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Archive for November, 2009
Hard disk maintenance —Tips to speed up your computer when using hard disk
Nov 26th
When using computers, lots of PC users do not form good habits in using hard disk, which will eventually shorten its lifespan and slow down the computer. Here, some tips will be discussed on hard drive maintenance so as to speed up your computer.
1. Do not suddenly turn off power when the hard disk is still working.
As we all know that when the hard drive is reading / writing, it always keeps on high-speed rotation (normally 7200r/m or 5400r/m). If the power is turned off suddenly, it will strengthen the friction between the disk and the read–and-write head and then destroy the hard disk to some extent. So before turning off the power, please first check whether the HDD led is lighting or not. If not, wait until it off and then turn off the power.
2) Be careful to keep tidy environmental sanitation.
As we all know that when using the computer, there will be some dusts coming to the surface of the PCBA and the inner of hard disk spindle motor. If there are some stuck to the hard disk head, it will slow down the disk visiting time and the entire system. So it is necessary to keep the computer in a dry, dust-free environment as possible as you can.
3) Remember to keep shock-resistant
If there is a strong shock when the hard disk is reading or wring, it will result in the sever friction of the disk and the read–and-write head, resulting in some unexpected problems such as shortening the lifespan of the hard disk. So when moving or shipping, it is necessary to be careful enough to prevent unnecessary hard knocks.
4) Protect your computer from being attached by virus.
Normally, hard disk has been the main object of computer virus for it always takes lot of hard disk resources. So please make sure that you are always using the latest version of anti-virus programs. And it is necessary to do some backups of the important data on the hard disk.
5) Form good habit in using hard disk.
When using the hard disk, it is necessary to regularly delete some useless system junk files, TEMP files and clear the Recycle Bin. To do this, you can simply go to My Computer, and then click the drive to be cleaned up to select Properties, and then press Disk Cleanup to clean the drive.
Besides Disk Cleanup, there is still another utility that you can not ignore when trying to maintain hard disk. That is Disk Defragmenter. For all Pc users, they may know that disk fragment may be one main cause for a slower computer. If there are large amount of fragments on the hard disk, it will consume longer time to read through and reassemble all associated parts of a same content, slowing down the computer and shortening the lifespan of the hard disk and the computer. So when noticing the computer is running slower than before, it is necessary for you to run the Disk Defragmenter.
But if you find that it is really slower to defragment the whole computer with the built-in Disk Defragmenter, it is recommended that you can use some trusted defrag tools. When searching the Internet for some wonderful disk defrag tools, I found that Advanced Defrag is the one that recommended by lots of PC users for its powerful function in defragmenting the hard disk and the windows registry.
So to always speed up you computer, please remember to first do a hard disk maintenance job. Believe me, it will help you not only long live your hard disk, but also your computer.
Maintain computer performance — Methods to protect your compute against potential danger within SHS files
Nov 26th
When using the computer, please note that there is such kind of file: .SHS file, which maybe come to you in sheep’s clothing (normally by emails) and then destroy your computer. So to maintain peak computer performance, it is necessary to keep your eyes when receiving known resources.
Firstly, it is necessary for us to know something about the .SHS file. The SHS file type is primarily associated with ‘Shell Scrap Object File’ by Microsoft Corporation, which is part of the Microsoft embed objects inside objects philosophy. Basically, it happens when we drag and drop selected contents like document text, drawing objects, and graphics to the Windows desktop, a file with the extension .SHS will be generated on the desktop. But it is very dangerous according to the two reasons below:
1) In windows, its default icon is exactly similar with Notepad’s.
2) Normally, the file extension: .SHS is hidden, even though you have selected to show all types of file extensions within My Computer-> Tools -> Folder Options -> View.
Here, we take a test to see why we say it is horrid:
1) Please go to create a Notepad Document Scrap on your desktop, and then open Notepad, click Insert -> Object -> tick “Create from files” and then insert the one you have just created -> click OK.
2) Click “Edit” and then Package Object -> Edit Object -> click “Edit” within the popping-up window -> select “Common line” -> type “Format.com a: /autotest” as what you can see in the below screenshot -> Click “OK”.
3) Then drag and drop the newly-updated files on the Windows desktop and rename it to “I love you.txt.shs” or something else.
4) If this kind of file was sent out and received by some PC users, they won’t hesitate to open it for.txt file is so normal file types without considering that it has anything executable in it along with a vast collection of dangerous script code in the wrapper. When opening it, there will be a DOS windows appearing whether to run the file. If click Yes, it may bring disasters to your computer.
