Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
and
Maintaining
Computers
EverymanIT
January15,2011
Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................3
Safety............................................................................................................................................................3
WhatisaComputer......................................................................................................................................3
ComputerHardware.................................................................................................................................4
Motherboard.........................................................................................................................................4
CPU........................................................................................................................................................5
RAM.......................................................................................................................................................6
HardDrives............................................................................................................................................6
OpticalDrives........................................................................................................................................7
MediaCardReaders..............................................................................................................................7
USBandFirewire...................................................................................................................................7
NetworkCards......................................................................................................................................8
VideoCards...........................................................................................................................................8
Cases.........................................................................................................................................................8
PowerSupplies......................................................................................................................................8
ComputerOperatingSystems...................................................................................................................9
64bitvs.32bit......................................................................................................................................9
TypesofLicenses:...............................................................................................................................10
WindowsVersions:.............................................................................................................................10
Software..................................................................................................................................................10
Drivers.....................................................................................................................................................10
BuildingaComputer...................................................................................................................................10
SpecingOutaNewComputer....................................................................................................................10
CommonDesktopTroubleshooting............................................................................................................11
OverheatedCPU......................................................................................................................................11
VideoCards.............................................................................................................................................12
Power......................................................................................................................................................12
HardDrives..............................................................................................................................................13
USB..........................................................................................................................................................13
LaptopHardwareRepair.............................................................................................................................13
HardDrives..............................................................................................................................................13
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OpticalDrive............................................................................................................................................13
RAM.........................................................................................................................................................13
CPUFAN..................................................................................................................................................13
LCDScreen..............................................................................................................................................14
LCDInverter............................................................................................................................................14
Keyboard.................................................................................................................................................14
Motherboard...........................................................................................................................................14
PowerPlugResolder...............................................................................................................................14
CommonLaptopTroubleShooting..............................................................................................................14
Video.......................................................................................................................................................14
ShutdownorFreezeUp..........................................................................................................................14
BrokenHinges.........................................................................................................................................14
Misc.........................................................................................................................................................14
BIOS.............................................................................................................................................................15
InstallanOperatingSystem........................................................................................................................15
CreatingRecoveryDisks..........................................................................................................................15
StepstoInstallanOperatingSystem......................................................................................................15
WindowsMaintenance...............................................................................................................................15
Modes.....................................................................................................................................................15
ComputerManagement.........................................................................................................................16
EventViewer.......................................................................................................................................16
SharedFolders....................................................................................................................................17
LocalUsersandGroups.......................................................................................................................17
DeviceManager..................................................................................................................................18
DiskManagement...............................................................................................................................18
Services...............................................................................................................................................18
WindowsUpdate....................................................................................................................................19
RegEdit....................................................................................................................................................19
MsConfig.................................................................................................................................................20
SystemRestore.......................................................................................................................................20
WindowsBackup.....................................................................................................................................21
TaskManager..........................................................................................................................................21
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ComputerProperties..............................................................................................................................24
HardDriveSpace.....................................................................................................................................25
UninstallPrograms..................................................................................................................................25
CCleaner..................................................................................................................................................26
Introduction
Safety
Alwaysunplugcomputersbeforeworkingonthem
Alwaysremovelaptopbatteriesbeforeworkingonthem
Afteryouhaveunpluggedthecomputer,andremovedthebatterypressinthepowerbuttonto
dischargeanyelectricityheldinthecapacitors.Capacitorsstoreelectricityandevenasmallonecan
causeenoughdamagetoyoutosendyoutothehospital
NEVERSHORTTHETWOCONNECTORSOFACAPACITOR!!!
NeverOPENapowersupply.Thecapacitorsinapowersupplycarryenoughpowertokillyou!
ESDElectroStaticDischargeisStaticElectricity
YoufeelashockfromStaticElectricityat3000volts100voltsisenoughtodestroysensitive
electronics
Youshouldwearanantistaticarmbandandworkonanantistaticworkmat.(IdontandnooneI
knowdoesbutyoushould)
CommonPracticetodischargeStaticElectricityistotouchtheunpaintedmetalofadesktopcomputer
case.
