How to speed up your computer!

Over time, your Windows Vista or XP system can lose performance causing potentially long delays in getting stuff done. This can be very frustrating and many people experience this particularly with computers running Windows.

You might consider radical approaches such as complete re-install of Windows or perhaps even buying a new computer? Usually, there is no need and you can save a lot of time and money with some simple steps to improve your Windows computer performance. The five tips below are the easiest and cheapest ways to speed up your Windows XP or VISTA computer today:

1) Eliminate viruses and spyware

Viruses and spyware are one of the main causes of making your Windows computer run slowly as they deliver nothing but consume valuable system resources.

2) Free up disk space

Windows needs a lot of free disk space to operate. If you are running short on disk space, it can slow down your computers performance.

Free up as much disk space as possible on your system diver (c:) by deleting unwanted programs and data or moving these to cheap USB data keys or other storage devices.

3) Clean the registry

The "registry" is a system file that keeps track of software settings. You don't see it but it's essential for Windows to operate. As you install and uninstall programs, small fragments of data are left hanging around on your computer in its "registry". Over time, these small fragments of old data can cause Windows to slow down.

Using an inexpensive registry cleaner can improve your Windows system performance.

4) Eliminate unnecessary programs

Many programs that you install load into memory every time you start Windows. Loading programs into memory means longer start up time for Windows and slows down performance.

Type "MSCONFIG" into Windows Vista search to identify and disable unwanted programs that run on Windows start up.

5) Optimize your hard drive

As you use your computer, the data becomes scattered across your hard drive. This is perfectly normal but can slow down your Windows performance over time.

Use the Windows built in tool "Defragmentation" [right click a drive -> properties -> tools -> Defragmentation] to optimize your hard disk and speed up your Windows computer.

These steps are easy and can significantly improve your computer's Windows performance. Why not give them a go and see if they can save you time on re-installing Windows or even money on buying a new computer?

Trojan Zlob

Zlob, otherwise known as Trojan Zlob, is a dangerous and debilitating spyware program that, when it makes its way onto your computer can cause a whole host of issues and is extremely difficult to remove manually. That being said, however, there is a Zlob removal method that has shown to be very effective and can have this nasty spyware off your computer in minutes.

Zlob typically finds its way onto your computer via an infected shareware or freeware download, through peer to peer file sharing, or by clicking on infected popups or advertisements from questionable websites.

Once installed on your computer, it can do a number of different things to it, including but not limited to:

- Hijacking your browser
- Slowing down your computer
- Bombarding your computer with popups
- Downloading additional malware and spyware
- Log keystrokes and browsing habits

Easiest Zlob Removal Method

Because this particular Trojan can reinstall itself under different file names and entries, it is very difficult to remove manually. While you may think that you've removed all the infected files, once you reboot you will most likely find that it has reinstalled itself and reinfected your computer.

Therefore, the most effective and easiest method for getting rid of it is to use antispyware software.

Spending a few dollars to protect your data and your personal information from being stolen is a small price to pay considering the alternative if the infection did manage to log vital information such as passwords or PIN numbers and send that off to a remote server for some hacker to access.

But not all antispyware software is equal. When shopping for one, make sure the product you choose includes frequent no-cost updates as well as real time protection to ensure that once you do get rid of Zlob, it won't come back nor will you be infected with any other spyware or adware programs.

So unless you are a computer professional and even then manual removal is not guaranteed, go ahead and invest the small amount of money required to get your hands on top of the line antispyware software and Zlob removal will be a breeze.

How to Transfer Software From One Computer to Another

If you are buying or replacing a personal computer, you may be wondering how you will be able to transfer all those expensive programs and games that you've been using on your old computer. Over time, computer users tend to accumulate a great deal of software from a variety of sources. You may have purchased your old computer already including software that you like, but unfortunately this software is not included with your new unit. Or you may have installed software from an online source or a disk that is no longer available. Whatever the reason is that you want to transfer your favorite software over, it is possible to transfer software from one computer to another. Here are some ways to do that:

Using an external drive

One of the most obvious ways to transfer software from one computer to another is to copy the software from the old computer to an external hard drive or flash drive. Before doing so, you will want to make sure that the drive has enough capacity to hold the software files so that you don't lose any critical components when adding it to the new computer. You may want to use a web-based drive to store the programs as well for ease in accessing them to download them onto your new machine once this process is completed. This is the most time consuming of the methods.

