Computer Tips & Downloads

Over the past few years, I have been asked on more than one occasion for a copy of this basic instructional list of how to perform certain maintenance tasks on a pc. Your computer is very much like your automobile. It will keep running well, as long as you maintain it. Following are a few basic guidelines for those of you who are new to computers. Please send in your tips and tricks to be added here.

TO UNINSTALL SOFTWARE:

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER JUST DELETE SOFTWARE!

ALWAYS UNINSTALL IT AS FOLLOWS...

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TASK BAR, CLICK ON 'START"

CLICK ON 'SETTINGS'

CLICK ON 'CONTROL PANEL'

CLICK ON ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS

A LIST OF SOFTWARE(S) THAT ARE ON YOUR COMPUTER WILL POP UP

FIND THE SOFTWARE YOU WANT TO REMOVE/UNINSTALL

HIGHLIGHT IT (CLICK ON IT)

CLICK ON ADD/REMOVE

CLICK ON OK

THE SOFTWARE WILL UNINSTALL

DURING THE PROCESS, IF THE COMPUTER TELLS YOU THAT SOME FILES ARE BEING 'SHARED' ON YOUR COMPUTER AND ASKS IF YOU WANT TO REMOVE THEM, CLICK 'NO'

PC MAINTENANCE:

THE TEMP FILE:

FIRST, LOCATE YOUR COMPUTER'S TEMP FILE AND EMPTY IT IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:

TO FIND THE PROGRAM, CLICK ON 'START' ON YOUR TASK BAR

THEN CLICK ON 'FIND'

THEN CLICK 'FILES AND FOLDERS'

TYPE IN 'TEMP'

UNDER THE LOOK IN BOX, CLICK ON THE ARROW ON THAT BOX AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR DRIVE C IS SELECTED.

CLICK 'FIND NOW'

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOCATE A FILE FOLDER THAT SAYS 'TEMP'

OPEN IT BY DOUBLE CLICKING ON IT.

ONCE OPENED, AT THE TOP MENU CLICK ON 'EDIT' THEN 'SELECT ALL'

THEN, WITH THE FILES STILL HIGHLIGHTED, RIGHT CLICK ON YOUR MOUSE SOMEWHERE IN THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA AND THEN CLICK 'DELETE' TO REMOVE ALL TEMP FILES (WHICH WILL BE SENT TO YOUR RECYCLE BIN.

EMPTYING THE RECYCLE BIN:

BEFORE RUNNING THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, CLICK ON THE RECYCLE BIN ICON ON YOUR COMPUTER DESKTOP.

CLICK ON 'FILE'

CLICK ON 'EMPTY RECYCLE BIN'

RUNNING A SCAN DISK:

TO KEEP YOUR COMPUTER RUNNING EFFICIENTLY, YOU SHOULD RUN THESE PROGRAMS AT LEAST EVERY OTHER WEEK.

FIRST, RUN THE'SCAN DISK"

TO FIND THE PROGRAM, CLICK ON 'START' ON YOUR TASK BAR

THEN CLICK ON 'FIND'

THEN CLICK 'FILES AND FOLDERS'

TYPE IN 'SCAN DISK'

UNDER THE LOOK IN BOX, CLICK ON THE ARROW ON THAT BOX AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR DRIVE C IS SELECTED.

CLICK 'FIND NOW'

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOCATE A FILE FOLDER THAT SAYS 'SCAN DISK'

OPEN IT BY DOUBLE CLICKING ON IT.

RUN IT ON YOUR C DRIVE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE BOX CHECKED THAT SAYS 'THOROUGH' AND CHECK TO FIX THE ERRORS.

DEPENDENT ON HOW LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE YOU HAVE DONE THIS, IT MAKE 2-4 HOURS TO DO THIS.

TIP: If your Scan Disk or Defragmenter doesn't work or finish what it's supposed to do, disable all screensavers. Go to START, SETTINGS, CONTROL PANEL, DISPLAY and choose No Screensaver.

RUNNING THE DISK DEFRAGMENTER:

AFTER THE SCAN DISK IS COMPLETE, YOU SHOULD FIND THE DISK DEFRAGMENTER PROGRAM AND RUN IT IN THE SAME MANNER.

TO FIND THE PROGRAM, CLICK ON 'START' ON YOUR TASK BAR

THEN CLICK ON 'FIND'

THEN CLICK 'FILES AND FOLDERS'

TYPE IN 'DEFRAGMENT'

UNDER THE LOOK IN BOX, CLICK ON THE ARROW ON THAT BOX AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR DRIVE C IS SELECTED.

CLICK 'FIND NOW'

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOCATE A FILE FOLDER THAT SAYS 'DEFRAGMENTER'

OPEN IT BY DOUBLE CLICKING ON IT.

RUN IT ON YOUR C DRIVE

THIS WILL TAKE ABOUT HALF THE TIME THAT SCAN DISK TAKES TO COMPLETE

TIP: If your Scan Disk or Defragmenter doesn't work or finish what it's supposed to do, disable all screensavers. Go to START, SETTINGS, CONTROL PANEL, DISPLAY and choose No Screensaver.

Another solution on better disk defragging if you use your computer a lot from viewer, Linda Moore. This makes a huge difference in disk defragmentation:

"When booting-up or starting the computer, press F8 during the start up.

This will open a page where you can choose "safe mode."

Windows has so many operations to perform that it can't properly

defragment the computer's many files. If the computer is in "safe mode"

it has no other jobs to perform than to just defragment. After defragmentation is complete, return to normal mode. Hope this helps your Windows users to keep their computers running efficiently." (Thanks, Linda!)

It is always amazing to me that computer manufacturers turn people loose with a brand new computer without giving them the most basic instructions on how to care for it. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars and prolong the life of your computer simply by maintaining it!

If you are still experiencing computer problems, you may go here to file a report!

Recommended

Free Downloads

-Spyware-

Thought you were getting a great free software download? You probably were, but you probably got a "spyware" right along with it in the bargain. Rid your computer of all that nasty "spyware" that reports all your surfing habits to internet marketing companies who later bombard you with spam.

Download the new 6.0 version free of "Ad Aware" at Lavasoft and run it regularly. You will be amazed at the number of spywares running on your computer unbeknownst to you. And The premium (yet free) download in spyware removal softwares goes to Spybot's Search & Destroy, Java Cool, and CW Shredder. Here is a great page at Sofpedia that has all the spyware remover softwares. Click HERE.

WARNING: DON'T BUY OR DOWNLOAD "SPYWARE NUKER" and here's why. It's just another spyware from a marketing company. Also, if you're offered a free download to speed up your internet connection or to install animated icons, don't do it!. They contain spybots.

-Viruses-

For a free virus software that protects not only your computer, but your email, as well, visit Grisoft and download their AVG software. You will also get free regular virus updates.

-Answering Machine-

Want an internet answering machine to take your calls while you surf? Call Wave provides you with a free one, so that you can hear who is calling while you're online and decide whether or not you want to disconnect from the Net to call them back.

-Firewalls-

Feel the need to protect your computer from hackers? No, well you should! Zone Alarm has a free version of their pro firewall software that you can download to do just that. Read the article about firewalls HERE.

- Pop Up Ads -

Free Pop Up Stopper download HERE.

- Spam Remover -

At $29.95, it's a steal..."Ella Spam Remover" totally controls all of your spam immediately. From OpenField Software, you can get it HERE!

- Your Favorites? -

Got a favorite free download that you would like to share? Send it to us to post here along with your name and a link to your web site.