Category: Tech

When you get a new compueter you are excited and love how fast and amazing it is. A few months later, after you fill it with videos and photos it’s not running as fast. What’s the deal!? Here are some tips you should setup when you get that new computer, or if you feel like speeding up your old one.

• The first principle is, don’t be a grandma!

Your computer does not need to collect anything. If you don’t use it at least once a month. DELETE IT.
Room on your hard drive is very important, don’t give it away like candy. (Why is HD room important? Space for stuff you need & virtual RAM!! & other stuff) Ok, with that said lets make sure to delete things properly! Use the uninstall whenever possible. Much of the time you will find the Add/Remove Program window will do the job. Otherwise use the uninstall contained with the program. On a new computer this is very important b/c they stuff all kinds of ad junk on there. Like AOL, “Free” Games, HP Crap Software, etc. So go to your control panel and double click “Add/Remove Programs”. This will pull up a list of installed programs on your computer. Go through one by one and say, “Self, do I use that?” If the answer is no or maybe someday, then uninstall it.

• The second principle is clean and protect

Computers are hard enough to manage as it is. You don’t need adware and spyware messing things up more. Download and use these simple (and free) tools. And it’s a great idea to set them up on a schedule (to run right before your disk clean and defrag)

1. Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool
2. Microsoft’s Defender (Do a full scan not a quick scan)
3. A antivirus software of your choice (AVG is Gino’s (free) recommend)
• Third use and schedule system maintenance

Built in system optimizers can boost the speed of your computer by a lot. You should use the disk cleaner weekly, and defragment your HD once each month or two. To find these tools click on start, then hover over all programs, then hover over accessories, then hover over system tools. There you will see “Disk Cleaner” and “Disk Defragmenter” (the “Scheduled Tasks” is also in that folder, use that to setup cleaning times, then you don’t even have to work to have a fast computer!) The disk cleaner will find all temp files and delete them for you such as useless internet pics and so forth, and the disk defragmenter will move files on your hard drive closer so the laser reading them doesn’t have to bounce all over the place loking for files on your HD disk.

Another great trick is to keep your desktop clean. The more items (large files) on your desktop (apps not shortcuts; shortcuts are typically 1KB, that’s really small) the slower your boot up time will be.

Hope this helps anyone out there who just got a new computer, oh and all this is for Windows; sorry Mac users, a How to on Mac will have to come when I save enough money for one 🙂 Got any ideas on top of these? Post em in the comments, I’d like to know!

After early mornings and late nights, BYU.COM is finally live. Check it out, if you’re a student or Alumni then sign up! If not, just look around or browse the classifieds.

I’m predicting a wireless ipod in Santa’s sled this year. Well me and most everyone else on the net. Check out this article on Apple Insider that talks about Apple’s plans to release the second half of 06. Also, Mac Rumors has an awesome product tracking page that monitors the product cycle of popular Mac products. It’s very useful to check before investing in your overpriced PC. So for any of you iPod owners who are thinking about upgrading, just hold your britches! The new wireless feature will be well worth the wait. Pace promises!

This is worth bookmarking McBlog

Keep your eyes peeled under the calendar. It now displays important days coming up, the 5 closest. It includes any holiday that matters, extended family bdays, and national observances.

Just wanted to let you all in on a million dollar idea I had. I recently built a prototype and tried it on Chase. View the training video .MOV(3MB).

UPDATE: After sufficient testing, we have decided to discontinue research for this product.

This would make summer very interesting to ride one of these. The Wego Kite Tube (WMV). Hey Dad, think you’d enjoy throwing people off this one? Available at Walmart.com!

Hey all you science lovers out there! There is a new way to catch your favorite mythbusting duo, on iTunes! for 1.99 an episode. I might have to download all the ones that back up my theories, like driving around with the A/C off, saves you gas… yes that’s true, don’t believe me… check out iTunes.

This week, I’ve been preparing for the day that Chase will be able to play video games with me. I have found a great site that provides links to old game system emulators, such as Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Sega. Along with many, many game titles on those respective systems. This is great, now I can play all my old favorites right on my computer, and my son can join in the fun with me! Of course, that’s until some kid at school tells him that these are all old games and the new 340 bit virtual reality games are at his house… little punk kid, why did you have to shatter my dreams!? Anyway, I still find it incredibly entertaining to play the games that are responsible for my short temper (Mega Man) and problem solving genius (Shadowgate). Anyway if you are feeling an 8 or 16 bit craving, check out the site and jump on some mushrooms with legs. Hey Dad, bet I can save the princess before you this time! (I am not responsible for any content contained on the site, you should always be extremely careful when downloading executable files to your computer!) What youthful games, if any, shaped your personality?

Yesterday, the tv giant ABC announced they will experiment during the month of May, not on animals but on us. ABC will be streaming full length versions of LOST, Desperate Housewives, Commander in Cheif, and Alias. While I know that two of those shows aren’t worth mentioning, I am personally excited that I can catch LOST the day after for FREE, b/c usually on Thursdays I say, “oh it’s Thursday, Survivor is on, and I missed that show LOST, guess I’ll never be cool.” Three of those shows are currently sold on iTunes, so if that’s usually how you watch, DON’T PAY. The diff is, the $2.00 iTunes version is commercial free, while the free ABC.com version will have unskippable commercials. Read up the official press release if you don’t believe me.

No, not the end of pregnancy this time, the end of the mac/pc berlin wall. I had to take a fast break from work to write about Apple releasing software that will run Windows XP! For those not familiar with computers this is a BIG deal, now macs will have a choice to run Mac software or run windows software on mac hardware. The OS control software is called boot camp. Boot camp will be integrated into the new Mac OS coming out around January. Check it out, and post what you think this will do to the computer industry. (Apple stocks up almost 5 bucks already)

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL!

Just  a friendly reminder to stay up till 2am tonight so you can set your clock ahead one hour.