Computer Info

Computer Technology Diversified Field

2009-09-02T23:34:00.000-07:00

history of the Computer and tecnology

The technology of computer science and its development mirrors the growing number of newer fields and many sub disciplines. Generally computer science deals with anything that has to do with computers. However, due to the ultra fast, technical development and rapid growth within the last couple of decades, computer science today covers many more subjects than just computers. There are so many sub fields involved like, general computer science, media informatics, technical computer sciences, networking, internet and such like.

Schools abound that can give you the hands-on training in some of the fastest growing technologies of computer networking and network security, help-desk and technical support, and in computer and network systems administration. Two-year programs may be all that is necessary for some computer technology positions. If Network Security Specialist is your dream job, a degree in computer science can help you ensure that networks are secure from security threats.

If Help Desk Technician is your oyster, a computer technology school can teach all the ins and outs of consulting and customer support. Most computers at this time were termed "mainframes" due to the fact that many computers were linked together to perform a given function. The United States was attributed the title of pioneering the computer. This resulted in newer components and smaller sized computers. Prices dropped dramatically and computers became more affordable to the average household.

Many people say that the predecessor to the computer was the typewriter. Children are being taught basic computer skills in the classroom in order to prepare them for the future evolution of the computer age.

CD DVD Scratch Repair

2009-07-20T00:47:00.000-07:00

Many of us by now have probably managed to amass rather large and impressive collections CDs, DVDs and game discs. As these collections age questions of maintenance and recovery from scratch damage arise.

Many scratched DVD discs or other discs can simply be replaced at minimal cost and this holds true for CDs and game discs as well.

However the same can't be said for scratched discs that are original recordings of your own personal memories such as home movies and digital photos stored on discs. Also you may possess scratched games discs, scratched DVDs or scratched CDs that you can't buy any more.

The obvious answer to this is to create backups and copies of these discs before they are subjected to "wear and tear" but sometimes we forget to do that until it is too late!

So what can you do to recover the data from a scratched CD, game disc or DVD?

There are 3 main ways you can approach this problem.

The first and safest method is by using a software solution to the problem.

There are a number of specialist software products available that have DVD error correction capabilities built-in or have been specifically designed for this purpose.

Whether you are successful or not with this method depends on the degree of scratch damage the disc has sustained but it is the best because it doesn't interfere with the surface." Win or lose with this method the scratched disc is exactly the same as it was when you began.

Your second choice is to attempt to repair the CD DVD scratches by hand yourself.

There are many "do it yourself" websites and on-line videos that will show you how to use home products to repair scratched DVDs. You can use toothpaste, Brasso or even Pledge!

There is always the possible problem here of it going wrong in which case things are now worse than when you commenced! Of course if you get it right… you look like a genius!

I look at it this way: If you are the kind of person who can read instructions and follow them TO THE LETTER to get the desired result and also "conceptually" understand WHY it is done that way then you should be fine.

If you have the slightest doubt this is definitely not for you!
The final method of handling CD and DVD scratch repair is by using a CD DVD scratch repair machine.
If the software method or the "do it yourself" method haven't worked then try this final way!
Unfortunately this subject is not a simple as it appears. CD DVD scratch repair devices must perform a pretty difficult job. They are all trying to re-surface a piece of clear polycarbonate plastic to a very high standard so that a laser beam can pass through uninterrupted.
There are lots of inexpensive CD DVD disc repair machines available thet really are a waste of your time and your money.
There are three tiers of machine separated by price range and the truth is that you get what you pay for.
This doesn't mean you have to fork out over $1000 to buy an effective repair machine, but on the other hand obtaining perfect results from a $20 machine is not going to happen!
By far the most effective CD DVD disc repair machines for the home user come in at just over the $120 mark and for that price you can get a very good machine that will handle your discs well.

May be you wanna read about My Other Guide at :

When Did You Last Test Your Company Data Backup?

2009-07-20T00:44:00.000-07:00

Imagine the effect on your business. The IT system fails and everything is lost. Every single document on your network has seemingly gone up in a proverbial puff of smoke and the company is left with nothing – no records of orders, contracts, invoices, vital contacts, staff details, and payroll. Even the emails have simply vanished.

Your IT infrastructure forms the very core of most businesses I this day and age and this does not only apply to multi-national corporations but even the local home office user as well. And if you have not taken sufficient steps to cope with potential data losses then the reality is you could be putting the existence of your business at peril.

Any IT solution should not be restricted to the basics like computer support , but should also take into account business continuity planning.

Danger lurks around many corners ranging from mechanical and electronic failures, human error, to the more sinister employee sabotage and data theft. Even more unpredictable disasters can occur. Many businesses are still reeling from the devastating floods of 2007 – the type of Act of God that can hit any unprotected business.

There is a lot more interest being taken in the topic of business continuity recently, but the implementation of disaster recovery solutions has been pretty hit and miss for many companies and businesses, many of which still rely on aging tape back up technology. One of the biggest failings is testing the system that has been put in place and many companies have felt the pain of the backup simply not being available in their hour of need.

This then leads to the need for far more expensive data recovery or raid data recovery as a method of hopefully retrieving vital data.

Many companies are now investing in remote data backup models as part of their business continuity strategy as these have a number of significant advantages.

For example, remote backup does not rely on restoration from tape devices, but instead lost data can be accessed almost immediately directly from a secure location regardless of the time of day or even where you are trying to access the data from. So there is no worry that the backup did not work or the tape was possibly faulty, or even that the backup device has failed and you can’t get a model that can read your tapes.

If you have not yet implemented a disaster recovery plan for your business then you should put this high on your business agenda. Could your business survive if it were to lose all the client records on your CRM system or financial data from your accounts package. Don’t forget the cost is not purely the loss of data but also the lost business that may ensue as well as the time and resource to get things back on track.

And of course on a final note, once you have implemented a business continuity plan make sure you test it to make sure the plan is robust in a real environment.

For more help and advice visit the data recovery Manchester website.

Computer Security and Virus Protection 101

2009-07-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

You must have current and effective anti virus protection when surfing the web. In fact, surfing the net without anti virus protection is like walking through a hospital without having an immune system. There are threats in the thousands from minimal nuisances, like pop ups and add banners to very severe viruses and worms that can completely and permanently disable vital functions, such as Internet browsers, parts of hard drives, destroying even the best of computer brands, including, Dell computers as well as important data.

There are many different types of malware and viruses, as well as different types of security software that can protect, detect and remove these threats. The best anti virus software will have real-time or drive-by virus and malware protection that will alert to and block malicious sites and downloads when surfing the web. There are many cheap virus softwares that are very effective at preventing virus infections.

Malware is basically any malicious code and is the umbrella under which all viruses, spyware and other bad codes fall. Malware is the term under which all Internet dangers fall, such as viruses, worms, spyware, adware, phishing, tracking cookies and rootkits.

2 Great Virus Threats to Computers
Viruses

Computer viruses range from intermediate to severe in danger levels.There are tons of different viruses with new ones being born everyday. Viruses are malicious pieces of code that download to computers and existing programs. Viruses on computers can spread quickly and cause lots of damage. Including potential destruction of operating systems and data. The Trjona viruses comes in several forms and is some of the most dangerous viruses in history. The Conficker virus is the latest of major threat viruses to computer security.

Computer viruses can cause all types of havoc, including destruction of vital processes and data.
Rootkits

Rootkits are very dangerous because they can hide from innefective virus software and the user. Rootkits create stealth program codes that run at a lower level than the user can see with most below average anti virus software.

Since not all anti virus programs are capable of protecting against rootkits it is important to look for such protection when considering a computer security suite.

One thing to keep in mind is to never surf the Internet or have an open connection to the Internet without a solid computer security virus protection suite installed, up to date and running on your PC. Prevention, early detection adn removal are the best defenses against computer threats. A good anti virus software has an accurate and up to date virus database and can detect, quarantine and remove malware efficiently. Another crucial

It is much more difficult to remove viruses if infection occurs than to protect against it. This is why it is crucial to have real-time or drive-by protection. This is essential as a real time scan is always running when surfing the web that will alert you to and block bad sites from adding viruses to your computer. This is not always standard with all anti virus software and should be a part of any good virus protection suite. Prevention with anti-virus and Spyware software is key to keeping your computer secure and safe from malware.

The Importance of a Windows Registry Cleaners

2009-06-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Like most individuals, you more than likely enjoy using your PC and have made it a part of your daily activity. Whether you rely on it more for entertainment, business or a mix of the two, your PC is undoubtedly something that you want to last as long as possible. It is therefore imperative that it performs effectively. Do you take the necessary steps to maintain the quality of your computer?

One of the best ways of maintaining a computer is by using a registry cleaner. There are a vast amount of Registry cleaners available and they can be easily found by searching through the internet. Registry cleaners are designed to be user friendly and to be effective tools to perform regular and scheduled maintenance on your computer. Even though these programs are readily available, a lot of people still don't use them. Indeed, a huge number of computer owners fail to do any form of regular maintenance at all on their PCs.

When it comes to the proper functioning of your computer, its registry is one of its most important components. A PC's Windows Registry is a database where important settings, vital files and Microsoft Windows options are stored. Over time, and with consistent use, most of these files become corrupt and damaged. When this happens, a decrease in a computers performance will be fairly noticeable.

As a computer's registry becomes compromised, the PC will begin experiencing many annoying issues. It may begin to crash frequently and without warning, usually right when you are in the middle of something very important. Startup may become a very slow and sluggish process. Error messages may begin popping up frequently and at random. Its overall speed will begin to slow down, leaving you quite aggravated.

Many computer users take this degradation as a matter of course; they assume that as a computer gets older, it simply quits performing as well. Nothing could be further from the truth, though. The fact is, the Windows registry is usually to blame, and the problem is easily solvable - and is actually even preventable. A person does not have to have a deep understanding of the windows registry in order to use the registry cleaner programs available today.

Registry cleaners help simplify the process of cleaning your PC's Windows registry. If your Windows Registry is already corrupted, running a registry cleaner will identify and repair the registry errors. Going forward, this kind of program can run regular scans and regularly check your PC's registry, keeping errors from occurring in the first place. Within a short amount of time, you will see dramatic effects thanks to using a registry cleaning product. Pick a suitable registry cleaner today, and improve your computers performance immensely.

For more information on the the Best Registry Cleaner programs, Make sure you visit Patrick Trader's Comprehensive Windows Registry Guide.

Basic Computer Terms RAM & Hard Drive Explained

2009-06-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

what computer memory

When it comes to a computer, there are so many basic computer terms that people find confusing such as RAM, mhz, gb and morethat leave people confused and asking questions like "What is RAM?", "What's hard drive?".

Having a better understanding of some of the lingo can help empower you with computers, and ultimately get more out of them.

A lot of people I talk to seem to be apologetic about their lack of knowledge. It's too bad people feel that way; they really shouldn't.

What I tell them is that while they may not know as much as I do about computers, it's really not their fault, and they probably know a lot of other things I know nothing about. All you need is someone who takes the time to explain things to you in a way that makes sense. One term many people confuse is memory (also known as RAM), and hard drive storage space.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory (relax -- you don't have to memorize that). It is a temporary working space the computer uses to get work done, which gets emptied when the computer is turned off.

Think of it like a work bench or table. You have a project you're working on and you do your project on the bench and when you're done, you clear it off.

The hard drive is the main place your computer uses to store information. It looks like a rectangular metal box about 3.5" wide (or 2.5" on a laptop), which contains a non-removable disk. It is the disk inside the drive which stores everything.

Think of it as a cupboard where you store the tools or materials for your project -- when you want to work on something you choose the things you need from the cupboard, put them on the bench and work on the project. This is like when you run a program; the computer loads the program from the hard drive into memory.

So the larger the space, the more you can store -- i.e. the more programs you can have installed, the more songs or pictures or videos you can save on your computer.

Many people accidentally call their computer (the big box-like thing hooked up to the screen) a hard drive, but this is based on a misunderstanding. Both RAM and the hard drive are parts located inside of the computer, and most people never actually see these parts.

Most people with a computer made in the last few years have a ton more room than they'll ever have any hope of filling. Few people ever fill them up, unless they are downloading a lot of larger files such as music or pictures, or especially video files. Saving entire films on your computer can really eat up space very quickly.

If someone tells you need more memory, or or you get an error message about not having enough memory, this usually means you don't have enough RAM. This can slow your computer down drastically.

Think of the table idea again: if your bench is very small, you can't fit everything you need on it to get your work done, so you're constantly wasting time moving stuff off and back onto the table to get your work done, if you can even get any work done at all.

Both RAM and hard drive space are measured with the same terms: kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), and gigabytes (GB). This may be one reason people confuse the two pieces of jargon.

So why is it that you buy a computer one year that has a lot of RAM, and two or three years go by, why do people tell you you don't have enough memory? This is because each year the average size of software, and the amount of memory it needs, gets larger. It's as if the tools you use on your workbench keep growing every year so you eventually have to get a larger bench.

If your computer seems to be running more slowly recently, or you've been having odd errors, it could be that you need to add more memory, which is inexpensive and can add life to your computer. It's not a cure-all for a slow computer, but it can help more than you'd think, depending on the situation.

Remember, basic computer terminology doesn't have to be baffling, just as long as the explanation makes sense!

Want A Good Technology Job? Create A Great Resume Objective

2009-06-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

The first part of the resume that prospective employers will see is the resume objective. As a result, this is clearly an important part of the resume creation process that deserves attention. The resume objective is so important that it can be the element that convinces a prospective employer to either toss your resume to the side or convince them to continue reading to find out why you are the best person for the job.

When writing a resume objective, there are some guidelines that you need to make sure that you follow in order to be sure that it is as strong as possible. First, you need to be aware of the most common mistake that many people make when writing a resume objective. This mistake is creating the objective from their own point of view rather than the point of view of the employer. Certainly you have goals that you wish to accomplish and needs that should be met, but when you are looking to land a job you must make sure that you write a resume objective with the employer's point of view in mind.

Ideally, you want to demonstrate to the employer through the resume objective why you are the best person for the job. What do you have that will add value to the company or the organization? What causes you to stand out from another canditate? The real key when writing your resume example is to show the prospective employer how your unique skills and experience can help them.

You also need to make sure that you avoid focusing just on yourself when writing the resume objective. Certainly you wish to advance your career and meet your salary requirements, but when writing the objective section of the resume you must make sure that you keep the objective focused on what you can do for the company and not the other way around.

Also, try to make sure that your resume objective is unique. Strive to stay away from cliche objectives that have been used over and over. Show some initiative in writing a clever and unique resume objective and you may just be rewarded by receiving a call for an interview. On a last note, really try to avoid resume objectives that are really generic and broad. Such objecive types appear as though you don't really care what type of job you are hired for and this is a definite turn off to potential employers.

Slow Computer Advice

2009-02-23T11:30:00.000-08:00

If you have a slow computer this article might interest you. I have been helping my neighbor working on cleaning up his computer . The first thing I noticed was that there were three different versions of software to speed up internet connection or optimize a PC . A great deal of programs when installed have an option to load at start up and you really only want them to load when you are using them.

Hp Printer Options and Picture Software
Adobe Acrobat
MSN Messenger
Weather Bug
Internet games
Cd Writers
Tool bars
Just be aware of what is loading.

When I finished with my neighbors PC he had none and he is pleased as punch with the computers improvement . The next step I go through is removing unused and unwanted software . It is unbelievable how much advertising type software comes loaded on a PC you buy in the stores. This so far is really the basics and the crucial points that will increase your computers speed. Now, wait a few days or weeks and use your computer and if you are happy with it clean out the recycle bin . Then go to the Programs Menu and Accessories and do a disk clean up and then a defragment of your computer drives and you will be in good shape.

Good Software for Speeding Up a Slow Computer and Configuration Assistance I have been using the Registry Easy program for a while now and really like it. I monthly scan my PC and it stays real nice and fast because the directories are clean . This program will also take care of spy ware and has many good options for computer optimization . This is a good choice for a novice PC user to help keep their computer fast and efficient.