So when receiving some unknown files, you should be caution on whether to open it or not in order to maintain computer performance. But to maintain computer speed, it is necessary for you to learn some knowledge on how to protect your computer against the potential danger within SHS files. For further information, please be patient to read through this article.
To prevent such kind of danger, you can effort from the side below:
1) Go to Start -> Run and then Registry Editor -> Locate “HEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ShellScrap”, and then delete the entry “NeverShowExt”, which was the culprit of why you can not see the extension .SHS. Hence, when receiving a .SHS file, you can see the .SHS extension.
2) Chang the default icon of “Scrap objects”. Since the default icon of scrap file is the same as Notepad, which will sometimes confuses the PC users. So you can change it to the one as you like so as to easily recognize. You can go to My Computer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types -> Locate “SHS” within the “Registered File Types” -> Advanced -> click “Change Icon” and then open “C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Pifmgr.dll” to select the icon as you like. Hence, the SHS file will be shown in the icon you selected, different from other files.
3) Also, you can add “.SHS” files as the one that needs to be scanned by your anti-virus programs. Hence, it will automatically warm you when receiving such kind of files.
With the discussion above, you will know how to effectively maintain computer performance by preventing the potential danger of some SHS files.
But if want to always enjoy peak performance, it is recommended that you can not belittle the powerful function of a simple disk defragmentation for it will help you easily rearrange the contents locating on the hard disk, returning you a faster computer. If you have never run one before, please go to take one right now.
Hard Disk Maintenance—Correct Methods to Maintain Hard Disk
Nov 25th
Even though hard disk is not the most important part of computer, you still need to pay close attention to maintain hard disk. If it goes wrong, you can not do any operation to files any more. So in this article, I will tell you How to use your hard disk in order to reduce bad tracks.
If you want to protect hard disk, the proper way is to protect it in advance rather than learn how to remove those bad tracks when the problem has happened. This is the correct way to expand the usage of hard disk.
First of all, you cannot turn off computer abruptly when the hard disk is still working.
Generally, working disks are in the high speed running. If the electric power is closed down during using computer, it probably leads to furious attrition between disk head and drive surface and mangle hard disk. Therefore, you should avoid abrupt computer shutdown as possible as you can. When closing down computer, you have to pay attention to whether disk indicator is on or not. Only after it turns off completely and finishes read-write operations, can you turn computer power off.
Secondly, you should keep dust away from hard disk.
Dust does great harm to hard disk. In the dusty environment, it is vulnerable for disk to absorb the dusty granule in the air. And such rubbish will influence the heat radiation and make temperature in the circuit increase greatly. Besides, dust can absorb water and erode electric circuitry in the internal hard disk to result in problems without rhyme and reason. Therefore, you must keep environment clean and reduce the humidity and dust in the air. It is a must for you not to open hard disk by hand. Otherwise, dust in the air can enter into your hard disk to damage disk surface or disk head when it performs reading or writing.
Third, you should prevent too heat in the hard disk.
Temperature can affect hard disk usage as well. When working, disks may produce and radiate heat for sure. Too high or low temperature can lead to many hard disk problems. It is advisable for you not to let hard disk get closed to any strong magnetic field and keep the air dry
You should defragment disk regularly.
In the hard disk, if you set or delete files continually, it can produce a pile of fragments. As those files gather too many day by day, it takes much more time to visit certain file in the future which can not only slow down visiting efficiency but also damage disk tracks. As a result, it is a must for you to defragment disk at proper intervals, no matter you use Windows defragmenting program or certain third-party tools. After defragmentation, you had better run hard disk restoring program to fix those iffy tracks.
As all the methods mentioned above, you may find that only the defragment disk has to apply certain tool rather than protect by computer itself. In order to maintain hard disk correctly, you cannot be too careful to use computer.
Hard Disk—Must Facts about Hard Disk Maintenance
Nov 25th
If you have ever suffered the computer prompt that there are disk errors, you can not miss this article, because I would like to share my understanding about hard disks with you. When checking files, computer may remind that there is disk error and cannot correct them. Solutions are all in this article.
The bad track of hard disk contains two kinds: logical bad track and physical bad track. The former belongs to software problem and usually results from the improper operation or usage of software; while the latter is the real physical bad track which means that there is physical damage in the hard disk tracks. If you want to solve this problem, all you can do it to change disk partition or the sector usage. Your hard disk is troubled with bad tracks probably on condition that the following problems have happened in the computer.
First of all, when opening, running or copying certain files, it is much slower to perform those operations than before. Even system may fail to do that or Windows system reminds you that it cannot read or write this file”. All of these can tell you certain part of hard disk is troubled with bad tracks.
