Slow Computer

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Hi everybody. We all have issues with our computers slowing down from time to time at some point in time. Sometimes, all that is needed to remedy the problem is to simply reboot the computer. this action will usually help the most when you have been doing a lot of work, especially with graphics or games. The reason for this type of slowdown is usually because a program that you are using is not handling the ram properly. A well written program will normally release the memory it is using either while you are using it or when you shut it down. Some programs have memory leaks that can cause the system to bog down because it is using too much ram (memory) on your computer. When you reboot the system, the memory is released and you begin again with a clean slate. If this happens on a regular basis, you might want to choose a different program to do the job you are trying to do or if you must use the offending program, you can install a utility such as Tune-Up Utilities to help manage the memory leak. Choosing a better program for the job is almost always the better choice.

There are often other reasons why a system might run slow. Sometimes it is due to hardware problems. If the computer is a laptop, overheating can often cause the issue. You should check your fans to be sure they are all working properly. It is also a good idea to get some canned air and blow out the ports where the air enters and leaves the laptop. If your computer is a desktop, you will have to remove the side cover in order to access the area where the fans where in order to remove the dust. If after performing these steps the system is still not running faster, the problem may be related to software issues.

When a system runs slow because of software problems, a good system cleanup is in order. The first steps would be to clean the browser cache in internet explorer. You can easily do this by going to your control panel, open internet options and under browser history click the delete button. A pop up will open and you will be able to choose what to clean. Be sure to always at least clean the browser cache. The other options are totally up to you. Remember that cleaning the cookies may erase your stored passwords on the next log in so be sure you have your passwords written down.

In addition, you might also want to shut off running programs at start up. You can do this with a small Windows utility called MSCONFIG. You can access this utility several ways but the fastest and easiest way is through a simple hot key. Look on your keyboard in the lower left side for a key that looks like the Windows symbol. This is called the Windows key. This key can be used to quickly perform many tasks when used with proper letter key. For our purpose, we are going to use it to open a RUN box. While holding down the Windows key, quickly tap the R key and a RUN box will open on your computer.In the box type MSCONFIG and hit OK. This will open the system configuration utility. Go to the START UP tab and from there, you can choose what programs you want to run when the system starts. Uncheck anything that is not needed and hit APPLY and OK. You will be prompted to reboot the system.

If after these steps you still have a slow computer, it would probably be a good idea to get a professional cleanup by a qualified tech. A professional knows exactly what to look for and will be able to get better results. No two computers are the same and what is good for one may not work on the next. Windows is a very complex maze of files and commands and believe me, there is lots that can go wrong.

Computer Power Options

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Hi everybody. Today I would like to talk a little about the different power options you have for your computer. There has been a lot of talk about whether you should leave your computer on all the time or shut it off at night. If you search the topic, you will find answers that vary widely. Today, I am going to share some of my own experiences on the topic.

In general, most of our office computers stay on all the time. This is in part that some are running as servers all night and day and that some I just leave on to keep them ready in case I need to do some work right away and I do not want to wait for the system to boot up. In all cases, I do NOT use sleep mode for any of our computers. We have found that computers coming out of sleep mode or hibernation run very slow, often until they are re-booted. The only power saving option we enable is for the screen to shut off after about an hour. The difference in energy used in sleep mode vs leaving it on are not all that impressive. So the big question is how does leaving the computer on affect it’s life? We have put several systems to the test and the results are quite conclusive.

We have tested several laptops and desktops and we have left these systems on 25/7 for several years. The Sony laptop we tested ran for 8 years straight before I had to replace a fan. After repairing the fan, the computer is still going strong. In comparison, I had a backup system that I would only turn on when I needed it and turned it off when I was finished. The hard drive on this system failed after about 2 years. All of our systems that are on 24/7 appear to outlive the systems that are frequently turned on and off.

All modern hard drives have a S.M.A.R.T system chip built into them.This sensor measures and records on your computer the number of starts and stops the hard drive makes. All hard drives have a rated number of starts and stops that they are supposed to achieve. Once you reach that threshold, you are on borrowed time. I should note that every time you start your computer, this action puts wear on the heads of the HD. A large number of starts and stops will create more wear then if the system is left on.

In general, if you are only going to be away from your computer a few hours, just leave it on. If you are going out for the day or will be gone for an extended period of time, it is probably a good idea to shut the computer off. If you are going on an extended vacation, pull the plug as well to avoid any power spikes from a thunder storm. One other thing I should mention that is really important, be sure to get a battery backup to protect your system from brown outs and power outages. When a computer suddenly shuts down because of a power outage, your hard drive or other delicate components could be permanently damaged.

I hope this article helps clear up any questions you might have about computer power options.

DNS Changer Malware

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Hi everybody. If you are one of the thousands of people who have a computer that is infected with the DNS changer virus, your computer may loose it’s connectivity with the internet this summer. DNS is basically like a routing service for your computer. It helps to connect you to the correct servers in order to get to the sites that you want to go to. If your DNS is altered, you might be directed to sites that are different then the ones you choose (redirected). There are many virus infections that can cause redirects and these can usually be fixed by using different methods of removal depending on the origin of the redirects. The difference with the DNS changer virus is that on or after July 9, infected computers will loose all connectivity to the internet if infected.

