Computer Help and Tips

[Anonymous]

Thnaks Guys,

this problem is much deaper though, They get emptied weekly, this is somehting that has installed itself, and is making Interent explorer almsot impossible to use. i've done the add/remove program thing, and removed evryhting i don't know,

Virus scan- nothing, latest definitions
Spyware scan- 1 or two things, deleted after

I can't figure out what is making this computer slow, it's programmed NOT to keep history, TIF (temporary interent files) are deleted
and no programs that i don't know what they are are on the computer

[Modelcar]

....Sounds like good advice. In my case of the temorary internet files, I was surprised to see such add up so quick and taking up so much space. My computer wizz fixed it now so we don't add them up after the one use they get using the unit. Hopefully, now they won't accumulate again like they have been and filling up my hard drive space. I'm of course still limited in speed by the internet dialup which isn't bad but the computer function really does fine now...

[daveklepper]

Have a set of tweezers handy if you use the A-drive often . Sometimes a bad floppy will loose or loosen its protective slide while in the A-drive, and a tweezer is the best bet to drag the floppy out without damaging anything. One has to manipulate the tweezers firmly with the left hand while pushing in the release button with the right hand. Do it smoothly and carefully and for gosh sakes don't force anything. If the protective slide remains behind the tweezers can also drag it out. Dave Klepper

[swknox]

The advise about deleting temp internet files is a good one and something I do about every 2 weeks but be carful about deleting cookies. Its better to go through and delete each one, one at a time because sights like trains.com and others use cookies to identify you when you log on (so you don't have to keep entering your name and password). Everytime I would delete cookies then the sights I visit most like trains.com I would have to put my name and password back in and hit the save to remember button. Also here is a BIGGIE. I use internet dialup with one of those internet dial up programs that makes it go 5 times faster. It works great - when it works. These programs use something called a proxy server so it has to be on once installed on your system or else when you dial up and you leave it off or it fails to come on for some reason then you won't be able to get on to the net through internet explorer. Trust me I just whent through this about 4 days ago, 1 whole day with out visiting trains.com [banghead] [censored] This is what my Dial up tech told me, while using this program (5x speed) if you don't want to use it you must disable it because of the proxy server, if you just delete it say using add or delete program option in the control panel than you will not be able to view internet sights, you can sign on but when you click on internet explorer it will be blank with a message like "can't establish contact with ISP". Trust me its not worth the time or extra money to use a program like this.

[Modelcar]

Kevin....My computer has been slowing down now for some time and it kind of sneaks up on one...So 2 nights ago we unloaded the "temporary files", and it had a snoot full of them and it made a world of difference to it...This is a new computer just put in service in January and it has plenty of power. My point is, it can add up before one knows it and it starts to effect the operation of your unit. So you might check such a thing and see if you have a bunch of "temp. files" accumulated that you can dump. It might really help you. I knew they were there as I had checked it with skan disk but wasn't sure it was safe to get rid of them....

[Anonymous]

Ok next Question for all you computer Saveys

My computer has a lot of Spyware in it, I dlete it all, but most of it comes back.. How do I permanently get rid of it?

It is even slow right now.. I don't want to spend 500 bucks at a professional, jsut so he can pick his nose click a few buttons, and poof all gone!

Will "clean up disk" work?

Actually this problem is so bad, I can't even use internet explorer anymore. I jsut open it and all of the sudden i hear the sound "click" throuhg the speakers, tehn the window becomes a back burner thing, So i click on it with the mouse and 10 secondes later it it does the same thing, sometimes an add will pop up, very annoying, however, Netscape seems to be imune.. anyone know anyhting.. if you do.. i'd be REally greatful

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman


OK.. million Dollar Question, how do you access DOS in Win. XP??

START, RUN, "CMD" in the box and ENTER. Should see a black screen with something like: C:\Documents and Settings\Kevin>

[fuzzybroken]

Somebody help me with this:

I've been trying to upload some pictures onto my Epson PhotoCenter. Problem is, after starting to upload, the pictures just STOP UPLOADING. Eventually I'll get an error message stating that "the document contains no data" (Firefox) or "Cannot find page" (IE). The only thing that seems to help with uploading is downloading something else at the same time. What can I do to get my pictures online???

Thanks,
-Mark Hintz
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[Anonymous]

Your computer running slow? Get Ad-aware or Spybot, and run them. You'd be surprised at the junk that gets put on your computer just by regular surfing, not even counting "other" sites.
Preferably use both programs to scan your drive once every week or two.
Just one thing though:
after they scan your hard drive and before you click to start the clean-up step, make sure that any of the files that say "Windows Media Player" anywhere in their names are NOT checked. (funny that a windows program comes up as spyware. hmmmm.)