ESDisnotasbigaproblemnowbecausepartsarebuiltbetter,andtheyarecheaperiftheybreak
What is a Computer
Acomputersystemismadeupofhardware,operatingsystems,softwareanddevicedrivers.
Motherboard
CPU
CPUHeatSink
RAM
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PowerSupply
Drives
Case
Computer Hardware
Motherboard
AllpartsmustbecompatiblewiththeMotherboard
Dontassumethemotherboardwillhaveonboardparts
FSB(FrontSideBus)ishowfasttheMotherboardcanmoredatabetweencomponents
FormFactorSizeofMotherboard
ATX
MiniATX
MicroATX
ITX
BTX(Dontbuy)
SmallerMotherboardscanfitinLargerCases
Slots
PCILowendaddoncards
PCIExpressUsedforHigherEndaddoncards(RAID,Video)
PCIExpress16Usedforveryfastaddoncards(HighPerformanceRAID,GamingVideoCards)
PCIXUsedonveryhighendservers.Ridiculouslyexpensive!($450foranetworkcard)
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Building
g and Maintaaining Comp
puters
Jaanuary 15, 2
2011
mend
I Recomm
Antec
ntel
In
Gigabyte
CPU
CentralPrrocessingUnitsarewhatp
processesdata
CPUtypesshavediffere
entSockets
Manufactturers
In
ntel
o
o
o
o
o
AMD
o
o
o
o
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EmbeddedSystems
Atom
Celero
onCheapPrrocessors
Pentiu
umAverageDesktopProcessor
Core
HighEndDe
esktopProcesssor
Xeon
ServerProce
essor
DesktopProce
essor
SemprronCheapD
Athlon
nAverageD
DesktopProce
essor
Pheno
omHighEnd
dDesktopPro
ocessor
Optero
onServerProcessor
ARM
VIA
DontuseXeon/OpteronforDesktopmachines!
Intelvs.AMDSame,SamebutDifferent.AMDisusuallycheaper,butIntelisEasiertoSelltoClients
SpeedHowfasttheprocessorcanprocessdata
FSB(FrontSideBus)HowfasttheCPUcanmovedata
CoresMultipleCPUsbuildontoonechip
L1andL2CachearememorythatislocatedontheCPU.ThehighertheL1andL2thebetter.
RAM
AllprogramsandfilesareloadedintoRAM.IfWindowsuses512MBofRAM,andPhotoshopuses512B
ofRAM,ANDyouopena1GBPicturefileyouwouldneed2GBofRAMintheComputer.
PageFilesaredesignatedstorageontheHardDrivewhereRAMstoresdataitisusingifitisfull.
Type
SDRAM
DDR,DDR2,DDR3
RambusPairedRAM
ECC=ErrorCheckingRAM.Doesselftesttoitself.ThisisthebesttypeofRAM,butisveryexpensive.
Size
SticksofRAM
Speed
RAMWorksatdifferentspeeds
SPEEDismanytimemoreimportantthanSIZEforRAM
DontMixRAMSpeeds!
BeforeupgradingtomoreRAMverifythatemptyRAMslotswork.Manytimestheyarebad!
Hard Drives
HardDriveMediaTypes
Platter
SolidState
HardDriveTypes
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IDE2DrivesperCable.Master/SlaveJumperConfiguration.133Mbps
PATA/SATA1DrivePerCable.1.5Gbps
SATA21DrivePerCable.3Gbps
SATA31DrivePerCable.6Gbps
SCSI8DrivesPerCable.VariousSpeeds
SAS65,355Drives,36Gbps
RPMisthespeedtheharddrivespinsat
5400istheslowestusuallyusedinlaptops,andenergyefficientdrives
7200isnormal
10,000ishighspeedusedinWesternDigitalRaptorDrives
15,000isfoundonlyonSCSI,SAS,drives
0DiskStriping
1DiskMirroring
5DiskStripingwithParity
6DiskStrippingwithParityandRedundancy
10MirroredDiskStrippingwithParity
RAIDisusuallynotworththetroublenow
Optical Drives
BlueRayisntworthit
Media Card Readers
GenerallyplugintothemotherboardusingthemotherboardsUSBconnector
USB and Firewire
USB1.012Mbps,andupto17connecteddevices
USB2.0480Mbps
USB3.04.8Gbps
Firewire400800Mbps
WirelessUSBiscoming
USBisAsynchronoustransferOnewaytransferisfaster
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FirewireisIsochronousSametimegivetoupanddown
Firewirewasveryimportantforvideocameraconnectionstocomputers.Nowitisrarelyseen.
