Easily Scan your decoder After the Multi TV Upgrade

Multi Tv informed it viewer that they will be doing a big Upgrade on the Systems last few weeks, Behold it came to pass and it went well as expected which made most decoders unable to recieve signal from their satellites.

Today, Lets learn how to Scan Our decoders back without the assistance of Sale agents who will charge us for doing it easily

MULTI TV RE-SCAN PROCEDURES
Follow the appropriate steps to re-scan your Multi TV Decoder if it does not scan automatically
SYNDICATED
MULTI TV HD II/ HD PLUS
1. PRESS THE MENU KEY ON THE REMOTE CONTROL.
2. PRESS THE SIDE POSITIVE VOLUME KEY >+ TO SELECT
INSTALLATION AND PRESS OK.
3. SCROLL DOWN BY USING THE DOWN CHANNEL KEY (CH-)
TO SELECT MANUAL SEARCH AND PRESS OK
4. SCROLL DOWN TO SELECT SYMBOL RATE
5. USE THE NUMBERS ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO ENTER SYMBOL RATE NUMBER 30000
6. PRESS THE BLUE KEY ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO SCAN OR TO SEARCH.
7. 10. PRESS EXIT ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO EXIT TO START WATCHING YOUR CHANNELS


DIGITAL COMBO DECODER VI/COMBO DECODER T2/S2
1. PRESS THE MENU KEY ON THE REMOTE CONTROL.
2. PRESS THE SIDE VOLUME KEY >+ TO SELECT
INSTALLATION AND PRESS OK.
3. USE CHANNEL KEY UP AND DOWN (CH+/CH-) TO SELECT OR HIGHLIGHT SATELLITE SETUP AND PRESS OK
4. SCROLL DOWN BY USING THE DOWN CHANNEL KEY (CH-)
TO SELECT MANUAL SEARCH AND PRESS OK
5. SCROLL DOWN TO SELECT SYMBOL RATE
6. USE THE NUMBERS ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO ENTER SYMBOL RATE NUMBER 30000
7. PRESS THE BLUE KEY ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO SCAN OR TO START SEARCH.
8. AFTER SEARCHING,
PRESS EXIT ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO EXIT TO START WATCHING YOUR CHANNELS.
CA PLUS SERIES 2/SC 101 S2/MULTI TV HD
1. PRESS MENU ON THE REMOTE CONTROL AND PRESS THE POSITIVE VOLUME KEY (>+) TO SELECT INSTALLATION
2. SELECT OR HIGHLIGHT DISH SETTINGS BY USING CHANNEL UP AND DOWN KEY (CH-/CH+) AND PRESS OK
3. ENTER THE DEFAULT PASSWORD (0000) TO OPEN
4. PRESS THE YELLOW KEY (Edit TP) ON THE REMOTE A PAGE WILL OPEN
5. SCROLL DOWN TO SYMBOL RATE AND ENTER THE SYMBOL RATE NUMBER 30000
6. SCROLL DOWN TO SELECT YES AND PRESS OK TO SAVE
7. SCROLL DOWN TO SELECT SERVICE SEARCH AND PRESS OK A PAGE WILL OPEN
8. SCROLL UP AND DOWN TO HIGHLIGHT SEARCH MODE BY USING CHANNEL UP AND DOWN KEY (CH-/CH+)
9. PRESS POSITIVE VOLUME KEY >+ TO CHANGE FROM AUTO TO MANUAL
10. PRESS CHANNEL UP AND DOWN KEY TO SCROLL TO
START SEARCH AND PRESS OK TO SCAN.
11. PRESS MENU OR EXIT, A PAGE WILL DISPLAY
12. PRESS NEGATIVE VOLUME KEY (-<) TO SELECT YES AND PRESS OK TO SAVE.
QC-XPLUS SERIES II/QC-XPLUS SERIES IV/QC 001 CD Cas
1. PRESS MENU ON THE REMOTE CONTROL AND PRESS THE POSITIVE VOLUME KEY (>+) TO SELECT INSTALLATION
2. SCROLL UP AND DOWN TO HIGHLIGHT DVB-S AND PRESS OK
3. ENTER DEFAULT PASSWORD (0000) TO OPEN.
4. SCROLL UP AND DOWN TO HIGHLIGHT DISH SETTING AND PRESS OK
5. PRESS THE YELLOW KEY (Edit TP) ON THE REMOTE A PAGE WILL OPEN
6. SCROLL DOWN TO SYMBOL RATE AND ENTER THE SYMBOL RATE NUMBER 30000
7. SCROLL DOWN TO SELECT YES AND PRESS OK TO SAVE
8. SCROLL DOWN TO SELECT SERVICE SEARCH AND PRESS OK A PAGE WILL OPEN
9. SCROLL UP AND DOWN TO HIGHLIGHT SEARCH MODE BY USING CHANNEL UP AND DOWN KEY (CH-/CH+)
10. PRESS POSITIVE VOLUME KEY >+ TO CHANGE FROM
AUTO TO MANUAL
11. PRESS CHANNEL UP AND DOWN KEY TO SCROLL TO
START SEARCH AND PRESS OK TO SCAN.
12. PRESS MENU OR EXIT, A PAGE WILL DISPLAY
13. PRESS NEGATIVE VOLUME KEY (-<) TO SELECT YES AND PRESS OK TO SAVE.
SC – 007 CA/ SC001 CA/SC007 CA PLUS
1. PRESS MENU ON THE REMOTE CONTROL
2. SCROLL UP AND DOWN BY USING CHANNEL UP AND DOWN KEY (CH+/CH-) TO HIGHLIGHT INSTALLATION AND PRESS OK
3. SCROLL UP AND DOWN BY USING CHANNEL UP AND DOWN KEY (CH-/CH+) TO HIGHLIGHT MANUAL SEARCH AND PRESS OK
4. PRESS THE GREEN BUTTON (TP EDIT) ON THE REMOTE CONTROL
5. USE UP AND DOWN KEY(CH-/CG+) TO SCROLL UP AND DOWN TO HIGHLIGHT ADD OR MODIFY AND PRESS OK
6. SCROLL DOWN TO SYMBOL RATE AND INPUT THE SYMBOL RATE NUMBER 30000 AND PRESS OK
7. PRESS THE BLUE BUTTON ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO SAVE AND EXIT
8. SCROLL DOWN TO START SEARCH AND PRESS OK TO SCAN.


