10 things that can make a computer slow in processing and what you could to do.
User complaints are minimal when the computer is new. The computer starts up quickly and programs seem to open in a snap. But overtime, the user begins to notice that the system is slow or that it hangs up often. While possible causes for system slowdown are endless, these 10 will suggest areas to first consider.
1. Spyware and Viruses.
Spyware and viruses pose a significant security threat, and they can also dramatically decrease computer performance. The first step to combat these should always be to scan the machine with updated spyware detection/removal and antivirus software. If these software scanners do not work or they claim to work but you still see symptoms of a virus attack, here are a few other steps to try.
• Identify and end suspicious processes with Windows Task Manager (Press Ctrl+Alt+Del)
• Identify and disable suspicious services and startup items with the System Configuration Utility (Type msconfig at the command prompt). Use with caution.
• Search and delete registry entries associated with suspicious services or startup items. (Type regedit at the command prompt). Use with caution.
• Install and use multiple spyware detection and removal utilities but do not use more than one anti-virus.
Note: If the above techniques fail, start Windows in Safe Mode and retry. You can enter safe mode by pressing F8 at system startup for the Advanced Boot Options.
2. Processor Overheating
Modern processors generate a lot of heat. That’s why all processors require some sort of cooling element. When the processor temperature goes over the specified temperature, the system can slow down or run erratically. Modern motherboards can monitor the processor temperature and report it through the system BIOS.
The processor fan may fail for several reasons.
• Dust is preventing the fan from spinning smoothly.
• The fan motor has failed.
• The fan bearings are loose and not spinning at the required velocity.
Often you can tell if there is a fan problem by listening or touching the computer. A fan with loose bearings will cause the casing of the system to vibrate, making a characteristic noise.
You may not have to change the fan. If it’s covered with dust, you can spray away the dust with compressed air. Even though you might get the fan working again, it’s pertinent to note that the lifespan of the fan has been likely reduced because of the overwork.
3. Bad RAM( Random Access Memory)
Several situations can lead to a bad RAM relationship with a particular computer.
Some known RAM problems are:
• RAM timing is slower than optimal machine specification.
• RAM has minor flaws that only appear on detailed testing.
• RAM is overheating
In the past, replacing a RAM was just a matter of knowing the speed the motherboard supports and the maximum each slot would take. Today it’s different, because there are many different speeds and types of RAM, and the better motherboards may be tolerant of using RAM that does not match the motherboard’s maximum specification. But beware that you may need to change BIOS settings and you may see performance decreases if you install RAM that is slower that the maximum spec.
Minor flaws in RAM chips can lead to system slowdowns and instability. The least expensive chips often have minor flaws that will cause your system to slow down or intermittent Blue Screens. Although built-in mechanisms may allow the system to keep working, there is performance drop when it has to deal with flawed RAM chips.
In the past, no one worried about RAM chips getting hot, because they didn’t seem to generate much heat. But that’s changed with newer RAM types, especially SDRAM. To check for overheating you may have to touch. You have to open the computer case, power down, and pull the plug out. Ground yourself and touch the plastic on one of your RAM chips. An alternative, which is preferred, is to use third party software. If you need it, I can get you one.
If you find that your RAM chips are overheating, you should consider buying a separate fan to cool your memory. If your motherboard doesn’t support a RAM fan, you might be able to get enough additional cooling by installing a fan card that plugs into a PCI slot.
4. Failing Hard Disk
There may be signs of imminent failure before a hard disk finally gives up, depending on the type of failure (mechanical, electronic, logical or firmware failure). Some of the signs include:
• Slow access times on the affected drive.
• An increasing number of bad sectors when running scandisk and chkdsk utilities.
• Unexplained Blue Screens.
• Intermittent boot failures.
Detecting a failing hard disk can be tricky because the early signs are subtle. With experience you could hear a change in the normal disk spin (Often manifested as a clicking or crunching noise or a high pitched whine). After the disk deteriorates further, you’ll see the system crawl to a standstill. Write processes will take a long time as the system tries to find good blocks to write to. (This will only occur if you’re using a robust file system such as NTFS; other file systems will likely display a Blue Screen).
You may get error messages such as “Windows delayed write failure” on Windows computers.
When you notice the system slow down, run scandisk or chkdsk depending on your operating system. (Just type chkdsk at command prompt, scandisk won’t work within Windows). If you notice a bad sector where a good sector existed earlier, that’s a clue that the disk is going bad. Backup the data on the disk and prepare for it to fail soon. Be sure to have a spare disk available so you can replace it when it finally fails, or replace the disk as soon as you notice the early signs of failure.
Disk noise and scandisk/chkdsk are your best indicators for identifying a failing drive that’s leading to a system slowdown. If you can’t take down a system for a full chkdsk/R run, you may use tools that monitor disk health such Executive Software DiskAlert.
5. BIOS settings
One often-ignored culprit of system slowdown is the machine’s BIOS settings. Most people accept the BIOS settings as they were configured in the factory and leave them as is. However, slowdowns may occur if the BIOS settings do not match the optimal machine configuration. Often you can improve machine performance by researching your motherboard’s optimal BIOS settings—which may not be the same as the factory defaults.
There is no centralized database of optimal BIOS settings, but a simple Web search on your motherboard name and BIOS as keywords should yield the correct settings.
You may also be able to increase performance by updating or “flashing” your BIOS. Check with your motherboard’s vendor for the software and instructions to do this.
