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Run MsConfig by going to Start > Run > type msconfig Then selected startup and uncheck just about all the programs you can stand. If there is a program that is running and you are not sure what it is, you can google it by typing in “process “. Sometime it is obvious what the program is. Most folks don’t need to run MSN Messenger or Quicktime detector or all those programs resident in memory. You can always start them up manually and save your memory. Remember, you can always check the program back on if you need to. Just about the only programs you need to run is your antivirus or anti-spyware programs.
Is your computer slowing down or getting sluggish on you? Does it seem to not have that snappiness that it had when it was new? That seems to be one of the major complaints that I hear all the time. Now there is a call everyday it seems where someone is getting popups related to XP Antivirus 2009 or XP Antivirus 360 and if you click on any part of the window except for the red X in the right corner, you will get loaded up with some pretty evasive spyware that is not trivial to remove. In most cases, you have to have a professional to remove it. If you do see this Antivirus 2009, It will say you have 146 viruses and you must scan now. DON’T DO IT. If you start it, I recommend immediately powering off the computer. If you want to try some of the maintenance on your own, Here ‘s a list of spyware software that I recommend for the average user to use so click the links to get the software:
Following the User access control theme from the last post, a better way to handle all those "Allow or Deny" pop ups is to silence them, sort of. Go to the site: http://www.tweak-uac.com/download/ to get the program Tweakuac. Once you download this, just run the program and I suggest selecting the option "Switch UAC to the quiet mode" and this way you are still protected from malware programs but have not turned it off leaving yourself vulnerable as the last post described. Check it out at TweakUAC.
MAC users have enjoyed a quick launch tool for programs that is intuitive and easy to use. Now XP and Vista users can too with Rocketdock
. When you mouse over the icon, it enlarges and takes an exaggerated shape that you can click on to launch that application. Check out www.rocketdock.com.
I wrote about this in Early August but am bringing it back up. The dreaded subject of disk defragmentation.
If you are diligent about keeping your machine running optimally, as I try to be, check out this screensaver which, when it runs, it defrags your hard drive. Don’t be alarmed by all the comments you will get on it, but it will surely get someone’s attention. Us this if you are constantly forgetting about defragging your drive. http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/ Take the screensaver program and copy it over the system32 directory and then right click on your desktop > select screensaver and pick the JKDefrag screensaver and you’re done.
Want to get the look and feel of nice Vista graphics running on Windows XP all while not hurting performance? Like the RocketDock or dock equivalent found in Vista tweaks or on Macs? How about installing this Theme on XP from CrystalXP.net. I have been running it now for a couple of months and it does not slow down your system and I love the RocketDock. Check it out over at CrystalXP.net.
This link is valuable to those having trouble running programs in Vista that had no problem in XP or earlier Windows OS’es. I founf it over at Nirmaltv.com
Some software and games might be built for Windows XP and might crash when executed in
Vista. If your software is crashing in
Vista, you can fix it with a simple and quick solution. To run programs having compatibility issues in
Vista, turn on the
compatibility Mode. With
compatibility mode, you can run the program or game in the settings for which it was actually designed.
To run any program or game in
compatibility mode, right click on the executable file or the start menu item for this program and then select Properties. In the properties Window, select the
Compatibility tab.
This is a cool tip that I found over at PCTipsBox and gives you the functionality of turning aero on or off from the desktop. Nice.
Run REGEDIT and go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\Shell. Right-click the Shell part, select New > Key and call it Aero On.
Right-click the Aero On key you’ve created, and create a new key called command. Double-click this (in the right-hand side of the screen) and give it the value Rundll32 dwmApi #102.
Right-click the Shell key again, select New > Key, and call this Aero Off. Create a command key below it, as you’ve just done, and give it the value Rundll32 dwmApi #104.
Now, right-click an empty part of the desktop to see your options, and select Aero On when you want fancy effects like Flip 3D, and Aero Off when you’re after raw speed.
http://www.geekteks.com - Geek Teks can send a live technician to your door or we can offer remote service to teach you how to use your new operating system more efficiently and effectively.
http://www.geekteks.com - Geek Teks can send a live technician to your door or we can offer remote service to teach you how to use your new operating system more efficiently and effectively.