Microsoft will patch 13 vulnerabilities this Tuesday. Eight are rated as “Critical” and the other five are marked “Important.”

Is your computer running slower then normal? Don’t worry just yet. No matter how new a computer is, the performance will decrease over time. The good news is that in most cases, you can easily increase the performance of your computer to “like new” speed. Below are some free programs along with a few simple steps to get your computer running smooth again.

Computers require regular maintenance. A lot of the maintenance tips and the factory installed system tools are often overlooked or ignored. There are a lot of factors that can slow down a computer. Spyware, Malware and Adware are probably the biggest culprits. The Anti-virus security software just isn’t enough these days. No matter how good an anti-virus program claims to be, it never hurts to run a second program that specializing in anti-spyware.

Problems with the Windows Registry are a common cause of Windows crashes and error messages. Registry problems can occur for many reasons, including references left behind after uninstallation; incorrect removal of software; missing or corrupt hardware drivers; or orphaned start-up programs. This will significantly increase the Registry size and slow down your computer, because Windows will need more time to load, search, and read data from the Registry.

Disk Fragmentation is another culprit in slow PC performance. As you add and remove programs, files and documents, the disk will get fragmentated and require a defragmentation in order to reorganize and optimize the disk.

A slow computer and browser can also be caused by the temporary files. As you work on the PC and browse online, the pages that you visit are stored in a temporary folder. As that folder gets bigger, it causes a noticeable reduction in performance.

The key is maintenance. Regular Maintenance will help your computer last longer, plus increase its performance.

If you are interested in using factory installed programs to maintain your computer, then please click here.

Below are four programs that RAC Services uses and recommends for maintaining a computer. All four programs are available in a free version. Upgrading to a full-version is optional. Honestly, the free versions work great, and you do not need the full-versions in order to see an improvement in your PC performance.

Click on the name of the program to read the details and download.

SuperAntiSpyware

Advanced System Care

Smart Defrag

Eusing Registry Cleaner

Once you have downloaded and installed the four programs above, proceed to the steps below.

First time steps and these steps should be performed once a month.

Step 1 – Open the SuperAntiSpyware. Click on “Scan Your Computer” then make sure that there is a green check mark in the box next to the “C:/”. Next, select “Perform Complete Scan”. (Run the “Complete Scan” once a month) A complete scan will take sometime to finish. You can continue working and let it scan in the background. Once the scan is complete, follow the on screen steps to remove the spyware.

Step 2 – Open the Advanced System Care. Click on the “Care” in the center of the screen. The Advanced System Care will automatically scan, detect and repair any problems. Once it is finished, close the program.

Step 3 – Run the Eusing Registry Cleaner. Click “Later” when asked to register. Next, click “scan” and once it has finished scanning, click “Remove”.

Step 4 – Run the Smart Defrag. Make sure there is a green check mark next to the “C:/”. Next, select “Optimize” in the drop down box. Then click “Start”.

Normal Maintenance:

The SuperAntiSpyware and Advanced System Care should be run weekly, ideally daily.

*the Smart Defrag will run automatically in the background when the PC is in Idol.

Remember to check for updates on a regular basis for these programs. Some of them allow you to select automatic updates.

If your Internet connection seems slow, the first step is to benchmark it using an Internet speed test site. An Internet speed test can give you an accurate indication of how much bandwidth is available to you at the current time.

Whether you have high speed broadband or a dial-up Internet connection, an Internet speed test can help determine if you’re speeding along the Information Superhighway as fast as you should be.

Of all the Internet speed test sites out there, this one is the winner by a landslide! It’s fast, free and graphically appealing with a speedometer-like display. A huge list of worldwide test locations are available making for very accurate results. The nearest one is automatically calculated based on your IP address which is very handy.

