Computers Software

Why is a computer so slow, even after first buying it? There are hardly any software titles on it but it is still slow……what more when you put more software titles on it.

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When you first buy a computer from a shop it will be Fast,What makes a computer slow?…..even when it is brand new. Articles because you were sold a computer with the bare minimum only installed on it – Windows Vista and Microsoft Works (or Microsoft Office) for example. It is not heavily installed with Updated Security files (Security Updates) and Patches (Fixed/Improved/Updated Windows Vista files and program files) because the shop cannot do this. Once you have bought a computer you have to be the one to register Windows Vista with Microsoft and therefore it is you who has to install any additional Security Updates and Patches for that computer and Windows Vista. For example. If it took the shop 2 Months to sell the computer that means the computer is already 2 months behind with the updates – Many new security updates, virus updates and program updates would have been released in this time. And maybe some software updates for the computer’s hardware as well. All these updates are required to keep the computer up-to-date, and more importantly Windows Vista up-to-date and protected against attack from Viruses, Hackers and so on. What this means is without the updates you have a fast, but vulnerable (open to attack), computer. With the updates the computer becomes slower and slower due to Windows Vista being given more security tasks (jobs) to do, which means more memory and resources are required, which in turn means the hardware might become slower (more modem/internet data coming down the telephone line, for example, means more data that has to be translated/organised).

PROTECTION AND MONITORING MEANS SLOWER AND SLOWER

You install an Anti-Virus program to protect the computer from Viruses (files that are, normally, downloaded onto your hard drive and then launched to damage certain files). You then install a program to block Pop-up windows (Windows that appear suddenly without your consent. Usually with Advertisements on them). You then install a program to stop Hackers (people who try and steal information from your computer via an Internet connection). And finally, you install a program to stop SpyWare (software that monitors/collects information about your activities on the computer). Unfortunately, in todays age, these four types of program are needed to protect the computer. If you do not install them the computer’s security is at risk and if you do install them the computer uses up more memory and other resources, as well as having more tasks to do. This is because each program is constantly monitoring the computer for attacks. The information they need about the different kinds of attack are usually stored inside a file that has to be updated regularly and checked against in order to prevent/stop a specific kind of attack. When an attack has been identified the protection program still has to monitor for other potential attacks whilst taking care of the identified attack. And if a window tries to pop-up the pop-up blocker program has to destroy that window before it has chance to appear. All this monitoring is slowing the computer down.

The same applies to the Internet. It becomes slow when you have ten website pages open, as opposed to one website page open, because Internet Explorer is having to do ten tasks instead of one. Those tasks include saving history files (see The Hard Drive section) for each website, checking to see if you are still connected to the internet, managing uploads/downloads to/from each website and so on.

FOREVER GROWING UPDATE FILES

An anti-virus program uses a Virus Definition file, which is a list of all known viruses to the present day and instructions on how to identify and remove them. As a new virus is unleashed it is given a name and its Identify And Remove instructions are added to the virus definition file. When the anti-virus program starts it copies the identify and remove instructions from the virus definition file into memory, so it can quickly identify and remove a known virus. Memory is faster than a File at feeding the CPU instructions, so it is ideal for the anti-virus program to use memory. The downside of this is that anti-virus programs, and other programs that need updated files, use a lot of memory and other resources in order to protect the computer. This ultimately means a slower computer.

TOO MANY PROGRAMS INSTALLED

Having too many, unwanted/unneeded/unused, program

You’ve got a new computer for your office. It’s cleaner, better, faster and you can’t wait to start to use … your … of making a fresh start with a new computer is tempered by the

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You’ve got a new computer for your office. It’s cleaner,Setting-up Your New Computer: How To Move Your Old Files to Your New Computer Articles better, faster and you can’t wait to start to use it!

However, your satisfaction of making a fresh start with a new computer is tempered by the fact that all of your “stuff” is still on your old computer. Everything that made your old computer YOUR computer: your personal settings, your business files, your company spreadsheets are still loaded on your old computer.

