Free Computer Consultant Tip-Of-The-Week e-Zine for May 30, 2008
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Save money on buying a new computer - don't. Maybe it's just
Windows that needs replacing.
Most people seem to realize that Windows (any version) is self
corrupting. The longer you run it, the more garbage that is left
strewn on the drive and in the registry.
Every year or two I reinstall Windows on my PC.
What makes it easier is this:
1.) I have my original Windows CD and Key handy.
2.) I have original drive CD's for every device also.
3.) I have updated drivers in a known location on a network drive
(this could be a USB hard drive or a CD since you may not have a
network)
4.) I (try) to keep an updated list of programs I have installed,
and crossed off those uninstalled.
5.) If I follow someone's advice to make a change to something
like the registry, I document that also.
6.) Unless I am upgrading hard drives at the same time, I perform
a drive image backup before hand with Acronis True Image Backup.
http://www.freecomputerconsultant.com/acronis-true-image.html
In the old days under MS-DOS, many programs kept any settings
or data in an easy to find options file in the same directory
as the program. Few do today.
For example, I reinstalled TaxCut software which was purchased
online (I knew where the original file I downloaded was stored and
the unlock key). But the State program you have to get via
update through the program. It didn't work.
I could have called them but was afraid I would be less than happy
with the experience. So I backed up the new install directory and
copied my previous directory in seconds from the Acronis image
on my USB hard drive.
Worked perfectly, state program installed. I then deleted the
new installed directory.
Windows now runs faster than it did before with fewer problems.
Your computer hardware doesn't slow down with age, Windows does.
Even if you hire someone else to do the rebuild for you, taking
advantage of the advice above will save you money and result
in less, if any, lost data or settings.
I will try to write more on this in future newsletters.
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Gas Prices
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High cost of gas getting you down? The news media has no clue;
(should be no surprise there), but this guy does.
His name is Paul Van Eeden; watch this video:
http://watch.bnn.ca/trading-day/may-2008/trading-day-may-30-2008/#clip56474
You might also want to check out this website if you are an
investor:
http://www.InvestLetters.com
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Until next time...
Use Free Classified Ads to Buy or Sell Anything
http://www.usfreeads.com/26012_refer.html
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You can keep up with articles I write and videos I create,
for the most part, at:
http://www.AssociatedContent.com/FreeComputerConsultant
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Recent Blog entries:
Yahoo! makes itself unattractive to Microsoft
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/yahoo-makes-itself-unattractive-to-microsoft/ >
Annoying Software - You Wait While It Checks Updates
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/annoying-software-you-wait-while-it-checks-updates/ >
Windows Vista Tricks
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/windows-vista-tricks/ >
Beware ISP (or any other) Tech Support
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/beware-isp-or-any-other-tech-support/ >
Comodo BOClean 4.26 Released
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/comodo-boclean-426-released/ >
Drop Box Looks Like Promising Online Backup Solution
< http://freecomputerconsultant.com/blog/drop-box-looks-like-promising-online-backup-solution/ >
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When was the last time you backed up YOUR PC?
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The Free Computer Consultant
http://www.FreeComputerConsultant.com
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