Livingston Reporting - page 339

Access Control Systems: Physical And Electronic Access Control

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Access control systems are basically the system that holds the authority over access to a general location or resource.  The term refers to not only physical access but also technological access.  For instance, if you are looking for security around a structure such as a pool you will only provide access control information to those allowed in the area through the automatic gate.  If the security is for a technologically based system access controls systems are referring to the program that blocks certain unauthorized users while allowing access to those who are allowed to have it.

Access controls systems surround our everyday life.  At airports personal are only allowed access into parts of the airport that passengers are not.  They obtain access through a card reader which is just one type of access control systems.  Think about your daily routine.  When you access your ATM or enter your vehicle though a key pad or remote control your life is become more convenient because of access control systems that surround our daily lives.

Computer technology in doctor’s office is just one area where security and access controls are imperative.  The office must maintain confidentiality between the doctor and the patient and records cannot be accessed by just anyone. This is why you will find that information a nurse or physician enters in about you is only accessed with a swipe of a card which allows permission to access the files or a code that is entered to access information.

There are two different types of access control systems physical and electronic.  Physical access is granted because of who you are, when you need access, and where you need access too.  Devices such as keys and locks allow physical access.  As technology increases physical access is dimensioning and moving towards electronic systems.  These systems help alleviate the problems that exist with physical access such as the loss of a key and that it is hard to place restriction on the key holders access.  Electronic access allows access based on a number of criteria that if met allows access to that person.  It also helps stop people from accessing information or facilities.

This is true of our cottage association in the winter months.  Access to the cottages is only granted to administrators of the association with the correct code pressed in the access box.  You have to contact them if you need to go to your cottage within that time.  The facility is protected by a gate access system that will not grant permission to those who are not allowed to be there.  However during the spring, fall and summer we all have our own code to enter the facility.  This allows the association to keep track of who is coming and going at all times.  I love the automatic gate and access control system because I can let my kids play freely on bikes and with others without the worry of strangers entering the association.

Our world is changing and because information is becoming of a more and more sensitive it is important that we guard access to our records and physical spaces.  I never leave home without locking the doors and I never sign into my computer at work and walk away.  They are safety measures I am willing to take to ensure that my personal space and information are kept that way.  How has a control device saved you from exposing too much of yourself?

SAC Fence

Aging In Place: Accommodating Aging Parents

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As our parents age we become the caregivers to them.  With this new title we have certain responsibilities one of them being to help them in their quest to age in place.  This requires us to go through their homes and to assess their needs.  These needs will change as their health needs transform and it is our duty to help assist the remodels that are needed. Any home can be converted to meet the needs of aging adults.  A remodel of this magnitude needs to be planned for and executed on a need basis.  If your parents are able to age in place without the need of a wheelchair ramp then why would you expense this?

What accommodations can you look for as your parents continue to live in their own home to make sure their needs are met?  What each aging in place remodeling job consist of will be dependent upon the mobility and needs of those it needs to provide for. Below is a list of remodeling suggestions that might come in to play as you plan for and begin your parent’s age in place remodel.

1)      Doorways should be able to accommodate items such as walkers, wheelchairs, canes and scooters.  Doorways should be widened to at least thirty six inches, the average size of a wheelchair. The doorway floor space should be clear for at least four feet on either side for maneuverability.  Doors should also have handles that make for easy entrance and exit.  This allows for them to grasp on to the handle without having to apply pressure and turn it.

2)      The house should be all on one floor for aging parents.  Ranch style homes are more convenient for aging seniors.  Then there is no need to worry about parents using the stairs if there aren’t any.  If stairs in their home is unavoidable look into stair chair lifts.  This allows them to glide up the stairs with the use of a chair tat glides up and down the stairs.

3)      All carpet should be redone with either hardwood or carpet with a short pile.  This will allow for ease of mobility for wheelchairs, walkers and canes.  Also eliminate thresholds leading in and out of all rooms.  Many older people will tend to shuffle their feet and getting rid of thresholds eliminates the threat of tripping.

4)      Bathrooms should either consist of a walk-in tub or a shower that does not contain a threshold.  It is also important to add extra support so that hand rails can be used and braced properly.  The bathroom should be ample in size to accommodate a walker or wheelchair. Facets should be considered for their ease of use and the water temperature should be adjusted to prevent scalding.