How To Choose a Computer Mouse

2009-02-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

Tracking Technologies

Mechanical mice - Mechanical mice were the first ones used on computers, and can still be found for sale, despite the advances of tracking technologies. These mice feature a hard ball on the underside that rolls as the mouse is moved, and rollers inside the mouse allow the physical motion to be translated to the pointer on the screen. Optical mice - Optical mice replace the whole ball/roller assembly of mechanical mice with a beam of a light and an optical sensor. Optical mice have several advantages over mechanical mice. Although mice generally aren’t heavy, the elimination of the ball and roller mechanism allows an optical mouse to be much lighter than a comparable mechanical mouse. A clean desktop is generally good enough, but those looking to take the precision of optical mice to the highest level may opt for a performance “mousing surface”. Laser mice - Laser technology is the latest and greatest in computer mice tracking, and takes the advantages of optical to a new level.

Most of the attributes of a laser mouse have been described in the optical mouse section, except for one. The Logitech MX1000 laser mouse may be the mouse for you if you are looking for extreme precision. PS2 - PS2 mice were the standard for a long time, as all motherboards provided two PS2 ports for connecting a keyboard and a mouse. It seems that just about any mouse now uses USB to connect, whether it is a wired mouse, or any variety of wireless mice that we are about to look at.

Wireless Connection Technologies

This generic wireless mouse operates on the 27MHz frequency and the mouse itself is powered by AAA batteries which are not included. The A4Tech ND-30 RFID wireless mouse must be used with the included mouse pad in order to function, but there are no batteries in the mouse, and no cords on the mouse to get in the way. Features
Buttons – Most mice (except for a Macintoch’s) include at least two buttons.

How to Buy a Computer Monitor

2009-02-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

Most monitors used in personal computers display text, graphics, and video information. Technology of monitor.
CRT monitors

Flat-Panel Monitors
When purchasing a computer monitor it is important to know if you want a CRT monitor or a Flat Panel monitor.
CRT Monitors. A CRT monitor is similar to standard television. Like televisions, CRT monitor size is measured diagonally, in inches, across the front of the screen. Flat Panel / LCD. A flat panel monitor is also called LCD monitor. Flat panel monitors are available with different sizes such as 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 23 inches. Active Matrix LCD
Passive Matrix LCD
Resolution
The quality of monitor screen depends on its resolution, which is generally proportional to the size of screen.
15" monitor typically has a resolution of 800 x 600 / 1,024 x 768
17" monitor typically has a resolution of 1,280 x 1,024
19" monitor typically has a resolution of 1,280 x 1024
21" monitor typically has a resolution of 1,600 x 1,200.

If you want Detail About Computer Monitor Please cek at Lcd Flat Monitor

Notebooks - Go Mobile With Your Computer

2009-02-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Epsom and IBM introduced the first laptop in 1983. At present the market is flooded with many brands that offer laptops with excellent features and competitive prices.The introduction of Windows 95, which is compatible with notebooks, completely revolutionized the world of laptops, which could now tough Competition to personal computers. Notebooks now consumes less energy and can store large amounts data.Notebooks can be classified into three categories based on their weight, thickness and size. Mainstream laptops weigh between 5 and 7 pounds (2.3-3.2kg) with a screen size of 14.1 or 15.4 inches diagonally.

Desktop replacement are large, bulky notebooks weighing around 5-7 pounds and more than 1.5 `` thick, with relatively low battery capacity, but powerful components and screen size as large as 17 -- 20 inches (13 `` `` x11) diagonally. Thin and light notebooks weigh between 5-7 pounds and 1 - 1.4 thick with a `` screen size 11-14 `` x 11 `` while subnotebooks Ultra Portable weighs less than 4 pounds and are less than 1, 3 thick with a `` screen size `` 11 `` x10. Thin and light notebook computers might not have drives.Notebook perform as a processor desktop processors. Notebook processors have a direct impact on battery life and performance of the team.

The size of the RAM varies with different notebooks. Optical drives are vital in the case of laptops. The performance of PC games and 3D graphics will be determined by the graphics processor for portable computers come with four cells, 6 cells, 8 cells and batteries.Normal battery life is 2 to 3 hours. In general, the larger the laptop, the lower battery life.

Get the Most From Your CRM Software

2009-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

If you have a company that has more than a few customers, you probably know about CRM and the software that you can use to do this. How much do you know about the concept of customer relationship management and how many tips and tricks he has learned about your software, however, can have a big effect on how much you can do for the people who depend on you for goods or services . There are several different types of software, and one of the most popular open source is. This allows more changes to be made so that you can get something that really works for your company and can be customized. If all you need do is keep track of the names, addresses and emails, you do not need something so elegant and full of features such as a company in which those interested in following up on purchases, returns, and calls to customer service, in addition to the names and other identifying characteristics.Not everyone likes to track their information or to register, but there is little we can do about that in today's world. You can try to help their customers and make them more loyal, however, for inconveniencing them as little as possible. By storing information that in fact the least problematic when they call customer service with a problem, because what they bought, and when he arrived and any other relevant information is already available through CRM. Which makes it ideal for customers who are having any problems with their products or services, as they can call or e-mail to the company and get their questions without having to continually provide the same information again and again each time you or call different people if they are transferred. This is one of the biggest benefits of CRM from a customer's point of view. From a business point of view, CRM makes things easier and faster.To make the most of your software CRM, you have to know what they can do. Some software programs are capable of much more than others, so you have to pay attention to what you are getting. Not always the judge of CRM software choice only on price. Instead, pay attention to the features that you are receiving and the options that you have to improve in the future.

Important Facts About Scanners

2009-02-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

1. Using scanners modern image sensors, such as:

• loading-coupled device (CCD) or

• Contact Image Sensor (CIS)

2. Older drum scanners use a photomultiplier tube as the sensor.

3 image. Rotary uses a CCD scanner for selection in place of a photomultiplier. Rotary scanner is used to express the scanned document. This is another kind of drum scanner.

4. Planetary scanner takes pictures of books and documents.

5. 3D scanners are used to produce three-dimensional models of objects. Another category of scanners: Scanners Digital Camera is a camera for reproduction. It becomes an attractive alternative to ordinary scanners. The disadvantages of this scanner are: • • • • distorted reflection shadows under contrastSome of the advantages are speed • • • portability smooth scanning of documents without damaging the thick book scanned spineThe new development combines 3D scanners with digital cameras.

This is to ensure that: - full-color photo-realistic 3D model objectsFlatbed scanners have a glass with a bright light. An opaque cover decreases over to cover the ambient light. retrieval of information from the application of the scannerThe physical connection to the scanner ComputerThe amount of data collected by a scanner can be very large. The latest scanners can collect this data volume in seconds. It desirably fast connection.The four connections used by Scanner

1. Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

2. Fire WireApplication application programming interfaces should be able to communicate with scanners, such as Adobe Photoshop. There are different scanners and scanner each has different protocols. To simplify the implementation of programming, application programming interfaces were made. Therefore, the API provides a uniform interface for the scanner.

A Computer Firewall is Your Primary Defense Against Virtual Attacks

2009-02-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

If you have any personal information on your computer at all and access the Internet it is vitally important that you consider the benefits of a computer firewall. Many people lock their homes, lock their cars, keep a watchful eye on their children, and yet leave the bank accounts, personal information, and all kinds of other information vulnerable and exposed through their personal computers.

A virtual attack can be just as devastating financially and emotionally as someone breaking into your home. The information we have on our personal computers is staggering in terms of personal security nightmares and yet so many people take no steps to secure this information from prying eyes by investing in a simple computer firewall.

The amazing thing is that you can even find free computer firewalls available online if you know where to look. I highly recommend paying for a computer firewall though if you have little knowledge of the inner workings of your computer. A computer firewall isn’t just a nice thing to have on your computer; it is a vital line of defense for you and your family. Remember you want to have a service that will provide updates and keep up with evolving technology that would harm your computer or steal your personal information.

How Can I Trace an Email?

2009-02-07T06:58:00.000-08:00

Copyright (c) 2008 Ed OppermanI'm a private investigator and see this question in line every day. In general, a good person is going about his normal life has received a disturbing e-mail message. They do not recognize the sender's identity and who want to identify exactly who the email sender is. This makes my job interesting. Now usually when I see the question "How do I trace an e-mail?" The answer is something along these lines: first you need to get the email headed enter your e-mail account and click on your configuration. Then you need to get the IP address of the headers and run on a track where to find the senders ISP.Well that the great advice if you want to find the senders Internet service provider, but usually want to know who the hell said that Sleeping with your husband! Often the question is answered by a team of experts more interested in the technique # s intellectual property and not a professional researcher interested in locating and identifying a real person. If you do not exist or is fictitious, of course, then move the information on.Next can try to put an email address in the search engine and see if anything turns up there.

If you have tried these methods and there is still an answer that you need to hire a professional in search of people and someone who specializes in tracking e-mail and online investigations.There are more and more professional investigators who have had the time and cost to educate themselves on the issue and get the proper training to conduct such research. But you should exercise caution in the line of Sleuth software scams that promise miraculous results. A professional e-mail report traces can take weeks. Therefore, one can not expect some instant search online to offer the exact information you need.

Benefits of Video Analytics

2009-02-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

Video of Google Analytics is one of these new technologies. Also known as intelligent video surveillance (IVS), video analysis software is used to analyze video feeds and alert security personnel when necessary. Video Analytics provides many benefits. The following are some of the benefits of Video Analytics.In Depth AnalysisAdvanced video camera network analysis software is able to analyze video feeds to deeply, to a level impossible to human eyes. The software analyzes not only an entire image, but it breaks the image pixel by pixel. Even the smallest changes in the image can be picked up by the software. Real-Time, Automated Video MonitoringDespite the depth of analysis provided by the software, all of this monitoring is done in real time. Amazingly accurate surveys of video data without time lag at all: that the mighty! Unlike security personnel, the software is always at work, never gets tired, never has a break.

Decrease Cost of LabourIn fact, through the use of video analysis can actually reduce their need for security personnel. With the computer at work, can reduce the number of staff that have to do nothing more than watching the monitors, and the focus of his security staff to field workers and care of potential threats first hand Not from behind a video screen.Motion detection of objects and RecognitionThe advanced video technology of Google Analytics can perform a number of useful functions. Many versions of video analysis of network camera software are also capable of recognizing objects. If not, or if you want to buy better software, the third of video analysis software can also be purchased. Then it is a simple matter of installing to your system and you are off and running with your new, super-power-based intelligent video analysis of video surveillance system!

Ciomputer Running Slow?--you Can Fix it Easily

2009-02-04T19:43:00.000-08:00

After having been used for some time all Windows computers will have problems. The machine will slow down and freeze or crash occasionally. Well, I can tell you what the problem almost certainly is and how to fix it quickly and easily.In the vast majority of cases the problem is with the computer log. All the windows computers from Windows 95 have a record. It is a bank of information used by the Windows operating system to manage the team and programs.Every time you use the machine data is stored in the registry. During a period of time a lot of unwanted tickets accumulate in the registration of a lot of space occupancy. Much of this is outdated and no longer needed.

There are parts of programs that were never completely biased and uninstall programs you install tried unsuccessfully in the past. Spyware installed without your knowledge and fragmentary data of many types also is the swelling of his registry.What you need is a simple way to get rid of all this unwanted data in your computer registry. Fortunately, there is an easy way to accomplish this. A application registry cleaner will run a free scan of your computer to find out what the problems might be. You will be shown a list of these problems for free. You can then make a decision as to what he wants to do about these problems. You can enter the record you and remove unwanted material manually.

Your computer has a feature called Regedit installed. You can repair your registry with this. It's really easy.If you can not do it yourself, the application registry cleaner will do for you, for a very reasonable price. If you delete some of these entries, which can make the computer inoperable or prevent programs from running their properly. Unless have enough knowledge to know what is essential and what can be removed, no attempt to edit the registry. It is much safer to use a registry repair program that can do the job quickly and safely. A good registry cleaner program Backup your registry so that it can be restored if needed. Your computer will revert to maximum speed and will be the same as new.The first thing to do is get a free scan of your registry to find problems. There are a record number of repair applications available on the Internet.

Registry Smart Review - The Necessity of a Good Registry Cleaner

2009-02-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, the computer boot too slowly. The registry cleaner is software that helps to eliminate redundancy and unwanted information stored in the Windows registry. Apart from having no valid files, the registry could also be other sources of problems such as invalid paths for all applications, shortcuts, invalid, incomplete information startup, drivers problematic, incomplete system fonts and invalid entries . The best way to go is to get a good registry cleaner such as the Secretariat to manage its Intelligent problem. Register intelligent addition to being a registry cleaner is also a software that will help Kernel32 DLL Error-fixing and Access Violation fixing. The software helps in the following applications:

1. Fixing the errors start and run time errors.
2. The removal of files invalid, duplicate files and invalid application paths registry.
3. Cleaning the registration and correction of file paths, and registry paths.
4. Repair any installation errors, incomplete uninstalls, corrupted files, etc
5. Fixing errors in Internet Explorer, as well as scripting errors.
6. The elimination of any invalid DLL files, applications and ActiveX OCX files.
7. To make all these applications, registry smart aid in the elimination of any problems with the Windows registry and helps to improve the functioning and efficiency of their PC.

Apart of these, the Secretariat Smart also offers the possibility of improving their security team and provides a backup feature. It also has an application known as a boot manager that helps to prevent or to allow some other applications to load automatically when the computer is launching a feature that helps in improving the speed at which the computer starts and Applications start in all function.
All, registry key Smart is a good key in the registry cleaning application that helps in improving your PC's performance and prevent problems you may experience such as frequent crashes or freezes your computer or poor performance in launching or its operation.

Tips For Buying The Right Laptop Computer

2009-01-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

Simple Tips To Buy A Laptop

Different computer features offer potential laptop users a vast world of technology based ideas to accomplish a given task. Begin by thinking of your ideal laptop computer size. In particular, a notebook’s size affects two main factors of your next laptop decision: its ability to be carried around easily and its display screen size. With screens exceeding 17 inches, some of the available laptops do not loose anything when compared with desktops. In case this will be your principal computer system, it is wise to select a larger hard drive that will accommodate all your software programs and files –purchasing a laptop with 60 GB RAM or more is the perfect solution in this case.

If you are now planning to use your portable computer unit as a graphic designer’s tool or digital photographer’s database unit, then you will need as much memory as a laptop can hold. Build-in network connections will allow you to be always accessible and will ease your overall laptop experience.

Detail For Cek

1. SIZE

The size of a laptop affects two key areas: portability and display size.
Today, some laptop displays exceed 17 inches, rivaling the display size of many desktop systems.

2. HARD DRIVE

Speaking of size, what about the size of the hard drive? If the former, you should look for a bigger hard drive - 60 GB or more.

2. MEMORY

If your needs are somewhat mundane - email, spreadsheets, word processing, etc. - 256 MB of RAM should be plenty. On the flip side, if you're an aspiring mobile digital photographer or videographer, you should stuff your laptop with as much RAM as it can hold.
In fact, exactly how much RAM your laptop can hold may in part drive your purchase decision.

3. NETWORK CONNECTIONS

Connected to the Internet, connected to a corporate network, connected to a wireless network, connected to a home network, connected to an online service.
Your life will be easier if you buy a laptop that includes built-in means to connect to them all.

4. PRICE

If you're considering a laptop, you're probably wondering how much money you'll need to spend.
Laptop prices have come down, to be sure. However, a laptop still represents a fairly major purchase for most people.

Is Your Laptop or Home Computer Wireless Enabled?

2009-01-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

Built in wireless capabilities are becoming almost standard equipment on most laptop and home computers these days for a couple of reasons. If you're like most people you probably can't even check how much memory your computer has, let-alone if your computer is wireless enabled. Throw in the fact that you may not even know what wireless networking is and it's easy to ignore even trying to determine if your computer has that capacity.

Laptops - Intel Centrino Mobile Technology

If you have Intel Centrino Mobile Technology then your computer should have a "Centrino" sticker on it somewhere. Right click on your "My Computer" icon. It's probably on your desktop but if not then go to your Start Menu, find My Computer, right-click and select Properties. On a side note, Intel Centrino Mobile Technology also increases battery life and allows manufacturers to build computers smaller. If you can't find anything referring to Intel Centrino Mobile Technology under the word Computer -- don't worry because as long as your laptop has a free card slot, installing wireless is a piece of cake.