SOMOTEX (MTV-1722)
GO TO MENU
SCROLL DOWN TO INSTALLATION (PRESS OK)
SCROLL DOWN TO MANUAL SCAN (PRESS OK)
SELECT SYMBOL RATE UNDER MANUAL SCAN
ENTER THE SYMBOL RATE 30000
PRESS THE GREEN BUTTON ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO START CHANNEL SEARCH
PRESS “EXIT” OR “OK” TO VIEW
SOMOTEX (MTV-9800J)
PRESS MENU
SCROLL DOWN TO INSTALLATION (PRESS OK)
SELECT SATELLITE LIST UNDER INSTALLATION (PRESS OK)
SCROLL DOWN AND SELECT ASTRA 2A, 2B, 2D ON THE SATELLITE LIST (PRESS OK)
PRESS “EXIT” TO SAVE
SELECT TP LIST UNDER INSTALLATION MENU (PRESS OK)
PRESS THE GREEN BUTTON ON THE REMOTE CONTROL AND SCROLL DOWN TO SYMBOL RATE
USE THE NUMBERS ON YOUR REMOTE CONTROL TO ENTER SYMBOL RATE 30000
DOUBLE CLICK “OK” BUTTON ON THE REMOTE CONTROL TO SEARCH CHANNELS
PRESS “OK” TO SAVE SETTINGS.
SRT 4920/4922/4922A/4922D+
PRESS MENU
SELECT INSTALLATION AND ENTER PASSWORD BY PRESSING 0000.
SELECT MANUAL SCAN.
PRESS THE RED BUTTON ON THE REMOTE TO SELECT SATELLITE NAME I.E. 28.2 ASTRA 1N/2A/2F.
PRESS THE CHANNEL DOWN KEY TO SELECT THE SYMBOL RATE AND KEY-IN 30000
PRESS OK TO SCAN CHANNELS
PRESS EXIT BUTTON TO START VIEWING YOUR CHANNELS.
SRT 4950/SRT 4950H/4950E/4950M/
PRESS MENU
SELECT INSTALLATION.
SELECT MANUAL SCAN AND PRESS OK.
PRESS THE SAT BUTTON TO SELECT THE SATELLITE NAME I.E. ASTRA 2(28.2E) AND PRESS OK TO SELECT.
PRESS CHANNEL DOWN KEY AGAIN TO SELECT SYMBOL RATE AND INPUT 30000 AND PRESS OK AFTERWARDS.
PRESS OK AGAIN TO TICK THE INPUTTED MULTI TV PARAMETERS.
AFTER TICKING, THE SIGNAL QUALITY BAR WILL TURN GREEN.
PRESS THE BLUE BUTTON ON THE REMOTE TO SCAN.
INFORMATION WILL POP UP REQUESTING FOR ” NETWORK SEARCH”==> PRESS OK
INFORMATION WILL POP UP REQUESTING TO “SEARCH ONLY FTA CHANNELS”? ==>PRESS OK TO START SCANNING MULTI TV CHANNELS.
PRESS EXIT BUTTON 3 TIMES TO BEGIN TO VIEW YOUR SCANNED CHANNELS.