5)      Kitchens have separate aging in place issues all together.  Think about adding timers that are wired throughout the house for when the stove is on.  Allow the stove to only be on for a certain allotted time before the timer buzzes.  This will ensure that the stove does not get left on.  If your parent is having a hard time getting around the kitchen area and providing meals hire someone to come in and cook and freeze meals that can be easily stored in the freezer and heated in a microwave.  Another option is services such as meals on wheels which offer warm meals delivered to seniors in need.

6)      Make sure closet accessories are lowered so that clothes can be easily accessed.  Drawers should be on gliders with stops so that drawers are never accidentally pulled out on to someone.

As always are main concern is for our loved ones.  We take their care personally and only want the best for them.  Most aging in place seniors are set against moving into assisted living facilities until they absolutely cannot survive on their own any longer and even then are often resistant.  These changes should be done gradually as this will help the senior in your life to adjust to the aging process and to their newly acquired special circumstances.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Equipment Loans: What Works For Your Business

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You have decided to open a business.  Whether it is a computer repair shop, a restaurant or an auto plant you are most likely not going to have the capital to pull off opening without signing loan or lease paperwork multiple times.  It is important to understand when leasing or asking for the funding form a bank is a better option.  This comes in to play a lot with equipment loans.

Do you outright purchase the goods or do you lease them from someone else?  How does it affect your finances?  Are the terms of the lease better than or equivalent to the loan payment and interest?  Pros and cons of both options will way in other decisions you need to make regarding the company so look into the details carefully.  The general rule many business owners follow is this: If the item will increase in value over time pay cash or take a loan out to make the purchase but if it will decrease in value you should lease it whether or not you have the cash available to purchase it.

When leasing an item such as a car, which will depreciate as it ages you will find the lease has terms that need to be followed and met.  This mostly helps because the financial burden will be spread to a later date.  This is helpful in starting up a firm because you are not required to have the capital up front.  With a lease much of the financial burden comes at the end.

When you purchase an item often by pursuing a loan you are taking more control over the item. This comes in to play with large items such as buildings.  When you purchase a building you take a loan out often requiring a financial down payment and then acquire the property with the loan agreement.  It is essentially yours.  You accept any increase or decrease of value for that purchase.  Purchasing an item with a loan is helpful if you expect that the item will last for an extended period of time.  This was you are not paying for it many years down the road when your business is established.

Equipment also changes frequently that is why you will often lease items that change frequently needing your company to upgrade often.  Phones, computers, cars and trucks are all examples of items that depreciate and will need an upgrade frequently.  These pieces of equipment are all examples of items it is most often better to lease than to purchase.  They wear out and frequently need to be updated because of that or advance in technology.

You will find that when looking into equipment loans and/or equipment leases that it comes down to two basic arenas – 1) cash on hand and available to spend and 2) what you qualify for.  If you don’t have the cash or the twenty percent to put down which is often needed in an equipment loan than you are going to be leaning more towards leasing until the revenue in your company picks up. Additionally if you can’t qualify for a loan because you are just beginning this venture you will be looking into leasing equipment until you can prove to financial lenders that you are a solid business risk.

Anyhow you look at it there are advantages and disadvantages.  Tax professionals might lean you one way or another so before going forward with any business decision no matter how big or small you might think it is bring in your financial gurus for their opinion on the subject.

Ask 4 Funding

The Benefits and Drawbacks To Doorwalls

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We purchased our home three years ago.  The one thing that drew us to the home is the doorwalls.  We have two large doorwalls on the main wall leading in to our home.  One is in the living room and one is in the dining room.  They are opposite a large french door.  The light in the home along with the openness of the space and a large deck were all we needed to determine we could make this place a home.  The only thing that could have made it any better is if the existing doorwalls featured blinds between the glass.

There are benefits and drawbacks to any home.  The same is true with any feature within the home.  Doorwalls are one of those features people either love because of the advantages they provide or hate because of the disadvantages.  One thing I know is that doorwalls offer the features of windows and doors which add to their attractiveness to me.

