Biggest tips guide ever! (Part
5)
PC Problems
WINDIRSTAT
generates graphical disk-usage reports
Get a web diagnosis
There are very few computing problems
that the web is unaware of. Typing in error codes and brief descriptions of symptoms
can be one of the most effective ways of identifying and troubleshooting a problem.
If you can't find an immediately obvious error message, look in Control Panel, Problem
Reports and Solutions (Vista), For Windows 1, open Control Panel, Action Center,
Maintenance, View reliability history, and click on View all problem reports at
the bottom of the window.
A better process manager
Sysinternals Process Explorer is a strong
alternative to Windows' Task Manager. Click on one its four graphs - CPU usage,
commit history, I/O bytes history and physical memory history - to bring up a full-sized
window view that's akin to the Performance tab in Task Manager, but with far more
detail.
Analyze the Blue Screen of Death
Thankfully, the Blue Screen of Death is
man uncommon Windows sight these days. Should you experience one, we recommend BlueScreenView
(tinyurl.com/Ly4dmg), which can help identify the driver that caused it.
Find out what's hogging disk space
WinDirStat (windirstat.info) generates
easy-to-understand graphical reports about disk usage, so you can see at a glance
which individual files or folders hidden deep within a directory tree are
gobbling up your memory.
Start up faster with Delayer
Windows 7 is faster than its predecessors,
but if you've been using it a while and have clogged it up with programs and files,
it'll be feeling the strain. Use Startup Delayer (tinyurl.com/7c48fgzj to prioritise
which programs load when you first fire up Windows and which can be held back.
Restore-point revival
Windows automatically recreates a restore
point when you install a program, make a certain type of change to your system,
or simply because it's scheduled to. If your PC throws a wobbly, type System Restore
in the search box( to bring up a calendar showing the last such point Roll back
your PC to before things went awry, then restart.
Don't restore malware
An exception to the above restore point
advice is if you're trying to clear an infection. it's possible the System Restore
archive is itself infected. See page 156 for more.
Create a system repair disc
Before things go wrong is the best
time to make a backup of Windows. To do so, insert a blank disc, click the Windows
Start button, type repair, and choose 'Create a System Repair Disc'. Follow the
instructions from there, remembering to label the disc when you've finished.
More RAM
Windows used to be limited to only 2GB
or 3GB of RAM. The days of 32bit computing are numbered; if you were canny enough
to choose a 64bit Windows machine, you'll be able to enjoy 3GB or more.
Instant RAM upgrade
Installing more RAM in your laptop is tricky,
so for an instant boost you can use a USB flash drive. In the AutoPlay options,
choose the option to use the drive's available memory to boost performance.
Avoid electrical interference
Cable clutter is unsightly. It can
also cause electrical items to short-circuit and data transfers to take longer than
they ought. A cable tidy, or simply unfurling curled up cables, can help. Cable
ties that tame excess lengths are also useful.
Disk-integrity check
It's a pain having to wait for Windows
to check your USB drive or CD isn't corrupt, but it can make the difference between
peace of mind and a botnet infection. Allow your security software to proceed,
Revive a dead laptop battery
If your laptop is a few years old, the
battery won't hold a charge as long as it used to before needing to be plugged in.
Before replacing the battery itself, try replacing the laptop fuse (if the
charging light on the battery doesn't come on, it's the charger at fault).
Compatible chargers can be bought if the manufacturer can't supply one. Just makes
sure the voltage is the same.
Cleaner, faster computing
See all that grot that's accumulated
on your computer keyboard? The fan grille and the interior of your case also
get dusty and grubby. Wipe a damp lint-free cloth over the exterior of a switched-off
machine. A low-power mini vacuum to clean the innards occasionally will also help
a PC's efficiency.
Back up your system drives
Semper Software Drive (sempersoftware.nt)
saves and restores all system drivers. This is invaluable since system manufacturers
rarely supply drivers on disc anymore, so if you ever need to wipe your hard drive
and reinstall Windows, you might find yourself without a critical driver.
Carry your apps with you
Like the way your PC is set up? Carry
your media manager, web browser, office software and preferences with you, and you
can hotdesk with aplomb. A SanDisk U3 drive will let you log in at any Windows PC
and get to work as if you were sitting at your usual PC desktop. Apps are
available from PortableApps.com.
