|
Post by bixaorellana on Feb 25, 2009 7:34:31 GMT
Yeah, but I get off on seeing the before & after defrag bars!
Okay -- I just did what you said about the extra tab on disk cleanup. I did get rid of some extraneous stuff, but that Arcsoft crap still won't budge.
(Systemprogram is System Tools on XP in English)
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Feb 25, 2009 7:53:40 GMT
Isn't there a sequence that works best when doing disk cleanup, scandisk and defrag? Don't you want the defrag to happen after the other two?
What I wonder is what my vista computer is doing when I hear the hard drive ticking away and yet the Task Manager doesn't indicate that anything is happening. I wonder if it's defragging, but nothing tells me that it is...
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 7:59:46 GMT
Does your computer run slower than you think it should, that it did before? Maybe you've just got something updating itself and it'll stop later. Maybe you need to help it by doing what I said before. Maybe you've got loads of files downloaded to your desktop instead of in folders and just a shortcut on the desktop. Maybe you've got lots of different windows open. Maybe you've got lots of different programmes running when you start up and during normal usage that you didn't realise.
Often programmes will run in the background in the vain hope that when you click on them they'll be able to start up quicker. It's a bit like leaving the car engine running so you can make a quick getaway.
To cover the last point - Go to Start Settings Control Panel Windows Defender
A window opens up and it should say 'No unwanted or harmful software detected' 'Your computer is running normally' Click on - Tools Software Explorer
You'll see a box that says 'Start up programs' That'll show you all the programmes that start up when you start up your computer. You can stop some of these from doing so if your start up is very slow. But first research into them and find out what they do before you disable them. Some you can't disable anyway.
On mine I've got running on start up - One for my printer Winzip A load for Microsoft Real Player HP health check (it's a HP computer) Java Symantec (it's Norton anti-virus) Intel programme Adobe Acrobat Apple iTunes and Quick time (lots of porno films use Quick time) Threatfire (another anti-virus thing I have)
Then where it says 'Start up programs' click on it an open 'Currently Running Programs' The display will re-set itself and show you. This'll show you all the programs your computer is running or trying to run whilst you're trying to think up a cutting and clever yet witty comment to a post by Kerouac. It may take you some time. But, I have running what I had in the start up, plus the office program like Microsoft Word that I'm typing this on before I cut and paste it in the Port, plus my Firefox browser.
If you've got a lot running try and research into what they are actually doing for you, maybe you can delete the whole programme or stop it running until you ask for it.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 8:06:10 GMT
bixa - the best you can now do is go to Google and do 'Arcsoft uninstall'. You'll find plenty of complaints and maybe some helpful tips.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 8:18:09 GMT
Isn't there a sequence that works best when doing disk cleanup, scandisk and defrag? Don't you want the defrag to happen after the other two? What I wonder is what my vista computer is doing when I hear the hard drive ticking away and yet the Task Manager doesn't indicate that anything is happening. I wonder if it's defragging, but nothing tells me that it is... Kimby - you're right in that it's best to get rid of stuff you don't want, then defrag and put what you have got in a good place. It's just how I wrote the posts and what came to me at the time. I've not planned all this you know?! It's best to back up your important data, run disc cleanup, and then defragmenation. Second point - do as I've said in my last long post about Windows Defender and see what programmes you've got running at that time. Plus it could easily be something updating itself, a pre-scheduled task like a virus scan etc.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 8:25:14 GMT
kimby - if it happens that your computer is growling at you and ticking away, either find out what programmes are running, as above, or go to - Start Programs Accessories System Tools Task Scheduler - and open it up. On the right side is a sidebar - click on 'Display all running tasks' And see if there is something only been running for a few minutes.
You can also see on the main window what tasks are supposed to happen when in the second large section. It'll give the Task name - Next run time - Triggers - Location. The trigger is what triggers the task to start, often at a specific time often when you click on the program to start it anyway, it tells you there.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 8:44:23 GMT
Coming later - Back up and Restore.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 9:43:58 GMT
Back up and Restore - are two different things really. You can back up the data (photos, music, videos, files etc) as a copy of what you've got onto a disc away from the computer in case your computer gets a virus and corrupts it all or just prats around and you can't get at what you want. Then when your computer is sorted out, or you end up with a different one, you can transfer it all back again in its original form.
