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AHS Computing
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AHS Computing
1. We are not going to talk about horror stories!
2. We give no guarantees! 3. Before you talk to us about your home pc,
after the seminar, try our suggestions! 4. There is no magic bullet! 5. If you are not prepared to listen to our
expert advice, leave!
Do you think that maybe this is a sign?
When was the last time you backed up your data???
1. You treat your computer like a rental car 2. Too many garbage programs installed 3. You are running as an administrator 4. You let someone else use your computer 5. You are too cheap to buy a decent computer
There are many reasons why your computer could run slow Several software programs have been
installed/uninstalled leaving behind bad files and/or confusing the software Data Corruption Security holes Hard disk drive is short on available disk space Bad Hardware
Hardware drives your computer
If your hardware is not capable of running the software then your computer will be slow
Buying that cheap computer from big box stores, might save you money… but are you getting bang for your buck?
Cheapest is not always the best!!! Components are important Think of your computer in cat years… if your
computer is 2 years old it’s really 14 years old in technology terms
If your computer is more than 5 years old, it doesn’t really matter what you do, it’s going to be slow!!!
Loading unnecessary programs at startup will cripple your pc
Known Resource Hogs Adobe Acrobat Nero/Roxio CD Burning Software Quicktime Anything that is in your systray
(blōt´wãr) (n.) jargon Software that has lots of features and requires considerable disk space and RAM.
As the cost of RAM and disk storage has decreased, there has been a growing trend among software developers to disregard the size of applications
Some people refer to this trend as creeping featuritis
If creeping featuritis is the symptom, bloatware is the disease.
Why install??? Yahoo Toolbar
Google Toolbar
When there is already a built-in search tool in IE7?
Most people install iTunes Winamp Quicktime Windows Media Player VLC
Do you need all of them???
If you aren’t using a piece of software, uninstall it!
Does it need to be installed in the first place? The fewer programs on your computer Less likely conflicts will occur More hard drive space available for data Fewer security holes
Is your computer a zombie?
A computer zombie is a computer attached to the Internet that has been compromised by a hacker, a computer virus, or a trojan horse.
(1) Spammer's web site (2) Spammer (3) Spamware (4) Infected computers (5) Virus or trojan (6) Mail servers (7) Users (8) Web traffic http://antivirus.about.com/od/whatisavirus/a/zombiepc.htm
Make sure that you run the following
Windows Firewall Windows Update Anti-Spyware Software
Make sure that your computer is up to date
Run Windows Updates on a regular schedule
An un-patched system can be vulnerable
To ensure that your computer is virus-free, update the virus definitions and run a scan
Spyware can often slow down your computer, and it is also a significant security threat
We recommend downloading Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware
Troubleshooting 101
When does your computer run slowly? ▪ At startup ▪ All the time ▪ Randomly
What are you doing when it slows down? ▪ Running a certain program ▪ Running any program ▪ Running many programs ▪ Logging in
The CPU is the brain If it is running at its maximum, then instructions will often
have to wait in line
The Processor
The Memory The RAM is the short term memory If it is full, then the hard disk will be used as RAM (but this is
much slower
The Hard Disk
The Hard Drive is the long term storage
Open the Task Manager Select the Performance tab Minimize, then leave it
running – it will automatically create a graph of the history
CPU Meter Sidebar Gadget Task Manager
Signs of Trouble: CPU frequently at 100% RAM over 85%
If you have an old pc that’s running slowly the best solution is to buy a new pc
Only consider upgrading your pc still fits your technology needs but is running a touch on the slow side
Otherwise, save the money and buy something better!!!
What’s the best thing to spend $$$ on? RAM Video Card
Helps the user locate and remove unnecessary files Temporary files Cached webpages Computer logs
Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Disk Cleanup
We recommend Ccleaner - freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool
It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space
Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner
Data is not grouped together when stored Defragmenting groups relevant data together to
reduce the time needed to access it Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Disk Defragmenter
Navigate to System Configuration in the Control Panel, or type msconfig in the Run Box
In the Startup tab, you can edit which programs start automatically – Be Careful!!!
Close the Sidebar Disable Aero
▪ Personalize appearance and sounds ▪ Open classic appearance properties
for more color options ▪ Then choose a color scheme that is
not Windows Aero
Eliminate visual effects ▪ Start the Control Panel, then type
Visual Effects in the Search bar ▪ Choose “Adjust for best
performance” at the top
Get rid of unused software
Don’t install software from an unverified source
Keep your pc clean!!!
Lowell Williamson, IT Specialist BMH 2301, x32326
Stephen Bennett, Co-op Assistant BMH 2326, x33010 [email protected]
