Instead of one or two sets of storage footprints in the sand, there could be hundreds as you operate your business or personal activities on the computer. It is a nuisance to you and to everyone who wants a fast working computer because data storage stores hundreds of ONE file. Who knew?
Not a lot of people, that’s who, because all this happens behind the LCD scene. There are all these processes that go on that we do not see, like sending an email or receiving an email, did you know that for there is 100 instances of one Mega Byte of email attachment? Fascinating language, and it is true.
It is also true that if you are aware of this nuisance, you can take action to reduce all the extra crap that takes up space on your computer. Here are some useful tricks to use while you walk the sands of the internet to make sure you have only one footprint, not hundreds.
Compression: it is probably the most well-known data reduction trick out there. Compression is the process of finding and being ridding of repeated patterns of bytes. It works well with databases, e-mail, and files and used a lot in Law Firm IT Support. It’s included in some storage systems, but you can also find stand-alone compression applications or appliances.
By compressing, which means pressing together the data files so that it does not take up your whole hard drive space, you are able to use up the free space on the hard drive for programs and files that you actually use. Do not let your computer get slow and stupid because somebody forgot to keep up with all those files getting duplicated.
Another useful tool in making sure your computer is running at peak performance is?visualization. By pooling all the storage devices together, like data backup and disaster recovery, in one pool is most efficient. It eliminates the unnecessary back and forth between different programs of data storage by having them all together.
With this method, the proper management policies are then applied to a single copy of the data, defining where, for example, it is stored and how it is deduplicated during functions such as backup and replication. This can cut storage needs greatly. The less need for storage, the less need for spending money that could be saved if you only took the time to become aware then act.
The last trick is called thin provisioning. This means setting up an application server to use a certain amount of space on a drive, but not using that space until it is actually needed. Thin provisioning is a concept that should be the normal way the storage should operate, if you are not using a program, why is it running or taking up space on the hard drive?
Make sure you have enough space, check the hard drive to see how many giga bytes you have left free. There is nothing worse than forgetting to keep your drive clean until it is too late, when you have to pay someone money to fix it.
Yes, you have started to hear no doubt about the holidays and all it’s wonderful magic. No doubt you have also heard about being safe, usually in reference to too much drinking at those awkwardly awful family parties and the weather. But at Computer Geeks we want to key you in on more important matters: your computer safety.
How safe is your computer? If you use the internet you take the risk of catching a virus, like the cold it can be prevented if you take certain steps. No I am not talking about downloading the latest anti-virus software or the cool new tool that can fly around your computer like superman saving your files from the evil file corrupter.
I am talking about what is already on your computer, like your web browser whether that be Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome, that have the tools you need to protect yourself. You can find these tools in the ‘Tools’ menu bar located at the top of your browser. Look at ‘options’ on Firefox or ‘security zones’ on Internet Explorer. By telling your browser exactly what type of sites it is allowed to visit and the level of restriction, you are ensuring that you will be protected from spyware, unwanted advertisements, and those “drive-by” downloads.
You may have heard recently that there was a big “drive-by” attack that hackers did on IE6. What happened was that hackers were able to get into a certain website and make links using the sites name to another website, which people visited, and got screwed because just by being on the site malicious software and viruses were downloaded to people’s computers.They are still doing it on IE8, so be careful.
That is just one example of how easy it is for hackers to get into your system, simply by taking over a website and waiting for a user to walk aimlessly into the site, unaware that they will be regretting not listening to this blog and taking the necessary steps to prevent such a thing!
One of these steps involves securing your email, particularly in Outlook. A common pitfall that is easily overlooked is the text. You have two choices: HTML-Text, or Plain Text, which is better? It is not a question of better, but safer. HTML might look good, but in the long run it is dangerous because this is where all those phishing scams thrive on. By using Plain Text it disables the Active Content that opens email attachments automatically, and allows safer emailing.
Instant Messaging worms have become more and more vicious and prevalent in today’s internet world. Be careful when talking with your friends online, be wary of ‘Away’ messages, because if you are chatting with someone who sent you a malicious worm or virus masquerading as a link somewhere infected you could be in for a bad time. You can usually tell when a message like in email that is suspicious.
Hackers are always looking for new ways to get into your computer and screw things up. Do not allow them to, especially during the holidays when you should be out gallivanting around with your family enjoying the holiday spirit.
It is amazing how many files are being saved on the computer right now as this blog is being created. Hundreds of cookies, caches, and temporary internet files are stored in folders across the hard drive, taking up valuable space you need for important files.
A perfect tool that is free to download is called CCleaner 3.0 and it works like a miracle. I just downloaded it to test it out, it takes about two minutes total to get it up and running. It gives you a checklist of Windows applications on your computer, like Internet Explorer, Mozilla, and Google Chrome, that save tons of files every time you log on to the internet.
This tool is easy to use. It runs very fast searching through your hard drive, based on your selection of what you want deleted, and gets rid of all that crap you do not need. What is good about it is that when it is deleting all that crap, it knows what files to keep like email and other files that you use most frequently.In fact, that is what the name means: “Crap Cleaner 3.0”, just what we need!