Desktop Computers

If it's there then you are wireless enabled. On the other hand, if there's nothing then it's still possible that you have a wireless device in the computer, especially if you purchased anytime in 2005 or beyond. Using Windows to Check Wireless Capacity
To use it, right click My Computer / Choose Manage / and then click Device Manager.
If there's anything else there, it could be a wireless device.
If it turns out to be a driver problem, you should insert the driver CD that came with your computer. The first step would be to go to website of your computers manufacturer and do a search for the name of the wireless device that showed up in your Device Manager.

Get the Most From Your CRM Software

2009-01-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

If you have a company that has more than a few customers, you probably know about CRM and the software that you can use to do this. How much do you know about the concept of customer relationship management and how many tips and tricks he has learned about your software, however, can have a big effect on how much you can do for the people who depend on you for goods or services.

There are several different types of software, and one of the most popular open source is. This allows more changes to be made so that you can get something that really works for your company and can be customized. However, there are other CRM software applications that also work very well, and much of the determination as to which one is best which comes from a person or company needs and how well a particular piece of software can be thought of working for a specific application. If all you need do is keep track of the names, addresses and emails, you do not need something so elegant and full of features such as a company in which those interested in following up on purchases, returns, and calls to customer service, in addition to the names and other identifying characteristics.Not everyone likes to track their information or to register, but there is little we can do about that in today's world. Most people have to deal with what is offered to them. You can try to help their customers and make them more loyal, however, for inconveniencing them as little as possible.

By storing information that in fact the least problematic when they call customer service with a problem, because what they bought, and when he arrived and any other relevant information is already available through CRM. Which makes it ideal for customers who are having any problems with their products or services, as they can call or e-mail to the company and get their questions without having to continually provide the same information again and again each time you or call different people if they are transferred. This is one of the biggest benefits of CRM from a customer's point of view. It's easier than is required to provide the same things over and over again, which can quickly become tiresome and aggravating. From a business point of view, CRM makes things easier and faster.

To make the most of your software CRM, you have to know what they can do. Some software programs are capable of much more than others, so you have to pay attention to what you are getting. Not always the judge of CRM software choice only on price. Instead, pay attention to the features that you are receiving and the options that you have to improve in the future. You really get what you pay for, so be careful that you have paid for what they really want and need, not only now but in the future. This will help a lot, but it also helps its customers and keep more loyal to you and your business.

Important Facts About Scanners

2009-01-20T06:36:00.000-08:00

A scanner is a device that has achieved telephotography. These days, there are different scanners that are sold in the market.A scanner is an input device that: - scanned images print-text-prints-prints handwriting an object and converts it to digital-scanners imagesKinds of scanners drum with a rotating drum has a photo-detector in a standard speed of 60 or 120 rpm. - Scanners or desktop level scanners are in the office are common examples of scanners. Documents are placed in the window for scanning hand-held scanners .- are moved by the handheld devices. Flat designs are not practical.What these scanners for use:

1. Using scanners modern image sensors, such as: • loading-coupled device (CCD) or • Contact Image Sensor (CIS)

2. Older drum scanners use a photomultiplier tube as the sensor.

3 image. Rotary uses a CCD scanner for selection in place of a photomultiplier. Rotary scanner is used to express the scanned document. This is another kind of drum scanner.

4. Planetary scanner takes pictures of books and documents.

5. 3D scanners are used to produce three-dimensional models of objects. Another category of scanners: Scanners Digital Camera is a camera for reproduction.

It becomes an attractive alternative to ordinary scanners. The disadvantages of this scanner are: • • • • distorted reflection shadows under contrastSome of the vantages are speed • • • portability smooth scanning of documents without damaging the thick book scanned spineThe new development combines 3D scanners with digital cameras.

This is to ensure that: - full-color photo-realistic 3D model objectsFlatbed scanners have a glass with a bright light. retrieval of information from the application of the scannerThe physical connection to the scanner ComputerThe amount of data collected by a scanner can be very large. The latest scanners can collect this data volume in seconds. It desirably fast connection.The four connections used by Scanner1. Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) 3. Fire WireApplication application programming interfaces should be able to communicate with scanners, such as Adobe Photoshop. There are different scanners and scanner each has different protocols.

Need Of Home Computer Security

2009-01-18T08:12:00.000-08:00

Home Computer Security

Home computers are a favorite target for intruders. Home computer security takes top priority in this context. There are several methods to secure your home computer.
Installing and using anti-virus programs is a means to protect home computers. A firewall program can secure your home computer. A file encryption program to access controls for very sensitive files is ideal. Those working on laptop computers should consider purchasing a commercial file encryption program.

A number of devices are used in home computer security. Computer security cables are very effective in preventing computer losses. Disk drive locks protect drives from misuse. There are marking systems in which the computer equipment is marked with an identity mark, such as a postcode.

Need Of Home Computer Security

For example the people do e-banking, utility bill transactions, and editing office work etc. So in this situation many hackers do hack and put their influence also on home computer security the most important information through locking the computer.
Protection Of Soft Form Information And Home Computer Security

Different steps can be adopted for the strict check form lost of data present in computer by hackers who can also affect home computer security. There are also some cases that the much secret security information present in computer workstations of different companies becomes lost due to illegal cyber crime. Similarly, home computer security is also affected.

Precautionary Measures

By using different tips and adopting precautionary measures related to home computer security one can protect his or her personal computer from being theft of utmost important soft form data. To hold home computer security strong, people should not pay bills using their credit cards etc on Internet as it can give a path for hackers to hack and steal our credit card numbers by which they can use our facility. The best remedy for this problem is that peoples should not float their personal information like codes of different bank cards, bank account number information and utility bills information etc on line, so that no one can hack these information.

Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Install a Registry Cleaner

2009-01-15T00:45:00.002-08:00

Install Registry Cleaner Software to Keep Registry Free From Errors

Why do we need registry cleaner?

A registry cleaning software is the best effective and easiest way to clean the system log. How to select the top registry cleaner?
You will come across hundreds of websites offering download of the software that will repair the system log.

Always download the software from a reliable source.

• Make sure that the software comes with manual as well as schedule scanning features.
How to get the completely free registry cleaner?
There are some websites that offer a trial version of the software that you can download for free and use till the free trial expires. Of course there are some sources from where you can download the completely free software. These software solutions come as complete version and you can use the software and all the utilities of the tool for good.

Why You Should Install a Registry Cleaner

Typically, things go pretty well with the Windows registry but there are times when ever errors creep in and our frustration level rises along with it. If you have never cleaned your registry before, you should look into the possibility of doing it now. As a matter of fact, here are the top 3 reasons why you should install a registry cleaner.

First of all, cleaning your registry is going to help your computer run smoother and faster. Even though these small errors will not make a large difference, whenever hundreds of them compile in the Windows registry, it can slow your computer down to a crawl. That is the number one reason why you should install registry cleaner, to keep your computer running quickly.

Spyware tends to hide out in the registry and error messages can come up when ever code is left over after a program is installed or uninstalled. By cleaning your registry regularly, you will help to keep both of these annoying problems off of your computer. and for info a bout anti virus and to downloads antivirus cek at here

Is Your Computer Running Slow? Learn How to Fix it Now!

2009-01-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

One of the most common and annoying problems that you can have is a COMPUTER RUNNING SLOW. The simplest way to solve this problem is to set your start-up settings - disable those unnecessary programs. Uncheck all the programs that you don't need running during start-up.

1. Another cause for your COMPUTER RUNNING SLOW is spyware.

2. Registry error can also result in your COMPUTER RUNNING SLOW. Windows registry is the control system of your computer, and registry problems may cause problems like Blue Screen Of Death, crashes, slow booting, slow shut down, and slow system performance. Again, if you're not a computer whiz, then registry cleaners may help.

3. Yet another probable cause for your COMPUTER RUNNING SLOW is having low virtual memory. Virtual memory is where the system stores temporary data in order for the system to run. Overloading of the virtual memory would result in the system running slower. The more programs running simultaneously, the slower the system will get. 128MB RAM is considered sufficient nowadays.

4. If the above reasons are not the culprit for your COMPUTER RUNNING SLOW, it may be that your PC just needs defragmentation. As you use your computer you download and save files, and also delete from time to time. As a result, your files will be scattered throughout your system, resulting in the slower searching and processing of programs. To defragment your hard drive, go to "My Computer" and right click on the hard drive. Click "tools" on the upper portion of the window, and then click on "defragment now."

5. Lastly, hardware problems such as ware and tare, overheating, short-circuiting, dust, and damage caused by impact can cripple your system and also cause it to run slow.

How to Speed Up My Computer in 1 Hour

2009-01-07T17:28:00.000-08:00

It is inevitable. I call it digital inertia. It builds up within any computer from the moment it is assembled, sold and fired up for the first time. All computers, no matter how fast, how furious, become lumps of porridge within a few months. Some last longer, but the build up of digital dust mites and laziness is something none of us can avoid. Our speed demon has become a horned turtle and we always ask ourselves what happened? We find ourselves turning to our technologically inclined friends and asking "How to speed up my computer?" There are a lot of factors involved, but I'll tell you some sure fire ways to speed up your computer in 1 hour.

Over time, because of its dedication to keep up to date, you will realise your program task bar is full of programs, some of which you have no idea how they got there in the first place, and some of them you haven't even used past the first 'fire it up and test it' phase. All these programs after a while end up putting a lot of clutter in your memory, because over time, the information gets fragmented and Windows has to constantly re-fragment the information, seeking it out from hidden digital cul de sacs, weaving it together for a program launch. Defragment your disk! It will take you less than an hour - maybe more if you have the entire Guggenheim museum stored in your hard disks. You will notice a 50% increase in speed, guaranteed. Other than Windows disk defragmenter - there are plenty more efficient and speedier, full featured defragmentation programs out there for you to use.

Another reason for the gradual decline in speed could be that a PC is overloaded with information. Take a look at your start-up programs and the programs you have running in the background. Are they essential? A full featured anti-virus program cuts quite deep into the virtual memory. Scrutinise all the programs you have and delete and uninstall the ones you don't need - especially the ones that are using up precious memory. Just press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and run through the processes tab - a lot will be revealed to you. If, by chance, you need all those programs, then don't fret - upgrade your memory. Buy an extra stick of RAM if your PC is overloaded with your high memory programs.

Optimise, optimise, optimise. I can't stress this enough. There are so many programs and registry cleaners out there on the internet that help to clean out the registry, all loose floating files in hidden temp and system folders and any digital stragglers choking the otherwise fine machinery of your speed demon computer. A program like this does everything from A-Z, sniffing out all possible sectors of your computer, including that all important brain box of a registry that basically controls EVERY aspect of your computer. Keep it up to date and clean - that makes the difference between a running computer and a stuttering computer.

So, there you have it, sure fire ways to speed up your computer. Of course there are so many other ways and so many different sectors that need addressing, but these are some of the common and major issues plaguing PC users the world over.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

3 Crucial Reasons For a Windows Clean Up

2009-01-05T19:15:00.000-08:00

Windows, no matter how much of a diehard Bill Gates fan you might be, is not a perfect Operating System. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find one single utopian OS which is constantly smooth, never crashes and upholds even the most violent attacks of the most malicious viruses. Now, I would appreciate it if the Mac OS supporters could please sit down and stop waving your flags - I have owned Mac Machines and they have been known to lock up, freeze and crash like any other OS. But I digress, today we are talking about Windows, and I will tell you how to keep it running smooth - 3 crucial reasons for a Windows clean up.

Dirt and grime, whether physical or digital, is a by product of use. And the more we use the computer, the more digital dust bunnies are going to be hidden in the most callous corners of the hard disk, eating up memory, stalling operations, giving your OS and your processor a hard time and a hiccup whenever it tries to launch a program. The more programs, the more games and applications we install, the more of these free floating clutter - from unknown temp files to left over dll's that you don't really even need anymore; will cause a massive slowdown of your Windows system. Imagine if you never threw out a single package of anything you bought and shoved it all into your room - that will give you a better picture of what I'm talking about.

Another by-product of prolonged use is the unavoidable fragmentation of your hard disk. Windows isn't a nit picker when it comes to neatness, and neither are installed programs. Data files get fragmented, being placed in far flung corners of the hard disk, making Windows work hard just to launch a program as simple as a picture viewer. Now imagine high end programs like Photoshop or Dreamweaver, you'd literally grow old, turn to dust and be revived by the loud beeps of your machine finally crashing on you. A fragmented drive is a slow drive and thus a slow PC. You need to clean and defragment your drive every few weeks. I do mine once a month and this keeps my system running smooth.

Lastly but by far not the least, is the matrix of the computer. The Zion of Windows has been invaded by the droids of null entries, orphaned keys and invalid registry information, left behind by malware, spyware and viruses from every county in cyberspace hell. A registry that damaged and that cluttered will cause massive slowdowns in your Windows and this needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Get a good registry cleaner and you will literally be flying from folder to folder faster than the speed of light. Well it may seem like an exaggeration but the speed difference the first time I cleaned the registry was that stark.

So there, 3 crucial reasons for a windows clean up - done easily, quickly and can be executed by anyone at all.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

Why is My Computer Running Slow and What Can I Do About It?

2008-12-29T23:39:00.000-08:00

Why is my computer running slow and what can I do about it? Isn't that the question we have all asked ourselves at one point or another during our life? Our brand new spanking machine (or so we thought) has turned from a speed freak to a sludge machine. Well, there are many reasons why any computer could be losing the cutting edge speed it was designed for and here I will tell you several reasons why.

Dreaded spyware and adware. People who try to make money are ruthless and they will try any which way to infiltrate your digital personal space to get a message across, to steal your email and perhaps any valuable information that could make you either a potential customer or a victim of theft. Spyware and adware are running rampant on the internet and they install billboards and tracking software on your PC that you do not know about. Not only are these an invasion of your cyberspace integrity, it is also a main culprit of computer slowdowns. A good adware and anti spyware program will do you wonders.

Fragmented files and folders are a huge reasons why we grow old waiting for a single program to load. It is the cause of stress, high blood pressure and charred remains of monitors and desktop husks lying at the foot of a high rise building. Defragment. I mean, it is pretty simple to do, and if you can't be bothered to download a specialised de-fragmenting software, all you have to do is use the one that is included within the Windows software. Do it at least once a month, because the build-up of files and folders do get fragmented eventually and Windows has to painstakingly re-fragment everything just to launch even the most basic of programs.

Registry errors. The most overlooked problem in the world of computing. The registry is a tiny file, a record of everything that is done within the computer, etched into a nexus of information that keeps your Windows stable. Once that gets corrupted, you are literally going to be handling a very slow machine. Registries a few months old will always contain null values, confused registry entries from bad installs, orphaned keys and traces left by viruses and spyware. A cluttered registry full of errors will more than likely slow your PC down to an unbearable level. Getting a good registry cleaner and windows optimiser will identify and eliminate multiple problems within and without the registry and speed up your computer like never before.

Now imagine a combination of problems running hand in hand, choking your computer into a stutter. The best thing to do is to get your PC scanned for problems. There are a lot of free and readily available scanning software, both online and offline, that can help you identify multiple problems you did not even know about. Invest a little and gain back the speed you were always used to. You'll never have to ask the question, "Why is my computer running slow" ever again.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Understanding and Fixing Runtime Error 429

2008-12-29T23:34:00.000-08:00

What are these strange numbers that keep appearing on your computer, you may ask one day as that all familiar beeping renders you at the frayed ends of sanity as you pound your intellect trying to figure out exactly what went wrong with the system. And don't I know it. One of the more prominent ones is runtime error 429. While it may mean as much as any other three digit combinations appearing randomly during a Windows session, I am here to help, as well as explain.