But, these programs will remove all the crap that gets placed on your computer and loads into the computer's memory, thereby slowing it down. It's well worth the half hour a week. Run it while you eat dinner or watch a TV show.

These utilities are available at these 2 links:
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

[Rick Gates]

By the way Kevin, since I'm not trusting my memory as to which key F7 or 8) your bill has been reduced to one half million dollars. Cash only please. TY.[:D]

[Rick Gates]

Kevin- If it's just cleaning up temp. files you want to do in Window XP, you may access it by going to "Control Panel" left click "Performance & Maintenence" left click "Free up space on your hard disk" you will wait a minute or two while Windows calculates this and the you will see another window to check which things you want to delete. Or, you can get there by left clicking "My Computer" Right click on "C:/ Hard drive, Choose "Properties" and left click "Disk cleanup." If you really want to go into DOS and are fimiliar with the language and know what you are doing, you may want to try going into "Safe Mode." To do this, you must reboot and during startup, when you see the "Blue " Window screen (you only have a second or two) you hit the F7 or F8 key (I not sure I remember correctly which one) and that will bring up a screen giving you the options of running in "Safe" or repair mode, DOS, etc. You must know your stuff when using these features or it is VERY easy to foul up your system settings and crash. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Also, go into DOS if you know how. If you don't get someone to show you. Then delete all deletable files in Windows/temp. Preferably do this before you use Deframentator. Unless you are an expert, don't go into DOS for any othe purpose. You can also use 'My Computer," - "C" - "Windows" - "Temporary" to delete the temp files. Once you delete a lot of them at once you might notice an improvement in computer speed in some applications. Dave Klepper

OK.. million Dollar Question, how do you access DOS in Win. XP??

[Modelcar]

Rick and Jen....I uninstalled the other computer and intended to remove a bunch of photos, etc...from it and maybe transfer those to this new one but I haven't done any of that....So no contact between that and this computer....And I've been thinking about just not removing any of the stuff and saving it....Don't want to take a chance to contaminate this one if there happens to be anything of that nature in there...Thanks though, to you both.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....Rick: For info....I did go in and reset to 10 min. last night after I wrote the above post but again this morning I had one or so incoming e-mails duplicate themselves...I'm not going to be too too concerned about it and I suppose just live with it. I simply delete the extra one and go on. It really does pose the question in my mind thougth...Why...? Especially doing it on 2 different computers...

Since you could put everything I know about a puter on the head of a pin, they always tell me to make some change, save it and then re-boot! So I am a professional save and re-boot person! Would that help?

Jen

[Rick Gates]

Modelcar Yeah it's puzzling to me. Did you tranfer data from old pc to the new one via ethernet connection? May be a browser setting or quirk was transfered also.

[Modelcar]

....Rick: For info....I did go in and reset to 10 min. last night after I wrote the above post but again this morning I had one or so incoming e-mails duplicate themselves...I'm not going to be too too concerned about it and I suppose just live with it. I simply delete the extra one and go on. It really does pose the question in my mind thougth...Why...? Especially doing it on 2 different computers...

[Modelcar]

....Rick: I believe it is doing better...but I did just have 2 sets of imcoming duplicate themselves so maybe I'll go back in and set for 15 min...I have it set on 8 now.
And yes I've been using IncrediMail Xe for some time now...I believe I started using it around last August. I'll have to look for the update you're referring to...Thanks. One thing, it has happened on 2 computers. This one was just put in service in January and it is doing similar as the other one was.

[Rick Gates]

Modelcar- Hope the setting worked for you. Please let me know if it did. I'm just curious. I believe 15 minutes for checking is the default time because of slower loading dial up modems and loading a large amount of pics, attachments, Gif.s, wavs, and midis. I had the problem when I first started using it. Also, If you have had Incredimail for awhile, an upgrade is available for free that helps in picking out your formats. It uses pics instead of titles.

[Modelcar]

....Rick: To my surprise it was set at 5 min...to check for incoming mail and "hang-up" was not checked. Have changed to 8 min. and clicked "hang-up"...and now we'll give that a try....Thanks again.

