If you are a computer expert, you’ll probably already know about these tips (hopefully this will provide you with a little reminder). If you’re not an expert, don’t worry - these tips are simple, and don’t require a lot of computer experience.
While an old computer will never operate at the same speed as a newer (and bigger & faster) computer, you can help your computer stay as “young & healthy” as possible.
1) Disk Cleanup
Performing a disk cleanup regularly is a good idea. Whenever you “surf the internet”, open attachments, delete files, your computer saves a record of your activity. Many of these files are harmless, and individually are very small. But if you spend a lot of time on your computer, before long you’ll take up enough space to slow your computer down a bit.
Disk Cleanup is a Windows utility that helps keep unused and unwanted files from taking up extra storage space on your computer. You can think of it as “spring cleaning” for your computer.
Basically, it removes files that may have once been useful or used but now are just taking up extra room that could be used for more useful programs and files.
To perform a disc cleanup, click on the Start button on the bottom left of your computer screen, then Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disc Cleanup. A small box will pop up, allowing you to select the files to delete (most files are OK to delete, but if you are unsure, it is best to not select the file). Then click OK, and the unused files will be removed.
If you’ve never done a disk cleanup on your computer, now is a good time to get started. Then, depending on how much you use your computer, you can perform a disk cleanup every few weeks to keep your computer running smoothly!
2) Defragmenting Your Computer
Another way to improve the performance of your computer is to defragment your hard drive. What is defragmenting, and why do you need to do it? Here’s a simple explanation:
Basically, defragmenting is putting files back where they belong. With the files in the proper order, your computer will run more efficiently.
You don’t need to hire a computer expert to defragment your computer. It’s simple to do. You just need to plan ahead, because if you have a lot of “stuff” on your computer, it could take a while.
And it’s best not to use your computer while defragmenting.
Not sure how to defragment your computer? You can either click on your computer’s help file (Click the “Start” button on the bottom left of your computer screen, then Help), or click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Defragment - for most computers) .
Keep in mind that the actual wording is slightly different depending on the operating system you use (Windows 95, 98, XP, etc) so you might need to refer to your computer’s help file.
Periodically defragmenting your computer will keep it running smoothly!
3) Removing Spyware & Adware
If you’ve ever had spyware or adware on your computer, you know how frustrating it can be - strange things happening, your homepage changing, inappropriate popups, unfamiliar icons.
What exactly is spyware or adware?
Simply, files that are often downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge (or at least without you knowing what they really are).
Unfortunately, many of these programs “sneak” their way onto your computer, so avoiding them entirely is difficult, especially if you spend a lot of time on your computer, surfing the Internet and downloading new programs and files.
Fortunately, there are ways to remove these unwanted files from your computer.
Here are 2 adware/spyware removal programs that are simple to use (and both are free):
Ad-Aware
Spybot
Why does adware/spyware continue to be such a problem? Because most of these programs make money for the people creating and spreading them, unfortunately. So, all we can do is try to avoid them as much as possible, and to remove them when they do find their way onto our computers.
If you do find spyware on your computer, don’t panic. In many cases, you just have some extra “junk” on your computer. But keeping spywaer and adware off of your computer will help it run more quickly and efficiently.
4) Uninstalling Old & Unused Programs
While uninstalling old, unused programs will help speed up your computer, removing the wrong files can cause you some big problems. So, please proceed carefully. And if you are not comfortable, please ask for help from someone you know who is more knowledgeable.
Most programs that you download simply have an “uninstall” feature that comes with them. If you’re like me and you download a lot of free programs or free trials, after a while your computer begins to slow down. That means it’s time for me to remove some of the old programs I don’t use any more (and most I only used once just to see how they work).
To uninstall unused programs from your computer, first click on the Start button on the bottom left, then Programs, then click on the name of the program and Uninstall. If there is no uninstall option, then click on the Start button on the bottom left, then Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.
Again, if you are unsure whether or not to remove a program, it is best to leave it.
If you follow these instructions, you should find your computer working faster right away.
5) Get A High Speed Internet Connection
If you spend a lot of time on the internet, a high speed internet connection is a must. It is more expensive, but for most people the savings in time and effort is worth the added expense.
There are several advantages of having a high speed internet connection - faster surfing, web pages open more quickly, files download faster, and if you send or receive large files, like pictures or video, trying to open these files with a slower dialup connection is extremely frustrating!
If you’re already spending $20 a month or more for your dialup connection (through your phone line) then you’ll find DSL to be comparable in price, and a lot faster.
A cable internet connection might cost a little more, but it is usually the fastest type of internet connection you can get from home.
High speed wireless connections are available for those who travel a lot. And high speed satellite internet is available in areas where other options are not (check your options first, as this is the most expensive high speed connection).
That’s all the tips for increasing your computer speed and helping your computer run more efficiently. We hope you found these tips helpful!
Five Critical Questions To Ask A Broadband Phone Company
0 comments Posted by Deepti Sharma at 12:06 AM
Also, the reality of the personal computer becoming the centerpiece of a home is the role that it plays as the major entertainment focus within the residence. This is witnessed as family members can legally download music, play videogames and watch high-definition television.
In addition, one of the more recent technological advances is the blending of phone service with the Internet capabilities of the personal computer. This phone service is accomplished by taking advantage of a broadband phone company's service. Before delving into a broadband phone system it is important to know what requirements are needed for the broadband phone to operate and to ask a few important questions of the broadband phone company.