Note: Flashing the BIOS may render your computer permanently unusable. Please use with caution, or contact me if need help.
6. Disk Type/Controller Compatibility
The hard disk you use in your computer should be compatible with the controller on the mainboard, else you’ll have a performance drop. Some sample Hard disk types are UDMA-33, 66,100 etc. It’s always a good practice to check the manual (if any) that came with the disk or the back of the disk to find out what IDE interface it support. If your motherboard only supports a UDMA 33 or 66 and you purchased a UDMA 100, the hard disk will work, but not at maximum capacity.
Another potential problem may be the cable type you using. UDMA 66+ drives require a different cable than older drive types. The drive may not work at all with the old cable type. Aged cables will break down over time, especially if they are tightly folded. It’s always worthwhile to change out the drive cable to see if performance improves.
Also keep in mind that hard disk technologies are improving speedily so that performance of newer disks is substantially greater (and so are disk capacities). Replacing older disk, even if they are not at risk of failure, can give you a big performance boost. New Serial ATA (SATA) disk are faster than old parallel ATA types.
7. Windows Services
Many Windows services are enabled by default. Most of these services however, are not required for your computer to run properly. You should review the services running on your computer and disable those that you don’t need. You view these services by typing msconfig at the command prompt and click on the Services tab.
The Essential column shows services Microsoft considers essential to running the computer. However, note that many required services are not defined as essential in the System Configuration Utility window. You can prevent a service from starting at bootup by unchecking the check box to the left of the service.
Another and more detailed way to see the Services is to use the Services applet found in the Administrative Tools menu. Right-click My Computer and select Manage. Important information contained in the Services console includes the service Name, Status, and Startup Type. You can get more details on a service by double-clicking on it to bring up the service’s Properties.
You can stop the service by clicking the Stop button. If you are sure that you don’t need the service, click the down arrow in the Startup Type drop-down list box and set the service to Disabled. If you are not sure if you need the service, change the Startup Type to Manual. Then you’ll have the option of manually starting the service if you find that you need it.
One service that is well known for slowing down Windows 2000/Windows XP systems is the Indexing Service. This service indexes the content of each hard disk and makes it easier for the Search utility to find files. Unless you are running a Web site that uses the indexing service, you may want to disable it to improve performance.
8. Runaway processes
Runaway processes take up all of the processors' cycles. The usual suspects are badly written device drivers, and legacy software installed on a newer operating system. You can identify a runaway process by looking at the process list in the Windows Task Manager. Any process that takes almost 100 percent of the processing time is likely a runaway process.
There are exceptions to this rule. On a smoothly running system, the System Idle Process should be consuming the majority of the processor cycles most of the time. If any other process were to take up 98 percent of the processor cycles, you might have a runaway process.
If you do find a runaway process, you can right-click the process and click the End Process command. You may need to stop some processes, such as runaway system services, from the Services console. If you can’t stop the service using the console, you may need to reboot the system. Sometimes a hard reboot is required.
9. Disk fragmentation
As files are added, deleted, and changed on a disk, the contents of the file can become spread across sectors located in disparate regions of the disk. This is file fragmentation. Some older operating systems, such as Windows NT, don’t have a built-in defrag utility; you must obtain a third-party solution, such as Executive Software’s Diskeeper.
Disk fragmentation can significantly slow down your machine. The disk heads must move back and forth while seeking all the fragments of a file. A common cause of disk fragmentation is a disk that is too full. You should keep 20 percent to 25 percent of your hard disk space free to minimize file fragmentation and to improve the defragmenter’s ability to defrag the disk. Thus, if a disk is too full, move some files off the drive and restart the defragmenter.
In Windows XP, you can use the defrag.exe command line tool to schedule defragmentation on a regular basis. For Windows 2000, you can use a program such as AutoDefrag to schedule defragmentation.
10 Background applications
The system tray is located at the right hand corner of the task bar. Each icon on the system tray represents a process running in either the foreground or background. Most of them are running in the background, so the users may not be aware that they are running 20+ applications at the same time.
This is due to applications starting up automatically in the background. Look first for such programs in the Startup folder in the Start menu. Many applications place components in the Startup folder to run in the background. Some of these programs can really chew up processor and disk time and noticeably slow down a system. Review each of the entries in the Startup folder and delete any that are unnecessary.
Not all programs that run at startup appear in the Startup folder. Another place to look is the following registry keys:
HKEY_ LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
(Hope you still remember how to access the registry)
In Windows XP, run msconfig and check the Startup tab to view startup programs. You can uncheck the boxes to keep individual programs from running at startup.
11. File system issues
Some file systems work better than others for large disk partitions. If the machine runs Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista you should use the NTFS file system for best performance.
File system performance is closely related to cluster size and the number of clusters on the disk. NTFS file systems will bog down if you have a 60-GB hard disk configured with a cluster size of 512 bytes. This creates an enormous number of clusters, which the file system must track and seek. This becomes especially problematic when the drive is highly fragmented. One solution is to use larger cluster sizes. If you set the cluster size to 4K or larger, you will see noticeable improvement in file load times. Please note, however, that large clusters can significantly increase the amount of cluster slack space and lead to a lot of wasted disk space.
