pcExpressWay Computer Tech Area

The Slow Running Computer Blues

The Black and White

If your pc is running slower than normal, or in the office environment and your pc’s all of a sudden start to run slow, or you can hear the hard drive running hard, or when you click on the start button it takes forever to work, you are probably and perhaps your entire office, is infected with a virus, and probably have been for awhile.

When this is the case, they always say, “but I have anti virus software already”. And when I check it, it was expired 2 years ago <smile>.

Once I had a customer that had a similar problem and it turned out she had 2 different anti virus software programs running at the same time.

In your office network, everything is running slow. All or most users are online, emailing, chatting, listening to music or ball games. Most have the cool toolbars and search bars.

If and when you surf the internet, you inadvertently pick up spy ware from some web sites, sometime they(the web sites) install things on your pc and you don’t even know it.

Most never heard of, or use a disk defragmenter or the scandisk feature that comes with most versions of windows and can be found under start - programs - accessories - system tools.

Most all viruses come from email attachments. Some come from web pages you visit and some come from flaws in the operating system you are running. Viruses are Smart these days and once they are on your pc, they will disable things to keep you from fixing it. I’ve even seen floppy drives, cd-rom drives and your video go bad.

When friends come over their kids always want to get on the internet and then want to install things. DO NOT let any kids or anyone you don’t know, or anyone who does not know the ramifications of these actions may bring, install anything-period! If you do you will probably be calling someone soon to fix you computer.

It is your responsibility to maintain and keep in touch with the latest news on viruses, Trojan’s and hacker threats. It won’t do you any good to blame the software manufacturer for flaws in a system, anymore than it will do you any good to say (after an accident) “But he was supposed to stop at that stop sign”.

It is your responsibility to be a “Good Neighbor” in your office network/home network environment and the internet. You would not be happy if you inadvertently sent an email to a friend that had a virus and it ruined his or her pc, and they lost all their data. Never believe anything in any email that “Tells” you to do something to your pc such as delete some file, or to install something.

So how to prevent and fix these potential hazards-On to PC Safety

Every PC owner/user running any Windows OS Has to do this-all the time

PC Safety Index

Introduction

I. Preparing to format and install Windows 2000 Pro

• Starting the computer and booting up from the Windows 2000 Pro CD ROM.
• Partitioning the Hard Drive - Preparing to install
• Deciding on partitions
• Deleting partitions
• Selecting the File System Type
• Installation and completion of Operating System (os)

II. Running Windows Update to complete security and patches

III. Installing your Anti Virus Software

IV. If you are a home or small office/home office user

V. Conclusion - Maintaining the pc and good practices

VI. Backing up your data after failure

Introduction

Here are the steps I use when starting with a fresh computer that has no operating system and has never been run. The same will apply to a broken pc that has it’s data backed up to a cd or another networked computer and needs a new operating system to overcome problems.

In this example we will be using the Windows 2000 Pro operating system. It is the easiest OS to use and is the easiest to pickup drivers, etc. and manage hard disk. Our Opinion of course :-)

The Summary of this text is:

a) in order to keep your new pc running safely and smoothly is to maintain it by running windows update everyday and by maintain your subscription service with your antivirus software provider.

b) Establishing a safe, smooth office computer environment in the home and office.

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