5 ways to speed up your PC

Free up disk space
By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

Use Disk Cleanup to:

• Remove temporary Internet files.


• Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).

• Empty the Recycle Bin.

• Remove Windows temporary files.

• Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.

• Remove installed programs that you no longer use.


Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later.

To use Disk Cleanup

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

2. In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list

Choose the files that you want to delete.
3.Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.
4.When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes.
After a few minutes, the process completes and the Disk Cleanup dialog box closes, leaving your computer cleaner and performing better.

Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal—there are other times you should run it too, such as when:

• You add a large number of files.

• Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.

• You install new programs or a new version of Windows.


To use Disk Defragmenter:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.



Click Analyze to start the Disk Defragmenter.



2. In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment, and then click the Analyze button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears, letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.

3. To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment button. Note: In Windows Vista, there is no graphical user interface to demonstrate the progress—but your hard drive is still being defragmented.

After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.

4. To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.

5. To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.

6.To close the Disk Defragmenter utility, click the Close button on the title bar of the window.


Detect and repair disk errors
In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

To run the Error Checking utility:

1. Close all open files.

2. Click Start, and then click My Computer.

3. In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.

4. In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.

5. Click the Check Now button.

6. In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.


7. If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.


Tip: Only select the "Automatically fix file system errors" check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.

Protect your computer against spyware
Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using Microsoft Windows Defender, which is included in Windows Vista, and is available as a free download for Microsoft XP SP2. Alternatively, there are other free anti-spyware software programs available.

Learn all about ReadyBoost
If you're using Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory. Learn more.

Tips on How to connect to Wi-Fi (Wireless)

You can find many places that offer free wireless connections. Just how do you connect once you get there? Here are a few helpful tips that will help get you there

Step 1:
Some computers connect automatically. The only thing that you have to do is make sure the wireless in your computer is turned on. There should be a button with an indicator light near your keyboard. If you have trouble locating it, refer to your user’s manual for the location.

Step 2:
For older computers more steps are needed. With a computer running windows open your start menu and find “network” or “internet connections”. There should be an option for wireless that you can click. Your computer will search for wireless connections and you will be offered a list of options. Find the connection in the list for the location that you are at. Once you click it you will be connected.

Step 3:
For wireless connections that have passwords the wireless wizard is your best option. It will allow you to first enter the SSID which is the name of the network. Usually the SSID and password are posted in locations where the access is free. The SSID is the name of the network. Keep clicking next through the screens and enter the user name an password in the indicated fields.

Things You’ll Need:
•Computer with wireless capability
•Wireless router or hot spot

Tips on How to Detect and Remove malware

Computer acting strange? Getting strange error messages? Is your PC running slower than a turtle? You very well might be infected with malware. This malicious software is no laughing matter. Malware can certainly be more than just a mere annoyance. It can spread through your system, corrupting your computer. It can actually lead you to completely losing all data on your hard drive. Not only that, malware can lead you to become the next victim of identity theft, one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada and the USA.

In fact, since 2003 the majority of widespread viruses and worms have been designed to take control of the user's computer for black market exploitation. Infected "zombie computers" are used to send spam. The junk email being sent from your system could even contain illegal content such as child pornography. Your computer could also be used to engage in distributed denial of service attacks as a form of extortion.

Malware is a malicious form of software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. Malware includes Trojan Horses, keystroke loggers, spyware, worms, computer viruses, and other malicious software.

With the explosive growth of the Internet and home user high speed Internet access, malware is a enormous and growing problem. According to F-Secure, as much malware was produced in 2007 alone as the previous twenty years altogether.

Fortunately, there are steps to take to detect and remove malware before it does anymore harm.

First of all, if you suspect your computer is infected with malware immediately stop shopping, banking, and other online activities that involve user names, passwords, or other sensitive personal information.

Ensure that you have Internet security software installed on your computer. At minimum, have anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software installed on your computer. You might be glad to know that there are free firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software available for download online. As there are new viruses, spyware, and other malware created everyday make sure that your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up-to-date. Remember that Internet security software is only as good as the last update. Internet security experts are constantly playing a cat and mouse game with cybercrooks to catch the latest malicious software.

Once your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up-to-date, run it to scan your computer for any viruses, spyware, and other malware. Be sure to delete anything the software identifies as a problem. Most but not all computer viruses can be deleted using Internet security software. If not, there are free virus removal tools, to remove other nasty computer viruses from your system.