Another trick to alleviate file system issues involves tweaking some Registry values (Start Menu|Run|Regedit):
• The first Registry value you can tweak is NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation, which can be found at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem. When you set this value to 1, it stops NTFS from generating the 8.3 file-naming convention used for backward compatibility. If you do not need these old filenames, you can improve performance by preventing NTFS from creating them.
• Another useful NTFS entry is the NtfsDisableLastAccess value, which can be found at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem. This is a REG_DWORD entry, and when it is set to 1, it will prevent NTFS from updating the date and time stamp of directories after they are browsed. However, this does not prevent an update to the file-access information when a file is opened or changed.
If you are not using the NTFS file system, you may be able to improve performance by moving files and folders out of the root directory. With FAT partitions, you may notice a big slowdown in system performance after running scandisk because a large number of .chk files are placed in the root directory. Users sometimes fill their root directories by making it the default file storage location. Move as many files and folders as possible out of the root directory, and performance should improve significantly.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
How to Convert a VHS to VCD
Before DVD and VCD came along, VHS was the standard way of capturing and watching motion pictures at home. Due to the durability of DVDs, it is no surprise that VHS was easily overtaken by the digital medium. It is virtually impossible to keep VHS tapes from wearing out. Over time the tape wears down and the footage on the tapes becomes unwatchable. It is possible to preserve your old VHS tapes by capturing them into a digital format and burning them to VCD. A VCD is a video compact disc similar to a DVD that holds moving images along with quality digital sound. Instead of burning to a blank DVD, the files are burned to a blank CD.
These easy steps will tell all it takes to achieve this conversion.
Step
1
Connect your VCR to your computer. There are a couple of ways this can be done. If you have a digital video camera, you can use the cords that were provided with the camera to connect your VCR to your camera and your camera to your computer. These cords are available in local computer accessories shops. Just request for an (AV (Audio/Video) Cord.
This allows the analog video from the VCR to be captured as a digital file. If you don't have a digital video camera, you must install an analog capture card in your computer. With an analog capture card, you can hook your VCR directly to the computer with an audio/video-to-USB cord.
Step
2
Capture the VHS video to your computer. This will require video-capturing software like iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, Ulead video studio, Nero etc. In the software, go to "Import," which is usually under the "File" menu. Name the file and designate a destination folder for the file. When you are done capturing, the file will be available in the folder you selected.
You can call me or send an email and I will give you a copy of the software or direct you on how and where to get it on the internet.
Step
3
Install a software that burns VCDs. Most DVD software, such as Nero, Media Now and Pinnacle, also has the ability to burn VCDs.
Step
4
Place a blank CD in your CD or DVD drive. The drive must have CD-burning capabilities in order to create a VCD.
Step
5
Use the burning software you installed to burn your files onto VCD. Select VCD as your disc type, import the video files that you pulled from your VHS and click the button to start burning the files to the VCD. The progress will be tracked on the screen, and when burning is complete, your VCD will automatically eject from the system.
Watch out for how to convert Audio Cassettes to Audio CDS.
These easy steps will tell all it takes to achieve this conversion.
Step
1
Connect your VCR to your computer. There are a couple of ways this can be done. If you have a digital video camera, you can use the cords that were provided with the camera to connect your VCR to your camera and your camera to your computer. These cords are available in local computer accessories shops. Just request for an (AV (Audio/Video) Cord.
This allows the analog video from the VCR to be captured as a digital file. If you don't have a digital video camera, you must install an analog capture card in your computer. With an analog capture card, you can hook your VCR directly to the computer with an audio/video-to-USB cord.
Step
2
Capture the VHS video to your computer. This will require video-capturing software like iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, Ulead video studio, Nero etc. In the software, go to "Import," which is usually under the "File" menu. Name the file and designate a destination folder for the file. When you are done capturing, the file will be available in the folder you selected.
You can call me or send an email and I will give you a copy of the software or direct you on how and where to get it on the internet.
Step
3
Install a software that burns VCDs. Most DVD software, such as Nero, Media Now and Pinnacle, also has the ability to burn VCDs.
Step
4
Place a blank CD in your CD or DVD drive. The drive must have CD-burning capabilities in order to create a VCD.
Step
5
Use the burning software you installed to burn your files onto VCD. Select VCD as your disc type, import the video files that you pulled from your VHS and click the button to start burning the files to the VCD. The progress will be tracked on the screen, and when burning is complete, your VCD will automatically eject from the system.
Watch out for how to convert Audio Cassettes to Audio CDS.
Friday, December 11, 2009
10 Steps to extend or Reset Trial Period of Trial Demo Software
A lot of software and applications are released as a shareware, also known as demoware (demo) or trialware (trial version), where users can download the trial version shareware from the Internet or get the apps from distributed magazine cover-disks, and use it for a stipulated period of time (trial period), free or charge without any payment. The plan is sort of “try before you buy”, where if users satisfy with the software after trying it, they should buy the program by paying a license fee to the developer. After passing the trial expiry date and time (expiry of trial period), the software will either stop working, or continue working with limited or restricted features, or displays a reminder message about expired trial demo license.
So what if you want to extend the duration of the trial period of the demo apps to fully evaluate it? Or you have installed the demo software or shareware, but suddenly busy with works or something else, and when finally free, the trial valid date has passed? Or you may be decided that the shareware is not worth to pay? The solution or workaround is to extend or reset the trial apps expiry date and time, or its trial period, so that users can continue to using the trial shareware without crack or hack.
