Once again spring is here, which means it is time to spring clean your home. You should also take this time to do some spring cleaning on your computer also to help it run better. If you are  having problems with slowness this is a great time to speed it up.

It is very simple to spring clean your computer yourself. You do not need to hire someone to do it for you. Simply follow the below directions to get your computer back to normal.

Manage your files

The first thing you can do to spring clean your computer is to remove files that you no longer need. Most people will have many files, such as pictures, movies, songs, and documents on their computer over the past year that they no longer want or need. Removing these files will free up space on your hard drive, and help your computer run much smoother. Uninstall any programs that you no longer use on your computer. Open up Computer on your Windows 7 computer and delete any files that you see that you no longer want. If you have a large amount of songs or movies, these can take up a large amount of space on your hard drive. You can also purchase an external hard drive to store these files on to save room on your computer.

Clean Temporary Files

Once you have removed unwanted files on your computer, you should then remove temporary files left on your computer. A computer can have a large amount of junk on it that you can remove, such as temporary files, log files, and temporary system files. You can use a built-in utility on your Windows computer called Disk Cleanup to easily remove these files.  Click the Start button, type Disk Cleanup in the search field, and then click Disk Cleanup in the list of search results to run this tool.

Clean Your Computer

Over time, a computer can easily get dust inside of it and this can damage your computer very easily. Too much dust can actually cause your computer to overheat. If you have a desktop computer, open up the case and inspect the inside of it. If you see dust inside of it, simply purchase some canned air at any store that sells computers and clean it out.If you have a laptop, you can blow the canned air into the ventilation holes to clean out the dust. You should also clean out the keyboard on your desktop and laptop.

Taking the time to spring clean your computer can help it run much better for you. It will also help your computer last much longer. The tips above should help your computer run like new again.

 

Children are being taught about computers in school at a very young age, and they are learning more and more about them. It is not uncommon for a very young child to be able to use a computer completely alone without any help from an adult. In some cases, the child may know more about computers than the adult in the household does.

It is important that every household should have a computer that works well with their child. A desktop may be better for a child of a young age, because they can easily drop or stop on a laptop. Desktop computers typically costs less than a laptop also. You should consider the type of computer that you purchase, and make sure your child will also be able to use it.

An adult mouse on a computer may be too large for a child’s small hands. This is the reason why you should consider purchasing a smaller mouse for them. The touch pad on a laptop also works well for them, if this is the only type of computer they have in the home.  You can purchase a small mouse for your child online or from most electronic stores. They also come in many different types of designs and colors for your child. They also make keyboards that are designed primarily for children. These keyboards have less keys on them, and the keys are also larger which works much better for their smaller hands.

You should also make sure you purchase a computer desk and comfortable chair for your child. Make sure the computer monitor is at eye level with the child when they are sitting in front of the computer. They should be able to easily rest their elbows on the table while they are typing with no problems. You can also purchase a cover for the keyboard to protect it from any type of water damage.

One of the most important things about computers and children is having parental control over it. Make sure your child understand what he or she is allowed to do on the computer. The Internet has many wonderful things on it, but there are also many bad things that your child could easily find without even trying to. Using Google to search for certain things can bring up some very bad websites that you wouldn’t want your child to see.

Learn how to use parental controls on Windows 7 or 8. These control will not allow your child to accidentally navigate to a porn site or any other questionable site that you would not want them to see. Always make sure there is an adult around when they are on the computer to monitor what they are doing at all times.

By following a few simple steps you can make your computer last much longer. A computer can become much slower if it is not taken care of properly. Below are some easy steps that you can follow to help your computer run faster.

 Remove Spyware

Many people have spyware on their computer and they don’t even know it. If you have noticed your fast computer running slower than normal lately, you very well could have spyware on it. You can get spyware in many different ways, such as downloading free programs, and once it is on your computer it can actually steal your personal information. There are programs that are designed to remove spyware from  your computer. Some great free programs include Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and SUPERAntispyware. Both of these programs are available for immediate download. Download the program of your choice, or more than one, update the program, and then run a full scan on your computer. Allow the software to completely remove all spyware. You should then notice your computer running much better.



