Using Internet Support Sites to Solve Operator Problems

¶ … computer is too slow. I went onto various sites to find a solution. At first, I thought that finding a solution would be rapid and that, in fact, I would be inundated with advice, but I soon discovered that what I was inundated with instead was with marketing schemes and scams with all sorts of sites and more attempting to sell me mechanisms that -- they guaranteed -- would enable me to make my program faster. In fact, I was soon bewildered and reluctant to try any of the proffered, and sometimes contradictory, advice for fear that not only would my computer not become any faster but that it may break down altogether.

Close into the chase, I realized that seeking authoritative and reliable information would necessitate my approaching the sites most connected with and associated with computer. One such site I contacted was Microsoft (Microsoft at home; Web), which limited its examples to various programs (one of which was mine) although telling me that, with slight variations, its recommendations could be adjusted to all versions of the Window operating system. Their recommendations were so helpful that I will cite this site as my main source of assistance

In short:

A. Clean up disk errors by once a week running the Check Disk program to identify and clean any errors on the computer. It explained that power outage or program crashing may cause errors on the hard disk which slows the computer

B. Removing temporary files once a week and using the Windows Disk Cleanup tool to do so. Accumulation of files slows computer performance.

C. Optimize data. Fragmented files occur by files being updated and this fragmentation slows computer performance. The Disk Defragmenter program that should be run weekly can speed up performance by piecing files together.

Microsoft also recommended that I speed up my Internet connection in general by reducing the size of my web page history; getting rid of encrypted WebPages; and changing settings to not save encrypted WebPages.

It also advised me to automate Windows Update by allowing Windows to install the latest updates, which will improve the computer's performance.

Finally, Microsoft urged me to remove spy ware and to install an anti- virus-protection program on the computer. Spy ware and malware can slow down the system, and the site was most helpful in referring me to a free program that would provide automatic updates to help keep the system running more efficiently.

Conclusion

Through turning to various sites, I discovered that the more technical the site, the more complex the information and, the more laborious to understand. In time, I realized that by turning to those sites most instantly connected to computer (such as Microsoft), the information was not only simple (i.e. geared to computer dummies such as I), but also explained why the problem occurred in the first place as well as practically leading me through the steps and showing me where the essential tool may be found.