Easily Installing Windows 7,8, 8.1 , 10 from Pen Drive

Installing Windows From pen drive was a difficult task till new softwares started to emerge, today lets learn how to install Windows from a pen drive easily

Firstly, Download PowerIso from Here

Download According to System type. That is Bit 32 or 64. You can check the Bit of your computer by right clicking of your computer and choose Properties

Open PowerIso

Go to Tools > Create bootable USB drive

Choose Sources of Your Iso File

Choose Destination Of the Files Below. (Its the Name of the Drive you will use to Install. ) Pen drive

Go to Start and You will be notified when its done

....

Airtel FBT

This trick will work on android devices. You need to follow the below given simple steps to run it in on your android device.

First of all download the Airtel 3G FBT 

Config files from the below download links. (Download links are given at the bottom of this post)

• Install Droid VPN for Android in your device.
• In droid vpn, you are required to open VPN folder and give the path of downloaded Airtel 3G Config.
• Now run and enjoy the Free Airtel BT
• 
  
• Download file HERE

How to Use Whatsapp on a Dual Sim Mobile Phone

You have a Dual-SIM Android smartphone and wanted to have both the SIM cards activated for WhatsApp, because you wanted to chat with both personal and professional contacts at the same time? there was nothing you could do for all this time, except now where a separate app can be used for your other number. It’s an app developed by one of them at the XDA Developers forum and it’s called OGWhatsApp.
Don’t get confused between OGWhatsApp and the other WhatsApp extras such as WhatsApp Plus because the latter one needs you to delete the original WhatsApp in order to function, while the OGWhatsApp acts as an independent app which doesn’t alter the functioning of WhatsApp.

Here’s the list of features of OGWhatsApp app for Android

• Use two numbers at the same time on one device
• Take a backup of data from WhatsApp and restore to OGWhatsApp
• Choose the app icon
• Copy the status of contacts
• Best feature – no need to download images or videos, can preview directly without downloading
• Needs MX Player for playing videos online
• Functioning of chat is all same like WhatsApp

How to install OGWhatsApp on Android phone

• Installing the app is just like any other app on Android, using the apk file after you allow the installation from external sources. But before installing, here’s what you need to do to make sure the data from the original WhatsApp comes to the new app too.
• Take a backup of the WhatsApp messages
• In the file manager, change the folder name of /sdcard/WhatsApp to /sdcard/OGWhatsApp
• Download the OGWhatsApp apk file (download link mentioned below)
• Now re-install WhatsApp from Play Store. Re-register the original WhatsApp account and a new account with the original WhatsApp app.
• Its Almost Done Enjoy!!

Unknown Facebook Tips

We bring your what most facebook users dont know, writing post in coloured letters is as simple as never before.just copy the word code and there you go.