 Free Up Disk Space

Freeing up disk space on your computer can make your computer run faster. Windows 7 has a tool that you can use completely free to accomplish this task. The tool is called Disk Cleanup, an dit can be found when you click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and then click Disk Cleanup. This tool will remove temporary Internet files, downloaded program files, Windows temporary files, and empties your recycle bin. It also removes any unused restore points that you may have that also take up space.


 Speed Up Access to Data
If you have been using your computer for some time chances are your files have become fragmented. When files are fragmented it takes your hard drive  much longer to open these files. You can run the Disk Defragmenter with Windows 7 to put the files back together again. To run this tool click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and then click Disk Defragmenter. You should defrag your computer at least once per month, or once a week if you use your computer constantly.

A slow computer can be very frustrating, but there are different ways that you can make your computer run faster yourself. Doing regular maintenance on your computer will help it run faster for you and also help your computer last much longer. These steps do not take very long, but they will ensure that your computer is running as best as it can

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If the monitor on your computer has gone bad and you are planning to purchase a new one, there are a few things that you should consider. There are many different types of computer monitors on the market today, that it can be very difficult to decide which one is best for you.

Before you spend money on a new monitor, learn how to know if your monitor is bad. In some cases, it may not be your monitor at all but something totally different.

LCD (liquid crystal display) is probably the most popular type of monitor that you can purchase right now. This is because the monitor is very light and thin, and also has a very clear image. This type of monitor is more expensive than a CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor.

Below are the factors that you should consider when purchasing a new monitor for your computer:

Screen Size

The size of the screen on your monitor is probably the most important factor. The most common size of computer monitors today are 15-inch and 17-inch, but you can also purchase much larger monitors like a 19-inch or 21-inch. The larger monitor may be better if you enjoy playing games, or do any type of graphic work on your computer.

Viewing Angle

Most LCD monitors on the market today have a viewing angle of 160 degrees up to 180 degrees. This means the screen is fully visible from any angle while sitting in front of the screen.

The larger displays typically have a wider viewing angle. If you plan to use your computer to watch movies, do graphic work, play games, etc. a larger monitor is needed because it has a wider viewing angle. The wider the viewing angle is also means the colors are more consistent and accurate no matter what angle you are looking at.

Display Resolution

You have probably heard the term pixel when it comes to digital cameras. Pixels are also used in computer graphics to determine the best display resolution of a computer monitor. If you have a display resolution of 1280 X 1024 pixels, this means the number of pixels per unit distance is 1280 X 1024 in that monitor. The more pixels you have on a computer monitor the better the image will be.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio is also something that you should consider when purchasing a new monitor for y our computer. The higher the contrast ratio is the better. You should make sure that you know what the contrast ratio is of the monitor you are planning to purchase. Ask the salesman how to compares to the other monitors they have.

Brightness

The brightness of the monitor that you are planning to purchase is also something that you should consider. The average brightness for most computer monitors today is between 205-350 candelas per square meter (cd/m2), also known as nits. If you plan to use your computer to watch movies or play games, the monitor should be over 300 nits. If you work at home on your computer, brightness of around 200 and 250 nits is much better.

My mom called me last night and said her monitor would not turn on. I went over and checked it out and determined that her monitor was completely bad and it was time to replace it. I thought I would write up a blog post telling you what steps I took to make sure it was the monitor and not her computer or video card that was bad. Monitors are not cheap. It would be a shame to buy a brand  new monitor for no reason at all.

My mom’s monitor was old to begin with. She was still using those really large monsters that use to come with all computers. I grabbed a monitor I had sitting at home, which was one of the much smaller and thinner monitors, to take it with me to her house.