In the Windows environment, runtime error 429 can be traced to a possible and faulty automation sequence within one or more of your Office applications. Cutting away all the jargon and technicalities, it is simply a hiccup in between one or more of the sequences of the operation, within the script itself. It's like downloading information from an online database, turning it into an excel worksheet, which then in turn, generates a pie chart for you. That is an example of a sequence.

Now these problems occur when we use either a programming 'program' like C++ or Microsoft's Visual Basics to create such a sequence. This problem could arise out of many issues. A faulty program is one of them, or an Active X handler is corrupted, this showing you the all familiar message of 'Run-time error '429': ActiveX component can't create object'

Check the integrity of the Office application, and see whether you can launch it yourself. Check the root directory and ensure that it isn't a network drive, as security issues and connectivity quirks might be the cause of this problem. A most common method to troubleshoot such a problem is that people will either reinstall the entire office suit, repair the program through Microsoft's office 'Repair' function or simply re-register the application in the registry.

This is because there might be some confusion within the registry key, or even a missing registry value. In my experience, a corrupt registry is one of the main issues of most of the problems faced in Windows. Most of us aren't so tech savvy that we can identify the problems with the deft hand of a programr. Words like normal.dot template or excel.xlb resource file might confuse and scare you further, but these are also identifiable points in a runtime error 429 issue.

My best advice? Get help. Download a good registry cleaner to repair all corrupted values, orphan keys and lost connections within the registry. This keeps your PC running in tip top shape. Secondly, help is always available online and there are decent one stop shop repair corners on the net that not only can quickly identify and fix your problem but identify potential and underlying harms that are inflicting your PC - some of them you might have no idea about. A computer is like a car, you have to retune it and send it for a 'once over' once in a while. This makes the difference between a problem ridden PC and a completely healthy one that never fails you.
Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/understanding-and-fixing-runtime-error-429-587392.html

Why You Should Use a Registry Cleaner to Clean Up Your PC

2008-12-25T15:22:00.004-08:00

Have you been having problems with your computer lately? I'm not talking about regular problems that come about as a result of our inability to understand some of the things we are doing, I'm talking about problems that are directly caused by the computer itself. These troubles include such things as a slow running system, Windows error messages and periodic crashes. If you are tired of dealing with these and really want to do something about it, the easiest way to fix them is to clean your Windows registry.

Unfortunately, there are very few of us out there that are really comfortable with fooling around inside of the registry. As a matter of fact, many people that we would consider to be computer geeks would not do this either. Fortunately for us, it is possible to go in and take care of the situation automatically with the use of a registry cleaner. If you have never used one of these before, you will no doubt be surprised with how easily the entire process can take place. Within just a short period of time, you can be sitting behind a faster computer that is running without the errors and crashes that you are just dealing with.

The main reason why you should use a registry cleaner to clean up your PC is because you will improve your system speed. Do you remember when you first brought your computer or home from the store, how quick it was? Most people just think that the computer slowing down is a fact of life and there is very little that can be done about it. The real fact is that you can speed up your computer by getting rid of errors that exists in the Windows registry. No matter what you do on your computer, the registry is going to be accessed and analyzed. If it doesn't have as much erroneous data to sort through, it will be a little bit snappier as a result.

Another reason why you should use a registry cleaner is because it will help you to identify other problems that may exist on your computer. Viruses and spyware and to hide out in the Windows registry and even if they are removed, traces can be left behind on your computer. I've seen systems that have had hundreds of traces of spyware left in the Windows registry. This caused all kinds of problems for them while they were operating their PC but a simple clean of the Windows registry solved all of their problems.

Finally, you will have a much more enjoyable experience running your computer without the error windows and periodic crashes that you have to put up with. None of us enjoy going through these kind of problems, especially when we end up losing data and hours of hard work because their computer shuts off unexpectedly. Spending a little bit of time allowing a Windows registry cleaner to do its job will be well worth it once these things no longer exist on your system.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

Personal Tips For Desktop Application Quick Launchers

2008-12-22T21:42:00.000-08:00

Do you often run a certain of applications time and again. Did you ever forget the position of your program installed on your computer? Want to run some favorite utilities or documents quickly and simply? Yes you can! A powerful and handy application quick launcher can realize your dream. How lucky you are! Here I will commend your some popular and excellent application quick launchers. They are: Advanced Launcher, Fast Launcher, LaunchIt NOW! Plus, Quick Starter and Super Launch-o-matic. Below are the detailed introductions of them.

Advanced Launcher is an integrated toolbar and tray launcher. It can show several fully customizable toolbars at a time. When we click a toolbar button it can either run an application (open a document) or show multilevel customizable menu. Menus can also show contents of folders (e.g. Programs folder from the Start menu or Desktop folder). We can dock toolbars to the screen edges, can minimize toolbars to the tray and access their contents by clicking on the tray icon (menu with the contents of the toolbar will be shown). Advanced Launcher is a handy alternative or supplement to the Start menu and Desktop.

Fast Launcher is an application and document launcher, that runs in the system tray and provides a compact toolbar with tabbed categories, that we can use for quick access to our favorite programs, websites, or documents. We can simply drag and drop items into the toolbar, and then access them by clicking on the icon, using a keyboard hotkey, or tray icon menu. Fast Launcher supports custom parameters for each items, and also allows us to launch multiple items at once.

LaunchIt NOW! Plus provides quick access to our frequently used programs, files, folders and favorite URLs. It runs in the system tray and offers a customizable desktop-like interface with full size icons of our favorite items. Adding new items is as simple as dragging them into the interface or selecting them from a list. Furthermore, we can organize all our shortcuts into custom named tabs, dock it to any screen edge and more. The program also offers free add-ons to extend the functionality.

Quick Starter is an application launcher that allows us to launch our favorite programs, documents, folders or links from the right-click menu of a system tray icon. The program also includes a task scheduler to automatically start programs at specific times, or to shut down the computer. Furthermore, Quick Starter includes a handy feature to edit the PlacesBar (the folder bar in Open/Save dialog) and add our own shortcuts to the list.

Super Launch-o-matic is a simple application launcher that allows us to open programs, documents, folders, web pages from an easily accessible tray menu. In addition, we can also assign keyboard shortcuts to each, so the item can be launched by pressing a hotkey combination on our keyboard. Super Launch-o-matic also supports email items (one-click email sending) and text snippets that can be copied to the clipboard (email signatures etc.). The program supports drag and drop, custom categories.

In a word, Advanced Launcher is a handy alternative or supplement to the Start menu and Desktop. It can show several fully customizable toolbars at a time. Fast Launcher is very flexible. We can simply drag and drop items into the toolbar, and then access them by clicking on the icon, using a keyboard hotkey, or tray icon menu. LaunchIt NOW! Plus is an easy to use and friendly system tray utility. we can organize all our shortcuts into custom named tabs, dock it to any screen edge and more. With Quick Starter we can launch our favorite programs from the right-click menu of a system tray icon. It also includes some additional features, such as a task scheduler and the function of shut down the computer. With Super Launch-o-matic we can assign keyboard shortcuts to each, so the item can be launched by pressing a hotkey combination on our keyboard. It also supports drag and drop, custom categories. Want to improve your work efficiency obviously? Well then, download a favorite application quick launcher at once.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com
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Zinc Whiskers: Kill Them Before They Kill Your Servers

2008-12-21T08:19:00.001-08:00

Zinc whiskers are a common phenomenon when it comes to data and colocation centers (sometimes called 'data farms'), yet they can go unnoticed for years before they become a nuisance and a serious threat to server machines. To say that the problem 'grows' can be somewhat accurate (even though we know zinc is not an organic substance); the whiskers are formed from pressure that eventually lifts off little pieces of zinc from metal to create microscopic threads that get longer and longer over time. Thus the name, 'zinc whiskers.' Environmental conditions are not a factor affecting the formation of whiskers, and in most cases they are inevitable (so don't waste time trying control humidity and such). However, the consequences of not dealing with zinc whiskers proactively in other ways can result in future power failures, circuit shortages, damaged data and decreased reliability when new devices are installed in the data center.

Zinc whiskers form beneath the raised floor in a data center and, when disturbed, usually due to equipment being moved around, they can detach themselves from the metal surfaces they were formed upon to become airborne substances. Once in the air, these metal particles, still capable of conducting electricity, can float around until they land within servers, affecting other metal pieces in there which can be detrimental, especially now that hardware parts are made more and more micro-sized these days, creating perfect crevices for the tiny zinc pieces to nestle in and destroy electronics.

Data centers with floors that are made of wood or concrete and covered with a metallic zinc layer on the bottom of the panels are most at risk. Zinc is commonly used for plating boards to prevent corrosion. Using solid concrete or certain kinds of other metal finishing can often help reduce the chances of zinc whiskers. It is typical of older structures to be more at risk than newer ones, having been built with the former techniques of using wood and concrete. Not only that, age alone can be sufficient to warrant the possibility of zinc whiskers. The whiskers can be seen with the naked eye, though the help of a flashlight and side view to be able to look downward across the surface of the board might be necessary.

There are two solutions to dealing with zinc whiskers. First, if you let the floor boards alone and don't plan on any rearrangements in your data center, you can rest assured they won't create a hazard. So long as they are stuck to their metal surfaces, they can't float around and land where they are unwelcome. If moving equipment is, however, necessary you will have to replace the entire floor. Cleaning the floor boards or coating them is only a temporary solution since nothing can stop the re-growth of zinc whiskers.

To prevent zinc whiskers from being a problem, choose a data center that has a plan in place for dealing with them, or one that uses special filters capable of preventing them from floating onto your server's electronic components.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Data Backup and Storage Solutions For Your Colocated Server

2008-12-16T06:15:00.000-08:00

We've all had that personal experience of losing hundreds of files and hours of work due to a computer crash right at the most inconvenient moment. Imagine a crash like that affecting a company that holds information computers pertinent to the survival of its place in the market. Backing up data, therefore, is not a new idea to come to the great minds of business owners and technical gurus, especially those that work with data centers. There are however, options that will suit different businesses in different ways, and having a working knowledge of the various backup solutions available will help guide the company in the right direction when it comes to avoiding such a great loss.

When choosing a backup storage solution, things to consider are:
Just how much data are we talking about? It may be that simpler methods won't do in your case, at least not in the long run.
Will the data be expanding? If so, choose an option that will grow with you and can be more adaptable to your needs as things take a different form.

Are we dealing with top-notch security items? If accountability is important and you can't afford the slightest possibility of a machine blowing up for one reason or another, don't compromise - get the best there is.

Is this a group effort? If different people working from different computers in company will need access to the same information at any given time during the day, you could save yourself a lot of trouble by preparing for that in advance.

Have enough pocket change? Depending on the size of your business, it may be that budget concerns will mark the end of the argument - buy as you need until you can afford (and actually require) more.

Backup storage solutions in a data center come in three forms: Direct Attached Storage (DAS), Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Network (SAN).

DAS is the most basic and commonly-used type of backup system. External hard drives that attach to your home computer and allow you to plop memory onto them are examples of DAS. What you save stays on one server, and copies of those files also nest in the same server, but on a separate drive. That way, if your main drive gives you problems, or you do a reformatting, you always have an extra copy just to be safe. If your company is a small, local one (i.e. without branches physically distant from each other) DAS may be your simple, one-step solution. The down side is that your server may get extra busy storing files and running applications at the same time, which can slow things down. However, on the upside, when problems do occur, they can be dealt with in-house on the attached server. Keep in mind though that DAS is limited in capacity and once memory space runs out, it's out. If your company is growing, DAS may only be a temporary solution to your backup needs.

NAS is a solution that puts memory on a server separate from where applications are running. This increases speed and allows multiple users to access information from a hub. As indicated by its name, NAS runs on a network, and is therefore more suitable to businesses using networked computing. Its popularity has greatly increased, especially in light of its cost-decreases and return on investment. Management of the file storing server can be handled centrally in one location and not affect multiple servers that are being used for applications while maintenance is going on. Especially for computing systems in an office using multiple operating systems, NAS can act as a neutral file-sharing component to give access to work done by employees across the board.

SAN is an over-the-top backup system designed for very large businesses that require the ultimate in quickly transferring many files at the same time and connecting over long distances through a fiber channel. This method, though highly optimized, is still in development and lacks an across-the-board compatibility agreement that would make it more usable in the long run. Since it is more complex than either DAS or NAS, it usually falls as an option to those who can afford its novelty. Web-based companies, or those that conduct transactions online might require SAN backup because of the high level and frequency of data traffic.

Luckily, no matter what decision is made between the three, remember that often multiple systems can, and are often, used in conjunction with one another. For example, a company running DAS may also have NAS for certain operations. NAS can also appear where SAN is prominent. The first step would be determining the computing necessities of your businesses, and then assessing which backup system or combination of which, would suit you best.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

5 Things to Look For in Your Timesheet Software

2008-12-13T23:07:00.000-08:00

How many business owners still use manual cash registers? Typewriters? Hand-written inventory sheets and business financial papers? Then why have your employees continue to slip a scribbled-on yellow card into a loud, antique time card puncher? By upgrading to timesheet software, and integrating modern scanning technology such as a thumb print scanner or magnetic card reader, you will improve your employee management and payroll, and save time and money in the process. However, in upgrading to payroll and time clock software, one must first know what features to look for. The following are the most important elements to a good, effective time clock program:

- Time in/out features accurate to the second, customizable and compliant to your payroll rules and local overtime laws. This is an important feature. Timesheet software can keep track of requirements of both your local government, and specific rules and guidelines that you set for your own business.

- Proper record keeping capabilities. This is probably the feature that will differ the most from program to program, but is absolutely essential to a complete time clock program. As a business owner, you will need to keep accurate records of attendance, total work hours, and overtime hours. And this information must be made readily available for a number of different purposes.

- Adaptability to security requirements and employee evaluation. Whether you chose to have your employees swipe an ID card to activate the time clock, or press their thumb against a fingerprint scanner, you need to be able to accurately research your employees attendance by day, shift, department, and task. With the standard manual time clock, employees could clock each other in, and give their employers a poor representation of the overall productivity of the business. With timesheet software, this is no longer a worry.

- Save time for your bookkeeper or payroll personnel. All calculations can be completed instantaneously, and either sent or made available to a number of computers on your network while still being processed in one primary location. Instead of wasting time at the end of the pay period with a stack of time cards and a calculator, tallying each employees work hours, eliminate this antiquated business task and free up your staff for more relevant needs.

- Prevent underpayment and overpayment of employees. When employees are accidentally underpaid, the general atmosphere of your work environment suffers. When an employee is overpaid, you are not likely to hear about it unless you catch the mistake yourself, thus losing money. Detailed work hour records-keeping will ensure that each employee is getting paid exactly for the time they worked, no more and no less.

For a low startup cost, timesheet software will greatly improve your business. Instead of spending hours tallying up work hours, you will have these reports available instantaneously at any moment, and free up time for much more important tasks. You will gain a more complete picture of your employee's work habits and be able to make more educated management decisions. Take the next step with your business and order timesheet software today.

Best Antivirus - What is the Best AntiVirus Software to Protect Your PC?

2008-12-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

We can call our computers our versatile best friends. In this modern world, everyone needs a computer. We can do a lot of things with our computers. We can prepare documents, make, edit and watch videos, listen to music, surf the Internet, send E-mails, chat with our friends, play games, or even make calls! Computers are very valuable, and when it comes to their prices, they are not cheap. These are the reasons why, just like what we do with our best friends, we need to protect our computers; and we do this with antivirus software. We store important files in our computers and we simply cannot afford to lose them to spywares, Trojans and other viruses.

There are countless of antivirus software available in the market today. They will simply not do because we should want the best antivirus for our precious computers. So what makes the best antivirus for our computers? First, the best antivirus should get updates frequently. This way, it keeps itself well-equipped to deal with the latest menaces to our computers.

We create or download files. We also insert CDs and flash disks in our computers. All these have potential to cause danger to our computers. That is why the scanning capacity of the antivirus is also very important to protect our computers from threats. The best antivirus provides us with the best scanning capacity on a regular basis that depends on our choice.

Surfing the Internet is probably the most common activity we do with our computers. There are websites, however, that are filled with spywares and other threats that can easily damage our computers. The best antivirus will protect us even from threats coming from the websites we use as it can determine probable hazards to our computers. The best antivirus should also be able to defend our computers from new viruses that are not yet registered in the virus database.