TOP UNKNOWN FACEBOOK TIPS
AND TRICKS
[[107015582669715]] = A

[[116067591741123]] = B

[[115602405121532]] = C

[[112542438763744]] = D

[[115430438474268]] = E

[[109225112442557]] = F

[[111532845537326]] = G

[[111356865552629]] = H

[[109294689102123]] = I

[[126362660720793]] = J

[[116651741681944]] = K

[[115807951764667]] = L

[[106596672714242]] = M

[[108634132504932]] = N

[[116564658357124]] = O

[[111669128857397]] = P

[[107061805996548]] = Q

[[106699962703083]] = R

[[115927268419031]] = S

[[112669162092780]] = T

[[108983579135532]] = U

[[107023745999320]] = V

[[106678406038354]] = W

[[116740548336581]] = X

[[112416755444217]] = Y

[[165724910215]] = Z

Simple Steps for bathing during this Harmathan

Making Free calls from PC to Mobile.

Free pc to Phone calling application ease your eagerness when it comes to making free call from your directly from your PC to mobile phone. Without much ado, using Free pc to Phone
calling application on desktop or laptop reduces your charges when you want to make call without sufficient call card, you will be able to make call or send SMS at will. But with the help
of free pc to phone calling application on your computer or laptop computer, you will be able to make free call using free
call app on your computer without paying cent/naira/dine.

Before I shared with you few applications that can be use to make free call on your phone for free without paying any amount. And today, I'm sharing with you best app that can be used to make free pc to phone calling for free. If you
missed out the list of free call app on your mobile, do check out the list below and make free call on your Android device for free.

Free pc to Phone calling application
There are many applications that can be used as free pc to phone calling application but here in this post I will only share
with you the one I have used and still using up to this day!
Skype
Skype is my favourite voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and my first to use free pc to phone calling application on my pc that I often use to make free call within and outside the country. Before you can start to use Skype to make free call,
both parties must have the app installed on their computer afterward, registration follow where you will only have to choose your username and password and start making your free call over the internet without paying cent.

Rebtel

As a better alternative to Skype, Rebtel offers free pc to phone calling privilege without demanding a dine just like
Skype with amazing feature and free to use user friendly interface. Rebtel is available for PC, and all Smartphone.
Even with airtime on your phone, using Rebtel won't deduct just cent from your call card while using it on your mobile
devices. Just like Skype, rebtel free pc to Phone calling application can only be used with a user with rebtel app installed on their device.

Nimbuzz

Nimbuzz is another free call service that enables user to make free call from Nimbuzz mobile user to another Nimbuzz mobile user but the same service has been extended to PC user as well. As a Nimbuzz PC user, you can make free pc to
phone calling from your PC to another Nimbuzz user either from PC to mobile or PC to pc, once it’s a Nimbuzz user and there is an internet connection.

What you dont know your VLC can do.

Vlc player is undoubtedly one of the best media player around, it is not only available for Pc but also for mobile devices. To many people, vlc is only use for watching videos...
But to me, it is more than just for watching videos and i will open your eyes to three among other unique features of Vlc media player.
VLC Media Player
Now, before i proceed with those features of Vlc, i will like to Welcome you all to year 2015 and to say a big thank you for
been part of our 2014. To all readers and their love ones of ghanaloaded, May the good times & treasures of the
present become the golden memories of tomorrow. I wish you a Happiest New Year with lots of love, joy and happiness.

EXTRACT AUDIO FILE FROM ANY VIDEO FILE
By the end of this sub-topic, you will be compel to agree with me that playing video or audio is not the only uses of vlc media player. Normally, you need an audio extracting software/program to extract an audio/mp3 file from any video, but from now on, with the help of vlc you just have to
follow the below simple steps to get there.
Fire up your Vlc player
At the top left hand corner of the application, locate and click on media

From the drop-down menu from media,locate and click on
"Convert/Save" or just combine the CTRL key and R(CTRL+R)
From the new pop up window, click on the "file" tab , click on the add button and select the video file you wish to extract its audio, then click on the "Convert/Save" button at the buttom right corner of the window

