How to Stop Programs from Running in Scheduled Tasks is the fourth in a series of tips and advice on cleaning your sluggish computer.
Task Scheduler - Task Scheduler is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides the ability to schedule the launch of programs or scripts at pre-defined times or after specified time intervals. It was first introduced in the Windows 95 Plus! pack as System Agent [1] but was renamed to Task Scheduler in Windows 98. The Windows Event Log service must be running before the Task Scheduler starts up. [Source: Wikipedia]
Ready to find out if you have tasks scheduled that you may not have assigned?
1. From your task bar, go to Start - All Programs.
2. Click on Accessories.
3. Click System Tools.
4. Click Scheduled Tasks.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Cleaning Hard to Find Problems in Windows Explorer
Cleaning Hard to Find Problems in Windows Explorer is the third in a series of tips and advice on cleaning your sluggish computer.
Windows Explorer - Windows Explorer is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems. It is also the component of the operating system that presents many user interface items on the monitor such as the taskbar and desktop. Controlling the computer is possible without Windows Explorer running (for example, the File | Run command in Task Manager on NT-derived versions of Windows will function without it, as will commands typed in a command prompt window). It is sometimes referred to as the Windows Shell, explorer.exe, or simply “Explorer”. [Source: Wikipedia]
When installing computer programs, many times they generate temporary files on your computer system. Most likely, you are not aware that these files exist let alone know where they are hiding on your computer. In addition, these files take up space and may be contributing to your computer's sluggishness.
Without further ado, let's see what we can do about those hidden files.
1. From your task bar, go to Start.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Click Accessories.
4. Click Windows Explorer.
5. While in Windows Explorer, click Tools on the menu bar.
6. Click Folder Options.
7. Click the View tab.
8. Under the Hidden Files and Folders folder, click Show Hidden Files and Folders.
9. Click Apply then click OK.
10. Click the Folders button on the toolbar. Folders will display in the left pane.
Windows Explorer - Windows Explorer is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems. It is also the component of the operating system that presents many user interface items on the monitor such as the taskbar and desktop. Controlling the computer is possible without Windows Explorer running (for example, the File | Run command in Task Manager on NT-derived versions of Windows will function without it, as will commands typed in a command prompt window). It is sometimes referred to as the Windows Shell, explorer.exe, or simply “Explorer”. [Source: Wikipedia]
When installing computer programs, many times they generate temporary files on your computer system. Most likely, you are not aware that these files exist let alone know where they are hiding on your computer. In addition, these files take up space and may be contributing to your computer's sluggishness.
Without further ado, let's see what we can do about those hidden files.
1. From your task bar, go to Start.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Click Accessories.
4. Click Windows Explorer.
5. While in Windows Explorer, click Tools on the menu bar.
6. Click Folder Options.
7. Click the View tab.
8. Under the Hidden Files and Folders folder, click Show Hidden Files and Folders.
9. Click Apply then click OK.
10. Click the Folders button on the toolbar. Folders will display in the left pane.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Speeding Up Your Internet Explorer Browser
Speeding Up Your Internet Explorer Browser is the second in a series of tips and advice on cleaning your sluggish computer.
Internet Explorer - Windows Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer; commonly abbreviated to IE or MSIE), is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year. Later versions were available as free downloads, or in service packs, and included in the OEM service releases of Windows 95 and later versions of Windows. [Source: Wikipedia]
Now, let's speed up (and declutter) Internet Explorer.
Temporary Internet Files -
1. From your task bar, go to Start - Internet Explorer.
2. While in Internet Explorer, click Tools on the toolbar.
3. Click Internet Options.
4. Under the General tab, go to Browsing history and click Settings.
5. The Temporary Internet Files and History Settings box will open.
6. Click View Files.
Internet Explorer - Windows Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer; commonly abbreviated to IE or MSIE), is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year. Later versions were available as free downloads, or in service packs, and included in the OEM service releases of Windows 95 and later versions of Windows. [Source: Wikipedia]
Now, let's speed up (and declutter) Internet Explorer.
