By Gary Bracken
After getting all the programs setup on your PC the way you want, there are a few tasks that will help you get the most out of your system. The following maintenance tasks should be performed initially and will form the basis of a solid tune-up program for your PC:
1. Install and Update your Antivirus & Anti Spyware software:
The last thing you need is a computer virus ruining your day by infecting your computer and either destroying valuable data, or spreading your personal information all over the internet! We cannot stress enough the importance of making sure you have a solid and reliable Anti-Virus program installed on your computer.
Spyware and Adware is almost an even bigger problem these days than Computer Viruses! If you have ever downloaded anything online, music, books, files, etc...or if you have ever installed downloaded programs on your computer, chances are you have multiple spyware infections.
Pop-up windows and windows error messages are a prime indicator of Spyware and Adware infections on your computer.
Spyware is a hidden software program created to steal your personal information, and report back to their creators with anything from your online browsing habits and patterns, to your stored credit card numbers! identity theft is a growing problem, propagated in part by Spyware!
2. Update your software and drivers
Make sure your computer has the latest video, hardware and software drivers it needs to run at optimum speed and efficiency. We recommend that Microsoft Windows Update be used on a consistent basis. Microsoft and other hardware and software manufacturers will regularly post updated drivers and fixes for their products. Most vendors use the Windows Update tool to distribute their updates.
The Windows Update tool can be accessed on your computer by clicking Start, right-click My Computer, and select Properties.
Click the Automatic Updates tab, and select Keep my computer up to date.
Keeping Windows updated can solve many errors you may experience.
3. Defragment your hard drive
Defragmenting your hard drive is an easy task that will improve your system's speed and performance (especially noticeable with larger programs).
As you install and uninstall different software programs, data becomes scattered across your hard drive in various areas. This results in your computer taking a longer amount of time to find data it needs, which makes your system run slower. This holds true even after installing a new program on your computer.
Starting Disk Defragmenter
Using Disk Defragmenter is easy and once started will work without the need to monitor the process. Depending on the size of your hard drive and the amount of fragmented files defragmentation of your files can take up to several hours to complete. Follow the procedures below to start defragmenting your hard drive.
* 1. Shut Down all programs that are running. including background programs and screensavers.
* 2. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, then System Tools.
* 3. Click Disk Defragmenter. Follow the onscreen instructions. If Disk Defragmenter starts itself over and over, then a hidden background program is still accessing the hard drive. Restart the computer in Safe mode and try again.
4. Create a Backup Or Restore Point Regularly On Your Computer
A Virus, Spyware or other bug could easily wipe out your data without chance of recovery! Make sure you are regularly backing up any data you don't want to lose (burning it to disk is an easy and cost effective way of backing up important data).
Microsoft offers a Data Backup to automate the process, A virus or software bug could wipe out data without any chance of recovery. Devise a strategy for backing up your files now. Any important data that you do not want to lose should be backed up regularly. This can be done in any of a number of ways. Simply write the files to a floppy diskette, USB drive, or a CD-R. You might also consider using RecordNow!’s System Backup or Microsoft’s Data Backup to automate the backup process.
5. Clean Your Computer Registry Regularly
If you're running any version of Windows on your computer, then you have a Windows registry. This Windows Registry is where all the information about your computer is stored. The registry includes installation data about the software you run and all of your computer's preferences, settings, and registry keys. Everything about your computer is essentially stored in your windows registry.
Over time, as you install new programs, delete others, and use your computer, the Windows Registry grows. Sometimes you will get errors when you start your computer. In extreme instances you will experience computer freeze-ups and possibly even system crashes. Your computer can start running 'slower' as well, which makes for annoying and time consuming 'hang' times, where you essentially stare at your monitor in a trance, waiting for control of your mouse cursor to be restored to you once again!
Fortunately, there is an easy solution to Registry build-up. You need to run a registry cleaner tool on a regular basis (depending on computer usage). This software will scan your Registry to find the unnecessary data and delete it...the end result should be a computer that runs as fast as the day you brought it home!
RECOMMENDED: Put Your Computer Tune Up Schedule On Auto Pilot by downloading and running our recommended Free PC Optimizer: RegCure.
Gary Bracken maintains RegCure.Registry-Cleaner-Help.com and recommends you put your Computer Tuneup Schedule on autopilot by running the FREE RegCure Registry Cleaner Scan.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Bracken
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Anti Virus Software Download - Keep Your PC Safe With Multiple Programs
By Dawn Smith
It's fairly safe to say these days that most of us, (around 80%) have bought a well-known antivirus package. Personally, I favour Norton but McAfee, AVG and a few others dominate the antivirus and spyware market. There is of course a good reason for this.
Popularity is the main reason. When you buy a computer the chances are you would buy it from a high street computer shop, a well-known internet name such as Dell, or on the strength of a recommendation. You would be very cautious about handing over your hard-earned cash to a company you have never heard of, and rightly so. The same applies to an antivirus software download. Most of us would much rather spend our money on one of the big names mentioned above, (even if they are more expensive) because we know that we will be getting a high level of protection from a brand we can trust. The only time we are likely to deviate from this is if we are offered a free antivirus program / trial or if someone we trust recommends different antivirus software downloads. What most people don't realise, (also around 80%) is that we shouldn't rely solely on these programs. Why?
