| Many times, whenever our computers break | | | | With the of the age of Windows 95 came a new |
| down, software is considered the culprit. Have | | | | and extremely useful tool - the Disk |
| you ever stopped to think that your neglect of | | | | Defragmenter. What this tool does is take all of |
| your computer's hardware and internal file | | | | the files and pieces of files, that Windows has |
| organization could also be the cause of the | | | | haphazardly strewn all over your hard drive, and |
| headaches, though? It is true. Most of the time, | | | | organizes them. Just as you would tell your son or |
| our computers work perfectly. You zip through | | | | daughter to clean their room, you are telling |
| checking your email or slap together that | | | | Windows to clean its file system. This can free up |
| spreadsheet your boss has been hounding you | | | | space and bring back some of the old speedy |
| about, but you do not give the computer a | | | | days you saw before your computer became |
| second thought. | | | | sluggish. |
| There are times, though, when your computer is | | | | In Windows XP, you can access the disk |
| moving at a snail's pace and you want to bang | | | | defragmenter by clicking on Start->All |
| your keyboard on the desk or throw your | | | | Programs->Accessories->System |
| monitor out the window... anything to make the | | | | Tools->Disk Defragmenter |
| thing work faster! Many of these issues with your | | | | Disk Cleanup |
| computer slowing down can be eased or solved | | | | Windows 95 also brought us another useful tool - |
| with simple "house cleaning" that should be | | | | Disk Cleanup. This is a simple utility that scans |
| performed every couple of months or so. Give | | | | your computer's hard drive for redundant and |
| the below tips a try and let us know if you have | | | | duplicate files, useless files, items in your recycling |
| any luck! If these do not help, your computer | | | | bin, etc. Once these files are located, Disk Cleanup |
| might be infected with spyware, malware or even | | | | gives you the option to delete or remove said |
| a computer virus. See the bottom of this article | | | | files. It can also compress old or unused files, |
| for a few tips to try against these more serious | | | | saving even more space. Disk Cleanup is another |
| issues. | | | | tool you should use once every month or so that |
| Protecting your computer against dust | | | | can help speed up your computer and get rid of |
| Dust is a major culprit in bogging down your | | | | useless garbage. |
| computer. From a technician's standpoint, I cannot | | | | In Windows XP, you can access the disk |
| recall how many times I have opened a | | | | defragmenter by clicking on Start->All |
| customer's computer and BAM! Dust bunny | | | | Programs->Accessories->System |
| Central! Try to imagine a computer as you would | | | | Tools->Disk Cleanup |
| your lungs. If your lungs are clogged, you cannot | | | | Free Resources for spyware, malware, and virus |
| breathe. The same can be said for a PC. The | | | | infections. |
| inside of a computer is designed specifically to | | | | If you are experiencing weird popups, spam, or |
| channel air through the case; to replace the hot | | | | other malicious activities, I suggest trying the |
| air generated by all the components with cool air | | | | following three utilities along with the above |
| from outside. Try running a marathon with dust | | | | procedures. |
| and cobwebs stuffed deep within your throat or | | | | - AVG - Free Anti-Virus Software |
| lungs. You would rapidly expire from fatigue, head | | | | AVG is a free virus scanner & protection |
| exhaustion, or a heart attack. Without fresh air to | | | | program that can help detect and prevent a lot |
| compensate for the heat generated by the | | | | of the malicious software out there. It does have |
| computer's components, the computer will slow | | | | a better, paid version, too... and I would not count |
| down, more and more, as time goes on. | | | | on it as a be all and end all solution to your |
| Eventually, things will go very wrong and operation | | | | problems. It is definitely worth grabbing and |
| will grind to a halt. | | | | checking out, though. |
| I suggest doing the following, once a month. | | | | - Spybot Search and Destroy |
| - Remove all cables from the computer | | | | This piece of software is very powerful and is |
| - Take a synthetic fiber brush and gently brush | | | | used quite a bit to detect and eliminate Spyware |
| away the dust from the outside ports of the | | | | and other malicious software. There is an option |
| computer; the USB ports, back vent ports, power | | | | to scan your registry before Windows load, which |
| supply vents, etc. Anywhere that you see fleeing | | | | catches any software that may block other |
| dust bunnies, brush these vermin elsewhere. | | | | scanners, etc. Highly recommended. |
| - Remove the side panel from the PC by | | | | - Ad-Aware (A quick Google should bring up their |
| unscrewing any screws and sliding it off. | | | | website) |
| - Use a vacuum hose to GENTLY vacuum up all | | | | Free and paid versions are available, with the free |
| the dust inside of the computer. As a note of | | | | version claiming "comprehensive malware |
| caution, jamming the vacuum hose into all the | | | | protection." This is another highly recommended |
| tight and hard to reach corners of the case might | | | | piece of freeware that is used across the tech |
| get more dust out, but you might also damage | | | | world to battle malware and malicious software. |
| the internal components. Be careful when doing | | | | These are only general suggestions and should be |
| so. | | | | taken as such. We do not guarantee that these |
| - If you like, you can use compressed air to clean | | | | actions or programs will fix your computer, nor |
| out the corners and internal components of the | | | | do we directly endorse any of the programs |
| case a bit more. | | | | mentioned in this article. We have, however, |
| - After vacuuming all the loose, rampant dust | | | | found every suggestion here useful in the past, |
| bunnies up, replace the computer's cover and plug | | | | and want to pass them on to you as just that, |
| all your cables back in. | | | | suggestions. Best of luck, everyone! |
| Disk Defragmenter | | | | |