An idiots guide to computers

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 10:49PM #1

I know there are computers forums for computer questions and discussion, but sometimes people don't know that they have a problem with their computer so they never think to ask how to fix it

After hours seems to be the perfect place to post useful tips on how to make computers compute better without insulting the intelligence of our nerdy brethren over in the nether regions of boards.ie

I'll start the ball rolling

for windows 8 or 10 users, 'search' for 'Power options'

Laptop users. If you don't travel with your laptop or have it plugged in most of the time, who cares how long the battery lasts, so to speed up the performance of your laptop while it's not plugged in, go to the power options in your control panel and select an option that maximises performance over battery life. This also cures the darker screen you get when you plug out your laptop.

Alternatively, if you're someone who really cares about battery life and not performance, choose a profile that maximises battery life.

Don't be afraid to pick advanced options and turn things up or down depending on your preference

In fact, I recommend that everyone checks this setting right away because I noticed today that after my windows 10 upgrade, the laptop decided to change the settings to maximise battery life even while the laptop is plugged in.

I was playing a game and getting 19 frames a second, after I changed the power settings, I was getting 40 frames a second.....

Does anyone else have any useful tips that are easy to overlook and easy to fix?

Mourinho · 21-08-2015 10:51PM

For most problems, turn it off then on again :pac:

the_syco · 21-08-2015 10:52PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Laptop users. If you don't travel with your laptop or have it plugged in most of the time, who cares how long the battery lasts, so to speed up the performance of your laptop while it's not plugged in, go to the power options in your control panel and select an option that maximises performance over battery life.

If the power is plugged in all the time, it kills the battery quicker. A useless battery matters when your power goes and so too does your laptop, or if you need to show a presentation with no power source available nearby, your laptop becomes useless for it's purpose.

RoyalMarine · 21-08-2015 10:53PM

Uninstall Mcafee.

21-08-2015 10:55PM

Get a Mac?

(hides)

Turtwig · 21-08-2015 10:57PM

If you're not going to be using your laptop battery for an extended period of time remove it and place it somewhere the temperature won't get too extreme of the contacts won't get covered in dust.

frag420 · 21-08-2015 10:58PM

ctrl-alt-dlt

PirateShampoo · 21-08-2015 11:00PM

Delete System 32, it will speed up your computer massively.

Don't do this...

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 11:00PM

the_syco wrote: »

If the power is plugged in all the time, it kills the battery quicker. A useless battery matters when your power goes and so too does your laptop, or if you need to show a presentation with no power source available nearby, your laptop becomes useless for it's purpose.

Yeah, that's true except that modern laptops stop charging the battery when it's full. When the battery is full, they just run directly off the power supply

To verify this, hover your mouse over your battery symbol on your taskbar and if it's plugged in and the battery is full it will say 'battery 99% not charging'

I've got a dirt cheap Asus laptop that's over 2 years old and the battery is still about 80% as good as it was when I bought it.

Anyway there are loads of people out there who never take their laptop out of their house so presentations don't really matter. If you're really worried about damaging your battery while it's plugged in, just take it out.

Junkyard Tom · 21-08-2015 11:00PM

The average PC/Laptop user does not need to pay for security software - there are lots of free security software providers that will protect the majority of devices.

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 11:01PM

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Delete System 32, it will speed up your computer massively.

Don't do this...

Also, don't give your laptop a bath.

jamo2oo9 · 21-08-2015 11:02PM

If you put your laptop in the microwave, it'll recharge the battery in less than a minute.

Also works for phones and tablets.

Don't do this though...

dxhound2005 · 21-08-2015 11:03PM

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

If you put your laptop in the microwave, it'll recharge the battery in less than a minute.

Also works for phones and tablets.

Don't do this though...

I have a microwave fire. You can have an evening in front of the fire in 5 minutes.

corner of hells · 21-08-2015 11:04PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Also, don't give your laptop a bath.

Is a shower ok ?

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 11:04PM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

The average PC/Laptop user does not need to pay for security software - there are lots of free security software providers that will protect the majority of people.

I actually think windows defender is one of the best anti virus software packages out there.

But no matter what you have, it's not 100% effective if you're gonna be going on shady websites

The secret to fixing any computer problem is to google the error message

If google isn't working it's because your browser has been hijacked. In that case, use your phone.

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 11:05PM

corner of hells wrote: »

Is a shower ok ?

If the laptop is wearing a shower cap then it's probably ok.

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 11:07PM

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

If you put your laptop in the microwave, it'll recharge the battery in less than a minute.

Also works for phones and tablets.

Don't do this though...