Making the best choice is crucial. But you do not have to do it alone. There are people who can help you choose the best antivirus for your computer. There are companies and organizations that test antivirus softwares and publish the results in their websites. These testing laboratories ranked Trend Micro, TrustPort, Sophos, Norton, Kaspersky, Nod32, Microsoft, McAfee, Ikarus, ZoneAlarm, WebWasher-GW, Panda, F-Secure, F-Prot, eSscan, Bitdefender, AVK, AVG, Avast, and AntiVir as the best antivirus programs available in the market today. There are also websites that run user reviews of different antivirus programs.

You can also avail of the free trial of different antivirus softwares to test them yourself and find out what the best antivirus is. If you are convinced by the effectiveness of the software, then you can go on and purchase it. However, there are also antivirus softwares which can be downloaded for free. This has sprung a debate whether the best antivirus softwares are free or the ones which you can buy. There are antivirus programs which you can buy that have free versions. While there are free antivirus that are effective, those which you can buy obviously have advantages.

There is one Antivirus Software that stands out above the rest and for more details on why? and where to download it from? visit http://ryandownloads.com/

Article Source: http://www.ryandownloads.com/

Antivirus Update - Why Should You Update Your Antivirus Software?

2008-12-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

You took your time to research which among the existing antivirus software around best suit your computer and your usage. You took time to ask technologically savvy friends and relatives and you even visited some well known tech-related forums to get unbiased information about antivirus.

When you finally chose one antivirus program, you ordered your program online or you went to the local computer shop near your area. You install it on your computer and you leave it on working on the background while you do your usual stuff on your PC. You feel you have done your very best to protect your computer from those menacing viruses, Trojan horses, worms and malwares.

So you became tremendously disappointed when your computer suddenly crashes and you just realized it was infected by a virus and the virus basically wiped out your entire hard drive, taking with it your 1st year old baby's video on his first foot steps and that presentation for that client you were eyeing to bag, a presentation you've been working on since last month.

You try to consider where you went wrong. You feel you have bought the best of the best in terms of antivirus programs and you know you have turned it on for the past few days. What went wrong? Well, quite frankly, you just forgot the one thing that you should not have forgotten above anything else.

Antivirus update.
Once you have purchased an antivirus program, you have to make sure you do an antivirus update as often as you can, maybe even daily so what you may want to do is to put the antivirus update setting of your program in automatic. Some programs have their antivirus update settings turned on but some softwares are placed on manual mode so you may want to check your program's user manual just to make sure.

But why is an antivirus update important?
Initially, your antivirus program has set definitions for all sorts of worms, viruses, malwares, Trojan horses, bugs and other uninvited softwares. However, due to man's innovation (or sometimes boredom), new viruses and worms are introduced in a basis so frequent that your antivirus program needs an antivirus update to make sure it is up to date to the definitions of new viruses and worms.Once your program is updated with the latest antivirus updates, then your computer is virtually safe from the latest line of computer bugs and traps. True there are some programs that have sophisticated intelligence that even if the virus is not defined in their knowledge, so long as it behaves in a "virus-like" manner, it is dinged and may be up for deletion, cleaning or is deemed for vault placing, depending on the action you would command it to do. However, this occurs in a very shot-in-the-dark manner as you can only hope that the new virus will behave like virus before it. Doing an antivirus update will make you very sure that you and your program are very much prepared for all those viruses and worms.For more information on where to download the most updated antivirus software visit Free for Downloads or Goodfreedownloads

Article Tags: Antivirus Update

10 Reasons Why Online Computer Repair is Smart

2008-12-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

With the continuous surge of IT, computers and the internet, most people are maximizing the advantages provided by this. Nowadays, it has been very common to do almost anything on the computer and internet. Shopping, education, research, and a thousand other more things can be conveniently and easily done with the use of these two simple tools. Also, a huge percentage of people all over the world now have access to the internet. With the upsurge of computer usage, there is also an upsurge of computer problems. The most careful computer user would, one way or another, experience some kind of technical or non-technical computer problem. So what does one usually do to solve this? The usual way is to bring your PC to a computer shop to have it repaired or do the troubleshooting themselves. Both these steps may be effective yet it also brings inconveniences that not everyone is able to accept. With online computer repair, you get to look at PC repair services from a new and different angle. Here are the top reasons why online computer repair is a smart move.

1. You do not need to leave your home or office. Remote tech support enables anyone with access to the internet to have professional support in the comfort of his own home or office. No need to unplug your PC and drive all the way to a trusted computer repair shop.

2. You get to save time. To most people, time is something limited and therefore, needs to be saved. While doing your work it would be very inconvenient if you suddenly have the need to stop simply to have your PC repaired. Travel time going to the PC shop is also erased from the situation.

3. You get to save money. Bringing your PC for repair to an offline shop opens the risk for a technician to give you a price that is not fixed. If you do not have the time to scout around from shop to shop, then you might not get your money's worth and simply settle for the nearest repair shop.

4. No need to wait in line. With online computer repair services, you need not fall in line in the busy mall repair shop.

5. No need to wait for days or weeks to have your PC problem solved. Most times, when we bring your CPU or laptop to an offline shop, they usually tell you that you need to wait a few days to have your PC repaired. With an online tech support and repair service, you get one-on-one quality service from qualified technicians.

6. Remote tech support is available 24 hours and seven days a week. You can avail of technical service anytime of the day, without having to worry about weekend breaks.

7. Qualified and expert technicians are at your beck and call. This means that the people who help you out with each of your PC problem have professional credentials and a wide experience.

8.Online technicians are oriented to provide excellent customer care. Each problem, however big or small, can be expected to receive the same amount of attention and expertise.

9. Online tutorials for PC repair services and processes are made available. Although the technician solves the problem for you, you also get access to step-by-step guidelines on what to do and how to fix problems. This is very educational for every computer user.

10. It all spells convenience. Lastly, computer repair online is one convenient and effective way to solve any PC problem.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.combranding strategy

Does a Free Spyware Remover Really Work?

2008-12-06T07:41:00.000-08:00

Free Spyware removers are all over the internet, and because of the mechanics of demand and supply, their needs status have just increased ten fold over the past few years. Spyware is a big problem on the internet and the funny thing is, over 90% of people using computers at this very moment do not even know that their computer is being chocked, drawn and quartered by malicious software that is slowly eating away at system resources, stealing valuable information and taking control over the machinery that you paid good money for. Free doesn't necessarily mean useless, and many have asked whether a free Spyware remover really works. I'm here to say emphatically that yes, it does.

It is not a question about price, but a question of performance versus promise. I mean, we are all smart people, and in this capitalist society we know that nobody does anything over the cash cow that is the internet for free. But just look at it another way; sure, maybe in a few months they might ask you to upgrade to a premium service for a small fee, or maybe it won't be free next time. But let's look at the performance of the software, and what it can deliver to anyone wanting to rid their computer of infectious and pandemic software like Spyware. I always concentrate on the deliverables - not dynamics.

I test drove three different pieces of software on my computer, including those from Norton and MacAfee just as a litmus test, and there were several things that I noticed almost immediately. While I won't take away anything from Norton and MacAfee, I noticed that the free software were much better focused, much quicker and defined in their approach and layout. Within minutes they had done a brief scan and my computer was identified as being infected with more than 10 different types of Spyware. These malignant buggers had hooked themselves onto various parts of my system, from critical data files, to temporary folders - even my internet cache had them running around. They had been highlighted as programs I had no idea existed running in the background, toolbars installed in cryptic areas and surprisingly enough - a lone adware program that was constantly connecting to the internet and giving my email freely away.

From over five different categories, recognizing more than 40 different ailments, I promptly pressed the 'fix all' button and sat back as the software did its noble work of rescuing my fair maiden of a desktop. This clueless state I was in can be transposed to computer users all over the world - ignorantly bliss-like, sitting in a golden raft while slowly traversing a calm river; towards a gushing firewall where everything will crash within moments. In a few quick minutes, my computer was clear and there was a noticeable difference in responsiveness. The old lad had some of its bite back, and all I had to thank for was a completely free piece of software that I had downloaded from the internet.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/does-a-free-spyware-remover-really-work-607324.html

Tips to Maximise Notebook`s Battery Life

2008-12-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

Notebook batteries are designed specifically for different notebooks brand as well as models. Today notebooks are powered by lithium ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries are lighter, have a better power-to-weight ratio, can hold a charge longer, have a longer usable life, and do not have the memory effect to fail prematurely.

Lithium ion batteries are also inexpensive to manufacture as compared to the earlier generation of nickel metal hydride batteries. The only shortcoming about lithium ion batteries is as they contain lithium salt dissolved in a highly flammable solvent, there are chances of overhead which can result in short-circuits or even blow up in flames.

It is a common fact that all notebook batteries have provision for limited time of power supply. A good bargain is to check the battery power while buying a notebook. Here is one instant tip to optimize the battery settings in accordance with the energy saving mode of your notebook. These settings will put the hard disk into sleep mode whenever the workload is less and it will reduce the notebook microprocessor performance in order to maximize its battery life.

From the system preferences mode of your notebook, select view menu, then choose energy saver option from view menu. Right click on show details option and choose battery power from the pop-up menu. Finally choose longest battery life from the energy settings pop-up menu.
Tips to optimise your notebook batteries are described in the following:

It is better to keep your notebook on standby mode when not in use for certain amount of time. Standby mode ensures all current info is saved in RAM with minimum consumption of battery power.

It is a good investment to add more memory to your notebook as it saves battery power by reducing Windows' dependence on the virtual memory swap file on your hard disk.

Try to set the screen brightness of the LCD panel of your notebook to the lowest comfortable level as very bright screen tends to consume more power from your battery.

Charge your notebook battery frequently with a battery charger or AC adapter. It is very important to clean your battery's metal contacts every couple of months to make it dust free. You can use a cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol to clean your notebook battery.

Turn of the unused features and technologies of your notebook which are not frequently usable. For example, it is better to eject the CD or DVD when you are not using them as the optical drive has the tendency of reading CD or DVD it finds very often and this process consume extra battery power.

Similarly it is better to get rid of the outer peripherals such as printers or digital cameras as they can still draw power from your notebook battery even when they are not used.

Turning off or at least disabling the PC Cards, FireWire devices and USB when not in use also saves battery power. In fact, disabling modem, network cards and USB ports consumes less battery power even when they are on. These devices are easily disabled in device manager.

To save power, it is good idea to turn off the AirPort, Wi-Fi, IR radios and Bluetooth option when it is not required to use. Virus scan should be set only during the time you are usually plugged in as full-disk virus check by the hard drive and CPU consumes additional power from battery.

Opt for the power console applet to customize the power profiles on your notebook. Do not worry in case your notebook does not have power console applet option for most of the operating systems (starting from windows 98) have Power Options utility in Control Panel.

You can use power saver option of your operating system to adjust the CPU processing power. Optimum CPU processes consume additional battery power and hence should be avoided if not required. Stop the auto start applications on your notebook, so that your notebook`s CPU can be stopped from doing unnecessary work.

With the above mentioned handy tips, you can truly increase the battery performance of your notebook.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/tips-to-maximise-notebooks-battery-life-607954.html

Combating the Security Threats Involved With a Pen Drive

2008-12-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Pen Drives, the high capacity movable storage device of the computer, is not just a boon for the IT and other business sectors, but it has been proved to be the most dangerous device to harm any organisation. While data security and confidentiality matter the most in any government and private organisation, a pen drive is the most useful device for the corporate spies or hackers to take data easily and misuse it.

Among the threats for an organisation associated with a pen drive, the most important is transmission of viruses. As most of the antivirus software fail to detect the viruses in a pen drive or safeguard the computer, a computer can be easily infected by a virus transmitted through pen drive. This portable device can be responsible for data loss and data theft. In corporate sectors, many employees have found with taking malicious software, video clips, computer games, MP3 files, pornography pictures and other inappropriate files violating corporate rules.

However, restricting a pen drive in a corporate environment is next to impossible. They are too small in size to be carried stealthily and also they are getting cheaper everyday. These days, the pen drives are available that can not be identified by a metal detectors as well. Hence, the security threats involved with a pen drive is hard to combat with. However, some measures can be chosen to deal with the serious issue.

Educating the user:
It is hard to stop the gadget junkies from using pen drives as it has become the `must-have` for them. And sometimes, pen drives becomes essential for any work progress. But it is possible for the office authorities to educate the users on the use of pen drive while taking data to their home out of the office or bringing any data to the office.

Lock desktop security:
Many companies are adopting the security policy of locking the computer automatically when not in use for a few minutes. Though it is a perfect alternative, using a pen drive or misuse of data are possible when the computer is unattended by someone. The interval of locking can be reduced in a high risk environment. In a workstation with access to sensitive data the lock desktop can prevent misuse of pen drive to a large extent.

Rigorous anti-virus policies:
The company or the corporate authorities should configure antivirus software to scan and detect every attached drive and removable media. The users of every interface should be trained to scan the files before opening them. This can reduce the effect of the virus in case it is transmitted through a pen drive.

Restriction of USB ports:
In the corporate environment or any other place the USB ports of the desktop computers can be made disabled to prevent the use of pen drive by the outsiders. In place of the USB port, the legacy port can be used for using the peripherals. Even software can be used to restrict the access of end user to the I/O devices and many other plugs and play devices.

Use of secure devices:
Companies should take care of issuing only secure devices to the employees and also these devices should be approved to purchase. The users having potential access to sensitive data should be allowed the devices with security features and they should be trained to use all the security features.

Educating the security personnel:
The security personnel of a company must know how a pen drive looks like and what dangers it can cause if it is with a miscreant. Any unauthorised person in the company premises with a pen drive should not be ignored. Rather, legal steps can be taken to seize the device.

It is barely possible to work in any corporate environment without the help of a pen drive. But looking at the scenario, where the large business sectors are facing potential threats due to pen drives everyday, some of the above security measures can be adapted to, at least, reduce the hazards of misusing pen drives.

4 Easy Tips on How to Remove Spyware

2008-12-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

It would behoove you to know that the term Spyware was used in military circles as literally describing a piece of hardware that was to be used for espionage. Espionage, that word runs a slight shiver as I look at my 600 plus Gigs of information carefully collected over the years, equivalent to an entire childhood, teenage years and young adulthood, and packed into byte sized pieces for easy access. And all that can be wiped out by digital evil-doers, coming in with their balaclavas and cavalier codes. Because I think everyone should be protected from these vigilantes, and so I shall give 4 easy tips on how to remove Spyware from your computer.

Delete Suspicious Programs
It is easy to remove Spyware for the very reason that although they work in packs like rabid dogs, they, unlike viruses, do not self replicate and cannot spread into various parts of the computer. They rather prefer to ensconce themselves into a comfortable digital cushion and send out code to wreak havoc and take over your system. Although they are great at getting in, they aren't that good at hiding and finding them is pretty easy. First, take a look at your system, taskbar and program list and usually you will be able to spot them in the all familiar form of the rogue program you had no idea you installed in the first place. Look out for toolbars, sidebars, diminutive sized software that suddenly appears on your installed or start up lists. Delete them.

Backup and Spring Clean Your System
If they refuse to be deleted, such stubbornness can be overcome. Load up your windows in 'safe mode', this ensures that only critical system programs are activated and this 'loosens up' the Spyware, enough for you to shake them off with a quick uninstall or deletion. Sometimes, the problem is far too gone and there are too many of them in the various parts of your system. If that is the case, I would then advise you to backup all your software and do a full, clean 'format' operation; clean out your system then start all over again from scratch.

Firewalls & Security Settings
Make sure your internet security settings are at its fullest, browsers nowadays have functions where they will reject unknown requests and unwarranted downloads. Firewalls are your best friend in such matters so make sure they are turned on. This is the 'best defense is a good offence' move. Make your computer such a bastion, such a redoubt that very few or almost none at all get the chance to see the inside of your fortress.