Network Cards
Video Cards
GPUGraphicsProcessingUnitUsedforCreatingGraphics,ImportantforGamingSystemsandany
systeminvolvedwithGraphics.
OnboardRAMRAMthatisonboardthegraphicscardallowsthegraphicscardtorunfaster.
Chipsets
ATI
NVIDIA
Types
PCI
AGP
PCIExpress
Trytobuyvideocardswithoutfans!Manygraphicscardshaveextralargeheatsinksvs.fans.Fans
haveanastytendencytogetgunkedupanddie.
Cases
GoodCasesareimportant!Cheapcasesarehardtoworkwith,andmanytimesdontfittogether
properly.(Youcangetanastycutfromsheetmetalthathasnotbeenrounded)
FormFactorsarethesizeofthecase.TheMotherboardandPowerSupplymustbetherightsizetofitin
thecase.
ATX
MiniATX
MicroATX
ITX
BTXObsolete.NotcompatiblewithANYATXmotherboard
I Recommend
ANTEC
CoolerMaster
Power Supplies
Whenindoubtbuya600WattonefromBestBuyfor$70
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Building
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puters
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2011
PowerSupplyPlugs
Mainconnecto
M
or(20+4Pin)
12
2V(P4)
Pe
eripheral(Mo
olex)
SA
ATA
Flloppy
PC
CIE
VideoCarrdsandMoth
herboardsreq
quirethemosstpower.BuuyaPowerSu
upplyabovetthepower
requireme
entforyourV
VideoCarand
dVideoCard
d.
BuyANTEECPowerSupplies
ACheapP
Powersupplyywillnotonlyyfail,butitcandestroyyoourMotherboard,VideoC
CardsandHa
ard
Drivewhe
enitdies.
DoNotSkkimponYourrPowerSupply!!!
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Types of Licenses:
OEM(OriginalEquipmentManufacturer)YoucannotinstalltheOperatingSystemonto
anothercomputer.RequiresActivationOnceInstalled
RetailYouOwntheOperatingSystem.YouCanInstallitOntoDifferentComputers,butOnly
OneataTime.RequiresActivationOnceInstalled
VolumeLicenseYouCanInstallOntoasManyComputersasYouHaveLicensesfor
Windows Versions:
HomePremiumBasicWindowsFunctionality
BusinessAllowsYoutoJoinDomains,HasBitLockerEncryption,AllowsSysPrep.
UltimateHasEverything
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows7/compare/default.aspx
Software
Generallyyoucanrun32bitsoftwareona64bitOperatingSystem.
Previously(aswithXP64bit)youcouldnotrun32bitsoftwareona64bitmachine.
Youcannotrun64bitsoftwareona32bitOperatingSystem.
Drivers
Devicedriversmustbeinstalledintheoperatingsystemsforhardwaretowork.
EvenwithWindows7alldevicesmaynothavedevicedriversinstalledautomatically.
SometimesmanufacturersdonotmakedevicedriversforallWindowsOperatingSystems!Manytimes
manufacturerswillnotcreatenewdriversfornewoperatingsystems.Thiswasabigproblemwhenwe
wentfrom98toXP,andfromXPtoVista.
Findingdevicedriverscanbeabitofdetectivework.GOODhardwarewillbeclearlymarkedsothatyou
knowwhomadeitandwhatitis.CHEAPhardwaremanytimeswontevenhavethenameofthe
manufacturerprintedonit.
