Save Hard Drive Space

"No More Disk Space Available" don't you just hate that error message. When most people get this, they wonder-"where did all my space go". Lots of people just go out and buy a hard drive, but you can actually save hard drive space by clearing out some files.

Firstly, install CCleaner, CCleaner is a great cleaning utility, that removes lots of junk from your computer very easily. On our first use of the program, we got back 6 GB of files.

Next, take a look at any programs that you might not be using, and uninstall them. Uninstalling programs can free hard drive space, and also improve system performance most of the time.

Then, start to look into some of your files. Do you really need that set of footage that you already edited? Ask yourself questions and then decide to delete files. Media (Videos, Photos, and Music) take up a lot of space, so be sure to look for duplicates and then remove any.

Also, be sure to backup your files-this can save a lot in the event of a hard drive crash

Speed Up Your Computer by Removing Malware

Malware is a big issue, and on top of slowing down your computer, it is also known for compromising your security and potentially leaving you with many problems. You can easily avoid malware, by avoiding computers, however as computers become a part of our daily lives, there are a few steps you can take to help:

1. Use a non-administrative user. You might be wondering what this means, and it simply means that when you login to your computer, you should use a standard user. Standard users do not have as much power as administrative users in terms of control of programs and settings, and by using standard user, damage will not be as deep as it would have been if you were using an administrative user.
2. Have an antivirus suite. These are really helpful, and they are also available for free. Our personal favourite is avast! antivirus, however there are many other options. Make sure that your antivirus program has live scanning, so that it is constantly scanning your computer to make sure that all activity and files are safe. The only drawback is that some antivirus programs use quite a bit of system resources. 
3. Don't click on links or attachments from unknown senders. Spam from unknown senders always has the potential to have malware. Links can also redirect you to malicious webpages that may download files and run scripts without your permission, so always be careful. Also, watch for messages from known senders that sound a bit weird, and sound like they may have been sent automatically. In that case, delete the message, and inform the sender that they might want to check their account security.
4. Scan your computer regularly with Malware Bytes and Windows Malware Removal Tool. Both of these utilities do not offer constant scanning, so you should only use them when you feel needed. We recommend once a month just to help keep your computer safe. Malware Bytes is downloadable, and Windows Malware Removal Tool can be found by typing in the run command: mrt.
5. USE COMMON SENSE-This may seem like a no-brainer, but common sense is one of the most important ways to protect yourself from malware. When something seems too good, or doesn't seem like its real-avoid it!.

Pandora in Canada

Although going on a vacation can be fun, sometimes when going outside of the country, some services won't work because they are US only. Pandora is one of these services. For those of you that don't know, Pandora is a great music radio that will play music based on what you like. Its also great for discovering new music to purchase. In order to use Pandora outside of Canada using our method, you will need an iOS device. Open up the app store and download GetCloak, this app will help you install a VPN that will most likely be based in US. Now, all of your connections will also bounce through this US address making Pandora feel that you are in US. The only problem with this is that with the free account, you have limited time and bandwidth. Also, feel free to give this a shot with some other American services when you are on vacation

For educational purposes only

Speed Up Your Computer with Defragmenting

Had your computer for 2 years and now find it lagging so much and things don't run as fast as they used to even with your 4 GB of RAM and dual-core Intel chip. Well, there are many reasons why your computer could be running this slow and one of them is fragmented files. This means that your files are all over the place and your computer has to spend some more time gathering them up. The more scattered the files get, the slower the computer will be. So, you can defragment your computer. Microsoft offers a built in defragment tool called Disk Defragmenter. On Windows 7, simply search for this program and run it. You can then start your defragmenting. Don't worry you don't lose data. On XP, click Start->All Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Defragmenter, and run it from there. While this is running, it is preferred that you leave your computer alone. Depending on your hard drive size, processor, and how fragmented these files are, it can take some time.

1000 Views!!!

We would like to inform you that this blog, QandA has reached 1000 pageviews. We are extremely happy with this result, and thank you for your ongoing support. This is one of our most successful blogs.

The HelPus Blog reached 1000 views just 5 days ago

Mobile Operating Systems

All devices require some sort of operating system to run off of. Some have very basic operating systems, however some are more advanced. The operating system helps the device perform basic actions such as turning on and performing tasks, on a phone, these would include calling people. Smartphones run a more advanced operating system than your basic mobile phone. At the point of writing this post, there are 3 main mobile operating systems; Apple iOS, Google Android, Microsoft Windows. You may think Microsoft Windows?, there is a version of Windows for mobile and it has a very unique user experience. Some of the hardware is also very nice. Next, there is the Apple iOS. Apple iOS, is marketed by Apple as "The world's most advanced operating system". The operating system is also very easy to use and has a great home screen menu and a wide selection of apps in the app store. Lastly there is the Android operating system. What makes Android great is the fact that it is open and your device will come hardware unlocked, meaning that you can do practically whatever you want with it. There is a wide variety of apps on the app store and many are free. Android is great for Google fans.

FINAL REVIEW
Choosing one to be the greatest is quite difficult, you will have to think about what you want. If you want a very easy-to-use experience, get an iPhone (Apple iOS), if you want to be a bit more productive and want cool hardware try out Windows Phones. If you are an advanced user, or want full customization, and no limitations get an Android.