Monday, 21 February 2011

Windows 7 Slow Startup - Improve Windows 7 Slow Startup for Free

Windows 7 slow startup upsets you? Finally fed up with it and going to spend a huge amount of money to get Windows 7 slow startup fixed? Before you do so, why not have a glance at this article to boost up the slow start-up speed of Windows 7 for free?

<1>Improper DPI value renders Windows 7 slow startup

Start-up time may be slowly lengthened, if DPI is set to a value other than 96 on a Windows 7 computer that is connected to a high resolution CRT/LCD. Please perform the following steps to determine if improper DPI value is the reason why Windows 7 starts up slow:

  1. Go to "Control Panel"
  2. Enter "Hardware and Sound"
  3. Run "Make text or other items larger or smaller"

If the DPI value is different from "Smaller - 100%(default)", you should start to apply the hotfix showed in the end of this article to speed up Windows 7 slow boot.

<2> Excessive software running simultaneously slow Windows 7 startup

It doesn't matter how high computer specifications are, excessive resource-eating programs loading themselves up inevitably extend the startup time that Windows 7 needs to slowly boot. To disable unnecessary startup programs, there are two ways:

  1. Press" Win+R" to Run "Msconfig", select "Startup" tab, uncheck unwanted items.
  2. Download "Autoruns for Windows" which is a much more powerful Microsoft product in comparison with "Msconfig".

<3>Antivirus products make Windows 7 slow startup

Poorly-coded or buggy antivirus products often make Windows 7 start up slow, to deal with this issue, antivirus products should always be kept up to date, or choose better ones. And what you should also know is turning off real-time monitoring helps increase the speed of Windows 7 & XP slow startup. Turn it back on whenever you want after computer boots up.

<4>Jamming registry causes Windows 7 to start up slow

The registry is as important to Windows 7 as smooth traffic to a city. When we install and uninstall applications, over time, registry gets jammed up with broken keys, entries, etc, which slows Windows 7 startup down, it is exactly like what heavy traffic would do to a city. To manually maintain registry, run "REGEDIT", but it is not recommended, why not? Think about this When someone fools around with traffic regulations, what would happen? The whole city would be paralyzed, as well as Windows 7, if we blindly make changes to the essential registry. Nonetheless, in order to take good care of the registry and fix Windows 7 slow startup, it is crucial to choose the right registry optimizer, choosing free registry tools is a way to go, but not a good one, since you don't get any after-sale service, when a free but poorly-designed registry tool doesn't speed up Windows 7 slow startup and brings more severe system problems. Why not choose one that comes with a satisfaction guarantee?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_R._Miller

Sunday, 6 February 2011

6 Tips To Speed Up Your PC!

Here are six simple steps which, if followed, will result in faster peformance and a more secure computing environment.

1. If you have never used keyboard shortcuts, now is the time to try. These can save you lots of time and extra mouse movement! Take Windows + M for example. This simple shortcut minimises all open windows in one quick sequence. Imagine how long it would take to click minimise on each of ten open windows. Windows + E open Windows Explorer directly. Windows + L locks your computer if you need to leave your desk.

2. Most PC users are in agreement about the most pointless features of Windows Operating Systems. The delete confirmation dialog ('Are you sure you want to send this file to the recycle bin?') is certainly in the top 10 of annoying and repetative time wasters. If you do happen to make a genuine mistake while deleting, you can always restore a file from the recycle bin, so this dialog serves no useful purpose. You should turn it off and start saving some time. Right click on the Recycle Bin and untick the option to display the delete confirmation dialog.

3. Run Windows defragmenter at regular intervals to keep hard disk performance in good shape.The defragmenter does this by physically organizing the contents of the disk to store the pieces of each file close together on the hard drive. This results in noticably faster performance. Do a defrag once a month, or better still schedule this task (you can do this if you're using Vista).

4.Update Windows regularly. Computer hackers are constantly finding new ways to attack your computer with viruses & other malware. Microsoft continually searches for security vulnerabilities in their software and provides security updates to fix them. The security fixes are available, but computer users don't get them installed quickly enough. Head into your Control Panel & turn on Automatic Updates right away. An added advantage of activating Automatic Updates is that Microsoft provides other software updates that make your computer run better and faster. For example, an update may fix an issue with a hardware device, improve the performance of your computer, or deliver improved functionality.

5. Make sure all of your user accounts are password protected, especially the default Administrator account. If this has already been done, think about whether your existing passwords are good enough. Simple passwords are dangerous. If you're using any of the following for passwords you probably aren't as secure as you think: names of children, pets, parents, phone numbers or birthdays. Something like Zs86jF03t is much more effective. Notice the mix of upper and lowercase letters interspersed with numbers.

