts, or simpler yet, use the CTRL button on the keyboard with the scroll button on your mouse to "zoom in" on the webpage and make the font size appear larger.

That's all for now, happy computing!

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Top 10 PC Trouble Shooting Tips - From Reboot to Reinstall

1) Rebooting
If something has gone wrong, locked up or just plain acting strange then returning it to its last known working state is a good option. Rebooting will often do this as generally the application will have been working when you started your computer.

Not only this, but your application may not be at fault - something else may be causing the problem that you are unaware of, a reboot may well sort out something else that has changed without your knowledge.

2) Re-installing Software and/or Drivers
If you have a software problem - a program that is not working - a good option is to unistall and re-install that program. You can use the "Add/ Remove Programs" option in Windows Control Panel for this, simply select the program from the list and choose "uninstall", then re-install the program from its origional source - the CD, DVD or download, wherever it came from. Remember to backup all your associated files first.

Devices (hardware) often fail because of a conflict between what (or how) you are telling it to do something and what it understands. The device driver is responsible for this. If you have updated windows (or other operating system) recently, or if you haven't used a device in a long time, or perhaps you have a new device this is a good tip to try.

This example is for Windows XP - From the windows "Control Panel" click on the "System" icon and then the "Hardware" tab and then the "Device Manager" button. You will see a list of all your devices. Locate the device that isn't working, right click and select "Update Driver...". This will lead you through the process of updating the driver.

If this fails, try [right click] (on the device name) "Properties" then "Driver" tab and the "Uninstall" button. This will totally uninstall the current driver, you can now use the disk (if you have one) or the internet to locate and install a brand new driver.

3) Conflicts at Startup
Software sometimes installs stuff that you are unaware of, this can sometimes be installed so that it starts every time you load windows. If you are not careful you can end up with loads of "stuff" running in the background that inadvertently causes problems with your main applications.

I like to use Windows Startup Inspector download and install this. It will show you all the programs that load at startup. Click on the "Consult" button top left and it will retrieve additional information about these programs from its online database. Look for programs with a recycle, exclamation or tick icon next to them, click to highlight these programs and then read the comments at the bottom. Look for anything that is unnecessary or things that you are sure that you don't use. When you find something that you don't need remove the green tick for that item.

When you have removed all the unessesary programs click "Apply", then "OK" and reboot your PC.

This way you should be able to remove loads of unwanted "stuff" and you might be able to remove a conflict. Just a little warning: you should be careful about stuff that you are unsure of, if in doubt leave it alone, or try removing just one item at a time and reboot your computer - if something isn't working use the Inspector to turn it back on again. Having said this try to be as brutal as you dare, many things running just slows down your PC, at anyone time I have about 2/3rds of these programs switched off!

4) Viruses Do Weird Things
If you have picked up a virus of just about any type they do weird things they are often unpredictable, they can eat up your precious resources either by design or simply because they have been badly written.

If your computer is running slow with unexpected lock-ups or crashes make sure that you run a full virus and spyware scan. There are many free virus software, AVG Free is my current favourite.

5) Test Your RAM
A fairly rare but not uncommon problem is memory issues, sometimes part of your RAM may develop an error. This in turn can cause all sorts of problems as your applications may lose data or access unavailable bits of memory – havoc can follow - so check out your memory. A free utility for this is available here: Memtest86 3.2 – be warned though you need to create a bootable floppy disk! I hope you still have one laying around!

Here is an alternative from Microsoft Memory Diagnostic 1 – again requires a floppy disk.

If this doesn’t work or you can’t locate a floppy disk, you may have to open up your PC and take out one (or more) of the RAM sticks. With older PC’s your RAM needs to be located in pairs so you need to remove the sticks in pairs. Then reboot to test; obviously your PC will run slower with less RAM but you may prevent crashes in which case you’ve found the root of your problem. If you are unsure, or have doubts about this find a friendly store that can help you, if you locate an error then they can help sell you the correct replacement.

Also note that if you buy new RAM it is very important to buy the right type for your PC, if you install the wrong type you may not notice any difference, but it may cause problems. If you are just looking to speed up your PC buy more RAM; but make sure that you buy the right type and buy as much as you can, generally modern Windows PC's run well with 1Gb but 2Gb is better.

