Every few years, we buy an expensive new PC and love how fast it starts up, runs programs, and loads websites. Inevitably though, it starts to slow down until eventually we are pulling our hair out waiting for it to do routine tasks.
Why is this? It turns out the answer is actually quite simple and you don't even need to be "technical" to understand the causes and solutions.
The good news: It's not the computer hardware that's the problem. In most cases, the hardware you have is perfectly capable of being restored to its original glory and kept in fast running condition with minimal effort.
Rather, the problem lies with changes that occur to the PC's software. The two most common causes of slowdown (along with easy solutions) are:
The most common problem: registery errors
Every time you (or your kids) load a program, game, or file, your PC's software registery is updated with new instructions needed to operate that item. However, when the item is removed, these instructions usually remain on your PC. Every time you run your computer it tries to execute these instructions but, because the related program can't be found, it causes a registry error. Your PC is doing a lot more work than it should be and the result is a significantly slower computer.
One of the best ways to manage this is with a neat little tool from a Seattle based company called the Advanced Registry Optimizer 2010 (ARO). This program scans, identifies, and fixes registry errors--resulting in a computer that's a lot more like it was when you first bought it. On top of the amazing results it offers, it's so easy to install and use that it was recently awarded a coveted 4.5 star rating (out of 5) by CNET's editorial staff.
You can now get a free working version of the software which will quickly scan your entire PC and identify all of the registry errors that may be bogging it down. The free version eliminates the first 100 errors, and if you have more errors that you want to clean-up or want to set the program to run on a regular basis (which is recommended), you can easily upgrade to the full version for just $29.95. After that, registry errors will no longer be a problem.
To get the free version simply click here.
Spyware and viruses
Spyware and viruses are software programs that are loaded on your computer without your knowledge or permission. They have various purposes, including:
- Changing the default search engine in your browser.
- Tracking your Web surfing habits and showing you targeted advertising.
- Using your email program to send out spam to other email addresses.
- Stealing your personal information.
The simple rule of thumb to follow is to never download any free software programs from companies you do not know and trust, especially screensavers, emoticons, and the like. In addition, you should never open any attachment to an email unless you are 100 percent certain you know and trust the sender. In addition, make sure you have a good anti-virus/spyware removal software running at all times.
Follow the above advice and your PC should stay fast and safe.
How does this affect you and your PC?
These registry entries become registry errors when they aren't used or needed by an application, especially if the application doesn't exist on your PC anymore. As registry errors build up they have the potential to slow down your PC's performance and cause interruptions.
A slower PC could result in waiting longer for startup to finish or for an application to load. In order to improve your experience we recommend you remove these errors. Use a free scan to check for registry errors on your PC now – click here to start!
How New Software Program Brings the World Together
Elad lives in Israel. His grandmother lives in Austria. Elad speaks no German and his Grandmother speaks no Hebrew. They communicate perfectly.
Enrique is from Honduras but he lives in the U.S. Enrique just started learning English and speaks very little. But everyday Enrique reads the latest local US news on the web - no problem.
What these individuals and close to 60 million others around the world share is a remarkable free software program called Babylon.
Babylon may well be the most advanced translation software in the world and it's a must have for anyone whose life extends beyond the borders of their own language, or who wants it to.
Once you download it, you can highlight any text in practically any program and its instantly translated into the language of your choice. You can use it to translate a web site, email, word doc, pdf and virtually any document in any format you can think of.
You can compose a document in your native language and Babylon will instantly translate it into another before you send it.
The program translates 75 languages including Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindu and Russian. It also includes up-to-date encyclopedias, dictionaries and spell checkers.
And Babylon is a long way from early translation software that would, more often than not, generate an unreadable babble of grammatically incoherent text that was better suited for generating laughs than understanding. Babylon's ability to understand and translate is state-of-the art. So much so that businesses are adopting Babylon as the standard when it comes to translating commercial communications and other important documents.
Babylon is also a great tool for people who are learning another language. Use it anytime you encounter a word or passage you don't understand.
But above all, what users rave about most is the program's ability to open up the world to them. Whether it's surfing a news site in a different country or being able to properly communicate with a family member or friend oversees, Babylon can make it ha
How to Find Free Coupons on the Web
Coupon Aggregators
Some web sites specialize in providing a one-stop shop for coupons from all sorts of stores, both online and brick and mortar stores. Similar to travel web sites, these coupon aggregator sites can save you a lot of time clicking around looking for the best deal. Why go to hundreds of sites when one site can deliver what you need? That's exactly what sites such as RetailMeNot.com do for you. Beyond simply searching for stores of interest on their site, they also provide other convenient ways to access their online coupon services. For example, why not use their Mac Dashboard Widget to keep track of the latest free online coupon codes? If you don't have a Mac, simply download their Internet Explorer or Firefox web browser add-ons and have free online coupon codes sent directly to your web browser. Jumping on the expanding popularity of Facebook, they also offer a plug-in for the popular social networking site.