Benefits

  • Space Savers: Doorwalls use less space than doors because they eliminate the area needed to open and close the door.  This means that things can be placed close to the doorwall without interfering with the function of the door.  This is great for living spaces when you need all the space you can get out of the room.
  • Illusions:  Sliding glass doors make your space appear larger and give it the open air feel smaller living areas need and bigger areas room to breathe.   Doorwalls also lets the natural light in which gives a warm feel to the space.
  • Doorwalls are very easy to keep clean.  You need just a bottle of Windex and some paper towel unlike regular doors which require maintenance in the form of weatherization.  This could include caulking, staining or painting.
  • Doorwalls also do something no other home feature can do without sacrificing the homes efficiency and that is bringing the outdoor feel in.  The large open doorwall lets the scenic view of your landscape in without losing heat or air conditioning.

Drawbacks

  • Window Treatments: This is in the drawback category for me only because I have animals.  The main type of window treatment is vertical blinds. The animals love to run into them, bending them all up, just to look and see what is outside.  At night we close the shades so this always poses a problem.  The solution would be to purchase doorwalls featuring blinds between the glass if you have pets living with you and you want to avoid this problem.
  • Sun Damage: Often if doorwalls are left open and you are in an area that gets a lot of sun the furniture in view of the door will fade.  This is also an issue for the flooring.  The best thing to do if this is the case with the placement of your doorwall is to use throw rugs and to place furniture out of direct sunlight.
  • Replacement Parts/Maintenance: Screen doors off of doorwalls often need to be replaced and if the seal in the actual doorwalls break or a crack develops it is costly to repair.
  • Cleaning doorwalls to me is a benefit but for those of you that live in states with unbearable cold and heat might not agree.  You do have to physically go outside to clean them.  Also, it is sometimes difficult to completely clean out the tracks.  They can become littered with debris ranging from dead bugs to dirt debris and will need to be kept clean.

There are many benefits and drawbacks to the different features within your home.  Doorwalls are no different.  When choosing the features within your home you really need to consider your wants and needs.  Your family will be the ones to live in it and enjoy the benefits and drawbacks to your choices so you need to be happy with them.  In the long term I would like to purchase replacement windows and doorwalls featuring blinds between the glass.  I would totally love the luxury of not having to worry about my kids and cats tearing up the window treatments.

Heatkeeper

Kitchen Remodeling: Living Through The Misery

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Living through any type of remodeling job is most likely going to turn your life topsy-turvy but none more so than a kitchen remodeling job.  Whether you hire the job out to the professionals or you attempt it on your own the job will require much patience from the point of your family.  You will need to adjust several areas of your lifestyle to get ready for the inconvenience that you are about to experience.  Here is a general guide to living through your own kitchen remodeling job.

  • The first tip I can give you is to prepare yourself. Pretend you are going on an extended camping trip and get ready for the adventure.
  • Prepare your home by setting up a small kitchen area.  Use this space for a microwave, coffee pot, toaster, single burner and possibly a little electric grill.  Mini fridge’s area a perfect substitute for a large fridge to house items such as milk, lunch meat and yogurt.  Little items that can be used to create a meal or a snack.
  • Pack up the kitchen items you will need in clear storage containers.  The rest can be packed and stored.
  • Purchase all things disposable.  Cups, paper plates, bowls and plastic utensils that can be thrown away are a very handy thing to keep on hand.  You will not have use of a sink to wash things so the more things that can be pitched or recycled the better.
  • Shop often.  Do not purchase large quantities of food.  You will not have a space to store it. if you have a deep freezer you can prepare ahead of time for the kitchen remodel by freezing portion size meals and warming them as needed.
  • Keep dry goods on hand such as peanut butter, nuts, crackers and munch able type foods for those late night snack cravings.
  • Grilling is always a handy option during a project of this magnitude.  You can always eat out or invite yourself to dine with friends at their home.  Offer to bring the main dish.  This option is a good one as long as you keep in mind that they don’t want to have you over every night no matter your situation.
  • Make sure your contractor leaves the sink in place for as long as possible.  It is possible to function like a normal family for the most part with a sink, mini fridge, grill and single burner.
  • Make sure you take into account all the dust and noise that the construction job will create.  Animals are not going to react well to this environment.  It is also important to cover other belongings with sheets to prevent issues as you do put your home back together after the kitchen is complete.
  • Remind yourself often that this is only a temporary situation and that your marriage is a long term commitment.  Remodels are often stressful on families and can bring out the worst in us.
  • Prepare for the long term.  Many families and contractors do not supply a reasonable estimate in regards to the time commitment that people are actually looking at for a kitchen remodeling job.

