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Improving Windows Performance – Part 1

SoftwareOptimize, Performance, speed, WindowsOphtek, LLC

Apr 2014

Has Windows slowed down significantly since you first purchased your machine? Here are 3 steps to help speed up your Windows 7 or 8 system.

1.) The Performance Troubleshooter automatically finds the culprits that are slowing you down

To open the Performance Troubleshooter, click the Start button and then click Control Panel.

Type troubleshooter in the search box and then click Troubleshooting.

Click Check for performance issues under System and Security.

Click Next. Windows will attempt to pinpoint the issues that are slowing it down.

2.) Deleting programs you never use to help speed up your system

This can include manufacturer’s programs, as well as ones you installed or didn’t mean to install. Utility programs are notorious for dragging Windows down. These include virus scanners, backup tools, and disk cleaners.

To uninstall a program, click Control Panel from the Start button.

Next select Programs and Features.

Select the program you want to get rid of and click Uninstall.

3.) Limit the number of programs that run at startup

Programs that run in the background that you don’t need waste memory and slow down the startup time for Windows.

You can find many of these programs in the Notification Area of the Windows taskbar. This area is at the bottom right of the screen.

By clicking the up arrow, you can see the hidden icons, showing some of the programs that are running in the background.

Other background programs can be detected by AutoRun for Windows.

By un-checking a box next to the undesired startup program, you can prevent it from running when the computer starts.

Another way to examine and remove startup programs is with the System Configuration Tool. To open this, click the Start button, type msconfig in the search box, and click the the same- named icon.

Click the Startup tab and sort through the programs to find the ones you want prevent from starting.

If you are not sure whether it is safe to remove the program, perform a Google search of the program name. There is a possibility that the program you are removing is an essential process or one that enhances the functionality of the operating system.

For more information on speeding up a sluggish computer, consult your local IT professionals.

Prevent Others from Installing Programs on Windows

SoftwareInstaller, Programs, Users, WindowsOphtek, LLC

Apr 2014

Do others use your computer or laptop at home or in the office? If so you are probably worried about them installing questionable programs in Windows when you are not around. Here’s how you can prevent software from being installed in Windows.

In Windows 7 or Vista, from the Start menu type gpedit.msc in the search box.

In Windows 8, swipe the right side of the screen, click the search icon, and type gpedit.msc

This will open the group policy editor.

Go to Computer Configurations > Administrative templates > Windows Components > Windows Installer. In the right pane double-click on Disable windows installer

Make sure Enable is selected

Selecting Always disables the Windows installer.

The default setting is Never. This allows users to install and upgrade software.

Selecting For non-managed apps only permits users to install only programs that a system administrator assigns.

Please note that this only affects Windows Installer. It doesn’t prevent users from using other methods to install or upgrade programs. Also, when you are ready to install an application you will need to change this setting back manually.

For more tips on computer security, contact your local IT professionals.

Hearbleed Security Bug: Passwords You Should Change

Internet, Securityheartbleed, internet, openssl, securityOphtek, LLC

Apr 2014

The OpenSSL bug known as Heartbleed has affected thousands of websites worldwide, even some common ones you use everyday. Mashable has done a terrific job of compiling a list of sites that have been affected, patches and more importantly the sites you should change your password on immediately.

Keep in mind that there are already open source tools available to the public that take advantage of the Heartbleed bug, and more will likely become available.

Here is the list of major websites that have been patched, but you should change your password for immediately:

Facebook
Box
Tumblr
Google
Yahoo
Gmail
Yahoo Mail
Amazon Web Services (for website operators)
GoDaddy
Intuit (TurboTax)
Dropbox
LastPass
OKCupid
SoundCloud
Wunderlist
Etsy
Flickr
GitHub
IFTTT
Instagram
Minecraft
Netflix
Pinterest
USAA
Wikipedia(if you have an account)

These are major websites Mashable recommends users to change their passwords on. There are likely other sites out there that are affected too. Our previous article explains how you can check if your commonly used websites you have a login to are affected.

http://filippo.io/Heartbleed/ will let you know if the site has the Heartbleed Bug.

For further support on network or internet security, contact your local IT professionals.

How to Record and Share Steps in Windows

SoftwareProblem, Record, Remember, Steps, WindowsOphtek, LLC

Apr 2014

Ever needed to share computer instructions or steps with another person? Maybe you’re the only person in the office that knows the special Excel formula trick. The Problem Steps Recorder allows you to record the steps you took to complete a Windows task for future reference or to share it with others.

To open the PSR (Problem Steps Recorder), click the Start button and type ‘psr’ in the search box. On the list of results, click ‘psr’.

When performing a Windows task whose steps you want to save, click ‘Start Record’ on the ‘Problem Steps Recorder’ console. The PSR has a pause button you can click to pause recording.

Click ‘Stop Record’ to finish recording. In the ‘Save As’ dialog box, save the recording as a zip file to a desired location.

To view the recording, open the zip file by double clicking it. Next, double click the recording, which will open in the default web browser.

The saved zip file containing the recording can be sent by email by clicking the help down arrow and by selecting ‘Send to E- mail recipient’.

The default email client will open with the last recorded file attached to it.

Please note that the file must be saved first. The steps of a problem can be annotated by clicking the ‘Add Comment’ button.

Use the mouse to highlight the part of the screen you want to comment on.

Type in the ‘Highlight Problem and Comment’ box, and click ‘OK’.

For more tips and tricks on your PC, contact your local IT professionals.

How To Fix: Browser stuck on a New Tab

Softwarechrome, firefox, internet explorer, New Tab, WindowsOphtek, LLC

Apr 2014

Typical Chrome New Tab page

If your browser cannot leave a new tab page such as the Chrome one shown above and cannot navigate to another web page, here are a few possible remedies.

First, check if the keyboard or mouse is the issue.

Check if the backspace or other key is stuck. If that is the case, try to raise the key. Failing that, unplug the mouse and keyboard and see if the problem persists. Perhaps a key or short cut is being repeatedly triggered without the user’s knowledge. This can be confirmed by using a different keyboard or mouse.

Second, if it’s an issue with the browser

Other than Internet Explorer, you should save bookmarks into an html file then uninstall the browser thoroughly with an uninstaller tool such as Revo or from the Windows Control Panel. Reinstall the browser and see if the browser still freezes on the new tab page.

Internet Explorer is integrated with the Windows installation and cannot be simply uninstalled. For IE, after backing up desired new settings, configurations, and files, perform a system restore. Restore Windows to the last remembered time that the browser did not experience the new tab persistence problem.

For more tips or advice on troubleshooting common software issues, contact your local IT professionals.

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