Temporary Internet Files -
1. From your task bar, go to Start - Internet Explorer.
2. While in Internet Explorer, click Tools on the toolbar.
3. Click Internet Options.
4. Under the General tab, go to Browsing history and click Settings.
5. The Temporary Internet Files and History Settings box will open.
6. Click View Files.
How to Free Up Disk Space on Your Computer's Hard Drive
This is the first in a series of tips and advice on cleaning your sluggish computer. Again, these instructions are for Windows XP users and are very simple - basic, in fact. Let's begin:
NOTE: Please read each post in its entirety before performing the steps. Also, do the steps in order, and as you go through each step, please read through each line of instructions first before you proceed with the task. There may be a note at the end of that line of instructions that you need to take heed to while you are performing the task.
Other Things To Consider Prior To Following These Instructions:
Disk Cleanup - A component of Microsoft Windows, Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) is a computer maintenance utility included in Microsoft Windows designed to free up disk space on a computer's hard drive. The utility first searches and analyzes the hard drive for files that are no longer of any use, and then removes the unnecessary files. There are a number of different file categories that Disk Cleanup targets when performing the initial disk analysis:
Here's how to free up disk space on your hard drive -
NOTE: Please read each post in its entirety before performing the steps. Also, do the steps in order, and as you go through each step, please read through each line of instructions first before you proceed with the task. There may be a note at the end of that line of instructions that you need to take heed to while you are performing the task.
Other Things To Consider Prior To Following These Instructions:
- Never delete files with the .dll extension.
- Do not delete files that contain the words Windows, HP or Compaq or whatever the name of your system, printer or other hardware is that you do not want to delete.
- Do not delete any system files. If you are not sure about a file call - don't take chances with your computer. It is better to ask a technical support specialist then to guess.
Disk Cleanup - A component of Microsoft Windows, Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) is a computer maintenance utility included in Microsoft Windows designed to free up disk space on a computer's hard drive. The utility first searches and analyzes the hard drive for files that are no longer of any use, and then removes the unnecessary files. There are a number of different file categories that Disk Cleanup targets when performing the initial disk analysis:
- Compression of old files
- Temporary Internet files
- Temporary Windows file
- Downloaded Program files
- Recycle Bin
- Removal of unused applications or optional Windows components
- Setup Log files
- Offline files [Source: Wikipedia]
Here's how to free up disk space on your hard drive -
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
How To Clean Your Sluggish Computer
While shopping in the supermarket one evening, I received a phone call from a client who "urgently" needed help cleaning his computer. He told me it was sluggish, and he was ready to throw it out of the window. I carried my basket to a quiet aisle and asked him some pertinent questions such as, how old his computer was, what operating system he was using, and asked him to describe what he meant by sluggish.
I found out that his computer was about five to six years old, it was running Windows XP, and by sluggish he meant that it was running super slow - documents and programs were taking too long to open and Microsoft Internet Explorer was loading very slowly.
Since then, I have had to troubleshoot and provide tech support sessions for two other people who were running Windows XP on older computers. I realized that there are probably more people that choose to hold on to their computers (as long as they can) than I could imagine. Hey, given our current economy, I can say I don't blame them. Not everyone needs or is interested in the latest, greatest thing.
So to those of you who are hanging on to your old PC's, I will be posting a series of tips and advice on cleaning your sluggish computers just for you. These instructions will be very simple. Even those who feel they are technically challenged should be able to follow them.
This series will include:
I found out that his computer was about five to six years old, it was running Windows XP, and by sluggish he meant that it was running super slow - documents and programs were taking too long to open and Microsoft Internet Explorer was loading very slowly.
Since then, I have had to troubleshoot and provide tech support sessions for two other people who were running Windows XP on older computers. I realized that there are probably more people that choose to hold on to their computers (as long as they can) than I could imagine. Hey, given our current economy, I can say I don't blame them. Not everyone needs or is interested in the latest, greatest thing.
So to those of you who are hanging on to your old PC's, I will be posting a series of tips and advice on cleaning your sluggish computers just for you. These instructions will be very simple. Even those who feel they are technically challenged should be able to follow them.
This series will include:
1. How to Free Up Disk Space on Your Computer's Hard drive
2. Speeding Up Your Internet Explorer Browser
3. Cleaning Hard to Find Problems in Windows Explorer
4. How to Stop Programs from Running in Scheduled Tasks
5. Rearranging and Compressing Files for Increased Speed
Until tomorrow...
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