I’m sure many of you would want to start 2009 with a clean slate. May I then suggest that you start the new year with a clean and secure PC. There are many ways by which you could accomplish this.

Delete Unnecessary Files

If you’ve worked and traveled a lot last year, then your desktop or laptop may be filled with pieces of evidence of your industriousness and restlessness.  The proofs that I’m referring to are the countless files that you’ve saved and sent to your boss, and the equally innumerable multimedia files that you’ve compiled during your weekend getaways.

If you do not intend to open or access these files anymore at the start of the first working day of 2009, then I suggest that you either delete them or transfer them to an external hard drive. Delete old files that you don’t use or need anymore. While they may take up only a few kilobytes of your enormous hard drive, they can still slow your computer down. You’ll feel their weight during system scans or when you conduct an automatic search of files or programs on your computer. Search engines will scour every data on your hard drive, including ones that you’ve already forgotten. Hence, the more files you have on your hard drive, the longer the searches and scans will take.

Reformat Your Hard Drive

If you really want to forget any memory of last year, then you might want to consider performing the ultimate purge by reformatting your hard drive. While this would surely eliminate any malware residing in your primary storage device, your hopes for a virus-free new year would largely depend, though, on the data that you would reintroduce to your computer. Make sure that the storage device which contains your backup files is free from viruses and spyware. You may have unintentionally backed up copies of some or all of the malware that were saved in your hard drive.

Clean Your Registry

Whether you choose to perform a selective purge or nuke everything in your hard drive, your PC’s performance might still not improve if you have an infected Windows Registry. Everything that runs on your computer almost always involves or requires the participation of the Registry. It’s therefore imperative to keep the Registry free from the influence and control of any malicious application. A healthy Registry can efficiently manage the flow of traffic inside your computer. An infected or defective Registry, though, could clog your system with needless instructions or processes, thereby putting a strain on your computer’s resources.

Invest in a good registry cleaner. While you may have an efficient antivirus program, it’s not designed to handle Registry infections or problems. If you’ve experienced a system slowdown last year despite negative reports by your antivirus or anti-sypware software, then your Registry might be the culprit. RegCure can free your new year from the ghosts of the previous one. Start your new year right. Install all the essential programs and delete the unnecessary ones.

Re-Tweet This Post

If you’re not a very demanding PC owner, then you’ve probably never heard of the term “overclocking.” I bet that if I dare you to guess right now what that IT gobbledygook means, you’d probably give me answers relating to time settings. Of course, answers following that line are far from being correct.

Overclocking refers to that process or method by which you speed up your PC by pushing its processor beyond the limit set by its manufacturer. CPU speed varies depending on its model. The one that I have right now is a 2.4 GHz Intel Dual Core processor. If you’re not into extreme gaming or heavy multimedia tasking, then a 2.4 GHz Dual Core chip would already satisfy your needs. However, if you think that God’s Will for you is to primarily play every online game that EA sports have created, then I bet my CPU’s second core that you’ve already mulled of trying to squeeze more out of your processor by putting a few more ticks into its clock.

Costless But Costly Upgrade

Overclocking is very tempting for both gamers and ordinary users alike. This is not surprising considering that putting a few more gigahertz into your CPU is like having your PC upgraded without being concomitantly punched on the pocket. And the difference is far from being negligible. You’ll definitely see a considerable enhancement in PC speed after overclocking it.

As with all things, there’s a downside to it. Overzealous overclocking could drive your PC to extreme exhaustion. This would eventually lead to a massive computer cardiac arrest. Overclocking your PC to almost twice its prescribed speed is like whipping a horse every second in order to make it run two times faster than it normally does. It will definitely run faster, but not for long.

Intel Roasting on an Open Fire

If you’re bent on adding a few digits on your CPU, be ready for the consequences. I’m not saying though, that overclocking would always lead to disaster. I just want you to be aware of the possible results or consequences, both good and bad (especially the latter), when you try to demand more from your processor. Make sure that your CPU and other PC fans are also working double time as overclocking is also synonymous to overheating. Don’t you dare put steroids into your PC when you can’t put ice in your system.