Requirements Needed
In order to fully utilize a broadband phone system, the potential customer will need to be connected to the Internet with broadband Internet service. By utilizing a broadband Internet connection, the transference of data will be accelerated. This acceleration or speed of the connection will facilitate a better Internet phone experience.
In addition, if you use a formal broadband phone system you may be required to obtain certain pieces of equipment. For example, there may be companies that require the use of an adapter connected to the Internet modem. This adapter will allow for the connection of the current phone to be matched with a traditional pushbutton phone. Also, there may be software that is required to allow the VoIP, voice over Internet protocol, to be facilitated.
Critical Questions To Ask Of The Broadband Phone Company
It is important to remember that not all broadband phone companies are the same. Therefore, there are certain basic questions that should be asked of the company that is being researched.
One of the most basic questions to ask of the broadband phone is the compatibility of the household phone with the Internet phone service. In most cases the broadband phone service will allow for the current phone to be utilized. However, there are services that require a specific broadband phone.
Another important question to ask is in regards to what phone features are available or are provided. If features like call forwarding, call waiting, three-way calling, caller ID, etc. are wanted, then it is important to ask if these features are available or are included.
In addition, one question of extreme importance is to ask the broadband phone company of the ability to dial 911 in the event of an emergency. Regular landlines were designed to access the 911 system. This may not be true of Internet phone service.
Other questions may include the consumer's ability to maintain their current phone number. In addition, it should be clear as to what the charges will be for utilizing this broadband phone system. Specific charge related questions should be asked regarding long-distance costs, monthly costs, feature costs, actual minutes used, etc.
Compared to last year's results and that of December 2003, this most recent survey indicates a significant rise in cable broadband use for Generation Y. In February 2006, 56.2 percent of them had cable broadband. And in December 2003, 50.8 percent of broadband users age 18-29 used cable broadband.
In-Stat concludes that the 18-29 age group in North America seems to be finding cable broadband more attractive. Cable broadband has historically offered more bandwidth than DSL, and younger subscribers are considered power users who are looking for service that allows them to download the latest music, videos, and online games.
If you need help choosing between cable and DSL, check out the Comparing Cable and DSL High Speed section.
Availability
Cable
Roughly 80 to 85 percent of America's 68 million cable TV subscribers, which is approximately 55 million people, can get cable high-speed Internet access.
DSL
Only 50 million consumers can get DSL, putting DSL a bit behind cable Internet in availability.
Installation
Cable
If you choose to self-install your Internet, your cable company will provide a self-installation kit. To install your cable high-speed Internet, you will need a cable jack. You will also need a cable modem, which should be included in the kit.
DSL
If you choose a self-installation, your phone company will provide a self-installation kit. DSL requires phone jacks to function. You will need a modem, which should be included in the kit.
Speed
Cable
Cable Internet services on average promise higher levels of bandwidth than DSL Internet services, and this bandwidth roughly translates to raw speed; however, while cable Internet will theoretically run faster than DSL, several technical and business reasons can reduce or eliminate this advantage.
DSL
DSL is fast, but its performance depends on the consumer's distance from the central office. The farther away you are from a central office, the slower your DSL service.
Remember, when comparing cable and DSL, both offer an enormous improvement from standard dial-up Internet service. You will notice a difference no matter what you choose.
After you’ve compared all the above aspects of cable and DSL high-speed Internet, it is time to compare price. When considering price for high-speed Internet, you need to shop around. Though DSL is generally thought to be cheaper, different areas of the country offer different deals, so it pays you to look for the best price.
With the advancement of technology and new innovations in the field of communication, high speed Internet connection is slowly emerging as the most preferred means of Internet access today. High speed Internet connection has not only entered our offices and houses, but the local Internet service provider also offers various Internet access packages and cheap prepaid Internet plans for accessing high speed Internet services.
Modern day people are very busy and also much inclined towards instant gratification. They hardly have time and patience to wait for anything, so naturally in case of accessing the Internet also people do not approve of a very slow process. That is why high speed internet connection is gaining more preference in comparison to dial-up connections.
Now, what exactly high speed Internet service is? High speed Internet service is a fast Internet service that transfers data much faster than the 56K telephone modem.
You can access high speed Internet service with the help of standard telephone dial-up modem which ties up the telephone line. Most notable advantage of high speed Internet is that it is almost five times faster than the standard dial-up connection, and is also cost effective. Today many of the Internet service providers, including AOL and Netscape, offer high speed Internet access without even charging any extra amount.
In case of broadband service, you can avail as high a speed as 70 times than the standard dial-up connection. Moreover, broadband uses Digital Service Line, cable, satellite, or radio towers to access the internet and does not tie up the telephone line while you are on the net. In broadband connection, to access Internet anytime he wants, the user does not require to wait for the modem to dial.
With a high speed Internet access you can certainly find innovative and innumerable ways to enhance the speed of your work. Further, the cost factor also hardly matter, because with various service providers, like AT&T, Cingular, Nextel, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon offering multifarious access packages featuring Internet speed range, cost and facilities the users can avail advanced Internet access in a quite affordable price.
So, downloading videos or a 400MB file, listening to radio in few minutes is no longer a distant dream. With a myriad of prepaid Internet packages and cheap plans you may even expect a lot better performance from your high speed Internet connection.
