You may have heard about defragging or defragmenting your hard drive To understand fully, what this means, you need to understand how a hard drive is made up. A hard drive is made up of lots of little segments that store data. These segments are called sectors or clusters. Usually the size of each individual sector is 512 bytes although these can vary.
If we save a file to our hard disk we tend to picture it in our minds as being in one place. Whilst this can be true, most files will exceed the maximum size of the individual sector. Several sectors cam be used to store the information depending on the file size. This can span into hundreds or even thousands of sectors being used to store one file.
This is where the idea of defragging should become clearer. The sectors that we were talking about above do not necessarily sit on the hard drive side by side. Generally the next available sector will be used to store data. This could be somewhere else on the hard disk some distance away from the rest of the file. Your operating system will remember where the sectors are on the hard disk.
Every time you delete or move a file, sectors will become vacant and your operating system will refill them with fresh new data. Whilst your operating system will always remember where the individual sectors are, they will gradually become more and more spaced out from one another.
This means that your hard disk has to do more work to open a given file. If the file sectors are very spaced out then this can result in you computer having to do more 'thinking' to open the file - resulting in a longer time scale.
This is where defragging comes into play. The defragging utility usually comes with your operating system but many other external programs can be downloaded or purchased for the same. Running the defrag utility will analyse your hard disk and check for all the sectors that are not close together. The defrag will then move all the sectors of each file in line with one another, maximising the speed and efficiency at which your operating system can open them. This can mean the difference between a slow computer and a lightening quick computer.
Some people advise that a defrag is carried out regularly, other state that you should only use the utility when necessary. I personally only defrag when I start to notice that files are taking a longer time to load than what I am used to.
Defragging a computer is not a quick task. If you have not defragged for a while or have a lot of data on your hard drive then be prepared to wait several hours for the process to complete. It is also wise to not use your computer whilst this process is being carried out else generally the process will be restarted. It is also wise to be disconnected from the Internet or any other network when running this.
Whether you decide to use the defrag utility that comes with your operating system, in your system tools, or, download or buy a different version, understanding defragging and the defrag process is an essential part of keeping your computer running at it's most efficient and fastest speed.
About the Author
JBO Solutions is an online computer store stocking computer monitors, graphics cards and all other computer components at excellent prices.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
The #1 Reason Your Computer Slows Down -- And How to Fix It
Surprisingly most people think that slow computer performance is due either to a hardware problem or a virus. Actually, this is rarely the case. 95% of the time when your computer starts to operate poorly by taking longer to load things and crashing in freezing more often, it is because of one easily correctable situation -- a corrupted Windows registry.
Your Windows registry is the key component that makes your operating system work. Without it, you could do nothing on your computer. It gives all the commands to the different programs in your computer to run smoothly and effectively. The problem is most people do not even know it exists, much less realize that it needs to be maintained and cleaned regularly.
Left on its own, your Windows registry will quickly fill up with duplicate files, fragmented pieces of information, errors in file paths and unnecessary keys. The good news is that you do not even have to familiarize yourself with what any of this means. Instead, use a software that automatically cleans and maintains your Windows registry for you.
There is a variety of different software that can do this. However, my favorite is RegCLEAN.
RegCLEAN can be downloaded for free. You can use it to run a scan on your registry to uncover all the problems that it currently contains. Don't be surprised to find if you have hundreds of problems within your registry. A friend of mine had 393 problems with his registry. Another friend had even more -- 692!
Unfortunately many people who are unaware of RegCLEAN often will shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars to stores or individuals to fix their computer. The dirty little secret that they don't know is often a computer repairman will run software just like RegCLEAN to fix all the problems. They just don't inform you that they did this, or that your computer needs this done consistently in order to operate at its best.
When using RegCLEAN, it will automatically repair and tuneup your PC. You can choose to watch the scan in progress is or simply let it run in the background. At the same time, when you use this program you can have it scheduled to complete scans when it is convenient for you. This will automate the maintenance process.
Since it's free, you should go to their website and get a scan on your computer now.
Dennis Savoy http://www.registry-repairing.com/
Your Windows registry is the key component that makes your operating system work. Without it, you could do nothing on your computer. It gives all the commands to the different programs in your computer to run smoothly and effectively. The problem is most people do not even know it exists, much less realize that it needs to be maintained and cleaned regularly.
Left on its own, your Windows registry will quickly fill up with duplicate files, fragmented pieces of information, errors in file paths and unnecessary keys. The good news is that you do not even have to familiarize yourself with what any of this means. Instead, use a software that automatically cleans and maintains your Windows registry for you.
There is a variety of different software that can do this. However, my favorite is RegCLEAN.
