Tips and tricks the professionals use (but never told you about).
- Tips and Tricks
- Maintenance
- Common Problems
- How can I fix some common hardware problems?
- Why are my hardware/peripherals (modem, CD/DVD drive, printer, scanner, mouse, etc.) not working properly, if at all?
- Why are my hardware/peripherals (modem, CD/DVD drive, printer, scanner, mouse, etc.) not working properly, if at all? (Part 2)
- Why are my hardware/peripherals (modem, CD/DVD drive, printer, scanner, mouse, etc.) not working properly, if at all? (Part 3)
- How can I fix some common Windows problems?
- How can I stop spammers from using "Windows Messaging Service" to send unwanted messages to my computer?
- How do I install security patches on my computer?
- How do I permanently remove the "Links" folder from the "Favorites" menu?
- How do I make the icons on my computer desktop disappear?
- How do I adjust my virtual memory?
- How can I fix some common hardware problems?
What can I do regularly to keep my system "healthy"?
There are a few things that you should do regularly (monthly is a good frequency) to keep your system running quickly, smoothly and efficiently. The following can be considered a checklist for your monthly maintenance plan:
- Check for security patches for your system
- Update your anti-virus software's virus definitions
- Clean up the hard drive
- Defragment the hard drive
- Run an anti-virus program
When done in this order, your system will not waste time processing useless files.
Top of Page What else can I do to keep my system "healthy"?
There are a few other things that you should do with some regular frequency to keep your system running properly, though they aren't quite as important as those listed above. The following can be considered a checklist for your less frequent maintenance:
- Remove old, unused programs from the system
- Update drivers and delete old, obsolete drivers
- Check for software updates/ patches
When completed along with the monthly maintenance, your system should run almost like new and as securely as possible.
Top of Page Unfortunately, computers were not designed to work properly 100% of the time. This is not some conspiracy perpetrated on us by the computer manufacturing industry. When you have a machine so complex and with so many different working components, it's almost a miracle it works even half the time! Fortunately, you can treat your computer like you would treat one of your friends: forgive it, and tell it to try again from the beginning. The easiest (and most common) remedy to many problems is simply to restart your computer. If, after you restart your system, the problem does not correct itself, check to make sure that all of the cables running in and out of the offending piece of equipment are properly connected. Here, again, is often the problem. Quick and simple to remedy.
Top of Page If after rebooting your system and checking the cables the problem is not corrected, you may need to update or replace the drivers for the offending piece of equipment. If you kept the installation disks for the equipment in a safe place, this process can be as simple as inserting the disk or diskette that came with the equipment and repeating the instructions for installing the software. If you didn't keep the disks or diskettes, things get slightly more complicated, but not unreasonable. First, find and write down the manufacturer's name and the model of the offending piece of equipment. Next, you will need an internet connection. Then, go to the website of the equipment manufacturer (often as easy as typing the manufacturer's name without spaces and adding ".com" at the end) into the address bar on your internet browser. Look for a link that says something like "Software", "Downloads" or "Drivers". Click on that and follow the instructions to find and download the needed driver(s). Any responsible manufacturer will have a self installation program that will guide you through the rest of the process.
Top of Page If, after rebooting your system, checking the cables, and reinstalling the drivers, the problem is not corrected, you may need to consider contacting a professional to assist you and possibly teach you what to do if this, or a similar problem, should ever arise again.
Top of Page This may require a little courage for an average user to attempt, but let us assure you, this isn't hard, and the feeling you will get from blocking off a spammer's access to this tool are absolutely liberating!
To begin, click on the "Start" button. Now, look for the "Search" option. When you find it, click, and you should see the "For Files or Folders ..." option. After you click on that option, a window should appear that allows you to search for files in various ways. Click in the box for finding files and folders by name, type "services.msc" (without the quotes), make sure you are searching the local hard drives, and click on the button marked "Search Now".