Restore is where, for example, you've downloaded or updated a programme and now for some reason stuff doesn't work properly. This was(is?) a problem with Vista and Windows whereby it would automatically update itself, and then things don't work as they should. What you'd like to do is get back to how the settings were before you did it, or it did it itself.
First - There are several ways to back up stuff. You can go to - Start Programs Accessories System Tools Backup status and Configuration.
A new pop up opens and you can follow the prompts to back up what ever you want, but remember to insert a disc to back up on to, or maybe you'll need several. The advantage of this is you can set it to do it automatically at certain times and it will search only for new stuff since the last back up and only download that onto a disc rather than the whole set of files each time, unless you can remember yourself what new stuff is there since you last did it and only download that.
However, me being awkward, I'm happy doing it what I think is an easier way. It suits me as I don't have really important stuff on my computer other than photos, research and things wot I have wrote. Do it however you wish, but the thought is that you can keep a separate record of what you have on your computer, just in case.
I put in a blank disc. A pop us asks what do I want to do with it and with what programme – I get rid of that pop up. I go to - Computer A pop up shows me the hard drive and an icon showing the disc I've just slipped in. I double click on the disc symbol and a window opens. This shows what is on the disc (should be nothing unless when you bought the blank ones someone at the factory has lost his holiday snaps). It'll say something like 'Files currently on the disc' and a big blank space.
I then minimise that and open where my photos are or my files and folders. I open both windows, the disc one and the files one, but not full size. I then select the folder I want to back up and drag and drop it into the empty space on the disc window. If it's lots of big photos it may take some time or if it is too big for the capacity of the disc it will tell you. You then have to open up the folder and do the sub folders or files to split it up. To get everything on the first first time you may need several discs. I use the DVD ones that are 4.7Gb.
When the disc is full or you've finished and there are no pop ups telling you stuff is still being transferred, eject the disc. It may tell you to wait as it's still finishing off (putting on it's makeup, nipping to the toilet before it goes out, changing its shoes, final look in the mirror, looking for car keys, bugger, mobile is still upstairs, did I lock the back door, mustn't forget the birthday card for that dopey git at work etc.) and it will eject.
Put disc(s) in safe place, but not so safe you can't remember where that was, you know what you're like.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 10:16:57 GMT
Restore – what you want is a point in your computers history where everything was fine and dandy. You, or it, has done something and it's now seriously cocked up. You want a time where it'd talk to you, take you out for meals, bring you tea in bed, say you looked lovely, come home from work early so you could have a meal together and cuddle up on the sofa............. Is it working ok now? Then set a restore point.
Go to - Start Programs Accessories System Tools System Restore and click on it.
A pop up opens up and you can see where it says 'Open System Protection' as a link, click on it. Another pop up appears with tabs. Click on the 'System Protection' tab. Make sure your Hard disc has a tick at the side of it, then near the bottom it says 'You can create a restore point now for the discs selected above' with a button 'Create' and click it. Follow the prompt with putting in a date and press 'Create' in the new pop up. Then wait. When it says it's done it, click ok, then close all your windows/pop ups and revert to spamming forums.
Repeat this as often as you feel you want. I tend to forget as once I've set a new computer up I don't tend to download and do much to change it.
Next step – your computer starts seriously acting up. It wants more time by itself, starts arguing over little things, goes out and stays late at work, you can't remember the last time it didn't shout at the kids, complains the house is dirty, spends lots of time upstairs playing on another computer ….........
You wish for times past when things were a lot better.
Go to - Start Programs Accessories System Tools System Restore and click on it.
