March 2015 LCCU Meeting We’ll answers members’ questions: –How can you clean and speed up your PC safely, for free? –What is the difference between Windows 8 Apps and desktop programs, in Windows 8 and 10? –How can you get your PC to read to you, with Narrator and more? –What is the planned duration of antivirus support for Windows XP?

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Duration of Windows XP Antivirus Windows XP Antivirus expiration dates:Windows XP Antivirus expiration dates –MS Security Essentials: 7/15/2015; Avast, AVG, McAfee, Panda – at least 2 years after 4/2014; more at The End Is Nigh for Windows XP: These Anti- Virus Software Products Will Continue to Protect XP after the End of Support from av-test.org.The End Is Nigh for Windows XP: These Anti- Virus Software Products Will Continue to Protect XP after the End of Support –Windows XP lives on: Avast survey shows 27 percent of its XP users don't plan to switch and recommends they use the Chrome browser, not Internet Explorer.Windows XP lives on: Avast survey shows 27 percent of its XP users don't plan to switch –More software suggestions at How to keep your PC secure when Microsoft ends Windows XP supportHow to keep your PC secure when Microsoft ends Windows XP support

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Clean & Speed Up Your PC Clean up your PC: –Uninstall unneeded programs, especially those that run at startup – click Control Panel, Programs and Features, select the program, click Uninstall. –Run the Windows Disk Cleaner – click Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup or type “cleanmgr.exe” in search box; or use CCleaner’s Cleaner.CCleaner –Run the disk defragmenter if it doesn’t run automatically – Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter (but not for solid state drives).

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Clean & Speed Up Your PC Speed up your PC: –Remove any malware using Malwarebytes Antimalware, ADWCleaner, …Malwarebytes AntimalwareADWCleaner –Change Power Options to High Performance: Control Panel, Power Options, High Performance. –Use Windows 7 Basic theme, turn off Gadgets. –Restart regularly. –Run fewer programs at a time. –Add memory, SSD or Ready Boost flash drive.

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Clean & Speed Up Your PC Speed up your PC: –Use Troubleshooter to Check for Performance Issues Control Panel, Troubleshooting, System and Security, “Troubleshoot and help prevent system problems”. Note: It offered to prevent startup programs from running – Google AutoBackup, DriveSync & Update, MS Office & OneNote, CCleaner and Glary Utilities; but how to reenable? –Run chkdsk to check for hard drive problems, every 6 months or so - in the search bar, type cmd and in the black box, chkdsk /r

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Clean & Speed Up Your PC Speed up your PC at startup: –Disable unneeded startup apps using msconfig.exe or CCleaner or Autoruns. If program re-enables itself, change its settings to prevent it, if possible. It’s safe to disable iTunes, printer & camera utilities. CCleanerAutoruns –Troubleshooter offered to prevent startup programs from running – Google AutoBackup, DriveSync & Update, MS Office & OneNote, CCleaner and Glary Utilities; but disabling instead with CCleaner or msconfig.exe lets you re-enable them.

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Clean & Speed Up Your PC Speed up your PC when browsing:Speed up your PC when browsing –Disable or delete unneeded browser add-ons. –Use a simple home page & fast default search engine. –Don’t open a lot of tabs at once. –Upgrade your router if still using IEEE g. –Use to check that you’re getting your ISP’s advertised speed. –Switch to a faster DNS server, as identified by Google’s namebench or GRC’s DNS benchmark.Switch to a faster DNS server namebenchDNS benchmark

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Clean & Speed Up Your PC Diagnosing the problem with –Why is my machine slowing down?Why is my machine slowing down? –How do I find out what program is using all my CPU? - download Process Explorer.How do I find out what program is using all my CPU? –How do I stop this constant disk activity? – download Process MonitorHow do I stop this constant disk activity? –How do I monitor network activity on my Windows 7 machine? use Resource Monitor in Performance MonHow do I monitor network activity on my Windows 7 machine? –Why is my new computer's internet access slower than that of my old computer?Why is my new computer's internet access slower than that of my old computer? –.

