Comments on: Building a New Computer – Part 5: Tweaking Your New Computer http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/ Computer Help from your Friendly How-To Geek Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:56:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: IDK http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-76858 IDK Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:18:49 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-76858 Hey Geek, Nice guide! You forgot to mention, creating a system restore point? Got stuck on Part 4, accidentally installed the wrong Vista Edition. I wasn't bothered trying to re-install, so i bought the edition I selected, (Vista Ultimate) What's with the HomeBasicN, when it says in Vista Installation? Hey Geek,

Nice guide! You forgot to mention, creating a system restore point?
Got stuck on Part 4, accidentally installed the wrong Vista Edition.
I wasn’t bothered trying to re-install, so i bought the edition I selected, (Vista Ultimate)
What’s with the HomeBasicN, when it says in Vista Installation?

]]> By: Lynn http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-72970 Lynn Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:20:22 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-72970 Hi, How can I disable the autolaunch of a file or application when I'm using the touchpad on my laptop? You know when you leave mouse hovering on a file or link and it decides to be helpful and go there for you? I don't want it to be helpful unless I click on it. Thanks Hi,
How can I disable the autolaunch of a file or application when I’m using the touchpad on my laptop? You know when you leave mouse hovering on a file or link and it decides to be helpful and go there for you? I don’t want it to be helpful unless I click on it.
Thanks

]]> By: Steven http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-72614 Steven Fri, 29 May 2009 23:21:56 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-72614 Another thing that i recommend is creating a "data" partion that you redirect all your profile folders to. In Xp you would need to use partion magic or some similar software if you did not set this up on the install of the OS, but in Vista it is very simple. Open disk management (right click computer, manage) and you can choose shrink or extend. I always do this so i dont keep all my documents on my OS partition in case my OS crashes for whatever reason. You can reload your OS and all your documents and personal information is not lost. Another thing that i recommend is creating a “data” partion that you redirect all your profile folders to. In Xp you would need to use partion magic or some similar software if you did not set this up on the install of the OS, but in Vista it is very simple. Open disk management (right click computer, manage) and you can choose shrink or extend. I always do this so i dont keep all my documents on my OS partition in case my OS crashes for whatever reason. You can reload your OS and all your documents and personal information is not lost.

]]> By: KooL http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-66770 KooL Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:58:15 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-66770 Anti Virus programs are a waste of resources, money, and time.In 6 years and about a dozen computers later, I have never had a virus once. I used to run a Norton scan once in a while to check, and it never found any infection whatsoever. I never click on ANY flashing ads, or open email from someone I don't know. Windows firewall, and Windows defender(Vista default), are sufficient.If you are running XP, Microsoft has a Windows Defender XP version, to download(free) Also free on the web is Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, which will rid your computer of the spy's that follow you around,although Windows Defender does such a good job, the scan very rarely find any problems.I spent money on VistaBootPro, but have not used it since I crashed one of my computers(It wouldn't boot) I have several dual boot computers, (XP & Vista,), one older one with Win98se & XP, and a triple boot with XP, Windows7, and Vista. Just install XP first, or when you reboot, Vista will not be available on the boot menu. You can install Vista first, but you have to fix the boot, or it goes straight to XP, without a choice for Vista.Dual boots are great, if you partition the hard drive into two small partitions for the OS, and the remainder of the drive for storage. This eliminates the need to back up your files. You can do a clean install on either one of the OS's, and when your done, viola!, all your files are still there, on the storage partition, witch can be shared by both OS's. This is great for games. Just reinstall the game in the same folder(in the storage partition), and your progress is exactly where you left it. Copy photos,music,or whatever to a folder in storage, and copy them back to there original spots when your done installing the OS. I'm not much of a geek, so when I encounter a problem with the computer I can't fix, I just reinstall the OS, and I don't loose a thing. For all you Vista haters, all I can say is having the choice between XP & Vista at the click of a key, I find myself using Vista over 90% of the time. I can't get Vista to boot faster,but with a few simple tweaks, Vista is WAY faster than XP(and more secure) Anti Virus programs are a waste of resources, money, and time.In 6 years and about a dozen computers later, I have never had a virus once. I used to run a Norton scan once in a while to check, and it never found any infection whatsoever. I never click on ANY flashing ads, or open email from someone I don’t know. Windows firewall, and Windows defender(Vista default), are sufficient.If you are running XP, Microsoft has a Windows Defender XP version, to download(free) Also free on the web is Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, which will rid your computer of the spy’s that follow you around,although Windows Defender does such a good job, the scan very rarely find any problems.I spent money on VistaBootPro, but have not used it since I crashed one of my computers(It wouldn’t boot) I have several dual boot computers, (XP & Vista,), one older one with Win98se & XP, and a triple boot with XP, Windows7, and Vista. Just install XP first, or when you reboot, Vista will not be available on the boot menu. You can install Vista first, but you have to fix the boot, or it goes straight to XP, without a choice for Vista.Dual boots are great, if you partition the hard drive into two small partitions for the OS, and the remainder of the drive for storage. This eliminates the need to back up your files. You can do a clean install on either one of the OS’s, and when your done, viola!, all your files are still there, on the storage partition, witch can be shared by both OS’s. This is great for games. Just reinstall the game in the same folder(in the storage partition), and your progress is exactly where you left it. Copy photos,music,or whatever to a folder in storage, and copy them back to there original spots when your done installing the OS. I’m not much of a geek, so when I encounter a problem with the computer I can’t fix, I just reinstall the OS, and I don’t loose a thing. For all you Vista haters, all I can say is having the choice between XP & Vista at the click of a key, I find myself using Vista over 90% of the time. I can’t get Vista to boot faster,but with a few simple tweaks, Vista is WAY faster than XP(and more secure)

