When, Why, and How should I reformat my Hard Drive?

Sometimes we have no choice when it comes to reformatting your hard drive. Just make sure you understand that all your data will be lost unless you take the time to backup files you do not want to lose. This should only be done as a last resort.

When should I reformat my hard drive? If your windows files are corrupted beyond repair or you have files missing and all your attempts to repair have failed. If you have a virus and all your attempts at removal has not worked. Another reason would be if your computer is infected with spy-ware to the point you cannot open Internet Explorer or your computer's performance has slowed considerably. Another reason would be if your computer will not finish a successful de-frag

Why should I reformat my hard drive? One of the biggest complaints I used to get when working with a clients computer was that it was so slow and it used to be a lot faster. Computers will lose performance over many months of use if it has not been de-fragged, multiple spy-ware infections, multiple virus infections, registry errors, files left after we un-installed programs we are not using. All these factors over time will slow your computer to a crawl. It would be a good idea when your computer is to the point that all your attempts to correct the problems have not improved the situation. If your at this point than its time you make preparations to reload your computer.

How should I reformat my hard drive?

1. Before you can begin to reformat your hard drive you must try to backup any files you may want to keep. Keep in mind if your computer is infected so can the files your backing up be infected. Before you proceed with the backup process separate the files you want to keep into a separate folder. Any folders that contain files you want to keep you can drag and drop those into this folder too.

2. Run a scan virus and spy-ware on this folder and make sure these files are not infected. Any files that cannot be repaired get rid of them.

3. You can backup your folder easy if you have CDRW or zip drive. If you have a secondary hard drive you could just drag and drop those files into it. Just make sure you label your folder backup so you can find it easily. Many of you have songs and pictures you want to keep you can backup those too as long as they are clean from infection.

4. Don't forget to backup your history and bookmarks folder if you do not want to los that information. Take inventory of all items you want to keep and put them in this folder and scan them. This should keep your losses to minimum.

5. Your computer manufacturer would have given you a restore CD and driver CD. You should have least one of each depending on the manufacturer you may have more than just two. If you cannot find your CD's or they are damaged you can get replacement from your computer manufacturer for nominal fee. It is a good idea when you first take your computer out of the box to put the CD's in a safe place. You can also make backups of them so if they become damaged you don't have to buy replacements.

6. If your computer came loaded with Windows XP it is very easy to reformat your computer with the CD. Do not copy Windows over Windows always delete the partition when it prompts you and create a new partition. The next step it will ask you to format the drive and it completes these steps easily for you.

7. It will than run Windows setup and load XP back onto your computer.

8. If your computer is older and your running Windows 98/ME the process is basically the same except depending on your computer manufacturers restore disk you may have a some different steps. You may be required to reformat your drive with a DOS boot disk. Consult your manual for instructions.

9. Your computer manufacturer also supplied driver disks and possibly applications disks. Once Windows is loaded you would use your driver disk to load the applicable drivers you need to operate your computer efficiently. Once all your drivers are installed and working correctly you can install any applications.

10. Your computer manufacturer bundled some trial applications with your computer that the licenses have expired putting those back on at this point is not necessary. You do not have to put on any applications you are not using. If your not using them just save the space for other things.

11. Now you can put the backup folder you created back on your computer. Once you have accomplished that you can drag and drop the files and folders into their original positions over writing any folders Windows created.

12. Now you would install your virus and spy-ware program and make sure you can get on the Internet.

13. Once your on the Internet do not do anything else until you have done all the windows updates. This is critical so you get your browsers security updated. Install any service packs and make sure your Windows firewall is activated.

14. Run any virus definition updates and spy-ware updates.

15. This process make take several hours to get everything up and running but it is important that you do this so your computer operates efficiently.

If you have completed all the steps congratulations you just reloaded your computer and your ready to go.

Do you blog or have a website?

Did you know that if you blog or have your own website you could be missing an opportunity to make a few extra bucks? Yes if you use your website for business or personal use you can take the traffic you receive and place ads on your site.

There are many advertisers who will pay you to host some small ads on your website. You normally have all control of where these ads are placed and in most cases you get to decide what ads are acceptable to you. Don't join a program that places ads on your site that you have no deciding factor in what is advertised.

