For those of us with Windows laptops, we’ve all experienced some sort of lag or decrease in performance.  With a few simple steps, you can take action and make your laptop run faster, improve laptop performance, and optimize overall runtime.

Perform a Windows Cleanup:

1. Go into My Computer
2. Right click on the C: drive
3. Select properties
4. Under the General tab, select the Disk Cleanup option.
5. Under Tools, select Error Checking and then Disk Defragment in turn.
6. Empty the recycle bin
7. Delete temp files off your computer by going to the Start menu
8. Selecting Search, All Files and Folders
9. Search for “.tmp” files
10. Delete all temp files your computer finds to clear up disk space

Protect your Computer:

By downloading a good virus scan/blocker and a good computer screen for other malicious programs, you can clean and protect your computer from viruses, malware, adware, Trojans, hackers, and a list of other malicious programs.

Clear Hard Drive Space:

An efficient and fairly low-cost way to clear up hard drive space, as opposed to buying a larger hard drive for your laptop, is to buy a USB drive (4G or higher is best).  Transfer any multimedia files (pictures, rarely used documents, music) onto the USB drive. Then delete the files from your computer, empty the recycle bin, and run a disk defragment.

All of these steps will help optimize your laptop and make it run faster.  On top of these tips, downloading and using a good registry cleaner will also help speed up your computer and help you avoid harmful laptop freezes/crashes caused by registry errors on your hard drive.

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A CRC error occurs when the source and destination values of the data transmission process do not match up.  The CRC or Cyclic Redundancy Check process helps identify errors in the data transmission process by assigning each small block of data a value when it is transmitted.  If this value does not match up when it is received, the test fails.  The CRC helps ensure that received or downloaded data is not damaged or corrupt.

Some problems that cause CRC Errors are when damage is done to the file during transmission, a problem occurs when the file is being sent, there is a problem with the device that is accessing or opening the file, or when there are problems with the file itself.

CRC Errors can occur primarily because of problems with network and modem transmission and removable media transmission.

To fix network/modem CRC errors:

- Ensure that there are no problems with your network or modem connection.
- Try retransmitting the file.
- Try to send the file by some other method or connection.
- Ensure that you used the correct format when sending the file.

To fix removable media CRC errors:

The easiest way to resolve the error in removable media is to simply use an alternative USB/floppy drive. Because of the wide range in media and PC types, not all styles or brands are completely compatible.

If there is one sure-fire way to fix any resolvable CRC error, this is it: add and utilize a good registry cleaner.  Registry cleaners find and fix registry errors on your hard drive, which, in turn, prevents faulty computer performance and system errors and optimizes PC performance and speed.

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The most common question I hear about video drivers, or any kind of driver really, is what do they do?  In simple terms, a driver is a translator, and just like other translators, it needs to know the two languages required for a good translation.  That means that every driver is a device unique program.

Video Driver Problems in a Foreign Land
Since each driver is unique to the hardware and operating system environment in which it functions, it means that each time you change something, hardware or software, it can impact the driver.  An improper driver will not work on your machine resulting in problems between the operating system and any device you have installed.

Preventing the Video Driver Problem
One of the ways to prevent these kinds of translation problems is to visit the manufacturer’s websites periodically and let your computer update your drivers.  By keeping up with this kind of maintenance, you will avoid the worst problems associated with out of date drivers, but it can’t prevent errors caused by changes within your system.

Windows is well known for updating regularly throughout an operating systems life.  If you have authorized automatic updates, you may never know when they have happened.  Suddenly, your video card isn’t functioning correctly and your machine is slowing down.  Requests are taking forever to be completed.  The situation is very frustrating.

My Video Driver Still Has an Error, Now What?
Honestly, the best thing to do at this point is to download a good registry cleaner and let it keep things updated for you at all times.

These wonderful little programs can keep your drivers up to date and keep your registry, an important part of any operating system, trouble free.  They delete bits of old programs that get left behind, make corrections to missing and damaged files and help optimize your PC.  Stop video driver error, now!