Its necessary to buy the product if you would like to continue using it without limitation .But these tips would additionally help you to judge the trial or demo application for few additional days.
Method 1
Reinstall the program. This is the easiest method, but highly likely that it won’t work mostly on current modern software, as the expiry check algorithm getting sophisticated by keeping the expiry information on started using date and days allowed for try use plus days left in the trial in the registry or in a randomly named file.
Re installation of application sometimes helps to extend or reset trial period of old .NET based applications .But this will not work with new age applications.
Method 2
Adjusting the clock (date and time) of your computer system before starting installation of trial software to future data, or adjusting the clock to past date after expired trial period. Again, this method most likely won’t work.
Method 3
Use a application installation monitoring software or uninstaller software such as Norton Cleansweep, Your Uninstaller! 2006 and Advanced Uninstaller PRO 2006 to keep track and monitor every changes to the system during installation, and then uninstall and revert the shareware completely to remove all traces of trial expiry data.
Method 4
Backup the registry before installation of software, and restore the registry after trial period passed. Only works on those shareware that store protection information in registry, and you will lose some important registry changes by Windows or other applications. Alternatively, use Regmon to monitor registry activity in real-time to identify possible candidates for trial expiry reg keys, and then delete those keys.
Method 5
Reinstall windows, and you can be sure that you can use all trial demo shareware again, as all dummy registry entries and dummy files that store trial information are wiped off.
Method 6
Find a crack, with the help of cracks search engine such as Astalavista or visit www.serials.ws . But this is not extending the trial period of software.
Method 7
Search with various search engines such as Google and Yahoo! for application-specific known workarounds.
Method 8
3. Monitor registry and file changes made by trial softwares: Get a registry watch application and note down the registry keys and files created by trial software . Delete those entries and reinstall the application after trial expiration.
Method 9
1. Click Start
2. Click on Run
3. Type regedit and press enter.
4. Registry Window Would get open.
5. Now navigate to the following keys and delete the keys.
o HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREHKEY_LOCAL_M...
o HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCURRENTCONTROL...
6. Both the above keys will have a linked to the program delete that key only.
7. Reboot your PC and enjoy.
Method 10
If you use any of the following software, then Trial-Reset can helps you to extend the trial period of the software. Trial-Reset is an registry cleaning tool (it claims it’s not a crack) that removes the keys generated by commercial and freeware protector of trial period, and hence makes the software as if just freshly installed. It actually automates the process of cleaning up the registry key related to trial expiry mentioned above. The software and its protected that Trial-Reset (version 3.0 RC3) supports and able to strips are as below.
ACProtect
ActiveMark
Armadillo
ASProtect
DBPE
EncryptPE
Enigma
ExeCryptor
ExeShield
ICE License
NoCopy
Obsidium
OneWay
Orien
PCGuard
ProtectionPlus
ProtectShareware
SafeSerial
SDProtector
Sheriff
SGLicense
ShareGuard
SoftLocx
SoftSentry
SoftWrap
STProtector
SVKP
Thinstall
VBOLock
VBox
VisualProtect
Xheo Licensing
XProtector
ZipWorx
To use Trial-Reset, just select which software protector that you want to scan for existance on the right hand side of the window. If the registry of the protector is found, make sure you you review the key to ensure that it’s the correct key that stores trial information. Then you can opt to backup the key, remove the key, add the key to protect list and other options.
Trial resetter applications will reset the registry entries during Windows boot time .So the trial software keeps extended for unlimited period of time .
Another software that can help is called Time stopper : Time stopper is a trial resetter application for Windows softwares . You can select to browse the executable file of the target trial application from program files and create a new shortcut icon on desktop . This application will then will bypass the trial limitation for another few days as per options chosen .
Note: I have scanned these software with an antivirus software using latest definitions .However i cannot guarantee that its malware free . We advice everyone to purchase original versions of softwares to avoid these limitations and risk associated with cracked applications and trial extenders.
So what if you want to extend the duration of the trial period of the demo apps to fully evaluate it? Or you have installed the demo software or shareware, but suddenly busy with works or something else, and when finally free, the trial valid date has passed? Or you may be decided that the shareware is not worth to pay? The solution or workaround is to extend or reset the trial apps expiry date and time, or its trial period, so that users can continue to using the trial shareware without crack or hack.
Its necessary to buy the product if you would like to continue using it without limitation .But these tips would additionally help you to judge the trial or demo application for few additional days.
Method 1
Reinstall the program. This is the easiest method, but highly likely that it won’t work mostly on current modern software, as the expiry check algorithm getting sophisticated by keeping the expiry information on started using date and days allowed for try use plus days left in the trial in the registry or in a randomly named file.
Re installation of application sometimes helps to extend or reset trial period of old .NET based applications .But this will not work with new age applications.
Method 2
Adjusting the clock (date and time) of your computer system before starting installation of trial software to future data, or adjusting the clock to past date after expired trial period. Again, this method most likely won’t work.
Method 3
Use a application installation monitoring software or uninstaller software such as Norton Cleansweep, Your Uninstaller! 2006 and Advanced Uninstaller PRO 2006 to keep track and monitor every changes to the system during installation, and then uninstall and revert the shareware completely to remove all traces of trial expiry data.
Method 4
Backup the registry before installation of software, and restore the registry after trial period passed. Only works on those shareware that store protection information in registry, and you will lose some important registry changes by Windows or other applications. Alternatively, use Regmon to monitor registry activity in real-time to identify possible candidates for trial expiry reg keys, and then delete those keys.
