Computer Tips and tricks for Computers running on Windows.

[froggyboy604]

Useful tips for maintaining your Windows computer's health and reliability

Software fixes

1. Run Scandisk once a month or if you didn't shut down properly. more information about scandisk is available here : http://www.computerhope.com/software/scandisk.htm

2. Run a Disk Defragmentation program once a month to reorganize your files, so your computer can find them faster.
You can used the one that came with Windows or download Auslogic disk Defrag. one that I use at http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag/

Never Defrag flash drives because flash drives have a limited amounts of writes till they go bad.

3. Restart your computer when your computer is acting up or really slow.

4. Close all programs that you are not using.

5. Disable start up programs you don't need by going to the start menu button>run>type msconfig> start up> uncheck programs you don't need>restart

Note: Don't uncheck any Microsoft, registry, antivirus, and spyware removal programs.

6. Use http://scandoo.com as your main search engine since Scandoo scan Google, Yahoo, MSN results for spyware, adult content, and viruses.

7. Avoid downloading programs from untrusted sites since some of those sites are full of viruses and spyware. I recommend you download your files from http://download.com or http://sourceforge.net/

8. Use an anti-virus, spyware removal program, firewall, hardware router with a NAT firewall to prevent programs or people from accessing your computer.

I have a list of free security programs http://www.mxproject.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2225 . I use to protect my Windows based computer from unwanted viruses, spyware , people, etc from harming my computer.

9. Clean up files you don't need anymore like cookies, .tmp, .txt, .bmp, image files, music, video and other junk files. I use a program called CCleaner to help me clean up junk files quickly.

10. Try to avoid using file sharing programs like Kazaa since there are lots of viruses and other bad programs being shared on Kazaa and other file sharing software.

11. Run Windows Update once a week by going to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ or start menu> windows update.

12. Don't open e-mail attachments from people you don't know and scan all e-mail attachment files with an antivirus program. If the attachment looks suspicious, don't open it.

more information about suspicious e-mail attachments can be found here: http://virusbusters.itcs.umich.edu//sus ... hment.html

13. Have at least 20% or more free space on your Hard drive for disk defrag. to work properly. Having very little free space available on your computer's Hard drive can cause your computer to slow down, crash, and have a bunch of other problems.

13b. If software you use doesn't work, Uninstall it then reinstall it.

13c. If software you're using doesn't work, find better software.

A list of free software I use can be found here: http://www.mxproject.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2231

14. regularly back up your important files daily since Hard drives and computer parts can fail at random times ot your PC might get stolen.

Note: keep your back ups at a remote location away from your house like your parent's or cousin's house since your home could be robbed or flooded, etc atleast your data is safe.

15. Disable all the Services for Windows XP or Vista. You don't use or need.

Press Start Button on the lower left corner of your desktop. Press run button and type services.msc in the text box, click the OK button to access services.msc

Information about disabling services can be found on these pages. (intermediate to upper advance task)

Write down all the services you disable. If your OS does not work properly just Turn on the services you disabled.

To learn more about disabling services you don't need.

Visit: http://www.blackviper.com/

Win XP services:: http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
Win Vista services:: http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm
Win 2000 Services:: http://www.blackviper.com/WIN2K/servicecfg.htm

Hardware fixes and installation tips.


14. When fixing or changing parts inside your computer, Wear a anti-static wrist strap and clip it to a metal part inside your computer.

more info can be available here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antistatic_wrist_strap

or ground yourself by touching your metal computer case or the power supply "the big grey metal box with lots of wires coming out of it"

15. Don't use magnetic screwdrivers or tools to fix your computer.

16. If possible put your computer on a desk rather then the floor since the computers cooling fan can suck up a lot of dust from the floor which over time makes your computer over heat from dust building up inside your computer.

note: You should clean your computer at least once a year or more depending on how dusty your house is. Never use a Vacuum or an air compressor to clean your computer since Vacuum generate static and air compressors have moisture in the tank sometimes which can shorten the life of your computer.

17. If your computer is getting slow when running newer software, It's time to upgrade your CPU, RAM, Video card, and hard drive.

note: upgrade your power supply to a bigger wattage like 400W or greater if you upgrade to faster parts since most computers that you buy from OEM PC makers like Dell, HP, Acer, Gateway, compaq, Emachine, sony etc tend to come with power supplies that have a low wattage rating. Sparkle, Forton, Enermax, Antec, Seasonic are companies that make reliable power supplies.

note: check what type of power supply you have inside your computer. Make a note of how many pins the main power cable uses the biggest cable on your power supply. The two main types of power supplies are 20 and 24 pin. Most power supplies have an ATX form factor.

18. If your computer is constantly restarting or crashing, it could mean your computer is overheating due to dust build up, a loose heat sink seating, Computer fans are failing or not plugged in, bad memory, failing power supply, software problems, virus or spyware infection, you didn't update your software, your OS is broken, etc.

19. I recommend you read this article on ways you can kill your computer, so you try to avoid killing your computer.
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm? ... 720&page=1

20. Avoid buying overly cheap computers and computer parts since they might break sooner and destroy your computer and your Data with it.

21. When installing a CPU read the manual first. The CPU should drop in to the CPU socket on the motherboard easily.

23. When installing ram, make sure it goes in the right way. Plus, check your computer or mother board manual to see what kind of ram you should use for your computer before buying since not all computer uses the same type of RAM.