Once we buy and install this antivirus software we let it run and forget about it. We assume we are safe and fully protected because we bought the best there is. To a point this is true. I would always recommend buying your main antivirus package from a recognised brand. Personally I use Norton Internet Security. It not only protects against viruses but it comes with automatic updates, checks my emails for viruses and spyware, and even comes with Norton GO-Back which is a more advanced version of Microsoft's, "System Restore". This is all wonderful stuff but there is one problem. Something that affects every one of these big brands of software.
If you are familiar with computers you may have heard that using an alternative operating system or internet browser such as firefox is safer. The reason for this is that Creators of Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Worms and all the other types of malicious bugs are very clever. They know that almost everyone uses Internet Explorer. They also know that 80% of people use one of 5-6 big software brands.
When the viruses is created it is usually intended to reach as many computers as possible. Therefore it is only logical that the first targets to overcome are the big named brands. If the virus get get past this antivirus software undetected then it stands a very good chance of infecting thousands of machines. Now this is where the problem lies. Norton, McAfee and other big names are always the first target. There is nothing they can do about this other than to be as prepared as possible.
This is where the consumer needs to get wise. As stated above I would always recommend owning one of the recognised antivirus software packages as your first line of defence. But if this was all there was to it, then nobody would ever get a Virus on their machine. We know for a fact that thousands, (maybe more) still get infected everyday. so how do we prevent this?
The answer is very simple and inexpensive. There are hundreds of lesser known antivirus downloads available on the market. These are not frequently targeted by the creators of viruses because there is less opportunity for their virus to spread. Many of these programs will run quite happily alongside your main software, or you can just use them to run a scan periodically.
So, to ensure you are as fully protected as possible here is what you should do. First, buy or keep your current recognised 'big brand' software. This is a vital step that should not be missed (the smaller cheaper antivirus downloads are unlikely to provide adequate cover on their own). Secondly, buy a lesser known spyware scanner and remover. Thirdly, Also buy a lesser known adware stopper. It is important to note that there is no need to spend vast sums of money here. You can very easily purchase both of these products for far less than half of the cost of Norton, or McAfee.
This may sound like a time-consuming effort, but once it is installed you can simply set it to run once a week and forget about it just like your current software. By buying separate programs like this you maximise your chances of spotting anything untoward on your PC. For the sake of a few $$ you could potentially save the security of your bank account or credit card details. Don't delay in taking action!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dawn_Smith
It's fairly safe to say these days that most of us, (around 80%) have bought a well-known antivirus package. Personally, I favour Norton but McAfee, AVG and a few others dominate the antivirus and spyware market. There is of course a good reason for this.
Popularity is the main reason. When you buy a computer the chances are you would buy it from a high street computer shop, a well-known internet name such as Dell, or on the strength of a recommendation. You would be very cautious about handing over your hard-earned cash to a company you have never heard of, and rightly so. The same applies to an antivirus software download. Most of us would much rather spend our money on one of the big names mentioned above, (even if they are more expensive) because we know that we will be getting a high level of protection from a brand we can trust. The only time we are likely to deviate from this is if we are offered a free antivirus program / trial or if someone we trust recommends different antivirus software downloads. What most people don't realise, (also around 80%) is that we shouldn't rely solely on these programs. Why?
Once we buy and install this antivirus software we let it run and forget about it. We assume we are safe and fully protected because we bought the best there is. To a point this is true. I would always recommend buying your main antivirus package from a recognised brand. Personally I use Norton Internet Security. It not only protects against viruses but it comes with automatic updates, checks my emails for viruses and spyware, and even comes with Norton GO-Back which is a more advanced version of Microsoft's, "System Restore". This is all wonderful stuff but there is one problem. Something that affects every one of these big brands of software.
If you are familiar with computers you may have heard that using an alternative operating system or internet browser such as firefox is safer. The reason for this is that Creators of Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Worms and all the other types of malicious bugs are very clever. They know that almost everyone uses Internet Explorer. They also know that 80% of people use one of 5-6 big software brands.
When the viruses is created it is usually intended to reach as many computers as possible. Therefore it is only logical that the first targets to overcome are the big named brands. If the virus get get past this antivirus software undetected then it stands a very good chance of infecting thousands of machines. Now this is where the problem lies. Norton, McAfee and other big names are always the first target. There is nothing they can do about this other than to be as prepared as possible.
This is where the consumer needs to get wise. As stated above I would always recommend owning one of the recognised antivirus software packages as your first line of defence. But if this was all there was to it, then nobody would ever get a Virus on their machine. We know for a fact that thousands, (maybe more) still get infected everyday. so how do we prevent this?
The answer is very simple and inexpensive. There are hundreds of lesser known antivirus downloads available on the market. These are not frequently targeted by the creators of viruses because there is less opportunity for their virus to spread. Many of these programs will run quite happily alongside your main software, or you can just use them to run a scan periodically.
So, to ensure you are as fully protected as possible here is what you should do. First, buy or keep your current recognised 'big brand' software. This is a vital step that should not be missed (the smaller cheaper antivirus downloads are unlikely to provide adequate cover on their own). Secondly, buy a lesser known spyware scanner and remover. Thirdly, Also buy a lesser known adware stopper. It is important to note that there is no need to spend vast sums of money here. You can very easily purchase both of these products for far less than half of the cost of Norton, or McAfee.
This may sound like a time-consuming effort, but once it is installed you can simply set it to run once a week and forget about it just like your current software. By buying separate programs like this you maximise your chances of spotting anything untoward on your PC. For the sake of a few $$ you could potentially save the security of your bank account or credit card details. Don't delay in taking action!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dawn_Smith
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