"Random techie stuff I've been doing during the lockdown" thread
Jun 2, 2020, 12:19 am
#31
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"... clean my laptop on my own instead of asking someone else to do it ..."
I read the post just as stated - "clean"
You seem to read it as "clean up"
This could be something more low tech!
Do you care to share how to clean your laptop. During the last 3 months, I watched my "once very fast" desktop getting sloooooower and slower! I tried a few obvious things such as disable certain "startup" apps and "services". So far to no avail. Sometimes it ran so slowly that I could not even do work on Excel or Word, not to mention Adobe Photoshop! All my HDD and SS disk do not need defrag.
Any help will be appreciated! TIA.
Any help will be appreciated! TIA.
You seem to read it as "clean up"
This could be something more low tech!
Jun 2, 2020, 2:06 am
#32
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Do you care to share how to clean your laptop. During the last 3 months, I watched my "once very fast" desktop getting sloooooower and slower! I tried a few obvious things such as disable certain "startup" apps and "services". So far to no avail. Sometimes it ran so slowly that I could not even do work on Excel or Word, not to mention Adobe Photoshop! All my HDD and SS disk do not need defrag.
Any help will be appreciated! TIA.
Any help will be appreciated! TIA.
Is Windows installed on the SSD? And all the main apps you use? If anything is installed on the HDD, that would slow things down considerably.
Also check for any Malware.
What security / virus checker do you use? One of the machines I upgraded was running like a dog. I found that it had Norton 360 on it, but it had expired. So, the owner had installed AVG free as well. Removing both made things run a lot better. I then installed BitDefender for them, and this didn't have too much impact (and this was moot when I installed the SSD).
Jun 2, 2020, 10:16 am
#33
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Jun 2, 2020, 10:34 am
#34
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Thank you for your help!
I am NOT techie at all. Can you or anyone else point me to a good YouTube video for this?
Yes, Windows 10 is installed on SSD and ALL the apps. HDD only has files only on it, no apps.
[QUOTE=DYKWIA;32422331] Also check for any Malware.
How do I check Malware? With what tools (apps)? Does tools come with Windows 10 do the job & what are they?
Frankly I don't really know
. I have never manually run virus checks! Need help with this as well. What is a reliable virus check app? I was afraid to use those popped up on my screen from time to time.
Thanks again! I hope I've not hike jack this thread.
[QUOTE=DYKWIA;32422331] Also check for any Malware.
How do I check Malware? With what tools (apps)? Does tools come with Windows 10 do the job & what are they?
Frankly I don't really know
. I have never manually run virus checks! Need help with this as well. What is a reliable virus check app? I was afraid to use those popped up on my screen from time to time.Thanks again! I hope I've not hike jack this thread.
Jun 2, 2020, 10:51 am
#35
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Here's a better tutorial:
Last edited by N965VJ; Jun 2, 2020 at 10:56 am
Jun 2, 2020, 11:24 am
#36
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What brand of computer do you have? Lenovo, for instance, has a built in utlity that can walk you though making back up media.
EDIT:
Here's a better tutorial:
https://youtu.be/yK1TLn6-GYM
EDIT:
Here's a better tutorial:
https://youtu.be/yK1TLn6-GYM
My PC is a DELL XPS8700 running on Windows 10 Home, Version 1903, OS build 18362.836 (whatever this means
.
Jun 2, 2020, 11:30 am
#37
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How do I check Malware? With what tools (apps)? Does tools come with Windows 10 do the job & what are they?
Frankly I don't really know. I have never manually run virus checks! Need help with this as well. What is a reliable virus check app? I was afraid to use those popped up on my screen from time to time.
Frankly I don't really know
. I have never manually run virus checks! Need help with this as well. What is a reliable virus check app? I was afraid to use those popped up on my screen from time to time.To check your virus scanner, type 'virus & threat protection' into the Windows search bar. Then click on the 'virus & threat protection' at the top left. This should show you which virus checker you are using. Mine shows :-
Jun 2, 2020, 2:47 pm
#38
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I am still thinking even more low tech. When jamcoley says "clean", perhaps they really just mean "clean" - ie blow the crumbs out from between the keys using compressed air, wiping down the screen to get rid of smears, toothpick to get the lint out of sockets etc
Jun 3, 2020, 5:17 am
#40
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or even opening up the computer - an amazing amount of dust can accumulate over the years inside a laptop. When I had a MacBook Pro upgraded, I was dumbfound to see the innards. After cleaning it and re-applying thermal paste, it all ran much cooler -> less cooling fan usage -> more battery life
Jun 3, 2020, 8:09 am
#41
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Most computers made in the last several years have a hidden hard drive partition that lets you easily reinstall Windows and blow everything back to factory state. When you start the computer press Esc or Del (or sometimes F1 or F12- whatever it says on the startup screen) and choose the option to repair your PC.
Jun 4, 2020, 5:00 pm
#42
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Jun 4, 2020, 5:05 pm
#43
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Most computers made in the last several years have a hidden hard drive partition that lets you easily reinstall Windows and blow everything back to factory state. When you start the computer press Esc or Del (or sometimes F1 or F12- whatever it says on the startup screen) and choose the option to repair your PC.
. Getting at the recovery partition is not as straightforward as it could be (to keep from starting it by mistake), and he could wind up with a nice fresh install and no data.I'm not 100% sure about the above, since I've never done it, but I'd advise to check out the procedure carefully before just saying "Sure - go ahead".
Jun 5, 2020, 8:40 am
#45
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True, but if he's as non-techie as he claims, he might need a little more step-by-step than just "hit DEL or ESC" or whatever . Getting at the recovery partition is not as straightforward as it could be (to keep from starting it by mistake), and he could wind up with a nice fresh install and no data.
I'm not 100% sure about the above, since I've never done it, but I'd advise to check out the procedure carefully before just saying "Sure - go ahead".
. Getting at the recovery partition is not as straightforward as it could be (to keep from starting it by mistake), and he could wind up with a nice fresh install and no data.I'm not 100% sure about the above, since I've never done it, but I'd advise to check out the procedure carefully before just saying "Sure - go ahead".
Before I reinstall, I will definitely backup ALL my files.
Thanks for helping out, everyone!