THE HELP DESKKamloopian

Under Construction(This page is currently under construction)


Problems? Nay, I won't say a thing. This section is for my own use as much as it is for you. We both know we create most of our own problems.

     Although I am one of those individuals that know just enough of everything to be really irritating, I will only expand on a couple of the more requested subjects here.
But, if you need help researching or looking for a solution you could always try to get in touch with me too.


This domain and the others are always under construction. I need some help too, so if you would like to lend a hand that would be grand.

I'm starting with the computer help first. Which is on this page. Usually when you are having problems you will not be able to get on to the internet to see this page so, ... step 1.

At top of this browser window click on 'FILE' and pick 'SAVE AS' and save this page so you have access to it when the internet is down.

Put it somewhere where you can find the page later. I make sub-folders in My Documents - easier to find things that way.

 

COMPUTER HELP

Have you been doing your maintenance? Computers are like every other piece of equipment, you need to clean them once in awhile and tune them up.

Once we have the thing clean. Back it up and update it. Then do your maintenance and security checks on a regular basis.

  1. Arrggg - The Big Clean

Watch up to
2,500 TV Stations

    

 

Stupid Computer

Fixing things that you didn't know were broke.

First off your ISP more than likely has a full suite you can download for free.

It will more than likely be a resource hog and take over your system making it run slow. But hey, it is free and just-click-here easy.


This is what I would do.

Fixing things that you didn't know were broke.

These will take a little while to do. Depends on how much stuff you have on your computer.

In House: Before I start here are a few things you can do.

  1. Delete all of your temporary Internet files, cookies, etc.
  2. Delete everything in your temp folders.
  3. Delete all files in your prefetch folder (once a year at least)
  4. Defrag (approx. once a year or so - NOT every week, month or whatever you've been doing.)

How?

Download, install and run CCleaner from here http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download It's free and does most things automatically.

If you are non-technical do this:

  1. Click on your My Computer Icon and highligh/pick your hard drive (usually it is called C:\)
  2. Right click on it (the C: drive) and bring up the menu - Pick "Properties" on it.
  3. You should see a button on the first tab there called "Disk Clean up".
    Run it and delete the things available.
  4. The "Tools" tab will have other option - check disk, defrag. Run these if you need to.
  5. Run MRT (microsofts malicious software removal tool) Click Start, then click Run, type in mrt and hit enter.

If you are technical and kind of know what you're doing, do this:

  1. Change your folder view options so you can see the hidden folders and windows system files. Note: remember to change this setting back to hide the system files after.
  2. Under windows folder delete everything in the Temp folder and prefetch folder. You could backup and then delete the uninstall info for the updates you've made (all of the $NtUninstall(some update no.here)$ type files too.
  3. Under documents and settings in the Local Settings folder for each of the users and the administrator you'll find the temp directory and temporary internet folder - delete the contents.
  4. Got crap programs that need to be uninstalled? Check.
  5. Reboot


DO YOU HAVE A FIREWALL RUNNING?
And only one? If you have two turned on or more they are probably not working right. Only run one antivirus or firewall.

DO YOU HAVE A VIRUS PACKAGE RUNNING AND UPDATED?
If not - Get one, use it, and update it on a regular basis.

IS YOUR COMPUTER'S OS UPDATED?
Run "Windows Update" Click on the "custom" instead of the "Recommended" Look for hardware and other updates.

Anti spyware/malware software

Ad-aware (I could make a $1 or two off the sale.) Haven't yet though.

www.safer-networking.org/ has Spybot which is another good one.

Anti virus software

AVG has a free version of their anti- VIRUS package
I run it. I use the free version and have for several years now.
http://free.grisoft.com/
NEVER have two anti-virus packages installed and running at the same time.

(Exception: http://www.immunet.com I run this cloud based antivirus in conjunction with AVG-free)


Firewall
I've used it. (The windows firewall works fine though)
http://www.zonealarm.com/
Never run two firewalls at the same time - Use either this one or the Windows xp version

To test your firewall/security settings go here and scan your "Ports" using SHIELDS-UP
http://www.grc.com/


Now that everything is installed, scan again and reboot.

Everything fine and working? If so, make a restore point under "System Restore".
(All programs-Accessories-System Tools. You'll see it there.)


-Steve

 


Contact me if you require further assistance.



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