Keep your PC clean of clutter!

Over time, hard drive space can get used up by temporary files (from the Internet, program installations, and more). The easiest and safest way to get rid of these and reclaim disk space is to use the built-in Windows Disk Cleanup Utility. You can search for “Disk Cleanup” in the start menu, or find it under “All Programs” > ”Accessories” > ”System Tools”. Not only will this utility safely find the files unnecessary for your PC, but will allow you to select which of them to be removed.

Another source of frequent clutter on your drive are files stored by your Internet browser.  These files accumulate as you surf the net every day.  To clear these unnecessary temporary files in the latest version of Internet Explorer, IE 9, click the gear icon in the top right-hand corner of your browser and select “Internet Options”. On the very first page/tab, you’ll see a “Browsing History” section in the middle of the window, with the option to “Delete.” On the next window, you get the option of deleting some or all of that data. Some of the information stored within Internet Explorer, like cookies, you may want to keep, as they help track when you revisit certain websites, preferences from last visits, however you can choose to delete all the information here safely. If you’re using another popular browser, like Firefox, you would find similar options under a “Tools/Preferences” menu, typically listed as “private data.”

Keep your PC healthy and up to date!

Updates are an important part to keeping your PC/Mac as secure and bug-free as possible. If you are using Windows, search for “Windows Update” in the Start Menu, or find it directly listed in the “All Programs” menu.  On a Mac, you can click the Apple logo in the top left-hand corner of your screen, and click “Software Update.” For both, it will scan your computer and check for any available updates. Once it has determined which updates you need, you can review them prior to installation, and determine if they appeal to you. If you’re not sure what something is, just use this rule of thumb: if the update is not listed as important, then you don’t have to install them; they’re optional. Anything listed as important, however, is vital to keep your computer as secure, and well behaved, as possible.

Keep your PC safe!

Antivirus or antimalware is another thing to keep in mind while maintaining your PC. If you have an active antivirus program, we recommend opening it on occasion to make sure it is up to date, and has scanned your PC recently. If you don’t have a current antivirus program installed, there are several recommendations we can make.  Norton, Trend Micro, and Kaspersky all make very effective products for a variety of terms and options.  If you prefer a no-cost solution for your antivirus, we can also recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. While lacking some of the features of a paid antivirus product, it offers you basic protection, and is updated by Microsoft themselves.

Keep your PC dust free!

Lastly, there is the physical cleaning of your PC. If your PC is over a year old, or in a dusty location, you may want to clean it with compressed air.  Keeping your PC clean of dust allows air to flow more freely, keeping the temperature down, and protecting the PC from overheating.  If you choose to use compressed air, be careful and follow the instructions listed on the can. Not doing so could result in damage to your computer from condensation (hold the can upright, spray in short bursts).

Geek Squad recommends performing these steps every 6-12 months, to keep your PC in optimal condition.  Not sure this is a project you want to undertake?  These are some of the same steps Geek Squad Agents utilize when performing a PC Tune-Up on your PC.  Agents are standing by 24/7/365 to keep your PC in prime condition.  Chat with an Agent today at GeekSquad.com or give us a call at 1-800-GeekSquad.

-Agent William G.

Agent William G. has been an Agent with Geek Squad since 2004. If he’s not working on computers remotely, or contributing to the Geek Squad Intelligence Blog, he can be seen skateboarding in the city streets of Atlanta.

1) Too many programs running at the same time. Over the lifespan of a computer it is common for users to download programs, applications, and other data that is running in the background. The more things that run in the background, the less “attention span” your computer has to do other things you are asking it to do.

Try to avoid downloading too many web browser-helpers like internet-search bars, programs that claim to “speed up” your internet or your computer, or multiple anti-malware programs. One or two may be fine, but too many will result in slow performance. Uninstall programs that you do not use that you see icons for in the lower right-hand corner of your screen, down by the clock. Once this is trimmed up you may notice a speed improvement.

2) Not enough free RAM. “RAM” is what your computer uses for temporary working and thinking space. The more you have the merrier your computer can be! If you look back to reason 1 in this article and have determined you need all those programs running, perhaps your computer doesn’t have enough RAM to do so. The hard drive inside your computer may make a lot of noise, accompanied by slow operation, if you are out of RAM.

RAM is a piece of hardware that can be added to your machine. Four gigabytes or more is recommended in newer computers, but the rule of thumb is to add as much as is affordable for you.