The end result will be worth the effort.  The family will be able to enjoy a newly updated space to enjoy together and your home’s value will increase.  Budget for some new utensils and pots and pans that will make mom happy and trust me the whole family will be thankful to.

Jason Foldenauer Construction

Landscape Design: Trendy Landscape

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Landscaping design trends seem to ebb and flow through cycles where naturalism is in one year and the next year well manicured lawns are all the rage.  Personally I feel landscaping should reflect your personal style and be unique to each homeowner.  The inside of your home should reflect who you are why the outside shouldn’t also is beyond me.  The perfect place to begin exploring landscape ideas is by taking a “Sunday drive” exploring options of other people’s landscape design that you like and don’t like.  Make sure to document with photos and descriptions so that when you are staring at your own home you are able to visually see what you desire.

Money is tight everywhere right now.  Personally my budget for landscaping needs is very small but I still want the space to look and feel like me.  In order to do this I went for a ride in the canoe.  We are fortunate to have a beautiful river in our backyard to help accentuate our landscape design.  I was so inspired by people’s creativity.  The houses were all beautiful and the landscape of each home seemed to directly reflect the home and what I imagine the people inside were like.

There were several trends that I noticed in the homes along the river.  They all seemed to make sense to me.  People were conserving rain water, growing gardens and lit up with natural lightening. The landscapes were simple yet elegant, resourceful yet de-cluttered and beautifully natural.  Here are the things that caught my eye the most.

  • People reduced the amount of grass they needed to cut by placing large “gardens” throughout the lawn.  I saw bird house gardens, rock garden, weed gardens that were full of beautifully colored weeds and one hose which had a tire garden.  It was so neat and resourceful giving definite personality to the lawn.
  • Many gardens were full of Michigan native plants.  Being close to the water I saw many yards with cattails, loosestrife, lilies and other weeds that grow naturally with water. Many new weeping willow trees were spring up and I could tell people weren’t bending over backwards to make their lawns beautiful they just were naturally.
  • I saw several rain water collections going on within the landscape designs.  People had large containers made out of different materials that were linked to the gutters inconspicuously that would trap water for use later in the garden.
  • Many neighbors had large vegetable gardens, tomatoes, beans, squash and melon made their lawns and gardens look fabulous while also being resourceful and help to feed their families.
  • Lightening was also huge.  Solar lights and hanging garden lights illuminated the area without the use of an energy source saving money and the environment.  Often spotlights were used to emphasize trees and larger ornamental grasses.
  • Many landscape designs defiantly served a purpose.  The tire garden that I loved definitely did double work as a play/climbing area.  Hammocks were placed between two shade trees for a nap area and one yard even played double duty for a place to practice yoga. Their yards said something about their personalities.
  • Another thing I really liked is that our neighbors all incorporated the natural critters into their landscape.  Bird house, bat houses, and squirrel feeders were abundant.  Along with hummingbird feeders, butterflies, birdbaths and toad houses scattered through people’s yards.

The one thing that is truly noticeable is that people really used the resources available to them and accentuated upon the details.  It was a great site to see.  Many of the landscape designs were low key and maintenance looked routine.  I was glad I took that trip down the river because instead of bringing in land fill and building a break wall I am going to enjoy the natural landscape that surrounds my home and make it my own with the finer details.

Bladerunners Landscape

Engineering Services: Creating A Viable Society

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Civil engineering services make the world perform as we know it to. Without their engineering services we would be a civilization without organized transportation; can you imagine a world without roads, bridges and train tracks? Not only do they lay out the routes we need to follow but they develop the systems that bring us water and take away the sewage.  Civil engineers are essentially the magnets that pull our society together in the convenient and organized fashion we know it as.

How do you know if this is a field of study that interests you?  When you are interested in math, science and technology then I would suggest you further look into the field of engineering.  Civil engineering is not for everyone.  You must not only handle the aspect of engineering, the design and the appearance of projects but also have the ability to work with people to share their vision.  That is really something that takes talent.  Mixing personality with your career as an engineer will for sure help you grow within the engineering services field.

Advances in our society are due to the work of civil engineers.  The house we live in had an engineer’s hands involved.  Civil engineers help with the plan and sketches of the initial phases of most homes and buildings.  They also map, design, assemble and preserve the roads, bridges, airports and all the conveniences society enjoys in the way of transportation of our vehicle, waterways and skies.