6) Test Your Registry
The Registry is a restricted area used by windows to hold all sorts of information about the running of your PC including information about all of the hardware and software installed on your computer, configurations and preferences. Errors here can cause a world of problems and it’s good to use utilities to keep your registry running smoothly as well as investigating when you discover problems.

My favourite I use at the moment is: Registry Mechanic – unfortunately this application is not free but it is very good (The price is $29.95). Registry Mechanic finds a wide range of defects, including references to already uninstalled programs, missing help files, broken shortcuts, virtual devices, start-up programs, fonts, and configuration files.

If you prefer you may be able to find a free version, searching Download.com is a good place to start.

7) Check your Power Supply and Overheating
I remember a long time ago I was having trouble with an old PC, it was running extremely slowly – after trying everything I could think of, I was at a loose end. Finally I remembered to check for heat – as it happens my PC was hanging over the back of my desk right over a radiator. In this case the processor (the central core of the PC) had a safety feature that allowed it to slow down when it got very hot. Simply rearranging my desk (and resetting the processor speed) solved the problem!

Check for this sort of problem, look for additional heat sources and also check the cooling in your PC – make sure that the fans aren’t blocked and make sure that they are free from dust and running freely. It is a good idea to occasionally do this anyway. Make sure that everything is disconnected and earthed - touch a metal part of the case to discharge any static before touching any internal devices then use a soft brush to clean any fans. Blowing and cotton buds also help.

Also check your power supply (the brick half way along your power cord from the wall to the PC) swap it out for a different one of the same make if possible to help eliminate problems.

If you discover and fix a problem your (now cooler) processor may reset itself to its normal speed, but it may not, in which case you will have to do this yourself. You will have to enter the BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) – this is the built in control software that you see on the computer screen before Windows loads (BIOS contains all the code required to control the keyboard, display screen, disk drives, serial communications, and a number of other functions). Please refer to your computers handbook for instructions or get an expert to help.

8) Other Hardware Issues
You may have other hardware that has developed a problem; again this will involve opening your PC. You are looking for items located in the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slots. PCI slots allow numerous different types of expansion cards to be connected inside a computer to extend the computers functionality. Examples of PCI expansion cards are network cards, graphics cards and sound cards.

If you are confident to identify these you can remove them one at a time, and reboot your PC to test if the problems you are experiencing have been resolved. Again to be safe you may like to get an expert to help, otherwise search Google for information about removing PCI slot components. And remember once you remove a component this will have an effect on your PC, for example if you remove a graphics card your display may well look different, keep this in mind.

9) Update Your BIOS
I briefly mentioned the BIOS earlier, sometimes this may need updating – this is very rare, you are more likely to have to do this if you upgrade hardware or perhaps if you move to a new version of Windows. This is a technical as possibly dangerous (for your PC) operation, if you are going to attempt this yourself search Google for “BIOS update [Manufactures Name]” where [Manufactures Name] is replaced with the name of the manufacturer of your PC - for example “BIOS update DELL”.

Make sure that you have everything ready before you start and follow the instructions carefully - make sure that you are following the correct set of instructions for your specific make and model of PC!

10) Finally if all else fails… Reinstall Windows.
Re-installing Windows is often a major pain in the backside, but sometimes it is inevitable and sometimes it is your last chance of getting your PC back up and running.

Try and make sure that you back up as much of your data as possible either on CD, DVD or other external device.

However, here are instructions for Reinstall Windows Without Losing Your Data

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Graphic Card

 

The graphic card is one of the most important pieces of hardware in your PC. Without it, your super monitor with all the bells and whistles is just a junk box.

Make Directional Input

Most video cards come with simple frame capture programs, but you'll have to do some programming if you plan to integrate video capture with other operations on your computer, such as adding text data as an overlay or changing video-in channels on the fly. In this case you'll need good programming libraries in a language with which you are familiar for the video card. Some companies include libraries with their cards, but most charge extra. Most often libraries, when available, are for C or BASIC, and sometimes Pascal.

