It’s one of the most common statements we hear. “My computer is running slow.” The problem is, most local PC repair shops, or even the friendly Geek Squad at your local Best Buy, can seem a little overwhelming. You’ve probably heard stories of friends and family taking their slow-running or troubled computer into a place like this and feeling ripped off when they get home. Well worry no more, we have the how-to information and clean up utilities you need to speed up that old computer and it is 100% FREE.
Posts Tagged ‘Windows 7’
My Computer is Running Slow – Help Me Fix It [How-To]
Saturday, January 15th, 2011AVG Update Could Cause Your PC Major Problems
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
AVG users beware: A recent virus database update could be to blame for your Windows 7 system failure.
According to a recent forum post on the AVG web site, “that latest virus database 271.1.1/3292 (432/3292) released 12:53 AM CET requested computer restart with inability to start the system again with error.” In other words, if your computer auto-updated the virus database (the expected behavior of any truly protected PC) and restarted, you could very well have a PC that will not boot fully into Windows 7.
AVG has already corrected the issue by removing the failing version of the database, but users who have already been affected by the update FAIL can turn to the same AVG forum for assistance on repairing their PC. A detailed How-To has been posted as well as instructions on using the AVG Rescue CD.
While problems do occur with any business or product, some users might be a bit frustrated by this mistake and looking to “jump ship” on the go-to anti-virus provider. While we at JumpstartMyPC.com don’t necessarily recommend a switch, we do realize that everyone needs choices. Feel free to visit our Software and Tools section for links to popular FREE software programs, like avast! Home Edition anti-virus.
Computer Speed – Bridge the Gap with ReadyBoost
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
Ask anyone about their home PC and you will get one answer more than any other, “it’s slow.” This is typically the point at which most computer owners will begin to debate a new PC purchase. It is also the reason I began JumpstartMyPC.com. Home computers will slow down over time, but that doesn’t mean they should be cast aside. As we have pointed out time and time again, there are steps you can take to keep a PC running like new and a hardware upgrade can help speed up an aging machine, but what if you are caught in the middle?
You’ve already performed your routine maintenance: defragged your computer, cleaned the registry and dumped all of your browser history and unnecessary files. That helped, but you still feel like you want/need more speed from your PC. You’ve debated that switch from 1GB of RAM to 4GB, but the upgrade will cost you over $100 + shipping and you aren’t quite sure if you want to open up your tower or laptop and “fiddle around in there.” If you find yourself in this state of limbo and you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 (any version), there might just be a simple, cost-effective answer right in front of you.
A Shiny New avast! to Brighten Up Your PC – FREE Antivirus
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
JumpstartMyPC.com was created to help PC users get the most out of their computer and there are few products that have demonstrated this concept as much as avast! Free Antivirus. Since the first day the company was drawn out on a bar napkin (isn’t that how they all start) we envisioned a Tools page with avast! positioned firmly at the top. Today, that top spot just got a little brighter, as avast! has served up a shiny, fresh-off-the-production-line model, with version 5.0 of their amazing, FREE software.
Normally, I would prepare an article like this and hold on to it for a few days before posting it to our blog, but my faith in the makers of the avast! product (which they have earned without compensating me in any way) tells me that I can safely cover and promote this update. Why, because I have used the avast! product on countless computers, for myself and others, and have never had a complaint. The software has always been easy to install, easy to use and VERY effective. Of course, all of this could be said about other antivirus softwares, but those other applications are not FREE! How can you beat FREE and functional?
New Mac Commercials are Dead On
Friday, October 23rd, 2009“Windows 7 is here and it’s not going to have any of the problems that Vista had.” That’s the quote from “PC” in the newest series of Apple commercials aimed at cutting Microsoft and Windows off at the knees. Starting yesterday, at least 3 new commercials started running regularly over the airwaves. These new spots are witty, clever and dead on when it comes to calling out the issues that consumers have (or will have) had with upgrading their PC to the latest version of Windows. I am a PC fan, but I still love these commercials and laugh every time they nail another Windows issue.
Windows 7 Launch Day and a Backup Software Review
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Normally on the release day of a highly anticipated new movie, game or album, I would find myself 30 people back in a line outside of a “big box” store. Somehow, the level of excitement is elevated by the fact that I’m sharing the last few moments of life without the new media amongst a group of people with the same interest. We’d talk about how we had read magazine articles and found information on the internet that said this or that. Then, the doors open and we poor into the store for our bounty.
That excitement is not there for me today, as I will be waiting on snail-mail (US Postal Service) to bring me my hard copy of Windows 7 on disk, as part of the FREE upgrade program that I have talked about so much. My patience is a small price to pay for that FREE $125 enhancement. Instead of getting my copy this morning and spending the rest of the day tinkering and testing, I will be preparing for when the disk does arrive. As promised in yesterday’s article, I have been testing a piece of backup software and I now bring you the results.
Backup Before You Make the Move Forward
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
It is the last day of the Vista era and, even though many of us will still be using XP and Vista in some capacity, tomorrow marks a new dawn for computing. Before you can make the dash to the next generation, there are some things you are going to need to do. For those of you who will NOT be making the change, don’t change the channel just yet. You will benefit from today’s topic as well, backups!
Yes, backups! You have more than likely heard the term at your office before, but have you considered it for your home computer? There are a million reasons why you should back up your data, but very few people actually do it. Just think, what happens if there is a natural disaster, your computer is stolen, your hardware crashes or you accidentally hit delete in the wrong area? Chances are, you have already experienced one of these events and lost precious data, yet you still aren’t regularly backing up your system. In the ultimate “pot calling the kettle black” I am still not backing up my laptop either, but today that is going to change.
Windows 7 Officially Drops this Thursday 10-22-09
Monday, October 19th, 2009
Windows 7 week is upon us. That’s right, the Vista apology (which also serves as an operating system) that has been promised for well over a year now is going to be delivered on Thursday (10-22-2009). To “celebrate” the release of this new-and-improved operating system, the articles this week will focus on Windows and we will offer our opinions on upgrading/buying a new PC with Windows 7 already installed.
While most individuals will not run out and purchase an upgrade or make the decision to buy a new PC just because the new version of Windows is out, you might find yourself shopping at an opportune time. We’ve already highlighted the fact that you might be eligible to get a $30 or FREE copy of Windows 7 in our article Windows 7 for $30 or FREE – Do You Qualify. There are amazing deals on laptops and desktops everywhere and it seems that retailers are clearing out their “old” Vista PCs to make way for the “new” Windows 7 PCs. The irony here is that the hardware is almost identical.
