Posts Tagged ‘XP’
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
QUESTION: Why is it that Microsoft, who produces the world’s most popular operating system, doesn’t provide users with simple, easy-to-use software solutions to the common problems found in many of computers still in use today?
At the risk of costing myself some paying customers and making my job look easier than it is, I am going to share a little secret with you. Microsoft has attempted to answer a question that I have been asking for years (see above) by releasing a software that can help to fix your common PC problems. That’s right, the new Microsoft Fix it Center (now in public BETA) is out there, ready to help PC users get the bugs out of their computer.
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Tags: BETA, common PC problems, Fix it Center, fixes, Microsoft, operating system, problems, solutions, Vista, Windows, Windows 7, XP
Posted in Free Programs, Technical Issues, Tips and Tricks | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
An increasing trend in malware is the “fake anti-virus” program. There are hundreds of names for these programs, but the story is always the same. You are essentially locked out of your computer by a program that promises to help you remove….. itself. Unsuspecting PC users are forced to fork over $50 or more to simply regain control of their computer.
Possibly the most frustrating part of these malware programs is that there are tools out there to help you remove them IF you could gain enough control of your PC to install and run them. Unfortunately, you have no control. Whether you are tricked by one of these “fake anti-virus programs” or your real anti-virus program simply lets one get by, you are going to need some help. Luckily, the folks at Avast have developed a FREE Rescue CD that can be used to scan your system and remove these pesky programs with ease. (more…)
Tags: antispyware, Antivirus, AVG, CD, Malware, PC, rescue, USB, Vista, Windows, XP
Posted in Free Programs, Security, Viruses | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Yesterday, we began our week-long series on desktops and the different ways you can “skin” your background to provide both entertainment and functionality. Our first article, titled Desktop Departures – Escape With a Wallpaper Change, focused on suggestions for PC users with multiple displays. Today, we take things in a new direction, with a fresh idea for users of any number of monitors and just about every version of Windows that is still used today…. Wallpaper Slideshows.
Introduced in Windows 7 as a standard feature (for all versions except Windows 7 Starter), the wallpaper slideshow provides users with a utility that automatically changes the background picture at regular intervals, using a select group of images. Users are no longer forced to stare at the same image for hours, days or even years. With this application, the desktop can change every 30 minutes, giving you a fresh desktop. As with many features found in newer operating systems, this type of feature has been recreated (under other names) for use in Windows XP and Vista as well.
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Tags: alternating, change, Changer, Slideshow, themes, Vista, wallpaper, Windows, Windows 7, XP
Posted in Free Programs, Tips and Tricks, Windows 7 | No Comments »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
It isn’t as if we needed another reason to perform regular maintenance on our computers, but a recent development in the world of Windows XP has proven our point once again. A recent article on engadget.com, titled Windows XP patch fiasco gets even crazier, Microsoft now scrambling for solutions, indicates that some recent Windows XP security patches resulted in BSODs (that’s Blue Screen of Death) for a small group of PC users. We’ll quickly give you the rundown on this development and show you how to prevent the issue on your PC.
First thing’s first: if you have a yellow shield in your system tray (the icon that indicates a Microsoft update is available for your PC) don’t update just yet. This goes against everything we have ever told you here on JumpstartMyPC.com, but it’s OK just this once. Why? Microsoft recently reported that existing malware on a “limited number” of computers caused those machines to blue-screen when the update was applied. There is a technical explanation for all of this (available in the engadget article), but all we really need to know is that our PCs must cleansed of any malware before any updates are applied. Microsoft has already “yanked” the patch, but some of you might have already downloaded the files without knowing it.
Tags: anti-malware, Blue Screen of Death, BSOD, Malware, Malwarebytes, Spybot Search and Destroy, Update, Updates, Windows, XP, Yellow Shield
Posted in Free Programs, Security, Technical Issues, Tips and Tricks | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
One of the most popular services we offer at JumpstartMyPC.com is a PC Tuneup. Why? Because people want speed from their computer and they have steadily watched their PC slow down, down…. down to a crawl. We have highlighted numerous ways that anyone can improve their own PC performance (like defrags, registry cleans and deleting unnecessary files) but today we tackle the simplest tweak possible, power settings. Most people have no clue that their computer is designed to monitor and control power usage. This feature is built into Windows and changing the settings is super easy.
WARNING: Before jumping into the step-by-step, it is important to note that changing these settings may very well provide you with a performance boost, but it might come at a price. Pay close attention to the temperature of your system (especially with laptops). I have seen cases where increasing the power settings has resulted in a system that “runs hot.” While this is not the standard, it is something to keep an eye on. It is also important to keep in mind that these settings are to be used while the computer is plugged into a constant power source. If you are using a laptop and are concerned about prolonging the battery life, be certain that you change the “running on batteries” settings or “power plan” accordingly.
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Tags: Laptop, Performance, Power Settings, Speed, Vista, Windows, XP
Posted in Tips and Tricks, Windows 7 | 1 Comment »
