What Kind of Maintenance Do I Need to Do on My Windows PC? Dear Lifehacker, You guys recently talked about Mac Maintenance, but I'm frankly still a little lost when it comes to Windows. Should I be defragging, cleaning my registry, and running programs like CCleaner? What do I actually need to do to maintain my Windows PC? P Sincerely, Wringing Out WindowsP Dear Wringing, You're right, people talk a lot about ways to "speed up Windows" or keep your system well-maintained, but Windows has evolved a lot, and some of those are outdated. Maintenance You'll Want to DoP Update Windows: We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Don't neglect Windows Update. Run Antivirus Software: It's a sad fact of life, but if you're using Windows, you'll probably want some form of antivirus software running in the background. Back Up Your Hard Drive: Whether it's the simple Windows Backup or an automated, offsite backup tool like our favorite Crashplan, backups are essential tools for any PC user. Maintance You Don't Need to DoP SExpand Sincerely, LifehackerP P.S.
Set Up and Get to Know Your New Windows PC What's your guys thoughts on simply reinstalling the Windows OS as soon as you get your new computer? It seems like when I install my OS it doesn't have all that bloatware and feels much more fresher than the day I first used it. Also, since Windows 7 installing the OS is pretty fast and you don't even have to worry about most of your drivers as Windows handles it for you. Just wondering if it'd be easier to boot up the computer once, then reinstall the OS for a truly fresh and new computer rather than dealing with uninstalling a bunch of bloatware and etc. Flagged @Manly McBeeferton: I almost always do this, but it's just not practical for most people, so I went with the "use Revo Uninstaller" advice instead. @Whitson Gordon: No need to plop down money. @MaxellDVD1: But I was under the impression that'll only work with the copy that comes with your computer; not with a clean copy of Windows. OEM keys are split into three types: -SLP (system locked preinstallation).
The inside story of how Microsoft killed its Courier tablet | Microsoft Steve Ballmer had a dilemma. He had two groups at Microsoft pursuing competing visions for tablet computers. One group, led by Xbox godfather J Allard, was pushing for a sleek, two-screen tablet called the Courier that users controlled with their finger or a pen. But it had a problem: It was running a modified version of Windows. That ran headlong into the vision of tablet computing laid out by Steven Sinofsky, the head of Microsoft's Windows division. For Ballmer, it wasn't an easy call. At one point during that meeting in early 2010 at Gates' waterfront offices in Kirkland, Wash., Gates asked Allard how users get e-mail. But the device wasn't intended to be a computer replacement; it was meant to complement PCs. "This is where Bill had an allergic reaction," said one Courier worker who talked with an attendee of the meeting. It's not hard to understand Gates' response. The story of Microsoft's Courier has only been told in pieces. How far behind is Microsoft? So why did Courier die?