PC Maintenance 101

Here are a couple of routine maintenance things you can do to help you PC/Laptop run smoothly. These can also help if you notice it begins to run slower. This won't solve all your problems, but this is something that keeps your PC healthy for the most part. I do both at least once a month at home and at work.

Try these two things first and in the following order.

They will probably take a while, so I would start the process before you start to do something else. They will slow your computer down if you are using. I recommend doing the following once a month for good measure.

1. Disk CleanUp - This removes unnecessary files from your PC. Make sure all the check boxes are checked. FYI, this will probably remove the cookies saved by the web, so you may have to log in to websites you were previously auto logged in.
a. To perform disk clean up
1. Go to the Start Menu, Select Accessories, Select System Tools, and Select Disk Cleanup
2. It will run for a while then a window will display a list of the folders (types) where files will be removed from.
3. Click OK to start the process. It will finish automatically.
b. Here are more details from Microsoft if this isn't very clear. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312



2. Disk Defragmenter - Files on your computer are saved on the hard drive. Ideally they are saved in a continuous type of grouping. Over time, By writing new files or removing files, you hard drive can be come fragmented. Which means the files are stored in a continuous group and are spread out. Because of this, it takes your computer longer to perform actions, because it is spending time looking for files.

a. To perform Disk Defragmenter
1. Go to the Start Menu, Select Accessories, Select System Tools, and Select Disk Defragmenter
2. Click on the button to analyze. This will take a while
3. When it is done, if you see alot of read and not a lot of blue, your hard drive is really fragmented.
4. Click on the button to Defragment. Again this will take a long time. The more red, the longer the time.
5. I think there is a prompt letting you know it is finished.

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP

support.microsoft.com

This article describes how to use the Disk Cleanup tool in Windows XP.

Tips & Advice for First Time Bloggers

Question: Any pointers for a first time blogger setter upper? from JW

Here was my answer:

Take it one step at a time. You the know the best way to eat an elephant....one bite at a time.

Here's where I would start. Each step below is something you can do independently. But I do recommend going in order.

1. Create the account and select your blog name.

2. Complete your profile. Which includes a short section about you. When you enter interests, this is what you blog will be searchable on. Don't forget to add a photo.

3. Design --> Start designing your blog. Go to the template and select a layout. Usually have you to choose between one column, two columns, and three columns. Personally I like two column. I would go and look at blogs you like to get ideas. Start by adding a just a little content, like adding your name to the header. Add the about me to your page. Preview as you go, so you can see your progress.  You can add graphics later.

4. Go shopping for templates --> This is sort of a joke. I don't intend for you to have to by a theme for your site. You can get ideas for free sites with templates from other blog sites. Personally, my favorite is Cutes Blog on the Block. Or Google "Free Blog Templates". Once you have the theme you want, add it to your blog. See my instructions  How to Add CTMH Badge to My Blog.pdf. It's the same basic idea. Just save your Gadget as Blog Design or some name so you know this is where you copy and paste the design code.

5. Create your first post. You can add pictures by clicking an icon and uploading them. You get a few option on placement and size. I would stick with medium for pictures.

6. Practice saving draft posts and publishing posts at a later date.

7. Add a Gadget for Followers

8. Add CTMH blog badges

9. If you want you can add something for people to subscribe via email. There is now a "gadget" (blogspot) that you can add for email subscriptions.



TIP 1: I also recommend jotting down ideas for blog entries either in word or in emails that you send to your self. This way you have content you can add later.

Introduction & Objectives

Hello & Welcome!

First off,  the purpose of this blog is a place for me to share the technical tips and advice, that I normally share with friends, family and coworkers. If you just wanted to know what this blog is about, that it. You can stop reading. Continue reading if you want to know the journey that has led to creating this blog.

I would like to start this blog by telling you a little about myself.  From what I hear, I am a rare combination in that I am very technical, yet very creative.

So lets, start with my creative background...I am a great artist in my head. I can see beautiful pictures and colors, but I can't get them into the world for others to see. So scrapbooking was a good way to channel that creativity.I have been scrapbooking for over 10 years.  Then in 2007, I met my friend Melissa who introduced me to stamping and card making which led to making gifts with decorative paper. I can't tell you  great it feels to make something beautiful for others to enjoy. 

Now, lets jump to my professional background...I have always been good with computers. I don't know where that comes from, maybe it's a talent.  Because I found that I was so good with computers while working in the U.S. Army, I decided to pursue a Computer Science degree. After graduating I worked as a web developer, then I was a web master for a car dealership. Then I went to work for a very big company, where I transitioned to a VB.NET software engineer for web applications to a business analyst and now a member of the QA testing team. So, I am very technical and a little nerdy sometimes.

So here's where the idea for this blog came from...In 2007, I joined Melissa's Heartfelt Sentiments team by becoming a Close to My Heart consultant as a hobbyist.We have a yahoo group which allows us to stay in touch, share artwork, and ask questions. So, whenever someone asks a technical question, I am usually the one to answer. I can also provided additional explanation to help them understand why it works the way it does.

I am also an organizer for a meetup group. I started the group with my friend Amanda, who I met through Melissa. I should also mention Amanda has the best questions because she just isn't technically inclined. So, I usually try to write my instruction with her in mind. That is my test if the instruction are good. So, now I get questions from members of that group as well. It gets a little tedious to keep rewriting  emails or finding the instructions I created before. And I am finding I don't have as much time to do this, so I need something that works fast. So I hope by having a blog, I have a good central place to save this information easily.

I hope you will like this blog and find it's contents helpful.