One of the most useful and money saving devices for your LAN is a network connected AIO. Also called Multi-Function-Device (MFD) by some manufacturers. Typically an AIO or MFD is capable of printing, scanning, copying, and possibly faxing. Many manufacturers market these devices, my personal preference is the Epson Artisan Series for home networks. Your busy office network may need a higher duty cycle device using laser rather than inkjet technology. Do your research and shop around, including the internet, to save big money on these products. Many of these networked devices offer a choice of wired or wireless networking. Of course wired may be the best choice, but if you plan on placing the device where cabling is not reasonable then you want to obtain a device with wireless support. When configuring the device I suggest using a static TCP/IP address rather than dynamic (DHCP) addressing for greater stability. Additionally if network scanning is problematic perhaps an entry in your HOSTS file may be needed. Having this device directly connected to your network relieves any specific PC from the duty of sharing the print function, reduces supply requirements to one device, leaves fewer devices requiring electricity, and gives any computer on the network with the necessary software installed the ability to realize the full functionality of your AIO/MFD investment. These devices can be a little tricky to install but not impossible, if you need help almost any professional IT person can complete this task for you in about an hour, a little longer if you need the software installed on more than a few computers.
Microsoft operating systems task the CPU with indexing certain folders, likely to make searches faster. Included in those folders are the system and user ‘Temp’ directories and various cache directories. These can include web-browser, java and flash cache folders for each user. In the normal use of your computer a large volume of files can collect and become a long work queue for your CPU. Needless to say response times can increase noticeably with this burden. I like to use the Temp File Cleaner utility by Old Timer to remove all these files in one fell swoop. You can download version 3.1.7.0 here. I have recently found and tested a similar utility by addpcs.com with increased functionality/options. You can visit their website to download a version of their utility. Response times then improve noticeably to remarkably. Be advised that the utilities work best when run with administrator permissions, and you cannot run them from a Temp folder. Be sure to save all data files and close running applications before using these utilities, that way you are prepared for the utility’s procedures and the reboot often required upon completion. Run these utilities at your own risk, but I have had absolutely no problems from the use of these utilities.
There is a new pariah on the internet, it can best be described as Extortionware, software designed to extort money from you by frightening you enough, or crippling your computer enough to cause you to pay money for relief. Do not give into this bully which is THE problem on your computer and your funds only serve to calm the storm of the extortioners creation. Additionally, many of the problems associated with this infection will remain even after they have your money. These trojans do as their name implies, they bring other trojan invaders along with them to plague your PC.
I see this all the time, there is help available but not from the extortionware. I suggest a visit to http://www.malwarebytes.org/ or http://www.superantispyware.com/ or http://www.safer-networking.org/ to obtain software to aid in the removal of this malware. If unable then perhaps a call to a professional who can clean more pernicious problems.
