Have your computer questions answered here! Search the PC Doctor archive or submit a question of your own at info@athollibrary.org
Dear PC Doctor,
Something doesn't seem right with my computer. I don't know if it's a virus or something but it seems to be bogged down a lot lately. I don't want to take it to a computer shop yet before trying something out myself. Are there any free anti-virus software out there that I can try to clean up my computer?
Thanks,
Dave
Dear Dave,
Yes, there is actually quite a bit of free software out there that can help you take care of malware/spyware and other nasties. One of my favorites is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. It's a great at finding things that other scanners don't spot and it's completely free! It's well-recommended by many people and we use it here at the library on our own computers.
Go to www.download.cnet.com and search for “Malwarebytes Anti-Malware”and you'll be able to find a safe and risk-free download. I also recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. You may already have this on your computer, but if you don't, it is also available as a free download from www.download.cnet.com.
Good luck!
PC Doctor
Dear PC Doctor,
The sound on my computer isn't working! I have the sound on my speakers turned up all the way and I don't have any headphones plugged in but I still can't hear my music playing. Are my speakers broken?
Alison
Dear Alison,
While it could be something as serious as missing the drivers for your sound card, I doubt that you're missing them, especially if your computer was playing sound previously. I have accidentally muted all sound on my computer before. Look down in the right bottom corner of your computer screen. Next to the time, you see should see a series of icons. This is your system tray, where you can check out what your computer's doing. The little speaker-with-sound-waves icon is your Volume Mixer. Check to see if there is a circle/backslash symbol over the icon. If there is, right click on the icon and select “Unmute”. If this isn't the case, click on the icon to change the volume of your PC system.
If that doesn't do it, try one of the first things I always do! Restart your computer. You might be surprised what a simple restart can solve.
PC Doctor
Until next time... happy computing!
Posted: to Athol Library News on Tue, Jan 24, 2012
Updated: Tue, Jan 24, 2012