I’ve had a interesting call from one of my customer say ‘they are on the phone to a person who is saying there are from windows and that they know they have had a few problems with the computer.  They then asked them to run eventvwr in the RUN box’ but at this point they said they was calling me and the person rang off.  It appears this might be the  same person that called asking for bank details etc… over the phone to which they refused.

So the point of this note is please be careful.

Note : I have never heard of Windows or Microsoft calling anyone because they have had computer problems.  Also by run this command you won’t damage your machine but if this customer wasn’t on the ball and had run any other command it could of damage the security of the machine.

We previously looked at virus removal on the PC. The spectrum of viruses are frequently classified as malware but, for the purposes of our outlining the best removal techniques, we have separated viruses (which include Trojan horses and Worms) from their spiritual successors: spyware and adware.

So what are these programs?

Adware typically works to advertise a certain (usually bogus!) product or website to you. It will work inside your machine to create pop-up ads, redirect your internet home page, and redirect searches, A bad adware infestation, while generally not threatening to OS or file integrity, can make computer use almost impossible. Spyware variants can steal your personal data through key loggers, record which websites you visit, and use other tricks to compromise your personal security.

So, how do you get rid of them?

1. Free scan!  As we suggested in our virus removal guide; the first step is to identify the problem. Adaware from Lavasoft is a great adware scan and removal application which you can download for free. Also consider Trend Micros online scanner for a complete spyware check.

2. Firewall! Adware and Spyware like to phone home. If you suspect of an infection, a firewall will often flag up unauthorized use of your broadband internet connection. A good firewall application like zone-alarm will allow you to block adware and spyware communications.

3. Dig deeper! Malware can be very tricky to completely remove. In the case that a full scan and removal does not do the job, you’ll have to make things personal. Download hijackthis and run it to identify any malicious applications running, there are numerous forums online where you can post your hijackthis log for experts to analyze.

4. Remove individual files! Once you know the name of your enemy, search the internet for methods to remove this exact variant. Malware can be extremely stubborn. Backup all your personal files before manually deleting things, and make a registry backup if you need to edit these entries.

5. Go Pro! Almost any malware infection can be defeated, but it may take significant time, expertise and professional tools to get the better of the more pervasive varieties.  If you think your system may be in danger or your personal information has been compromised, then get in touch with a malware removal expert.

We wish you luck removing your viruses and malware. Remember to backup regularly, and keep your computer secured in the future with individual anti-virus, anti-adware, anti-spyware programs, or a suite combining all these applications. Oh, and don’t forget the firewall!

However fast your computer is when you buy it, wear and tear of parts and general use will lead to measurable performance reductions over time. In other words: Computers get slower as they age! Of course, you can’t reverse the ageing of your hardware, but the largest performance hit for old PC’s can be lessened, and reversed by following these simple steps.

1. Shut Down! You should always use the ‘shut down’ command when turning your PC off. This gives Windows time to save your settings, properly store files which were in use, and safely close all your open programs.

2. Defragment! One of the commonest causes of slow performance is disk fragmentation. Your computer stores files in chunks, like jig saw pieces. Over time and with frequent use, these pieces get jumbled up on the hard drive, which means your computer has to spend longer searching for them whenever you open a file. Windows has a disk defragmenter accessible from the hard disk properties menu.

3. Free up some space! One of the biggest impacts on system performance occurs if a hard disk is over-filled. Most PC’s require roughly 10% of the disk to be free for optimal performance. You can use windows add/remove programs to remove unnecessary applications, the disk cleanup utility available from the hard drive properties menu, and manually delete files you no longer need.

4. Manage your startup programs! Nowadays lots of programs have parts which startup with your PC so they are always available, even if you never use them! This is a great reason to uninstall applications which you no longer use. Alternatively, some running programs might show up in the bottom right of your start-bar; right click on their icon to see if they can be shut-down or configured not to start with windows.

5. Use a regular virus check! Viruses aren’t always obvious, even if you’ve got no reason to suspect a virus on your system you may be surprised to find out what is using up your computational power. Malware and Spyware are also common PC performance thieves, but they should also be found with a good anti-virus software package.

This is not an exhaustive list, and we will look into five more advanced computer performance improvers in another blog, soon. Still, these are some of the quickest and simplest ways to improve your PC’s performance without resorting to hardware upgrades. If your system is unstable and slow and fails to improve after you’ve tried these steps, you may well need help with computer repairs or a hardware upgrade.

Went you get the message ‘No Signal’  on the computer screen when you turn the computer on,  or you might just get a blank screen then these are the possible causes. 

1) Cable is disconnected (it’s normally a blue connector cable)

2) Although the computer appears to on (i.e. Lights are on) but it might be a problem with the power supply inside not giving the motherboard enough Volts / Watts. With this you might get a burning smell.

3) If you have a Graphics Card installed (located where the expansion slots are or it might have two connectors Blue and White)  then try replacing it and see if that fixes the problem.  Please remember there are two main type of connectors AGP or PCI-E and make sure you have the correct one.

4) If you’ve tried all the above then it more than like to connected the motherboard and would need check out by a engineer.