Clicking Sound? - Its the hard drive trying to read
- Run a Disk Check on boot-up and see if afterwards it goes away.
IF IT DOESN'T - it could be also be caused by incorrect or altered (corrupt) HardDrive settings in bios due to a low CMOS Battery.
CMOS BATTERIES NORMALLY LAST ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS - If your computer is older - Its TIME to replace!
To change a CMOS BATTERY - change the battery WHILE THE COMPUTER IS ON
It being on will maintain CMOS MEMORY while changing the battery.
CMOS REPLACEMENT BATTERIES ARE AVAILABLE AT
Your Local WalmartYour Local Radioshackin the Electronics Section.
AFTERWARDS - RECHECK YOUR SETTINGS IN BIOS
(Press and Hold down the delete key while booting for MOST computers to enter CMOS/BIOS).
You should also check to make sure your hard drive isn't almost full, if it is,
de-clutter your hard drive by removing unnecessary programs.
Your computer will slow down DRAMATICLY if it's nearing it's limit -
your operating system needs room to operate and be able to cache files.
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For the other, problems -
No One Program does or is able to remove ALL Malware. You need to combine programs to get the best coverage.
Each one will catch what another missed.
There are some GREAT Freeware programs available for NON - commercial use.
(Keep in Mind there's a LOT of fake freeware malware removers that actually INSTALL Malware.
-- Also - Be sure of your downloads / Website Authentication - product name or manufacturer
MATCHES the download URL Domain Name! - )
The ones I Personally use and that are safe are:(FREE DOWNLOADS)
Malwarebyte's AntiMalwareSpybot Search and DestroyAdAwareAvira Antivir - (Free Desktop Version for Home Users)Along with a Good Firewall such as:
ZoneAlarmor this one which takes a little getting used to and comes with an antivirius program also that plays well in conjunction with AntiVir:
Comodo Firewall with AntivirusBe sure to enable "Stealth mode" in these firewalls to prevent access from the web to your computer for home users.
This is where it will NOT acknowledge ANY connection ORIGINATING from OUTSIDE your Network (a hACKER).
(Also have your router set to discard WAN PING)
At Least ONCE A WEEK you should run these programs to detect Malware.
For Slow Computers be sure to Defragment your HardDrive and try this FREE Version of AdVanced Systemcare
to detect hardware AND Internet connection settings problems.
(Good One to pay for the Pay Version - It Accelerates your Internet Connection - Its Worth It! - I DID!.)
Advanced WindowsCareIf you've just been using ONLY Microsoft's firewall and not been doing Regular Maintenance You're going TO BE SHOCKED with the results - BUT YOUR COMPUTER WILL BE FAST AGAIN -
Also If you're using Firefox or an aftermarket Browser BE SURE to have Automatic Updates Enabled for your browser and windows!
There's been a LOT of Video Codec Vunerabilities this year. - Update them so you have the Latest!
ALSO BE SURE TO PASSWORD YOUR BIOS/CMOS! on BOOT UP!! (Motherboard's chipset system settings for your hardware)
(Usually hit and hold down the delete key when booting to enter CMOS and change BIOS settings - look for the SECURITY OPTION)
Some hackers are using your computers bios/adjusting programs INSTALLED IN WINDOWS once they gain access to computers
(ATTENTION !!!! MOTHERBOARD MANUFACTURERS - YOU NEED TO BE ALLOWING PASSWORDING OF THESE PROGRAMS!) -
(such as CPU monitors/tweakers installed in windows!)
to alter your computer's BIOS voltage settings so when you reboot it tries to burn your computer up
and won't boot. - SO BE SURE TO PASSWORD YOUR BIOS!
(This is when you have to change the jumper on the motherboard
to reset CMOS and BIOS Settings - see your motherboard manual - but ONLY if you are confident of what you are doing.)
(Usual symptom of locking up while in use and then refusing to reboot)
You should also use these programs to EDIT YOUR START MENU
to remove any unnecessary programs from running in the background. - The more - the slower your computer gets......
