5 Simple Ways to Speed Up Your PC

There are many ways to improve computer performance, from hardware upgrades to editing the Registry. But upgrading hardware can be quite expensive and editing the Windows Registry can seriously harm your computer if you do something wrong. In this article I’ve focused on simple and safe tweaks that will not cause any trouble and will make your computer run faster.
1) Speed Up Windows Explorer

Sometimes starting Windows Explorer can take a while. This is because Windows automatically looks for network files, shared network folders, and devices when you start Windows Explorer. It is possible to make it open faster by changing the settings:

1. Open Windows Explorer
2. Click on Tools menu
3. Then click on Folder Options
4. Click on the View tab
5. Find Automatically search for network folders and printers check box and uncheck it
6. Click Apply, then click OK
7. Reboot your PC

From now on Windows Explorer will start faster, as it will no longer automatically search for network files, shared folders, and devices in the network.
2) Optimize Appearance Settings

We all are used to how Windows XP looks. But actually its visual effects waste system resources. The graphics card is not the only one that has to deal with it - the CPU and the memory are affected as well. Windows Vista graphics are even more advanced and can dramatically slow down your PC, especially if your computer is not one of the latest and the fastest ones.

Luckily there is a way to configure Windows XP for best performance by reducing the effects in the graphical user interface. This will free up RAM and increase computer speed. To configure Windows XP for maximum performance do the following:

1. Go to Start - Settings and select Control Panel
2. In the Control Panel, click System and then Advanced tab
3. In the Performance Options window select Adjust for best performance
4. Click OK to confirm and close the window

This will turn off all visual effects, which is good for less powerful PCs and laptops. However, if you would like Windows XP to look more like what you’re used to, leave the following boxes ticked:

* Show shadows under menus
* Show shadows under mouse pointer
* Show translucent selection rectangle
* Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
* Use visual styles on windows and buttons

3) Uninstall Unused Device Drivers

Once you have uninstalled a device, it’s a good idea to remove any device drivers that were left behind. Otherwise those drivers will still be using valuable system resources. Here is why this happens.

When you install a device, you also install its drivers and they get called each time you boot up your PC. And even when the device has been removed, but the drivers are still there, your system continues to load them at boot up. What a waste of resources!

If you have Windows XP, follow these steps to remove any unwanted device drivers:

1. Press the Windows key + the Break key on your keyboard. System Properties box will appear
2. Select the Advanced tab
3.
4. Click Environmental
Variables
5. Under System Variables click New
6. In the variable box type devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices
7. Type 1 in the Variable value text box
8. Click OK to return to the System Properties box
9. Click OK again
10. Go to the Device Manager tab
11. Click View - Show hidden devices

Then you will need to expand all the branches and look for washed out icons. Those icons show unused device drivers that you can uninstall.

Once you have found a device driver you wish to uninstall, highlight it, right-click it, and choose Remove. Delete only washed out icons. All the other icons show drivers of connected and used devices. If you delete them, your devices will stop functioning properly.
4) Remove Software You Don’t Need

One more way to speed up your PC is to check what software you have installed and see if you need all the applications or not. To do this click Start - Settings - Control Panel - double-click Add/Remove Programs.

Most likely you will find programs you’ve used only once or twice. Removing them will free up disk space and make your PC run faster.
When Uninstalling Software Fails

Uninstalling software doesn’t always go as smooth as one hopes it would. A very common problem is that some programs don’t remove all their data completely, thus leaving some files behind. These files are called junk files.

Sometimes you have to uninstall the software trial version
in order to register the full version. But if the uninstall process is not complete, you might fail to register the program that you have paid for.

If the uninstaller doesn’t work, it may be possible to remove the software manually. This means that you will need to remove all related files and configuration data from your hard disk. Usually software uses the Windows Registry to store configuration information.

Firstly, you will need to find the folder where the program was installed. Most likely it’s the Program Files directory. Locate the software folder and delete it. If it’s impossible to delete some files, try restarting your computer. This will help if the files were used by the system. If you can’t delete the files even after a restart, try booting in Safe Mode (tap F8 during PC boot) and then delete the files.

