Purple Heart Services Knowledge Base

Run full antivirus scan
Ensure your antivirus has the most current updates then run a full deep scan of every file on your computer.  All students and staff members are required to have their computer protected and up-to-date.  With many free (and good!) antivirus programs on the market today there is no reason why any computer should remain unprotected.  If you need an antivirus program many Purple Heart Services personnel use AVG (http://download.cnet.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?tag=lst-2&%3bcdlPid=10861654).  Note:  It can be difficult to correctly install an antivirus program on a computer that is already infected as many newer viruses block common installation files.  In the case of a badly infected computer, the user may be better off with a clean format of the disk drive.

Run full antispyware scan
Most newer antivirus programs also contain antispyware tools.  If yours does not it is beneficial to download a free version and run as part of your normal maintenance routine.

Check your available hard drive space
(Click on My Computer to view drives and available space) If your drive is over 50% full, it is time to review what you have on your drive that is wasting space and potentially backing up rarely used files to a USB drive or DVD.

Uninstall any unneeded or unused programs
Go to Control Panel and Add/Remove programs (Uninstall a program).  Review the list of programs on your machine.  Uninstall any you do not need and/or haven't used in a long time.  Often you will find that when you did an update of a program you get two or more versions of the same program on your machine doing nothing except take up space.

Empty the trash
Be sure to empty the recycle bin as you complete these steps.  Files build up here quickly without notice and take up valuable space that can be better utilized by your system.

What's going on?  Check it out.
Check your system tray to see which programs are currently running.  Some antivirus programs slow down performance while they are actively scanning your files.  Most have a built-in scheduler so you can modify their run time to a time when it is less intrusive into your activities.  Also check Task Manager (press CTRL, ALT, & Delete at the same time) to see which processes are taking up your system resources.  This will often let you see what is currently running that you might not have been aware of.

Run Windows system utilities
Windows comes with great system utilities built-in that allow you to help maintain your computer.  Go to Accessories, System Tools and run Disk Clean Up and Disk Defragmenter.  While there in System Tools note you can use Task Scheduler to automatically schedule these maintenance items to run for you – out of sight and out of mind.

Limit start-up items
The most common complaint from users is "My computer takes FOREVER to reboot!".  The most common reason for this is that many programs have made it convenient for you by putting themselves in your Start menu and are set to automatically launch when you reboot.  If you notice an unneeded program in your system tray every time you boot be sure to check within your preference menu of that program for automatic start-up.  More experienced users can use MSCONFIG from the Run menu to further customize program start-ups.  (Warning!  If you do not know how to use MSCONFIG please do not attempt to change settings without a more experienced technical person assisting.)

Know your limitations
Know your computer specifications and the specifications of the programs you are running on it.  If your computer is at the bare minimums for your operating system (or program) do not be surprised if it performs poorly.  Many users are eager to upgrade to the latest, greatest program but do not take a few moments to realize if the benefits (pros) of the upgrade will outweigh the cons.  A brand new computer may not be necessary, but minor (and less expensive) upgrades in graphics cards, sound cards, or the addition of memory can give you the needed boost of performance you are craving.

Completing a few of the basic troubleshooting methods above will help you to determine and resolve many of the most common items slowing down your machine.  If you are still encountering technical issue you may need to submit a technical support ticket at http://www.purpleheartservices.com/support for further troubleshooting.

Contact Information
On the web:  www.purpleheartservices.com
By telephone:  (866) 480-9497
By e-mail:  support@purpleheartservices.com