3) Virus/Malware infection. Quite often virus or malware programs running in the background can divert your computer’s attention away from what you want it to do. Internet slowdowns and general slow operation of the entire computer can be one of the symptoms of an infection. You should have the computer scanned for a malware infection to determine if this is the cause.

4) Low hard drive space. This generally applies to older computers. Hard drives, which store all of your computer’s information, only have a finite amount of space. Once filled up the computer no longer has the ability to manipulate your files. The computer will slow down, eventually becoming unusable.

Generally windows will alert you to “low disk space” if this is the case. Moving some of your less-used files such as pictures, music, and movies to an external hard drive would be a viable solution to regaining hard drive space. You can usually install a bigger hard drive as well. Deleting temporary files and performing a disk cleanup are also good ways to reclaim wasted space.

5) Due for a restart. Computer has not been restarted in…um, I don’t know how long? Yes, every once in a while it is a good idea to restart your computer. Some updates cannot be completed until you restart. In addition, restarting your computer can free up some resources that could be getting hogged up by buggy programs.

6) Sharing a wireless network. “My internet is slow but the computer is running fast!” There are many possible reasons this can be happening. Should you have a wireless network check to see if anyone else on your wireless is streaming video, downloading music, or playing online games. You should also make sure your wireless network is secure so someone else isn’t stealing your internet bandwidth. Wireless network security should be at the top of your important things to check.

7) Too many bells and whistles. Sure, that animated pointer and super hi resolution image of your favorite supercar look nice, but unfortunately these can also slow your computer down. These animations and images must be loaded into memory every time you start your PC which leaves less memory for other more important tasks.

8 ) Scanning programs running. Check to make sure your antivirus program, anti-spyware program, or automatic backup program is not the reason for the slowdown. If it is, I suggest you wait it out. Usually this type of activity is a necessity. Manufacturers of these types of software try to make everyday operations unobtrusive to you. There are times, however, when an update must be done or scanning must take place. Your computer will be a little slow to respond to you when this is happening.

I also find it is not necessary to scan your entire computer every single day for viruses and spyware. Once per week should be fine. The same applies for data backups. A complete system backup doesn’t need to run every single day for the average home user.

9) Not meeting software requirements. Software usually has a list of requirements on the box. Things such as processor speed, operating system, memory (RAM), hard drive space, and minimum video card requirements are usually printed somewhere on the box. Please note that this says minimum “requirements.” These specifications are the absolute minimum to make the software run. Run it will, run well it may not. Try and meet or surpass the system “recommendations” of your software, not the bare “requirements.”

10) A “fragmented” hard drive. This is becoming less of an issue with newer computers, but if you have an older PC it is worth a mention. Perhaps your hard drive needs a “defrag.”

Imagine a jigsaw puzzle. Computers like to store pieces of a file together, like a completed puzzle. Over time, with normal use these pieces can get scattered all over the hard drive; Similar to when your puzzle first came out of the box. The computer has to look to find all the pieces before it can access the file. This is not a problem if only a few files are fragmented. Once multiplied over several thousand files, however, we have a cumulative slowdown of your computer. Defragmenting your hard drive organizes all these pieces and puts them back together again.

This update, update id: KB973879, was pushed to install on computers via Windows Update. The update has been temporarily removed from Microsoft’s Web site and Windows Update.

Computers with Service Pack 2 installed prior to August 25, 2009 are not affected by this issue.

If you have a computer that is affected by this issue, please use the following directions to resolve it:

FROM NORMAL MODE OR SAFE MODE:

• Open the Start Menu and launch Programs and Features using Instant Search or via Control Panel
• Click on “View Installed Updates” on the left side
• Find the update KB973879
• Click on uninstall
• Restart when prompted
• Install Service Pack 2 to prevent the issue from occurring in the future

If this does not resolve the issue visit your local Best Buy or call 1-800-GEEKSQUAD (1-800-433-5778).

Netbooks

It’s easy to see why the netbook market has grown enormously over the last 12 months, with all the benefits the form factor provides.  Usually, the first thing people notice is the price, as many netbooks fall in the $249 to $499 range.

The other striking feature is their portability, with most netbooks come with screens between 8 and 11 inches, making them easier to stuff in a backpack or purse.

