April 23, 2008

Speeding up your computer

This is a conversation that went on between a 911 Operator and a computer user:

911 Operator:  What is your emergency?
User:  My Computer has slowed down and I don't know what to do.
911 Operator:  Listen to the teacher and everything will be just fine.

Part one of the lesson has to do with taking things out of your start menu.

1. Click Start. 

2. Click Programs. 

3. Click Start up. 

4. These three programs in my Startup represent three programs that start every time my computer starts up.

5. The more things I have in the Startup menu the more things my computer has to do in order to start up.

6. I'm going to delete the HP Photosmart Premier Fast Start.

7. Right Click on the thing you want to delete.

8. A menu will pop up.  Click Delete. 

Part 2

Sometimes there are some pesky buttons that hang out in the bottom right hand corner of the computer. 

To get rid of one here is what you can do.

1. Right click on the thing you want to get rid of.  Look for something called Preferences. 

2. Click Preferences.

3. Go through all the tabs. 

4. You are looking for something called Tray Icon.

5. In this example there is a check mark next to Install QuickTime icon.

6. I'm going to click the checkmark so it goes away.

7. Then I will click Ok.