6. Install strong Antivirus Software. Do some research to satisfy yourself as to an effective antivirus software as some programs are decidedly mediocre. A good antivirus will form the mainstay of your computer's security while on the Internet. You can increase your security further with strong antispyware protection. A few years ago you might have got away with neglecting this issue, but certainly not today. Weak security will be quickly exploited by the latest rogues, trojans and rootkits.

Take these simple steps onboard and both you and your computer will be much happier tech travellers!

Tag : computer,computer pc,computer repair,computer software,computer hardware

Saturday, 29 January 2011

Smartly Speed Up Windows - Wisely Choose RAM to Speed Up Windows

In order to speed up Windows, Adding more RAM helps, but which type of RAM to choose? Is the most recent type the best to speed up Windows? Nope!

Normally the RAM that has the fastest transfer rate speeds up Windows the most, but it may not be an economical way to have a slow Windows speed up. As we know, the transfer rate of DDRII 800 is 6.4GB/s and that of DDRIII 1333 is 10.67GB/s. Transfer rate reflects the ability to transfer data, in another word it means the ability to speed Windows up. It is obvious some would say to have the speed of windows go up, DDRIII 1333 is a better option comparing to DDRII 800 which transfers 4.27GB less data per second and will slow the speed of Windows up, if the price is not in consideration.

However we actually can speed up Windows by using two or three pieces of DDRII 800 RAM to get a data transfer rate of 12.8GB or 19.2GB per second on a motherboard which supports dual-channel memory or triple-channel memory. As you understand right now, thanks to the multi-channel DDR technology, wisely choosing RAM and a motherboard helps to save money and speed up Windows!

In some cases, if you don't have any budget for a new piece of RAM, it is recommended to use a free memory cleaner applet to automatically optimize RAM usage in order to speed windows up! Looking for more professional ways to speed up Windows?

Tag : computer,windows,ram,computer rapair

Saturday, 15 January 2011

What Is Blu-Ray?

Back in 1997, a new home video format was introduced that utilised digital sound and video to provide the sharpest images and clearest sounds to homes across the world. The format was called the Digital Video Disc, or DVD, and it has since unseated VHS as the leading home video format all over the world.

DVD seems to be on its way out, however. Just like the large analog VHS tapes before them, DVDs are on the verge of being made obsolete by a relatively new format: Blu-ray.

Blu-ray players and discs were released in June 2006, although they were beaten to the market by HD-DVDs by a few months. Both formats were created to keep up with recently-released high-definition TVs such as Samsung televisions, which provided pictures and sound that were sharper than what standard DVDs were capable of providing. Although B-ray initially faced competition from HD-DVD, B-ray won the "format war" in 2008 when HD-DVD players and discs were pulled from the market.

Blu-ray gets its name from the blue-violet laser that is used to read the discs. The standard DVD player uses a red laser which has a much longer wavelength than blue/violet light. The shorter wavelength of a B-ray laser allows B-r discs to store almost ten times as much information as a standard DVD. Most single-sided DVDs can hold 4.7 GB (gigabytes) of information, which is about the size of a standard-definition two-hour movie with special features. A single-sided B-r disc, on the other hand, can hold 27 GB of data. This is enough for more than two hours of high-definition video or thirteen hours of standard-definition video. A double-layer Blu-ray disc can hold 54 GB of data, which is good for over 20 hours of standard definition video and 4.5 hours of high-definition video. There are currently plans to develop discs with an even higher capacity than that.

While the first Blu-ray players on the market were relatively expensive, their growing popularity and the fact that they are quickly overtaking DVD players on the market has made them more readily available and affordable. High-definition TVs have also grown in popularity, making B-ray players the ideal choice for those who want to enjoy the best movies with the best possible picture and sound quality. B-ray has even started to replace DVD-ROMs in computers as well as DVD recorders. The most advanced computers on the market now come with B-ray drives. For those who want to record their favourite shows on their high-definition TVs there are even now B-ray recorders such as the Panasonic B-ray Recorder on the market now.

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

Thursday, 6 January 2011

Computers - Motherboard, RAM And CPU

For those people looking to make their own computers, they might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options and combinations available to them. However, you can save a lot of money making your own computer rather than purchasing a ready-made personal computers. Computers are made up over certain key components which should be considered first above all else, as they are like jigsaw pieces; only certain pieces fit with other pieces. Here are some tips to purchasing components for your computers.

Motherboard, RAM, Processor

A computer is made up of three core parts, excluding the case, power supply and a hard drive. These core parts allow everything else to function and once provided with power, the computer will turn on (though it won't get far without further information from the hard drive). They all play their own part in the functioning of the PC. The motherboard serves as a hub for the other components, but provides no performance boost of its own. Therefore, when choosing a motherboard, look for compatibility with newer components.

