Disable unnecessary Windows services

The Windows operating system provides a host of services which help us in several ways. But, the more the services enabled, the slower the PC becomes. And, there are various services which are not at all useful for most types of users. These services should be disabled so that the PC doesn't unnecessarily consume extra memory & become slow. 

So, first of all, here is how you can disable a particular service :

1. Open 'services.msc' from Start --> Run.

2. From the list present in the application, right-click on the service you wish to disable & click on Properties.

3. Now, in startup type, you can select Disable to disable the service or Manual to forbid the service from automatically starting.

And now, given below is a list of services that can be disabled (with reasons) :

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note : The 4 services given below are useful if the PC is accessed remotely, ie., from another PC. And usually, the majority of users never use Remote access. If you are one of them, then you can disable the 4 services :-

ClipBook : This service helps to share information with Remote computers. 

Remote Registry : Enables remote users to modify registry settings on your computer. 

Telnet : This service is used to facilitate remote users in opening programs on your PC.

NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing : This service enables us to view our desktop remotely using NetMeeting. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

These services can be disabled too :

Alerter : This service helps in giving administrative alerts to the user. However, it can be used by hackers to harm the PC. Thus, it should be disabled. It is disabled by default in XP SP2 & is not present in Vista

Error Reporting Service : This service helps in reporting errors to Microsoft. However, if you don't wish to report errors, you can disable this service.

Messenger : This service is used for communication within a network. It too, can be misused by hackers. Thus, it should be disabled. It is disabled by default in XP SP2 & is not present in Vista

Print Spooler : It loads files to memory for later printing. If you do not use a printer, disable this service.

---

E-mail this article ↑Back to Top

How to remove tough Viruses

Earlier, I had published an article on staying safe from Viruses. But even while following all precautions, a Virus may still enter your PC. Fortunately, almost all the viruses will get repaired or deleted by scanning your PC with a good anti-virus software. But, there are certain viruses that cannot be removed by an anti-virus software. So, to remove such tough viruses, one can :

(Note : The anti-virus will give you the name of the virus, the name of the infected file & its directory when it informs you of its inability to remove the virus.) 

1. Scan the infected file with other anti-virus softwares :

Note down the name &  directory of the infected file. Then, scan that particular file/directory with another anti-virus program. This should most probably remove the virus. If not, then,

 

2. Search for the virus' removal tool :

There are many such viruses which the anti-virus programs cannot remove. For some of these viruses, specially designed removal tools are created & are available in various places on the Web. 

To search for a removal tool, 

1) Open your favourite search engine & search for the tool by using the following syntax : " 'Virus Name' removal tool" (without quotes) where 'Virus name' be replaced by the name of the virus. 

ii) Then, from the list of search results, visit a result that you find more relevant. 

iii) The resulting page will provide a download of the removal tool. Thus, downlad the removal tool & follow its instructions properly to remove the virus.

If you cannot find a tool, then

3. Revert your PC to a previous date :

Note : To use this technique, you will need to know the date when the virus infected the PC.

Note 2 : This option can only be used if the PC has System Restore enabled. And further, system restore is only available in Windows ME, XP & Vista.

By using the System Restore feature, you can revert your PC to a previous date. This will turn the PC into exactly how it was on a previous date, which will obviously remove the virus, undo all installations, data changes, etc. done between the current & reverting date. Thus, before reverting, make sure that you save all your important changed data to an external medium like CD, Pen drive, etc.

Then, to revert your PC to a previous date :

1. Start System Restore. (From Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> System Restore )

2. Select the option 'Restore my computer to a previous time (XP) / Choose a different restore point (Vista) & click on Next.

3. Then, select the date to which you wish to revert your PC. (The date selected should be the earliest date before the date when the virus infected the PC)   

4. After this process, the virus should get removed.

Thus, these are some ways by which a tough virus can be removed. Good luck in the removal of your PC's virus!

---

E-mail this article ↑Back to Top

Introducing Cell Phone Beginners

Hello, everyone! Today, I would like to unveil my 2nd blog, named Cell Phone Beginners. As the name suggests, I will be writing articles for the Cell phone, aiming to write them in such a way, that even beginners can understand them. And, it's articles are going to start from tomorrow itself!

---

E-mail this article ↑Back to Top

How to find Software help effectively

There are many instances when working with a software that one does not know how to perform a particular function or does not possess the required knowledge. In such cases, one needs help. Here is what you should do for effectively finding help :

1. Check the Help file : Most softwares come with a help file built in. This file tends to fully cover all aspects of the software. Thus, it is likely that all your help needs will be fulfilled by it. 

You can access this file by pressing the F1 key or going to Help --> Contents. After opening the file, you can either go through its different sections or search for a term from the search tab, to get the information you need.

2. Online help : Some companies offer online help for their products. Thus, you can visit the product's web site (You can find the web page address from Help --> About). Then, you can search for the required information in a way similar to how you find help from the help file.

3. Search : You can also seek the info by searching for it on the Net. There are many reliable info sources online which can guide & inform you.

You can use the syntax "how to *** using 'software'" or "what is *** in 'software'"  (without the quotes) where *** stands for the required info & 'software' stands for the name of the concerned software.

4. Ask : You can ask for the required info in sites like Yahoo! Answers, Wiki Answers, etc. or in blogs (like this one) By this way, you will most probably get your answer. And, there's also the traditional way of asking an expert PC friend for the information!

Thus, these are the ways by which you can get help for a software effectively.

---

E-mail this article ↑Back to Top