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Adobe puts out new versions of Flash Player regularly.  As a result, each time you upgrade flash player, you run the risk of creating incompatibilities within your system.  With Windows and Adobe constantly trying to create newer and perhaps better versions, the conflict is inevitable.

Are Flash Player Upgrades Necessary?
I have to be honest with you.  If I can, I wait until absolutely necessary before I agree to upgrade any software that I am successfully running on my computer.  Sometimes that means that I a running a version that is an edition or two behind the “leading edge.”  It doesn’t bother me at all because at least I know that my computer is running properly.

If you choose to upgrade your system you may find that over time your processing time slows, you start seeing Flash Player errors and System errors.  If this is the case, you have two options.

Reloading Flash Player
You can go directly to the Adobe website and download the newest version of Flash Player again.  Sometimes a bug arrives with a particular download and the next day the bug is corrected and the new copy is clean.  To do this properly you must:

• First, remove the old version of Flash Player
• Go to your control panel.
• Find the link that allows you to Add/Remove/Change programs.
• Click that option and let it create a list of all the programs upon your computer.
• Remove the current version of Flash Player.
• When that is complete you can reload the most recent upgrade of Flash Player.

Use a Good Registry Cleaner before Your Flash Player Upgrade
Sometimes the problem doesn’t lay with the version of Flash Player you possess. Rather, it is within your Windows Registry.  Small errors develop in any registry system over time, and the combination of new versions of programs with system errors is deadly.

Use a registry cleaner before you update Flash Player.  It’s the quickest way to eliminate such errors and bugs. It will not only fix registry errors; it will optimize the speed of your machine and allow all programs, even an upgrade Flash Player download, to work ideally.

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Microsoft officially announced Windows 7 prices. Most of the retail pricing is below what Windows Vista was when it came out. However the thing that’s really catching eyes is the upgrade pricing programs. From Friday June 26th until Friday July 11th users will be able to get a huge discount on Windows 7.

If you buy a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium you can get it for just $49! If you need Windows 7 Professional you can get that upgrade for just $99! This is good for anyone who uses Windows Vista or Windows XP. The amazing part is this discount. When Windows 7 goes on sale on October 22 it will be $119 for Home Premium, $199 for Professional, and $219 for Windows 7 Ultimate. This means that if you purchase it now you can save over half on the upgrade.

If you’re planning on buying a full version of Windows 7 you may want to consider just buying a new computer as the full versions are set to be expensive. For Home Premium you can expect to pay $199, for professional it will be $299, and for Windows 7 Ultimate it will be $319. These prices seem outrageous compared to the $49 that you can get it at right now. For anyone who’s considering buying a computer you can do it anytime after the 26th. After the 26th anyone who buys a computer is eligible for Microsoft’s upgrade program in which Vista PC buyers will get a free copy of Windows 7. This may be the better route if you need a new computer and you want Windows 7.

Linux is still free though. Many users are still moving towards Linux because of that. Microsoft may want to think of a new strategy if it plans to stay where it is within the next decade.

Source: CNET

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The easiest way to decorate your PC or to express yourself through it is by changing its wallpaper. Indeed, the first thing that users often do to broadcast or signify their ‘dominion’ over their PC is to change its wallpaper.

Windows has a vast repository of wallpapers (Vista wallpapers anyone?)that could match the taste or personality of almost every PC user. However, not everybody wants to be dictated upon as to how their desktop should look. Most of the time, people scrap the pre-installed or pre-loaded designs for third-party ones.

Of course, there’s no ‘rule’ as regards the kind of wallpaper that you should paste on your desktop. You could post any picture or painting that you like. However, there are some instances where you may have to limit your choices.

Wallpapers consume memory space. The bigger the file, the less space you’re going to have for other applications. If you’re quite short on RAM, I suggest that you choose designs which are not that intricate. Keep it simple. Plain-looking wallpapers are usually small in terms of file size; hence, they are easier to load.

PC optimization doesn’t just mean cleaning your cache or registry. If you want your unit to always perform at its best, you should first ascertain and acknowledge its limitations. If you only have 128MB of RAM, don’t use an intricate photo of a Da Vinci Masterpiece for a wallpaper. Every byte counts. Save valuable memory for more important processes.

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