Other useful free online coupon aggregator web sites include CouponMountain.com, DealCatcher.com,Ebates.com and BestOnlineCoupons.com. Do a search on Google or your favorite search engine for "free online coupons" and you'll be amazed at the different sites out there.
Company Coupons
Businesses have long recognized the power of the coupon. Not only does it help them increase sales, but from an analysis perspective it can help their marketing departments figure out what types of promotions consumers you like respond to the best. Thus, you can find many coupons directly from company web sites.
The easiest way to see if there are savings of what you regularly buy is simply to type the brand name and the word "coupon" into any search engine. Chances are the free online coupon you're looking for is out there. Many may have expiration dates, so make sure you take note of when the coupon is good until.
Free online coupons have two main ways of redeeming them. The first is the good old fashioned way. Print out the coupon and take it into the store of your choice. Present the coupon at the point of purchase. Another popular way to use free online coupons is by typing in a coupon code during an online purchase. If you regularly purchase over the internet, this can be more convenient (and save a lot of paper and printer ink too).
Make sure to read the fine print of any web site offering coupons. Most will ask for your email address and other personal information. Give out only what you're comfortable with. It's a good idea to open a separate email account just for these types of online promotions. This will prevent your personal inbox from getting flooded with spam.
Finding free online coupons is not only a great way to save money, it can be a lot of fun as well
What is the Best Broadband Option: Cable, DSL or Satellite
To get connected using cable the your home or business needs to have an underground cable connection (but you do not need to have cable TV) . A DSL connection is done over telephone lines, and a satellite connection uses a small dish on the roof to receive and transmit the Internet connection to a satellite.
Unlike dial-up, all three options allow you to use your phone while getting connected to the Internet. Some rural areas still don't have access to DSL and cable, so in these areas, satellite service is the only option other than using dial-up at a very slow rate of speed.
DSL, Cable, and Satellite are all much faster than a dial-up connection, and the exact speed depends on which plan and company you sign up with. On average, it's about 40 times faster than a dial-up is.
There are pros and cons to using each option.
With DSL, your speed is always steady, even if you have 2 or 200 people using the service. With cable, the speed of the service can be effected by how many others in your neighborhood are logged on at the same time.
Satellite is generally the best option for people in rural areas that do not have good cable or DSL options. The signal has much farther to travel, so there is often a delay. Plus, it's more difficult (and therefore expensive) to install than DSL or cable options.
Although it's performance is affected by the number of other users in the area, cable providers generally charge more for cable connections than DSL charges. However, DSL prices often go up at the end of the one-year sign-on special. In addition, if you do have cable TV, you may be able to get a better price.
If you're using DSL or cable to connect to the Internet, you'll need a broadband modem. With satellite, you'll need a dish installed. Regardless of which option you choose, you'll come out ahead if you leave dial-up behind and switch to one of the faster Internet connection opportunities, such as DSL, cable, or satellite service.
Is There a Smart Way to Buy Your Beauty Products Online
More often than not, however, reality clashes with the fantasy. Fighting traffic and crowds, circling for a parking spot and eye-popping prices are more characteristic of the department store cosmetics experience.
Is there a better way? A group of entrepreneurs from California believes there is. Observing how people were doing more and more of their shopping online, they decided to make the cosmetics shopping experience better by moving it onto the Internet. The result was a new company called Dermstore.com
That was just a few years ago, and today Dermstore is one of the largest sellers of premium cosmetics brands on the web, offering more than 300 brands.
According to Dan Williams, DermStore's President, "Our goal was to take what traditional retailers were doing well and improve on it, and to take what Internet retailers were doing well and bring it to the world of cosmetics and skin care. The only thing we can't do is let you instantly sample the product through your computer."
So how do they shape up compared to traditional beauty retailers?
Selection
DermStore offers a massive selection, from the global leaders to hot new up and coming and innovative brands and products, including cosmetics, skin care, anti-aging treatments and hair care. Regardless of what product you are using - chances are, they have it.
Freebies:
DermStore has an extensive gift with purchase program - so there is always tons of new freebies you can get along with your favorite products.
Ease of use
The design of the DermStore web site is generally excellent. You can browse products by brand, by product purpose (i.e. sunless tanning) or by skin condition (i.e. rosacea).
Value Pricing:
According to Williams, the pricing for most products is as good as or better than traditional retailers. The site never charges for shipping, and, if you're ordering from outside California, you won't pay sales tax.
We also discovered some great tricks on the site for saving even more. For instance, they allow you to set up a free favorites list and immediately give you a 10% discount on all the products you add to your list. There are also weekly deals, which are limited-time discounts on some of their most popular brands.
They also offer the choice of automatically receiving the products you buy on a regular basis. You just set the frequency of the shipments based on how often you need a new supply and they'll ship it out. In addition to the convenience, every 5th shipment is free - which translates to an additional 20% savings. Not bad for a few clicks.
Getting pampered at the cosmetics counter can be fun, but the smart move in the long term may just be online.
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