]]> By: ComputerPro http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-65429 ComputerPro Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:05:16 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-65429 Okay,I did use CCleaner for a while(i LOVE your joke about it being CrapCleaner!)But I found a MUCH MUCH better program that cleans everything THAT CCleaner does NOT!!It is Advanced SystemCare it is FREE and you can get it from download.com But,Obviously the Pro is MUCH better. Okay,I did use CCleaner for a while(i LOVE your joke about it being CrapCleaner!)But I found a MUCH MUCH better program that cleans everything THAT CCleaner does NOT!!It is Advanced SystemCare it is FREE and you can get it from download.com But,Obviously the Pro is MUCH better.

]]> By: Digital http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-58979 Digital Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:10:32 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-58979 A great guide that helped me build my computer from start to finish. I would only suggest adding Part 6: Overclocking. A great guide that helped me build my computer from start to finish. I would only suggest adding Part 6: Overclocking.

]]> By: Scott http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-56172 Scott Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:02:16 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-56172 Wow, parts 3 through 5 of this guide were exactly what i needed. i just built a system for the first time ever and i've been searching for a site to help me with a few pesky BIOS problems as well as a central location for some good testing software. THANKS! Wow, parts 3 through 5 of this guide were exactly what i needed. i just built a system for the first time ever and i’ve been searching for a site to help me with a few pesky BIOS problems as well as a central location for some good testing software. THANKS!

]]> By: Jon http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-54761 Jon Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:38:50 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-54761 @Sons_Of_Liberty When talking about large files like that it will make no difference. They will be contiguous when created and on the new volume you move them to. Default cluster size with NTFS for a 2GB+ sized volume is 4KB. You get fragmentation with smaller files (documents, web cache, etc) especially when you save and edit them. At no point are large files going to cause any performance problems with fragmentation at all. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/140365 Defragging a disk to make any considerable performance increase is merely a myth...or just kept on from legacy days where processors, memory and hard drives were so slow that you'd actually notice a difference. In comparison, we're talking about dual/quad core processors, DDR2/DDR3 memory and hard drives with so much cache buffer (16-32MB) and blazing fast internal transfer rates that it will never make any difference at all. @Sons_Of_Liberty

When talking about large files like that it will make no difference. They will be contiguous when created and on the new volume you move them to. Default cluster size with NTFS for a 2GB+ sized volume is 4KB. You get fragmentation with smaller files (documents, web cache, etc) especially when you save and edit them. At no point are large files going to cause any performance problems with fragmentation at all.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/140365

Defragging a disk to make any considerable performance increase is merely a myth…or just kept on from legacy days where processors, memory and hard drives were so slow that you’d actually notice a difference.