Building a Computer
Specing Out a New Computer
Everythinghastoworkwiththemotherboard
Decidewhatpartsyouneed,thenfindagoodmotherboard,thenfindtherestoftheparts.
NewEgg.comisthebestforparts
DontuseEBay!!!
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DontuseusedpartsforClients!!!
ByCannibalizingOldComputersYouCanSavealotofMoney
Save$50byreusingthecase
Save$40byreusingtheOpticalDrive
Save$100ifyoucanreuseyourHardDrive
Etc
FudgeFactorItseasytobuythewrongparts,andshippingcostsmeanthatitsusuallynotworthitto
returnthem.Whileyourenewexpecttomakemistakesandfactorinextracostformispurchasedparts.
TheComputerSeemsPossessed
ComputerFreezes
ComputerShutsDownRandomly
LikelySuspects:
CPUHeatSinkisClogged,orhasFilmofCrudonit
CaseAirIntakesareClogged
CPUFanhasFailed
CaseFansHaveFailed
ForgottoUseThermalPaste
CPUFanisTooSmall
EnvironmentisTooHot(ComputerisClosedInsideaDeskCabinet.ServerisinaClosetwithNo
Ventilation)
IntheRealWorld
Ihadonecomputerwheretheclientssmokedinthehouse.TheComputerwouldnotget
throughbootingbeforeitwouldshutoff.Theysmokedsomuchthatthetarhadentirelyincased
theCPUHeatSinkFan.Itlookedclean(FreeofObviousDirtandHair),butwhenIusedDawn
andwasheditoffinthesinkthetarmeltedoff.
Oneclienthadacomputerthatwouldfreezeup,andthemousewouldjumparound.Itookitto
theshop,openedthecaseandcleaneditout.Ithendidafulltuneup.Thesystemworked
flawlesslyandsoIcalledtheclientandscheduledadropofftime.AfterthecallIputthecover
backonthecaseandwithin2minutesithadfrozenupagain.Itookthecoveroffandlooked
aroundtoseeifacablehadgottencaughtintheCPUfan,anditworkedfine.Iputthecover
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backonanditfroze.Theanswerwasthattheyhadacatandthefrontairintake,underneath
thefrontplatehadbecomecloggedwithhair.Icleanedoutthemassivehairballanditworked
fine
Video Cards
SymptomsandSuspects:
TurnonComputerandYouGetaBIOSScreenandThenaBlinkingCursor=HardDriveFailedor
OperatingSystemisCorrupt
TurnonComputerandDoNotGetBIOSScreen=MonitorisBad,orVideoCardisBad,or
MotherboardisBad
TurnonComputerandIconsareReallyBIG,ResolutionisPoor,andtheColorsLookWeird=
VideoCardDriverisNotInstalled,orIncorrect
TroubleshootingNoVideo
PluginaKnownGoodMonitor
LookatVideoCard.ManyTimestheHeatSinkFanWillNotSpin,orWillHaveFallenOff
VerifythattheVideoCardAuxiliaryPowerisPluggedin.
SwapVideoCardwithKnownGood
UseaPCIVideoCard.SometimesthePCIExpress/AGPslotwillbebad.PCIVideoCardswill
AllowtheComputertoRemainUsable.
IFPCIVideoCardDoesnotWorkthentheMotherboardisBad
Power
Symptoms
ComputerWillNotPowerOn
LikelySuspects
MainPowerSupplySwitchisOff
VoltageSwitchisonWrongSetting(Shouldbeon110)
PowerSwitchisNotProperlyPluggedintoMotherboard
PowerButtonBroke
Motherboardisbad
PowerSupplyisBad
PowerSupplyistooSmall
CPUFannoPluggedin
BadPowerCable
Troubleshooting
12|P a g e
ChecksConnectionsandSwitchSettings
TryDifferentPowerCable
VerifyVideoCardandMotherboardPowerRequirements
UseKnownGoodPowerSupply
Hard Drives
Iftheharddrivesmakesalotofnoisejustreplaceit.
DefragmentingcanreduceHardDrivenoise.
