A friend pinged me last night for some help. His exact words were,

“Hey, I need some advice. Computer is running slow. Programs that use to work are locking it up, need to restart. When I log off there are some strange programs shutting down. This is not my strong point, what should I do?”

Over years I have developed a method, that from my experience, works very well in getting your computer back to “new”.  I have applied this simple method to countless computers over the years and have many satisfied customers.  These recommendations are geared towards the average computer user, I don’t need to hear a million other ways to tweak a system in the comments.  I want my Grandma to be able to do this.
1) Start by going through Add/Remove programs and get rid of anything you don’t need and/or don’t really need. This could take a while if your computer is acting up.2) Run a Spyware scan. Ad-Aware is good and they have a free version you can download here. Just use the default options and remove anything it suggests you remove.

3) Run a virus scan. If you don’t have a current subscription to an anti-virus program fork up the cash and buy one. Remove whatever you have and get Webroot. Opt for the version with Spyware scan included and then you can ignore #2 because it will scan that as well. Perform a full scan which can take a few hours.  I like Webroot because it has a small system footprint and doesn’t install a million and one things you don’t need like Symantec and McAfee does.

4) Update Windows. http://update.microsoft.com Even if you have automatic updates enabled, go here to see if there is anything else you need.

5) Download Registry Mechanic which is (kinda) free. You can run a full scan and it will repair the major things in the free version. If you have upwards of 300 or more errors, you might want to buy this as well.

6) Defragment your hard drive. Do this last because you want your hard drive to be optimized after you remove and install software. If you haven’t done this in a while or have never done it, expect it to take a few hours. Just start it one night before you go to bed and it will be done in the morning.

7) Use the “Ask Me” tab above if you have any other questions or particular concerns.

If the above fails you could be trying to run software that your computer really should be supporting or you have done irreparable damage and just need a fresh OS install (or a new computer).

Good Luck!

If you are new to Linux or even someone who has been using it for a while you may have wondered what the difference is between the various - not to mention numerous - Linux distributions that are available. There are literally hundreds of different distributions you can chose from. If you want to explore almost every available Linux distribution check out www.distrowatch.com They keep up-to-date information on almost every release available.

Although there are hundreds of distributions they can be separated into four main categories based on the way packages are managed (or are not managed) in each.

1. RPM Based

RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) based distributions are the mostly widely used. They account for approximately 50% of total Linux distributions (unverified source). Some of the more popular RPM distributions are: Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS, Mandrake and SUSE. For more information on what RPM is and can do, see the Wikipedia article on RMP.

2. Debian

Debian based package management is handled by a powerful software tool called “apt” (Advanced Packaging Tool) Without digging too deep into apt, in short, it handles “.deb” files, installs and configures them. A simple command like apt-get install kde would install the entire KDE window management program and configure it for my system. Some of the more popular Debian distro’s are Debian (the original), Ubuntu, Knoppix and Linspire.

3. tar.gz based

G-zipped tar-balls are used as the primary installation source for installing and upgrading packages on some Linux distro’s. Managing a system using this type of installation source is usually reserved for advanced users. Although a package manager is used (generally pkgtool) it doesn’t check for dependencies. If you want to install software that needs other software to make it work, the system administrator is responsible for making sure the required dependencies are installed. The most popular distribution of this type is Slackware.

4. Source (all packages are complied from source code)

Linux distro’s that compile packages from source are often used by only the most “hardcore” users that want to control every aspect of system configuration and installation. The benefit is complete system control but the downside the time it takes to install packages. Because each package is installed from source code it has to be complied before it can be used. If you want to become a Linux expert (or already are one) then source code-type Linux distro’s are the best way to go. The most popular source-code based Linux distribution is Gentoo. See my previous post on Linux from Scratch if this sounds like something you would like to tackle.

Shh…don’t tell my wife but I have a new lover. Her name is Sandy.

She reminds me when to do things without being rude, stops talking when I tell her to, doesn’t bother me if I don’t want to talk, never forgets anything, and probably best of all, she never costs me a penny.

Doesn’t she sound perfect? In reality Sandy is from iwantsandy.com and she can do some pretty cool things. She is a virtual assistant that you access through something most of you probably use everyday — your e-mail. There is not software to install, nothing to download and no cost.

Sandy can:

• Help you remember something
• Set a reminder
• Make to do lists
• Add contacts that you can lookup with a quick e-mail.

For a more complete list, check out the Quick Guide. Just send her an e-mail and she will remind you whenever you tell her to (or at a default time). One of my favorite things is you can CC: her on an e-mail about something important and Sandy will remember and remind you when it’s time via e-mail, text message, Twitter or all three.

There are all kinds of reminder programs, calendar programs and the like available for download and purchase but what makes this one different, at least for me, is that it integrates so well with my life. I use check my e-mail all the time for work and personal reasons and the options of text reminders are nice when you’re on the go.

If you are looking for an easy way to manage your appointments and save some time, give Sandy a try. She won’t let you down.

The Nintendo Wii is proving to be one of the most elusive gifts to find for this holiday season. It has been hard to get your hands on one since they came out. Now that the busiest shopping season of the year is upon us, finding a Wii will become even more difficult. My mom managed to get her hands on 4 of them in the past month so I ask her how she did it. Turns out she didn’t have to do anything too crazy or spend a penny more than the retail price. Based on her advice, here are my tips for getting your hands on a Wii before Christmas.

1. Ask when the truck comes in. This method applies to all retail stores. Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, Meijer, K-Mart, etc. Just ask the store manager or someone in the electronics department when the next truck comes in. Then show up at the same time. Most Wal-Marts and Meijer stores are open 24 hours so you may have to go at 2 a.m.
2. Wait in line. Stores that aren’t open 24 hours will often let you line up a little while before the store opens and will give you a “ticket” with a number. If you have a ticket you get a Wii, simple as that. I would recommend calling a head to see which stores participate in this method, but I know for certain that Best Buy does.
3. Order Online. This may be obvious but in order for success, I recommend staying away from the “big name” stores like Amazon.com and the like. Smaller electronics-only retailers like Newegg.com often have them in stock. Google can be your best friend when finding the right store. Make sure they are a reputable retailer and guarantee shipping dates.
4. Don’t buy from E-bay or online auction sites. You may be able to find 100’s Wii’s available on E-bay, but chances are you will pay a premium and have to pay extra for shipping. I love E-bay but for time-critical situations like this, I wouldn’t risk it.
5. Be willing to drive. One of the best ways I have ever found to find that elusive item, whether it be a Wii, or any other popular holiday gift is to be willing to drive. I live in an area with lots of small towns close buy. Each one of these town usually has a Wal-Mart or similar retailer that have popular items in stock. The smaller the town the better in this situation. I once drove around a big town all day checking every store I could find for an elusive item for my son. No luck. On my way home I drove through a small town with a Wal-Mart and thought I would just “check”. Low-and-behold they had not one, but multiple of the item in stock. Call ahead to these small town superstores and see if they have what you are looking for in stock. You may be surprised!

I hope this short list provides a tip that lands you a Wii. Come to think of it, this list is a good start for getting any hard-to-find item. Good luck and happy shopping!