24. Use a Surge protected Power Bar or "uninterrupted Power supply" (UPS) to protect your computer, DVD player, VCR, stereo equipment, printer, monitor, microwave, telephone, television, microwaves and anything else with microprocessors in it from power spikes and irregularities.

Good brands of surge protected power bars and UPS that I recommend are Belkin, Cyberpower, APC, Monster, and Tripplite. Avoid buying cheap $10 and below power bars and store branded units.

more information about surge protector can be found here : http://www.howstuffworks.com/surge-protector.htm

24a. Buy a USB Hub with a power adapter, so you don't wear out the USB ports on your computer and get a USB port with "over current protection and detection" Try avoiding overly cheap USB hubs because they might come with crappy Power adapters, and fragile parts.

Intermediate Procedure (not for beginners)
24b. When updating your motherboard's BIOS or Computer hardware's firmware, Never unplug the power or turn off the power until the update is complete.

Make Absolutely sure you have the correct BIOS or firmware version for your piece of hardware, or your motherboard or hardware won't work and it can be hard or impossible to reverse.

Only update your motherboards BIOS or Hardware's firmware when your computer is stable. Your computer does not restart randomly, or freeze.

Exit all running programs before updating your BIOS or firmware if you are using Windows to update your BIOS.

It is best to plug your computer or hardware into a good UPS (Uninterrupted power supply) when updating your BIOS or firmware, so if there is a power outage your computer will still be on.

25. PC Diagnostic software for RAM, CPU and Hard drive reliability testing.

Memtest is for testing memory
http://www.memtest.org/

Cpu-Burnin for testing CPU errors
http://users.bigpond.net.au/cpuburn/

Spinrite for testing Hard drive for bad sectors
http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm


26. Other websites i Recommend for people who want to learn more about their computers

http://Tomshardware.com
http://Anandtech.com
http://guru3d.com
http://3dgameman.com/

GRC Shields up for testing your computer if it has any open ports which can lead to people hacking your PC or getting infected by a worm.
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Software and Hardware Specification application

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system.

CPU
Name and number.
Core stepping and process.
Package.
Core voltage.
Internal and external clocks, clock multiplier.
Supported instructions sets.
Cache information.
Mainboard
Vendor, model and revision.
BIOS model and date.
Chipset (northbridge and southbridge) and sensor.
Graphic interface.
Memory
Frequency and timings.
Module(s) specification using SPD (Serial Presence Detect) : vendor, serial number, timings table.
System
Windows and DirectX version.

Source:: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Belarc
The Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, CIS (Center for Internet Security) benchmarks, and displays the results in your Web browser. All of your PC profile information is kept private on your PC and is not sent to any web server.

Source:: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

[SetoTK]

1. Run scandisk once a week or if you didn't shut down properly. more information about scandisk is available here : http://www.computerhope.com/software/scandisk.htm

2. Run a Disk Defragmentation program once a week to reorganize your files, so your computer can find them faster.
You can used the one that came with Windows or download Auslogic disk Defrag. one that I use at http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag/

Once a MONTH doing it once a week ie 52 times a year will shorten the disks life span, especiall if the disk has alot of movement of files

[froggyboy604]

thanks. I better change that. I was probably thinking off what the TV personality told me.

[Oh Wise One]

Thank you for those tips. Will this make things run faster?

[froggyboy604]

It should for some of the steps if your computer is infected with tons of unwanted spyware and viruses. Some of the things i listed are just for maintaining the reliability of your computer.

But, If your computer is in pretty good shape because you already maintain it properly or it's new and you "scan for viruses, spyware, defrag. and scandisk hardisk, remove useless programs you don't need, etc on a regular basis. It won't make much of difference.

only step. 17 will speed up your computer (this step can be costly since computer parts sometimes cost a lot and it's a intermediate step since not everyone knows how to install computer parts. Plus, hardware installation can be very costly at stores like best buy, etc.)

"17. If your computer is getting slow when running newer software, It's time to upgrade your CPU, RAM, Video card, and hard drive. "

Will make your computer faster for sure if you buy quality parts made by Intel and AMD branded CPU , Corsair RAM, Sapphire or ATI video card, Western Digital or Hitachi Hard drives and some other brands.

note: upgrade your power supply to a bigger wattage like 400W or greater if you upgrade to faster parts since most computers that you buy from OEM PC makers like Dell, HP, Acer, Gateway, compaq, Emachine, sony etc tend to come with power supplies that have a low wattage rating. Sparkle, Forton, Enermax, antec, seasonic makes good power supplies.

[SetoTK]

Power Suppy should be closer to 720w if your using newer tech eg Multi core cpu's, higher end gfx cards, multiple hard drives and opti drives,

If your running anything below a 1.2ghz pentium 4 you should really consider buying a new computer all together,


and onemore thing DO NOT BUY DELL OR APPLE COMPUTERS THEY ARE RUBBISH

[froggyboy604]

Sony computers have been not doing so well these days with their exploding laptop batteries, so i advise you not to buy sony either.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/23/sony ... cond-wave/

One more note, If you're upgrading to faster parts be sure to get a better heatsink and fan that spins faster and pushes more air since Faster computer parts generate more heat, so your cooling system should be better.