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Monday, November 18, 2013

TO THE VERY FEW "VINTAGE" SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE INTO COMPUTING

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SENIOR CITIZENS WHO FREQUENT THIS SITE WHO TELL ME THEY ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AGING AND SLOW COMPUTERS.
As a fellow senior with limited gray matter when it comes to the high tech aspect of computing, I find that the suggestions below should help to speed up a clogged up computer. My old Dell laptop is heading into its 4th year with my old reliable Windows XP Professional as the software I use. I have an unused Windows 7 laptop that gets very little use. Most of us old folks resist change and in this case, it is very true. Windows 98 was very good for a number of years, and since then, XP has been my friend and I only use the "unused" laptop as my music computer.
For those who are not fully into computer maintenance, here's a bit of help that I find very effective for me. Perhaps it will for you also.
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Download the FREE CCleaner software program that will get rid of a lot of junk on your computer, including junk register entries. Click on http://www.piriform.com/. I have been using this program for years. When you open the program, download CCLEANER. When you do, you will be shown the screen. On the lower left you will see "ANALYZE." Click on it, and CCleaner will find all the files that are worthless and taking up much of your computer space. Let it list all the unnecessary files and when it reaches 100% you will move over to the bottom right and click on the RUN CLEANER button. It will ask if you are sure. I have been using this program for years and I always let CCleaner clean my computer. It makes a difference.

ALSO:
Assuming you are using Windows XP, when your computer starts, go to the lower left and
click on START, when you do you will see ALL PROGRAMS. Click on it and look up on the left down a few lines and you will see ACCESSORIES. Click on it and see the little arrow > click on it and a drop down menu will appear. Click on SYSTEM TOOLS and again> follow that arrow and click on DISK DEFRAGMENTER. WHEN YOU GET TO THE DISK DEFRAGMENTER, CLICK ON ANALYZE, THE COMPUTER WILL DECIDE IF YOU NEED TO "DEFRAG" YOUR COMPUTER. YOURS PROBABLY WILL SO GO AHEAD AND CLICK THE DEFRAGMENT BUTTON.
THIS PROCESS TAKES A VERY LONG TIME, SO LEAVE YOUR COMPUTER ON AND LET IT DEFRAGMENT THE FILES.
ALSO: Get a virus and adware program. Download  one of these free software programs:MALWAREBYTES OR KASPERSKY or SPYBOT.programs. 

Unfortunately, in order to get the best protection from computer viruses, one must purchase one of the many programs available.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Tom;

BEEN USING THE CLEANER AND DEfRAGER MOVE FOR SEVVERAL YEARS.
WORKS GREAT, AND VERY EFFECTIVE IN PROTECTING YOUR COMPUTER.

GREAT ADVICE FOR THOSE LESS INFORMED.

BEST WISHES

MIKE KUZMA