Grab A Cleaner Software
The easiest and most important way I think is to simply log on and find a remover and cleaner software. There are so many good ones online, feature packed and comprehensive enough to ensure nothing gets missed out. Their definition files get updated quite often - the good ones that is - so you stay relevant and protected at all times. With all of these methods, I will assure you that your computer will remain Spyware free for a very long time to come.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles

Easy Tips on How to Make Computer Run Faster

2008-12-02T06:51:00.000-08:00

Computers, regardless of their shape, size, color and brand, always slow and laggy as time progresses. Do not be surprised when his new team sparkling deteriorates to the processing speed department. All these tend to happen when you do not give your team the proper maintenance it deserves. After months or even years, of working for you, you should consider giving your computer a break and give some well-deserved maintenance. Here are some easy tips on how you can make your computer run faster.Most of the times, which is a slow computer needs is more random access memory (RAM). RAM is a very important component in the team. More RAM means there will be enough space to carry out all kinds of application, regardless of their needs memory. Moreover, a small RAM will slow down your PC down, as it will be very tense trying to find the memory required to run a particular application. This is also why have a greater capacity of RAM will allow you to process all programs and data to break neck speed. All you need do is go shopping RAM and grab a RAM that is bigger.

Make updates of RAM is definitely a good thing. However, it is advised that should only carry out upgrades of RAM when you have verified that the root of your PC problem is that insufficient RAM size.Another way to make your computer faster is cleaning up its record. Record could not be very well known to all computer users. But despite its position in the PC underestimated hierarchy, registration is a very important role in determining the ability of the PC to operate. Record, unlike RAM, is a software build. It stores information access for all like their personal data and the establishment of personal status of their software. The only problem with the registry is that you can not erase all information. Instead, it is overwritten many times, and you eventually end with a huge Junkyard corrupted data access. To avoid this mess occurs, you can simply use a registry cleaner to remove unwanted and corrupted files. Register as cleaning and RegCure CCleaner are just some of the most popular registry cleaners that are commonly used.Another step is to run a quick and easy check the computer.
There are a lot of free computer checkups available online. There is no need for you to fork out a lot of money to run a simple computer check. The advantage here is that some of the best controls in line will allow you to find some of the errors, viruses and spyware that may be present on your PC and also to clean your computer. These annoying viruses and spyware can use up precious RAM. You should only have to install an anti-virus and anti-spyware software once you've finished with your computer check up.Everyone should be able to enjoy an optimal experience PC. Regular maintenance of computers is essential to ensure a trouble-free, soft and silky-computer-using experience. Try these tips to get the most out of his team.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/easy-tips-on-how-to-make-computer-run-faster-504209.htm

Free Registry Repair For Windows - Do They Really Exist?

2008-11-26T10:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, good things do come for free. His team record is one of the most neglected areas in when it comes to maintenance. However, not everyone is aware that there are credible freeware tools that allow you to maintain their registration in peak condition. Get ready to jump for joy as they reveal how you can safely clean their registration without paying a single cent.People around the world are using CCleaner. CCleaner is the number 1 to download registry cleaner that is completely free. This piece of freeware is very basic and easy to use. This easy to use registry cleaner is capable of eliminating unwanted registry keys in a Jiffy. Some might SCOFF at the fact that it has limited functions. But most Netizens are completely satisfied with what has to offer.Despite free CCleaner, CCleaner a lot of other functions that make it better and perhaps on a par with comparable commercial registry cleaning. Designed to operate 2 scans, CCleaner is capable of detecting all corrupt and redundant registry keys. 2 explorations necessary as the 1 st exploration is used to identify all possible corrupted files. The 2 nd scan is then used to confirm that the files you want to delete will not have unintended effects on your computer operating system. This feature is not present in several commercial cleaning registration, according to which only 1 scan is available. CCleaner registration process makes cleaning quick and easy way

This eliminates the possibility of accidental deletions that might otherwise leave their system inoperable.However, this does not mean that you can rely on all "free" registry cleaners you see online. Proceed with caution since a number of "free" registry cleaners contain adware and spyware. These products unscrupulous can create more problems than they solve.When selecting a registry cleaner, is better than you choose one that lets you download the repair kit. Most repair kits are easy to install, and most do not require much hard disk space. When using other free registry cleaners, you have to be more careful with the files to be removed. Once the free software has detected the potential of the files had been deleted, take a moment or two to scan through all the files manually before pressing the button "Delete". This is due to deletion of files bad game could affect its performance record system.Most free repair kits are easy to use and, as such, you probably will not have to read a lengthy guide on how to use them. Just remember that not all of these repairs free registration of works, as well as CCleaner commercial or other variants. If you still worry about the credibility of these repairs free registration, is better than you get from a store with a computer expert advice from a computer guru.All everyone, not just remind everyone confidence registry repair kits . Download for free registry cleaning trusted sites, and you will not have to worry about spyware attacks.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/free-registry-repair-for-windows-do-they-really-exist-504201.htm

Internet Fax vs Fax Software

2008-11-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

Internet fax service is an online service that lets you send and receive faxes as an attachment to e-mail via the Internet. Moreover, fax software requires a PC, a fax modem and a phone line to work. Both Internet and fax service fax software has some advantages over the use of the fax machine. At the time when Internet access was not so popular, fax software is a useful tool to send and receive faxes through a computer. But today, many home users, small businesses and large corporations are changing internet fax service, not only because it is more convenient and economical to use, but also looks to professionals customers.Both Internet and fax service fax software are easy to use and created, and which do not require the reversal of a fax machine. Faxes are sent, received and stored on your PC. There is no need for machine maintenance, there is no paper jam problem, not misplaced fax documents, and the cartridge and paper costs can also be reduced.The main advantage of Internet fax service in traditional fax software is his comfort and mobility. Internet fax service allows you to send and receive faxes from anywhere with Internet access, even in your handheld device. You do not need to leave your fax modem and PC in order to receive faxes. There is no need for an additional phone line.

You will not get a busy signal, and you'll never miss a fax.Another advantage of Internet fax service that helps your company image by providing a professional service to their customers. Unlike the fax software and fax modem, which is often used by households and small businesses, Internet fax service is good for businesses of all sizes. You can get a free fax number or a toll-free at very low cost in over 2000 cities around the world. Its customers can fax free for you and you are charged with a very low rate or free of charge to everyone. Some companies, Internet fax even lets you send faxes to destinations for free. This versatility is very useful for small and medium and even large corporations. Even when your office is located in the U.S. can establish a toll free or local number in Tokyo and its Japanese customers can fax you for free.

Faxes are then routed to their email address. Similarly, you can also send faxes them as email attachments by simply typing your fax number in the To: line of an e-mail and message.Price package are the major concerns when buying Internet fax service. Are Local businesses provide free fax number? How much does a toll free number? How many pages of free entry and exit of faxes are included in the monthly fee? What provide free wireless access? Do you have enough coverage and provide a local fax number in their area of interest? What about the reputation of the companies? Provide free trial? In short, Internet fax service is a useful tool for homes and businesses of all sizes. If you want the convenience of sending and receiving faxes at any time anywhere, consider the Internet fax service. You see how the Internet works much better than fax software fax or a fax machine.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/internet-fax-vs-fax-software-510946.html

How Do You Download Games To Your Wii?

2008-11-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

Looking for a way to get your hands on some great Wii games without having to clean your bank account to do so? The Nintendo Wii takes home entertainment to the next level after its launch two years ago, and as its popularity has continued to grow Nintendo has continued to offer its users the latest and greatest in video games technology.The problem for many users run is that in most new technologies that comes with a very high price. In order to find enough games to keep them occupied for more than a day or two, players have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the purchase of Wii products outside the shelves of a situation that for the vast Nintendo, but not so great for those of us on a budget! This year, Nintendo is helping to eliminate this problem through the use of downloaded games, video and other media. There are hundreds of games currently available for the Nintendo Wii, but for most people (those who want to be able to pay his rent) the price of these games can be a little extreme. With the new variety of means available for download online players from around the world can play more games for less money.Where can go to great Wii download online games? (Unlike games with poor-quality graphics and more delay molasses in winter?) It is important to choosy when you're choosing a site for downloading content form, because you want to be sure you're getting the most high quality games without any spam, viruses or other nasty little surprises.

There really is not guaranteed when it comes to downloading media offline, but there are some things you can see for.1) Find a site that offers multiple media. The Wii is able to withstand Quick Time video, MP3 audio, JPEG images and movies, not just games. Sites that have the ability to offer these multiple media have the ability to offer a great game experience.2) Choose a site that is free of pop-ups. Contrary to popular belief, if a site owner chooses to do so that they can easily adjust your site so that you do not have to deal with popups. The problem is that cuts into their profit margin! All sites download over the network tend to be loaded with spyware, malware and viruses, which means that the discharge often is not the only thing being collected when you come to call. Sites like http://www.pleasefeedmywii.com, which supports Wii media of all kinds, offer a pop-up free environment, which means you can enjoy your experience rather than having to ask themselves what they we will have to clean out your computer next.Once chosen a site and found the game you want, the process of passing along their Wii is simple. Just download the game for the hard drive of your personal computer, transferred to a memory card or disk, and voila! You have a brand new media for Wii at your fingertips.

Ventrilo Servers Determine Your Gaming Experience

2008-11-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

"There can be aware of what is missing when it comes to their gaming experience and community. Using Ventrilo servers may increase its stake in the community and productivity can help you make the gaming experience at home and turn it into a real social environment.Ventrilo is a voice over IP software application, which is priority software. It is available for both Windows and Mac OS platforms. This uses a headset and microphone and is similar in design to a conference call. It allows you to connect with several people at once through their computer Internet connection. It is a perfect companion for any gaming community can take it from a simple game into a social activity, allowing players to talk to each other at the same time they are playing and interacting game.Using in Ventrilo server requires a high-speed connection for better sound quality but the quality is similar to a telephone call, lower quality options for dial-up connections, as well as higher quality codec options are available. Ventrilo does come in a free version, which limits the service to a total of eight users in a time.What this means for their community games is that players are able to engage in conversation while they are playing at the same time his hands are free to remain involved in the controls of the game.

This not only allows for a faster game, but also allows greater social interaction, because players do not have to stop the game to talk to each other or even discuss strategies.This can help create the opportunity for friends who became and, of course, increases the speed at which things happen within the gaming community. This is the main reason why Ventrilo servers can provide exactly what you need to give your gaming community a boost for the next level and turn it not only gambling in a community, but in a social network full of people and interests that can interact in a way that promotes teamwork and productivity.Having a community of game is more than just a game or games if your community promotes more than one. It is about bringing people related in a way that gives them a way to enjoy not only games they like, but from a social interaction that goes beyond e-mail and instant messaging stage.It brings a new level for games gambling and gaming communities. A Ventrilo server is precisely what all gaming community needs. The free version allows eight simultaneous connections at any time with a pro version that is available to handle heavy loads. It gives an excellent sound quality with a low use of ancho de banda and for those with connections there banda ancha the option of obtaining a codec to enhance sound quality. Dial connections can also use the Ventrilo servers, but will have lower sound quality available. "

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/ventrilo-servers-determine-your-gaming-experience-533433.html

Computer Rentals For I.T. Evaluation And Staff Training

2008-11-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

A rental agreement computer can be a blessing for companies to introduce new hardware platforms and software applications. Increasingly, companies are resorting to short-term or long-term lease, rather than lease or buy verification software for training and implementation of hardware and / or software changes. Essays and Corporate training has become a growth area for both equipment and training for dealers firms.The transition from one computer to another platform can be a special time imposing a standpoint of any IT organization.

Perform major transition - for example a platform Mac to PC or vice versa - can be a tortuous and cost-intensive exercise. IT managers are increasingly finding that beta testing a new platform hardware or software system before the entire company helps implement both in the planning and implementation phase of this deployment of identifying barriers to the deployment and give staff - both end users and IT professionals - the opportunity to train and reach the speed in the new system before you go live.In the trial, entering a lease for the system under study and the creation of a simulated work environment - whether that is a trading floor or a simple office setting - gives both end users and a company's technical support staff an opportunity to evaluate the system under consideration in a mock setting expensive and before a binding purchase agreement is entered into. To test software, creating a fleet of rental of computers, peripherals and servers configured to run the new system offers a company the experience and feedback you need to make a purchase decision.

Most companies hire computer companies can load and set up a false system and have been delivered and installed in time for managers and staff to gain experience which will provide useful information with which a company can make a good informed purchasing decision. From the perspective of training, the critical time period on any platform or systems transition the first days and weeks after a system goes live. In the weeks before the transition to a new computing environment, taking in information technologies and training of professionals created a rental fleet of computers in a simulation workspace can allow staff to be familiar with the transition to a new system without unduly interfere with day to day operations. The reactions of pre-training for personnel who will be end users of a new system which usually means costly delays in getting a new system up and running will be minimized.

The fact that an entire staff is trained, or if a core group of staff receive training before a new platform or systems roll-out, the vision of an enterprise IT support staff get the training phase prepares for the inevitable mistakes during the first days and weeks after deployment. Often, technical problems and problems that would otherwise be unforeseen surfaced beta testing.Most leading provider of equipment rental will be able to arrange short or long term lease agreement that will allow a company to evaluate new systems and train staff before a system or platform is purchased or deployed. The real-time, the real task of evaluating proposals or new systems, and staff training in new systems or platform, can help a company to choose the optimum system or platform for your business and avoid costly delays and Technical problems delay that often times enterprise-wide deployments and throwing them outside the budget. Enter a computer rental agreement before a binding purchase agreement is signed, and before that a system is implemented across the company, can provide a wealth of information and feedback to avoid costly mistakes

Get to Know More About the Importance of Secured Data Storage and Backups

2008-11-08T10:34:00.001-08:00

Since the files and databases are very susceptible to many threats from outside, experts recommend highly the importance of secure data storage and backup. These procedures can save people from many problems, as well as other undesirable effects and unsecured computer unprotected and save them from data loss or replacement of many man hours of work. To stay abreast of any situation, it is better for individuals and businesses to acquire services providers highly reliable data storage and secured backups.Almost daily, many individuals and businesses are losing some of its most valuable data for many unexpected reasons. Moreover, these losses can put them into catastrophic, stressful and costly. For some, the loss of data is simply irreplaceable as all major financial statements, emails, and photographs.

These are just some of the many important reasons why individuals and companies must provide backup for their data. To keep computers free from all kinds of difficulties and problems, secured data storage and backup provide all the solutions necessary for the protection and security of all important files and databases. In general, these insurance outside the capacity of data storage are safe, reliable and easy to use. At the same time, people can expect such backups would be swift, consistent and convenient. While outside backups, people can use passwords to protect all your valuable data and private, while the backup process is taking place. At the same time, these tools regularly to keep all these important data automatically to prevent any of them were lost. Above anything else, the backup software is easy to use. A few minutes, users can now enjoy the simple interface software, while eliminating concerns about the safety and security of their files and databases. Home PlansFor all computers at home, people may want to protect all its valuable source data through the acquisition of backup plans.

They can choose between the option backup core, which is basically an operation to click, or the option to reserve energy, which operates in a richer interface. Some of the basic characteristics of backup include secure file access, custom programming backup, and simple interface. On the other hand, defines the reserve of energy only many sets of backup at the same time, creates a backup for the optional hard drives, and works well using any operating system. Corporate PlansBecause many companies rely heavily on their most valuable data, we need to employ some companies reserve options to help their business survive. They can use business backup plans to support some of its most important database applications, even though they lack sufficient skills to carry out the technical operations. They can use these modules to back up all those important database applications like MySQL, Oracle and Microsoft Exchange Server. In addition, companies using backup plans for a special software that provides secure a backup of options for important files and minimize their space. Moreover, businesses support schemes backup different types of databases and computing platforms. Because these data are automated backups, users no longer need to acquire the services of more people to perform such procedures.

CD Replication and Printing, DVD Duplication and Printing For Independent Artists and Software Designers

2008-11-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

CD reproduction and printing, DVD duplication and printing of Independent Artists and DesignersWhether Software is software, music or movies you want to repeat, there are companies that can reproduce their material for you. The business of reproducing disks has increased significantly in years.One factor that has played a key role in this growth industry is the factor of technology. There are more people capable of replication in mass producing discs and there are an enormous number of independent artists that businesses need to reproduce their materials. The relationship between the artists in need of the service and businesses that can provide with replicated discs has grown significantly.