Even Google and Yahoo have a program you can apply for to place ads on your site. these ads pay you when clicked on. Its called PPC or pay-per-click. Some of the ads pay only a few pennies but others, depending on the what advertisers pay, pay you a lot more. Some ads can be very lucrative.

Anyone who blogs will find it very seemless to allow advertisers to place ads on your site.
Even if you know very little about placing ads its cut and paste and almost anyone can place a small code on their webpage.

There are tools that can create web pages and place code where you want it just by dragging the mouse. Building websites is a whole different ballgame when we are talking about computer tips but the web page creator programs have become so easy to use anyone can build a website in minutes.

Its not hard to do and if you feel not very confident there are ebooks and instructions on line that walk you through creating websites in minutes.

Tim

Are you using your computer for business?

No matter what your using you PC for either business or home use online security is very important. If your using your PC for business keeping your virus program and security programs up to date is of the most importance. Make sure you keep windows update up to date. Most browsers already come with 128bit encryption but you should make sure yours is. If your using online processors to handle credit cards you especially need this. To check and make sure your browser is 128bit encryption click on help above navigation tool bar and than click on about Internet Explorer or Firefox whichever one your using. It should say 128bit if it doesn't go and update it immediately.

Also, make sure you have the windows firewall enabled. It would also be a good idea that if your running a business on a family PC you make the investment of another PC for your business. Especially if your business handles credit cards.

Your PC needs to be in a secured location and proper user names and passwords installed. You may be running your business from home or in an office. If your in and office its a good idea to install a screen lock program if your away from your PC for more than a couple of minutes. Its your business and your lively hood protect it the best you can. There are resources in your city or town that can give you extra security measures against a security breach.

Why is all this important? With the recent news events of TJx having a security breach it has put their customers at some risk. When your handling credit cards and debit cards you don't want this to happen to any of your customers.

Even if your using a PC for just home use its still a good idea to protect your private info you have stored in your PC so make sure you always keep security up to date.

Tim

CD-ROM Tips

What if your CD-ROM door doesn't open? Most CD-ROM's have a tiny pin hole on the front close by the door. You take a paper clip and bend it and stick it in the hole. If it opens your good to go. Sometimes the doors stick after a CD is inside they usually don't stick when empty. If you can't get the door open you have two options one take it in for servicing or replace it. CD-ROM's don't cost a lot so you could save money by just replacing it yourself.

What if your CD-ROM door gets knocked a jar? This is a tricky one sometimes you can take it apart and re-align it but many times its broken and needs to be replaced. You can take it into a service center and they can try and re-align it. Doors can be knocked ajar if we leave it open and somebody bumps it. So be careful and always close the door don't leave it sitting open.

What if a CD shatters inside the drive? Many times when it shatters the door can get stuck so you can try the paper clip trick. If not you may just need to take it apart or into service to remove the broken CD. CD's are known to sometimes not sit in the tray correctly anditr will jam and the door will not open. A technician can take them apart if you can't. If the CD inside is of value he can try to salvage it for you.

What if your favorite CD is scratched to the point it will not work? There is a product that can restore the CD somewhat so it is playable again. Its not 100% so if you use a CD all the time make a copy of it in case this very thing happens. Clean your CD's and handle them with care. If you purchase a CD and its scratched or not playable out of the box return it at once.

What if your favorite music CD spins but you cannot hear it? Well make sure your sound is functioning normally. Also, make sure your CD volume is not muted in your sound control properties. If that still does not work try it in another source and see if it plays. If it does check to make sure your audio cable on your CD-ROM is connected properly. Very unlikely that it will become loose on its own. Make sure you check out all your sound properties. Also make sure you have sound in CD games.

These are just some quick tips for maintaining your CD-ROM.

I hope this info is helpful.

Tim

Family PC?

If you have a PC that everyone in the family uses make sure you setup individual login and passwords. It would also be a good idea to get software to monitor your children's activities online. Restrict your childs online activities. Don't take for granted your child knows what he or she is doing. They may know how to get around on a PC better than you do but you need to educate yourself so that you know as much as your child or more. Computers are not always safe to use cause a child can give out information or be subject to predators online. What would be a great learning experience for your child could turn into a nightmare. We must take responsibility for what our children do or learn on the internet. Computers are a great tool for learning, education, and fun but they can also be dangerous if used wrong. I cannot stress this enough besides the possibility of your child picking up some malicious software that can destroy all your data thay can open themselves up to be hurt by those who prey on children. I would be remiss if I did not discuss this amongst my readers. The last thing I would never want to see happen is my readers to be harmed in anyway on the internet. Lets help keep the internet safe for all.

