Issue 12.17
I know I will probably lose a few customers by sharing these secrets, but I want my readers to know what they can do to make their computer experience better and solve or prevent problems. Here are a few things you can do to optimize your computer safely without having to pay for programs that say they will make it work better but usually do not and simply create a way for them to get into your computer.
If you are running Vista or XP operating systems on computers that are connected to the internet, my advice is to upgrade to at least Windows 7 or get a new computer. Microsoft ceased all support for Vista last month and so most anti-virus programs can no longer update and protect your system completely. The same thing will happen to Windows 7 in a few years, but it is still a valid and easy to use operating system and I recommend it unless you need the new features in Windows 10. I also recommend updating Windows 8 to Windows 10.
Make sure you have a good anti-virus program installed and up-to-date. You can usually check this in your control panel under Programs – Uninstall a program. You don’t need to uninstall it, but it will show you if it is installed already. You may also see it on your desktop or list of programs. You also need to open it and check to see if it is up-to-date and the protection is active. If not, you will want to take care of that as soon as possible. In most cases, unless you are sure your anti-virus also gets rid of malware (non-virus programs that slow down your computer or report your activities to third parties without your permission) I recommend getting a good anti-malware program such as Malwarebytes. These are a major cause of computers running slow or failing.
In the control panel under the Uninstall section noted above, you can get rid of programs you know you don’t need which can help your computer run better. Be very careful not to uninstall programs if you don’t know what they are for since they may be critical to your operating system or to programs you use. This is where a trained professional can be of great assistance as they have experience determining which programs to delete.
You can also find out a lot about your computer by right clicking on the “Computer” or “This PC” icons on your desktop (if they are not shortcuts) or by clicking your start button and then right clicking them in the menu that comes up. Choose “Properties” (usually at the bottom of the list of options). You should get a window that shows what Operating System (Windows 7, 10, etc.), the model number of your computer, what type of processor and the speed, and how much RAM (Random Access Memory) your computer has. This information is helpful to your technician in knowing how fast your computer should run.
One other thing you may want to check and that is your hard drive. If the hard drive is too full, it can cause the computer to run slowly and can create errors. You can find this by left clicking on the Computer or This PC icons or links and it should show you all your drives and how full they are. If they are more than 80% full, it is probably time to get a bigger hard drive or move some of your info to some other location. Be careful if you move things though as some files have to be in a specific location in order to be accessed.
Finally, and I know some tire of hearing this, always make sure you remember to protect your data, documents, pictures and your computer by always backing up anything important.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 34 years, 27 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently works as a computer consultant. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.