Overclocking is a very effective, but also very risky way of increasing PC speed. As with all quick fixes, they are littered with perils. I therefore suggest that you try other optimization methods first before resorting to this extreme measure. There are many ways by which you could speed up your PC, such as by defragging your hard drive or cleaning up your Windows registry so that no unnecessary instructions are flexing your PC’s muscles. These overclocking alternatives may cost you a bit, but in the end, it would actually save you from spending more when you eventually have buy a new chip and motherboard if overclocking toast your computers’ internals.

Re-Tweet This Post

There was a time when computer jargon was understood by bespectacled persons only. Those days are definitely gone. At present, everybody knows what OS means or what AV stands for.

The computer will undoubtedly beat sliced bread as the most common item known to man in a few years time. When that point comes, don’t be surprised if the United Nations adds Assembly Language, Visual Basic, or C++ along with Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish as one of its official languages.

A working knowledge of computers is unquestionably indispensable. It’s not that hard to learn how to use one. You don’t have to buy a dozen Dummies book about PCs in order to learn how to operate them. All you have to do is devote a few hours of your day on a daily basis in pounding that keyboard and see what happens on the screen. Trust me, the method may seem to be designed for Neanderthals, but this was how many computer geeks learned their favorite pastime.

Make sure that your PC is safe from external threats so that you won’t be disturbed in trying to find out what those F keys are for. System file or Windows registry infection could surely hamper your effort in trying to get to know your unit more intimately. Invest in an antivirus and a registry cleaner before you do anything with your PC.

Re-Tweet This Post

Have you noticed that it’s been quite a while since Microsoft has released a new browser? Whenever I see IE 7’s icon on my desktop, I sometimes feel that it has been installed there for almost a decade already.

Everybody wants to see something new on their computer. Why do you think people mobbed the stores when Vista was first released? The fact that the first program that we always see on our computer is the operating system makes us all the more eager to try new ones in order to break the monotony. Many indeed decided to change despite the fact that many analysts stressed at that time that XP is more secured than its successor.

The second most used program in your PC would most likely be the browser. Naturally, you would want a new one to spice up things when you teleport yourself into cyberspace. Seeing the same old interface day after day would, after all, cause undue fatigue to your eyes.

I think the guys at Redmond have already noticed that they’ve been using the same old browser for Bill knows when. Hence, the release of Internet Explorer 8.

But don’t jump to Microsoft’s download site just yet. The fact that it’s free doesn’t mean that it’s ok to try it out without giving other things a thought. Take note that while the browser is your primary portal to the Internet, it is also the door most commonly used by hackers to take control of your PC.

IE 8 is still in its beta stages. Although Microsoft has already released a copy of it, it’s still far from being the finished product. The fact that it’s a beta version should clip your eagerness in trying the application. You could be sure that there are a variety of issues that are hounding the new browser, foremost of which is security.

If you’re bent on introducing the new Microsoft browser in your system, make sure that all your security apps are up and running. Be sure to have RegCure installed so that your Windows registry will not be compromised. Of course, an antivirus is also indispensable. Although it might be ok to try IE 8 beta, you shouldn’t use it as your primary browser. Doing so would be like putting up a door with a broken lock.

Re-Tweet This Post

Programming is not that esoteric. While applications are made up of ones and zeroes, modern programming tools or languages already allow us to create software using words that do not compete with Morse codes as far as understandability is concerned.

Many of today’s viruses or spyware infect programs by inserting seemingly meaningless words or series of characters into the lines that make up the application. If you want a hands-on experience in removing malicious codes, then you could do so by opening up the program into its bare essentials. All you have to do thereafter is to look for the line that is not included in the original make up of the software. This may seem easy if the lines or codes are just a page long. However, most applications nowadays contain kilometers of programming sentences.