When you are in school looking for a field of study and a career that will hold your interest look into engineering services.  It is not like a career in accounting where every day you know you are going to work to crunch numbers.  Engineering offers several different career options civil engineering is just one choice.

Civil engineers have the type of job that keeps them constantly switching activities.  You must have a very flexible attitude and role with the punches to be involved in civil engineering.  You will learn about all the phases of involved in civil engineering. Unlike most careers in the engineering services industry civil engineers work on all stages of their projects such as the planning, designing, creating, operating and maintaining the structures and building involved.

Civil engineering will always be a career in demand.  You can ensure a career if you pick a focus within the engineering field.  Unlike many fields civil engineering jobs stay in demand due to ever changing technologies and societies need to keep up.  We are always looking for better and faster ways to fill our needs.  Can you imagine as a society growing in population if our modes of transporting ourselves, our waterways and all other modern conveniences stopped growing to match? What a mess we would be in.

SRCMI

Client Retention Strategy: Keeping Clients Around

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What type of client retention strategy does your small business have?  Is client retention an area where you have let business be business?  If so you will want to rethink this.  Research has been done that proves it is more expensive for a company to search for new clients than it is to keep the ones they have coming back for their goods and services.  Now you are asking yourself how do you do that right?  Advertising to attract new clients is easy although expensive retention however is usually inexpensive but requires thought and often time.  That is what customers expect out of you though is to know that you are thinking of them and that you value their business.

In times when everyone is cutting back and budgets have begun to exist client retention strategy planning is growing in importance to your business.  In order to develop a plan that will work for your company you need to ask yourself one pertinent question, “What can you do as the owner of the business to keep current customers happy and coming back?”

Client Retention Strategy

  • Constant Contact:  There is an email program called constant contact that helps business owners keep in touch with clients.  This is one way to handle keeping in touch with clients but there are many others too.  It is important to look at your top clients and consider at least the top twenty five these are most likely the clients that pay to keep your business going.  Take time each season to call them and touch base.  Often these calls will lead to business as they will have some project they are working on that involves you.  Lunch dates can be very inexpensive but open the door to reaching your client on a much more personal level.
  • Keep In The Loop:  This is done by networking and attending events sponsored by local business groups.  When clients see you interacting with other clients of theirs this often send a message of goodwill which will only help in retaining customers.  Newsletters are a great way to your name and the firm in the minds of clients also.  Anything you can do to keep your name top of mind will only benefit client retention.
  • Make certain deals for only repeat clients.  Advertised special that eliminate repeat customers often turn away some.  Make sure all with all advertised special that you offer a deal for new clients as well as returning clients.
  • Good customers like to be remembered and surprised.  When out and about stop in with a tray of cookies or loaves of bread to snack on from other local small businesses.  If you see an order being processed for a client you have not talked to lately throw in a hand written note to let them know they are on your mind.
  • Make sure your records are current and that you have a full list of clients past and present.  A detailed log of contacts helps in keeping track of them and can instantly obtain their information when needed.
  • Take time to listen to your customers.  Remembering information about them and their families and their business will show that you care and our listening when they speak to you.

Communication is the key in client in retention strategies no matter what business industry you are in.  If you maintain client contact and abide my ethical business practices you are well on your way to having a client retention strategy that works for you.

Advise Consulting LLC

Handicapped Ramps: Temporary or Permanent?

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When thinking about wheelchair access many questions arise.  One of the first questions that clients ask is about whether the handicapped ramp should be a permanent one or only temporary.  Most often I recommend temporary handicapped ramps be installed.  This is because the need is usually temporary especially for use at ones home. Many times ramps are built to meet the need for a temporary portion of time such as a parent coming to live, or a child breaks their leg or a stroller needs easy access in and out of the home.  These are all temporary situations in which once the need is over life resumes as normal and the path way into the house does not need to be ramp form.

Permanent handicapped ramps are a beautiful addition to any home if the need is there.  If the occupant is going to be living in the home for a long period of time and is in need of a handicap ramp they can be built to blend right in with the home’s exterior  often using wood or metal as the material to build the ramp.  However, once a handicapped ramp is in place you cannot pick it up and move it.  It does not go with you.  This is one of the biggest reason people will choose to install temporary ramps.