Once your computer is up and running, think about how malware could have been downloaded to your machine. Consider how you can avoid this malicious software in the future. The key to helping protect yourself from malware is prevention. The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" rings very true where malware is concerned.

Malware is indeed a growing threat to your Internet security. It is good to know that there are ways to detect and remove any malware infecting your computer.

To learn more how to prevent, detect, and remove spyware, Trojan Horses, keystroke loggers, and other malicious software please visit Internet Security 101. Chris Hecker is the owner and writer of Internet Security 101. This web site contains free internet security and privacy tips, articles, and advice.

Tips on How to Upgrade Your Computer's RAM

To increase the random-access memory (RAM) of your computer, you must know the type of RAM it uses, how the RAM is presently configured and how many open RAM slots are available.

Step1:
Check the owner's manual or motherboard manual to determine if RAM is parity or non-parity. The website of the company you purchased the computer from usually will tell you what kind of memory your computer needs as well.

Step2:
Find out the speed of RAM (for example, 60 nanoseconds).

Step3:
Determine whether the computer uses single in-line memory modules (SIMMs) or dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs).

Step4:
Find out whether the computer uses regular, FPM, EDO, or Synch DRAM

Step5:
Determine the number of pins on the motherboard: 30, 72 or 168

Step6:
Remove the cover from the machine to find the number of open RAM slots. Look for between two and eight same-sized parallel sockets on the main circuit board. Usually at least two of those sockets will contain RAM - ruler-shaped circuit boards with chips on one or both sides.

Step7:
Purchase additional RAM that matches existing memory specifications

Step8:
See the Related eHow "How to Install RAM" to learn how to put in RAM yourself; you can also get it installed (recommended if you don't feel comfortable opening up your computer case).

Best Advice:
Adding RAM is crucial to performance but should only be done by professionals.

Tips on How to Clean a Computer Monitor

Summary: Is your computer monitor really blurry or is it covered with a layer of filth? Have you ever asked yourself that question? If so maybe it's time to start cleaning your monitor a bit more often because you don't want too much dust and filth around electronic devices.


Step1:
Gather supplies: an anti-static rag or other soft cloth (scraps of old cotton clothing are good for this purpose), as well as an electrical appliance cleaner (such as Endust for Electronics), eyeglass cleaner, or fluid specially made for cleaning monitors.

Step2:
Check your owner's manual for specific instructions

Step3:
Turn off the monitor.

Step4:
If using an aerosol product, follow the instructions on the can. Otherwise, spray a small amount of fluid onto the rag. Don't spray fluids anywhere near the ventilation holes on the monitor.

Step5:
Wipe the entire screen

Step6:
Wipe the screen dry immediately with a dry portion of the rag or with a second rag

Step7:
Clean the monitor frame with the same product or with another product suitable for cleaning plastic

Repeat all steps if necessary

Tips on How to Protect a Computer From Viruses

If you think your computer may be infected, take all necessary steps to clear your system and avoid infecting other computers.


Step1:
Be cautious about what disks and files you accept from other people.
Step2:
Don't reuse disks that have been in other computers, don't download files from insecure sites, and don't open e-mail attachments unless you are expecting them. Be wary of messages and attachments, even from people you know, with vague subject lines and contents, such as 'Check this' or 'See these pics!!!'
Step3:
Obtain an antivirus program to more safely share disks, download files from the Internet and open e-mail attachments.
Step4:
If your system gets a virus, visit your virus-scan software manufacturer's Web site and install any virus updates that are available. Then run the software. The software may not be able to delete the virus, but it may be able to identify it.
Step5:
Search the Web for information regarding your specific virus by typing the name of the virus or its associated file into a search engine, followed by the word 'virus.' For example, 'Melissa virus,' 'BubbleBoy virus,' and so on
Step6:
Download and install any software patches or other programs that will help you eliminate the virus. Or follow any instructions you find on deleting the virus manually.
Step7:
Run another virus scan to make sure the virus was dealt with properly
Step8:
Employ extra caution when you receive attachments that end in the commonly used extensions .doc, .exe, .com, .xls or .ppt. Never open attachments that end in .vbs or .js, since a typical user would never have a reason to open these files.