Malware that strikes Windows registries also perform their pernicious act in similar fashion. You may remove the malicious line or instruction by yourself without the aid of any tool, but this is very dangerous as any erroneous alteration could lead to a system crash. This is the reason why you should leave Windows registry cleaning to RegCure. RegCure eliminates unwanted instructions inside your system’s registry, thereby enhancing your PC’s performance and ensuring the integrity of your operating system.

Re-Tweet This Post

It’s difficult having an obsessive-compulsive disorder. People who have this tend to repeat things needlessly or be overly cautious about something. One of the things that you’ll immediately notice in a person who has this is his penchant to always clean things. Now imagine what suspicious looking pop ups or notices could do to that person.

It’s not only obsessive-compulsive or OC persons who always feel the need to meticulously check his computer for unwanted applications. I won’t be surprised if you run your antivirus or registry cleaner once or twice daily, especially if your PC’s hard drive practically holds everything that is dear to you.

Already Taken Cared Of

Although I’m quite particular about PC cleanliness, both in and out, I don’t feel the compulsion of having to scan through my whole system everyday for viruses. For one thing, antivirus programs already do this, albeit silently in the background. Every activity in your computer is already being monitored by your security suite. You’ll most likely be prompted if the software detects any attempt to change the entries in your Windows registry or modify your other system files.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not saying that you don’t need to get directly involved in keeping your PC safe from unwanted software. All I’m saying is that you don’t need to get jumpy everytime something suspicious transpires in your computer.

Good and Bad Bacteria

Not all pop ups are caused by spyware. Although pop ups are the necessary consequence of spyware or adware infection, this is not always the case. There are some who come from legitimate applications or Web sites. It may be that the manufacturer of your operating system or other program is reminding you to update or renew its license. Reminders are often in the form of pop ups, especially if they’re urgent.

Before you press the panic button, carefully scrutinize the pop up first. Check if it’s a notice for an update. If it is, then see if you really have the software that is stated in the message. If you have that program installed, then the pop up is a legitimate notice. You don’t need to run an antivirus for that as it will most likely go away after a few appearances.

The Sign

If the notice or pop ups get too annoying for comfort, such as when it appears every minute or every hour without telling you what to do, then chances are is that your PC is infected with a spyware or adware. This is especially true of the pop up is advertising something. In this case, you’d better run a full system scan.

While PC users need to be very careful and vigilant against malicious programs, they need not be too OC about it. Running an antivirus to check on every pop up is overkill, especially if the notice is not persistent or appears to be coming from a legitimate source. Check the pop up first. A minute of scrutiny could save you from hours of needless scanning.

Re-Tweet This Post

Don’t you just hate it if Windows greets you with a sluggish start? No matter how powerful your processor may be, too many applications in your startup list would definitely drag your system down.

You should live with this if the programs are necessary ones. However, you should be indignant and furious if those applications are useless sets of zeros and ones. Unkempt registries often make the CPU perform tasks that are not needed anymore. This usually happens when a software was not uninstalled properly as some if its files, especially the drivers, are left undeleted in the system. As a result, the computer still tries to run these programs or load their drivers as if they’re still there or are still active.

Run your registry cleaner regularly in order to ferret out unwanted lines in your Windows registry. This would save your system from allocating precious memory space for programs that are not used or needed anymore. You may also check what programs are being loaded during startup through a freeware called Autoruns.

Re-Tweet This Post

Could YouTube videos be saved?

Some of you who already know how to may be surprised at the question, but there are many out there who still do not know how to keep YouTube videos for posterity. Of course, you could easily save the link and click on it whenever you want to view the video behind it, but what if you’re not connected to the Internet all the time?

There are many video-capturing or saving applications in cyberspace and you don’t need to punch credit numbers to have them. I could name several, but in order to save you from confusion, I’ll just feature one.

www.vixy.net is a free Web service which converts Flash/FLV files into other file formats which allows you to save them into your PC hard drive or other storage devices. Using the service is a no-brainer. All you have to do is paste the URL of the video that you want to save and presto! It’s that simple.

