3 Stubborn PC Problems You Can Fix

Ever notice how each PC has a personality of its own? Or maybe even multiple personalities? In the course of a week, your computer may act friendly, moody, and sometimes downright mean.

However, don't take a hammer to your PC just yet. The following is a list of common symptoms and treatments to help even the most troublesome PCs. You don't even have to be a psychologist (at least not yet) to deal with your PC's neuroses.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista usually manage this automatically, but overall you'll find that these tips work for all versions of Windows, from Windows 95 to Windows 7.

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Basics for Safer Downloading

Whenever you download a file—whether you open a spreadsheet attached to an email message, grab a cool little screensaver or mouse cursor from the web, or download music or video files from someone else's computer—you could be putting your computer at risk.

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Do a Clean Sweep: How to Delete Unwanted Files and Programs

Ever wonder how to clean out your computer? Many people do, because it’s not unusual to have your PC’s hard disk filled with games and other programs you no longer need. In fact, some technology analysts believe that we use less than 10 percent of the programs installed on our computers. The following instructions describe how to safely—and easily—uninstall old or unused programs and remove files from your Windows-based computer.

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What’s ProtectYourVision.org

ProtectYourVision.org is a free online application aimed at protecting eyes from a Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

What’s CVS?
Around 70% people in developed countries experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing a computer screen for more than 2 hour daily. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of computer use.
The most common symptoms of CVS are:

•    Eyestrain
•    Headaches
•    Blurred vision
•    Dry, irritated eyes
•    Double vision
•    Difficulty refocusing the eyes
•    Neck and shoulder pain

If any of these sounds familiar to you it’s about time to take care of your eyes.

How to use?
Switch on your personal eyes assistant (EVO) every time when your’re going to use computer for more than 2 hour. Simply go to www.protectyourvision.org website and click “Start EVO”.

You can choose between 3 different modes:

1. 20-20-20:  After every 20 min spent in front of a computer a 20 sec break is signalized, in this time focus the eyes on an object 20 feet (6 meters) away, or just close your eyes.
2. 60-5:  After every hour spent in front of a computer a 5 min break is signalized with a sound alarm.
3. Custom:  Define by yourself break's frequency and length. By default: after every hour spent in front of a computer a 5 min break is signalized with a sound alarm.

Find out which mode suits you.  During the break avert your eyes from a computer screen, close them or do eyes gymnastics.

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Enjoy safe computer use.

How to Clean your Computer

I have a dirty secret. I've never cleaned my computer. Sure, I've dusted my monitor, but I haven't taken off the cover or tried to reach the crumbs lurking inside my keyboard. And I honestly don't know the difference between pressurized air dusters and compressed air cleaners.

To continue reading this article on Microsoft at Home, click here.

The Back-Up Plan

Clients often ask me this question. My somewhat cynical answer is “Often enough not to commit suicide when your hard drive crashes.” Because we know that someday that hard drive will crash!

Amount of Data Input

If I’m sitting at my desk entering client data for 8 hours a day, I want to back up hourly.

If I’m occasionally using my computer for a client proposal or letter, daily will be enough.

Difficulty in Re-creating the Data

If I lost my bank reconciliation for one month, it would be easy to re-do that work. Not pleasant, but easy.

If I lost a BIM file, CAD drawing or project management file, it would hard to re-create the work. Lots of time to duplicate the work. Double payroll. Deadline delays.

If I lost a design concept, it would be impossible to re-create the file.

Importance of the Data

If I’m audited, I need my accounting records have to be available for seven years.

If I need to re-construct events, emails documenting a project can be invaluable in case of legal action, etc.

So based on the above questions, you need to decide how often to back up.

Multiple Backup Copies

The more important the data, the more copies of the back up you want to have and the farther apart the copies should be. Don’t have one CD of your critical files! For example, my client data is my business. So I have a copy in my office in case I need to go back a couple of years to retrieve a brochure that a client wants updated.  I have a second copy in my car. If the office burns down, the car would probably survive since I have detached parking. Then I have a third copy online.

Online Backup Services

I love online backups. They automatically happen on a set schedule. Heaven knows we don’t want to rely on my memory!! I get an email if something goes wrong with the backup. I can access the files from any computer in case I need something when I’m at a client’s office. Some services even allow file sharing to eliminate the need for a separate storage account to share with collaborators.

Features between online companies vary greatly. Email me if you would like a copy of my comparison chart. 

Some services charge by user by file size. Others charge just by file size. So an architectural firm with huge BIM and CAD files would want to shop for the best file size provider. A one person resume firm would do better with a per user account.

Time and Stress Tips

Set up your files so that EVERYTHING goes into My Documents: your QuickBooks file, Microsoft Office files, photos, … EVERYTHING.  Then when you back up either to a DVD or to your online service, all you have to do is back up My Documents. You don’t have to wander all over the hard drive to spot different files. This will also save you a lot of time finding your files!

Don’t place files on your Desktop.  Put the file in My Documents. Then put a short cut on the desktop. Your files are safe in the back up set but you have quick access!

Outlook pst files can cause a problem with online backup if you use a service that backs up the entire file every time instead of doing an incremental backup.  In other words, if you add a 2 KB email to your Outlook file, an incremental service will back up just the new 2 KB email.  A total file replacement could be 4 GB or more depending on your version of Outlook and set up.

Online Backup Services

            iDrive.com

            Mozy.com

            Carbonite.com

            SOSonlinebackup.com

            Securusvault.com

Written by:  Pamela Bir, Your Computer Lady

As published in Sources+Design Magazine June/July 2011 Issue

Learn Common PC Hardware Terms

If you haven’t shopped for a computer for a while, the following list of terms used for common PC features and functionality can help you make sure you get everything you need in your new PC.

