Tips and Bits from Luna Computers

Tips and Bits from Luna Computers

Your computer has joined the Slowsky’s Family and what to do about Part 2


1)  Keep the fans clean. Once or twice a year get a can of compressed air and blow out all the dust bunnies from the inside of your computer. Most cases have side that pops open, check the manual on how to remove the side. Do this more often if you have pooches or cats in the house.
A clean computer runs cooler and lasts longer. If you can plug in the power with the side of the computer case off, turn on the computer and watch to make sure all the fans in the case are running.

2) Stop with all the toolbars! It seems that every program now a days wants to load a toolbar for your browser. Pick one, use it and anytime another wants to load just say no. If it is stubborn and still load itself, try to remove it using the control panel.

3) Learn to use the Control Panel to uninstall unwanted programs. HP, Compaq, Dell, eMachines and all the rest oad a lot of extra buggy software, call them up and ask which ones you don't need and can un-install.

4) Be careful installing all those programs that promise free screen savers, free backgrounds, etc.. Most of them also load unwanted programs in the background.

4) Re-install Windows. Easier said than done, but what a difference it makes.


Your computer has joined the Slowsky’s Family and what to do about


Your computer ran so well when you brought it home and lovingly unpacked, set it up and got it working. But now it sits there in all it’s slowly goodness, what are you to do? How can you speed it up? What can be done short of buying a new computer?
Here are some simple things to do before you learn any more curse words.


1.) Find out much RAM your computer has. Go to the”start” button, scroll to the “My Computer” menu icon, then do a right click on “My Computer”. The first tab should be “General”, look on the lower right below the words “Computer”. If it have anything less than 512 MB of RAM, get more. Max out the amount of RAM, install all the RAM your computer can handle. RAM is very cheap right now, and some places even have “FREE” installation.


2.) Do a lot of graphic work? Edit a lot of photos? If you are using the built-in video card, stop and get a “real” video card installed. You will notice quite a difference in performance.


3.) Have DSL modems, cable modem, routers? Turn them off once in a while, they are little computers and benefit from a re-start now and then.


4.) Check for any updates to your anti-virus or firewall software. Your anti-virus or firewall software should always be kept up to date.


5.) Go to the “Start” button” “All Programs” “Startup” menu. Do you see a lot of programs listed that start at boot time? Try and find out if your machine can live without some of them. Left-click the “Start” button, and then click “All Programs”. Go to the “Startup” folder and left-click. A list of programs that start at boot will appear, highlight the program name and then right click, another menu will pop-up, select “delete” from this pop-up menu. Delete the programs one by one, if your computer really needs the deleted program you can always fish it out of the Recycle bin.


6.) Get a good temp file cleaner like ccleaner or cleanup! To clean out all the junk files. Cleanup! can be found at http://www.stevengould.org and ccleaner at http://www.ccleaner.com.


7.) What ever you do DO NOT run those programs that claim to cleanup the registry or speed up your computer, I have seen them cause more problems than fix anything they claim to fix.

That is all the space I have, next time I will continue with how to speed up your computer and keep it from joining the Slowskys. If you have any questions drop me a line! Thanks!
Luis Luna