You find yourself with a new computer that’s not so great without a whole lot of the useful file information that is still stored on your old computer. How are you going to get all of that information onto your new computer?

The process is called “data migration” and it can be a tedious and time-consuming task for you and your business.

Here are some suggestions to make this data migration go a little easier for you.

CDs

One option is to copy (“burn”) everything to recordable CDs.

Blank CDs are cheap, at about $1 apiece, and can hold more than 600 megabytes each. That much storage space should be enough for most small businessess to transfer old data files from one hard drive to a new.

Two drawbacks to the CD method of data transfer are that:

~ It may take a while to burn each CD and
~ That you may not have a recordable CD drive on your old PC.

Recordable CD units are standard on newer PCs but if older computers have a CD unit, it was insatlled as later add-on hardware feature. Thus, depending on the age of your older computer, it may not have a recordable CD drive installed at all. To install a recordable CD drive on your older computer now, may be more of a time-consuming effort when compared with other alternatives to moving your data files.

Portable Drives

Iomega has a pre-packaged solution designed to bridge the gap between old and new computers. They offer a software “moving kit” for individuals who have recently bought a new computer with Microsoft’s Windows XP.

The software works with Iomega Zip, Jaz and Peerless drives. It allows individuals to “pack” the files they have on their old computer onto a portable high-capacity disks and then “unpack” the same files onto your new computer.

The transfer software uses Microsoft’s “files & settings transfer wizard,” a feature included in Windows XP.

After connecting a high-capacity drive to your old computer, you need to download the transfer tool, which primes a disk to prompt you to begin the transfer process the next time it is inserted into a drive. Setting up the disk also requires a CD with the Windows XP operating system.

Keep in mind, software moving kits, have the ability to move everything. Thus, if you are not aware of what files that you are transferring, you may be transferring unneeded problem or virus files to your new computer.

Link Transfers

There are other options if you do not want to shuffle CDs or portable drives.

With the link transfer software option your computers are linked through a serial cable or USB cable. After the software program has been installed on both of your computers (the “source” the old computer and “target” the new computer), you click through a question-and-answer wizard to describe what files you want to transfer. And for transfers on the fly, you can drag and drop folders or files between the two panes in the program representing each computer.

Some link transfer software packages that work with Microsoft’s Windows are: PCsync, IntelliMover, PC Relocator, and PC Upgrade Commander.

In each case, the software must be installed on both your old and new computers. The software scans your old computer hard drive, to inventory the folders, subfolder, and files and then you select the data files that you would like to transfer to your new computer.

It sounds like a fairly simple way to handle your data transfer. However, be aware:

~ Generally, these programs want to move all the contents of your old computer to your new computer. That’s OK for your data files but moving the program files that run your applications may cause problems because older applications may not be supported by your new computer operating system. Transferring a Windows 95-era program to a computer preloaded with the Windows XP operating system could be a problem because many of those programs haven’t been upgraded to run under Windows XP.

~ When you move the full contents of a computer system, everything moves over, including those obscure files that had your old computer running sluggish in its final days.

~ Moving data through a USB cable isn’t fast, but it is faster than data transfer through a parallel port.

Choosing a Data Migration Software Package

~ Does the software allow you to pick and choose which files are moved, or does it move EVERYTHING — even the junk files?

~ How is the data transferred? A wireless network is faster than a USB cable, which is faster than a USB cable, which is faster than a parallel cable. Are you prepared to wait hours or even days for this transfer to take place?

~ If you’re using the Internet as a holding place for your data, check your connection and upload speeds. It could take hours to move those files.

~ Consider investing in a high-capacity external hard drive, a plug-and-play device that you’ll simply connect to your new computer. The drive, though more expensive, will get far more use than one-time migration software.

Getting Ready for Your Data Migration

~ Get rid of all of your old files. Fill your recycle bin on your old computer with as much as you can. There’s nothing worse than bringing useless data to the new computer.

