Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gatsby]

Do you have a slow computer, or a slow internet connection? How long does it take to boot up, to load programs like Word?

You can check your internet speed with Bitmeter:

http://codebox.org.uk/controller?page=home

You can check your CPU by hitting ctrl+alt+del and going to Performance tab. If the CPU is showing more than 15 percent in idle, probably something is wrong; if it is above 80 percent in idle, you definitely have a problem.

(You will also see a gauge for memory and numbers for physical memory. This will tell you how much physical RAM and disk cache memory is being used. But on Vista it seems it uses nearly all of it, even when it isn't doing much. On XP I think there should be a good amount listed as free.)

Similarly, if the Bitmeter shows more than a few bits per second in idle, especially in UL, upload, with no browsers open, you may have a trojan horse or other virus hijacking our computer connection.

Start here for Windows fixes:

Performance Information and Tools within Windows.

Turn off Indexing on all drives and subfolders. It will take some time to do this.

Adjust Visual Effects -- Turn off everything except "Show thumbnails instead of icons." The on the Advanced tab, set it for "performance."

Check to see that Virtual Memory is set to automatic. If it is turned off, nearly any Windows computer will crawl or stop.

I am looking at Vista; most Korean school computers are still XP, but the controls are the same, though they may be organized differently.

Vista has a Reliability and Performance Monitor that will generate a report on problems.

You will see other options from this area, or by going to Help and typing "performance." You should, naturally, do a disk cleanup by emptying the trash.

Also turn off scheduled defragging.

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Start here for software that can help you:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

I suggest a malwarebytes quick scan once a week.

Do a quick scan first, then a full scan, which will take hours.

Then the Microsoft malicious software removal tool:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en

You should do a scan with your antivirus program, but if it is in Korean, you may need help. Perhaps you should ask permission to replace it with Avast in English:

http://www.avast.com/security-software-home-office

If you replace an antivirus program, do it with the computer unplugged from the Internet.

You should look at the list of installed programs on the Start menu column. You can sometimes uninstall them from there. If not, go to Start - Settings - Control Panel - Programs and Features or some other name, it will have a picture of a box and a CD. Uninstall the stuff that obviously doesn't belong there, such as Ask Toolbars, etc. Korean school computers tend to get loaded up with junk, especially if the kids play with them.

The other suggestions on this thread are good. Disk defragging should be the last thing you do, after you have made all your changes. But it only has the potential to make minor improvements. Auslogics is a good, fast defragger. UltimateDefrag is more powerful, but takes a long time. If you have XP, the built in defragger is fine.

A registry scan is a good idea after all the changes have been made to clean up detritus.

Doing all this stuff to try to fix your computer will probably be mainly educational, and help you learn more about computer maintenance. What you really need is for the school to give you the original Windows disk, an English version, and let you install it, plus other software. You will need help with the network and internet connection, but the rest you can probably do.

Install Windows with the computer disconnected from the network. Install antivirus software first. Then you can connect to the network. Then you have to do all your Windows updates. Only do about 20 at a time.

If you do a fresh install in English, install an English antivirus program, and optimize the Windows settings, you will probably be OK. If not, tell the principal you are going to buy a new computer for your office and give it to the school because Korean schools are too poor to afford modern computer. Koreans hate charity from foreigners, and so you will probably have a new computer within a day or two.