RegCLEAN can be downloaded for free. You can use it to run a scan on your registry to uncover all the problems that it currently contains. Don't be surprised to find if you have hundreds of problems within your registry. A friend of mine had 393 problems with his registry. Another friend had even more -- 692!
Unfortunately many people who are unaware of RegCLEAN often will shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars to stores or individuals to fix their computer. The dirty little secret that they don't know is often a computer repairman will run software just like RegCLEAN to fix all the problems. They just don't inform you that they did this, or that your computer needs this done consistently in order to operate at its best.
When using RegCLEAN, it will automatically repair and tuneup your PC. You can choose to watch the scan in progress is or simply let it run in the background. At the same time, when you use this program you can have it scheduled to complete scans when it is convenient for you. This will automate the maintenance process.
Since it's free, you should go to their website and get a scan on your computer now.
Dennis Savoy http://www.registry-repairing.com/
Registry Repair Software - What To Look For Before Purchasing
Registry repair software utilities are an important part of any PC maintenance toolkit, because they are needed to maintain a healthy and error-free Windows registry.
The registry is a centralized, hierarchal database comprising several keys, subkeys and there values that store configuration data related to your system, users preferences and hardware and software installed on the system. The registry is a dynamic component in which constantly data is added, removed or modified as you work on your computer.
Over a period, in addition to important configuration information, the registry also gets filled up with a bunch of unwanted data including outdated, invalid, malicious, and orphan entries. As your system gets older, this unwanted data increases in the registry, causing it to grow very large size. A large registry easily becomes unstable and causes registry corruption and fragmentation. This damaged registry slows down, bringing down the performance of your PC and also causes frequents system errors, freezes, and crashes.
To prevent these problems and maintain a healthy registry, it is recommended that you seek the help of known and trust worthy registry repair software.
If you perform a search for registry repair tool on the Web, you will find several results. However, instead of going in for just any tool that is not the correct way to go about this. A dubious tool may put you deeper into problems, instead of helping you resolve them.
Given here are a few important tips to help you choose the right registry repair utility. The registry cleaner you choose should:
Be User-friendly: The tool you select should have an easy-to-understand interface with user-friendly features. This becomes more important, especially if you are not very good with the technical aspect of computing.
Easy-To-Understand Comprehensive Documentation: You must ensure that the tool you choose is comprised of comprehensive help documentation and ensures product support in case of a problem.
Use Smart Algorithms to Scan and Repair Registry Errors: You may find several tools claiming to find hundreds of errors from your registry. Although these claims may look quite impressive, many such tools report any registry entry that is unknown to them as error. Many times, removing this information may cause problems with programs currently running on your computer. For this reason, you must opt for tools that use smart algorithms to scan you registry, identify the errors, analyze them, and then report only genuine errors. It's best that you opt for a tool that categorically reports the errors as what is safe to delete and what is not safe to delete. Additionally, it is a good idea to opt for tools that perform both automatic and manual clean up features.
Advanced Registry Backup Features: The tool must have sufficient and easy-to-use backup and restoration features. Basically, comprising-full backup, selective backup and undo features. The tool must enable the ability to revert the registry to its state before the scan.
Registry Defrag Features: Defragging the registry is important because it helps in compressing the registry size and reindexing the broken registry files. After you defragment the registry the data access speed increases considerably and this, enhances the performance of your computer.
We have done the research so you don't have to! Our experts have put the Best Registry Repair Software through the gauntlet to determine what truly are the best products available today.
For expert Registry Repair Software Reviews, check out http://www.pc-registry-repair.com/
The registry is a centralized, hierarchal database comprising several keys, subkeys and there values that store configuration data related to your system, users preferences and hardware and software installed on the system. The registry is a dynamic component in which constantly data is added, removed or modified as you work on your computer.
Over a period, in addition to important configuration information, the registry also gets filled up with a bunch of unwanted data including outdated, invalid, malicious, and orphan entries. As your system gets older, this unwanted data increases in the registry, causing it to grow very large size. A large registry easily becomes unstable and causes registry corruption and fragmentation. This damaged registry slows down, bringing down the performance of your PC and also causes frequents system errors, freezes, and crashes.
To prevent these problems and maintain a healthy registry, it is recommended that you seek the help of known and trust worthy registry repair software.
If you perform a search for registry repair tool on the Web, you will find several results. However, instead of going in for just any tool that is not the correct way to go about this. A dubious tool may put you deeper into problems, instead of helping you resolve them.
Given here are a few important tips to help you choose the right registry repair utility. The registry cleaner you choose should:
Be User-friendly: The tool you select should have an easy-to-understand interface with user-friendly features. This becomes more important, especially if you are not very good with the technical aspect of computing.
Easy-To-Understand Comprehensive Documentation: You must ensure that the tool you choose is comprised of comprehensive help documentation and ensures product support in case of a problem.