I hope this info is useful. Until next time have a very nice day.

Tim

If you open the case to service it...

If you open the case at anytime to service it or have it serviced than blow it out with a can of air at that time. Make sure your cables are not in the way when you close the case. Some tech places use air compressors to clean it out which really do a good job. If you open your case in warm weather months, to keep it cool, than make sure you blow it out more often. Dust and smoke are not good for a PC.

Just a little tip.

Tim

No Power?

Has this ever happened to you? You turn on your PC and you get an amber light and nothing else.
Well, I am going to show you how to figure out if its your power supply or Motherboard.

1. First step is your power supply fan running?

2. If it isn't open up your case.

3. There should be a button on the power supply to check it if you push it and the fan runs the cause may possibly be your motherboard.

4. If you push it and the fan does not spin its your power supply that has given up the ghost replace it.

5. Sometimes you can push it and it will run but nothing else it still can be the power supply is not given out enough power to power up or boot the PC. A good way to check this is to try pushing the tray on the cdrom. If it opens replace the motherboard.

6. But we are talking about no power or partial power PC's (amber light on power indicator button). In these cases its most always the power supply.

7. One great thing about a tech he has access to spare power supplies on his bench and he can make sure its one or the other. So if you don't feel confident in your being able to diagnose it take it to somebody who knows before you spend the money on any parts replacement.

8. If you have determined its a power supply they are easy to replace and do not cost a lot. You can get a replacement on the internet for less than $50-60 plus shipping.

I hope this information was helpful. Until next time have a nice day.

Tim

Two Schools of Thought

There has always been two ways of thinking when it comes to turning your PC off or leaving it on to run all the time (just rebooting once in awhile). The idea was that it did not hurt your PC to leave it on all the time other than extra electric bill. Some believed that it was cheaper to purchase a power supply than a hard drive. Hard drive used to costs about one dollar per mb. That is no longer the case. Back in the 1980's a 200mb hard drive would have cost around $200. Today, you can purchase a 160gb hard drive for about $80. They are getting larger and larger capacities and cost less and less. The idea that leaving your machine on caused less wear and tear on the heads of your hard drive. Each time you start your PC the hard drive armature will access the heads. Hard drives are manufactured a lot better than they were years ago so this belief has changed some.

I leave mine on most of the time only rebooting on occasion. If you want to turn yours off or leave it on is just a matter of preference. It is just a question that still gets asked a lot about what is better for your PC.

The power supply still is cheaper than the hard drive and you can purchase a 400W power supply for under $50 with some vendors. Its okay to up your wattage on your power supply if your old one wears out however for older PC's anything past a 400W would be over kill.

During a storm I would turn off my PC though and unplug it from the wall also disconnect it from the internet. Lightning can damage it even when its not turned on so keep that in mind. If you go on vacation turn it off as well no use giving your power company extra cash when your not there.

I hope this info was helpful. Until tomorrow have a nice day.

Tim

Computer Tip for most everyone?

If you do not listen to music, work with images, play games or use your computer to watch other media than this tip is not for you. When you buy a PC do not buy computers with on board video and sound. What that means is the sound and video are built-in on the motherboard and do not use an expanded card for sound or video. If you listen to music or any of the other things I mentioned you won't get the best from your PC with on board sound or video. The music won't be rich or the video do your games or pictures justice. It does matter what sound card and speakers you use to get the most out of your media you enjoy. Same goes for the video card. Some games won't even play with on board video. Cheap computers you buy at outlets are nothing more than below average PC's that run applications and do your taxes just fine but as media PC's they just don't measure up. Not to say you can't use those PC's for that but you will be frustrated with its limitations. You will spend a little more for a better PC or have one built for less but either way if you want to enjoy your songs, pictures, games, etc. than get a PC that can handle it.

As always if I hope this info is useful to you. Until next time have a nice day.

Tim