The central processing unit (CPU) is much easier to decide on. With your motherboard in mind, you'll be restricted to a single series of CPUs, such as the new i3, i5 and i7 processors from Intel. Choose one to fit your budget and performance needs, keeping in mind that it's not only processing speed which matters, but also how many cores are provided.

With multiple cores, the processor can easily deal with multiple streams of information, meaning it beats other, similarly-powered processors that have lesser cores. For those who wish to multitask, a multi-core processor is a must. For overall increased performance, also consider purchasing high-quality RAM.

RAM (Random Access Memory) performs as temporary memory for the rest of the computer. Unlike the hard drive, which is designed for large storage over a long period of time with slow access speeds, RAM is designed for small storage over a short period of time with very fast access speeds. This makes it ideal for storing important or regularly used information that the CPU needs to access quickly. Obviously, the higher the speed and storage space, the better the RAM.

Power Supply

The power supply provides power to the entire computer, including every components within. When utilizing smaller power supply units (PSUs), even an additional hard drive or optical drive can make all the difference and may even result in your personal computer not switching on. For a larger computer using multiple hard drives and multiple graphics cards, consider at least a 700w+ power supply with the necessary power cables to juice up such components.

Tag : computer,computer repair,cheap computer,CPU

Thursday, 30 December 2010

Becoming a Computer Repair Service Technician - How To Choose the Right Technical School

Deciding to go back to school for a career in computers-or as it is commonly referred to in the field: IT, Information Technology, or IT Services is a big decision and one that should not be taken lightly. If you are reading this article then chances are you have already decided that a career in computer repair might be right for you; equally important is choosing the right school. In any community there are going to be a variety of options from traditional four-year universities to various different technical colleges. While a four-year university is usually the best option for long-term career growth, continuing education at a four-year college isn't right for everyone and many choose a technical college due to either the lower cost or shorter time required to complete the program. Many also choose to attend a technical college for computer repair so that they can quickly get into the workforce in an entry-level IT job and then complete a four-year degree later while they are working for a company that offers tuition reimbursement. This article will primarily focus on choosing the right technical college; one that will enable you to find work as a computer repair service technician, network technician, IT help desk operator or similar job.

In most cities there will be at least several different choices of technical schools that offer computer repair services training. The correct order to begin your selection process is to first make the decision to go back to school and then set about deciding which school to attend. Do not simply go in to meet with one of the schools recruiting agents and count on them to provide you with all the information you need regarding the schools merits. Doing so could put you at risk of losing your investment of time and money in a technical school education that does not produce a good job for you in the end. Any business needs to continue to sell its services to survive and technical colleges are no different. For this reason it is important to realize that the school's career recruiter is a salesperson for that particular school and is not likely to tell you anything that might influence you to go someplace else. Ironically this author has seen many people put more independent research into buying a used car than in selecting where to get their education. When going back to school to become a computer repair service technician it is important to realize that not all schools are created equal- some provide skills and certifications that will more easily transition you into a good paying job than others.

The first thing you need to consider is what employers are looking for. You should start by selecting several different companies that you would consider the ideal place that you'd like to work when you finish school. If you could start a computer services career anyplace that you wanted to then where would you want to work? These are the places that you need to contact for advice on which school they favor or has provided them in the past with the most qualified candidates. When calling you can ask to speak with the HR manager, or the manager of the department in which you'd like to work. Simply tell them that you respect their company and hope to work there some day in a computer services job and that you are looking for their advice on which school that they think is best. Most managers will be flattered that you are asking for their opinion and you will find that most (if not all) of them will be more than willing to speak with you and give advice about which schools have provided them with the most qualified computer workers. Most managers will have some very strong opinions about the computer technical colleges in their area but may be reluctant to say anything negative about any of them, so take careful note of which school they seem to favor. This is the most valuable information you will get in your search since once you complete your degree and begin your job search you will want to have gone to a school that is favorable in the eyes of your prospective employers. If they have had great success with employees that attended one particular college then having that school on your resume will lend you credibility. Likewise if they have had hired employees from another school and found them to be lacking in certain necessary skills, then having that school on your resume may be a barrier that you will have to overcome prior to getting a job offer from that company.

