Win XP cleanup

I have multiple old computers in My shack. All hand me downs which I've spent time cleaning up the OS of each and try to make them useable. I recently inherited an  upgraded laptop when My wife received a new one for Christmas. Its a Dell Vostro 1520 running a free download of Win10. A nice laptop with Win10 and definite improvement over My other older PC's running XP.
  My main PC is a desktop Dell dimension 2400 running Win XP. Big hard drive with plenty of room and just enough RAM to make it fairly speedy for an old PC. Last week I noticed it was no longer speedy but incredibly slow--virus? malware?. Not sure but since it has 99% of My Ham radio life on it, I wanted to attempt to save it.
  I've always known the old XP is slowly running out of time--lots of programs it no longer supports but I wasn't ready to junk it yet. I decided to try any and all means to save it. While running various virus,cleaning,malware programs I started to add Ham Radio related programs to the Win10 PC in case My attempts at saving this one were not successful. New N1MM, new loggers, sound card RTTY ,etc. During this time I ran anti-virus several times on the old XP----slow,slow slow.Painfully slow! Then tried cleaning and malware programs. Deleted unused programs and did a defrag of the hard drive and MS disk clean.The speed of the PC I noticed increasing as each program was run-sometimes multiple times. During this time I also restarted and powered down several times.One of the power cycles I took the time to open up the case and vacuum clean the dust bunnies out.Lets just say they had babies big time!!!
  I also reseated cards and memory along with various ribbon cables. After all the maintenance both software and hardware I now have a speedy( for XP) PC again.I can't pinpoint one remedy but think the combination of everything was the key. I know its days are numbered but for now its actually seems faster than before! OK-maybe wishful thinking!
  73---Tim
PS-not much to advertise but I used all free shareware programs along with Microsoft software included with XP

CQ WW 160 m contest 2017

 I've participated in this contest every year except one since 2008.Its always fun on the "gentlemans" band and if I devoted more time I'm sure I would turn in a respectable score.On the other hand if sleep is more important ( like it is for Me!) the actual operating time is limited.
  This contest start time was changed several years ago to begin at 2200 UTC instead of the 2 hour later start.Each year I manage a few contacts during the earlier daylight hours but truthfully the band is just not ready to perform that early.
  Both Friday and Saturday the QRN was very bad at My QTH with Friday being the worse. I actually listened Saturday a few hours before sunset and was hopeful for Saturday night since conditions seemed quieter. Wasn't great conditions later so didn't contest too hard either night.I mainly just wanted to keep the participation streak going ,which I did.I do think this was one of those years I was actually not hearing stations as well as they were hearing Me.Usually its opposite in I have a very quiet location.but not this time.Localized snow both nights caused the band to be noisy up north.
  Low score but good time anyway.Maybe added a few states towards WAS ?? Can only hope. As always the Gentlemans band lived up to that moniker--- only polite operators. :)
  73--Tim

Catch up time

 I've participated in contesting for many years and always enjoy the certificates earned. The CQ contests have many "certificates of merit" literally for any contest participated in. I printed a few of the better ones.Several I was in the top five in My category.Not bad. Usually only time receiving recognition is being number one! I do enjoy the "wallpaper" !
 I also took some time to catch up with QRZ logbook. not many new entries but have had several inquires about QSO's. Now I'm caught up--at least till the next contest!
  The 80m band tonight was superb.I listened to several nets in the surrounding states and everyone was booming in at "10 over 9" or more.Even checked into to local section net!
  73 for now--Tim

ARRL RTTY RU contest 2017

I really like RTTY contests. I've managed to participate in this one for several years in a row.Nice to be in the warm shack when its frigid outside. RTTY contests are unique in being almost like a video game--point and click, point and click.Relaxing,can enjoy a nice cup of coffee and still rack up contacts.
  This year the bands were definitely not as productive for DX.  The stateside stations made up for the lack of Dx activity- enough so I was only 2 QSO down from last year although because of the lack of DX my multplier totals suffered.Oh well -still fun. I managed contacts on all the bands from 80-10 although 80 and 10 were thin pickings. My money band this year was 20m and when I quit early on Sunday, it was loaded with stations. Ended with 254 contacts which is not bad for Me. I'm very happy.
  73---Tim
 

QSL in and out

 I finally sent money for supplies to the incoming W0 QSL bureau. They have been really great keeping the cards coming My way even when the amounts have been small. Great group of volunteers ! Many thanks!
  I also have been using the ARRL outgoing Qsl bureau until now.Some of the information I had set aside seemed to be old- the cost and info on what and how to send to the bureau. I printed out the new instructions and the first line that caught My eye was the price increase! I have always sent a small amount of cards and the price was very reasonable. One of the advantages of being an ARRL member. Now it appears the price is based on weight and an added $7.00 charge with each packet of cards.OK. I know everything is more expensive but -really?? I have already started looking for a cheaper solution. Until then-the cards will keep getting piled up at My shack. Maybe that's another reason why the bureau takes so long!!
  73---Tim
UPDATE-- I  inquired thru an email group I'm a member of, what other options for sending QSL cards. Just so happens this particular group has an ARRL staff  as a member too. He wrote a very nice explanation explaining why the price increase was necessary. Postage costs overseas have risen dramatically and the league probably should have raised its prices a long time ago. He also mentioned about all the worthwhile programs the league supports and why membership is so important. All in all a very nice balanced explanation. I'm still sad with the price increase---- :(