Posted by Jacob on
June 25, 2009
What Does the Vista Logo on Your PC Mean?
Is your PC coughing out blood lately? If you bought your computer during LeBron James’ rookie year, then you shouldn’t be surprised that it’s already asking for a respirator.
As with cars, computers need to be retired and replaced every five years from the date of purchase or from the date when it was first introduced by its maker to the market. Some even contend that PCs should be replaced every three years as programs demand for more processing power with each new version.
At present, it would seem that your computer should at least be powered by a dual core processor with RAM numbers not falling below the 4GB mark. However, many still end up buying a slower machine due to budget constraints or because they don’t know what specs suit them best.
OS as a Barometer
Many buyers are more preoccupied as to what’s installed in the PC that’s being offered to them rather than on the components that powers the machine. They couldn’t be faulted for just focusing on the “Vista” logo, though, as people generally estimate a computer’s age and capability through the operating system that it’s running on. This is not a bad barometer in determining a PC’s youth and vigor. Indeed, logically, only the latest computers would be able to meet the demands of Windows Vista.
Bare Minimum
However, measuring a PC’s strength and capabilities by the OS that comes with it is not always sensible. It should be noted that Vista comes in different flavors, with each having different processing demands. A machine that’s stamped with a “Vista Capable” or “Vista Basic” mark probably has specs that won’t even impress somebody whose last PC was powered by a Pentium III chip. Upgrading the pre-installed Vista Basic OS to Vista Premium or Ultimate with this type of computer will most likely result in countless nightmares during the start up phase alone as it’s processor will definitely find itself out of breath most of the time. Unless your wallet is on a diet or you just intend to use the PC for word-processing tasks, you should avoid machines bearing “basic” stickers.
Future-Proof
If you really want a computer that can compete with your dog in terms of longevity, then choose the one bearing a “Vista Premium Ready” or “Vista Ultimate” sticker. These logos assure you that the PC hosting such OS has the best processor and peripherals as only competent and dependable machines can handle the complete Vista package. It would also be safe to say that such a machine is also Windows 7-capable as the much awaited Microsoft program promises to be more efficient in utilizing system resources.
Posted by Jacob on
June 22, 2009
Top 5 Causes of Registry Errors
The registry is a vital component of the Windows operating system. In order to keep your PC running efficiently, it is critical that you keep this area healthy and free of errors. If not, the system might behave erratically or become completely inoperable. This is especially the case if the problem isn’t addressed in a timely fashion. Windows registry errors occur for a number of reasons but here are the top five.
1.) Incorrect System Shutdowns - When your PC is in use, the Windows registry is stored in the system memory. Any changes made are written to it during shutdown. Therefore, an incorrect system shutdown such as a crash or power failure can leave behind corrupt entries that causes major damage to the Windows registry.
2.) Missing Entries – In many cases, when an entry is deleted, a vacant space is left behind in the registry. Over time, the accumulation of these vacant spaces in conjunction with scattered file fragments results in registry problems that makes the computer perform sluggishly.
3.) Malicious Entries – Malicious software applications such as viruses, worms, spyware and Trojans place entries in the registry. These entries can stir up serious registry problems that range from system errors to damaging the registry to a point where it cannot function and your system is virtually useless.
4.) Orphan Keys - When uninstalling programs from your computer, orphan keys are often left behind in the Windows registry. Although these entries should be removed with the program you uninstalled, things do not always go as planned in the Windows environment. Once these keys mount up in the registry, the system usually hiccups registry errors and becomes terribly unstable.
5.) Duplicate Entries – If you have ever had to reinstall or upgrade an application, you might be stuck with duplicate keys in the Windows registry. Each time you reinstall or upgrade a program, keys are often added to the registry again without removing the original entries. Duplicate keys result in a cluster of unnecessary items that put a strain on the registry and generate errors.
How to Get Rid of Registry Errors
These are just five main causes of Windows registry errors. Unfortunately, several more exist. This is why so many experts recommend that you maintain the health of your registry and make repairs when things start to go haywire.
Although you could use the built-in Windows registry editor to manually remove the unwanted items, this isn’t advisable because removing the wrong entries could lead to more problems and eventually render your PC inoperable. The simple solution would be to obtain a good registry cleaner. This type of program will scan the registry on your computer and automatically remove those errors causing all the problems.
The registry is an integral part of your PC. If you want your system to consistently be in tip-top shape, this area must be tuned up every now and then. By practicing sound computing and utilizing a reliable registry cleaning tool, you can make sure your computer stays running safely and be free of registry errors.
Posted by Jacob on
June 18, 2009
What You Should Do After Installing Windows XP or Vista
Don’t you just love the look and the smell of a brand new PC? Nothing excites me more than tearing up its packaging and spending time with the manual for a preview of the things to come. As with anything new, you would normally want everything that concerns it to be perfect, be it the table that it would be resting on or the software that will bring it to life.