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Clean & Speed Up Your PC References: –PC Cleaning Apps are a Scam: Here’s Why (and How to Speed Up Your PC) from howtogeek.comPC Cleaning Apps are a Scam: Here’s Why (and How to Speed Up Your PC) –Putting Registry-/system-cleanup apps to the test from windowssecrets.com.Putting Registry-/system-cleanup apps to the test –How to Disable Startup Programs in WindowsHow to Disable Startup Programs in Windows –How to Use CCleaner Like a Pro: 9 Tips & TricksHow to Use CCleaner Like a Pro: 9 Tips & Tricks –12 Tips to Speed Up Windows 7 from PC Mag12 Tips to Speed Up Windows 7 –The Best Tune-Up Utilities from PC MagThe Best Tune-Up Utilities

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Clean & Speed Up Your PC Videos on Making Windows 7 Run Blazingly Fast 20 Amazing Windows 7 Performance Boosting Tips - a few are iffy20 Amazing Windows 7 Performance Boosting Tips How To Speed Up Windows 7 How to Speed up Windows 7 by 100% How To Speed Up Windows 7 Complete Ultimate In Depth Guide to CCleaner by BritecComplete Ultimate In Depth Guide to CCleaner by Britec

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Windows 8 Apps vs. Desktop Apps Windows 8 Apps are (from howtogeek.com):Windows 8 Apps are –Only available from the Microsoft Store. –Sandboxed – permissions are listed at installation. –Run one at a time, or with Snap, a 2 nd can run too. –Always on, in memory, suspended if you switch away. –Run full screen – controls are hidden until needed.controls are hidden –Integrated into the system – settings & controls for printing & sharing are in the charms bar. –Can be programmed in HTML5 & Javascript.

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Windows 8 Apps vs. Desktop Apps Windows 8 Apps in Windows 10:Windows 8 Apps in Windows 10 –Are listed on the restored Start Menu with desktop apps. –Open in desktop windows that can be resized. –Have a Windows App menu bar with options that were buried in the charms menu in Windows 8.

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Make Your PC read to you Microsoft Narrator reads text on the screen – menus, toolbars, etc., and describes some events. Microsoft Word reads.doc,.docx, etc. files, but the command must be added to the ribbon. Adobe Reader reads.pdf files with View, Read Out Loud. For reading websites, Internet Explorer has Translate with Bing, Firefox has FoxVox add-on

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Make Your PC read: the screen Narrator:Narrator –To turn on: Start menu, Accessories, Ease of Use, Narrator or Control Panel, Ease of Access Center. –To turn off: Ctrl key or Exit. Video showing use: –Using Narrator the basic screen reading tool built into MS WindowsUsing Narrator the basic screen reading tool built into MS Windows Free full screen readers include the open source NVDA NonVisual Desktop Access. NVDA NonVisual Desktop Access

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Make Your PC read: doc files Using Word 2010, 2013 or 365: –Add Speak command, under All Commands, to the Quick Access menu bar or to a group in any tab. –Select text to be read. –Click Speak icon. Video showing use: –Word 2010 | Convert Text to SpeechWord 2010 | Convert Text to Speech Note – it’s more complicated with Libre Office.

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Make Your PC read: pdf files Using Adobe Reader: –Open a.pdf file. –Click View, Read Out Loud, Activate Read Out Loud. –To read, click View, Read Out Loud, and either Read This Page Only or Read to End of Document –To stop reading, click View, Read Out Loud, Stop/Pause. –Control voice speed under Edit, Preferences, Reading; changed words per minute to 150, clearer.

March 2015 LCCU Meeting Make Your PC read: websites Using Internet Explorer with Bing Translator: –Highlight text to be read and right-click it. Select “Translate with Bing”. Click speaker icon under text. Using Firefox: –Download & install FoxVox add-on. –Highlight text to be read and right-click it. Select FoxVox, “Speak selected text”.