CLEANING YOUR SYSTEM!
PROVIDING YOU WITH
SOFTWARE & IBM
PRODUCTS THAT WILL
KEEP YOU IN TOUCH
& PROTECTED!
UPDATE & SCAN!!
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STAROCK Diversity
CCleaner
Usage
Double-click the CCleaner icon on your desktop. This will bring up the following
screen containing the cleaning options:
Most of us would just accept the default options, but if you are particularly
concerned with the privacy issues, you may want to check some or all of the
unchecked boxes as well.
Before you do, just be aware that your browsing and program history will
become irretrievable, and that may be inconvenient. For example, I consult my
Internet browsing history a lot, and I also find that my browser’s web address
auto-complete feature is very handy. Both of these features will be lost if you
erase all stored browser information by checking all unchecked boxes.
And a word of warning: Don’t check any of the unchecked boxes in the
"Advanced" section.
Once you’ve set your required Windows cleaning options, click on the
"Applications" tab and select the cleaning options for the programs on your PC.
Again, most of us can safely accept the default values, although those of us with
extreme privacy requirements may want to check more boxes. My warning in the
preceding paragraphs also applies here.
Once this is done, click on the "Analyze" button at the bottom of the CCleaner
screen. This will show you which files will be deleted using the cleaning options
you’ve selected. It will also show you the amount of disk space that will be freed
when you delete these files. If you’re happy with this, press the "Run Cleaner"
button at the bottom of the screen, and the listed files will be deleted.
Now, one final step: As well as cleaning out unneeded files, CCleaner will also
clean up the Windows Registry. It’s not the most sophisticated or thorough
registry cleaner that’s available, but it’s a very safe cleaner and that’s a good
thing.
If you don’t use a separate registry cleaner, I suggest that you use CCleaner to
sort out any major issues with your registry.
To use CCleaner’s registry cleaning function, click the "Registry" icon in the left
hand toolbar. You will see the following screen:
Don’t change the default cleaning options. Click the "Scan for Issues" button at
the bottom of the screen. Once the scanning is complete, click the "Fix All
Selected Issues" button. CCleaner will give you the option of creating a backup
and you should accept this option. Note the name and location of the backup file.
If your computer is not functioning correctly after the registry cleanup you can
restore the registry to its original condition by double-clicking the backup file.
Once you have saved the backup file, click the "Fix All Selected" button and you
are finished cleaning your PC.
I recommend that you clean your computers’ hard drives at least once a month.
Those of you who have serious privacy concerns should clean your PC each time
you use it.
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USING AVAST "SCAN ON BOOT"
Open Avast and select "Scan Computer’ on the left. Select "Boot Time Scan"
and select "All Hard Drives" from the dropdown.
Select "Schedule Now" and Click "Restart Computer" and get ready to kill
the bad guys it finds! If it finds something, usually option "#4" will work best!
Pay attention to a virus in the Operating System as it could stop your machine
from restarting! If in doubt, DON’T!
Call us! (715)477-0716, or (715)891-0820
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Open "Spybot Search & Destroy" as "Administrator" and click "Search for Updates".
If there is an available update, click on one of the servers to download from and click "Continue"
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Click on the "Download" button to continue…
When the download is complete, click "Exit" and return to the main screen of the
Program. In the left panel, click on the "Immunize" button and follow prompts.
When the process is complete, the top "Immunize" button should turn GREEN
Immunization allows you to take preventative measures against spyware by using
methods inside your browser's). This is the final important step to protect your computer.
Now, click on the "Check for Problems" button and kill these bad guys!
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Next, open "SpywareBlaster" and click on "Download Latest Protection Updates"
And click on "Check for Updates" button.
If there are updates, be sure to click on "Enable All Protection"!
There is no scan for this program. It runs silently in the background blocking the
"Bad Guys" from gaining access to your browser's).
Now, EMPTY YOUR "RECYCLE BIN"!!!
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EMPTY THE "RECYCLE BIN" BEFORE RUNNING!!
Open "Disk Defragmenter" (My Computer> Right Click "C" Drive> Properties> Tools Tab> Defragment Button.
Click once on the "C" Drive (so it turns blue) and click on the "Defragment" button.
Probably go to bed now, as this may take some time to perform! Will be good to go in the morning! This will also be a good time to have your system get updates and do a virus scan during the night. Thursday’s are the best time to do these procedures, as must updates for ALL programs are generated on Wednesday – Thursday of each week.
Any issues or questions please call or email us! Also, check out our web site for good information and programs to download. We are here for you!
STAROCK Diversity
328 South 5th Street
Eagle River, WI 54521
(715)477-0716
(715)891-0820
PLEASE RUN THESE PROGRAMS WEEKLY!
OR, MORE OFTEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN SURFING
IN DANGEROUS / QUESTIONABLE AREAS!
The care and feeding of laptop batteries
Heat is the enemy of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
When your laptop runs on AC, it's smart to remove the battery pack and store it
in a cool place. Low temperatures forestall the inevitable and irreversible
chemical changes that occur in Li-ion batteries.
In fact — and this will sound odd — if your laptop is run mostly off household
AC power, you can greatly extend the life of its Li-ion battery this way: run
the battery down to about 40% of maximum charge, remove it, and store it in a
tightly wrapped plastic bag inside your refrigerator! Storage at about 40
degrees F (4 to 5 degrees C) is ideal. Think of it as the 40-40 rule: 40%
charge, 40 degrees F.
If you can, avoid running Li-ion batteries all the way down. Early portable
electronics used nickel-cadmium batteries, which benefit from full discharge
cycles. Conversely, Li-ion batteries last longer when kept in a charge state
between 40% and 100%. It's OK to run Li-ion batteries flat when you have to, but
the ideal scenario for longest life is one full discharge cycle for about every
30 or so partial cycles.
Sad to say, even if you're perfectly careful with your Li-ion batteries, they'll
slowly go bad on their own due to their irreversible and inevitable chemical
changes. This is one of the main reasons why cool storage helps preserve Li-ion
battery life: the cool temperatures slow the chemical reactions.
Even a well-maintained Li-ion battery will usually show signs of age two or
three years after manufacture. That's why it's not a great idea to buy a spare
battery for your laptop unless and until you really need to use one. If you buy
a spare you don't really need, it'll slowly go bad on its own, giving you no (or
reduced) return on your investment.
If you do have a spare battery, store it in the fridge with about a 40% charge
when it's not in use.
When you buy replacement batteries, check the date of manufacture. This will
usually be stamped or printed on the battery case. Cut-rate batteries may have
been sitting on a warehouse shelf for a couple of years, meaning that a good
chunk of their useful life will have passed before you ever plug them in.
With careful use, you can get 300 to 500 charge cycles from a new, high-quality
Li-ion battery — especially if the battery's stored in a cool location when not
in use. With just a little luck, by the time the battery no longer holds a
useful charge, you'll be ready for a new laptop, anyway!