CompuClever Blog

Speed up your computer by removing “temp” files

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If you run a Windows machine, there are likely a lot of “temporary” files on your hard drive. Temporary files are usually backup files created, for example, by Microsoft Word, Excel or other other Office applications, usually to help save your work in situations where the computer crashes suddenly. However, some temp files are left behind even when a program is quit correctly. This may be due to programming errors that cause temporary files to not be correctly disposed of when an application is quit. These files can accumulate on your hard drive without you even noticing.

Internet Explorer and other internet browsers also create these “temp” files. Web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, create “Temporary Internet Files” to store user data, including cookies, images from visited Web pages, and the user’s browsing history.

So, temp files can be very useful, and can make using your computer more enjoyable.

However, these temporary can take up a lot of space on your hard drive. This can be inconvenient – in this era of digital downloads space is always at a premium on most PCs – and these temporary files can also slow down your computer. So, sometimes it’s a good idea to get rid of them. Continue reading...

Windows keyboard shortcuts

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Sometimes, speeding up your computer can be as easy as avoiding using the mouse.

Believe it or not, keeping your hands on the keyboard, rather than reaching for peripheral like the mouse can really improve your computer’s performance. Here are a few keyboard shortcuts:

First of all, the” Window” is going to play an important role in this blog post; it’s the button with the little Windows logo located at the lower left of your keyboard, and will be abbreviated as “Win”. The Windows  key brings up the Start menu, and can be used in combination with other keys:

  • Win-D toggles between showing the desktop and restoring all windows.
  • Win-E invokes the Windows Explorer window.
  • Win-L locks your system until you enter your password–or lets you switch active users
  • Win-M minimizes all windows.
  • Win-R brings up the Run dialog.
  • Win-U invokes the Utility Manager, which controls accessibility program options.
  • Win-Pause/Break brings up the System Properties dialog.

Instead of using the Windows key, combining Ctrl+Esc  will call up the Windows Start menu.

There are  a couple of other favourite keyboard shortcuts are:

  • Alt-Tab, which allows you to cycle through all of the open windows on your desktop
  • Ctrl-Tab allows you to scroll through all of the open tabs in whatever browser is active
  • Ctrl-Alt-Delete allows you to call up the Task Manager, in order to kill unresponsive programs

Finally, the most important keyboard shortcut has to be Ctrl-S, which saves your work in Word, Excel or PowerPoint. Continue reading...

Improve computer performance by disabling some features

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Every time you buy a new Windows computer, it comes with a lot of software programs that you may not want or need, and this can really slow down your PC.

You can optimize your system, making it faster and saving hard drive space, by disabling the applications that just aren’t useful. Here’s how:

Using Windows 7:

1. Click the circular Windows button at the bottom left and then select the Control Panel.
2. Select “Programs and Features”.
3. Click on the link “Enable or disable Windows features”.
4. You should see a list of system features. De-select or uncheck the boxes of the software applications you want to disable. For instance, you can uncheck the box in front of optional components for Tablet PC if you do not have a Tablet PC, or Windows Gadget Platform if you don’t use or plan on using gadgets on your desktop.
6. Finally, click on the OK button at any time you can re-checking features and return them in their previous state.

Using other versions of Windows:

1. Click on the Start button and then Settings > Control Panel.
2. Click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.
3. Now click Add/Remove Windows Components.
4. Continue reading...

Is your PC slow?

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We all want to make our computer run faster. There’s nothing more frustrating than a computer that takes a long time to start up or execute basic tasks.

But what actually causes a slow PC?

One of the most common reasons is unwanted applications and programs that are launched, without your permission, when your computer starts.  Many computers come “bundled” with dozens of free or trial software programs, and many of these start up when your computer does.  It’s a good idea to find out what these programs and applications are and disable anything that is not essential to how you use your computer.

Reducing the number of programs that launch at startup will help improve the speed of your PC.

Another cause of slow computer performance is a cluttered registry.  The registry is basically a database which stores settings and other information the computer needs to run software programs, as well as the operating system itself.

If the registry is full of information about programs that are unnecessary or that you never use, your computer can become error-prone and slow.  Scanning and cleaning your registry to remove unwanted files can help speed up your computer performance, and can even help reduce errors. Continue reading...

How to set up a home network

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Thanks to larger hard drives that hold hours and hours of music and movies, as well as internet-enabled devices that also can stream and record television, creating a home network is probably one of  coolest things any PC owner can do to get not only the most out of their media collection, but also to get the most out of every PC in the house, as well as their home entertainment system.

However, after years of living with Windows XP, many people often wonder how to set up a home network. Thankfully, Windows 7 makes it pretty easy. Here are a few tips and tricks for setting one up.

1. Getting started

To get started, you’ll need three things:

  • At least two computers or laptops running Windows 7
  • A modem, usually provided by your ISP, that is connected to the Internet
  • A wireless router

You’re going to need at least two PCs or laptops, because it takes more than one to create a network, and for this explanation they’re going to need to be outfitted with Windows 7. While all laptops these days have a wireless internet receiver, most PCs do not. If you want to connect a PC to the internet and it is not equipped with a wireless internet receiver, they’re easy to find at any computer store, and can be plugged in via USB. Continue reading...