Drag and drop method

If you have the ability to link the hard drives of each of your computers via USB cables, then the easiest way to transfer software from one computer to another is by doing so, then dragging the original downloaded software files from one hard drive to another. However, be advised that if you have ever removed a portion of the software from the original computer, you may not be able to do this correctly. It is best to get someone who is experienced with computers to handle this process for you, if at all possible, to avoid any problems. You also will need to allow your new computer to upload each software file and then re-install it to the new machine, all of which will take some time.

Software transferring application

There are several software transferring applications available on the market, such as 'PC Mover' that can find then copy all the software files from your old machine, then re-install them onto your new computer. This software can be attained relatively inexpensively, less than the cost of taking your computer to an IT support person to do this task. Once you have the software copied, then you will also benefit from having a permanent backup of the software in case of a system crash.

If done carefully, you can easily transfer software from one computer to another by using one or more of the options mentioned above. Be sure to consult with a qualified computer technician if you experience any problems or need additional help.

Traces of RPG

RPG stands for Role Playing Games in which a gamer actually plays the main character and develops a storyline based on his own perspective. In RPGs, the gaming experience becomes individual to the player because everything happens as a result of the choices he makes while playing the game. Because the gamer is not merely a spectator but the main character, he controls the dimension where the events occur, each contributing to how the story eventually comes to an end. This is the unique element that sets RPGs apart from other video games.

While other genres have followed their own paths to perfection, RPG's have always been more notable for the fact that they started out devoid of any digital personality as a pen-and-paper tabletop game in 1974. Known as Dungeons and Dragons, the game required 5-10 players and one dungeon master creating a fantasy world where a plot developed and characters pursued a quest. As with any tabletop game, D & D worked around rulebooks, guidelines and character sheets. But in 1980, everything changed as the world saw the first digital imprints of RPG.

Rapid developments in technology gave rise to the first well-known computerized RPG, Akalabeth, which was released for the Apple II. Mediocre graphics and a lack of depth made it barely a hit, although it did provide such great inspiration for budding developers. The first post-Akalabeth commercial RPG to saturate the market was Ultima which did not only spread like wildfire but was majorly influential as well. In 1982, the first console RPG, AD&D: Treasure of Tarmin, was born to the first gaming console released by Mattel, Intellvision. Since then, the gaming industry has been reaching maniacal heights.

By the nineties, RPGs had exploded into a full-blown phenomenon, eventually making the decade the "Golden Age of RPG" with such releases as the Might & Magic, Final Fantasy and Phantasy Star series. The spirit of active role gaming was so alive it did not only inhabit games and gamers but developers themselves who grew more responsive to the demands of their market by adding more depth, more intensity, boundless creativity and a far superior technical character into their games. No longer were RPG's confined to dungeons and dragons as they now evolved into richer gaming systems that fed every gamer's appetite for adventure.

Today, RPGs are way more advanced than how we knew them back then. But the rules have not changed and though the actual events differ with each game, the role-playing element of RPGs always breathes new life to any gamer who transforms into each animated character he plays.

Save money buying games online

Once you have a gaming system, then your attention is focused on acquiring newer games. Having a great collection of games can always boost a sense of pride but it may not always be financially feasible. Obviously you can't do away with the need to buy games online but you can always opt for channels that ensure that you save money on these purchases.

Instead of being hell bent on buying games online as soon as you read about them, spend adequate time reading reviews to know whether this is a game you really want. That way you won't waste your money on something you didn't really want. Don't ever get card away with market reputation of a game. Always emphasize on whether or not you will really be playing it.

Read plenty of reviews provided by gamers and critics to know what you want to buy.

If you decide to buy, don't click on everything that comes your way because when it comes to paying, it's going to be a huge tab. Instead make a list of what you really want and go ahead and buy those.

Instead of buying games at random, try a renting library at first. This allows you to have a real feel of the game. Playing the game will enable you to know if this is what you want and saves money because it prevents you from buying something you're not really interested in.

One great option is to discuss with a school friend or others in your friend circle to know what they're playing. If your best friend is into gaming, you could even go and play the game for real to make a better choice. It's always a good idea to buy games that your friends are playing as you can enjoy these online multiplayer games with them as well rather than be stuck with a new game and have to find absolute strangers who would play with you online.

Since there are so many online shops that are dealing with online games, find the reputed stores. Once you narrow down, thoroughly scan the lesser known shops because they're likely to offer better deals because they're trying to increase their client base to. In your search for discounts don't settle for a dubious store that's going to turn out to be a scam.

There are many sellers online. Those that enjoy a greater rating have many games to offer. If you're looking at buy a slightly older game, they're likely to offer you favorable discounts that will allow you save a fair bit.
There's always the option of trading games. You can trade your older games to get a discount and something new. This is a wise move because in the world of online games, there's games introduced at regular intervals and most players simply move in. as such, barring a few games that you rate as your favorite, it's always a good idea to part with the others and keep updating.