A new window will pop up named Convert, locate and click on profile, scroll down the drop-down options and choose Audio- MP3, choose the location you want the file to be extracted to and click on start
Finally, wait for the extraction to complete and you will have the audio file at your chosen location
USE VIDEO AS YOUR DESKTOP WALLPAPER
You might be wondering what the F*C* is this one talking about, but at the end of this post you will know.
Fire up your VLC player
Locate and click on Tools from the tabs at the top of theapp, click on preferences

A new window will pop up, click on the video tab on the left side of vlc and select output as DirectX video output Save and reset VLC media player. But if you are using the latest version of vlc, you do need to go through all this stress

just start from below steps.
Open the video you want to use as wallpaper, right click on the video screen, go to Video and enable the Set as Wallpaper option
The video is now set as your wallpaper, but to remove the video as your wallpaper, go back to vlc and disable the Set as
Wallpaper option.

SCREEN RECORDER
This is another unique feature of VLC that most of us don't know about. To record your Pc screen, you need a screen recorder software, but if you do not have any at that time

Vlc can do the job.
You should know by now that the first step is to open your Vlc player
Click on Media>>Convert/Save>>Capture Device
Locate "Capture mode" and choose desktop from the drop-down options
Choose your desired output format and destination you want the file to be saved into, click on start to commence the
recording and Stop to Terminate recording.

Follow us on Vlc player is undoubtedly one of the best media player
around, it is not only available for Pc but also for mobile devices. To many people, vlc is only use for watching videos...
But to me, it is more than just for watching videos and i will open your eyes to three among other unique features of Vlc media player.

VLC Media Player
Now, before i proceed with those features of Vlc, i will like to Welcome you all to year 2015 and to say a big thank you for been part of our 2014. To all readers and their love ones of
rasaqtechblog, May the good times & treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow. I wish you a Happiest New Year with lots of love, joy and happiness.

EXTRACT AUDIO FILE FROM ANY VIDEO FILE
By the end of this sub-topic, you will be compel to agree with me that playing video or audio is not the only uses of vlc
media player. Normally, you need an audio extracting software/program to extract an audio/mp3 file from any video, but from now on, with the help of vlc you just have to
follow the below simple steps to get there.
Fire up your Vlc player
At the top left hand corner of the application, locate and click on media
From the drop-down menu from media,locate and click on "Convert/Save" or just combine the CTRL key and R(CTRL +R)From the new pop up window, click on the "file" tab , click on
the add button and select the video file you wish to extract its audio, then click on the "Convert/Save" button at the
buttom right corner of the window
A new window will pop up named Convert, locate and click on profile, scroll down the drop-down options and choose Audio-
MP3, choose the location you want the file to be extracted to and click on start
Finally, wait for the extraction to complete and you will have the audio file at your chosen location

USE VIDEO AS YOUR DESKTOP WALLPAPER
You might be wondering what the F*C* is this one talking about, but at the end of this post you will know.
Fire up your VLC player
Locate and click on Tools from the tabs at the top of the app, click on preferences
A new window will pop up, click on the video tab on the left side of vlc and select output as DirectX video output
Save and reset VLC media player. But if you are using the latest version of vlc, you do need to go through all this stress
just start from below steps.
Open the video you want to use as wallpaper, right click on the video screen, go to Video and enable the Set as Wallpaper option

The video is now set as your wallpaper, but to remove the video as your wallpaper, go back to vlc and disable the Set as
Wallpaper option.
SCREEN RECORDER
This is another unique feature of VLC that most of us don't know about. To record your Pc screen, you need a screen
recorder software, but if you do not have any at that time Vlc can do the job.
You should know by now that the first step is to open your Vlc player

Click on Media>>Convert/Save>>Capture Device
Locate "Capture mode" and choose desktop from the drop- down options Choose your desired output format and destination you want
the file to be saved into, click on start to commence the

Source: http://www.rasaqtech.com/2015/01/three-awesome-things-you-can-do-with.html#ixzz3P3fqFnng

Android Service Codes. (Useful)