Method 5
Reinstall windows, and you can be sure that you can use all trial demo shareware again, as all dummy registry entries and dummy files that store trial information are wiped off.
Method 6
Find a crack, with the help of cracks search engine such as Astalavista or visit www.serials.ws . But this is not extending the trial period of software.
Method 7
Search with various search engines such as Google and Yahoo! for application-specific known workarounds.
Method 8
3. Monitor registry and file changes made by trial softwares: Get a registry watch application and note down the registry keys and files created by trial software . Delete those entries and reinstall the application after trial expiration.
Method 9
1. Click Start
2. Click on Run
3. Type regedit and press enter.
4. Registry Window Would get open.
5. Now navigate to the following keys and delete the keys.
o HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREHKEY_LOCAL_M...
o HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCURRENTCONTROL...
6. Both the above keys will have a linked to the program delete that key only.
7. Reboot your PC and enjoy.
Method 10
If you use any of the following software, then Trial-Reset can helps you to extend the trial period of the software. Trial-Reset is an registry cleaning tool (it claims it’s not a crack) that removes the keys generated by commercial and freeware protector of trial period, and hence makes the software as if just freshly installed. It actually automates the process of cleaning up the registry key related to trial expiry mentioned above. The software and its protected that Trial-Reset (version 3.0 RC3) supports and able to strips are as below.
ACProtect
ActiveMark
Armadillo
ASProtect
DBPE
EncryptPE
Enigma
ExeCryptor
ExeShield
ICE License
NoCopy
Obsidium
OneWay
Orien
PCGuard
ProtectionPlus
ProtectShareware
SafeSerial
SDProtector
Sheriff
SGLicense
ShareGuard
SoftLocx
SoftSentry
SoftWrap
STProtector
SVKP
Thinstall
VBOLock
VBox
VisualProtect
Xheo Licensing
XProtector
ZipWorx
To use Trial-Reset, just select which software protector that you want to scan for existance on the right hand side of the window. If the registry of the protector is found, make sure you you review the key to ensure that it’s the correct key that stores trial information. Then you can opt to backup the key, remove the key, add the key to protect list and other options.
Trial resetter applications will reset the registry entries during Windows boot time .So the trial software keeps extended for unlimited period of time .
Another software that can help is called Time stopper : Time stopper is a trial resetter application for Windows softwares . You can select to browse the executable file of the target trial application from program files and create a new shortcut icon on desktop . This application will then will bypass the trial limitation for another few days as per options chosen .
Note: I have scanned these software with an antivirus software using latest definitions .However i cannot guarantee that its malware free . We advice everyone to purchase original versions of softwares to avoid these limitations and risk associated with cracked applications and trial extenders.
15 Tips to managing your files better
You work with documents, presentations, graphics, and other files all day—and chances are, you have a lot of them. And that means it takes time to find the documents you need. Even if it's just a couple of minutes here, and a couple of minutes there, it all adds up.
But there is a better way to stop the file clutter—by managing your files more effectively. Digital files are no different than paper files, and if you don't have a good method of organization, things get lost.
Whether you save your files on your computer's hard drive or a shared network location, these tips will help you save the time and headache of searching for files. And if you haven't already familiarized yourself with the search features in Windows Vista, this is the perfect time to learn more.
Use these tips to help manage your files.
1. Use Documents. For many reasons, it's smart to take advantage of the Documents feature (called My Documents in Windows XP and earlier versions) in Microsoft Windows. To open Documents in Windows, click Start, and then click Documents. Documents provides an easy way for you to store your personal documents.
By using Documents, you will be better able to: •
Find files. Windows provides easy access to the Documents folder (and its subfolders) in many places: through the Start menu, the task pane in Windows Explorer, common File Open and File Save dialog boxes, and other places.
• Back up files. You should back up files regularly—and keeping all your files in one place helps make backup a snap.
• Keep files separate from programs. By separating document files and program files you reduce the risk of accidentally deleting your documents when you install or upgrade programs.
2. Adopt consistent methods for file and folder naming. Develop a naming scheme for the kinds of files you create most often and then stick to it.
3. Keep names short. Even though Windows allows you to use long file names, it does not necessarily mean you should. Long file names are harder to read and harder to copy out through the command prompt in a case of failure.
4. Separate ongoing and completed work. To keep the Documents folder from becoming too unwieldy, use it only for files you're actively working on. As a result, you can reduce the number of files you need to search through and the amount of data you need to back up. Every month or so, move the files you're no longer working on to a different folder or location, such as a folder on your desktop, a special Archive folder, flash drive, external hard drive, or even on a CD.
5. Store like with like. Restricting folders to a single document type (or predominantly one type) allows you to take advantage of folder templates in Windows Explorer. This makes it easier for you to find files. For example, with all your graphics in a single folder, it's easy to use the Filmstrip view and slide show feature in Windows Explorer to find the right picture for your newsletter.
6. Avoid big folder structures. If you need to put so many subfolders in a folder that you can't see all of them at a glance, consider creating an alphabetic menu.
7. Use shortcuts and shortcut links instead of multiple copies. If you need to get to the same file from multiple locations, don't create copies of the file. Create shortcuts to it instead. To create a shortcut, right-click on the file and click Create Shortcut. You can drop and drag the shortcut to other locations.