Use Smart Algorithms to Scan and Repair Registry Errors: You may find several tools claiming to find hundreds of errors from your registry. Although these claims may look quite impressive, many such tools report any registry entry that is unknown to them as error. Many times, removing this information may cause problems with programs currently running on your computer. For this reason, you must opt for tools that use smart algorithms to scan you registry, identify the errors, analyze them, and then report only genuine errors. It's best that you opt for a tool that categorically reports the errors as what is safe to delete and what is not safe to delete. Additionally, it is a good idea to opt for tools that perform both automatic and manual clean up features.
Advanced Registry Backup Features: The tool must have sufficient and easy-to-use backup and restoration features. Basically, comprising-full backup, selective backup and undo features. The tool must enable the ability to revert the registry to its state before the scan.
Registry Defrag Features: Defragging the registry is important because it helps in compressing the registry size and reindexing the broken registry files. After you defragment the registry the data access speed increases considerably and this, enhances the performance of your computer.
We have done the research so you don't have to! Our experts have put the Best Registry Repair Software through the gauntlet to determine what truly are the best products available today.
For expert Registry Repair Software Reviews, check out http://www.pc-registry-repair.com/
Understanding Spywares And Adwares - Protect Against Spyware Attack
Spyware and adware are types of malware that are installed on your computer in order to spy on you. These malwares collect information about you with or without your permission for many purposes. Spywares generally do not pose much danger to computer systems but the reasons why you would not want a spyware on your system is because it consumes computer resources in order to run.
Spywares such as adwares are used to watch users behaviours on the internet for marketing purposes. Adverts are targeted to users based on the type of website they visit and their keyword combinations on search engines. Other harmful uses are traffic redirection, where a user is redirected to another website they are not intending to view (adults websites). The most dangerous spywares are those that are used to steal personal details. Keylogger is an example of this type of spyware which can collect usernames and passwords, then email these details to the attacker.
Spywares can be installed without the user knowing it, or they could be installed with other genuine programs especially with peer-to-peer software, or game programs. Once installed they search through user's files especially through user's browsing history to collect information used for marketing.
The main difference between spywares and virus is that they are not created to damage your system but to steal information by spying on you. They also do not self replicate like viruses so they do not affect more than one computer in a computer network.
Even though spywares do not damage computer systems, the effect they cause is passive. Hackers can get their hands on your banking details, username and password for all your online email accounts and so on through a spyware installed on your computer.
Protect your system against malware attack, do not install programs that you do not trust, and always watch out for good programs that are installed in conjunction with a malware so you can trade your privacy for the price of the software. Also watch out for toolbars that are installed in your browser and if you notice any of these toolbars remove it immediately before it gets to work. Install anti-spyware software and keep it up to date, if you notice any popup windows that you did not trigger, u should run your anti-spyware software immediately.
Stop wasting time and money, click here for best computer security softwares and tools. Testing and review have been done for you.
Spywares such as adwares are used to watch users behaviours on the internet for marketing purposes. Adverts are targeted to users based on the type of website they visit and their keyword combinations on search engines. Other harmful uses are traffic redirection, where a user is redirected to another website they are not intending to view (adults websites). The most dangerous spywares are those that are used to steal personal details. Keylogger is an example of this type of spyware which can collect usernames and passwords, then email these details to the attacker.
Spywares can be installed without the user knowing it, or they could be installed with other genuine programs especially with peer-to-peer software, or game programs. Once installed they search through user's files especially through user's browsing history to collect information used for marketing.
The main difference between spywares and virus is that they are not created to damage your system but to steal information by spying on you. They also do not self replicate like viruses so they do not affect more than one computer in a computer network.
Even though spywares do not damage computer systems, the effect they cause is passive. Hackers can get their hands on your banking details, username and password for all your online email accounts and so on through a spyware installed on your computer.
Protect your system against malware attack, do not install programs that you do not trust, and always watch out for good programs that are installed in conjunction with a malware so you can trade your privacy for the price of the software. Also watch out for toolbars that are installed in your browser and if you notice any of these toolbars remove it immediately before it gets to work. Install anti-spyware software and keep it up to date, if you notice any popup windows that you did not trigger, u should run your anti-spyware software immediately.
Stop wasting time and money, click here for best computer security softwares and tools. Testing and review have been done for you.
Antivirus Programs and Why You Need Them
Worms, Trojans, and viruses are programs created by hackers and are used to infect at risk computers via the Internet. Worms and viruses can replicate themselves from computer to computer, while Trojans hide in seemingly legitimate programs that you download from the Internet. The list of things that can go wrong with your computer is endless once your computer is infected with a virus, worm, or Trojan. One of the first signs that you are indeed infected is pop up advertisements and a big drop in the performance or speed of your computer.