When these solutions work to solve your problems without spending $200 or more to have someone else fix your problem
consider a donation at
www.skyghosts.com. This website has yet to make money..............(Smile)
Or at least Come back and comment here and let me know how things turned out.
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ALSO AFTER RUNNING THESE PROGRAMS AND SUCCESSFULLY REBOOTING
AND PERFORMANCE IS BACK, YOU NEED TO SHUT OFF SYSTEM RESTORE AND REBOOT AND THEN RE-ENABLE IT.
THIS IS TO ERASE MALWARE REGISTRY ENTRIES IN RESTORE POINTS WHICH COULD
BE REINSTALLED THE FIRST TIME YOU RESTORE YOUR REGISTRY.
THEN DO A SYSTEM RESTORE POINT ONCE AGAIN.
AT THIS POINT YOU SHOULD DEFRAGMENT & OPTIMIZE YOUR HARD DRIVE
BE SURE THE SETTINGS ARE SET TO OPTIMIZE YOUR HARD DRIVE
(Available automated in Advanced WindowsCare - puts MOST USED programs
at the beginning of your drive for FASTER ACCESS)
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You should also, if you are a home user not networking with anybody, have remote assistance disabled,
windows firewall running with NO EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED,
Guest user and Admin accounts well passworded / renamed, AND disabled.
The Main Logon account should be passworded also.
If the cable guy just left, and all you have is a computer and a cable modem you need to go
and buy an additional Cat6 Cable and a Firewall Router to put between your computer and your cable modem.
Cat-6 cables are cheapest on
EBAY(up to 50' cables for $8 to $12 instead of $50 in local stores -
just buy the length you need for your computer,xbox, playstation, Wii etc.)
Otherwise it's just minutes before your system will be compromised.
You access your router settings using your browser. When setting it up things to do are
1. Password your router
2. set it to DISCARD WAN PING. (Communications from Outside your home)
3. Set Its IP RANGE to ONLY the number of devices you have - then set your devices accordingly.
4. Set Policies to allow LAN (Behind the router on your side) to WAN (INTERNET)
with a Policy to NOT to allow WAN to LAN
REMEMBER You need to have a Firewall router and YOU NEED TO HAVE PASSWORDED IT WITH YOUR OWN PASSWORD.
You can't just let the cable guy set it up for you and leave -
YOU MUST BE SURE TO PASSWORD YOUR WIRELESS ROUTER TO YOUR OWN PASSWORD AFTER HE LEAVES.
Otherwise he could come back off duty (I've even seen them spend hours in my neighborhood doing so)
Park Down the street , log on to your network (Or anybody else could if he DIDN'T PASSWORD IT),
AND END UP STEALING INFORMATION, TURNING YOUR COMPUTER INTO A SPAMBOT,
USING YOUR IP ADDRESS FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES WHERE THE COPS END UP AT YOUR DOOR!
DON'T BE RUNNING A WIRELESS ROUTER WITHOUT A SECURE PASSWORD ON THE ROUTER!
(The Cable Companies should be checking employees laptops randomly
for this type of illegal activities when their job times don't jive......)
There are also additional registry changes you can make to further secure your computer.
To find out about and learn tweaks like these that Microsoft doesn't tell you about - become a member & subscribe to
TechRepublic.com'sNewsletters - you'll be glad you did!
OR Go buy a reference book for YOUR Operating System at your local bookstore:
WINDOWS 7WINDOWS VISTAXP/ XP PROFESSIONAL**Note** - I am NOT affiliated in any way with ANY of these websites, only
www.skyghosts.comupon which you're reading this article.
What do I get out of this? One less spambot harrassing me with junk e-mails.
If you haven't taken security steps - it's probably YOUR COMPUTER SPAMMING ME WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
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***NOTICE *** as with any advice - USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
ONLY YOU KNOW YOUR SKILL LEVEL AS TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THIS ADVICE
This is intended as a general guide to know general steps and what to look
for when setting up and maintaining your computer.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM
WWW.SKYGHOSTS.COM - HAPPY COMPUTING!