When the program finishes the search, you should see only one available file named "services" with an icon that looks like clock-work gears. Double-click on the gears and the system will open it. Now, scroll down the right side of the new window until you find the "Messenger" program, and double click on it. This opens up the properties for "Messenger". Click "Stop" to close the service, and select "Disabled" from the "Startup type" list to prevent it from loading automatically the next time Windows starts. Now, click "Apply" and close all of the windows that were opened while stepping through this process.
Top of Page How do I install security patches on my computer?
First, go to the Microsoft corporate website. Next, look to the left side of the page at the categories and links there. Continue down the list until you find the link that says "Windows Updates" (in the "Resources" category), and click on the link. After the page finishes loading, you shoud see a link with a green arrow called "Scan for updates" around the middle of the screen. Click on that link. Now Microsoft will scan your computer, checking for any patches needed by your computer in order to make it more secure. When it finishes scanning, you will be asked to install a list of patches that Microsoft believes are critical to your system's security. To do this, simply click on the
"Install Now" button directly above the list. Some patches cannot be bundled with any others for installation, so you may have to repeat this process until you have acquired and installed all critical patches. When you have installed all critical patches, the website will inform you that there are no more critical updates for your system. NOTE: Don't forget to check back for new security patches at least once every month!
Top of Page How do I permanently remove the "Links" folder from the "Favorites" menu?
If you simply delete the "Links" folder in the "Favorites" menu, you will notice that it will reappear later. Annoying, isn't it? To remove it permanently, read on.
- Start Windows Explorer.
- Move to your user profile area (the path will be something like "C:\documents and settings\UserName" without quotes).
- Open the Favorites folder.
- Right-click the Links folder, then select Properties from the context menu.
- Select the Hidden check box, then click OK.
- Start Internet Explorer and delete the Links folder from the Favorites menu.
Top of Page How do I make the icons on my computer desktop disappear?
If you are tired of the desktop icons crowding and cluttering the desktop, there is a way to make them disappear. However, let us warn you that this is not for the weak-hearted or the technophobe. The following involves manipulating the system's registry, where a mistake can be extremely damaging. Use this information at your own risk:
- Click on "Run..." in the "Start Menu".
- Type "REGEDIT" (without the quotes) in the "Open" field in the new "Run" window.
- In the new "Registry Editor" window, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Policies\ Explorer.
- Double-click the NoDesktop value. If its not there, select Edit -> New -> DWORD Value, and type "NoDesktop" (without the quotes) for its name.
- Enter 1 for the value, and click Ok. (Just delete the value entirely to undo this.)
- Click on the desktop, and press F5 to refresh the desktop so that this change will take effect.
Top of Page How do I adjust my virtual memory?
Sometimes, your system may complain about not having enough "virtual memory." What it's telling you is that you are running some programs on your system that require more physical RAM than you have installed. One way to remedy this is by adding more RAM to your system. However, if you don't want to spend the money on RAM, you could increase your system's virtual memory by following the instructions below:
- In the "Control Panel", double-click on the "System" icon.
- In the new "System Properties" window, click on the "Advanced" tab.
- In the "Performance" section, click on the "Settings" button.
- In the new "Performance Options" window, Click on the "Advanced" tab.
- In the "Virtual Memory" section, click on the "Change" button.
- In the new "Virtual Memory" window, set the "Initial size (MB)" to twice the amount of RAM installed in your system. Now, take the number in Initial size, multiply by two (2), and use the newly calculated value as your "Maximum size (MB)".
- Click the "Set" button, then "OK" to close the "Virtual Memory" window.
- Click the "Apply" button, then the "OK" button to close the "Performance Options" window.
- Click the "Apply" button, then the "OK" button to close the "System Properties" window.
- Close the "Control Panel" window.
This will work to solve the problem, but it should be used as a temporary fix, not permanent. You should start looking into adding more physical RAM to your system to avoid the extra wear and tear on your system's hard drive.
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Copyright 2003-2005 RulaneTeks.
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