Maintaining Your PC The slides for this presentation are available on the web. For directions to get to them see the entry “Maintaining Your PC ” on my blog at http://WhiteHouseComputing.Blogspot.Com Note: Dark blue backbround has been removed for this version on Slideshare to fix some tech difficulties. If you download this presentation you can easily restore it using the standard dark blue template choice under “slide design”. All content and hyperlinks remain unchanged from the class. Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Physical Maintenance Keep it Clean - Keep the Cool Air Flowing Dust every few months Cooling fans draw dust in. Dust insulates, keeps heat in. Electronics fry. Unplug, remove desktop computer cover, short bursts with can upright Keep your computer cool Fans draw air through vents – give them room to breath NEVER operate a laptop with it resting on something like a fluffy quilt Air vents will be blocked, electronics will fry Canned compressed Air Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Dust every few months

Cooling fans draw dust in. Dust insulates, keeps heat in. Electronics fry.

Unplug, remove desktop computer cover, short bursts with can upright

Keep your computer cool

Fans draw air through vents – give them room to breath

NEVER operate a laptop with it resting on something like a fluffy quilt

Air vents will be blocked, electronics will fry

Physical Maintenance Keep it Clean - Keep the Cool Air Flowing Clicking on the above e-book title will take you to an “e-book” presentation by that name on Slideshare. This is an external link to an independent document not written or maintained by the library. “ A Guide on cleaning your Computer Case, Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor ” By Mike Hanson Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Physical Maintenance Unplugging Peripherals Devices that plug into CPU are know as peripherals USB plugs built to “hot plug” BUT check “safely remove hardware” icon first All other plug types, including PS/2, shut down CPU first USB plug PS/2 plug Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Unplugging Peripherals

Devices that plug into CPU are know as peripherals

USB plugs built to “hot plug”

BUT check “safely remove hardware” icon first

All other plug types, including PS/2, shut down CPU first

Physical Maintenance Memory – Does Your Computer Have Enough? Have things slowed down? Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Need to know a little about how it works Memory Do you work a little slower as you get older? Is some of that because you can’t remember where you put stuff? Computers have the same problem. Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Need to know a little about how it works

Memory

Do you work a little slower as you get older? Is some of that because you can’t remember where you put stuff?

Computers have the same problem.

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Need to know a little about how it works Memory Two kinds of computer memory RAM (Random Access Memory) No moving parts All electronic Operates at the speed of light Disk Hard disk drive Electro/mechanical device Thousands of times slower Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Need to know a little about how it works

Memory

Two kinds of computer memory

RAM (Random Access Memory)

No moving parts

All electronic

Operates at the speed of light

Disk

Hard disk drive

Electro/mechanical device

Thousands of times slower

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? When there is not enough of this This gets used instead Memory Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory - RAM “But I didn’t take any RAM memory OUT! It didn’t used to be slow! Why is it slow now?” Stuff YOU put in memory when you: Added a printer Added virus checking Added a firewall Added anything that needs to be running at all times Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Added a printer

Added virus checking

Added a firewall

Added anything that needs to be running at all times

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory - RAM “But I didn’t take any RAM memory OUT! It didn’t used to be slow! Why is it slow now?” Stuff you didn’t know was added: Spyware “ a broad category of malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the informed consent of that machine's owner or legitimate user.” Wikipedia Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Spyware

“ a broad category of malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the informed consent of that machine's owner or legitimate user.”

Wikipedia

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory - RAM “But I didn’t take any RAM memory OUT! It didn’t used to be slow! Why is it slow now?” Stuff you didn’t know was added: Spyware when you downloaded that cute shoping helper Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Spyware

when you downloaded that cute shoping helper

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory - RAM “But I didn’t take any RAM memory OUT! It didn’t used to be slow! Why is it slow now?” Stuff you didn’t know was added: Spyware when you downloaded that music “sharing” program Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Spyware

when you downloaded that music “sharing” program

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory - RAM “But I didn’t take any RAM memory OUT! It didn’t used to be slow! Why is it slow now?” Stuff you didn’t know was added: Spyware – Where can I find out more? WWW.Wikipedia.Com How can I get rid of it and protect against it? September 2006 edition of Consumer Reports Free AntiSpyware Tradenamed Ad-Aware From Lavasoft at WWW.Lavasoft.Com Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Spyware – Where can I find out more?