8. Use abbreviations. Keep file names short by using common abbreviations, such as "MTG" for meeting or "ACTG" for accounting. This makes the file names more descriptive and you can more easily find files through Search if it's necessary.
9. Use thumbnails. Search through folders in the Thumbnail view. They're easier to see and you can put a picture or clip art on the folder (see how below) so that it's more easily recognizable. For example, a folder that contains information about a product can have a picture of the product—or something else that reminds you of the folder contents.
To view your folder list in Thumbnail view, on the Documents folder, in the toolbar click View and then select Thumbnail.
To put a picture on the folder, right-click the folder and click Properties. In the Properties dialog box, click the Customize tab. In the Folder pictures area, click Choose Picture.
10. Use common names. To make it easier to search for documents, name your files and folders with easily found names, such as model numbers, project names, or the project lead in the title.
11. Don't save unnecessary files. Be selective about the files you keep. You probably don't need to keep them all. With e-mail, for example, you rarely need to keep everything you receive.
12. Use Recent Items. To find a file you just worked on, use Recent Items (called My Recent Documents in XP) in the Start menu.
13. Put Documents on the desktop. Put a shortcut to Documents on the desktop. You can save several clicks of the mouse to get where you want to be sooner.
14. Organize files by dates. Use a date in the document name. Such as jeb100201, which would mean October 2, 2001. This puts all the Jeb materials together and sorted by date.
15. Color code your folders. I have a third party program which allows me to "color" certain folders in Documents that I use every day. This allows me quick access to open or save a document
But there is a better way to stop the file clutter—by managing your files more effectively. Digital files are no different than paper files, and if you don't have a good method of organization, things get lost.
Whether you save your files on your computer's hard drive or a shared network location, these tips will help you save the time and headache of searching for files. And if you haven't already familiarized yourself with the search features in Windows Vista, this is the perfect time to learn more.
Use these tips to help manage your files.
1. Use Documents. For many reasons, it's smart to take advantage of the Documents feature (called My Documents in Windows XP and earlier versions) in Microsoft Windows. To open Documents in Windows, click Start, and then click Documents. Documents provides an easy way for you to store your personal documents.
By using Documents, you will be better able to: •
Find files. Windows provides easy access to the Documents folder (and its subfolders) in many places: through the Start menu, the task pane in Windows Explorer, common File Open and File Save dialog boxes, and other places.
• Back up files. You should back up files regularly—and keeping all your files in one place helps make backup a snap.
• Keep files separate from programs. By separating document files and program files you reduce the risk of accidentally deleting your documents when you install or upgrade programs.
2. Adopt consistent methods for file and folder naming. Develop a naming scheme for the kinds of files you create most often and then stick to it.
3. Keep names short. Even though Windows allows you to use long file names, it does not necessarily mean you should. Long file names are harder to read and harder to copy out through the command prompt in a case of failure.
4. Separate ongoing and completed work. To keep the Documents folder from becoming too unwieldy, use it only for files you're actively working on. As a result, you can reduce the number of files you need to search through and the amount of data you need to back up. Every month or so, move the files you're no longer working on to a different folder or location, such as a folder on your desktop, a special Archive folder, flash drive, external hard drive, or even on a CD.
5. Store like with like. Restricting folders to a single document type (or predominantly one type) allows you to take advantage of folder templates in Windows Explorer. This makes it easier for you to find files. For example, with all your graphics in a single folder, it's easy to use the Filmstrip view and slide show feature in Windows Explorer to find the right picture for your newsletter.
6. Avoid big folder structures. If you need to put so many subfolders in a folder that you can't see all of them at a glance, consider creating an alphabetic menu.
7. Use shortcuts and shortcut links instead of multiple copies. If you need to get to the same file from multiple locations, don't create copies of the file. Create shortcuts to it instead. To create a shortcut, right-click on the file and click Create Shortcut. You can drop and drag the shortcut to other locations.
8. Use abbreviations. Keep file names short by using common abbreviations, such as "MTG" for meeting or "ACTG" for accounting. This makes the file names more descriptive and you can more easily find files through Search if it's necessary.
9. Use thumbnails. Search through folders in the Thumbnail view. They're easier to see and you can put a picture or clip art on the folder (see how below) so that it's more easily recognizable. For example, a folder that contains information about a product can have a picture of the product—or something else that reminds you of the folder contents.
To view your folder list in Thumbnail view, on the Documents folder, in the toolbar click View and then select Thumbnail.
To put a picture on the folder, right-click the folder and click Properties. In the Properties dialog box, click the Customize tab. In the Folder pictures area, click Choose Picture.
10. Use common names. To make it easier to search for documents, name your files and folders with easily found names, such as model numbers, project names, or the project lead in the title.
11. Don't save unnecessary files. Be selective about the files you keep. You probably don't need to keep them all. With e-mail, for example, you rarely need to keep everything you receive.
12. Use Recent Items. To find a file you just worked on, use Recent Items (called My Recent Documents in XP) in the Start menu.
13. Put Documents on the desktop. Put a shortcut to Documents on the desktop. You can save several clicks of the mouse to get where you want to be sooner.
14. Organize files by dates. Use a date in the document name. Such as jeb100201, which would mean October 2, 2001. This puts all the Jeb materials together and sorted by date.