A pop up appears, the same as before, but this time click on 'Next'. A list of your Restore points will appear, the latest being at the top and highlighted in blue. If you don't want this restore point, highlight the one that you do. Click 'Next' and follow through with anything else to the end. It will probably re- start your computer and hopefully all will be well, you'll start getting dinner invites again, flowers delivered with a carefully worded note and a promise of future sexual activity. Who knows how lucky you might get.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 10:20:05 GMT
One last thing. I did say I am an amateur. If something happens when you follow what I say, and it all goes pear shaped, I'd just like to say as I've written this I've also followed it by doing it on mine. So it must be something you did wrong, not me.
And I live a long way away from you, you'll never get me.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2009 12:11:00 GMT
Fatwas know no borders!
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Feb 25, 2009 14:41:55 GMT
Sorry if I sounded critical in 31. Just asking a question. The list of stuff that can be cleaned up is long, but the biggest are Hibernation File Cleaner, Debug Dump Files , Temporary Files, and Thumbnails. Any problems with deleting these? Or how about the 4 categories of error reports and the minidump and setup log files? Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 25, 2009 16:18:59 GMT
Kimby - did you sound critical? I don't think so, didn't think so, I didn't mean my reply to intimate that. Just a reply that's all.
Hibernation File Cleaner - I'm still not sure about that one. Hibernation is more relevant on a laptop where you can power back up quickly. I think if you delete the hibernation files you can't do it any more. I tend to either switch my computer on or off and leave it to go on screen saver and low power when I'm not using it. Hibernation allows for a quick start up of the files and folders you've left open. As I don't do that, I close everything and switch off, then I don't need that function. If you do then you need it.
Debug Dump files, Temporary Files and Thumbnails can all be deleted, they'll re-appear again and again anyway as you use your computer.
Setup log files, keep. Minidump, keep. Error reports - these are the reports your computer send to Microsoft when there is an error. If it's running ok then I've deleted them before.
|
|
|
Post by rikita on Feb 25, 2009 20:18:35 GMT
Next - How good does Microsoft think your computer is? With Vista - Click on 'Computer' on your desktop (same as before) You see the same as before, with the Hard Disc thingy. Look above on the line where it says 'Organise Views System Properties etc' Click on 'System Properties' A third or so of the way down the page you'll see a little blue coloured box with a number in it, between 1 and 6. To the left it'll say 'Rating', to the right a link which says 'Windows Experience Index' What does yours say? Mine says '5.4' mine says 4.7
|
|
|
Post by rikita on Feb 25, 2009 20:27:47 GMT
2. Adjust your camera setting to take a smaller photo (which will take up less space in your camera memory and then computer) except that is only an option when you are sure you will never want a bigger version of that photo. if you care about photography, wouldn't you take them in the biggest possible setting, simply because it is better quality if you actually want to do something with it (big prints, editing programs, etc.)?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2009 18:26:39 GMT
I agree, Rikita, so I reduce my photos on Photobucket for posting and I leave the big version on the computer or a CD-Rom.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2009 19:24:35 GMT
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Feb 26, 2009 23:24:38 GMT
Not trying to be argumentative, but I think if you feel the way Rikita & Kerouac do, you should go ahead & take your pics in the large size, download onto both disc and computer, then reduce the size of the ones saved on the computer. You are normally reducing them to the size of your computer screen, so it's not as though they'll be teeny. This will save computer room and make it easier to post the pictures online or to send them as attachments.
Whose bubble did you burst, K?
Mark -- I have read through all that you posted more than once, and I can't tell you how grateful I am to have this at hand, written by a human for humans!
|
|
|
Post by rikita on Feb 27, 2009 8:13:54 GMT
um, bixa, you know that cds aren't good forever? if you have the large versions of your photos only on cds, and you want to access those photos five years later, they might well be gone?
but well, i tend to post photos via flickr, and i think there is no size problem then with my photos, is there?