If your new PC didn’t come with a bundled OS, then you will have the pleasant (sometimes) privilege of experiencing how Windows is conceived and born inside your computer. The task is not that daunting. Most of the time, you’ll just be reduced to a mere spectator as almost everything is done in autopilot.
Once the installation of your operating system has been done, the next thing that you’ll most probably do is connect a modem to your PC and immediately surf the net. While Windows XP and Vista already have a built-in firewall that could ward off attacks from cyberspace, it only provides a thin line of defense. Just like every newborn, it must be protected from external threats for a period of time first before letting it venture outside.
Before you try your new surfboard on the Internet, you might want to do the following first, unless you’re eager to experience installing your operating system again:
Posted by Jacob on
June 12, 2009
Things to Do Before Reformatting Your Hard Drive
Every once in a while, Windows grumbles about aches and pains that you think are just trivial. Crashes occur a few times in a month, and the blue screen of death makes its appearance once in a while.
While these symptoms may not alarm you, especially if your system is guarded by the best security and utility suites that a wad of Benjamin Franklin notes has to offer, you may want to take some insurance measures just in case. Serious PC problems often manifest themselves with mundane coughs and hiccups. By the time you seriously pay attention to the problem though, it might already be too late as the data corruption has already metastasized.
Posted by Jacob on
June 8, 2009
How to Uninstall Unwanted Software
When you get a new PC, all it will normally have installed is the operating system and possibly a few utility programs. So, the hard disk is relatively empty and the registry is in pristine condition. The first thing you then do is install the programs you use regularly — your word processor, spreadsheet, video editor and so on — and copy over all your documents, music, videos and the like. Your hard disk starts to fill up but, hopefully, not too much and your registry gains a few more entries.
Everything is fine as long as you don’t overdo it. However, the temptation is to install various programs to try them out — some people are serial downloaders and installers of all sorts of programs off the internet. The problem is that your hard disk becomes increasingly full, your registry gets cluttered with a mass of entries and the various programs may conflict with each other and cause errors.
Posted by Jacob on
June 4, 2009
How to Optimize Firefox and IE 8’s Performance
At the rate Internet connection speeds are climbing, tips on how to speed up or optimize your Web browser may already be pointless. Dial-up subscriptions have been experiencing a free-fall during the past several months, and it won’t be long when the Smithsonian might allocate a few feet of space for 56K V.90 modems.
While broadband connections have built virtual expressways for data to run on in cyberspace, clogged browsers have created bottlenecks that made “mbps” look no better or different than “kbps.” Bugs and viruses are often blamed for slow browsing speed, but there are cases where faulty settings and unnecessary add-ons have made Web surfing a patience-testing activity.
If your browser is having a hard time painting the page that you want to see in less than 10 seconds, then you might want to consider the following tips:
1. Deactivate Internet Explorer’s SmartScreen/Phishing Filter.
While this IE 8 feature is commendable, it also brings down browsing speed. SmartScreen Filter provides protection from phishing sites. It checks each and every Website that you visit and analyzes them for any suspicious features or activities. This gumshoe task is done in the background, so you won’t see IE 8 snooping around on the pages that you’re viewing. However, you’ll definitely notice that it’s busy with something as page or site-flipping becomes slower.
IE 8’s SmartScreen Filter may be a handy booby trap finder, but it can be a drag especially if you know that the Websites you’re visiting are landmine-free. If you’re sure that the pages you’re flipping on are clean and legit, then you might want to deactivate this phishing filter. You can do this by clicking on Tools * SmartScreen Filter, then select Turn Off SmartScreen Filter.
2. Disable or Deactivate Plugins
Plugins add color and flavor to Firefox and IE. They can make your browsing experience very pleasant. However, installing too many plugins may put extra stress or pressure on your browser’s engine. Extra features mean extra tasks, so don’t go on blaming bugs and viruses for your browser’s laggard performance if ten or more plugins are saddled on its back.
Plugin malfunction is also a common occurrence. Fixing them can be tricky, especially if that particular add-on isn’t very well supported. Your best or only option in this situation is to disable the plugin. You can do this in Firefox by choosing Tools * Add-ons, then Disable. To open Internet Explorer without the extras, choose Start * All Programs * Accessories * Internet Explorer (No Add-ons).
3. Check for Updates
Some browser issues are caused by faulty design. The makers of IE and Firefox try to make up for their shortcomings by releasing occasional patches and updates. Finding and installing patches on Internet Explorer is already unnecessary as updates are done automatically. However, you may have to do this task manually in Firefox. Scouring for updates is easy, though. Just click on Help * Check for Updates.
Posted by Jacob on
June 2, 2009
How to Uninstall Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer remains the most commonly installed form of web browser. However, other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox, are becoming increasingly popular.
If you have changed to another browser, you may want to delete internet explorer from your computer. You may also wish to do this because there are reported conflicts, such as when both Internet Explorer and Firefox are installed together, and you are having problems. Alternatively, you may have installed a later version of Internet Explorer that is giving errors and want to roll back to the earlier version.