Description

• Speedtest.net can test the bandwidth between your PC and any of a huge number of test servers from around the globe.
• The speedometer-like display at Speedtest.net shows your bandwidth during the test in a format familiar to almost everyone.
• Speedtest.net automatically calculates the nearest testing server to your location helping you begin your test faster.
• Test results at Speedtest.net are saved to allow you to compare results over time, helping to spot slowdowns and upgrades.
• Saved results also allow comparisons to others based on ISP, state, Earth and more.
• Global Stats feature shows test statistics from all over the world.
• Each test at Speedtest.net generates a graphic displaying your personal results that you can email or share online.
• Speedtest.net tests both upload and download bandwidth along with latency, providing a complete picture of your connection.

Check your Internet Speed here

Sometimes you have connection issues with your internet provider and resetting your IP address will correct this. This is how you reset your IP address manually.

Step 1

Go to your start menu and select “run” from the programs menu. In the open line type in “command” and press enter.

Step 2

You will soon see a black box pop up and a blinking cursor will appear. Do not be scared because you have a box you have never seen before. Everything is normal. Type “ipconfig” and press enter.

Step 3

The box will display your current IP settings. If you need to know this information, there it is for you to see. Now it is time to reset the IP address. Type in “ipconfig/release“.

Step 4

You will notice your internet connection will be lost. Now you will need to renew it. Type in “ipconfig/renew“. You have now renewed your IP address. Type “exit” to exit the window. Your internet connection should now be back up.

Like a car, your computer needs regular maintenance. Regular maintenance for your PC is extremely important and should not be overlooked. Proper maintenance can prevent many computer problems down the road which will save you time, money and probably a headache or two.

Keeping your computer updated:

A very important part of maintaining your computer is updating your Windows, anti-virus software and manufacturers updates along with a couple of weekly tasks.

• Updating your Windows. Microsoft makes keeping your Windows updated very easy.

Here’s how:

Click on “Start” – “All Programs” – Then click on “Windows Update”

Once on the Update page, you can choose “Express” or Custom install. Express is recommended. Choosing Express will update all of the high priority updates and security patches. While on the Update page, you can also change your setting. I would recommend “Automatic Updates”. Doing so will allow Windows to automatically update your computer so you do not have to manually update your system. It also ensures that you get high priority updates in a timely manner.

• Updating your Anti-Virus software. Most all anti-virus programs offer automatic updates.

Because anti-virus programs vary from program to program, you will have to locate your settings. Another method is manually updating your anti-virus. If you have an icon in your system tray, you can “right click” on the icon and choose “Update”. You can also open the program from the “Start” – “All Programs” “your program”. Once open, normally under “Tools” or “Help” you will find an update option.

• Manufacturers Updates.

Most computers have a sticker located somewhere on the body that lists the serial number, model number and often times a support website address. You can also go to the website of your computers manufacturer. Locate the “support” page. Websites vary on their layout, but you should be able to locate your model number and information related to your computer. The manufacturer will list any updates (if any) that are available for your computer. Just follow their directions on the download.

• Defragmentation

When a file is written to your hard drive, it is often stored in pieces, creating a fragmented file. Defragmentation software can organize these split-up files which can sometimes dramatically improve system performance. Windows has a built-in defragmenter. Click on “Start” – “All Programs” – “Accessories” – “System Tools” – “Disk Defragmenter”. Highlight (C:) then click on “Defragment”. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to much longer to defragment your drive, depending on how often you proform this action. It is recommended that you do this at least once a week.

• Disk Cleanup

When you browse websites and do any activity online and offline, your computer stores information in temporary files. If these temporary files aren’t cleaned out, it can cause your computer to run slower and slower and even cause problems with how programs run. Windows has a Disk Cleanup built-in that empties these temporary files and also cleans your drive of “junk” that is not needed.

To access the Disk Cleanup Click on “Start” – “All Programs” – “Accessories” – “System Tools” – “Disk Cleanup” – choose (C:) drive then click “OK”. It is recommended that you run the Disk Cleanup at least once a week.