Be careful when downloading videos, though, especially if they come from unknown or dubious sources. There are some files which carry malware that could wipe your hard drive clean of all its files, or infiltrate your Windows registry and write malicious instructions therein. Be sure that you’re armed with antivirus software and a registry cleaner, such as RegCure, before you fish anything from the Net.

Re-Tweet This Post

There used to be a time when installing software in a computer means going through lots of CDs that contain the installer program of various applications. The process is fairly easy and quite convenient. However, there are instances when after reformatting your hard drive, you realize that you’ve already lost some of the optical medias that house some of your favorite software.

All is not lost, though. In fact, losing those CDs might have done you a favor as far as de-clogging your computer table is concerned. There are many software makers that already allow complete downloads of their products over their Web site. This saves you from having to wait for a few days for the spare installer disk to be thrown at your doorstep.

If you weren’t able to keep a list of the previous apps that you’ve had, you might want to visit www.filehippo.com. The Web site contains a compilation of various must-have programs that may be downloaded for free. Of course, the site excludes software that needs to be purchased, such as Vista.

Be careful when downloading anything from the Internet. Trojan-like malware which infiltrates registries abound in cyberspace. If your computer seemed to have slowed down after installing an application you’ve downloaded from the Net, then you might want to have your registry scanned and checked by a cleaner, such as RegCure. Many cases of PC slowdowns are attributed to faulty or compromised Windows registry.

Re-Tweet This Post

Do you still have time for shopping?

With the advent of mobile computers, working hours have virtually doubled. While your boss may seem to be too nice in accommodating your request for shorter working hours, chances are is that he’ll be asking you to just take home some of the tasks that you should be doing at the office. The proposition may seem tempting. However, you’ll soon realize that taking home an hour’s worth of office chore would have an exponential effect as far as the time that it would need to accomplish the same is concerned.

Biggest Department Store

It’s not surprising then why the crowd at the mall is getting thinner. Many people just want to stay at home during their free time. However, shopping cannot altogether be ignored and set aside. One still needs to eat and dress up, you know?

eBay and Amazon recognized this need and soon created a virtual mall for everyone to shop in. A considerable number of people welcomed the thought of being able to buy things without having to endure long lines at the counter or flirting with a crippled wrist or fingers from juggling 10 shopping bags with just one hand. Online stores would seem to be heaven-sent. But are they?

Unhealthy

Many would contend that going out to shop exposes a person to all sorts of danger. For one thing, purse shoppers might decide to take your bag for free. Pollution might also rob you a few days or years of your life. You could also be a traffic accident statistic.

However, shopping at home might be a health hazard to. We all know that obesity is a bulging problem in the United States. More and more people are taking in huge quantities of food without burning it. The most common way of burning fat or getting rid of excess calories is by walking. Unfortunately, many are too lazy to get their feet reacquainted with the sidewalks. An improved health is just not a compelling incentive for them to go out and walk. However, shopping is. But with the way people are becoming enamored with e-commerce, the prospect of a fatter America is something that would seem already inevitable.

Virtual Snatchers

You may think that you’ve outwitted snatchers by just shopping at home. However, the virtual world is just as full of predators as the real world. Countless hackers are always lurking in cyberspace to steal sensitive financial information, such as credit card numbers, online store passwords, and other details which could facilitate a commercial transaction on the Net.

Be very careful then when shopping online. It’s just as dangerous as when shopping at an actual department store. Make sure that your PC is not vulnerable to malware attacks by activating your firewall. If malicious programs have already broke through your defenses, then you will definitely need an antivirus to rid your hard drive of any unwanted application, and a registry cleaner to wipe out instructions in the Windows registry that could make your PC execute unauthorized or damaging tasks or functions.

Re-Tweet This Post