The DNS changer virus actually originated several years ago and it recently was shut down by the FBI. When the servers were shut down, the bad DNS server numbers were corrected and infected computers were directed to the correct sites through these servers. These alternate servers will be shut down on July 9. Anybody that is still using these servers will loose their internet connection at that time if the malware is not removed prior to July 9. If you are connected to this altered internet, you probably will not notice any symptoms. There is a test at dcwg.org to see if you actually are infected.

Computer Power Protection

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Hi everybody. We all know how much a power blip can inconvenience us when you are in the middle of an important project on your computer. Power surges or brown outs can cause your computer to rapidly shut off or freeze. If you were in the middle of a project, you might loose some the work you were working on or you may encounter something much worse. Under some circumstances, an abrupt shutdown from a brief power failure can cause catastrophic damage to the machine. The damage can come in many forms. Sometimes when a hard drive is shut down improperly, physical damage can sometimes be done to the drive itself. In other instances, the operating system files may become corrupt and a repair install of windows will be in order. In other cases, damage to other components including the motherboard can occur.

The good news is that there are many ways to help prevent or at least minimize the possibility of this damage happening. The first thing you can do is be sure you at least have a good power surge protector attached to your computer. This will help protect you from power spikes but it will not help if the power goes out completely.  For the best protection possible, you should have a UPS battery backup attached to your equipment. This device not only gives you the protection you need from power spikes but also will keep your computer running even when the power fails. The UPS will give you the time you need to properly shut down your system without loosing data or damaging the system.

UPS power protectors come in many sizes and of course, the larger you go the more you will have to shell out. Some of the smallest units can go for as low as 39 or 49 dollars. These units will help but the runtime will be short and you will need to power down your system almost immediately after the power outage begins. If you opt for a larger unit, you might get as much as 20 minutes runtime before you have to shutdown your system. Regardless of what you pay, this option is much better then just a simple surge protector. Most UPS devices come with software that you can install to shut down your computer automatically if a power outage occurs while you are not at home or near the computer. They usually attach to your system with a USB cable or serial port.

Although most UPS systems have a long life, the batteries occasionally have to be changed. The average lifespan of most batteries is about 3 to 4 years. This life could be shortened if the system batteries are frequently discharged. For the money, this could be one of the best treats you could get for the protection of your system, next to having a virus scanner. It definitely pays to shop around when looking for a battery backup for your computer. Prices can vary greatly and sometimes you can get your best deals online.

The Evolution of Operating Systems

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Hi everybody! With all the technology we have today computer repair has come a long way since the early days of Windows. Just think, it seems like just yesterday that we were using Windows 95, and that it was the greatest thing since the invention of coffee. At that time dialup was the primary internet connection and remote support was very cumbersome if not almost impossible because of the slow internet connections. The primary way to repair your system was to take your computer to a local repair shop. At the time, there were very few options. Remember trying to connect a USB device? It was haphazard at best to get it to work.

Windows 98 was a much improved operating system compared to Windows 95. The USB function was improved but not by all means mastered. At least it worked part of the time. During the evolution on Windows 98 we started to see faster broadband connections but having one was considered a luxury. With the beginning of the faster connection era, remote computer support was born but in a very primitive way. In most cases, you had to pre load a client software on the system that was to be controlled before you could gain access to repair the client system. Remote was possible, but very difficult.

Now we will talk a bit about the OS that Microsoft likely tried to forget about. Remember Windows ME? This version was likely the most buggy of all the Windows versions combined. It really had no added features over Windows 98 but it had lots of crashes and blue screens. USB devices began to work better and broadband was starting to gain in popularity. There were still many areas that still did not provide it. The primary high speed medium was DSL at that time.

Finally, the best OS that Microsoft was ever going to produce was almost ready. With Windows  XP a whole new revolution was started with solid USB performance, great driver compatibility, more speed and stability and the beginning of the NTFS file system. With XP came advances that nobody ever dreamed would be possible. The broadband craze was now in full swing and remote computer repair was gaining in popularity.  The software used for the remote connections was still quite primitive but programs were being introduced that would allow remote connections without first having to install a program on the clients computer. You know the rest of the history. First came service pack 1 and then the service pack 2. Service pack 3 came much later in the life cycle of Windows XP. By the time of Service Pack 2, remote software became much more advanced and it was a safe way to repair your computer without having to take it to a shop. Programs like PC Anywhere and RSS were among the best ones at the time. Some others such as Bomgar, which is the solution that we currently use, became so advanced that it is now possible to fix almost anything without ever having to physically touch the machine.

Windows Vista came and went but the vast majority of users opted to stick with good ol XP. When Windows 7 was introduced, many XP users decided to trade up to the new operating system. Windows 7 is a good operating system for most people if you have a new machine to go with it. If you have an older machine, it is wise to stick with good old reliable XP. Today, I still have several machines running XP and those machines will keep XP until the ultimate death of the motherboard. I still feel good old XP is by far the most reliable and easiest to repair of all the operating systems combined.

If you choose to keep your windows XP running in pristine condition, regular maintenance is a must. Having a professional clean up once or twice a year will keep your system running until the end of time. Do not install programs that claim to “speed up” your system or optimize the registry as they most likely will do the opposite and slow your computer down. Be sure to keep up with all security updates and have a current anti-virus program.

 

Welcome!

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Hi everybody! Welcome to our new blog for Advantage Computers. Here we will post information related to computer virus removal, latest Windows updates and much more. Check back often for the latest information.