Do you realize that your Windows PC is running slower and slower everyday, especially after installing/uninstalling applications? There are plenty of causes for a slow running PC. While we have covered plenty of tips and tricks to help your PC boots and runs faster, sometimes you just want to have a software to do everything for you. Auslogic BoostSpeed 5 aims to become that software for your PC. We have free license keys to giveaway. Read on for more details.
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Auslogics BoostSpeed 5 Speeds Up Your Windows PC + Free Giveaway
By | January 6, 2012 |
How to Run Startup Scripts in KDM before KDE Starts
By | December 15, 2011 | 1 Comment
KDE has an easy-to-use system for configuring programs or scripts to run at startup. Linux distributions also have methods of starting programs at boot, but there are some unique instances when it would be ideal to start a script at the moment KDM starts, in between the start of X and the start of your desktop environment.
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How to Make Your Windows 7 System Startup And Shutdown On A Schedule
By | October 29, 2011 | 3 Comments
Some of us like our PC to always be ready when we enter the room. Waiting for the system to boot up can be annoying. Thankfully, there is a solution that allows you to schedule startups and shutdowns to save you time, and possibly reduce your electricity bill.
Startup on schedule
This step will vary depending on what sort of BIOS your motherboard is running. You may not have the option to power on at a specific time, although most motherboards do indeed have this option. For anyone not familiar with the term – BIOS stands for “basic input/output system” and is basically where you setup the low-level confirguration of your motherboard. It is distinct to any Operating System you may be using. Please note that the second portion of this guide regarding automatically shutting down your system is written for WIndows 7, but may also be applicable to other versions of Windows.
Step 1. Restart your computer.
Step 2. If you have a recent PC you are probably greeted with a cheesy promo screen for whatever brand motherboard is in your system. It will likely say something like “Press DEL to enter BIOS”. If you have an older system, you will see the RAM check and hard drive detection taking place. Either way, you should tap the DEL key within the first 1-3 seconds of restarting. After a few seconds, you should find yourself in the BIOS. If windows begins to start again, you’ve done something wrong and need to restart once more. If you are using a notebook computer, then you may need to Google your model to figure out what key to press to enter the BIOS.
Step 3. Depending on which brand motherboard you have, the BIOS will look different. You need to find the menu entitled Power, or Power Management. Within this should be an option labeled “Resume on RTC Alarm” or “Power on By RTC Alarm”. You should Enable this option, then set the time and frequency (e.g. “Everyday”) that you would like the system to turn on.
Step 4. Ensure that you select the “Save and Quit” option when leaving the BIOS setup. Do not just press the reset button on your computer, otherwise your settings will not be saved. From this point on, your system should start up at the time and frequency you set in the BIOS. If it does not, it’s best to consult your motherboard manual for more information.
Shutdown on Schedule
Step 1. Click the Windows button and type in “task”, the Task Scheduler application should show up in the list. Run it.
Step 2. In the right-hand panel, click on “Create Basic Task”
Step 3. Enter an appropriate name and description (e.g. Scheduled system shutdown), click Next.
Step 4. Select the frequency you wish the shutdown to occur (e.g. Daily), click Next.
Step 5. Select the time you wish the shutdown to occur. (e.g. 1:00 AM), click Next.
Step 6. Select Start a program, click Next.
Step 7. Type in “shutdown.exe” in the Progra/script box and “/s” in the Add arguments box. Click Next.
Step 8. Click Finish.
You’re done!
Take a deep breath… assuming you followed all of the above steps correctly, your system should now startup and shutdown on schedule!
Image credit: Robert Couse-Baker
Linux Startup Taking Too Long? Chart It!
By | March 3, 2011 | 4 Comments
Hardware keeps getting faster and faster, and most of us are running machines that would have been unthinkably speedy a decade ago, yet somehow it never seems to feel that way. As the hardware gets faster, the software seems to get bigger and slower and we always seem to end up with something that dances around the line of usability. Linux has been no exception to this, with each new advance in hardware bringing a matching increase in the complexity of the software. If your system takes too long to boot, the best way to fix it is to know what’s bringing you down. For that, there’s Bootchart. This little utility will show you exactly what’s launching when and how long it each step takes.
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Clean Your Computer With Magic Utilities 2011 + Free Giveaway
By | February 18, 2011 |
Update: This free giveaway has ended.
Keeping a Windows installation clean, trimmed and running efficiently can be difficult. There are multiple tools that we have suggested in the past to help with tasks such as deleting unnecessary files, stopping unnecessary programs from starting at launch, and uninstalling unused programs. However, you have to use multiple programs to achieve all these tasks. Magic Utilities 2011 provides an easy to use interface to do all the tasks mentioned above and much more! The utilities included with the program include an uninstall manager, a start-up organizer, a process killer, a disk cleaner, a file shredder, and a file protector.
Note: There is a free giveaway of this software. Read on for more detail.
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How to Control Windows Startup Programs Without Special Software
By | September 24, 2010 |
It’s amazing how many special pieces of software there are for the simple task of managing Windows’ startup items. Especially considering the fact that Microsoft has long included a tool in most versions of Windows for just this purpose. It’s called msconfig, and it’s been there all along waiting to help you speed up your boot process.
Those of you who’ve been repairing Windows PCs for years may be thinking “Come on! Everyone knows about msconfig!”. At Make Tech Easier, we actually get quite a few questions about how to manage Windows startup items, and with the proliferation of malicious “repair tools” on the web, the old stand by is as relevant as ever. And why not? Msconfig gives you a fast, clean, simple and effective way to fully control what starts up with your PC. Not only can it have a huge affect on boot speed, but it can be VERY handy when dealing with auto-starting malware. Here’s how to use this basic tool to get your boot back.
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How To Customize Your Startup Routine In Debian
By | April 8, 2009 |
Every modern operating system has some sort of startup routine. Even DOS had the old AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. The startup system defines what is launched on system startup, under what conditions, and in what order. DOS did things the simple way, having a file that was read on every boot that would run commands in whatever order they’re placed in the file. It is indeed simple, but like much of DOS, not nearly powerful or flexible enough to cut it these days.
