Computer Magazine Online

Poor computer speed can be one of the most frustrating things someone must deal with. It’s terrible when your computer decides to stop working when you are in the middle of an important project or just Web surfing. Diagnosing the problem can be frustrating because it’s difficult to know where to begin.

The first thought is to add a bunch more memory to the computer and see what happens. While it is true adding memory can help your computer gain speed, it is not usually the answer when the computer just mysteriously starts to run slowly.

A bad file, as in registry file

It is possible, in many cases; a bad file could be the culprit. It’s strange how even the smallest file can affect something as powerful and smart as a computer, but if this bad file is in the registry, it could spell trouble.

Corrupted files in the registry can slow down your computer noticeably because the registry is the most important part of the operating system. In fact, the registry is what the operating system is composed of. The registry keeps track of user preferences, pointers to drivers as well as to all the software and hardware on the computer. If any of those files are corrupted, it can cause a lot of problems, namely slowdowns and even crashes.

Registry files left behind

Interesting to note is the fact when a program or file is deleted from the computer, some of the entries in the registry that pointed to this program or file get left in the registry. This means the Operating System will have to investigate pointers leading to nowhere. It is easy to see where enough such operations would take extra time. Thus, you end up with a slower computer.

The first part of the fix is as easy as finding a good registry cleaner and running it. Most of these programs do everything for you and you don’t have to worry about anything. If the registry cleaner is a good one, it will reorganize your registry into its proper order and it will delete the fake pointers that leave your computer searching for files in the abyss.

The love of speed

With your cleaned and reorganized registry your computer will now have its old speed back and you will seem like you are flying down the information highway. This is true if, of course you don’t have some real problem with your computer or your hardware, such as a bad RAM chip and the like.

How do you know you don’t have such a problem before you go out and get a registry cleaner? Well, make sure you get a free scan first. Any reputable registry cleaner will offer you a free scan. Take it.

If you see you have very little incidents of corruption in your registry, you can opt not to purchase it. If you have a lot of corruption, like a hundred or so incidents you can be sure, or at least very, very close to sure your computer slowdown is caused by registry corruption.

Right now you probably want to know if the computer scanner you show you a bunch of bogus corruption just to scare you into buying their program. Well, I’ve thought of this. So, I’ve scanned computers I knew were clean to see if I could find any crooks selling registry cleaner programs and I haven’t found any yet. Make sure you buy a registry program from a company who gives a complete money back guarantee. That will take care of the matter.

Is this going to break me?

As far as cost is concerned, the top registry cleaners cost in the neighborhood of $30 to $50 for a year. I’ve seen them as high as $100 but really, you don’t need top spend this much. A less pricey reg cleaner will be just fine.

Be wise, optimize…

Earlier I said, “The first part of the fix is as easy as finding a good registry cleaner and running it.” So, is there another part to the fix? Well, sort of. Using a good registry cleaner will get your speed back but if part of that cleaner is an optimizer, you will find your computer will even gain more speed. There are a few cleaners that also optimize and this type of registry program is well worth having because they are not more expensive.

There are many other things that could slow down a computer, but getting a free registry scan is so easy, it is what I would recommend as a first step.

The author is a comp TIA A+/Network+ certified computer technician familiar with the operation, repair and upkeep of today’s PC’s. Get free computer tips at his free sites: http://registryrepaircompare.com and http://repairslowcomputer.com.

IT support or technical support can be defined as a range of services that provide us, the uneducated masses with the knowledge to fix our technological devices. The IT support industry as a whole broaches many aspects of our technological lives and not just our computers. What can be asserted is that it is a service that nearly all of us need in order to keep the technological elements of our lives functioning.

IT or technical support can refer to help with not only computers but mobile phones, televisions, DVD players and digital television receivers. The purpose of these support services; either IT of technical, is to help us solve the problems we have. Users with specific problems can find these services extremely useful, they are not however equivalent to training or education. Normally an IT support worker will help you fix the problem, it is doubtful that they will teach you the reasons behind the problem or how to avoid it in the future.

The majority of electronic companies offer some form of IT or technical assistance for customers. While this may be free on occasion, a lot of the time there is a fee to utilise their extensive knowledge base. Much of the time the delivery method of this IT support is over the telephone, it can however be delivered through email or on a specialist website.

Large businesses will often have their own IT support workers in order to reduce costs, as the majority of staff members rarely have the knowledge to fix the problems with their computers, by employing a specialist who is on site can be a brilliant way to save money and keep productivity at optimum levels.

While it will usually cost money to utilise IT support services, the growth of the internet has enabled the computer user to find the solutions to their problems online. While this may seem the easy answer, this is not always the case. The websites that contain support information are usually constructed for users who have at least a basic knowledge on technological processes. If you are completely ignorant of the technological world the chances of you doing more harm than good by using these self help websites can be apparent.

Specialist IT support companies have been on the increase in recent years. This is because many industries now use specialist software and processes that are not found elsewhere. As such, the chance to create a niche in the market and solely service a particular industry has been the pursuit of some entrepreneurial businessmen. Seemingly this has been lucrative, as this form of support service has become evermore popular in a variety of industry sectors.

There are still however general IT support companies that offer services to small businesses and even the home computer user. Predominantly it is this sector that has the largest amount of clueless users and as such is extremely profitable. Many call centres for these services are based abroad creating even larger profit margins for operators. Added to this, the normal process of receiving IT support is to pre-pay before the service starts, working by this method it is possible to make a great deal of money even from the most simple of problems.

A growing trend in the IT support industry has been the implementation of remote PC repair services. This clever technological development allows the IT worker to remotely access the problem PC and take a hands on approach to tackling the malfunction. This form of working saves carting a PC across town to the shop and is a cheaper option than hourly phone support, especially with complex problems.

There is little doubt that IT and technical support services provide us with a great resource. As stated previously, the majority of us are at a loss when our technological equipment malfunctions and having an expert just a phone call away can be a comforting asset.

Technology expert Thomas Pretty looks into the IT services industry and the ways in which it works. To find out more please visit http://www.scottadam.co.uk/