You'll only save money if you make guaranteed purchases. Don't fall for scams and fake offers, so consult with others, and buy games after reading a full description.

How to Clean the Inside of Your Computer, and Why

Firstly, let's go through the steps of cleaning your computer's inside, then we'll discuss the benefits of the exercise.

TOOLS NEEDED: Star and flat screwdrivers, new 2 inch paintbrush, old toothbrush, air blower, soft damp cloth.

1. Remove any CD's, DVD's, stiffies, flash drives, etc from the drives.

2. Switch the power off and unplug the computer from the wall outlet.

3. After making a careful note of where all the plugs and cables are connected, unplug all the rear cables, and then take the computer to a table outside (or where the light is good), and where you can make a lot of dust. Using the air blower, blow the dust off the outside of the computer case, especially the back connections.

4. Take the cover(s) off the computer case. Usually there are two or more screws at the back, and then the covers slide off rearwards, but there are so many different types of cases, you may have to figure out how they come off!

5. With the air blower, start blowing from a distance of about 2 feet and gradually move closer as needed, being careful not to blow the computer components to bits. You want to remove the dust, not sandblast the thing. Pay special attention to any fans, and also to the main CPU. The main CPU should have a large finned heat sink attached to it, which becomes caked with dust.

6. Once you have blown the worst of the dust off, use the air blower and the paint brush to dust off stubborn caked dust, especially on the heat sink of the CPU, on the fan blades, and around the Power Supply Unit, which is the metal enclosed box where the mains plug goes in. Don't forget the fan at the back of the computer. Using the paintbrush you can get to the fan quite well through the inlet vents.

7. If there is any dust that is too caked to get off with the paintbrush, use the old toothbrush to gently brush it off.

8. Once all the dust is gone, use the soft damp (NOT wet!) cloth to wipe down the outside of the computer case and the loose covers.

9. Put the covers back, take the computer and air blower back inside and connect all the computer's plugs up. Check that they are all correctly and firmly inserted, and then switch the computer on again.

10. Open the CD/DVD drawers and using the air blower, blow into the drawers to remove any dust that may have got into there. DVD players don't like dust on their internal lenses.

BENEFITS OF AN INTERNAL CLEANUP:

Computer CPU's (Central Processing Unit, the "brain" of the PC) generate a lot of heat, due to all the processing going on in their integrated circuits. The finned heat sink mounted on the CPU transfers heat from the CPU to the surrounding air by creating a large surface area (that's what all the "fins" are for.) If this surface area is covered with dust, it traps the heat and the CPU overheats, shortening it's life span.

In the same way, if the fan blades and inlet vents are caked with dust, this reduces the amount of air that can be sucked in to the computer and over the CPU heat sink, so the computer will run at a higher temperature than it should, which will shorten the life of the various components in the computer.

CD and DVD players are very fussy about dust. A few specks on the laser lenses can cause a lot of problems when reading and writing data, in some cases the machine will reject the disk as unreadable.

If you live in a warm climate, this should be done fairly often.

A clean computer should give you many years of trouble free service.

Ikariam

Ikariam is a newly released game by the german game company, GameForge. The company specializes in the coding and design of online browser games such as this one. The basis of the game are simple - build up your city and conquer the world. At the moment, other cities are not destroyable as that would mean one will loose everything he/ she has worked for but it has been announced that this will be changed in a future update.

Other games such as Popodopolous and Zeus worked on the same basis and their simplicity is what made them popular. Well, Ikariam has another popularity factor - the fact that you play it online, for free and without having to download anything on your computer. This feature is amazing as that means you can play it anywhere; at school, on the train, airport lounge or at home!

The game's files which contain all your account details and statistics are stored on a central server at the company's headquarters so you don't have to worry about loosing your files.

Ikariam has only been released in February and it is one of the most searched terms on search engines such as Google and Yahoo. However, Ikariam is still in beta phase so there are a lot of bugs and missing information that you can only get from the developers if you ask on the forums - this can be time consuming as there isn't a 24/7 customer support.

So, say you want to build a new colony or simply expand your palace and what to see what benefits you get. There's nowhere to go apart from the forums as the game is recently released and a lack of documentation exists. There are numerous Ikariam videos in existence on YouTube talking about the high number of bugs in the game and how to fix them, but apart from that you have no other information.

In future i will post fast leveling, faq and answers... posto your questions in comments and we will make helpdesk