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? RAM – How Much is Enough? For Windows XP Microsoft recommends at least 128MB I recommend at least 512 MB For Windows Vista I recommend: Minimum of 1GB for Vista Basic Minimum of 2GB for Vista Premium Socastee SC Library Computer Education

For Windows XP Microsoft recommends at least 128MB

I recommend at least 512 MB

For Windows Vista I recommend:

Minimum of 1GB for Vista Basic

Minimum of 2GB for Vista Premium

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? RAM – How Much and What Kind Can YOUR Computer Use? Vista - Software restrictions on usable RAM size Information SOURCE click here Socastee SC Library Computer Education Not applicable 1 GB Windows Vista Starter 8 GB 4 GB Windows Vista Home Basic 16 GB 4 GB Windows Vista Home Premium 128 GB 4 GB Windows Vista Business 128 GB 4 GB Windows Vista Enterprise 128 GB 4 GB Windows Vista Ultimate Limit in 64-bit Windows Limit in 32-bit Windows Version

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? RAM – How Much and What Kind Can YOUR Computer Use? XP - Software restrictions on usable RAM size Information SOURCE click here Socastee SC Library Computer Education Not applicable 512 MB Windows XP Starter Edition 128 GB 4 GB Windows XP Limit in 64-bit Windows Limit in 32-bit Windows Version

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? RAM – How Much and What Kind Can YOUR Computer Use? Even if your operating system can handle more, your specific make and model computer may not be able to “see” all of it. Any more, even if installed, will go unused. Different types and speeds of RAM have been manufactured over the years. Not all can be used in your computer Micron Technologies is a memory manufacturer. Crucial is one of their brands. On their web site they provide a service for determining what (generic) kind of memory and how much of it YOUR computer can use. Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Even if your operating system can handle more, your specific make and model computer may not be able to “see” all of it. Any more, even if installed, will go unused.

Different types and speeds of RAM have been manufactured over the years. Not all can be used in your computer

Micron Technologies is a memory manufacturer. Crucial is one of their brands. On their web site they provide a service for determining what (generic) kind of memory and how much of it YOUR computer can use.

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? RAM – How Much and What Kind Can YOUR Computer Use? Click image to go to Crucial & use this service This option will install software on your computer. Use only if you are comfortable managing that process This option is information only, no software will be installed on your system Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Adding RAM yourself Bring it to a pro if you’re nervous about DIY Computer and office supply stores can help Laptop RAM installs sometimes just cost of parts Desktops may be small add charge Call and ask Here is a link to a DIY video on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLPuhVR1X5E Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Adding RAM yourself

Bring it to a pro if you’re nervous about DIY

Computer and office supply stores can help

Laptop RAM installs sometimes just cost of parts

Desktops may be small add charge

Call and ask

Here is a link to a DIY video on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLPuhVR1X5E

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory – Hard Drive This kind of memory is usually called “storage” Your primary (usually your only) hard drive is your “C:” drive Too little available space on your C: drive will slow your computer Keep at least 10% of the hard drive space empty (free space) See next slide for how to tell Socastee SC Library Computer Education

This kind of memory is usually called “storage”

Your primary (usually your only) hard drive is your “C:” drive

Too little available space on your C: drive will slow your computer

Keep at least 10% of the hard drive space empty (free space)

See next slide for how to tell

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory – Hard Drive How Do I Tell How Much Available Space I Have on The C: Drive? Left Click “Start” Left Click “My Computer” Right click “Local disk (C:)” Left click “Properties” Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Left Click “Start”

Left Click “My Computer”

Right click “Local disk (C:)”

Left click “Properties”

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory – Hard Drive How Do I Free Up Space on My Hard Drive? Left click “Start” All Programs Accessories System Tools Left click on Disk Cleanup – will be a pause as drive is scanned Check and Delete any or all as you think appropriate Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Left click “Start”

All Programs

Accessories

System Tools

Left click on Disk Cleanup – will be a pause as drive is scanned

Check and Delete any or all as you think appropriate

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory – Hard Drive Fragmented Files on Your Hard Drive What are they? Files stored in pieces How do I “fix” them” DeFragment the disk Socastee SC Library Computer Education

What are they?

