Step 4: Updating your Operating System with Windows Update.

Microsoft Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components. An optional feature provides updates for other Microsoft Windows software, such as Microsoft Office, Windows Live applications, and Microsoft Expression. Microsoft uses this tool to update driver components, patch security holes & exploits, and hardware/software optimizations. Basically put: You would be a fool not to use the update service.

How to use Windows Update

It is quite simply to use Windows Update, simply open Microsoft Internet Explorer, click on Tools → Windows Update. If you don’t see it listed there, it may be listed under the Safety tab. Alternatively, you could go directly to the Windows Update Website (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/). Finally, for Microsoft Vista users, you can get your updates by going to Start → All Programs → Windows Update.

But can’t I update Windows automatically? Yes. Lets see how to enable automatic updates on your computer.

To turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP (SP2)

1. Click Start → Control Panel
2. Click Automatic Updates
3. Choose Automatic (recommended) Then click OK

To change Automatic Update settings in Vista

1. Open Windows Update (click the Start button → All Programs → Windows Update)
2. Select the Change Settings and choose Install updates automatically (recommended)

If you turn your computer off at night, you may want to select a time during the day to install the updates. Otherwise, select a time in which your computer will be idle; Windows Updates uses system resources to install, leaving you with a slower computer during update installation.

Congratulations! You have just performed a quick 4-Step optimization, tune-up, and security update on your computer. It is the first step to preventative computer maintenance.  Did you like this post? Feel free to Bookmark CompuTechs+ Website, and view our next computer repair and computer maintenance blogs.

When you are finished with Step 4, your computer will need to be restarted. Return to Windows Update to see if there are any other updates available (you may have to do this a few times). Once the computer has been restarted (and there are no recommended updates listed), follow up the optimization with another defragmentation with Defraggler.

Spybot S&D detects and removes spyware, cleans useage tracks, and protects from known-spyware threats. It is a great tool (just remember to update the software regularly). Even if you don’t see the symptoms, computers may still be infected, and spyware is getting more and more elusive with each day. It’s free, so there’s no harm in giving it a try.

How to use Spybot Search and Destroy

Install Spybot S&D – You may want to consider omitting the TeaTimer function. This protects your current system settings, and is an effective security feature. However, some users find the function annoying, so pick and choose as you please.

After installing Spybot S&D, download the definition updates. UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE is what we always tell our customers. After you have updated, click on the immunization button, the program will see how many unprotected threats remain. After this check, close all open web browsers and click on the green plus sign towards the top of the interface labeled ‘Immunize’. Once finished, move forward to the next step.

Now that we are immunized, click on the ‘Search & Destroy’ button on the left, and finally click on ‘Check for problems’. Spybot will check for any spyware, malware, or other nasty things that are installed in your computer. When the scan is finished, select ‘Remove threats’, and you are done. Running CCleaner another time won’t hurt either.

Finally, move on to Step 4: speed up your pc using Windows Update.

So, your computer monitor is really dark or faint, and changing the brightness (using the ‘Fn’ key, for example) isn’t working. Now what to do? Simple. If you have a multimeter with a KHz option, use that to test the inverter. A cheap multimeter will register the KHz differently; if your multimeter KHz option only goes up to 20KHz, you may get a ’1′ as the result. This means the reading was ‘off the charts’…too high for the cheap multimeter to register the proper KHz. If you are looking for a good multimeter, consider the Fluke 110 true RMS meter, as its KHz rating goes up to 50KHz. The reason we want to test the inverter first is because the cost of inverters is low, so we can rule the inverter defective or not before moving on to the pricey LCD or backlight repair.

Take your multimeter, and set it to the KHz notch on the dial. Now, with the computer on, put the multimeter tips close to where the inverter would be (usually towards the bottom of the LCD housing), about a half-inch apart.

Replacing an LCD backlight is not an easy job. On a scale of 1 to 10 of DIY repair, I would rank it an 8.5. Replacing a dead backlight is a cost-efficient way of repairing an LCD without breaking the bank. Most backlights run $4.99-$15.00 (shipping included) on a site such as eBay, and some LCD’s even have two backlights, so make sure you order the right amount.  Otherwise, you might be waiting another week with a dark or dim screen, and nobody wants that.

CompuTechs+ does not recommend replacing the backlight yourself, but if you are determined, here are the steps:

Replacing an LCD Backlight is a requires extreme patience, as it is a fragile process. Not only is the light itself featherlight, it also contains the hazardous element mercury.

1) Remove the LCD from its housing (if you don’t know how to do this, please do not proceed)
2) Remove all the screws you can find located on the LCD, and carefullyremove its casing
3) Finding the backlight(s): LCDs typically have 1 backlight, some have two. The backlight is a very thin, long CCFL tube (which is typically located with rubber ends, and is connected to the cable coming off the inverter.

4) Once you have determined if the LCD has one or two backlights, now its time to get the replacement backlights. CompuTechs+ recommends replacing both backlights (if your LCD is a dual-backlight monitor), it will save you a big headache in the future. Either search for your LCD model number on eBay, or measure out the backlight to find a correct fit.

5) Be careful installing the backlight, remember that when you are removing the LCD layers for replacing the backlight that you need to keep the LCD layers together. If you don’t, they might be difficult to get to line up easily again.
6) Put it all back together (test before completely reassembling), and enjoy your bright, cheaply fixed component!

Many people avoid common maintenance of their computers, which slows down performance and decreases security.

1. Data Backup
2. Defragmentation (unecessary if you are using Vista or an SSD, or Solid State Drive)
3. CCleaner
4. Spybot Search & Destroy
5. AVG AntiVirus
6. Windows Update
7. Defragment Again! (after installing Windows Updates – Defragmentation isn’t necessary, once every two months should do fine)
8. Physical Appearance & Dust
9. RAM Upgrades

All of these are important to your computer or laptop’s health, but most of all: your sanity. Many people avoid common maintenance of their computers, which slows down performance and decreases security. All the computer software packages that we have listed are free, but we always recommend purchasing the full-license if you decide that you like the software (namely AVG & Spybot). It not only helps support the computer software developers provide you with better updates in the future, but the paid versions protect you better.