The first thing I did was turn it on. You never know, do you? She was right, of course. It was completely black. I did make sure the computer was turned on too. I checked the connection in the back of the computer. I even disconnected it and then reconnected it to make sure it was connected tightly.

I unhooked her old monitor and set it on the floor of her computer room. Wow that thing was so heavy. I immediately set the new monitor in its place and my mom was amazed. I connected it to her computer and immediately the monitor came right on. Obviously, my mom’s monitor went bad. It was about 5 years old so it was time for a new one. I just let her keep my monitor as I wasn’t using it. She was very pleased with her new monitor. Now, if I can just talk her into getting a new computer. She is still using Windows XP if that tells you anything.

Now, if the new monitor would not have worked on her computer I would have checked the cable itself. Sometimes the cable can go bad. If that wasn’t it, I would suspect the video card. That means taking apart the computer and removing the video card and looking at it. I also had a replacement video card with me so I would have replaced it inside of her computer. That more than likely would have fixed her problem.

When your computer starts getting older there are many things that can go wrong with it. If your monitor goes out and  your computer is over 5 years old, more than likely you simply have a bad monitor.

Many people upgrade their computer equipment every couple of years, and they will sell their old computer. A two or three-year old computer is not old at all, and gives many people a great opportunity to get a good computer at a great price.

You can even find good computers for sale that are only a year old or less. There is nothing at all wrong with them except the owner only wants the latest model that is available, or they simply need extra money quickly. If you are trying to find a new computer, you may want to look into buying a used computer first to see if you can find a good deal.

When you are purchasing anything that is used, you must make sure it works before you purchase it. Check the computer out very thoroughly. Make sure it powers up and down okay. Check the hard drive space, the amount of memory, and the processor. Make sure everything is exactly as it was advertised. You should also check this information in the BIOS. A person cannot change this information and you know it is completely correct for the computer.

Make sure all the software is included with the computer, such as the operating system. If it is a Windows computer, most of these computer will come with the operating system on a CD in case you  have problems.

If you are not very knowledgeable about computers, take someone with you who is when you look at the used computer. They should have good software and hardware knowledge so they can tell you if it is a good deal or not. They will also know what questions to ask the buyer that you may not.

You can also find some good deals of used computers in your local computer repair shop. They may  have someone not be able to pay for fixing their computer and they will simply sell it at a discounted price.

You can also find used computer deals online, such as on eBay and Craigslist. You might also want to consider purchasing a refurbished computer at a discounted price. Many computer companies,  including Apple, sells refurbished equipment at some very good discounts.

You can save a large amount of money by buying a used computer. Many times people sell their computer because they either need some quick money, or they just want to update their computer to a newer model.

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Many people enjoy playing games online on their computer, laptop or tablet. There are so many different online gaming websites that it can be very difficult to know which one is best. There are many free online gaming websites that require you to sign up, and then send you tons of emails, or also have tons of advertisements that you have to see on their site. Below are some of the best online gaming websites where you can enjoy playing games online.

Games.com

Games.com is powered by AOL and has hundreds of different online games that you can choose from. You can download some of the games to your computer, play completely online, or even plan some games to earn cash. They offer arcade, card and board games, as well as casino games, word games, puzzle and sports games. You can also chat with other members while you are playing. You may see an advertisement occasionally, but not very often.

Real Arcade

Real Arcade is a gaming website that has a huge variety of online games that you can play. You  have the option of setting up an account, but it is not required that you do so. There are some games that require you to download them to your computers, but most games can be placed online through their website. If you want to earn cash for playing games you are required to create an account, however. They  offer many different types of online games including puzzles, arcade games, word games, card games, casino games, cash games, and action and adventure games.

AOL Games

AOL has many different types of games that you can play completely free online. Most of the games that you will find on AOL come from the site POGO, so you know you will not see a ton of advertisements or pop-ups to deal with. The games they offer include card games, tycoon games, casino games, racing games, board games, word games and more. The games typically load very quickly. You do need to sign up and have a valid AOL account. You can sign up for AOL completely free so there is no cost to play these games. You can also chat with other members while you enjoy playing.