Tips on How to Clean youre Keyboard

A grimy appearance is just one reason to clean your computer keyboard. If dust gets stuck underneath the keys, they might not work properly. And spilled liquids can be your keyboard's death knell if not taken care of. Here are a few easy steps to get your computer keyboard clean

Step1:
Purchase any supplies you need: compressed air (in an aerosol can); a soft rag; Endust for Electronics, or any nonabrasive household cleaning fluid suitable for cleaning plastic; and a dust mask if you're allergic to dust.

Step2:
Check your owner's manual. If the manufacturer has provided specific instructions, follow them.

Step3:
Shut down the computer.

Step4:
Disconnect/Remove the keyboard

Step5:
Use compressed air to clean between the keys. Spray at an angle to dislodge dust and grime.

Step6:
Shake loose dust gently out of the keyboard

Step7:
If using Endust for Electronics or another aerosol cleaning fluid, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Otherwise, spray a small amount of fluid onto a rag.

Step8:
Wipe the keys and chassis

Step9:
Wait until the keyboard is dry before reconnecting it to the computer

Step10:
Reconnect the keyboard and restart the computer

9 Tips in Life that Lead to Happiness

Are you truly happy? Do you even know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness? These are important questions for anyone who is seeking happiness to ask themselves. I live my life to maintain my own happiness while trying my best to not cause unhappiness to anyone else. If you want to be happy you need to understand that you can be happy and that you should be happy. Many people make the mistake of believing that they don’t deserve happiness and accept their unhappy state as their destiny. The truth of the matter is that happiness, like anything else in life, needs to be nurtured. The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life

Understand what it is that will make you happy. Everyone has unique requirements for attaining happiness and what makes one person happy may be very different from what makes someone else happy. Revel in your individuality and do not worry about whether or not your desires are comparable to those of your peers.

Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your mood will very likely increase as your pursue your goal because you will feel better about yourself for going after something you value.

Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. Conversely, if you are around people who are happy their emotional state will be infectious.

When something goes wrong try to figure out a solution instead of wallowing in self pity. Truly happy people don’t allow set backs to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can turn the circumstances back to their favor.

Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy. These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continued happiness.

It’s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself. Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance you will be subconsciously putting yourself in a better mood.

Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness. While there are times that require you to be serious, when it is appropriate, find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you unhappy.

Maintaining your health is another way to achieve happiness. Being overweight or not eating nutritious foods can have a negative effect on your mood. Additionally, exercise has been known to release endorphins that give you a feeling of happiness.

Finally, it is important to understand that you deserve happiness. Those who believe that they are not worthy of happiness may subconsciously sabotage their efforts to achieve happiness. If necessary, tell yourself each day that you deserve to be happy and remind yourself what steps you will take to achieve the happiness you desire.

Happiness is hard to define but most people are aware of whether they are happy or not. Many people believe that happiness is a form of luck and that some people are destined to be happy while others are destined to be unhappy. I try to incorporate the tips above into my life and have had great success in achieving happiness. The tips in this article are small but meaningful steps that you can take each day to lead you to true happiness.

USB Firewall 1.1.3 (2009)

USB FireWall blocks viruses and other wilful programs which try to spread in your system when an USB device is inserted. The application runs in background task and alerts you immediately in case of try of intrusion. You can stop the program and delete the file associate with.

USB FireWall doesnt need any virus definition update. USB FireWall can too clean your hard disk partition from auto started program. Version 1.1.2 can now clean all type of partition from autosarted program and fixed some bugs.

Download Here

Folder Lock

Folder Lock is an easy to use tool to create a password protected folder, that you can use to store all your sensitive files and documents. The folder is completely hidden while it is locked, and the files and folders contained in the Locker are unaccessible from Windows Explorer or even DOS mode

The program is very easy to use, it offers a simplistic interface that lets you unlock/lock and open the protected folder, and then simply drag new files into the Locker. Folder Lock offers 3 different protection methods (lock, scramble and 256-bit Blowfish encryption). You don`t have to keep folder lock running all the time in order to keep your files protected, just launch it when you need to gain access to your protected area or want to add new files. The program is completely self-contained, and you can use it to protect removable drives (e.g USB drives) and transfer data securely from one location to another without the need to install any software. Additional features include file shredding, stealth mode, hack attempt monitoring and more

Download(s):
Download Here