~ Make a software checklist. Is your versions of current program applications compatible with Windows XP? Look on the Web for free Windows XP upgrades to new versions of the programs you need, such as your Palm desktop software.

~ Does your new computer have preloaded software on it? Chances are good the latest Internet browser is already pre-load on your new computer and thus you do not have to transfer the older browser version.

~ Make a list of user names and passwords that are stored in files on your old computer and automatically appear when you visit Web sites. They could be lost in the move, denying you access on your new computer.

computer cool, computer parts, computer fans

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When your computer is on,How to Keep Your Computer Cool Articles nearly all of its components become hot. Constant exposure to high temperature can cause serious damage to your computer.

Here is a list of ways in keeping your PC cool.

Check if your fans are running.

This is the first step when you find your computer overheating. Open the case, and then check if all fans are still working. If at least one is not working anymore, consider doing repairs or getting a replacement.

Regularly clean your computer.

It is essential to regularly clean your computer, especially the cooling fans. The fans attached inside the computer case is used for active cooling of the computer. Over time, dust and dirt can accumulate in these fans. The accumulate dirt can slow down or, in worse, stop fans from working. If fans fail in expelling the hot air fast enough, some internal parts will eventually overheat.

To clean your cooling fan:

1. Shut down your PC.

2. Open the computer case.

3. If there is excessive dirt inside the computer case, take out the computer fan.

4. You can use compressed air, small electronic vacuum or duster, or damp cloth in cleaning the fan.

5. If you use moisten cloth, make sure that the cooling fan is dry or there is no remaining moisture before connecting it again.

Clean other computer parts as well such as the monitor, mouse, and keyboard.

Before cleaning any hardware component, make sure that your machine is turned off. Otherwise, your computer is susceptible to electrostatic discharge that can damage its parts and you are also prone to grounding yourself.

Before applying any cleaning procedures to hardware, make sure to check its manufacturer’s manual if they have provided you with the recommended instructions in cleaning or maintaining it.

Do not spray or spill any liquid directly in computer parts.

Do not limit the air flow around your computer.

Place your computer in a room that can provide sufficient air flow. Make sure that it is not sitting right next into other objects that prevent air circulation, like walls or other computers. There should be at least two to three inches of space on both sides. Since most of the hot air comes out from the air vent at the back end of the computer case, this part should be completely clear and open.

Move your computer to a cooler and cleaner environment.

Move your PC in a place with proper ventilation. It is important that the physical location will not contribute further heat to the computer. Make sure that your PC is not placed near a furnace, refrigerator, cooking appliances, and other things that can blow hot air or can transfer heat into your computer system.

To prevent your PC from overheating, it is advised to place it in an air-conditioned room.

Note: be careful when moving your computer in order to avoid damage on sensitive components inside it like the CPU, graphics card, hard drive, and motherboard.

Use your computer with case closed.

It seems logical to let the case open while the computer is running to keep it cooler. This is true. However, dirt and dust will accumulate and clog the computer fans faster when the case is opened. This can cause the fans to slow down or fail at cooling your computer.

Upgrade your CPU fan.

The CPU is the most important component inside the computer. When you are running demanding applications, the CPU and graphics card induce more heat. It can get so hot that it can be cooked.

Consider purchasing a high-quality and larger CPU fan that can keep the CPU temperature lower than the pre-built CPU fan in your computer could.

Consider installing a component-specific fan.

If you have observed that the other components are overheating, install a component-specific fan to cool them down.

Consider installing a case fan.

This small fan can be attached to either the front or back of the computer case. There are two types of case fan: one that can draw cooler air into the case, and one that can expel warm air from the case. Installing both is a great way to cool your computer.

Turn off your computer when not in use.

A computer continues to produce heat as long as it running, even if you aren’t using it. If you will only have a few minutes of inactivity, at least set your computer to hibernation. Basically, it will also turn off your computer but the opened files and programs are stored in your hard disk.

Also, unplug external hardware of no longer use like printers and scanners.

Overheating can destroy and shorten the lifespan of components i