Playing games can be fun, but you do need to be cautious when playing games online. The above websites are completely safe with very few advertisements to bother you while you are playing your favorite games.

This post isn’t meant to scare anyone or vilify online gaming. Rather, it’s meant to serve as a reminder to those who enjoy playing games online.

Online gaming can open up a whole new world of excitement. It helps relieves stress and gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in a fantasy world. You can interact with people who like the same things you do and have fun doing something that challenges you.

If you’re a hardcore gamer, you probably went out and bought a gaming PC. That is great. That means you’re dedicated to your hobby. But don’t forget to be dedicated to yourself and your machine too.

There have been many reports of instances where players have had viruses and malware installed on their computer through the games that they’re playing. This isn’t usually the case with trusted, big name companies. In fact, most of the time this happens with 100% free online games advertised solely on the internet.

If you’re paying for a monthly subscription to play your game, you’re more than likely safe from having malware installed on your computer. The same is true with games that are free but also have the option to pay.

If you want to play a games that you see advertised solely online, you should proceed with caution. You may not find out something is wrong until after you finish playing your game. By then it could be too late.

Always, always keep your antivirus software running when you play your game online. If this isn’t possible, then have another way to protect your computer from contracting viruses or malware while you’re playing.

Predators can be found all over the internet. The promise of anonymity gives them power that they don’t have in the real world. This includes sexual predators and scam artists.

Microsoft repeatedly warns users of their XBox360 console not to give out personal information online. They’re not the only online gaming company that does so. It is a real problem.

Whether you are young or old, you should seriously consider not giving out your personal information to someone you met online. This is true even if you’ve played with them for a long time.

The simple fact is you don’t know who this person actually is. It’s important to be cautious, especially in big community settings like online gaming offers. Remember, better safe than sorry.

Since Window 8 came out recently you have probably seen all of the new touchscreen computers on the market. Does  having a touchscreen mean that you will never need your mouse? This depends on you. If you have a touchscreen computer you will still have the option of using a mouse, if you prefer, or you can only use the touchscreen.

 

  The Windows 8 platform is showing that touchscreen computers are the future now. With Windows 8 having a tile design and screens that are made to be swiped, you could very easily forget that you even have a mouse sitting on your desk. Windows 8 is basically an expansion of the very popular tablet computers.

There are so many people that have been using a mouse and keyboard, that it will take time to overcome the obstacle of using a touchscreen computer. This is especially true for the older generation that spent some time learning how to use a mouse and keyboard. They are now being asked to adapt to using a touchscreen.
Touchscreens and Food
Many people enjoy snacking while they are using their computers. This is not a problem with a mouse and keyboard. This will not be the same for a touchscreen, however. You will have to make sure that your fingers are always completely clean before you start using the touchscreen on your computer.  The touchscreen may also require frequent cleaning.

Touchscreens Are Not Comfortable
Sitting in front of your computer using a mouse and keyboard can be comfortable. You can easily adjust your chair, and use a good mouse and keyboard. When using a touchscreen, however, you will have to always be reaching out with your arm to use your computer. Over time, this will become very uncomfortable for most people.


Touchscreens May Be Inconvenient

Touchscreen technology is still new and still not ready to completely replace the mouse and keyboard. It causes the battery on your laptop to go down quicker, and the cost of a touchscreen is much more than your typical monitor.
Touchscreens Are the Future
In time, touchscreens will take over everything. They are much easier to use when playing a game, word processing or for any other activity. They simply do more than the track pad on your laptop or mouse can do.


Touchscreens are also more efficient. To open a program with a touchscreen simply touch it. When using a mouse and keyboard you have to find it, and then point to it, and then click it to open it. Touchscreens also add much more control with the pinch to zoom technology, and offers easier navigation.