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Posts Tagged ‘Windows XP’

Windows 7; Full Installation or Just Upgrade

December 2nd, 2009

 

Before exploring the uniqueness of Windows 7, you need to installing this high class Operational System first to your PC. There are two options for installing Windows 7; first is installing from the beginning (re-installation) and the second is upgrading from the previous version of Windows, but it would be better to choose clean installation or full re-installation that will be faster and more satisfaction guarantee. However, if Windows 7 will be installing to your main PC in which contains document setting, and complexity of applications which difficult to back it up, upgrade would be proper option.

You need to notes that not at all system are able to run through upgrade mechanism, if you are Windows XP user you may disappointed cause upgrade was not recommended by Microsoft. Perhaps you may try by using Windows Easy Transfer feature but it s only for shifting file and Windows setting. All applications which already installed will disappear. Even Vista, not at all can be done through upgrade way. Only small number of Vista which enable Windows 7 installation through upgrade mechanism, while the other can only installed by clean installation way. However, if it can be done through upgrade, installation duration would take long time enough.

Chris Hernandez, a Microsoft Engineer, ever counted times duration needed to installing and upgrade Windows 7 at three configuration computers, starting from low-end class to high-end class, while the configuration are combined with the characteristics of user, starting from the user who has only 20 applications to the high class user which have 40 applications. The result show that time duration needed for re-installation Windows 7 just 30 minutes, while upgrade can achieve 10 hours. Its mean that this time records 5% better than Windows Vista

So, it would be better to choose full installation than upgrade for installing Windows 7 or you may need to prepare more hot coffee and delicious snack before upgrade you previous Windows to Windows 7.

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Most Basic Methods to Improve Windows XP Performance

November 19th, 2009

Although the computer seems invincible to most of us, the fact is that the passage of time can produce technological problems that could eventually lead to a slowdown in our computers’ processes. However, that does not mean that you will have to replace your PC. A few simple steps is all it takes to boost Windows XP’s low performance. Thus, here are some of the easiest ways to improve the performance of Windows XP.

Uninstalling Unused Programs

One of the reasons why Windows XP is performing poorly is because it contains too much memory. If you have games or applications that you are not using anymore, then it might be best to uninstall them completely to give your computer room to breathe. Also, there could sometimes be programs that are installing themselves into your device without your knowledge, commonly known as spyware. The anti spyware software is also available online. You can do this by clicking Start, Control Panel and choosing Add or Remove Programs.

Disk Cleanup

You can do this by right clicking your hard drive, choosing Properties and clicking the Disk Cleanup button. It basically detects unnecessary files in your computer and gives you the option to delete them and free storage space.If you have more than one hard drive, then you could just do the process more than once.

Disk Defragmenter

This function basically rearranges your data properly so that the computer could easily access the information whenever you need it. This is why even the simplest command can take a long time be obeyed. You can do this by right-clicking your hard drive, choosing the Tools tab and clicking the Defragment Now button. 

Network Connections

Being connected to a network may be useful when it comes to sharing files and folders with different computers, but the act of connecting itself can dull the Windows XP performance. This is because a response from the remote computer will be waited on by the local PC prior to any process. Also, there are applications that attempt to connect to a network while you try to access a particular file, even if that file is in your local computer. To disconnect Network Connections go to My Computer, Tools, Disconnect Network Drive and choose the ones you don’t use anymore. 

Fine tuning Windows XP’s performance does not require for you to be a computer genius. Most of these instructions are basic and can be easily accomplished. However, it is always recommended that you make a backup of the data in your hard drive before attempting any fine tuning. Always run regular virus scans for your PC and keep your antivirus software updated.

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Free Softwares Are A Great Way To Test Something

April 4th, 2009
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It doesn’t matter if you have a computer that runs Microsoft Windows or the Macintosh operating system. Either way, when you want to purchase additional software for your computer it can be tough deciding which application to purchase. You hate to waste your money on a program that doesn’t really do what you need it to do or that ends up being difficult to use. Fortunately, there is a good deal of free software that you can take advantage of before you buy.