ForIDEHardDrivesVerifyMaster/SlaveJumperissetproperly
Iftheharddriveisdeadthenreplacewithnewoneandinstalloperatingsystem.
DataRecoverycoveredinourDataRecoveryClass
USB
IftheinsulatorinaUSBpluggetsrippedout,andthemetalcontactstouchyourmachinecouldstart
havingproblems.
IfitisafrontUSBPortunplugtheportfromthemotherboard.
IfitisaMotherboardUSBportdowhatyoucan
Hard Drives
Generallyyoucanremoveascrewtoallowtheharddrivesenclosuretoslideout.
Optical Drive
Generallyyoucanremoveoneholdingscrew,andthedrivewillslideout.
RAM
Generallyunderapanelthatcanberemovedfromthebottomofthecase.
CPU FAN
Canbecleanedofreplaced.Generallyfoundbyremovingtheentirebottomcover.
13|P a g e
LCD Screen
GenerallyremovethefaceplatefromthemonitorareaandthenunscrewtheScreen.Screwsarehidden
understickers,orrubberbumpers.
LCD Inverter
LCDInverterisunderthemonitorfaceplate.
Keyboard
Generallyremovepanelabovekeyboardtoaccessscrews.Sometimestheentiremotherboardhasto
beremoved.
Motherboard
DontNewLaptopMotherboardscost$300+andthelaborinvolvedmakesitnoneconomicaltofix.
Shutdown or Freeze Up
TheCPUHeatsinkintakefansareusuallyonthebottomofthelaptop.Ifyouputthelaptopona
blanket,orpillowthefanswillbeblockedandtheCPUwilloverheat.Tryputtingthelaptoponahard
surface(tableorcounter).
Broken Hinges
ScreenHingescanbereplaced.Makesurewhetheryoucanbuythehingesalone,orifyouhavetobuy
awholenewLCDframe!
Misc.
ReseatingpartssometimesfixesLaptopComputers.ThismeansremovingtheRAM,HardDrive,
wirelesscardandOpticalDrive,andputtingthembackin.
ForlaptopPartsIrecommendSmartMicroUSA.com
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BIOS
Tellsthecomputerhowtodealwithhardware
UsuallyyouwillbetoldwhatkeytohittoenterBIOSsetup,ifnotplaythepianoonthekeys
BIOStellsyouquicklywhathardwareisDETECTEDonthecomputer(CPU,RAM,HardDrives).IfBIOS
doesnotdetectthehardwareyouhaveaproblem!
MainusesforBIOS
ChangeBootOrder
Changewhathappensafterpoweroutage(Computerstaysoff,orcomesbackon)
SetBIOSpassword
BIOSPasswordscangenerallyberesetonDesktopComputersbyremovingtheCMOSbattery,or
connectingajumper.
BIOSPasswordsonLaptopComputersgenerallycannotbereset!IfyoulosetheBIOSPasswordona
Laptopandyoushouldexpecttobuyanewmotherboard!
ChangeBIOStoBootoffofCD/ROM
HitNEXTUntilDone.
Windows Maintenance
Modes
PressF8whilecomputerisbooting
Safe Mode
SafeModeusesaminimumamountofdriversandserviceswhenstarting.Thisisgoodforchanging
configurations.Generallyyoucannotinstall,uninstallsoftwareorrunvirus/malwarescans.
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Building
g and Maintaaining Comp
puters
Jaanuary 15, 2
2011
gement
Computter Manag
Event Vie
ewer
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Building
g and Maintaaining Comp
puters
F
Shared Folders
Sh
haresShow
wsShredFolde
ersonCompu
uter
Se
essionsSho
owSessionsth
hatarecurren
ntlyopen
OpenFilesSh
O
howsSharedFilesthatare
eOpen
Local Use
ers and Groups
17|P a g e
Building
g and Maintaaining Comp
puters
Jaanuary 15, 2
2011
M
Device Manager
Disk Man
nagement
DiskManaagementisussedtomanaggeyourintern
nalharddrivees
Services
hatservicesarerunningan
ndhowtheyaarestarted.YYoucanchangehowServices
Servicessshowsyouwh
startstoM
Manual,Auto
omaticorDisaabled.