After that you will need to remove invalid Registry entries. Microsoft offers a free Windows Installer CleanUp Utility to help you do the job. After you’ve installed and opened it, select an application you wish to uninstall from the list. The utility will remove all registry entries related to that software. Double check what applications you select and also backup the Registry in case something goes wrong.

If running Windows Installer CleanUp Utility does not solve the problem, you can use a third party registry cleaner. Be careful and only use well-known software that has received positive reviews and trustworthy awards. There are lots of programs that claim to be great, but in fact they contain malware and spyware, and can damage your computer.

Another way to uninstall software without having to worry about the Registry is to use a software uninstaller. Program uninstallers track down and remove all application-related components from your system, thus ensuring that the software gets completely uninstalled.

Auslogics BoostSpeed contains both an uninstaller and a registry cleaner, plus lots of other useful tools to optimize and protect your system. You can download it from http://www.auslogics.com.

5) Disable Indexing Services

The Indexing Services use large amounts of RAM and can often make a computer pretty slow and loud. This service indexes and updates lists of all the files that are on your computer in order to enable you to search for the files and folders faster. To tell you the truth, this service is not really needed and you can safely disable it.

1. Go to Start
2. Click Settings
3. Click Control Panel
4. Double-click Add/Remove Programs
5. Click Add/Remove Windows Components
6. Uncheck Indexing Services
7. Click Next and then click Finish

Revealed: 5 Things You Must Do to Personalize Your New IPhone 3G

Now that you have it, what can you do with it? Lots! Your new iPhone 3G is loaded with features and capabilities that go beyond what we think of when we think phone. Below are five things you should take care of right away to make your relationship with your iPhone a long and fruitful one.
Personalize. The first thing you should do with your iPhone is personalize it. Other than actually using the iPhone, personalizing it is perhaps one of the most fun things you can do with it. Wallpaper is the most expressive feature that lets the world know your iPhone belongs to you! Wallpaper is available from almost everywhere, including Apple's site. Ring tones and other music are others way to personalize your iPhone. Don't be shy and express yourself! After all, you're holding the most innovative piece of equipment in your hands and it can handle it. So, let your iPhone have a little fun and dress it up.

Familiarize. You should familiarize yourself with all of iPhone's capabilities. The 3G has many new features that even a seasoned iPhone user will want to know about. Apple's site boasts having more than 1000 applications ready to use with your iPhone. It's worth your time to take a look at these applications and explore the ones that will make your life easier and more fun. These applications include MobileMe, an integrated GPS system, and visual voice mail. Some applications are more business-oriented and some are just for fun but you will have a good time checking them out at Apple.

Update. Now that you have familiarized yourself with the iPhone's features, it's time to put them to work. Add contacts to your address book. Sync your phone with your computer. Check out MobileMe, an application that makes syncing with your computer easier than ever. It's easier than ever to feel connected with the iPhone and its integrated applications. Surf the web. Take pictures. Make the iPhone work for you.

Maintain. You will want to read how to maintain your iPhone. Apple is notorious for making quality products and if you take care of your phone, it will provide you with years of functionality, fun, and entertainment. It's good to know the basics about your iPhone. Reading up on what to expect from it how long the battery will last or how to talk on the phone when it is locked, for example, is a good way to get to know your iPhone. It is also good to know how to extend the life of your phone. Go to Apple's site and follow their advice for optimizing your iPhone.

Act. Now that you have accomplished the basics, it's time to get comfortable with your phone and take action. Watch a movie, watch a video, download your favorite songs, or simply call someone! The iPhone is here and it's only waiting for you to use it.

World's first personal supercomputer unveiled

The world's first personal supercomputer, which is 250 times faster than the average PC, has been unveiled.

With its £4,000 price tag, the Tesla supercomputer is beyond the reach of most consumers, but is expected to revolutionise the way scientists and medical professionals carry out their work.