Many artists still want to play discs on their own and if it is less costly, it is a mundane and arduous task. If you are an independent artist and feel that you can not spend money to have your music playing, you might want to consider other aspects of the company, could change their idea of mind.The CD replication is to present his music in a professional manner so that the People will take you seriously. Sometimes having your CD professionally reproduced or do you yourself can be divided force of success and failure. For example, you may be the best country singer in your area and want independent market yourself, but as a client who may be reluctant to buy his music because it's a disc recorded at home wrapped in a sleeve of one hundred and ten written with Magic Marker at the top reading "My Country Album. "To succeed in this competitive industry, we must be innovative and that applies to all aspects of what you do. CD replication is not just for independent musicians, is for aspiring movie stars who make their own movies and want to be able to distribute en masse. When the time comes for people to see his masterpiece, which must be able to receive it in a professional and stylish

Many CD replication companies also watch DVD. They provide you many creative ways to present their product as the colourful and sleeves personalized DVD, provides a cardboard box and many other wonderful ideas for your presentation. Once again, do you want to spend a large budget to make a film and then sell the films with aesthetics bad for them. If you are a software designer and have a new product can also use these CD replication companies to make mass copies of your product. Some of these companies are so advanced that even can make bar codes for merchandise.Another incredible thing that these companies can do for you is the impression CD. You can print professional-quality labels for their CDs that have pictures, text and other designs fresh. At instruct someone to play CD's that are not only giving them your money, you are ensuring their longevity in the competitive entertainment industry

What is a USB Flash Drive?

2008-11-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

USB Flash drive is considered one of the most popular storage devices on the market. It was first introduced to the public by IBM in 1998. They received instant popularity when it launched and which have replaced the two floppy discs and CDs. You can take them anywhere in your key ring, in your purse or in your pocket. One advantage is the fact that they are rewritable, meaning they can keep all memory stored without power supply.The USB Flash Drive is available in several formats: 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 128GB, etc. What you choose depends on how much storage you need and how much they're willing to pay for the device. Since 2006, there was USB flash drives that can hold as much as 16 GB of information and can be used with any equipment to the extent that supports USB mass storage file system. Most computers have this format and it is very difficult not to find one who has it. USB flash drives are also known as "chip sticks", "thumb drives", "pen drives" and "USB keys." Flashbay is a company that is a leading provider USB flash drives, as well as other forms of storage devices. They all have different flash units available in several colors and storage formats.

You can also have the USB flash drives monogrammed with his name or logo of a company for businesses purposes.When USB flash drives were first introduced to the public, were very simple in style and form. Usually, if they were available in different colors, then it's only primary colors. Many of the devices even patented yet, and IBM was one of the only companies that sell products.Now, you can buy a USB drive in any color, style, business, etc.In order to better explain the process, USB means " ; Universal Standard Bus. " This means that it is a port that can be used on any computer to access a range of accessories, programs and files. A USB Flash Drive is compact and acts as a removable storage device that allows users to store large amounts of information without losing when the device is removed.Inside of small device is a small printed circuit board which is enclosed in a sturdy shell Plastic and metal sometimes a shell

For use extremely hard metal is the way to go. The only part of device that can remove from the shell is the cover. It protects the USB protrudes end of the device that connects to a computer is not needed another source of energy or a battery of the USB flash drive to operate at the computer.However, the only way to access any of the information on the port is being connected to a computer. Students find that a USB flash drive is essential for all your important documents. Most high school students and college students are always having to use a computer for his schoolwork. Instead of using paper, they can simply store all information on USB flash drive.In recent years, floppy disks are thought to be easily damaged or could be eliminated if held in a particular way. CDs also are easily scratched. By using a USB flash drive can store their programs desktop so you can access them from another computer. The future of the flash drives are too big and is intended only to improve here after.

Best Laser Printers

2008-11-04T10:22:00.000-08:00

If you are in the situation where you have to buy a new laser printer, you want to enter the market as a buyer informed so you can buy the best possible laser printer. New and improved laser printers are being developed and hitting the market every day, and there are so many options can be very rapid. Due to the rapid development of technology, including the cost of the best laser printers are increasingly low. Caro toner remains a problem, but with a little research will find you have access to some of the best laser printers ever made at low prices.Some of the best laser printers can be bought include Brother HL-4040CN, Dell Color Laser Printer 1320c, and the Konica Minolta Magicolor 2540DL. They have great options and performance and many are available for less than $ 400. The above are considered some of the best printers laser printers around because of all the great reviews they receive. The best decision we can make when searching for the purchase of a printer is consulting with comments from real customers. These are the experts on how these machines at work every day business and personal use. You can find great feedback about the best laser printers in some large websites.What search PrinterWhen a laser on the market for a printer, you want to make sure you are buying to suit their needs. Often, even if they only intend to print in black and white documents, laser printers are the best color laser printers for the job, because the black contrasts are much richer and easier to read. You might want to consider buying a color printer if you really need professional-looking documents. If you do not need their black and white pages to be spectacular, then you should check some of laser printers with only black ink

These may prove more economical, if that is one of its priorities.What to AvoidReading reviews can help you find exactly what they need and avoid all DUDS that can stop you in carrying out after only a few print jobs. You also do not want a printer that will leave streaks in his role, or is too difficult to use. When reading the comments from customers real and tangible experience with the laser printer you're looking at, you're sure you're really buying into the most reliable and best laser printers around. Real world best proof is certain that even the most reliable guarantees, since it can save much time as you can lose with the repairs. You want to buy only demonstrated printers to ensure that your business and life are as smooth as possible.Make sure saves time and money and get out before all the great feedback from clients with expertise that can help you make a purchase decision. If you're objective is to save his world from a nuisance, then educate you before making a large purchase decision.

Is it Safe to Use a Windows Command to Remove Spyware?

2008-10-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

So you're looking for a way to remove malicious software, and you think a window of command to remove spyware can be the solution? This article describes the problems with the commands and more efficient ways to get rid of your computer from unwanted programs and what to look at removing software. After reading this, you will be able to clean your computer easily, and without putting your system configuration risk.Using the command line sounds great. Of course it does, it's free, fast, perfect! But the truth is that it is more trouble than it's worth. Software today has grown rather complex and can not be eliminated simply by entering a simple command. You may think you have removed, but then you find that the symptoms return in full force.Many infections have found a way to defend themselves from being eliminated.

They block your prompt and task manager, and blocking their access to them. Therefore, we can not stop the operation of it. Commands can be long and complicated. If a typographical error or incorrectly entered in any way, can cause a system changes that could leave your computer running bad, or do so useless for you altogether.There is a most effective measure to eliminate garbage from your computer. Cleaners and scanners eliminate threats without the negative effects of prompts.Using most programs today is as simple as downloading, installing and scanning. They do a better job and thoroughly clean your computer. Software does not cause undesired effects, and not affect the performance of his team. Using a good professional program to eliminate unwanted junk is efficient, fast, simple and far more superior way to clean your computer.Not all anti-spyware program offers the same benefits, and not all of them can be trusted to protect your computer.

Many programs, including self-cleaning, are unreliable and left unmarked areas. You will find having to run multiple applications in order to fully protect your computer. It's better to invest in a professional cleaner so you can be sure that harmful content machine.When is not in their quest for a high-end cleaner, look for reliability, ease of access, and support. The program should be easy to use and effective. The support is invaluable if you run into problems or have any questions. Good programs include each of these worthwhile and the extra time and money you put into them. After all, it is cheaper to pay a small fee, instead of having to take your computer to a repair shop, or worse, having to buy a new computer.Commands, ultimately, are a safe risk and decision. They can provide unintended results of the system and create instability. Anti-spyware programs offer much better protection.

They are fast, easy to use and do not damage your computer's performance or changing its configuration. Spend some time looking for the best products of spyware and maintain the reliability, ease of access, and support in mind. It's best to use a product that cleans your computer from spyware, and continue to protect themselves from future threats, rather than using a window of command that may or may not remove spyware and puts your system at risk.

Lost Data? - Recover It!

2008-10-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

The loss of their valuable data, either for damages to your computer or accidental deletion, is a disappointing situation. If the loss of files containing sensitive personal information, treasured photographs, data or for your small business, the loss can be devastating. His data do not have to stay lost, however. Data recovery services specialize in restoring files that most people who do not cree that may recover. Read on to learn how the data recovery services work.Why Data Recovery is PossibleThe files stored on your computer are all written in the hard disk, which consists of thin, round plates coated with a layer bright magnetic storage media Data, like the shiny coating on the thin figure in VHS tapes and cassette tapes. As with a VCR or a tape player, a head inside your computer's hard drive reads and reads and writes data on magnetic storage medium.When you delete a file on your computer is not actually erased from the hard disk. The hard drive, just change the scoreboard in that area "occupied" to "vacant". The data itself is still there until it is written. Think of it as a home video that you have decided you do not want more. Until you actually tape it, is still there.Even data is written once more, that can still be found. This is because the data is written about it often imperfect, leaving traces of the original file. With the right tools, such traces can be located, decryption, and - in general - in mounting of complete dossiers. However, the more times an old file is overwritten, the harder it is to recover it - so that as soon as possible contact with a data recovery service, better.Data Recovery Options1. Service data recovery. When you contact a data recovery service, usually the first thing you want to know is how you want to recover the files were lost. You may have accidentally deleted files, or data that might have been damaged. In the worst case, your hard drive could have suffered damage, ranging from relatively minor damage such as hard drive crash, serious physical injury, such as floods or fires. However, the data recovery services most likely will not be able to make an appointment until they have inspected the hard drive, so you'll have to leave his post or hard drive for them. Before the data recovery service begins work on your hard drive, they will make an exact copy of the unit

All work will be carried out in this copy, to avoid doing more damage to the unit itself. Using the original copy of the unit, the data recovery service uses a variety of tools and techniques to try to recover lost data. Each disk creates a sort of table of contents to the principle of unity; recover old table of contents, data recovery service can say that the files you need is in the unit, which makes it easier to give meaning ay restore written-more data. Once the data has been reset the unit, the data recovery services of controls to ensure that files have been recovered are complete. Once again, they can use old tables of contents from the hard disk to see if there are holes in the archives. Once you have assured that the data is all there, that a backup to CD or other storage medium, and send it back to you.2. Lost software. A common type of software data recovery is "recovering" software, which allows you to retrieve files you've accidentally deleted. However, remember that when you delete a file, the hard drive of the mark as available storage. In other words, anything you do after delete this file - if they recover downloading software, saving a new file, or even the closure of your computer as normal - you can overwrite data, making it impossible to recover without service data recovery. One way to avoid this is to download the software to retrieve a unit separately as an external hard drive or even a USB drive. Unless you know what you're doing, though, you should probably call a professional immediately - and waiting, and the more you tinker with your computer, the more likely they will create the need for data recovery important in order to restore its file.3 deleted. Uncorrupt software. Another type of data recovery software is one designed to discover and / or fix lost or damaged files. Again, the danger is that each piece of data to write to disk could overwrite the file you're trying to restore. Since the file is ever lost or damaged, you can not rely on the hard drive overwrite it is not known. Once again, immediately contact a professional is probably the best course of action.There are many data recovery software packages available online. These can be very tempting, but remember that depending on what you need to do, which may or may not meet their needs. And even if the software can solve your problem, using them without professional guidance may inadvertently create more problems not only make sure that is going to have to use a data recovery service, but also creating more work for them (and Hence a higher price for you). Due to the nature of a hard drive or other memory storage, data loss is not necessarily permanent. An experienced data recovery services can help restore their valuable photos, financial information, or small business data. However, do not forget that when your valuable data has been deleted, damaged or lost, time is essential if it is to get back: The longer your computer runs, and that more often writes on the hard drive , The worse the situation becomes.

Tips For End Users of Excel 2003 and 2007

2008-10-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some tips for end users of Excel, both the 2003 and 2007 versions. In this article, you will learn how to print a portion of a spreadsheet, print column headings on each page, and change the default font - in both versions of the application.Excel 2007 - Printing a portion of a Spreadsheet.First selected range of cells you want to print. Then, under the heading "page layout," go to print area icon, select "Set Print Area." Then print the worksheet. Finally, select Delete print area "and the entire worksheet will print the next time (instead of just the selected area). There is also a section at the end of the article describing the format painter.Printing column headings in each Page.First, go to "menu page layout" and click "Print Titles" icon, then click in the "Road" tab. Then, to print column headers on each page, enter the rows that contain labels under the column "Print titles" in "Rows to repeat." When you're ready, click "Print". Change Default Font.In Excel 2007, the default font and size is Calibri 11.First, click "Microsoft Office" and then click on "Options Excel." By creating new work in "Popular", click on the font you want to use the "Using this source," then enter the font size you want to use the "Fontsize" box.NOTE: you must Excel restart to use the new selection by default, which affects only newly created workbooks.Excel 2003 - Printing start Spreadsheet.To part of a selected range of cells you want to print. For the next step in the file menu, go to "print area."

Then click on "Set Print Area." Then print the worksheet. When you save your print area is also saved.Printing column headings in each Page.If you have spreadsheet data covering several pages and want column headings in each of them, this will help: First beam click on Page Setup in the File menu, then click on the "Road" tab. Then, to print the column labels on every page, enter the rows that contain labels under the column "Print titles" in the "Rows to repeat in the table above." Finally, click " ; Print ". Changing the default FontFirst, click "Options" in the "Tools" menu. Then click on a font in the "Standard typeface" box on the General tab. Finally, click a font size in the "size" box.NOTE: You must restart Excel to start using this new default font and font size. This new default will be effective for new work cree - are not working existing format is affected.What Painter? Those who prefer to do simple Word documents could not be the heaviest users Style. If you want to use styles already created a document format Painter is an excellent tool. In order to implement a paragraph style of a paragraph to another: first put the cursor somewhere in the style of the paragraph, then click the format Painter (Ctrl-Shift + C). Click the paragraph where you want to apply the style. If you want to apply style to several paragraphs, double-click the Formet Painter. Then click on each paragraph later, to implement this style.

Should the average person use Linux

2008-10-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

I have tried Linux over the last couple days to see how far it has come. I was impressed and for just surfing, emailing, word processing, music, photos and with the new Wine you can also run a lot of Windows based software. The Linux I am trying is called Ubuntu and I am really impressed with the progress of this Linux distribution.

You hear a lot about switching to the Linux operating system, instead of using Windows. I have used Linux a few of times, mainly Mandrake, it is suppose to be the most user friendly version of Linux. Once I had Linux installed, it was fast and most of the software is free. The installation of Linux is not that hard, I believe the average computer user with some knowledge of computers and installing software, would have little difficulty with the installation. That is if Linux recognizes all the hardware and automatically installs all the drivers for the user. If it has trouble with a certain piece of hardware, then it gets complicated. The biggest draw back to Linux is getting use to the names of everything. To be honest it is rather bewildering at first, rpm, drake, dev, mount, lilo there are no familiar Windows terms to relate to.

I have installed Mandrake 7, 8, 9, and 10.1 each version was easier then the last version to install and setup. I know quite a bit about computers, coding and installing hardware and with each install and setup I had to manually install drivers and software using the Command line or Utilities that come with Linux, you may have to install the utility. Linux uses RPMs, which in Windows would be a ZIP file, but you can't just double click the RPM and have it automatically install itself. You need to either use the RPM manager to install it or use the Command line to tell it to unpack and install the file. Now I found it challenging to figure out how to install software, thankfully there is a lot of help on the internet, on how to work in Linux. To install java for Foxfire was hmm, not something my sister would be capable of doing. I had to first find the right rpm, then download it to a folder, then I had to open a Command box and type in certain commands in order to install it. I found it to be interesting, but certainly not something an average computer user would be comfortable with.

