Sharing graphics online can be challenging. This website, Artistryinphotos.com, is easy to access. We upload many images and videos. We have to put them on separate, but connected sites. If we didn't, this sight would be very slow.
Our Dvd Shows site requests you to create your own password, and may offer you a free download. These downloads are standard reader software, your computer needs anyway. Because many people are unsure of what to download, and when, their computer is set to automatically download updates. The problem with that is, you may go to bed with your computer working fine. Then, when you wake up, it doesn't - automatic downloads, should be suspect. We prefer to accumulate the downloads and do them all at once. That way, if something goes wrong, we know the source of the problem. Though not likely, the risk there could be, neglecting to update a security issue. I've never heard of someone being burdened in that way. Most people have security at several levels, including the cable company, routers, internet providers, virus protection and multiple firewalls. In my experience, with any update, it's better to give them a few days to work out the "bugs".
Our other image sharing site, collages.net, was the inspiration for this write up : ) Most people have no problems at all, there. Collages.net is the best online sharing server of their kind. Never the less, we have had people call with questions. Similar sites present the same challenges. With computers, there are so many variables. We've addressed the most common issues below. Think of it as an opportunity, to become more familiar with your computer! Remember, you will need our studio code (7237) and your designated password, to view images there. If all else fails, there are proof books and contact sheets available for viewing at the studio. If you live too far away, we'll even send you a copy of the contact sheets. This section was also written with our employees and interns in mind. When people have computer issues and questions, it's convenient to send them here first.
Proceed at Your Own Discretion: Clearing Computer Clutter
Some people have never been told, pc clutter should be cleared, at least once a week. It's easy to forget how, between cleans. Now you have a reminder. Unless you have special circumstances, these common clean ups will make your pc much easier to get along with. If you are unsure about any of the following, skip them and go to the next. You don't have to do them all. I do all of these often, with videography, our 3 pcs have to stay as efficient as possible. I learned many of these while paying a computer tech $100/hr.
Before you do anything, back up everything. This is something you should be doing anyway. If you have an external drive(money well spent), maybe that means reaching across the desk and pushing a lit up button. For people that don't, go down to start/control panel/switch to classic view/system/system restore. Because you are cleaning house, it's wise to have this safety net. For this purpose, the maximum percentage should be selected. In a couple days, when you know everything went well, go back and switch it to something lower, so your computer can use that memory for running your pc smoothly. I turn mine off completely, except for when I'm taking a chance with changes, but that's living on the edge : ) Actually, I archive everything to disc, almost daily. Our system is too large to back up the other way.
Internet Explorer is the most compatible with everything. If you are not in Explorer, open only Explorer now.
On the tool bar go to Tools/Internet Options/General/Browsing History/Delete/Delete All/Yes/Ok
Again, go to Tools/Internet Options/Security/Custom Level/ at the bottom, choose Medium/Reset/Yes/Ok/Apply/Ok
If you are trying to access collages.net, go to Tools/Internet Options/Privacy/Sites/ type in collages.net/Allow/Ok/OK. The same will work with other websites.
If you've never cleaned your registry, or if it's been a year or so, if it were my pc, I would. I don't schedule automatic cleanings. I have heard speculation, from computer techs, registry cleaners could "overclean", over time. Having your registry cleaned is a service computer techs offer. In the years I had one scheduled for automatic, daily cleanings, I did not experience "overcleaning". Actually, it was quite the contrary. Literally thousands of useless bits of information clog up your registry and slow your computer. We have a relatively, delicate balance of somewhat incompatible softwares installed. Even so, our 2 registry cleaners did fine, here's how - In your address bar, type in Downloads.com, at Downloads.com, type in registryfix.com. Download the free registry cleaner by clicking,download/run or open/agree with everything until done. Minimize Explorer by clicking the minus sign in the upper right corner, it will wait for you at the bottom of the screen.
Find the new RegistryFix icon on your desk top, double click it, click Scan Now and let it run, you can work elsewhere if you have adequate Ram(memory) installed in your tower.
Minimize Explorer again to finish with RegistryFix. Repair problems/Ok/Backup Controls/pull down menu and delete all but the most 2 most recent back ups, may not have any to delete the first time around. Back ups are bad news for most people. Your pc offers to back you up, so do external drives and various programs, sometimes you're backedup without even choosing it. Backing up means making a copy of everything on your pc and storing it with everything else. This takes maintenance, because each back up can be a whole new copy. Those old ones need deleted. Your pc comes with a restore point feature. My advice, make sure your restore point is on and don't do any back ups. They're a hassle and cause continous issues. If there were a crash, backups go with everything else. Back up important things to Disc. If you accidentally delete something important go back to Downloads.com and download free recovery software, undelete.com works well.