Software publishers are becoming more aware of the fact that people don’t want to spend a hefty chunk of money for a program before they have a chance for a test drive. There was a time when this lead to people sharing copies of programs and software piracy became a real problem. Many software development companies now provide computer users with free trial programs.

The free software demos of various software programs are a good approach both for the software publishers and also for the end users. By giving people a chance to use a demo version of the application, people have a chance to get familiar with that company’s product line. Most of the time the user needs to supply the company with their email address in order to download the trial software and this allows the company to continue promoting their product.

Different companies put different limitations on the software that they allow people to test drive. Some trial software is fully functional but only for a limited period of time, such as two weeks or 30 days. Other free versions have some of the functions blocked or don’t allow the user to save their work. These limitations can actually work against the company because people never have a chance to get a complete feel for the hardware software interaction and true usefulness of the application.

Software development companies that allow users to have a fully functional demo, free of charge for at least 30 days stand the best chance of the user making a purchase. This gives the user enough time to relax and settle into using the application and if they find it at all useful by the end of the 30 day computer software trial, then they will need to make the purchase so that they don’t lose the work they completed during that time.

There are also some software companies, especially small companies and independent software programmers, that provide fully functional free of charge software downloads that have no limitations at all. This is called freeware and the purpose is either to introduce the user to additional software solutions that the company has or to give the user the opportunity to make a donation. The interesting thing is that many people will “donate” more for a freeware program than they would be willing to pay for a fully functional application.

There are a lot of download sites where you can find free software to try. Look under the category of the type of software you need and download a few different trials so you can test them and compare how they work and the cost of the full upgraded package. Do take time to read the terms and understand exactly how the demo period works. The last thing you want to do is end up having some important work you did in trial software being “held hostage” if you don’t decide to buy the particular program.

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Taking A Look At Essential Software Drivers

February 17th, 2009
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A common piece of software that is often overlooked is the software driver. These drivers are designed to allow an external piece of hardware, such as a printer, to integrate with the main computer unit. A driver facilitates communication between the software application that needs to use a device and the device itself. It can be thought of as a bridge that closes the gap between applications and external hardware devices.

When a computer software program calls for a certain function of the device, this invokes a specific routine in the driver which then issues the proper command to the device. The device then sends the requested data back to the driver, which in turn communicates that back to the application.

These device drivers can also invoke certain software routines in the original program that made a call, or request, for the action. Because of this interaction, it is very important for the software driver to be up-to-date and current and also for the software programs that interact with them to be “aware” of these programs so that they can interact correctly.

Some of the common device drivers that you probably have on your computer are the small programs that came with your printer, your digital camera, your cell phone, any Bluetooth device that you have and hard drives that are removable. Without the right device driver you will find it virtually impossible for any of these external tools hardware devices to be recognized by the operating system, let alone function correctly.

When people have problems with printers, scanners, USB drives and other devices, one of the most common problems is with the drivers. Because these small programs function as a go-between and interact with both operating systems and other computer software programs, they have a tendency to be become corrupt.

When a device driver becomes corrupt, the item of hardware that they “drive” can start to behave erratically or stop responding completely. One very common problem that happens is when a printer driver gets corrupted. If your printer suddenly starts producing pages that are not formatted the way they appear on the screen, or print out nothing but sheets full of code, then the problem is most likely a bad software driver.

The good news is that it is very easy to replace a device driver that has gone bad. Most of the time on a PC running Microsoft Windows, such as Windows XP or Windows Vista, you can reinstall the driver from the CD-ROM that came with your device, as it will simply over-ride the defunct version. However, before installing Mac drivers, it is recommended to completely remove all associated files from your computer before re-installing the newer version. If it has been awhile since you bought the device, then the best thing to do is go to the website of the manufacturer and search for the most recent version of the driver.

Most of the time this is the simplest and easiest way to resolve a problem with a peripheral device. In addition, when you download and install updated versions of device drivers, often you will also discover improved performance as a bonus. For this reason, it is a good idea to check for an updated driver for your device every few months.

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