Personal Technology Information

The Newbies Guide to Personal Computer Maintenance


When you turn on your computer, does it act like it needs a coffee to wake up? When you surf around the Internet, are you bombarded with pop-up windows? Does your computer freeze up or turn off for no apparent reason?

Before you decide to throw your monitor out of the nearest window, there may be a number of solutions to fix these problems that won't require you having a degree in computer technology.

There are two primary ways to maintain your computer's performance, and the maintenance should be done once a week or more. First, acquire and use software that will help you clean and protect your computer, and second, know how to use the programs already in your computer to keep it's engines running smooth.

SOFTWARE

The software solutions below will not cost you any money, nor will they take you much of your time to download, understand, and implement:

1) Virus Protection - Avast AntiVirus is an excellent free program to guard yourself against Trojans, Worms, and Hacks.

2) Spyware - AdAware and Spybot are terrific free programs for eliminating pop-ups and other wares from your computer. It is recommended that you use them both, as one may find problems that the other may not ... a great one-two punch to protect yourself.

3) Registry Cleaners - WinASO Registry Optimizer is a great program for repairing your computer registry. The free version allows you to clean or repair ten items at a time, so you will have to re-run it numerous times if you have many problems.

4) Internet Speed - If you use dial-up, or have a computer the size of a calculator, you may wish to use RamBooster to help give you the best speed possible for the limitations you have.

Go to http://www.download.com for these and other great resources.

PROGRAMS

Now that you've taken out the garbage, you should keep the place neat and tidy by using the programs already existing in your computer. Once again, you should do this once a week:

1) Clear your Internet History

2) Defrag your Computer

3) Use a Firewall

You can find the programs that will do this for you by looking in the System Tools or Security Center sections of your computer.

Another option for those of you who've got smoke billowing out of the back of your computer, with no seemingly useful solution in sight; you may wish to look at the System Restore feature that your computer may have. This allows you to revert back to a state when your computer actually worked well. It doesn't work all the time, by it is an option ... and not an end all be all ... use it only when absolutely necessary.

Austin Culley is the Chief Operating Officer for Oil-Net.Com Inc.
http://www.oil-net.com


MORE RESOURCES:

04/28/2024
The Best Binoculars to Zoom In on Real Life
Whether you’re bird-watching or baseball-spotting, we break down prices and specs to find the best pair for you.


more info


04/28/2024
The Best Sleeping Bags for Every Adventure
Whether you’re climbing peaks or taking the family to the local park, we’ve found the best sleeping bags for every temperature, budget, and camping expedition.


more info


04/28/2024
Our Favorite Digital Notebooks and Smart Pens
These nifty tools combine the ease of jotting notes by hand with the power of saving them digitally.


more info


04/28/2024
The Best Password Managers to Secure Your Digital Life
Keep your logins locked down with our favorite password management apps for PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, and web browsers.


more info


04/28/2024
How to Get Free Kindle Books With Your Library Card
All you need is an internet connection, a library card, and a good ebook reader to dive into your next page-turner.


more info


04/28/2024
I Tried These AI-Based Productivity Tools. Here’s What Happened
Hoping to make life easier, I tested six AI-powered tools meant to help me write better and work smarter.


more info


04/28/2024
The Mysterious ‘Dark’ Energy That Permeates the Universe Is Slowly Eroding
Physicists call the dark energy that drives the universe “the cosmological constant.” Now the largest map of the cosmos to date hints that this mysterious energy has been changing over billions of years.


more info


04/27/2024
The Best Sleeping Pads for Camping, Backpacking, and Travel
Whether you’re snoozing in a campground or schlepping up to an alpine valley, these are the best pads we’ve found for resting your weary bones.


more info


04/27/2024
The Best Robot Vacuums to Keep Your Home Clean
Whether you’re up against pet hair or you want to splurge on a high-end laser-guided robot vacuum, we have the perfect pick for you.


more info


04/27/2024
Get the Most Out of Your iPad With These Accessories
These are some of our favorite stands, cases, keyboards, and styli, no matter which Apple tablet you have.


more info


04/27/2024
7 Spring Albums That You Don’t Need to Fight About Online
New music from Maggie Rogers, Tyla, Brittany Howard, and SchoolBoy Q showcase distinct artistic evolutions.


more info


04/27/2024
Autocomplete Interview
Autocomplete Interview - Is Ice Cube a nice guy? Do astronauts really drink their own pee? Does Gerard Butler still surf? The internet searches for answers and WIRED goes right to the source for the answer.


more info


04/27/2024
Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Shades Get a Fresh Blast of AI
Plus: Leaked details tell us more about the new Google Pixel 8A, Freitag’s environmentally conscious bag is entirely recyclable, and it’s time to unpack a whole bunch of tech acronyms.


more info


04/27/2024
1 in 3 Americans Live in Areas With Dangerous Air Pollution
Climate change is increasing the number of days people are exposed to hazardous pollution, affecting already disadvantaged communities the most.


more info


04/27/2024
School Employee Allegedly Framed a Principal With Racist Deepfake Rant
This week in cybersecurity news: Google holds off on killing cookies, Samourai Wallet founders get arrested, GM stops its driver surveillance program, and a school principal's racist rant is revealed to be a deepfake.


more info


04/27/2024
Russia Vetoed a UN Resolution to Ban Space Nukes
A ban on weapons of mass destruction in orbit has stood since 1967. Russia apparently has other ideas.


more info


04/26/2024
Roborock’s Robot Vacuums—Including WIRED’s Top Pick—Are on Sale Right Now
More like Robot Rock, am I right? (Sorry.) These are some of the best dust busters around, and they’re cheaper than usual.


more info


04/26/2024
Tesla Autopilot Was Uniquely Risky—and May Still Be
In an investigative report into crashes and deaths associated with Tesla Autopilot, federal regulators concluded that the system lacked standard protections.


more info


04/26/2024
The 33 Best Shows on Amazon Prime Right Now
From "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" to "Fallout," these are our picks for what you should be watching on the streamer.


more info


04/26/2024
The 17 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now
From "Road House" to "Bottoms," these are the must-watch films on the streamer.


more info


04/26/2024
Decades of Garry’s Mod Nintendo Uploads Are Disappearing
Nintendo is once again flexing its copyright muscles by filing takedown requests for user-generated content on the popular game platform.


more info


04/26/2024
The Best Lubes for Every Occasion
For the most sensitive parts of the human body, friction is the enemy. Here’s how to keep it at bay.


more info


04/26/2024
Which Govee Smart Lighting Kit Should You Buy?
Govee makes some of the best affordable smart lights, but its enormous range can be overwhelming and confusing. Here’s how to choose the right fit for your home.


more info


04/26/2024
The Best USB-C Cables for Your Phone, Tablet, or Laptop
Unravel the tangled world of cords and find the ones you need to charge your gadgets and transfer data.


more info


04/26/2024
The Best Car Phone Mounts and Chargers
These mobile accessories will make your smartphone a better—and safer—road trip companion.


more info



home | site map | contact us