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Protect and Purge your Personal Files

Eliminate private documents permanently from your hard drive.

When you stop and think about it, your home computer holds a lot of information about you— credit card numbers, bank account details, passwords, medical information, websites you've visited, and those deep, dark secrets you share with your best friend via email.

Click here to go finish reading this great article on Microsoft at Home. 

Speed up your PC: Automate your Computer Maintenance Schedule

Most people do one of the following when their computer begins to slow down (besides get angry):

1. Speed up their computer by buying more memory.
2. Try to tweak their computer's settings.
3. Give up. They figure that their computer is old, there's nothing else they can do, and it's probably time to buy a new computer.

Click here to continue reading this article at Microsoft at Home.

How to Clean your Computer

This is a great article I found at Microsoft at Home.

I have a dirty secret. I've never cleaned my computer. Sure, I've dusted my monitor, but I haven't taken off the cover or tried to reach the crumbs lurking inside my keyboard. And I honestly don't know the difference between pressurized air dusters and compressed air cleaners.
clean your computer

"Your computer could fry if you don't keep it clean," says Jonathon Millman, chief technology officer for Hooplah Interactive.

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How to Clean your Computer

It's Spring Cleaning Time.  Yes, even your computer needs some spring cleaning.  Read this article below from Microsoft Office at Home.

I have a dirty secret. I've never cleaned my computer. Sure, I've dusted my monitor, but I haven't taken off the cover or tried to reach the crumbs lurking inside my keyboard. And I honestly don't know the difference between pressurized air dusters and compressed air cleaners.

"Your computer could fry if you don't keep it clean," says Jonathon Millman, chief technology officer for Hooplah Interactive.

Whether it's a desktop or laptop/notebook computer, dust and lint can clog the cooling vents. This can cause your computer's brain—the central processing unit (CPU)—to heat up. And heat is the biggest cause of component failure in computers. Regular cleaning could save you costly maintenance fees down the road.

Follow the five simple steps in the cleanup and maintenance routine below to keep your computer and accessories looking shiny and new. It's an easy, do-it-yourself solution to help them run smoothly and last longer.

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10 Tips to Help Improve your Wireless Network

If the Windows operating system ever notifies you about a weak Wi-Fi signal, it probably means that your connection isn't as fast or as reliable as it could be. Worse, you might lose your connection entirely in some parts of your home. If you want to boost the signal for your wireless network (WLAN), try some of these tips for extending your wireless range and improving your wireless network speed and performance.

To read the 10 Tips, click here to go to Microsoft at Home.

Speed Up Your PC: Automate Your Computer Maintenance Schedule

Most people do one of the following when their computer begins to slow down (besides get angry):

1. Speed up their computer by buying more memory.
2. Try to tweak their computer's settings.
3. Give up. They figure that their computer is old, there's nothing else they can do, and it's probably time to buy a new computer.

All these solutions can help increase PC speed. However, what's to keep your newly blazing PC from slowing down again after a couple months or years? A badly fragmented hard drive will bring even a top-of-the-line new computer to a grinding halt.

One option is to create a preventive PC maintenance plan...

To continue reading this article from Microsoft at Home, click here

Weekly Computer Maintenance

Today:

• Disk Clean Up to remove files you don't need
• Disk Defragmenter to organize your hard drive
• ScanDisk to clean and protect your hard drive

Computer Maintenance Instructions

New! XP Disk Cleanup Video Tutorial
New! XP Scan Disk Video Tutorial
New! XP Disk Defrag Video Tutorial

Windows Automatic Updates - Yes or No?

This is one of those damned if you do - damned if you don't areas.

Microsoft is constantly publishing patches, fixes, tweaks to your Windows operating system. Many of them won't pertain to you.  But once in awhile there's fix that you need. You may not even know you need it but the update will make your computer run better.

So turning on Automatic Updating is a good thing.

Except ... when Microsoft publishes something you aren't ready for or don't want such as Internet Explorer 7. One night I went to bed with IE6; the next morning I woke up with IE7. It wasn't a morning where I had time to figure out the new look, the new terms or the new restrictions IE7 "helped" me with.  Furthermore, I don't like to try any new Microsoft product until it's been out at least six months.

A second nuisance is that Windows does the installation at shutdown. It never fails that I'm in a client's office finishing a work session when it decides to install the updates. The client and I have to stand around and wait for the installation to finish. Because you DO NOT EVER stop the installation. It takes forever to get your computer working right again.

Automatic updates takes away my ability to choose what I want to update and when.

If you prefer not to use Automatic Updating, sign up for my Computer Maintenance Reminders service. I'll send you a reminder quarterly. You can then go to the update center (I'll include instructions!) and you can choose your updates and do them at your convenience. OK, maybe convenience is not quite the right word but you understand what I mean!

If you want to turn on the automatic updating, here are the instructions from Microsoft for Windows XP. Visit the Windows Update Solutions Center if you have another version.

Free Back Up Service

Mozy offers you 2 GB of back up space for FREE!

You download some simple software, set up which files you want backed up then Mozy will automatically, continuously back up your files.

Your files are stored online. You can restore them to a new hard drive in case of disaster or retrieve a file you accidentally deleted.  If, God forbid, the office burns down, your files are safe.

High speed internet is required. The first back up will take a long time but the process doesn't slow down your computer or keep you from using the Internet. Subsequent back ups will be faster since Mozy is only picking up changes.