While they make great little portable computers, there are some downsides that must be considered.  Due to the price and size, most netbooks run on Intel Atom processors, which are designed to conserve power versus performance.  The primary use for netbooks is web surfing, email or productivity apps like Microsoft Word, not editing video, watching HD movies or general multitasking.

The other issue for some is the size of the screen and keyboard.   Many netbook screens have a maximum resolution of 1024 x 600.  To match the screen size, the built-in keyboard is generally smaller with keys that are usually less than 80% the size of a full size keyboard.

If you’re looking at a netbook, remember that it’s generally recommend as a 2^nd computer to be used along side a desktop or laptop at home.  However, in those situations, you really can’t beat the portability of having that 2^nd computer to bring with you wherever you go.  You’ll also want to try out the keyboard on a netbook you’re looking at purchasing to ensure that it’s going to be comfortable for typing out those homework assignments on.

Laptops

While laptops generally cost more than a cheap netbook, they do come in a much broader spectrum of price points, ranging between $300 for very basic entry-level notebooks up to $2500 for advanced systems.

Fortunately, for most back to school uses that don’t involve lots of HD video editing or other heavy performance tasks, you can often find a good fit in the $400 to $800 range.  

One line of laptops you may also want to take a look at is the Next Class line.  Best Buy took all the feedback they received from high school and college students on what they wanted in a laptop and went straight to Toshiba, HP, Dell and Sony to create laptops designed for students with features like 12-15 months of pre-installed anti-virus, full version of Office 2007 Home and Student and 3-6 hours of battery life.

If you still have questions on what laptop or netbook you should choose, remember that we have Geek Squad Precincts in every Best Buy with Agents standing by to help and support you with your back to school technology needs.

Not to panic… most connection issues can be resolved by following a few simple steps.

STEP 1: RESTART YOUR COMPUTER
Most simple issues can be solved by rebooting your computer. Give it a try. If that doesn’t resolve your issue, let’s move to STEP 2.

STEP 2: MOVE YOUR COMPUTER CLOSER TO THE WIRELESS ROUTER
If you find that this resolves the problem then you may need to add a wireless repeater . If you’re still having trouble connecting, time to move onto STEP 3.

STEP 3: “POWER CYCLE” YOUR NETWORK
To power cycle your network just follow these instructions in order as they appear:

1. Turn off your computer(s)
2. Find your DSL/cable modem box (it’s the one with the phone line or TV cable attached) and unplug its power cable from the outlet.
3. Identify the router box (usually has 5 or so jacks a little larger than your phone) and unplug the power cable from the outlet.
4. Wait one minute with everything unplugged
5. Plug in the DSL/cable Modem (Remember it’s the one with the phone line or TV cable attached) and wait until all the lights turn on. This will take a minute or two.
6. Plug in the router and wait for all the lights to turn green. Again, this will take about one minute.
7. Turn on your computer(s) and go to www.GeekSquad.com/SpeedTest to test your connection.

If you’re still having trouble after following all these steps you’ll probably need some advanced troubleshooting help.  If you need help from Geek Squad have a couple of options:

• If you have at least one computer connected to the network, talk to one of our Virtual Agents.
• You can 1-800-GEEKSQUAD to arrange an on site service visit.

Laptops, TVs and GPS systems are hot theft items across the country. Here are some tips to help keep you from being the victim. Or, in the chance that your property is stolen, how you might be able to get it back:

• If you leave your tech gear in your vehicle unattended, put it in the trunk — or at least hide it in the locked cab interior. If you have a GPS system suction cupped to your windshield, remove it and put it in your glove compartment, or better yet – take it with you.

• Save a copy of your original sales receipt in a safe place. You’ll need it to provide proof of purchase.

• Record the serial number for all tech items immediately after your purchase. Then, in the unfortunate event your product is stolen, you can file the number with your insurance company and the police department. The serial number makes it easier to identify your tech if it’s recovered.

• Encrypt the data on your computer, hard drive or other data-storage device so thieves can’t access it. In the least, password protect your device. If you have Windows Vista Business, Enterprise or Ultimate Edition, it’s easier to do so. Simply right-click the folder or file you want to encrypt, and then click “Properties.” Click the “General” tab and then “Advanced.” And then, click the “Encrypt contents to secure data” check box and click OK.

(Image from Microsoft.com)

• Back-up your data regularly so you can recover it on another device (here’s one easy solution: online backup). Here’s a Two Minute Miracle video we created recently that explains what online backup is and how it works: