Some web sites help you get your 'Geek' on. Mine helps you get the 'Geek' out! Fix IT Newsletter Alert Feb 2010 Issue 0029 News New pages added since last newsletter...   Articles "Why Do You Buy Do It Yourself Books?" Hello While I work from home I have a few extra perks. I get to baby sit my 1 year old Grand Daughter for half a day while her Mom is at work I also have my radio on for most of the time. Which brings me to the subject of this newsletter. Radio 'ads' for computers, such as Carbonite for doing your back up over the internet, Go To My PC for remote control of a pc while either traveling or working from a remote location, and Go To Meeting for collaborating with others. Although I don't advocate these programs they are good programs, I use others to accomplish these tasks. The ones that I think are really a rip off are the 'Make your PC faster' ads. They are just 'registry' cleaners. Of the ones I hear advertised I have tested two. PCBoost - free download - Will tell you what needs to be cleaned but you have to pay around $49 to actual do the cleaning. Windows 7 Optimizer - free download - Will tell you what needs what needs to be cleaned but you have to 'Activate' the program to do the cleaning, activation costs about $39. These registry cleaners in away are not what is advertised, that is, they say they will speed up your pc but in truth they can't speed up your pc. They can make the Operating System load a little faster but that is all. In other words they just clean out the registry entries that uninstall programs leave behind when you remove a program you don't want or need anymore. These registry cleaners will not optimize your Operating System. They will not Change the display settings or the background (Theme). Set the swap/paging file size and/or move it to another drive. Create a temporary file directory and set the path to that directory so that all temp files are in one location. Change your browser's temp or cache file settings either. Most will not remove programs from the Start Up menu or the registry entries for the Run command on start up. All these things have to be done manually by you or someone you hire to Optimize your computer to make it as fast as possible. If you would like to Optimize your Operating System have a look at this page: Performance optimization (this won't clean your registry but it is free! No Activation required) :) These are not 'Registry Fix' type programs either. A registry fix or repair program will compare the registry entries against the original registry entries when the Operating System was installed. It also does a directory search of the Programs and Windows install directories. If you uninstalled a program and the registry entry points to a file that doesn't exist any more then the program will ask you if you want to remove the entry. The registry repair program I use is Registry Fix!, I use this to repair registry problems I encounter when a program is uninstalled and leaves behind a lot of errant registry entries. Some of these entries will give you errors on start up such as a dll not found, or program not found when the registry entries are read. (Unless you want to do a search for different program names and dll names manually then these programs are worth the cost). I will caution you that editing the registry may cause start up problems or cause the Operating System to not start at all. If you want to learn about how to edit the registry sign up for my Advanced E-Course that will teach you about changing entries in the registry with out causing your OS to crash. Are you wondering why this newsletter is a week early? There is a very good explanation - I am launching a new manual, for my readers I am offering a special introductory price of $39.90, that will be 30% off the regular price of $57.00. I can only offer this price for a short time period from the 29th to the 31st of January, 2010. Special Price  $39.90! Never pay a Geek again! Self Computer Repair Unleashed! My new manual to help you fix nearly every problem you will have with at computer. Even more information than the Self Computer Repair manual. Almost as much information as the Members Only section! Truly a one of a kind manual! Over 390 pages! Over 200 illustrations! With12 checklists to help you repair your computer! Launch date 1 Feb, 2010! Special 30% off for readers of this newsletter, 29th to 31st of Jan, 2010! Information in everyday language! No Geek! All for about a half hour of Geek time. Other news: A set back in the new USB 3.0, tests show the new specification is not technology possible at this time. The manufactures are working on the specification through research and development. We may see it by mid summer this year but I think early next year is when it will begin to be sold. Don't put off buying your next USB device because of the impending release of USB 3.0 products. The Tech Support You Need - When YOU Need It! Q and A This site contains a lot of information. As with any publication not all information is available due to space, time, or subject constraints. If you have a question that you did not find the answer on this web site  you a can ask your question here and we will endeavor to get you the most up to date answer possible! Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this newsletter and tell me what you think! Yes, you may forward this email to anyone you want! If you don't have a subscription, and would like one, just go to our Fix It! newsletter signup (and get free sample pages at the same time) Here are some web sites that may be of interest to you: Did you know that there is now a boom in Small Business startups? During a recession more people turn to self support when the job market fails them. I did, you read about my adventures every month. You can do it too! The company that I use to build my web sites - Need help with basic system functions: Computer help - Learn how to use your computer All the best, Monte Russell Webmaster www.diy-computer-repair.com Return to top