What follows is a collection of some of the secret codes common to the Android platform. All of these would be entered through the phone dialer (just punch in the sequence as shown). Since most hidden menus are manufacturer specific, there’s no guarantee that they’ll work across all Android smartphones, but you can try them out nevertheless on your Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Sony and other devices. Be advised, though, that some of these can cause serious changes to your device’s configuration, so don’t play with something that you don’t fully understand.
*#06# – IMEI number
*#0*# – Enter the service menu on newer phones like Galaxy S III
*#*#4636#*#* – Phone information, usage statistics and battery
*#*#34971539#*#* – Detailed camera information
*#*#273282*255*663282*#*#* – Immediate backup of all media files
*#*#197328640#*#* – Enable test mode for service
*#*#232339#*#* – Wireless LAN tests
*#*#0842#*#* – Backlight/vibration test
*#*#2664#*#* – Test the touchscreen
*#*#1111#*#* – FTA software version (1234 in the same code will give PDA and firmware version)
*#12580*369# – Software and hardware info
*#9090# – Diagnostic configuration
*#872564# – USB logging control
*#9900# – System dump mode
*#301279# – HSDPA/HSUPA Control Menu
*#7465625# – View phone lock status
*#*#7780#*#* – Reset the /data partition to factory state
*2767*3855# – Format device to factory state (will delete everything on phone)
##7764726 – Hidden service menu for Motorola Droid

You can find more of these spread across the internet, and they’re usually very handy to have, even if just to show off your geekiness to your social circle.
Update x1: More codes!
*#*#7594#*#* – Enable direct powering down of device once this code is entered
*#*#273283*255*663282*#*#* – Make a quick backup of all the media files on your Android device
*#*#232338#*#* – Shows Wi-Fi MAC address
*#*#1472365#*#* – Perform a quick GPS test
*#*#1575#*#* – For a more advanced GPS test
*#*#0283#*#* – Perform a packet loopback test
*#*#0*#*#* – Run an LCD display test
*#*#0289#*#* – Run Audio test
*#*#2663#*#* – Show device’s touch-screen version
*#*#0588#*#* – Perform a proximity sensor test
*#*#3264#*#* – Show RAM version
*#*#232331#*#* – Run Bluetooth test
*#*#232337#*# – Show device’s Bluetooth address
*#*#7262626#*#* – Perform a field test
*#*#8255#*#* – Monitor Google Talk service
*#*#4986*2650468#*#* – Show Phone, Hardware, PDA, RF Call Date firmware info
*#*#1234#*#* – Show PDA and Phone firmware info
*#*#2222#*#* – Show FTA Hardware version
*#*#44336#*#* – Show Build time and change list number
*#*#8351#*#* – Enable voice dialing log mode, dial *#*#8350#*#* to disable it
##778 (+call) – Show EPST menu
These codes are specific to HTC devices only:
*#*#3424#*#* – Run HTC function test program
*#*#4636#*#* – Show HTC info menu
##8626337# – Run VOCODER
##33284# – Perform field test
*#*#8255#*#* – Launch Google Talk service monitor
##3424# – Run diagnostic mode
##3282# – Show EPST menu
##786# – Reverse Logistics Support
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Useful keyboard Tips and Shortcuts for beginners

Getting used to using your keyboard exclusively and leaving your mouse behind will make you much more efficient at performing any task on any Windows system. I use the following keyboard shortcuts every day:

Windows key + R = Run menu

This is usually followed by:

cmd = Command Prompt

iexplore + "web address" = Internet Explorer

compmgmt.msc = Computer Management

dhcpmgmt.msc = DHCP Management

dnsmgmt.msc = DNS Management

services.msc = Services

eventvwr = Event Viewer

dsa.msc = Active Directory Users and Computers

dssite.msc = Active Directory Sites and Services

Windows key + E = Explorer

ALT + Tab = Switch between windows

ALT, Space, X = Maximize window

CTRL + Shift + Esc = Task Manager

Windows key + Break = System properties

Windows key + F = Search

Windows key + D = Hide/Display all windows

CTRL + C = copy

CTRL + X = cut

CTRL + V = paste

Also don't forget about the "Right-click" key next to the right Windows key on your keyboard. Using the arrows and that key can get just about anything done once you've opened up any program.

