Internet Magic Friday

Jane Booras is the Editor of numerous newsletters including our Campus Times. She will be sharing how you can find whatever you need - photos, clipart, information, maps, phone numbers - on the Internet.

Remember the last time you moved your refrigerator, washer and dryer or bed? I do! I was appalled. I thought we kept a clean house, but when I saw the debris on the floor under the appliances and furniture, I felt ashamed. Well believe it or not, it’s the same scenario with your computer! You have to deep clean it consistently to keep it running the way you want it to – fast and efficiently.

Let’s start with the basics: cleaning the dust from the computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse. The best instructions for this that I have found are at CNET Review, where you can watch a number of short videos on:

1. Why you need a clean PC
2. Computer cleaning supplies
3. Cleaning a keyboard
4. Monitor cleaning tips
5. Clean your computer’s fans
6. Computer cleaning no-no’s
7. Get better air flow in your PC

Each video is only about two minutes long, but they clearly demonstrate the How To of each process. You won’t believe the cat hair I found in my computer fan!

Just click on this link http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11319_7-6240575-1.html?tag=nav

The next computer cleanup issue concerns your hard drive – the “guts” of the computer. Instead of rags, wipes and such, here you must use software. Why?

Every time you visit a website (or go to the Internet for that matter), especially if you download software, pictures or graphics, other little items get “deposited” on your hard drive that can slow down your computer. For instance, adware, or advertising-supported software sometimes called spyware, cookies and such. A good place to go to learn how to do this type of cleaning is:

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Your-Computer-System

There are a couple of other things I do periodically just to make sure my computer is neat and tidy (the “belt and suspenders” for extra security plan).

1. My security software has a computer maintenance feature. If you have Norton or McAfee, just click on the icon in the very lower right of your screen or on your desktop to open the menu and look for the cleanup prompt (mine says “maintain computer”). You can usually ask that program to defrag your hard disk, remove cookies, clean the registry, and do other cleanup functions.

2. Go to the Internet, then click on “tools” in the top toolbar. From the dropdown menu, select “Internet Options.” This menu prompts you to remove cookies and temporary Internet files which clutter up your system. And we hate clutter!

You’ll find that after a good cleaning, your computer will run faster and better. Wish I could get the same result with my body!

Jane Booras is Editor of the Campus Times Newsletter for Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)