Servicesaalsoshowsyo
ouwhatindiviidualServicessaredependeenton.
18|P a g e
Building
g and Maintaaining Comp
puters
Jaanuary 15, 2
2011
Window
ws Update
e
UpdateCrriticalUpdate
es
SetuptoInstallUpdate
esEveryNight
NEVERUp
pdateDriverssfromWindo
owsUpdate!!!!(Idontknoowwhy,buttoomanytimeesitcausesth
he
computerrtocrash)
RegEditt
RegEditallowsyoutoe
edittheRegisstry.TheRegiistryisthemaaindatabasethatholdsmostconfiguraations
fortheWindowsOperatingSystem.
1. ClickStartBu
utton
2. In
nRunBartyperegeditand
dthenClickO
OK
ManyApp
plicationsAuttoStartwhen
ntheComputerBootsfrom
mKeysinthesse:
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Building
g and Maintaaining Comp
puters
Jaanuary 15, 2
2011
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SO
OFTWARE\Miccrosoft\Winddows\CurrenttVersion\Run
NT_USER\Softtware\Microssoft\Windowss\CurrentVerrsion\Run
HKEY_CURREN
MsConffig
ClickStartBu
utton
TyypemsconfigginRunbarandClickOK
Msconfigallowsyouto
ospecifywhatProgramsandServicesw
willloadwhen
ntheComputterBoots.Th
hisis
ecauseyoucaanrunVirusSScansandInsttall/UninstallPrograms.
generallybetterthenSSafeModebe
GenerallyySelectSelecctiveStartupandUncheckLoadStarttupItemsCh
heckbox.
System
m Restore
SystemRe
estoresApplicationsandO
OperatingSystemsettings topreviousccondition.SyystemRestoree
doesnotaaffectdocum
mentsandpicttures.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Se
electStartBu
utton
Se
electAllProggrams
Se
electAccessories
Se
electSystem
mTools
Se
electSystem
mRecovery
20|P a g e
Building
g and Maintaaining Comp
puters
electPreviousTimeandDatetoRestorretoandClickkNext
Se
Window
ws Backup
p
Backupan
ndRestore
Backupto
oadifferentd
disk!
Youcanu
useyourWind
dowsOSDisktorecoveracomputerfroomaBackupFile
Task Manager
1. RightClickTaskbar
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Building
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puters
2. ClickStartTasskManager
onTab:
Applicatio
To
oKillanApplicationRigh
htClickAppliccationandtheenSelectEn
ndTask
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Building
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ProcessessTab:
Yo
oucanseewhatProcessaareUsingYourResourcesbbySortingbyCPU,orMem
mory
To
oKillaProcesssRightClicckProcessandSelectEnddProcess
PerformanceTab:
ouldbebelow
w50%.IfCPU
Uis90100%yyouhavetoo
omanyprograamsrunning,or
CPUUsagesho
needabetterprocessor.
Memoryshow
M
wsyouhowmuchRAMyou
uareusing.M
Memoryshou
uldbelesstheenyourtotal
am
mountofRAM
M
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Building
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puters
Networkin
ngTab:
Sh
howshowmu
uchnetworkttrafficyourco
omputerisussing.
Computter Properrties
SttartButton
RightClickCo
omputerofMyCompute
er
electProperrties
Se
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Building
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2011
Uninsta
all Program
ms
1. ControlPanel
ogram
2. UninstallaPro
UninstallA
AllUnnecessaaryProtectio
onSoftware
25|P a g e
CCleaner
Downloadatwww.CCleaner.com
Goodforcleaningouttemporaryfiles
Goodfordefragmentingregistry
EasilyEnableorDisableStartupPrograms
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Home Work
FindaComputerthatNeedsFixingandFixit
ScheduleTimetoComeInforPracticalExercises
Youshouldcompleteatleast10actualrepairs,orpracticalexercisesbynextclass
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