Choose Between 24 bit and 32 bit

For True Color mode, some graphic cards offer 24 bit while some offer 32 bit. Which is the best? When True Colour mode was first suggested, it utilizes 32 bit which was very pleasing to the eye, they realize that 24 (with less coolers) won't look much different since the human eye can only take about a certain amount of colors. On the other hand, 24 bit will run faster compared to 32 bit because it uses less colors. So if your card utilizes 24 bit, don't worry, it isn't bad.

Always Use The Latest Drivers

Yes, it is important to make sure you always have the latest drivers. The latest drivers will offer you better performance, more utilities and more compatibility (usually for DirectX or Direct3D). Take the effort to check you card manufacturer's site to look for the latest driver updates.

 

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How to solve low memory problems

Normally this warning message shows when you run many programs same time than the RAM installed on your computer is designed to support.  Your can solve this problem by increasing the system paging file size also called as virtual memory. Using this virtual memory windows moving information to and from the paging file for fast processing.  This will free up enough RAM for other programs to run properly.

To increase the system page file follow the give path:

Control Panel > System > Advanced > Click on Settings (Under Performance) > Advanced > Change

Here under Drive (Volume label), you have option to select any of your hard disk drive, but the best choice is, select any drive other than C drive for virtual memory.

Set the double Initial & Maximum Size of your Virtual Memory. Here set initial size 700 MB and maximum size up to 1000MB; you can change this size according to the free space available on your hard drive.

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PC Troubleshooting Tips

Why is My PC Crashing?

Nothing can put a damper on productivity quite like a computer that crashes on a regular basis. Sometimes, a crash is preceded by the dreaded “blue screen of death” or another warning; other times, a computer simply shuts off without any warning at all. In either case, the end result is a whole lot of frustration, aggravation and lost work. If your computer has been crashing frequently, you’d probably like to put an end to it. Unfortunately, getting to the bottom of things if often easier said than done. The following tips about improving your computer’s performance, though, are excellent places to begin.

Possibility #1: Corrupted System Registry Files

Every Windows-based PC has something called a Windows registry. The registry contains several files that are integral to the performance and operation of your computer. Over time, some of those files can become corrupted, be misplaced or get lost altogether. When that happens, the system registry becomes compromised – and frequent crashes are all-too-common symptoms. The best way to rule this possibility in or out is by running a Windows registry cleaning program. Such programs scan your Windows registry for problems then automatically make repairs. If you run a registry cleaner and the crashes persist, they are probably being caused by a different issue.

Possibility #2: Disorganized Files

Windows operating systems handle file organization in a way that isn’t very intuitive. Basically, they break files up and fit them into gaps in the computer’s memory. As time goes by, these disorganized files can prompt frequent crashes. Luckily, a great optimization solution is built right into Windows-based PCs: the disk defragmentation utility. Although its location on a computer varies, you can generally locate it within the System and Security section inside the Control Panel. By running a defrag once every few months, you may be able to keep those pesky computer crashes at bay.

Possibility #3: Malicious Software

Malicious software can take many different forms. Sometimes, it’s a virus that is accidentally unleashed after opening a strange email; other times, its adware that tags along with other information that is automatically downloaded from a website. Whatever type it is, there’s no question that malicious software can wreak havoc on a computer’s performance. Happily, there are many topnotch programs out there that regularly scan your computer for the presence of such problems – and that help guard against them, too. Buy one, install it and use it regularly; your crash issues may come to an end.

Possibility #4: Too Little Available Memory

When you buy a new computer, it feels like there’s no end to the amount of memory that it has. Of course, this isn’t true at all. As never-ending as the available memory on your PC may initially seem, the fact is that it can be depleted with incredible speed. You can find out for sure by checking the information within “My Computer.” If it appears that your available memory is low, you can use a PC cleanup program to remove unnecessary files; such programs remove things like temporary Internet files and other file debris that can suck away much-needed memory.

Possibility #5: Overheating

If you’ve run through all of the preceding possibilities and continue experiencing frequent crashes, a hardware issue could be to blame. An easy one to rule out is overheating. A computer’s CPU, or central processing unit, includes a fan that is designed to keep it running cool. Sometimes, the fan wears down and doesn’t work as efficiently; other times, it’s just not able to handle the work that your computer has to do. In either case, buying a bigger, better fan isn’t very expensive. If it puts an end to your PC crashing problem, it will have been more than worth it.

