Our first question comes from Joe in Findlay. He asks: My computer is starting to get slow and it was not so slow 6 months ago.
Well Joe, as we add new programs to the computer some of them run in the background or preload themselves to a certain degree. So this eats up the system resources specifically RAM. New programs are always going up in requirements so this is why I always advise people to buy more then what they need. Buy more processing power, ram, hard drive space then what you need you will most likely need it in the future.
When you remove a program it still leaves traces of that software on your system and good cleaning utility can help you remove all those old traces. Another factor is Viruses and Spyware.
Viruses and Spyware will greatly slow down your system. They will also compromise your security. Many now contain key loggers that will send website passwords that you type in to a hacker who in turn will use them or sell them.
What is your best defense against this? Install anti spy ware program like windows defender which is free for XP and built right into Vista.
Run a good antivirus like avg free.
There are other good programs out there and I use many of them when I remove viruses and spy ware. It is an ongoing battle to keep it off. Ultimately it will come down to your surfing habits and what types of websites you visit.
Websites that are well known and used are at low risk. Sites that are a little of the main path can get you in trouble. All it takes is one infection called a Trojan downloader. Then that virus just sets there and downloads more and more viruses and spy ware until your system screeches to a halt. There is nothing out there to stop all the viruses and spyware 100% so practice safe browsing and don't visit questionable sites.
Our second question comes from Tom in Findlay. Tom asks: Do you support anything below Windows XP?
I support Windows 2000 Professional below that I do not support Windows 98 or Millennium edition. There are not very many software manufactures out there still supporting these older editions of windows. I have chosen to follow suit as new computers fall in price there is no logic in fixing up these old computers. It is cheaper in the long run to go out and buy a new machine then to keep putting money into these old machines because there already out of date and for the amount of money that you put into them over a period of time you would be further ahead just to get a new one.
Well that does it for this month please email your questions to jason@flagcitycomputers.net