If Scandisk program can run by itself when opening computer every time, it tells that many errors in the hard disk are needed to restore, such as bad track. And, if system cannot pass this running scanning program smoothly, bad tracks are hiding in the hard disk for sure. Well, it can pass but appear “B” mark which indicates the same problem as well.
During the process of booting computer to check automatically, if the screen reminds that “Hard disk drive failure”, “Hard drive controller failure” or something like that, it is the malfunction in the hard disk drive or in the disk controller hardware; if it prompts that “Sector not found” or “General error in reading drive C”, it means physical damage happen in the hard disk track. At last, if computer freezes up or appears the problem of broken files when running normally, it probably results from bad tracks in the hard disk.
How to maintain the bad track of hard disks?
Scandisk program is the most used tool to solve the problem of logical bad track. And you should be clearly that the Format order can do nothing to restore any bad track in the hard disk. So if there is any bad track, you can solve it by following the steps:
In “My Computer”, you can right-click the drive letter which is needed to scan and click “Properties”—“Tools”—“Check Now” in the Error-checking column. In the new tab, tick “Automatically fix file system errors” and click “Start”. It can scan the whole drive surface and fix probably broken clusters automatically.
Or, in the DOS state, if any bad track happen, normally computer run Scandisk program to check and mark bad cluster by red-letter of “B”(bad).
In the worst condition that system even cannot enter into such scanning program or Windows, you are still able to start computer by using floppy disk or compact disc and choose the same drive letter to scan and fix.
After reading this article, you can learn much knowledge about hard disk. if any problem mentioned above has happened in your disk, you should be very careful to take some actions to maintain hard disk.
Faster computer speed — How to fix a slow computer easily and quickly
Nov 25th
Does your computer run too slow right now? Are you eager to have faster computer easily? Here are some tips that you can use to fix a slow computer without paying too much.
Firstly, it is necessary for you to run an anti-virus program to ensure that your computer is not infected by any virus, malware, spyware and other kinds of malicious software for those will take up large amount of Windows resources when running the computer, slowing down the computer speed.
Secondly, please go to check and then remove some unnecessary service. When installing programs on the computer, some will automatically add entries to run at windows startup. Moreover, Windows sometime will automatically start some services that do not need by average PC users, overloading the startup entries and then slowing down the computer. So to fix a slow computer, what you need to do is go to Start and then “run”, type “msconfig” to access Services. Here, you can carefully check for the programs/ services that do not need to run at starting up the computer to get faster computer speed.
Thirdly, regularly maintain the hard drive. There are many ways that you can do to maintain hard drive, but normally, you can effort form the below sides：
1) Uninstall the unwanted programs from the computer on time
2) Run the Disk Cleanup to delete the unnecessary files that are no longer used
3) Run the Error-checking timely
4) Always retain sufficient available hard disk space
5) Defragment the hard disk at scheduled time
With the simple three methods above, you can enjoy faster computer speed all the time. But from a fact study, we know that lots of PC users have never run a disk defragmenter when trying to fix a slow computer. That is not recommended for sometimes a fragmented computer had been the main cause of a slow computer.
If a computer is becoming fragmented because of the disk fragments, thought it is possible for us to read and write the files on the hard disk. But because they are scattered and then located at different places of the hard disk, it will take much longer time to reassemble them together. If we can put different parts of the same file at the same place, things will be opposite.
Considering this, Windows provides us a packaged utility to rearrange the files locating on the hard disk, making them always close together and then easier to get access to. But before running the Disk Defragmenter, it is necessary for you to run a Disk Cleanup to remove some useless files from the computer and then turn off other running programs to make sure that a smoother defragment process.
But no matter what preparation you have done before the disk defragmentation, it will still consume longer time to finish a whole defragment process because of the large hard drive capacity. Take my own experience as an example, it took more than 10 hours to defragment my E drive which is only 18 GB large. So now I prefer to use some professional defrag programs when trying to defragment my computer.
After a lot of research on defrag programs on the website, it is proved that Advanced Defrag is the on of the best defragmenter that can defragment the hard disk and the Windows registry to effectively fix a slow computer to get faster computer speed.
Want to optimize PC performance? Some knowledge about Windows SHS files
Nov 25th
As we all know that we can optimize PC performance in many ways, but have you ever hear about a SHS file? Do you know what it is? And how does it affect the PC performance? If not, please do not miss this article.