The gadget's power will allow doctors to process the results of brain and body scans much more quickly. This would allow them to tell patients within hours instead of days whether they have a tumour.

Scientists also believe that the supercomputers could help them discover cures for diseases, such as cancer and malaria, much more quickly than using traditional research methods.

This is because the device lets them run hundreds of thousands of simulations to create a shortlist of the drugs that are most likely to offer the potential for a cure.

Until now, supercomputers were massive systems made up of thousands of machines taking up entire rooms, which cost millions of pounds to build and maintain.

By contrast, Tesla personal supercomputers will cost between £4,000 and £8,000 and look much like an ordinary PC.

David Kirk, chief scientist at NVIDIA, the American company which has designed the new technology, said: "Pretty much anything that you do on your PC that takes a lot of time can be accelerated with this."

"These supercomputers can improve the time it takes to process information by 1,000 times.

"If you imagine it takes a week to get a result [from running an experiment], you can only do it 52 times a year. If it takes you minutes, you can do it constantly, and learn just as much in a day."

The new computers make innovative use of graphics processing units - a technological breakthrough, which the company claims could bring lightning speeds to the next generation of home computers.

They went on sale to British customers yesterday and will initially be sold to universities and to the scientific and research community.

The PC maker Dell, however, said that it would soon be mass producing them for the general consumer market.

Eric Greffier, a Dell senior executive, said: "Before mobile phones were reserved for the few, now we can't live without them. It will be the same with these supercomputers. They are the building block for the computing of the future."

Tips To Improve Your Internet Safety Knowledge

These days there are more and more people who feel that the phrase internet safety is a real contradiction in terms. There is no question that in recent years there has been an escalation in the number of internet threats to computer users because of "bad guys" who are trying to crack into personal computers to get at the information they store. Because of this, it is more important than ever for people to be very vigilant and to take every possible precaution in order to make sure that their computer is properly protected.
Knowing how to maintain the safety of your computer, your network and all of your files and information has become a real necessity today. Because so many people depend on their personal computer's these days, this is no longer a topic just for computer experts or for businesses, but for anyone who has a PC sitting on their desk or a laptop within their reach.

However, many people have no idea where to start to learn about internet safety, or how to protect their personal computers and their internet connection in order to keep internet threats to a minimum and have a sense that they have a high degree of computer internet security and protection in place. The following information will help provide some basic information that every computer owner needs to know and implement.

First of all, you need to be sure that you are using a firewall. If you take no other steps to toward internet security, the minimum that you need to do is to make sure you have a firewall up and running. A firewall will act as a barrier of protection between your computer and your connection to the internet and will prevent remote computers from being able to connect to yours unless you specifically permit it.

If you have a broadband router, then there is a good chance that it includes a firewall. Also, these days most versions of both Windows and Mac operating systems include at least a basic level of firewall software to thwart any threats to your system.

Secondly, you must have a plan and system in place for backing up the data on your computer. At best, you will backup your entire drive so that it can be restored in its entirety if your hard drive crashes.

At the bare minimum, you should be sure that your most critical files are backed up; the kind of files that would really hurt and cause you a loss of time or money, or both, if you had to try to replicate them. There are many systems available these days that make backing up your data automatic and virtually hands free.

The third thing you should do to help make sure that you enjoy the best level of online safety for your computer system is to make sure that all of the critical software you use is kept updated. In addition, you need to make sure that any software you own that interacts with the internet, such as your preferred web browser, is kept up to date. Software manufacturers continually update their programs in order to help maintain their own internet security systems for their users, which help to combat various viruses and other threats.

Finally, you should make sure that you diligently and regularly scan your computer for viruses and for spyware that might have gotten past your firewall and gotten installed into your computer. There are a number of free programs that will scan for safety breaches.

Some programs require you to purchase their internet security software in order to remove viruses and spyware programs, while others are completely free. However, any internet security review will probably recommend the purchase of internet safety software, as you will have a better chance of completely eliminating the problems from your computer.

Mike Selvon has some informative articles for the creative mind. Find out more about internet safety at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our internet safety rules blog.

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