Is your computer running slower that it used to? You may want to make sure that only necessary programs are running at start up.

Microsoft has a built in tool called MSCONFIG to handle this for you.

To run msconfig you need to follow the steps below.

Windows Xp:

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type Msconfig
4. Hit the enter key
5. Click the startup tab
6. You then need to go through each entry clicking next to the unnecessary programs. As long as you know exactly what you are shutting off there should be no problems. Just make sure that you leave your antivirus and Windows components alone.

Windows Vista

1. Click Start
2. In the search box type msconfig
3. Click msconfig
4. Click the startup tab
5. You then need to go through each entry clicking next to the unnecessary programs. As long as you know exactly what you are shutting off there should be no problems. Just make sure that you leave your antivirus and Windows components alone.

Windows 7

1. Click Start
2. Type msconfig in the searchbox
3. Click Msconfig
4. Click the startup tab
5. You then need to go through each entry clicking next to the unnecessary programs. As long as you know exactly what you are shutting off there should be no problems. Just make sure that you leave your antivirus and Windows components alone.

This is a quick and easy way to speed up your computer, give it a try and let us know who it worked for you.

Four or five years ago, you may have heard that Windows updates will mess up your computer and you do not want them to automatically install. That is simply not true, you need Windows updates to be automatic so you can get the latest patches for recently found security holes. These security holes allow hackers to get into your systems and have the run of your machine.

If you want to keep yourself safe from these types of attacks you need to do the following:

Windows XP:
Click Start
Click Control Panel
Click Security Center
Click Automatic Updates
Make Sure “Automatic(recommended)” is Activated

Windows Vista:
Click The Start Button
Click All Programs
Click Windows Update
Make Sure “Install Updates Automatically (recommended)” is activated

Windows 7:
Click Start
Click Control Panel
Click System and Security
Click Windows Update
Click The Change Settings link on the left
Make Sure “Install Updates Automatically (recommended)” is selected

I have had occasions to install Windows 7 using a USB. You may want to do this if your cd-rom is failing or if you have a netbook.

How-To-Geek has a great article on how to make a bootable usb flash drive.

Full Article Here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/9585/how-to-setup-a-usb-flash-drive-to-install-windows-7/

A customer of ours had a problem with changing their wallpaper on Windows 7. There was simply no option to do it when you right clicked on the desktop.

The problem was that the computer was running Windows 7 Starter edition.

Windows 7 Starter does not allow personalization of your desktop or theme. This means no changing the background.

Of course this is a computer and there are ways to do it, it is not that easy to do but it is not really that hard either. So if you really want a background head over to http://www.instructables.com/id/Windows-7-Starter-Easy-way-to-change-wallpaper/ and there are some directions for you.

So you have Windows 7 and have been using it for a few months but do you know some of the shortcuts?

Here they are:

• Win+Home: Clear all but the active window
• Win+Space: All windows become transparent so you can see through to the desktop
• Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window
• Win+Down arrow: Minimize the window/Restore the window if it’s maximized
• Win+Left/Right arrows: Dock the window to each side of the monitor (If you’ve got dual monitors, adding Shift to the mix (e.g., Win+Shift+Right arrow) will move the window to the adjacent monitor.)
• Win+T: Focus and scroll through items on the taskbar.
• Win+P: Adjust presentation settings for your display
• Win+(+/-): Zoom in/out
• Shift+Click a taskbar item: Open a new instance of that application