Keyboard Shortcuts

[Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications

[Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter

[Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu

[Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)

[Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window

Alternative Ways to speed your Computer (XP, Win 7 & 8, 10)

Since defragging the disk won't do much to improve Windows XP performance, here are 23 suggestions that will. Each can enhance the performance and reliability of your customers' PCs. Best of all, most of them will cost you nothing.

1.) To decrease a system's boot time and increase system performance, use the money you save by not buying defragmentation software -- the built-in Windows defragmenter works just fine -- and instead equip the computer with an Ultra-133 or Serial ATA hard drive with 8-MB cache buffer.

2.) If a PC has less than 512 MB of RAM, add more memory. This is a relatively inexpensive and easy upgrade that can dramatically improve system performance.

3.) Ensure that Windows XP is utilizing the NTFS file system. If you're not sure, here's how to check: First, double-click the My Computer icon, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Next, examine the File System type; if it says FAT32, then back-up any important data. Next, click Start, click Run, type CMD, and then click OK. At the prompt, type CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter key. This process may take a while; it's important that the computer be uninterrupted and virus-free. The file system used by the bootable drive will be either FAT32 or NTFS. I highly recommend NTFS for its superior security, reliability, and efficiency with larger disk drives.

4.) Disable file indexing. The indexing service extracts information from documents and other files on the hard drive and creates a "searchable keyword index." As you can imagine, this process can be quite taxing on any system.

The idea is that the user can search for a word, phrase, or property inside a document, should they have hundreds or thousands of documents and not know the file name of the document they want. Windows XP's built-in search functionality can still perform these kinds of searches without the Indexing service. It just takes longer. The OS has to open each file at the time of the request to help find what the user is looking for.

Most people never need this feature of search. Those who do are typically in a large corporate environment where thousands of documents are located on at least one server. But if you're a typical system builder, most of your clients are small and medium businesses. And if your clients have no need for this search feature, I recommend disabling it.

Here's how: First, double-click the My Computer icon. Next, right-click on the C: Drive, then select Properties. Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching." Next, apply changes to "C: subfolders and files," and click OK. If a warning or error message appears (such as "Access is denied"), click the Ignore All button.

5.) Update the PC's video and motherboard chipset drivers. Also, update and configure the BIOS. For more information on how to configure your BIOS properly, see this article on my site.

6.) Empty the Windows Prefetch folder every three months or so. Windows XP can "prefetch" portions of data and applications that are used frequently. This makes processes appear to load faster when called upon by the user. That's fine. But over time, the prefetch folder may become overloaded with references to files and applications no longer in use. When that happens, Windows XP is wasting time, and slowing system performance, by pre-loading them. Nothing critical is in this folder, and the entire contents are safe to delete.

7.) Once a month, run a disk cleanup. Here's how: Double-click the My Computer icon. Then right-click on the C: drive and select Properties. Click the Disk Cleanup button -- it's just to the right of the Capacity pie graph -- and delete all temporary files.

8.) In your Device Manager, double-click on the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers device, and ensure that DMA is enabled for each drive you have connected to the Primary and Secondary controller. Do this by double-clicking on Primary IDE Channel. Then click the Advanced Settings tab. Ensure the Transfer Mode is set to "DMA if available" for both Device 0 and Device 1. Then repeat this process with the Secondary IDE Channel.

9.) Upgrade the cabling. As hard-drive technology improves, the cabling requirements to achieve these performance boosts have become more stringent. Be sure to use 80-wire Ultra-133 cables on all of your IDE devices with the connectors properly assigned to the matching Master/Slave/Motherboard sockets. A single device must be at the end of the cable; connecting a single drive to the middle connector on a ribbon cable will cause signaling problems. With Ultra DMA hard drives, these signaling problems will prevent the drive from performing at its maximum potential. Also, because these cables inherently support "cable select," the location of each drive on the cable is important. For these reasons, the cable is designed so drive positioning is explicitly clear.