First of all, it is necessary for us to know what SHS file is. When using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, it is possible for us to drag and drop selected items like document text, drawing objects, and graphics to the Windows desktop. At this time, there will be a desktop icon creating for the scrap file, along with a file located on the Windows\Desktop with a .shs extension. Hence, we can say that this file is a native program document which contains the information that was selected and dragged.
With a SHS file, we can simply drag it to other documents which meet the shortage of the Windows Clipboard, only retaining the latest copied content.
From the discussion above, it seems that the SHS file will bring us more convenience. But please note that the scrap file is a special OLE object and it is impossible for us to see the shs extension in Windows operating system (except in Dos and Linux). So lots of anti-virus experts warm us to keep strong vigilance when receiving some emails with hidden extensions like shs for they may contain some malicious codes which can destroy all of your data, for example, a virus attachment named with FAMILY_PHOTO.JPG.SHS, when coming to the receiver, what he/she see maybe only FAMILY_PHOTO.JPG. Most of the time, they may select to open the attachment without consideration for .JPG is a very normal file extension, never expecting that it may contain something that will destroy the computer. So please remember not to open some files that come from unknown resources.
So how to prevent the danger that comes from SHS files? Here it what you should go: go to Start -> Run -> type Regedit to open Registry Editor -> locate HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.shs and then delete the default “ShellScrap” value. Hence, when running a shs file, it will pop up a window asking you to select the program to open the files.
With the method above, you can protect your computer data against some unknown malwares or viruses and then optimize PC performance. But to more effectively optimize PC performance, it is necessary for us to regularly run a disk defragmenter with the below reasons.
When using the computer, no matter what it is used for, there will be the entries to the hard disk. If the hard disk is fragmented because of the disk fragments, it will overload the movement of the hard disk head, slowing sown the computer and then shortening its lifespan.
So to optimize PC performance, it is necessary for us to take some very simple measures like disk defragmentation to always keep everything in the hard disk storing in order coherently. Hence, it will essentially speed up the computer and optimize PC performance.
Optimize PC Performance—How to Improve Computer Performance
Nov 24th
Do you wonder that even there is not any virus in the computer and not running any applications, the computer is still running quite slow? As a matter of fact, Windows has crammed many useless functions into your computer with good will. Although they can decorate your system, such gaudy functions can drag your computer speed obviously. You should turn them off without hesitation.
So, in this article, I will tell you some flashy functions hidden in your computer and the ways to close them down. You can really have a try. By doing this, I am sure you can optimize PC performance without question.
In general, such functions include desktop theme, icon files thumbnail, animate displaying menu, windows and list and redundant character. Now, I will tell you how to turn them off one by one.
First of all, turn off desktop theme.
Normally, desktop theme takes up a large number of system resources. Every time you open it, the system performance has been affected greatly. And it is also better for you not set any wallpaper. Such wallpaper can occupy much memory and increase the time to adjust pictures. You can shut it down in the “Display Properties” by right-clicking desktop.
Secondly, forbid displaying icon files thumbnails and animate display menu, windows and list.
Some users would like to display icon files by thumbnails in the Explorer. It can facilitate the management and operation of icon files indeed but increase the burden of system at the same time. In fact, you can forbid such functions by altering certain entries in the registry. Well, you should be very cautious to modify the registry since it is the database of computer. If there is something wrong in it, the computer can go awry easily, even freeze up.
Besides, you can delete the redundant character. Do you know that the computer has to load the character as well? If there are too many characters, it can occupy much system resource and slow down computer. In this regard, you can move them out of system folders or remove them directly. Such operation is put in the “Control Panel”. If you do not use such characters, it is wise to get rid of them.
By following such steps, you can enjoy optimizing computer performance manually. Since you have done so many changes in the registry, you should be very careful that it is easy to lead to fragments in the registry. That is to say, the fragments can not only happen in the hard disk, but also in the registry. Such invisible fragments can hinder computer speed, of course.
So, what you really need to do is to do defragmentation to the registry after altering it. Unfortunately, Windows do not provide such function. So I urgently recommend you a powerful tool named “Advanced Defrag” which can give you a big hand in this regard.
Optimize PC Performance—Useful Knowledge about Virtual Memory
Nov 24th
Have you ever heard of virtual memory? If not, this is the article that can help you learn some useful knowledge about virtual memory. If you have heard that, you also can get helpful methods to deal with it.
So-called virtual memory means that the system applies certain hard disk space as memory when the physical one is insufficient. But since the transmitting speed of disk is much slower than that of memory, that is why you may feel it is not so fast to use virtual memory. You should set virtual memory according to the size of memory and usage of computer. If you set the value too large, it can produce many fragments and influence computer speed seriously; if too small, it is far from using and then system will remind you the virtual memory is too low.