Antivirus software scans your computer constantly looking for these bad guys, and if found either quarantines the malicious code or deletes it before it can do harm to your computer and data. Windows XP does not have a built in antivirus. An excellent free antivirus program that you can download from the Internet is AVG. Just Google this acronym for the download site, and you'll be set for a good antivirus tool. An alternative is to go to Microsoft's Antivirus Partners Webpage and see what they recommend. Microsoft also has a free program out called Defender that is supposed to be good protection from viruses and spyware.
Viruses represent a special challenge to detection because of the fact that they change on a daily or sometimes hourly basis. For this reason it is best to choose an antivirus program with an automatic update capability. The updates to the software are to keep abreast of the ever present change seen in the types of viruses found on the Internet. If your antivirus software is not updated your computer becomes vulnerable to these new threats.
To completely cover your bases against these types of threats to your computer, be sure and add a good firewall as well as a anti spyware program to your computer for the best protection.
Please visit My Computer Security Software for more free articles and information on securing your computer and data from harm.
Antivirus software scans your computer constantly looking for these bad guys, and if found either quarantines the malicious code or deletes it before it can do harm to your computer and data. Windows XP does not have a built in antivirus. An excellent free antivirus program that you can download from the Internet is AVG. Just Google this acronym for the download site, and you'll be set for a good antivirus tool. An alternative is to go to Microsoft's Antivirus Partners Webpage and see what they recommend. Microsoft also has a free program out called Defender that is supposed to be good protection from viruses and spyware.
Viruses represent a special challenge to detection because of the fact that they change on a daily or sometimes hourly basis. For this reason it is best to choose an antivirus program with an automatic update capability. The updates to the software are to keep abreast of the ever present change seen in the types of viruses found on the Internet. If your antivirus software is not updated your computer becomes vulnerable to these new threats.
To completely cover your bases against these types of threats to your computer, be sure and add a good firewall as well as a anti spyware program to your computer for the best protection.
Please visit My Computer Security Software for more free articles and information on securing your computer and data from harm.
Understand Computer Virus - Prevent Against Virus Attack
Virus is the worst of malwares (rogue programs) that causes serious havoc to your computer system. A virus is self-replicating and affects computer hardware, software, and even the Operating System. Viruses are designed to replicate themselves and to elude detection from anti-virus software, so without a good antivirus software it might be impossible to dig them out of your computer system.
Computer virus is an executable program written with the intention of causing a wreck to your computer or network, and because viruses are programs, they are loaded into computer memory, executed and instruct the computer to perform the actions dictated by the virus.
A virus can instruct infected computer to re-write the virus onto other computers in the network thereby spreading the virus from one computer to the next. A virus payload may also delete files from hard drive, write itself to another program, or even spread across the internet through file attachments.
Virus may fall into one of these categories;
1) Parasitic - infects executable files or programs in the computer
2) Bootstrap sector - infect the boot sector of the hard disk where OS start-up files are stored on the first partition.
3) Data file - These types of viruses can open, manipulate and close data files, and are usually written in macro language. They mostly affect Microsoft Office Word document
4) Companion - this type of virus creates a program with same name as another program that already exist on the computer, tricking the computer to run the rogue program instead of the real program.
Protect yourself by backing up your computer regularly so that in case there is an infection you can restore your system from the back up. It is also important you have very reliable anti-virus software on your machine. Good anti-virus must self-updates its database from time to time so that it can prevent you from a new attack.
Stop wasting time and money, click here for best computer security softwares and tools. Testing and review have been done for you.
Computer virus is an executable program written with the intention of causing a wreck to your computer or network, and because viruses are programs, they are loaded into computer memory, executed and instruct the computer to perform the actions dictated by the virus.
A virus can instruct infected computer to re-write the virus onto other computers in the network thereby spreading the virus from one computer to the next. A virus payload may also delete files from hard drive, write itself to another program, or even spread across the internet through file attachments.
Virus may fall into one of these categories;
1) Parasitic - infects executable files or programs in the computer
2) Bootstrap sector - infect the boot sector of the hard disk where OS start-up files are stored on the first partition.
3) Data file - These types of viruses can open, manipulate and close data files, and are usually written in macro language. They mostly affect Microsoft Office Word document
4) Companion - this type of virus creates a program with same name as another program that already exist on the computer, tricking the computer to run the rogue program instead of the real program.
Protect yourself by backing up your computer regularly so that in case there is an infection you can restore your system from the back up. It is also important you have very reliable anti-virus software on your machine. Good anti-virus must self-updates its database from time to time so that it can prevent you from a new attack.
Stop wasting time and money, click here for best computer security softwares and tools. Testing and review have been done for you.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