15. Color code your folders. I have a third party program which allows me to "color" certain folders in Documents that I use every day. This allows me quick access to open or save a document
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Services that should not be disabled
There are lots of services that run in the background that are just unnecessary. Some are unnecessary and only serve to slow down the processing speed of the system Disabling these services can improve system performance and overall system security, as the system’s attack surface is reduced. You can disable/enable services by typing msconfig in the command prompt. Then click on the Services tab and thick the desired service.
However, there exist services you should not disable. All of the services that run on a Window system serve a specific purpose and many of the services are critical to the proper and expected functioning of the desktop computing environment. Today we will review 10 critical Windows XP services you shouldn’t disable (and why).
1: DNS Client
This service resolves and caches DNS names, allowing the system to communicate with canonical names rather than strictly by IP address. DNS is the reason that you can, in a Web browser, type http://www.techrepublic.com rather than having to remember that http://216.239.113.101 is the site’s IP address.
If you stop this service, you will disable your computer’s ability to resolve names to IP addresses, basically rendering Web browsing all but impossible.
2: Network Connections
The Network Connections service manages the network and dial-up connections for your computer, including network status notification and configuration. These days, a standalone, non-networked PC is just about as useful as an abacus — maybe less so. The Network Connections service is the element responsible for making sure that your computer can communicate with other computers and with the Internet.
If this service is disabled, network configuration is not possible. New network connections can’t be created and services that need network information will fail.
3: Plug and Play
The Plug and Play service (formerly known as the “Plug and Pray” service, due to its past unreliability), is kicked off whenever new hardware is added to the computer. This service detects the new hardware and attempts to automatically configure it for use with the computer. The Plug and Play service is often confused with the Universal Plug and Play service (uPNP), which is a way that the Windows XP computer can detect new network resources (as opposed to local hardware resources). The Plug and Play service is pretty critical as, without it, your system can become unstable and will not recognize new hardware. On the other hand, uPNP is not generally necessary and can be disabled without worry. Along with uPNP, disable the SSDP Discovery Service, as it goes hand-in-hand with uPNP.
If you disable Plug and Play, your computer will be unstable and incapable of detecting hardware changes.
4: Print Spooler
Just about every computer out there needs to print at some point. If you want your computer to be able to print, don’t plan on disabling the Print Spooler service. It manages all printing activities for your system. You may think that lack of a printer makes it safe to disable the Print Spooler service. While that’s technically true, there’s really no point in doing so; after all, if you ever do decide to get a printer, you’ll need to remember to re-enable the service, and you might end up frustrating yourself.
When the Print Spooler service is not running, printing on the local machine is not possible.
5: Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Windows is a pretty complex beast, and many of its underlying processes need to communicate with one another. The service that makes this possible is the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service. RPC allows processes to communicate with one another and across the network with each other. A ton of other critical services, including the Print Spooler and the Network Connections service, depend on the RPC service to function.
Bad news. The system will not boot. Don’t disable this service.
6: Workstation
As is the case for many services, the Workstation service is responsible for handling connections to remote network resources. Specifically, this service provides network connections and communications capability for resources found using Microsoft Network services. Years ago, I would have said that disabling this service was a good idea, but that was before the rise of the home network and everything that goes along with it, including shared printers, remote Windows Media devices, Windows Home Server, and much more. Today, you don’t gain much by eliminating this service, but you lose a lot.
Disable the Workstation service and your computer will be unable to connect to remote Microsoft Network resources.
7: Network Location Awareness (NLA)
As was the case with the Workstation service, disabling the Network Location Awareness service might have made sense a few years ago — at least for a standalone, non-networked computer. With today’s WiFi-everywhere culture, mobility has become a primary driver. The Network Location Awareness service is responsible for collecting and storing network configuration and location information and notifying applications when this information changes. For example, as you make the move from the local coffee shop’s wireless network back home to your wired docking station, NLA makes sure that applications are aware of the change. Further, some other services depend on this service’s availability.
Your computer will not be able to fully connect to and use wireless networks.
8: DHCP Client
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a critical service that makes the task of getting computers on the network nearly effortless. Before the days of DHCP, poor network administrators had to manually assign network addresses to every computer. Over the years, DHCP has been extended to automatically assign all kinds of information to computers from a central configuration repository. DHCP allows the system to automatically obtain IP addressing information, WINS server information, routing information, and so forth; it’s required to update records in dynamic DNS systems, such as Microsoft’s Active Directory-integrated DNS service. This is one service that, if disabled, won’t necessarily cripple your computer but will make administration much more difficult.
Without the DHCP Client service, you’ll need to manually assign static IP addresses to every Windows XP system on your network. If you use DHCP to assign other parameters, such as WINS information, you’ll need to provide that information manually as well.
9: Cryptographic Services
Every month, Microsoft provides new fixes and updates on what has become known as “Patch Tuesday” because the updates are released on the first Tuesday of the month. Why do I bring this up? Well, one service supported by Cryptographic Services happens to be Automatic Updates. Further, Cryptographic Services provides three other management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms the signatures of Windows files; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes Trusted Root Certification Authority certificates from this computer; and Key Service, which helps enroll this computer for certificates. Finally, Cryptographic Services also supports some elements of Task Manager.
Disable Cryptographic Services at your peril! Automatic Updates will not function and you will have problems with Task Manager as well as other security mechanisms.
