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TIPS
TO MAKE YOUR COMPUTER RUN SMOOTHLY
Last update: 17 February 2005
§ DOWNLOAD, INSTALL AND RUN spybot (2.4 Mb) and ad-aware (871 K). RUN BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS EVERY 2 WEEKS. THEY WILL SEARCH YOUR COMPUTER FOR SPYWARE (Spyware is a program that surreptitiously collects information about your computing habits and delivers it to the maker of the program), AND WILL FIX/ERASE ALL SPYWARE THAT IT FINDS.
§ PERFORM DISK DEFRAGMENTER ABOUT ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS (Some people may have to do this more often). THIS CAN TAKE A WHILE, SO START IT BEFORE GOING TO BED. GO TO:Start-Programs-Accessories-System tools-Disk defragmenter. ITS BEST TO DO THIS IN SAFE-MODE. PRESS THE F8 KEY DURING BOOT UP TO GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO BOOT INTO SAFE-MODE.
§ DOWNLOAD WINDOWS UPDATES REGULARLY. NOTE: YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED ALL THE UPDATES THAT WINDOWS FINDS, BUT YOU DO NEED ALL THE CRITICAL UPDATES. For automatic updates do this: right click on my computer - properties - automatic updates - make sure the first box is checked and the option right for you under the settings header (I choose the middle option).
§ DOWNLOAD, INSTALL AND RUN zonealarm (3.6 Mb). THIS PROGRAM SHOULD BE MADE TO RUN ON START-UP. IT IS A FIREWALL, AND PROTECTS YOUR COMPUTER AGAINST POTENTIAL INTRUDERS.
§ TURN ON WINDOWS XP'S BUILT IN FIREWALL (Start-Settings-Network Connections-right click on local area connection-advanced-check the box to protect your computer.
§ DOWNLOAD AND RUN DCOMbobulator (THIS IS A ONE TIME THING).
§ DOWNLOAD AND RUN Shoot The Messenger (THIS IS A ONE TIME THING).
§ DOWNLOAD AND RUN Spyware Blaster (THIS PREVENTS MOST SPYWARE FROM BEING PUT ON YOUR COMPUTER IN THE FIRST PLACE. YOU HAVE TO UPDATE DEFINITIONS ONCE AND A WHILE).
§ DOWNLOAD AND RUN Spyware Guard (THIS IS LIKE ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTION; HOWEVER, IT IS FOR SPYWARE. YOU HAVE TO UPDATE DEFINITIONS ONCE AND A WHILE).
§
IF YOU
DON'T LIKE POP-UP ADS, DOWNLOAD,
INSTALL AND RUN FreeSurfer
(1.66 Mb). YOU CAN SET THIS PROGRAM
TO LOAD ON START-UP; IT WILL ALMOST ELIMINATE POP-UP ADS WHILE SURFING.
§ IF YOU HAVE A DESKTOP COMPUTER, DO NOT SET THE POWER SETTINGS TO HIBERNATE OR TO STANDBY. THESE SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS.
§ OPTIMIZE WINDOWS PERFORMANCE: Right click my computer - Properties - Advanced - Performance settings - Visual effects - Adjust for best performance.
§ IF YOU DON'T LIKE WINDOW'S AUTOMATIC ERROR REPORTING SERVICE, YOU CAN DISABLE IT BY... Right click on my computer - properties - advanced - error reporting.
§ IF YOUR EMAIL CLIENT (i.e. OUTLOOK OR OUTLOOK EXPRESS) HAS A PREVIEW PANE, TURN IT OFF. In Outlook Express go to View - Layout - and unclick the show preview pane box.
§ HAVE PLENTY OF RAM (At least 384 MB for XP. Check your system’s ram type and maximum memory here.
§ IF YOU USE THE NUMBER 1 SEARCH ENGINE, GOOGLE, AS YOUR SEARCH ENGINE, THEN I SUGGEST THE GOOGLE TOOLBAR. GET IT HERE. It also has a great built-in pop-up blocker.
§ TEST YOUR POP-UP BLOCKER AT THIS WEBSITE.
§ Stop unnecessary programs from opening on start-up: Run - msconfig - start-up tab. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THE PROGRAM YOU ARE ABOUT TO STOP RUNNING, CHECK HERE FIRST. This is another site for start-up programs.
§ Check for driver updates regularly. Some companies, such as HP, will contact you when there are driver updates for your products.
§ As a general rule: do never open attachments you didn't request!
Here’s some very useful websites…
·
Very
useful/important downloads - Gibson Research.
·
Here’s
an easy to use forum, where you can post computer-related questions and have
them answered in a short time. Go
here. Note: you must sign-up first.
·
Find
old versions of software here.
· Speed up your computer. Stop unnecessary processes from running.
·
Check
if the program you want to download is spyware here.
·
Various
tweaks and fixes here. (This is for advanced users or users comfortable with
editing their registry).
· More great tweaks at Kelly's Korner.
