CompuClever Blog

Restore Browser Speed

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In our latest series of articles we have examined Internet slowdown.  We’ve introduced very good information about the various causes of slow connectivity and the PC conditions we face.  Maybe you know firsthand or secondhand what it is like to be overtaken by something on your PC that cripples the overall functionality.  In extreme cases it means a trip to a PC repair shop and having the computer wiped and re-installed.  It’s very similar to the effects of a computer virus with only one exception – you may have installed it yourself rather than being attacked.  This condition is happening frequently among beginner PC users and it is this group of PC users that are being targeted.  We’re going to help you restore the previous condition of your web browser and provide some recommendations on how to prevent similar occurrences.

Add-ons

Picking up software add-ons means modifications get made to your web browser such as extra toolbars and popup windows.  Many of these items simply want to stake their territory maybe for the purpose of directing you to certain websites so you can make some purchase.

More: To get a better idea of what these items look like and what they do, see our article called: Foistware – Messing Up Your PC Experience.
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Improve Internet Speed

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With demanding schedules is it any wonder we become easily frustrated when we are held up in traffic?  Whether it is out on the road or on the Internet, we want uninhibited passage.  In our previous article we began to introduce you to Internet speed tests by reviewing four popular testing tools that are available.  The caveat is that each of these is different and results vary.  So… how do we equip ourselves to: a) determine if the fault is at our end and b) if not, to better be able to present some real data to our Internet provider?  First we are going to offer more information on the speed tests in case you have given up hope on them. The key to using them is: create a history!  Next, we are going to examine and better understand how slowdowns and bottlenecks occur and what the impacts are.  By doing this you can better assess if the issue is within your home and network or outside and due to poor conditions.  Finally, if the issue is due to your PC, we will show you a very easy method of improving your Internet speed.

What did we learn from our previous article and our investigation with the multitude of speed tests that are available?  Continue reading...

DIY vs. Repair Shop

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Why is it that asking for help can be an overwhelming obstacle?  The reality is… there is a certain shame that comes from seeking help when we don’t know something.  No one wants to admit to being lost and needing directions and no one wants to feel like they are not smart enough.  Plus, we all want to join the ranks of DIY – Do It Yourself.  To be real, this takes assessing the situation and knowing if the issues are outside our expertise.  When we are simply spinning our wheels, it’s time to take it to the professionals.  The next task is to get good and reliable service that will lead to a real solution.  This article segues from some of our recent articles that focus on assessment of PC problems.  We’ll cover this in brief and provide links.  The main impetus for this article is to shine some light on PC repair technicians that are not trustworthy and to strongly emphasize how our users can benefit from available tools and services including those offered by our CompuClever support team.

Here is the article menu du jour:

  • Background:  We’ll start with the background story of one man’s experience with a not-so-honest repair shop.
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CompuClever Free Functionality

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We’ve mentioned before in previous articles how there are some companies of poor repute that offer “free” stuff.  But what you actually get is something not entirely free.  At best you get a free time trial of the product; at worst you get a free app bundled with a bunch of add-ons that you didn’t want resulting in a clogged system with popup ads or other system modifications you didn’t ask for.   CompuClever provides applications that have some functionality enabled for you to try for free.  If you want the full program you can upgrade.  There are no tricks or deceptions.  We want you to try our products and see if they meet your needs.  As you do have one of our paid programs we encourage you to look at our entire application suite and try out anything that looks of interest.

CompuClever offers four programs including: PC TuneUp Maestro, PC Clean Maestro, Ultra eBook Reader, and Ultra File Opener. We will provide a description of each product, introduce what each product is capable of, and highlight the free functionality that is available with that product.

PC TuneUp Maestro

PC TuneUp Maestro is the most advanced suite of PC maintenance software tools available. Continue reading...

Virus vs. PUP and how to remove both

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We are going to tread carefully and examine two areas of PC ailments. We will strive to make this more understandable and to provide effective and free solutions for both.  If you look at how Microsoft deals with these categories you will find that they admit these two areas are not mutually exclusive and certain terms are used interchangeably.  For our purposes we want to be more definite so that we can pinpoint what steps you need to take in order to deal with these items if you are or ever have experienced them.  This article also assists you in preventing them from happening, provides free tools, and outlines the steps to get rid of both types.

How could a PUP be unwanted?  Well, in this case, we are not referring to a fluffy, playful dog or even Power Pup the Office Assistant.  We’re referring to a term that is increasingly being used to describe Potentially Unwanted Programs.  We are likely all too familiar with a virus infection; your PC becomes infected when opening something such as an email attachment or having something downloaded without your consent when visiting an infected website – even ones that are considered legitimate can be sabotaged.  Continue reading...