What I love about using this tool for cleaning up my computer is that it really makes me feel that I have total control. Isn’t that what everyone wants for their PC? For me, having the ability to run a broom through my hard drive and clean up 118,096 MB of free space, is pretty freakin’ sweet!
Most of the programs used on the computer take “craps” on the hard drive, and after a while this can lead to a very slow PC. Another great feature of this program solves that riddle called DLL, that annoying error message that comes up when a file is missing. This program uses the registry cleaner, which searches the computer for those missing DLL files and solves the riddle.
What about those pesky start-up programs that clutter your computer as soon as you turn it on? No problem with the Crap Cleaner, it has a special tool to clear that crap out of there. By doing this your PC will be running like new again, simply because your PC will not be full of crap!
The new version has added new programs such as AVG Internet Security, Bittorrent, Audacity, and Windows Game Explorer. It gets better, after installing this program on your computer, all you have to do is sit back and let the cleaner do it’s job. The major problem people have with their computer is the speed it is running at. If it is not fast enough to their liking, then one of the first issues to look at is the crap that is covering the computer.
This is the way to thoroughly clean-up your PC. Yes, you can use the programs provided by Windows but this one is too easy. Keeping your PC clean should be easy, fast, and complete in doing the job. By giving you the control of what you want to be deleted, Crap Cleaner 3.0 is the ultimate cleaning tool.
With the release of Microsoft?s Windows 7 operating system, many of the performance issues present in past installments of this PC mainstay have been addressed, showing a measurable improvement in areas that were once headaches for even the most capable machines. Still, despite what would appear to be Microsoft?s welcome response to the chorus of complaints about XP and Vista, the onset of problems is to be expected for even the latest release. No operating system is immune from the kind of error that results from any number of issues: viruses, spyware, negligence, etc.
Despite how it?s presently running, tomorrow could usher in a set of unanticipated problems, which is to be expected with even new machines. ??Windows 7 (Vista, too) includes a robust set of tools ? all included within one easily accessible menu — that the frustrated user can utilize when attempting to diagnose the source of a problem.
Accessing these tools is as easy as entering a command in the search box that?s located in the Start menu. Once you?ve entered “performance info,” you?ll be greeted by a window from where you can select Advanced tools.
After those tools are available, it becomes apparent that you have at your disposal an impressive assortment of diagnostic options that will ? at the very least — aid you towards determining what lies at the source of your ailing system:
Clear all Windows Experience Index scores and re-rate system
View performance details in Event log
Open Performance Monitor
Open Resource Monitor
Open Task Manager
View advanced system details in System Information
Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows
Open Disk Defragmenter
Generate a system health report
One of the most informative tools you can use is Open Resource Monitor. Like Task Manager, Resource Monitor provides an overview of your system?s resources, allowing you to manage the available resources (RAM, storage, bandwidth) your system has to work with. Unlike Task Manager, which is somewhat vague in its detail, Resource Monitor works at the micro level ? meaning, you?re given a degree of specificity that illuminates how an individual process or application figures into the overall allocation of resources.
Another helpful aid is the Generate a system health report. Akin to having a physical at the physician?s office, this will assess your system?s health, generating an analysis that may enlighten you on what areas you should address when experiencing issues with your computer?s performance.Taking just a few moments, the system analysis will return a report that details every critical facet of your system. Using this diagnostic analysis, you will be left with a clearer picture of how your computer is faring. For example, if there is a driver that?s hindering your ability to listen to sound, this report will highlight that conflict.
These are just the tools that are fairly self-explanatory in their use and interpretation. The more advanced tools ? such as View performance details in Event log ? are just as beneficial, but they require a level of expertise that your average user may be without.
For even the most accomplished technician, the poor performance of a system will remain a problem that never permanently subsides. ?If you have questions about the use of these tools, or would like to know how to solve any problems they unearth, Computer Geeks Is always on hand to provide you that assistance.
For those of you familiar with Microsoft?s Windows Operating System, you?re well aware of how critical it is to keep your system updated with the latest patches released by Microsoft. In addition to steeling you against any security breaches, these updates have been shown to significantly improve the performance of the operating system.
Once a feature that many either ignored or reluctantly used, Windows Update has seen significant gains in its design since the transition to Windows Vista and the recently unveiled Windows 7.
This important feature is now accessible via the search bar located in the Start menu.
As you?ll see, the new Windows Update process has been streamlined, making it easier to manage and assign those updates where needed.
With this Windows Update manager, you can also view all of the updates for MS Products, saving you the time of checking them individually.
If you find yourself questioning just what you?re installing on your computer, you can click the link specified below, which will bring you to a more detailed explanation.
In the past, the installation of some updates has conflicted with the use of certain applications, which can lead to the instability of your system.? Should such a conflict occur, the incompatible update can be removed by simply selecting it from the Uninstall window.
For what you need, many of the updates will be unnecessary, yet you?ll still find them included in the list of updates to install. For those updates you consider needless, right-clicking on them will summon a window from which you?re able to select ?Hide updates.?
Keeping your Windows Updates current is just one of a number of ways for you to ensure that your system is properly functioning.
If you have any questions about what else can be done, feel free to give us a call.