Temporary ramps are made out of lightweight metals allowing them to be transferred easily form one place to another.  Temporary handicapped ramps come in two basic models; short or long.  The style you choose for your handicapped ramp will be based upon your individual need.  Shorter ramps are in general more portable than longer ones although the longer ones can often be turned into shockingly small sections. Also be aware the shorter the ramp the greater the angle from point A to point B.  This can be scary when talking about getting in and out of a car even with an empty wheelchair.  It is also harder to also get the wheelchair back up into the vehicle because of the steeper slope.

Longer handicapped ramps are the more desired type amongst temporary handicap ramps.  They are more expensive than shorter ramps but the extra places you are able to access will be well worth the expense.  Even thought they fold up into small packages to travel with you they are still very strong and durable.  You may find this to believe but some of the portable, temporary ramps can fold down to the size of a large suitcase and can hold upwards of four hundred pounds.

Another area where you might want to look into temporary handicap access is the threshold with in your home.  Often these barriers, which are no more than two to three inches, can be a big pain for a wheelchair to climb over.  For situations such as these it is recommended that you purchase small temporary handicapped ramps or threshold ramps depending on the size of the threshold.

Whatever the need is for your life or that of someone you love the product is available to ease the mobility issues in their life.  Small temporary wheelchair ramps ease task such as getting into the shower.  It is so much easier to wheel yourself to the upper shelf of the shower threshold and then transfer onto a bathing chair than to lift yourself a number of inches up and then over.  Help your loved one by looking into ways to ease their access and making mobility a joy again.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Computer Repair: Why Is Your Computer Running Slower Than Normal

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If you have a computer you are not unfamiliar to computer repairs.  It is inevitable that your computer will eventually run slow or not at all especially if you are a novice to technology which lets admit most of us are.  One of the biggest reasons clients bring their computers in is that they are slower than when they first purchased them.  They always want to know who or what is to blame for this.  No one wants to hear it but the problem your computer may be running slower than when you purchase it is…YOU!

Maintenance is the key in making sure your computer keeps running at peak performance. Just like your car needs regular oil changes and filter changes your computer needs tune ups to clean up the registry of old programs not in use, updates on spyware and adjustment of settings to insure peak performance.  Of course there could be more reasons for the slow down.  It is best to take the computer in to a local computer repair firm, as you would your car to a mechanic; to have it thoroughly looked at.

Other reasons that your computer may be having issues running slower than normal could be that your computer has contracted a virus. Trojans, spyware and malware may be the cause of the issue with your computer running slowly.  Spyware creates an issue where outsiders have gotten into your computer without you knowing it and start sending out personal data to entities that will take advantage of your system and cause it to run slowly.   Even if you have up to date virus protection you can still become infected it just lessens the likelihood.  Computer repair in the form of a virus scan and removal are needed and can be done at your local computer repair store.  It is also recommended that a tune up be performed on your PC at this time to regain the speed and efficiency of your computer.

You can also inspect your computer and delete files and programs that have been added that are unnecessary.  The more files and programs you keep stored on the hard drive of your computer the slower it will run.  I recommend having a separate flash drive to store big files such as pictures, word and excel documents.  The space adds up quickly.  Also, delete any unnecessary short cuts on your desk top they could be causing your computer to run at a snail’s pace.

It is important if you have tried all of the similar solutions to look at the computer’s hard drive. Run a disk defragmenter which will help optimize how data is stored and then Scandisk to help ensure nothing is actually corrupt within the drive.

Another issue that is common is that the processor is overheating.  This is common.  You will want to first make sure the cooling system in the computer, the fan, is running.  If not it will need to be shut off and taken in for the fan to be replaced.  If the fan is running look to make sure a build-up of dust is not causing an issue or that the cabinet the computer is stored in is not blocking the air flow.  I have found this happens to me when I am in bed using the laptop and forget about the heat issue.  If I set the computer on the blankets the air flow is blocked and the computer will have issues.

Memory, hard drive disk space and conflict in hardware/software are all problems that could also be responsible for the slowing down of your computer.  If you have a computer repair check all of the above and there is still issues they will most likely recommend you do an OS reload.  Basically this will consist of wiping the computer clean and reloading your operating system.  Make sure your data is backed up before doing this.  Also, this requires installation of the programs that you run on your computer.  This is basically a last resort but it will make your computer like when you first brought it home.

Creative Programs and Systems