In comparison, we’re talking about dual/quad core processors, DDR2/DDR3 memory and hard drives with so much cache buffer (16-32MB) and blazing fast internal transfer rates that it will never make any difference at all.

]]> By: Sons_Of_Liberty http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-54750 Sons_Of_Liberty Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:31:54 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-54750 Actually I delete and move GiB's a day. I'm always re-arranging things. So I'm that person who you just said doesn't do that. And with a external hard drive I did notice a difference, but I have varying files sizes ranging from a MiB to 5 GiB's. Actually I delete and move GiB’s a day. I’m always re-arranging things. So I’m that person who you just said doesn’t do that. And with a external hard drive I did notice a difference, but I have varying files sizes ranging from a MiB to 5 GiB’s.

]]> By: Jon http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/comment-page-1/#comment-54742 Jon Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:57:53 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/the-geek-blog/building-a-new-computer-part-5-tweaking-your-new-computer/#comment-54742 @The Geek in regards to tbone87's comment about AVG and defrag... I am sorry, but I agree with tbone87. These days hard drives are so massive and fast that a defrag literally does nothing. Have never seen any performance (transfer or search) improvement after a defrag in my entire life. I think that Microsoft made defrag automatic as a scheduled task just to quiet people that don't understand hard drives very well. Sure, there is fragmentation but when internal transfer rates are in the hundreds of megabytes per second it won't really matter. Also, how many average users add and delete files enough that it would even cause an issue? Most people add files and let them sit there to gather dust. At most you'll get fragmentation when you edit and save a file. If you move the file to another volume/partition then it's already contiguous after you move it. Also, AVG isn't the worst AV program. It's probably the least resource using but in regards to actually catching viri? I used AVG up until version 7.5 and one time I downloaded a file off of an internet website and ran the file, it tore right through my computer and even infected the AVG process running at the time. Nothing worse than your AV program detecting that itself is infected and does nothing while the virus destroys your hard drive. After reformatting I tried out Avast 4.7 instead. I tried to get that same file and Avast wouldn't even let me download it! Now that is what I call a real AV program. Of course Avast is a bit more resource intensive but at least it is going to protect you and far more than AVG ever could. In fact, the new version of Avast has anti-rootkit protection, something that AVG does not. @The Geek in regards to tbone87’s comment about AVG and defrag…

I am sorry, but I agree with tbone87. These days hard drives are so massive and fast that a defrag literally does nothing. Have never seen any performance (transfer or search) improvement after a defrag in my entire life. I think that Microsoft made defrag automatic as a scheduled task just to quiet people that don’t understand hard drives very well.

Sure, there is fragmentation but when internal transfer rates are in the hundreds of megabytes per second it won’t really matter. Also, how many average users add and delete files enough that it would even cause an issue? Most people add files and let them sit there to gather dust. At most you’ll get fragmentation when you edit and save a file. If you move the file to another volume/partition then it’s already contiguous after you move it.

Also, AVG isn’t the worst AV program. It’s probably the least resource using but in regards to actually catching viri? I used AVG up until version 7.5 and one time I downloaded a file off of an internet website and ran the file, it tore right through my computer and even infected the AVG process running at the time. Nothing worse than your AV program detecting that itself is infected and does nothing while the virus destroys your hard drive.

After reformatting I tried out Avast 4.7 instead. I tried to get that same file and Avast wouldn’t even let me download it! Now that is what I call a real AV program. Of course Avast is a bit more resource intensive but at least it is going to protect you and far more than AVG ever could. In fact, the new version of Avast has anti-rootkit protection, something that AVG does not.

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