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2009 8:27:48 GMT
rikita - 4.7 is quite good isn't it? But this is the nuber allocated to the worst part of your computer, you might have a really good one but with a poor graphics bit, and that number reflects the bad bit. Also, if you click on the link at the side of the number where it says, 'Windows Experience Index', it'll show you numbers for each component.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2009 8:29:19 GMT
2. Adjust your camera setting to take a smaller photo (which will take up less space in your camera memory and then computer) except that is only an option when you are sure you will never want a bigger version of that photo. if you care about photography, wouldn't you take them in the biggest possible setting, simply because it is better quality if you actually want to do something with it (big prints, editing programs, etc.)? You can keep it big as you wish, but for someone like me, I can never see a time where I need an A3 sized photo.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2009 8:32:33 GMT
um, bixa, you know that cds aren't good forever? if you have the large versions of your photos only on cds, and you want to access those photos five years later, they might well be gone? but well, i tend to post photos via flickr, and i think there is no size problem then with my photos, is there? If you don't put them on flikr in a large size what would you do with them anyway. If you feel that a cd wont last 5 years, will you use your computer as the primary storage for them? The only use I have for photos are to see them on my computer screen or e mail them to friends and family. If I do the latter then I don't want them to be Mb's big anyway. I can't see when I'd print any any more anyway. I was only saying you can do something, not you should and the choice is whatever you want. I have all mine on this computer, on Photobucket, on a second computer the kids use and on discs. I hope that's enough!
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Feb 27, 2009 17:19:56 GMT
This a great thread, Mark. Please keep it up.
And thanks for the personalized response to my questions about what to delete. I NEVER use Hibernate, so could probably ditch it forever and free up 1.98 GB of space. I've heard it's very buggy anyway.
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2009 18:59:47 GMT
Kimby - what's with this personalised response thingy? Who do you think I am? Some arrogant git who you've never spoken to before? Of course I'll try and answer your question as best as I can. I just hope I'm right.
Well, I might be a git actually, but don't tell any body.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Feb 27, 2009 19:34:50 GMT
Mark, we seem to be having a "failure to communicate". I expressed gratitude. I meant it. Does everyone else read my responses (#31, 52) as somehow critical? Or is Mark just pulling my leg and I'm too literal to see it?
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2009 20:22:20 GMT
kimby, I still don't take anything you said as critical, maybe this is the problem of this medium. It just made me giggle to myself when you said, "thanks for the personalized response". I immediately had a picture in my mind of some anonymous help web site somewhere full of anonymous people asking the 'wizard', who is anonymous, to interrupt his pontifications to deal with some insignificant question from person no-one has ever heard of before about a subject normally beneath his time to warrant a response. It just surprised me that someone would need to thank me for answering their question. I thought it'd be taken as a given that I would from any member of this site. D'ya see what I mean? Just because I'm spouting forth on computers doesn't mean that I'm not Mark any more. I don't have ideas above my station.
It may be not your wording but mine in response to you and how you've interpreted it. I, at no time, thought you were being critical. But my wording in my reply gave you the thought that I thought that. Well, I think that you thought that I thought that. My head hurts now.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Feb 27, 2009 20:33:09 GMT
Mine, too. ;-)
And perhaps my excessive gratitude is due to the fact that I've had very unsatisfactory customer service experiences lately with both AOL and my phone company which provides my connection to AOL and Any Port.
It was amazing to get a prompt and helpful reply, instead of a canned speech read from a computer screen by someone with heavily accented English who can't help me, but assures me that they are "very sorry for my inconvenience"!
You're a breath of fresh air, Mark. Just thank me for thanking you! Or at least don't tell me not to!
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2009 20:50:33 GMT
It's all a matter of respect and worth. If the other person has no respect for you or your worth then you get crap service i suppose. Even if I vehemently disagree with anyone on here I still have respect for them, and feel they are worth the best answer I can give them.
Jeez, I'm going to make myself sick in a minute. Anyway, thanks for thanking me. In Arabic one would say, "Afwan".
|
|
|
Post by onlymark on Feb 27, 2009 20:52:06 GMT
By the way, can't you have a nice cuddly avatar?
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Feb 27, 2009 23:21:15 GMT
It appears that prickly may be more apt!
|
|