SAVE or RUN? Don't save downloads you can access elsewhere (on your disc or online). It uses up your memory and slows down your pc. Let them save it for you, you can always go back when you need it. If you purchase software downloads online, do chose Save. Save it until you are sure it's backed up, then if you're comfortable doing so, remove the installer from Add/Remove programs. Always request the back up disc, and/or pay the extra 10 bucks or whatever it is. Find out if there is a key, in the form of a code or a usb insert, if so, you need it. Chances are good you'll be needing those things to download it again later.
Over time programs become corrupt. Clicking again before the last click(command) was complete, all those impatient or confused clicks we do, leave fragments and divisions, bits and peices, that corrupt our downloaded software. People commonly think, it's a virus, but if it's just one or 2 or 3 programs acting weird. It's likely, they need uninstalled, and reinstalled. It's a good idea to clean the clutter and reboot before reinstalling. Do a clean install, by not having any unnecessary programs open.
If you have Ram issues (need more, but haven't gotten it yet). You can go to start/run/type in msconfig/startup - you are looking at a list of what is running on your computer, right now. Most of your programs start up and go into standby mode, when you turn on your computer. Your computer's resources are all used up before you even click. Standby can save time in opening a program, if there aren't too many programs also already in standby. You have to click that same icon whether it's running or not. Unchecking programs in start up, simply lets them stay closed at start up. For programs you hardly use, unchecking them is the best choice. There will be many programs with crazy names of seemingly random letters. Most people would be fine, disabling everything, but it's not necessary. If you don't know what it is, leave it enabled. If you uncheck things you're unsure of, and you notice, "Hmm, my clocks gone." Go back and recheck those items. Reboot. You'll get a window that says something referring to the changes you made. Check the box, "don't show me this again", and close it.
1 trick when your computer locks up - after you have tried ESC, if it's still stuck, try CTRL-ALT-DELETE all held down at the same time. You'll get a window showing you what tasks you've commanded - end task. That can get you unstuck.
This one might take a while if you haven't done it lately, it's a good one to do right before bed. At the bottom, go to Start/Accessories/System Tools/Disc Clean Up/OK/OK. I agree to clean and compress everything, it 's fragmented & old unused info,old deleted emails and pictures from junk emails, and websites I visited, stuff I purposely didn't save, (clutter). If you start it and realize, "This is going to take hours", you can stop it and run it later. It may slow you down if you're trying to multitask.
This is a necessary and common clean up. Go to Start/Accessories/System Tools/Disc Clean Up/Ok/Ok. Do each drive if you have others. Repeat for each drive. External drives, the separate storage plugged into your usb, may not be as simple. Unless you're comfortable, with all the disk clean up options, skip the external drives.
Make sure you format your external drives before putting information on them. You'll want to empty external drives from time to time to "clean" them and reformat.
Go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter/Analyze. If it says you need to defragment, do it later, it takes a long time and makes your pc slow to work on now. If you're able, schedule your pc to defrag automatically, bi-weekly or so, during the hours you are sleeping. If you have more than one drive, analyze each.
Go to Start/Programs/Windows Update/Express. If there are high-priority updates, download them all at once/restart later. I don't bother looking through the others, unless I'm having issues. Sometimes your fix is sitting there in the less commonly needed updates, that's the point of the updates. Keep in mind, if say your keyboard is unresponsive or you can't figure out why your network isn't working, go back to Windows update. Type in an error number if one came up and look through some of the recent, lower priority updates you passed up. If you've recently made other big changes, like upgrading your Explorer, chances are it's related. Something else may need to be upgraded with it and there are a whole lot of other things it could be. Just like, Windows Vista, it's usually better to give them time to work out the bugs, so wait, when you can, on those things, especially with AOL. We like our AOL, but they seem to have the worst record for creating issues. If you don't know where to look, don't waist hours finding nothing, call or get live online help. Make sure to get your case number, from the phone rep. That way, you'll be able to pick up where you left off, with another rep, later. Also, they'll have your issues documented, and that could be part of finding the solution.
If your pc is a few years old, you've probably worn your processor down. Ram is also a good thing to upgrade. It's usually cheaper and lasts longer to have your pc tower built to your specifications, in the first place - this is called a barebones kit. That can seem intimidating, but a little research, (we like Consumer Reports and Tigerdirect.com) pays off big later. Barebone kits can be opened up and upgraded a peice at a time. This means, you don't have to replace the whole thing again, just the parts. Name brands cost more, but most often are the same. A good example would be choosing Intel or AMD processors? Make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Go with the better price, which is usually AMD, by a long shot. There are just a handful of main peices. We find them for a good deal on ebay or Tiger, then email it to our local computer store. It's nice to have local support, if they back their products and charge less for support. Many don't. That's why you need to know all this stuff yourself!
Remember to turn off and restart your pc after any changes.
