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Dear PC Doctor,
I'm using Windows XP and Verizon broadband (not Fios). When I first boot up my computer in the morning, it is incredibly slow. It's also very slow if I just leave it unused for a few hours. Could it be my settings? It's even much slower than dial up was. After I use it for a short while, it's fine. Any advice is appreciated.
Audrey
Dear Audrey,
Sounds like your computer just needs a little housekeeping. Here are a few tips to get your computer running more efficiently.
First – Free up some disk space. Weed out your no longer used programs, empty the recycling bin, and clear the Temporary Internet files. Regularly completing this maintenance will go far in giving your computer the extra space it needs to perform at its best.
Second – Defrag your computer’s disk. The more files that are fragmented (in several pieces) the longer it will take your computer to search and access data. Running Window’s Disk Defragmenter will help to consolidate these fragmented files. To locate your computer’s Disk Defragmenter: Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. Once the Disk Defragmenter is open select the drives you wish to Defrag, and then click the Defragment button. The utility will then defrag the drives, and upon its finish, a report will be displayed.
Third – Scan and repair your computer for disk errors. Over time, as you save files to your computer’s hard drive, some files will be saved incorrectly. These are called bad sectors. To find and repair these bad sectors, you should run Window’s Error Checking utility. To locate this Window's utility: click Start, and then click My Computer. Right click the hard disk you wish to scan (in this case probably the C: drive); and then select Properties from the menu. Under Properties, click the Tools section. Click the Check Now button. Once the Error Checking utility is open, check the “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors” option. Then click Start. If the utility finds any bad sectors, only choose to repair them after the scan is complete.
If worse comes to worse, try calling Verizon to see if they can give you any other things to try. Your computer should not be running slower than dial up.
PC Doctor
Dear PC Doctor,
After Firefox's latest update, my address bar has disappeared and no longer has a back button. I've searched, but I can't find the settings to reverse this. I also attempted to solve the issue by reinstalling the previous version, but I found the same issue with this version as well. I have no clue what happened!?!
Scott
Dear Scott,
This sounds like a setting issue, not a bad install. Chances are the “Navigation Bar” was disabled upon the installation of the latest Firefox update. To revert it back to it's original settings, go to the upper right menu bar. Click “View.” From the drop down menu, mouse over “Toolbars.” This will offer you “Navigation Toolbar” and “Bookmark Toolbar” in a side menu. The “Navigation Toolbar” is your address bar and back button. There should be a check mark right next this option. If there is no check mark, then go ahead and click “Navigation Toolbar.” A check mark will then appear, which will re-able your address bar and back button.
PC Doctor
Until next time…. Happy computing!
Posted: to Athol Library News on Fri, Sep 11, 2009
Updated: Fri, Sep 11, 2009