[Modelcar]

Rick....Thanks for your tip back on the 10th....I just noticed it this morning. I think I check for incoming mail each 15 min. but we'll take a look at it.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

A pair of tweezers is great for pulling out stuck floppy disks. Dave Klepper

Thanks all for the good tips and advice. [:)]

Keep them coming. [8D]

[daveklepper]

A pair of tweezers is great for pulling out stuck floppy disks. Dave Klepper

[Rick Gates]

Modelcar: Just something you may check for in Incredimail. Click "Tools" on menu bar and then click "Options" Look under "general tab" and see that you are not configured to check for email messages in less than every five minutes. Also check to have incoming message from server "hang-up" or disconnect after recieving email. Anything less than five minutes without a hang-up may be causing the progam to start recieving the same message before the first has been fully retrieved. Just a thought. Hope it is useful to you.

[ironhorseman]

1. Opening Disk Drawers: Newer computers don't have this paper clip or pin-size hole anymore for manual release. Newer computers are coming with at least 2 CD drives now and they're coming with spring-action flap doors over them making them harder to get into. I don't think the 3 1/2" flobby ever had a pin-hole release gadget thingy. If someone knows the manual release for new computers please update us. Otherwise I guess restarting the computer is the best bet. 3 1/2" floppies that don't come out are usually stuck and require a screwdriver or fireworks to dislodge them.

2. Slow Computers: Actually you go through Tools and Internet Options to delete your internet files and cookies.

3. New Computers Running Slow: Be absolutely sure you test out all the systems fairly quickly. My dad had a computer that turned out to be a lemon but we didn't find out until after the computer warranty expired because he didn't use or had no use for half the stuff on there. The major problem was a slow clock. This also caused problems in other areas and the computer would frequently freeze and had to be restarted. He reinstalled Windows serveral times. Didn't work. Took it Best Buy. They thought they fixed it, but the clock still ran slow. Took it back, replace the hard drive, clock still ran slow. Reinstalled Windows on the new hard drive, clock still ran slow. Got a new windows program, clock still ran slow. Internet would alway disconnect for no apparant reason. DVD player was also found to be a dud. Got the computer in 2001, didn't realize it until end of 2003. Dad never had any use for the DVD. I was never home long engough to use the DVD. There were at least 4 major malfunctions with the computer, never discovered all them until it was TOO LATE. BEST ADVICE: go through your computer thoroughly and have it looked at frequently if you have problems. If the computer is a lemon you can get a new one for free IF YOU DO IT ON TIME.

4. For Expired Warranties: I've had the best luck with CompUSA. If you buy products from them they'll do free installation and they do it quickly. Best Buy want's to charge an arm and a leg for service and they're always busy so it takes weeks for the computer to be worked on or have programs installed. (PS- I've also found that CompUSA has more train games than Best Buy or Wal-Mart).

[Anonymous]

As a new user with my son's ancient (4 years old), computer, I have printed the info presented and take very careful steps on using them.

[Puckdropper]

I'm assuming Windows XP.

Press [ALT] + [CTRL] + [DELETE] and click on the processes tab. Do this with nothing running. You should see a CPU column. Watch this. You should see very little movement in this column, except for perhaps explorer.exe, but that shouldn't take more than 1% of the CPU. If the system is idle, there shouldn't be anything taking CPU time. If there is, there could be a virus on it.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AMTRK143

Here are some tips to help you if your computer is running slow. (I learned this stuff when I had days off from Amtrak)

1. Computers store data in pieces on your hard disk and the computer puts the data where ever it wants it to go, usually broken up and scattered all over your hard drive. To make these pieces of data organized so the computer doesn't have to go back and forth across the hard disk, open start, programs, accessories, system tools, and click on Disk Defragmenter. It may take a while to defragment but its worth it. It's recommended that you defragment monthly.

2. Clean all temporary Internet files. You can do this by right clicking Internet explorer, click properties, and on the menu click delete cookies, and click temporary Internet files. These files take up hard disk space and are rarely ever used again.

Hope this helps if you have this problem. There are many more reasons why your computer could be running slow, but these are usually the problem.

Amtrak Mark

Good advice BUT what if a brand new, out of the box computer (DELL) seems awful slow running? Any tips on that? (yeah, yeah, I know...call DELL!) It's my wife's new computer at work. Thought there was something I could do or check on first.

[Puckdropper]

Definately talk to your ISP's or mail provider's tech support.

My biggest tip for computers is "DO NOT USE OUTLOOK EXPRESS." You'll notice many viruses copy the outlook express address book, and send themselves out again. Use Mozilla mail (if you have mozilla... mozilla.org), Netscape's Mail, or Eudora or some other mail program.

Also, never open an attachment you (1) don't expect, (2) doesn't have a .txt, .jpg, .gif extension. (Plain text and pictures.)

[Modelcar]

....Tom: ISP is Iquest and mail program is IncrediMail Xe....Thanks for the thoughts.