Stand well back and always wear safety goggles

dxhound2005 · 21-08-2015 11:08PM

What are all those buttons on the top row of the keyboard for? F1, F2 etc.

refusetolose · 21-08-2015 11:11PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

What are all those buttons on the top row of the keyboard for? F1, F2 etc.

f5 is handy for refreshing stuff, webpages and the like
f6 puts the cursor to the address bar...

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 21-08-2015 11:12PM

Mourinho wrote: »

For most problems, turn it off then on again :pac:

Ok, Mr. Smartipants, we're not all tech-savvy, so can you dumb that down a little bit for the rest of us?

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 11:14PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

What are all those buttons on the top row of the keyboard for? F1, F2 etc.

Now that's an excellent question.

On the bottom row of your keyboard you might see a 'FN' key near the CTRL key

Often these 'F' buttons have little pictures on them that indicate that they can perform some functions like turning off the mouse trackpad, or turning the volume up, or down, or off or turning the laptop screen on or off.

Hold the FN key while pressing one of the 'F' keys and be amazed at what happens

Also, the F (function) keys are usually reserved for changing settings in applications or games but you're best checking your manual for more information on these

_Tombstone_ · 21-08-2015 11:17PM

Don't update something thats working.

^^Excludes the OS - Windows.

Updates only break things nowadays.

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 11:53PM

always click continue

Akrasia · 21-08-2015 11:59PM

top tips for boards computer users.

MT Cranium is on holidays. If you want to know the weather, look out the window.

If it's raining, expect more patchy rain. If it's still raining, expect breaks in the rain followed by more rain.

the_syco · 22-08-2015 01:38AM

Akrasia wrote: »

Yeah, that's true except that modern laptops stop charging the battery when it's full. When the battery is full, they just run directly off the power supply

Interesting. Must find out if the laptops in the house are Li-Ion, LiPo, NiMH or NiCd, as this is the main reason that this is their 3rd laptop.

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Delete System 32, it will speed up your computer massively.

Funny story; relatives computer stopped working after they deleted stuff off it to make it go faster. One such program that they never used was "Windows". Their local IT charged them €120 stupidity tax to reinstall Windows with the discs they gave him. Well, either that, or a pirate copy of XP.

Akrasia wrote: »

But no matter what you have, it's not 100% effective if you're gonna be going on shady websites

Although there's this, I'm getting more aware of port scans. Also, if you depend on your digital files, back them up, and ensure you have a good anti-virus and firewall. It won't stop crytoware, but it'll help stop you going to the fake websites that lure you into downloading it onto your machine.

Menas · 22-08-2015 08:08AM

Every now and again "Windows" will call you and offer to help solve problems on your computer for a reasonable fee.
They call from india.
If you have not received this call yet then make sure you have a landline and the number is not ex directory.
Then just sit back and wait. The call will come. Even if you dont have a computer.

dmc17 · 22-08-2015 08:17AM

frag420 wrote: »

ctrl-alt-dlt

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

irishgeo · 22-08-2015 08:23AM

Don't just install free software by clicking next next you will end up with a load of crap on your computer.

Take time to read what it's trying to install and don't install any toolbars ad companion or speedup my pc software.

syklops · 22-08-2015 08:24AM

Akrasia wrote: »

but you're best checking your manual for more information on these

Dude, they'e not provided a manual with a computer since about 1988.

The amount of wrong on this thread is upsetting.

ShatterProof · 22-08-2015 08:31AM

Press alt + f4 at the same time

KomradeBishop · 22-08-2015 09:41AM

Don't use the Internet without uBlock, Request Policy and NoScript.

1: Don't install just any random program, only install things you absolutely need to.
2: When you do need to install something, spend 10 mins Googling variations of "*program name* malware/adware" etc. first, and avoid anything where there is even a hint of problems.
3: Then put every executable/installer through VirScan before opening it, or use TrendMicro HouseCall to scan it.
4: Then use Sandboxie to open and install it in a new sandbox, so it doesn't touch anything already on your computer (worth getting paid version).

5: Generally, install everything in Sandboxie, when you can help it - especially anything that you use for opening files you download (e.g. pdf readers, MS office etc.).
7: If you're really unsure about something you need to run, run it in a Virtual Machine - or at the very least, run it in Sandboxie.
8: If you can code/understand-code, and what you download can be unpackaged to look at the source (most browser addons, Greasemonkey scripts etc. are like this), then if there's not too much code, take the time to scan through it for anything obviously dodgy.

Stick to this - the first 4 are just basic precautions for being careful of what you download/run, that everyone should follow - and you'll never get a virus or need to install a virus scanner (relying on them is usually false security anyway - if your virus scanner has found a virus on your computer, usually it's already too late anyway).

You can save your computer-savvy family members - or whoever your 'go-to' person is for fixing your broken/virus-ridden computer - a lot of time/annoyance by taking these common sense precautions

An idiots guide to computers

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