Don’t Put Up with Frequent Crashes!

As discussed, frequent computer crashes can be triggered by a wide variety of issues. Luckily, many of these issues are relatively easy to remedy. Work your way through the preceding list; chances are, you’ll be able to pinpoint the problem and put an effective cure to work. Nine times out of ten, a computer simply needs a little bit of routine maintenance to get it back on track again. In the future, keep these points in mind. Any time you buy a new computer, keep up with its basic maintenance right from the get-go. By doing that, you could avoid “blue screen of death” and crashing problems altogether – and that’s something that you’re bound to appreciate!

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Method of Getting an Effective URL

Do you know about URL? I think, you already know about this. But remember that a few days ago; most people were not concerned about this concept. Some days ago, I asked one of my friends that I am choosing an URL for my personal website. Then he asked me what the URL was. Then I was astonished about that. But afterwards I realized that it is very common problem for the non-technical persons. So in this post, I will try to give you a good and clear idea about URL and about the method of choosing perfect URL for the website.

URL is the short form of Uniform Research Locator. The word URL cannot be familiar to all, but the persons who use internet more or less are using URL always whether he or she is informed about the meaning of it or not. URLs are the web addresses of any company or organization. URL is like a name. You also have a name. If I ask you for your name then you will tell me your short name in order to easily memorize. The same thing should be remembered to choose URL for websites.

Let’s see the importance of a good and effective URL. If you want that the people who come online and visit your website, will come again and again to your website, then you should choose a short URL. If any person faces difficulty to remember the URL names then he or she will lose the interest to visit your website again. So use an easily remembered URL if possible. Only the URL can create a difference in the case of website’s popularity. Remember also that your URL name should become easy to type and related to the contents of your website. Otherwise you will not be able to reach the main goal.

I am giving you an example. Suppose you have a company named ABC and you have used the name ABC as the URL of the company website. Sometimes, it can be tough to type the full name as an URL, but remember that it is logical and your company will be well known to the users’ day-by-day through this name.

I think you have got the main point of this post. Just try to follow the advice. But choice is yours.

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How to Hide Files/Folders into Image without any Software

Sometimes we may need to hide some private files or folders from others. In that case, we generally use some folder lock software. But today I will show you the process of hiding files or folders into the pictures. A person will not be able to assume about this. 1. You will have winrar installed into your computer to perform this task. If you do not have any, then download that from this link (http://www.win-rar.com/www.win-rar.com/index.php?id=promo_subscribe&dl=/rar/wrar400.exe). If this link does not work in windows, then download the latest winrar software from this link (http://www.win-rar.com/download.html). 2. Now create a new folder. Now bring those folders of files into this newly created folder which you want to hide from others. Suppose the name of this folder is “New1”. 3. Choose the image under which you want to hide the desired file. Suppose the name of that image file is “img1.jpg”. Remember that the format will be must jpg or jpeg. Keep this image into the folder “New1”. 4. Now place the mouse button above the folder “New1” and right click on that mouse. Then click on the option named “Add to archive” and press “Ok”. A new rar file is created now. The name of this file is New1.rar.    5. Now open the Notepad from going here: “Start>Run”, typing “Notepad” into the textbox and then pressing Enter or Ok. Paste the following code into there: @echo off copy /b img1.jpg+New1.rar Result.jpg echo complete pause end I hope you have understood the above code what is placed there. Here you can not change Result.jpg. Now you will have to save this file as “Marge.cmd” and keep it into that place where you have New1.rar and img1.jpg files. 6. Your work is about to finish. Just double click on the Marge.cmd file. You will get a command window like this:

7. After this window, you will get an image file with the name as Result.jpg into the new folder. You will get your desired folder into this image. But the other people will not easily understand this. You will not be able to understand that there is a file clicking on Result.jpg. You can delete the files named New1.rar and img1.jpg if you want. You can also change the name of Result.jpg. If you want to get back the original position, then right click on the mouse over Result.jpg. Then form the command “open with” select “choose program” and then winRAR archive. Then you will get your desired folder.

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