10: Automatic Updates
Keeping your machine current with patches is pretty darn important, and that’s where Automatic Updates comes into play. When Automatic Updates is enabled, your computer stays current with new updates from Microsoft. When disabled, you have to manually get updates by visiting Microsoft’s update site.
Culled from Tech Republic
However, there exist services you should not disable. All of the services that run on a Window system serve a specific purpose and many of the services are critical to the proper and expected functioning of the desktop computing environment. Today we will review 10 critical Windows XP services you shouldn’t disable (and why).
1: DNS Client
This service resolves and caches DNS names, allowing the system to communicate with canonical names rather than strictly by IP address. DNS is the reason that you can, in a Web browser, type http://www.techrepublic.com rather than having to remember that http://216.239.113.101 is the site’s IP address.
If you stop this service, you will disable your computer’s ability to resolve names to IP addresses, basically rendering Web browsing all but impossible.
2: Network Connections
The Network Connections service manages the network and dial-up connections for your computer, including network status notification and configuration. These days, a standalone, non-networked PC is just about as useful as an abacus — maybe less so. The Network Connections service is the element responsible for making sure that your computer can communicate with other computers and with the Internet.
If this service is disabled, network configuration is not possible. New network connections can’t be created and services that need network information will fail.
3: Plug and Play
The Plug and Play service (formerly known as the “Plug and Pray” service, due to its past unreliability), is kicked off whenever new hardware is added to the computer. This service detects the new hardware and attempts to automatically configure it for use with the computer. The Plug and Play service is often confused with the Universal Plug and Play service (uPNP), which is a way that the Windows XP computer can detect new network resources (as opposed to local hardware resources). The Plug and Play service is pretty critical as, without it, your system can become unstable and will not recognize new hardware. On the other hand, uPNP is not generally necessary and can be disabled without worry. Along with uPNP, disable the SSDP Discovery Service, as it goes hand-in-hand with uPNP.
If you disable Plug and Play, your computer will be unstable and incapable of detecting hardware changes.
4: Print Spooler
Just about every computer out there needs to print at some point. If you want your computer to be able to print, don’t plan on disabling the Print Spooler service. It manages all printing activities for your system. You may think that lack of a printer makes it safe to disable the Print Spooler service. While that’s technically true, there’s really no point in doing so; after all, if you ever do decide to get a printer, you’ll need to remember to re-enable the service, and you might end up frustrating yourself.
When the Print Spooler service is not running, printing on the local machine is not possible.
5: Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Windows is a pretty complex beast, and many of its underlying processes need to communicate with one another. The service that makes this possible is the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service. RPC allows processes to communicate with one another and across the network with each other. A ton of other critical services, including the Print Spooler and the Network Connections service, depend on the RPC service to function.
Bad news. The system will not boot. Don’t disable this service.
6: Workstation
As is the case for many services, the Workstation service is responsible for handling connections to remote network resources. Specifically, this service provides network connections and communications capability for resources found using Microsoft Network services. Years ago, I would have said that disabling this service was a good idea, but that was before the rise of the home network and everything that goes along with it, including shared printers, remote Windows Media devices, Windows Home Server, and much more. Today, you don’t gain much by eliminating this service, but you lose a lot.
Disable the Workstation service and your computer will be unable to connect to remote Microsoft Network resources.
7: Network Location Awareness (NLA)
As was the case with the Workstation service, disabling the Network Location Awareness service might have made sense a few years ago — at least for a standalone, non-networked computer. With today’s WiFi-everywhere culture, mobility has become a primary driver. The Network Location Awareness service is responsible for collecting and storing network configuration and location information and notifying applications when this information changes. For example, as you make the move from the local coffee shop’s wireless network back home to your wired docking station, NLA makes sure that applications are aware of the change. Further, some other services depend on this service’s availability.
Your computer will not be able to fully connect to and use wireless networks.
8: DHCP Client
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a critical service that makes the task of getting computers on the network nearly effortless. Before the days of DHCP, poor network administrators had to manually assign network addresses to every computer. Over the years, DHCP has been extended to automatically assign all kinds of information to computers from a central configuration repository. DHCP allows the system to automatically obtain IP addressing information, WINS server information, routing information, and so forth; it’s required to update records in dynamic DNS systems, such as Microsoft’s Active Directory-integrated DNS service. This is one service that, if disabled, won’t necessarily cripple your computer but will make administration much more difficult.
Without the DHCP Client service, you’ll need to manually assign static IP addresses to every Windows XP system on your network. If you use DHCP to assign other parameters, such as WINS information, you’ll need to provide that information manually as well.
9: Cryptographic Services
Every month, Microsoft provides new fixes and updates on what has become known as “Patch Tuesday” because the updates are released on the first Tuesday of the month. Why do I bring this up? Well, one service supported by Cryptographic Services happens to be Automatic Updates. Further, Cryptographic Services provides three other management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms the signatures of Windows files; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes Trusted Root Certification Authority certificates from this computer; and Key Service, which helps enroll this computer for certificates. Finally, Cryptographic Services also supports some elements of Task Manager.
Disable Cryptographic Services at your peril! Automatic Updates will not function and you will have problems with Task Manager as well as other security mechanisms.
10: Automatic Updates
Keeping your machine current with patches is pretty darn important, and that’s where Automatic Updates comes into play. When Automatic Updates is enabled, your computer stays current with new updates from Microsoft. When disabled, you have to manually get updates by visiting Microsoft’s update site.
Culled from Tech Republic
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