Are you suffering from “PC Rage”?

This morning I was faced with my first case of “PC Rage”. I was sitting safe and sound on my parents’ couch when I heard a strange noise coming from the study. First just a mumble, which turned into yelling, followed by a loud bang!

Curiosity got the better of me, so I popped my head into the room to try to find out what the commotion was all about. Suddenly I felt like George Bush, dodging that infamous shoe, when the keyboard came flying in my direction.

After the initial shock subsided I saw my red-faced Dad, puffing and squeezing the mouse frantically. “I’m sick and tired of my computer taking forever to start up and load programs, I’m late for work and this thing is crashing all the time!” Wow! Dad is usually a pretty calm guy.

Needless to say, we had to buy a new keyboard. Plus I’ve spent a couple of hours giving my father tips on how to keep his computer in shape. So in order to stop the tide of “PC Rage” I thought I should share them with you as well:

1. Delete Temporary Internet Files. When you visit a new website its content is stored on your PC and takes up hard drive space. Go to “Tools”, then “Options” – as each browser is a bit different, click through tabs to find an option of deleting temporary files and cookies.

2. Use a registry cleaner such as Registry Mechanic. Windows® registry can be a common cause of crashes, slow performance and error messages. Registry cleaners will stabilise your system and help improve its performance.

3. Ensure automatic Windows® Updates is turned on. You can turn this feature on via the Control Panel and then click on Automatic Updates to configure the settings.

4. Eliminate unused files & desktop shortcuts.  Every file and application that sits on your desktop takes up extra space, delete them to free up your hard disk space.

5. Uninstall unused programs. The more programs you have installed the slower your system will become.  You need to use the “Uninstall” command in the Add/Remove program feature in the Control Panel. You can’t remove a program just by deleting its folder and files.

6. Empty the Recycle Bin. Files that you delete from your computer are still stored in your recycle bin and will continue to take up a valuable hard drive space.

7. Schedule regular anti-virus & anti-spyware scans with Spyware Doctor or Internet Security (quick scan daily, full scan weekly). Computer viruses and spyware can take over your computer’s memory and slow performance.

8. “Defrag” your computer regularly. Each time you work with a file your computer stores changes in a different place on the hard disk.  A defragmentation tool in Desktop Maestro or Registry Mechanic will bring all the fragmented files together for faster file access and reduced load on your computer. You can also do it yourself by right clicking on hard drive, choosing “properties” –”tools “and “defragment now”.

Article by P. Kattie