In the default condition, you can let Windows allot virtual memory automatically. It can adjust memory dramatically based on actual usage.
Normally, the virtual memory is one and half to three times than that of physical memory. And the minimum value is one and half to two times and two to three times of maximized one.
And I advice you not to put the virtual memory that you set and the system set in the same partition. Memory is changing dramatically. So disk fragments are easily produced in the C disk and affect system running speed. Therefore, you had better set virtual memory in larger disk that you do not use frequently, such as D or E disks. By doing this, the hourly read-write operations to hard disk can hinder the system speed. As a result, it is a must for you to set such virtual memory. As for setting virtual memory, you can right-click “My Computer”—“Properties”—“Advanced”—“Performance” and click “Advanced”. In order to change virtual memory, you can change C disk to D disk and choose “Customize” to set perfect value for you computer.
What is more, I would like to share something more than virtual memory. There is a huge data swap file in the hard disk. Such file serves as temporary place for restoring virtual memory which is used frequently by running certain applications. In this way, the system has to read and write to the main storage. You see, this is the major cause that leads to slow computer speed. Generally, the system manages default virtual memory automatically. It can adjust it based on different applications. However, such changes may put extra pressure on the system and slow down running speed. In order to prevent such problem, you had better set maximized and minimum values of virtual memory manually. You should set virtual memory properly. If you do not set virtual memory in the Windows, it is easy for you to receive the notice of “Low Memory”. So, in this regard in order to keep away from those annoying notice, you should set proper value of the virtual memory. It is advisable for you to set it in the “Virtual Memory” tab of “System Properties” in the computer.
As I mentioned above, if you do not set virtual memory correctly, it is easier to create fragments which can hinder your computer speed obviously. That is why you need a disk defragmenting program to help you clear up those fragments.
Google Chrome Os VS Windows 7
Nov 24th
Google announced that Chrome OS will be available second half of 2010. And Google Chrome OS will initially be targeted at netbooks. They called it a Faster, safer Os. I think Bill Gate would be very angry this time.
Chrome OS Screenshot:
Windows7 Screenshot:
How to speed up a computer — Find solutions on how to fix a slow computer here
Nov 24th
It is very annoying to have a slow computer for it will greatly reduce the working efficiency. If this is the case for you too, you are at the right place here to find ways to speed up your computer.
1) Regularly scan and then delete all viruses. When surfing the websites or downloading programs, you are very easy to get infected by kinds of viruses. So please make sure that you have installed some anti-virus programs on your computer to against viruses, worms, spyware. And it is recommended to turn on the real-time safeguard feature to protect your computer all the time.
2) Uninstall unwanted programs. Normally, average PC users have dozens of unneeded programs installed on their computers which are useless but only take up large system’s resources, significantly slowing down the computer. So to tweak computer speed, please just click on Start -> All Programs -> Control Panel -> Add/ Remove Programs to uninstall what you don’t need.
3) Remember not to run many big applications at the same time. As we al know that when running programs, it is necessary for them to access some associated data. If too many at the same time, the system will become overloaded.
3) Clean your Windows registry. This will help you delete some useless registry keys from your computer and fix a slow computer easily. If you are not so professional on PCs, please go to download and rely on some trusted registry cleaners from the website.
4) Periodically run a disk defragmenter. As we all know that, when using the computer, no matter what it is used for (official production, school working or something else), it is unavoidable to store some files / programs. Hopefully, the files are stored in order and close on the hard disk just like putting clothes in order in a wardrobe. But it has been a true fact that in many cases, the files are cut and then put in different corners on the hard disk. Over time, the hard disk will become fragmented and it will consume more time to access any data. So we can say then the disk fragments have been one major cause for a slow computer.
To solve this problem, please go to run a disk defragmenter regularly. You can easily locate the packaged Disk Defragmenter within System Tools. But I have to warm you that it will take very longer time to thoroughly defragment the computer, so if you want to fix a slow computer by defragmenting it, please turn to use a trusted defrag program like Advanced Defrag.
For PC users who have some knowledge about computers, they will insist on executing the four tips above to avoid a slow computer or speed up their computer. But here I just want to remind you that please do not belittle the powerful function of a simple disk defragmentation. It will help you rearrange the files stored on your computer, making them always close together and easier to be accessed. Hence, it will speed up the hard disk visiting time and the fix a slow computer.
Do you want to find out the best defrag program you can use to fix a slow computer? If so, please do not let go of the powerful one here. It will return you a faster computer in minutes.