Files stored in pieces

How do I “fix” them”

DeFragment the disk

Physical Maintenance Why Has Your Computer Slowed Down? Memory – Hard Drive Fragmented Files on Your Hard Drive Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Physical Maintenance Fixing Fragmented Files on Your Hard Drive Memory – Hard Drive Fixing Fragmented Files on Your Hard Drive Click on “Start” Programs Accessories System Tools Disk DeFragmenter Helpful Links: http:// helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/defrag.htm http:// support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid =kb;en-us;314848 Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Click on “Start”

Programs

Accessories

System Tools

Disk DeFragmenter

Software Maintenance Uninstalling Unused Programs Start Control Panel Vista – Uninstall a Program XP – Add or Remove Programs Click to highlight what you want to uninstall, then click uninstall You may want to uninstall some unused programs to save space on your hard drive. For example, many new computers come with trial versions of software that you will decide never to use. Here is how you can get rid of it. DO NOT uninstall something if you do not know what it is and what it does. Searches on Google and Wikipedia can help you identify unfamiliar software. Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Start

Control Panel

Vista – Uninstall a Program XP – Add or Remove Programs

Click to highlight what you want to uninstall, then click uninstall

Software Maintenance Uninstalling Unused Programs “ Startup” program removal Some programs start automatically on bootup Bootup process slow as a result Beginners process for taking programs out of autostart on boot RIGHT click Start Click open Double click Programs Double click Startup Delete shortcuts (if any) for programs you don’t want to start automatically on bootup Experts startup removal information Good info, use at your own risk: http:// www.sysinfo.org/startupinfo.html Socastee SC Library Computer Education

“ Startup” program removal

Some programs start automatically on bootup

Bootup process slow as a result

Beginners process for taking programs out of autostart on boot

RIGHT click Start

Click open

Double click Programs

Double click Startup

Delete shortcuts (if any) for programs you don’t want to start automatically on bootup

Experts startup removal information

Good info, use at your own risk: http:// www.sysinfo.org/startupinfo.html

Software Maintenance Windows Update CRITICALLY IMPORTANT Run Windows Update daily from the start menu or go daily to Set Windows Update to run automatically once a day Set it to run in the middle of the night If you don’t have your computer on overnight it will run when you next boot up Windows update applies fixes to the Windows operating system. Some of the problems, if not fixed, allow trojans, virus, and other malware to infiltrate your computer http:// windowsupdate.microsoft.com Or Best Practice is as follows: Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Set Windows Update to run automatically once a day

Set it to run in the middle of the night

If you don’t have your computer on overnight it will run when you next boot up

Windows update applies fixes to the Windows operating system. Some of the problems, if not fixed, allow trojans, virus, and other malware to infiltrate your computer

System Maintenance Backup YOUR C: DRIVE WILL DIE All mechanical devices eventually fail Back up your data periodically My Documents is the most critical Right click Documents (My Documents) Click properties. If size is less than about 650MB you can copy it all to a CD. If less than about 4GB you can copy it to a DVD. Both XP and Vista support drag-and-drop copy to a CD Vista supports drag-and-drop copy to DVD, XP requires additional software See http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2322030,00.asp for excellent article Socastee SC Library Computer Education

All mechanical devices eventually fail

Back up your data periodically

My Documents is the most critical

Right click Documents (My Documents)

Click properties. If size is less than about 650MB you can copy it all to a CD. If less than about 4GB you can copy it to a DVD.

Both XP and Vista support drag-and-drop copy to a CD

Vista supports drag-and-drop copy to DVD, XP requires additional software

The End Jim’s Blog http:// WhiteHouseComputing.Blogspot.Com Socastee SC Library Computer Education

Jim’s Blog

http:// WhiteHouseComputing.Blogspot.Com