Show Notes 

Sofware of the week

Launchy (FREE)

 www.launchy.net (Open source Keystroke Launcher for Windows)

Indexes programs in your start menu. Can be used to launch documents, folders and internet favorites.

HOTKEY: ALT-SPACE

Skins are available: Click HERE

Home Data Backup

External USB Hard Drives 

Software:

SmartSync Pro: $35.00

Synctoy: Free from Microsoft

 

Offsite storage

Corporations and Homes have the same needs for offsite storage.

Get two or three external hard drives

Give to a friend, Out of state if possible, or place of work or safety deposit box.

Questions & Answers

Q: Reasons for slowness of a computer, is this a symptom of needing more memory? How can I speed it up?
 

A: 

Reason #1: Spyware/Virus
Run Adaware (Free edition)
Run Spybot search and destroy: (Free)
Check to make sure you have antivirus software installed and updated.  I recommend AVG Free version however Norton Antivirus and McAfee Antivirus software will work just as good if not better but for a price.

Reason#2: Memory

You might need to purchase more memory.  To find out how much memeory is available, Right Click the task bar in Windows XP and select Task Manager.  You will see a tab called ‘Performance’.  There is a Physical memory section which will tell you the available memory for use.  If under 100,000K it might be time to upgrade your memory.

Reason#3: types of programs that are being used, how many at one time?

If you are running many programs at one time, this could hinder your performance.

Reason#4: Too many background application or software utilities running in the system tray.  The system tray is located next to your clock on your task bar.\

Reason#5: Over time computers can become cluttered with applications, temporary files etc. Try cleaning some of these up.  I recommend CCleaner.

UNMENTIONED REASON: I dropped the ball and forgot to mention another reason why computers tend to get slower and slower over time.  This reason because of Hard Drive Fragmentation.  When a file is saved to a hard drive Windows tries to keep everything related to that file int he same location (or cluster).  Over the course of time, files will be deleted.  This leaves blank areas between files.  When other date is saved or programs are installed, the hard drive tries to fill the holes, thus breaking up files to different locations of the drive.  This can affect your system performance tremendously.  You can find instructions on how to do what they call a “Defragmentation” of the hard drive at the Microsoft® site.

·         Show Summary

o   Launchy application

o   Home Data Backup

§  Software

§  External Hard drive

§  Office storage

o   Answered question a about slowness of a computer.