10.) Remove all spyware from the computer. Use free programs such as AdAware by Lavasoft or SpyBot Search & Destroy. Once these programs are installed, be sure to check for and download any updates before starting your search. Anything either program finds can be safely removed. Any free software that requires spyware to run will no longer function once the spyware portion has been removed; if your customer really wants the program even though it contains spyware, simply reinstall it. For more information on removing Spyware visit this Web Pro News page.

11.) Remove any unnecessary programs and/or items from Windows Startup routine using the MSCONFIG utility. Here's how: First, click Start, click Run, type MSCONFIG, and click OK. Click the StartUp tab, then uncheck any items you don't want to start when Windows starts. Unsure what some items are? Visit the WinTasks Process Library. It contains known system processes, applications, as well as spyware references and explanations. Or quickly identify them by searching for the filenames using Google or another Web search engine.

12.) Remove any unnecessary or unused programs from the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel.

13.) Turn off any and all unnecessary animations, and disable active desktop. In fact, for optimal performance, turn off all animations. Windows XP offers many different settings in this area. Here's how to do it: First click on the System icon in the Control Panel. Next, click on the Advanced tab. Select the Settings button located under Performance. Feel free to play around with the options offered here, as nothing you can change will alter the reliability of the computer -- only its responsiveness.

14.) If your customer is an advanced user who is comfortable editing their registry, try some of the performance registry tweaks offered at Tweak XP.

15.) Visit Microsoft's Windows update site regularly, and download all updates labeled Critical. Download any optional updates at your discretion.

16.) Update the customer's anti-virus software on a weekly, even daily, basis. Make sure they have only one anti-virus software package installed. Mixing anti-virus software is a sure way to spell disaster for performance and reliability.

17.) Make sure the customer has fewer than 500 type fonts installed on their computer. The more fonts they have, the slower the system will become. While Windows XP handles fonts much more efficiently than did the previous versions of Windows, too many fonts -- that is, anything over 500 -- will noticeably tax the system.

18.) Do not partition the hard drive. Windows XP's NTFS file system runs more efficiently on one large partition. The data is no safer on a separate partition, and a reformat is never necessary to reinstall an operating system. The same excuses people offer for using partitions apply to using a folder instead. For example, instead of putting all your data on the D: drive, put it in a folder called "D drive." You'll achieve the same organizational benefits that a separate partition offers, but without the degradation in system performance. Also, your free space won't be limited by the size of the partition; instead, it will be limited by the size of the entire hard drive. This means you won't need to resize any partitions, ever. That task can be time-consuming and also can result in lost data.

19.) Check the system's RAM to ensure it is operating properly. I recommend using a free program called MemTest86. The download will make a bootable CD or diskette (your choice), which will run 10 extensive tests on the PC's memory automatically after you boot to the disk you created. Allow all tests to run until at least three passes of the 10 tests are completed. If the program encounters any errors, turn off and unplug the computer, remove a stick of memory (assuming you have more than one), and run the test again. Remember, bad memory cannot be repaired, but only replaced.

20.) If the PC has a CD or DVD recorder, check the drive manufacturer's Web site for updated firmware. In some cases you'll be able to upgrade the recorder to a faster speed. Best of all, it's free.

21.) Disable unnecessary services. Windows XP loads a lot of services that your customer most likely does not need. To determine which services you can disable for your client, visit the Black Viper site for Windows XP configurations.

22.) If you're sick of a single Windows Explorer window crashing and then taking the rest of your OS down with it, then follow this tip: open My Computer, click on Tools, then Folder Options. Now click on the View tab. Scroll down to "Launch folder windows in a separate process," and enable this option. You'll have to reboot your machine for this option to take effect.

23.) At least once a year, open the computer's cases and blow out all the dust and debris. While you're in there, check that all the fans are turning properly. Also inspect the motherboard capacitors for bulging or leaks. For more information on this leaking-capacitor phenomena, you can read numerous articles on my site.

Following any of these suggestions should result in noticeable improvements to the performance and reliability of your customers' computers. If you still want to defrag a disk, remember that the main benefit will be to make your data more retrievable in the event of a crashed drive.