The second most important thing to consider is certifications. Certifications from Microsoft are highly valuable when trying to land a job in the computer services field since they guarantee a level of proficiency that a diploma all by itself does not. If you are looking for a job as a computer repair service technician then you will want to make sure that by the time you graduate you are at the minimum a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). The highest level of Microsoft Certification is called MCSE or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer-ideally you want to be an MCSE but for most purposes an MCP is enough to get you an entry-level job in computer repair. Certifications are also important because they are universally understood by employers. You can go anywhere in the country and while the employers there may not have heard of the technical school that you went to, they will know that you are guaranteed to be proficient with Microsoft products since Microsoft has certified it. Many schools offer certification as part of their curriculum but what's important to know is whether they require or guarantee it. Computer repair schools with lower standards will often have certifications listed as optional within their programs which is definitely a cause for concern. At the best technical schools certifications will be mandatory. At first it may sound good to hear that certification is optional however many lower level technical schools will make the certifications "optional" as a way to compensate when many of their graduates are lacking the necessary skills to obtain them. If you attend a school that requires mandatory certifications you will know in advance that by the time you graduate you will have all the necessary skills to obtain a good paying position in the computer repair field.

The last thing to consider is that you may need to contact a number of different technical schools in order to find one that meets your needs. It is important to remember that you are the one interviewing the school and that while you have decided to go to back to school, you haven't yet decided that you want to go to their school. While it is true that you will need to apply and be accepted prior to attending, the technical school is a business and they need a continual flow of students to stay in business. Based on this authors personal experience it is very rare for a prospective student to not be accepted at a technical college so don't be taken in by any particular recruiter who tries to turn the tables on you by telling you that they aren't sure if you're qualified to attend. That is a common tactic that career recruiters use to get you filling out applications and paperwork. If you are to make sure you have the best possible chance at obtaining the job you want in the computer repair field you will need to interview the college first and make sure that it meets all of your needs prior to filling out any forms.

Entry-level computer repair services jobs generally pay well and can be an excellent gateway position that will later lead you into more advanced computer jobs such as project management, network engineering and server technician, but to get there you will first need to play your cards right by choosing the right school that will ensure you the ability to get your foot in the door.

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

Thursday, 23 December 2010

How To Use Twitter Software

The Twitter website is the latest of the social networking websites. There are an ever increasing number of people who are using it every day and it makes marketing on the Internet very profitable for many users. There are numerous software packages that are being used to market on Twitter. The two most popular software packages are Tweet Whistle and Twitter Adder. As a result of this software marketing on Twitter has flourished and become safe. However, if you want to make sure that you are safe, you should know how to properly use the software. While you are using the Twitter software, you will soon become very knowledgeable with all the features so here is how to use them.

If you have just created a page on Twitter and have started to use the marketing software on Twitter, it will take a while to build up the number of people who will follow you. When you first start using the Twitter software, you will probably have to follow at least 50 members each day.

Some users will block you and some will follow you back. When you are adding users with the Twitter software, you also have to be continually deleting those who have quit following you. In order to do this, you will have to set the features on Tweet Adder so that it will delete those users that have stopped following you automatically. By doing this it will prevent any inflated ratio that might mislead your customers. At some later time, you should be able to increase your following to about 100 persons a day.

After you have started a business, it isn't necessary for you to follow back those people who don't follow you. You will have to give people a minimum of 3 days to follow you back. After that amount of time, if they still don't follow you may as well unfollow them. You shouldn't follow posts that have too much or too little promotional matter that is posted on their profile. In order to increase your following, you should keep tweeting routinely so that you will hold the interest of your followers. You should also be what you really are. You need to understand the future and be honest in order to keep a level of curiosity up with your followers.

Now you can now make the best of your Twitter Software which will to help you to market your goods and services on the Internet. With the help of this software program, you should be able to dominate the marketplace.

Tag : computer,computer software,software,computer hardware

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Buying Games For Your PC

There are so many wonderful options when it comes to PC games. But most of us have limited time and money, so it is impossible for us to try everything. We have to make decisions about what to buy and where to buy it. The following tips should help you to decide which PC games you should buy.

- Many of the top PC games have free demo versions, and it is well worth trying these out before spending any more. Many people are so eager to pick up new games that they buy them without even thinking and checking out, and this can lead to them buying something that they are not very happy with. These free demos can be fairly short, but there is usually enough there to allow you to make your mind up about a game.

- Before buying any PC games it would be a good idea to check out the requirements. What often happens with many people is that they buy games for their PC without even checking to see if it is suitable for the PC they have. By checking out the requirements of a game before buying and determining whether or not it will play on your PC you can save yourself a lot of wasted time.

- One great way to get your PC games is to download them directly from the web. You won't have to leave your home to buy the game and as soon as it has finished downloading, you can start playing the game. It also avoids having to go searching the shops for the game. The main problem with getting your games like this is if you don't have a fast broadband connection; without this you could be waiting for an age before your game downloads.

The information above should go some way to helping you choose your PC games. Hopefully if you follow this advice, you won't end up buying games which are not suitable.

Tag : computer,computer pc,computer games,computer repair