Why is my computer running slow? Do you know why? This is a question that gets asked very frequently. There could be a lot of reasons.

1.       It could be that you have a lot of stuff that in not just installed but running at the same time. If you have dozens of programs running this will slow down your computer. So the first step is to make sure you don’t have too many programs running at once. On Windows 7 computers press Ctrl-Shift-Esc to open Task Manager. Look at the Applications tab and close down any Applications you are not using.

2.       There can be numerous background processes that you are not using, or do not need, that can be slowing down your computer. open Task Manager and look at the processes tab. A bit of operating system knowledge and critical thinking will let you know what processes are safe to end. A general rule of thumb is do not stop processes that are labelled as a Windows process as these are crucial to the functioning on the operating system.

3.       Turn off unwanted services and startup items in MSConfig. Search for “msconfig” in your start bar search and press Enter. You might find services you don’t need are running in the background. A useful tip is to look for services from companies that you don’t want running. For example, you might not want some services from your computer manufacturer that you don’t need. In MSConfig you can also see which programs automatically star tup when your computer boots into windows. Generally you will want as few start up programs as possible to increase the Windows load speed.

4.       You can use programs such as CCleaner to clean up your computer. CCleaner combines numerous Windows functions and a few more of its own to give your computer a good clean.

5.       Upgrade your computer with new hardware and software. If you are running a 10 year old PC, it might be time to upgrade.

6.       Format the hard drive. Formatting gets rid of all your data so make sure you have backed up any files you need to a hard-disk or a network backup. If you haven’t formatted in a few years, it’s probably time.  

Windows 8 has been officially slated by Microsoft for release in the first week of August this year. Never the less, we at Newton’s Nerds have installed the Windows 8 preview and been messing around with Windows 8 since late September last year. Given many of our customers will be installing Windows 8 soon it seems appropriate to use our blog to introduce you to some of the major changes.

Perhaps the most immediate change that people will notice is the introduction of the Metro interface. I have included below a screen shot from Wikipedia. The Metro interface completely changes the way users interact with their computer. It appears Microsoft has stylised their design on the elements that were highly successful for Apple in the iPhone and later with their iPads. This is not Microsoft’s first attempt at the Metro interface so it is likely they have got it right. The Metro interface was first seen on the Windows Phone operating system. 

The OSI model is an incredibly useful tool for understanding how different networks communicate to each other. The OSI Model breaks down communication into 7 logical layers that let you think about a network problem and how to fix that problem. It simplifies the troubleshooting process by allowing a technician to focus on which layer the problem appears to be in.

1.       The Application Layer- The Application layer is that layer that the user interacts with the data. For instance, you are reading this web document on a web browser. If you are using email, you might be viewing Outlook.

2.       Underneath the Application layer is the presentation layer. This is the layer that the operating system is on.

3.       The Session layer is the layer that deals with the communication creating a session between the two computers. If you go to a website, your computer has to create a session with the web server you are trying to get information from.

4.       The Transport layer is what decides how much information should be sent at one time. When you are communicating with a website, this layer is responsible for controlling how much data is sent back and forth. The transport level is where the process of windowing happens.

5.       The Network layer is the level that routers operate on. Your IP address is at the Network layer. This layer is related to connections between networks. The TCP/IP protocol suite resides on this layer.

6.       The Datalink layer is the level that switches work on.  This layer is related to connections within networks. Media Access Controll addresses reside on this layer. Every single device in the world has a MAC address.

7.       The Physical layer refers the physical components of a network. This includes wiring and cables. If your Ethernet cable has become disconnected, this is a Physical layer problem!

If you are new to networking, it is important to realise that the OSI model does not refer to actually layers hidden in your cables or the Internet! The OSI model refers to logically distinct aspects of a network and enables you to diagnose where your network issues lie. For example, if you notice you are not receiving an IP address from your router, this would be a Network layer problem.  If you can “ping” a domain but cannot connect to the domain in a web browser, this is likely an Application layer problem. 

Another benefit of the OSI model is that it is an exhaustive list of networking issues. If all layers are the OSI model are working, your networking with be working. Any problem that you encounter will be associated with a layer of the OSI model. Thus, once you identify where the problem is, you can take steps to fix it.

Nerd out. 

The Miriam-Webster dictionary definition of a network is “a fabric or structure of cords that cross at regular intervals and are knotted or secured at the crossings”. When we talk about a computer network the cords are a series of wires designed to support the connection of multiple computers. Taken at its simplest a network is simply two or more computers that are connected. The cord or medium for connection can be cables (for example an Ethernet network), radio signals (for example Wi-Fi) or light channels (for example optic fibre).

This article was written by Newton's Nerds Sydney. We are computer network support experts. We operate in the Sydney area with our head office in Newtown. We can assist you with all kinds of services including server setup, wifi network installation, PC and Apple computer network installation, network system backup, router installation, and much more.

Most computes are simultaneously a client and server. This is because the defining characteristic of a client or server is not the hardware, or the software but how the software and hardware are used in relation to other computers. Generally when people incorrectly think of servers as machines dedicated to the provision of services to other computer. By definition a server is simply a computer that has resources available to another computer(s). A client is any computer that requests resources from another computer. 

In order for a client and a server to communicate they must share a common networking protocol. A protocol is simply a series of communication rules. With computer networking a protocol is no different it is just that the rules to govern the communication between two computers.