I must say though that once you have everything setup and running, Linux is rock solid. I setup a Linux machine for Matt, he did not like it, but he did say that while he was IMing on AIM using Gaim, it would tell him that the file he was downloading, contained a virus, it is secure. Matt was able to mess up the user acct he was on and if you mess Linux up, I found it very difficult to fix. I ended up deleting the Acct and set up a new one. For the average computer user I have to say Linux would be a bit to complex to maintain and update. For the above average computer user, you may find it interesting and challenging to setup and use. It is a fast and solid OS and you can get a lot of free software to use with it, but it takes a lot of time to setup and configure.

So am I saying I do not like Linux, No, I like Linux, it was fun for me to setup and play around with. It would have been easier to setup and install if I had bought the Retail Software Package, that way I would have had all the drivers and software, instead of having to search the net for it. That is something to consider, if you are interested in trying Linux, you may want to buy the retail version verses the free download versions. But ya know me, I like free, lol. The other thing you have to consider with Linux is Gaming, if you are a gamer, Linux does run games faster, but not all games are coded to run on Linux. Although quite a few companies have produced game titles for Linux, I would check to see if the games you like are available before you install it. Mandrake 2007 is out now and you are suppose to be able to play most of the games that you play on Windows and a lot easier install and user interface. This Linux maybe the one for people to try. What the heck, buy another hard drive and install Linux on it, find out for yourself if you like it or not, I liked it, it was different and interesting. I will be downloading the new Mandrake 2007 and installing it, I'm excited to see what has changed and if they made the updating easier, I uninstalled 10.1 so I could install Windows Vista. But I have another hard drive I think I will setup for the new Mandrake, I just disconnect one hard drive from the power and the IDE cable and plug in another one, that way I do not have to mess with any Boot Managers, lol. So to wrap up, I like Linux, but I'm a Windows user for now, Linux is interesting and fun to play with and as a Server top notch. After I try out the newest version of Mandrake I will report my thoughts and reactions to it.

The names of things are hard to get use to.
Very different from Windows when it comes to Updating or Installing Software.
Very nice interface and runs very fast.
Not all Software will run on Linux, but they are coming out with a solid emulator so this will change.
A ton of free Software to use on Linux.
It is a free Operating System, but for the average user I would buy the Retail Versions.
Once setup Linux is a very Secure and a very Solid OS.
Most commonly used on Servers.

Trouble Shooting Windows Error Messages ( Part 3 )

2008-09-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

Memory Test Failed

Error message when you first Bootup, try shutting down your Computer, unplug it from the wall plug for a couple minutes, plug it back in and restart it, this will clear some of the Memory Chips. Memory Test Fail, it is telling you that the Mother Board or memory on a Hardware Card has failed. Also try going into Safe Mode, hold down the F8 Key, just before the Windows Startup Screen and go into Safe Mode. Go into your Device Manager and check for any yellow exclamation marks on your Hardware Devices, if one has a problem, check it's Properties for conflicts or Remove it and have Windows Refind it and reinstall it, have your Drivers Disk if one came with the Hardware and the Windows CD handy, in case Windows asks for them.

Content Advisor Error when trying to open Internet Explorer

Go to Find-type in-ratings.pol-rename it to ratings.old Open IE go to the Content Advisor and open it ( do not type in a password or user name!!!)remove all the information in every section of it. Then close IE and reopen it, the error message should stop. Don't use it again, it messes up for some reason, even if you have the password it messes up.

Missing Operating System Error

Check this page for Information Microsoft Knowledge Base Missing OS, You can try copying the System files from the Windows Startup Disk to the C: Drive. Start the Computer with the Startup Disk, at the A: prompt type sys a: c: this will copy the system files from the A drive to the C drive. It can't Boot up because it can not find the boot files or they are corrupted.

Restoring the Registry

If for some reason your system has crashed bad, such as a Virus or a bad download. Windows makes 4 backups of your Registry, they are cab files, rb000-1-2-3. If your system crashed bad, Reboot, when the Computer first boots up and before the Windows Screen loads, press the F8 Key, you should get a black screen with 6 choices, choose 6. Safe Mode Command Prompt Only, at the prompt type : scanreg /restore ( there is a space between scanreg and the / )a screen will come up giving you the 4 cab files, the backups will be Dated, if you had not rebooted after the crash, pick the one with that days date, click once on the file, then click the restore button. If you tried to reboot after the crash pick a later dated file. Programs that were installed after that cab file was made, will no longer be valid, remove them and reinstall them. The cab file is a copy of Windows Registry, the brains of your Computer, each program that is installed, puts Keys in the Registry, that tells Windows what to do with their files. When you Restore an older Backup of the Registry you are removing those bad or good keys from the registry. Without those Keys programs cannot run.

Trouble Shooting Windows Error Messages ( Part 2 )

2008-09-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

Microsoft's Knowledge Base

When you get an Error Message even after you Reboot, write it down and go Here and Here to check, Clear all fields and check to search the Knowledge base, type the error message in the search box ( like VXD Error ) and read all related topics to that Error, you then, may be able to troubleshoot it. It may tell you if it is related to a certain program, file, driver, etc.

Online Programs

I get error messages with certain programs,such as, when I go Online at Mplayer.com, the Mic program that logs me on and off the site sometimes will not shut down( stays in RAM), my computer will not shut down, I get blue screens or get stuck on the Windows is shutting down screen, but if I reboot after I have been Online, using my reboot button on the Computer or ctrl-alt-delete, it goes away, you clear it from your RAM. With Visual Page I get Illegal Operation boxes, I think it is because I open and close screens to fast, when I go slower, I do not get them. So as you see, most are not bad, just annoying, but I would rather have Windows be over protective then under protective.

Add/Remove

Regular Maintenance of your File System and Uninstalling and Installing Software properly will keep the Errors to a minimum. Use the Add/Remove program in your control panel to remove programs. Running a program such as Norton Utilities WinDoctor or RegCleaner after removing a program, will help to find and give you the option to remove anything the Uninstall utility left behind in the Registry. A lot of these are left in the registry and are still linked to a program that is no longer on your Computer. You or I would not be able to find these problems, being that they are in the registry.

System File Checker

Also run System File Checker regularly, Start--Programs--Accessories--System Tools--System Information--Tools--System File Checker. Windows Scans itself and repairs corrupted files, it will ask you for the Windows Disk or your restore disk to restore from.

Device Manager

Also check the Device Manager start-settings-control panel-system-Device Manager Tab to troubleshoot any problems you may be having with your hardware. Sometimes Windows for some odd reason will duplicate things in the Device Manager, like two of the same CD-Roms or two mice, if it shows doubles ( identical ) check the properties of each one and delete the one that has problems or no resources. You may have to delete both of them and have Windows refind it on a reboot. I have had it double and Triple almost everything, which created, Problems, but after I deleted the extra ones everything went back to normal.

Scan Disk

You may also want to run Scan Disk--Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Scan Disk. You should really run this once a month, check the fix Errors Automatically box.

Disk Defragmentor

If you install and Uninstall programs frequently, after running Scan Disk run Disk Defragmentor-same place as Scan Disk, this will reorganize your files, instead of them being scattered all over the disk, they will be place at the beginning of the disk. That way, the hard drive is not looking all over the disk to find what it needs. Like my desk, I have papers laying all over the place, OK I know that file is some where, maybe under here or under this. Disk Defragmentor will come along and put all the files back where they belong, so all I have to do, is go to the file cabinet and whala there it is in file cabinet.

Defragmenting Problems

When you run Windows Defragmentor or any Defragmentor, go to Ctlr-Alt-Delete and End the Tasks on everything , except SysTray and Explorer. Defragmentor will take forever or just keep restarting when all those programs are running.

Windows System Information

This can give you a lot of information about your Computer, go to Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Information, it can also be helpful tracking down conflicts with your software or hardware.

DSS Agent

Some Errors come from Startup Programs. One in particular that gave me problem's was DSS agent. Once I disabled it, the problem's went away. I disabled it in the msconfig startup. Start-Run-type, msconfig, click the, Startup Tab, I then unchecked DSS agent. This was a registration program, in a folder called bbstore on my C drive.

DirectX Diagnostic Tool

You find this by going to Start-Programs-Accessories-System Information-Tools-DirectX Diagnostic Tool. You should stay updated to the newest version of DirectX, which is 9.0c, a lot of your programs need DirectX to function properly. You will see the Version you have on the first screen of the Tool. Here is a Link to the latest version of DirectX, if you need it. DirectX 9.0c

Trouble Shooting Windows Error Messages ( Part 1 )

2008-09-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

XP Pro Crashed

Had a problem with my XP Pro machine while playing Quake 3, it would crash and go to a Blue Screen with wierd symbols on it. Figured it out, I have an Antec Power Supply 400 watt, with 2 fans, one of the fans stopped running, it was the bottom, large fan. Apparently running Quake heated up the power supply enough to create the error. I had also added a 2nd hard drive and 2 - 19 inch LCD monitors. I installed a new Antec 430 watt power supply with True Power, runs like a charm now : )

Check Connections

If your having problems, first check to make sure all those cables connected to your Computer and your peripherals( printer, scanner,etc ) are plugged in and screwed on tight and all the power cords are plugged in right. The computer needs to be OFF when you do this.

Check your Computers Date/Time

I received all kinds of errors, illegal and blue screens, the problem was that my Computers Date and Time had been changed, don't ask me how, as soon as I set it correctly whala, no problems. Having the correct date and time is really critical for some of the software, so if your having problems, check to make sure it is set to the correct date and time. Go to Start-Settings-Control Panel-Date/Time Properties.

Power Management, turn it off

This is for Laptop Computers to save battery life. There are several ways to turn this off, you can turn it off in the Bios, msconfig uncheck LoadPowerProfile, there are two entries or you can go to the Power Management Utility and set it to never turn off the monitor or harddrive. Go to Start-Settings-Control Panel-Power Management Properties. If on, it could all of sudden turn off your monitor or shut down your computer.

Illegal Operations

When you get the little Gray box that say's something like ---This Program has performed an illegal operation save work, program will be shut down. This one is just Windows protecting your Computer, some software programs were not getting along, so Windows shuts down the last one opened. If you, just close the last program or reboot your Computer, which will clear your RAM ( random access memory) that will generally solve the problem.

Blue Screens

The Blue Screen of Death, with the message like-- A fatal exception has occurred at----- this is more then likely a Hardware, Driver or a Software conflict. Usually, just rebooting your Computer will solve the problem. I was getting Blue Screens on shut down on all three Computers. It was the drivers for my Video Cards, after reinstalling them and updating to DirectX 9.0c they went away. I also received another one, that was a Win32 Error and I kept getting it more and more, I finally figured out that the new CPU Chip I had install was creating the error. As soon as I replaced it with the old one, the Blue Screens went away. I had even went as far as Reformatting and reinstalling Windows on both Hard drives and I still had the error, which told me it was not the software creating the error, it had to be the hardware. To get info on an Error, go to Microsoft's Knowledge Base, it probably will not give you info on the exact error message but you can generally get some idea of where to look. Write down the type of error like VXD Error and then search for that error. If you get a Blue Screen right after you install software, look for a patch at the Companies Web Site, if that doesn't help, uninstall it. The same with a new piece of Hardware, look for an updated driver, if that doesn't help, possibly the hardware is defective or not compatible with your system. Also check the Web Sites Faqs, to see if others had a problem like yours and what fixes were suggested. Some Blue Screens on shut down are from running your Virus program in the background, actually I only run the Email Scan and Manually run a system scan once a month or more if I think I need to. But, if I download something off a site, I scan it before I unzip it, play it or open it. Also, if I share a disk with someone I scan the Disk before I use it.

Startup Programs in Windows msconfig

2008-09-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Information and picture of msconfig.

Programs that Startup when Windows 95, 98, Me and XP boots up. To get to the Utility that shows you what is starting up go to: Start-then click on-Run, type in ( msconfig ) and click on OK. For Windows 95 users download Startup Cop,( msconfig is not in 95 ), on my Downloads page, I use this with Windows 98 to, because you do not have to Reboot everytime you disable or enable a program. In the startup tab there will be a list of all the applications that are set to run once windows has loaded. These are the main resource utilizing programs because most are running constantly in the background. The list is usually quite long and you will notice a lot of programs may be repetitive. If software is not required to be loaded on boot, uncheck the item and reboot, in Win98 Systray and Explorer are required, if you have your Email Virus scan set to run, leave that checked.

Important Note: If you are unclear of what a particular file is used for, contact the vendor of the software in order to determine how important it is for the file to load during boot up. If you are unable to locate the purpose of the file, you may wish to allow the file to continue loading, to prevent any problems from occurring.

A Websites fight against Spambots, Spammers and Hackers.

2008-09-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

I have had to remove my Discus Message Board and my Vizbook Guestbook to stop the Comment spambots from spamming them. This is a Global Internet problem right now, any input form that is accessible to spambots, is at risk. If the spambots do not get to them, then the individual graffiti spammer will leave stuff. If you have a web site you are experiencing all these problems. I have installed a new Guestbook that includes what is called Captcha, what is it ? A test to tell what is Human and what is a Computer automated program. You can check it out on the sign in page of the Guestbook. A link to the Captcha Project

Next I put in a robot.txt file, which should be read by every bot or spider that enters the site, it tells them where not to go on the site, the bad bots do not read the robot file. These are the bad bots and need to be blocked or punished for not following the rules. Next I made sure to put the Robot-nofollow-noindex in Meta tags of the pages that the robot.txt file listed. You can view the contents of the robot.txt file on my home page, the robot.txt checker button. Well that should stop bots from going to pages that I list and they should no longer be listed on the search engines for a spammer to find, ya sure lol. Link to the Robots.txt org page

The next thing I did was make sure I named the files in the denied folders something different then what would be obvious, such as, if it is a Guestbook, name it something else, like fishing.html, so it isn't so obvious as to what it is. Next if there is a link to a certain form, if I could, I encoded the link by using this generator Hide link or mailto: I also used this to encode all my email links, (this is encoded using Java, if you have disabled Java you will not see it), a real person can still get the email address, but not a spambot. Well that should do it, ok

So I'm lol, yup cause I am not done yet. Next, yep there is more, I put some code in what is called a .htaccess file, this contains some code that will deny (BAD BOTS) or (BAD USERS) or allow all good users to enter my site, they are always changing the names and creating new scripts (Bots) to run on the web, some will even write a script (Bot) just to crawl a certain site, telling it what to put into what forms, devious hey. A bot or a spider is a script or program such as your Windows Search program, only these search the Internet and indexes all the pages that are not listed in the robot.txt files and puts them in a huge data base. When you do a search on Google, you are accessing that data base of indexed pages. Bad Bots do not look at the robot.txt file, they search for scripts or form fields to enter the info in or hack the script to deface a page. You have all seen the viaga, poker, etc links , Multiple Links in a row, sometimes 20 or 40 in a row every day, sorry, flash back of all the entries I had to delete, anyways, on Guestbooks and Message Boards and yes Email Spam. We are all lucky to get those,-----NOT---, that is another topic that I am not going to get into here, got enough to do with the Spambots, but setup disposable email addresses, ones that you can go to, but you can delete, once the spammers get it and they will. PLEASE do not send someone a page using the sites, Hey email this to your friends using this form, I promise not to spam them. Just fill in this form, (Oh but this friend of mine Spammer X, lol, buys them from me, he he), don't do that people.
So back to the Spambots, the htaccess file denies them access, if and that is a BIG IF I have them listed in the htaccess file. One site has about a 1000 entries lol. You can block IP addresses to, everyone has one, some have static addresses, same number and some change every time you login, like a dailup connection. Every web site has an IP address, like your street address, only we see the http-mikescomputerinfo thing instead, Spambots fake all that information, so until you positively know for a fact jack, that the abusing IP is the real abuser, I wouldn't block it. If I were to get a regular user on a Message Board that was registered and started abuse of some kind, then I would ban that persons IP Address, but if they are using a dailup connection, then I would not ban the IP, you get a different IP address every time you connect, fun hey. Well that should do it, hmmm aren't we a positive thinking person, not done yet. A link to a htaccess Guide

When it comes to a Message Board, ya know the little devils (Spambots) don't actually use the Messages Board, no no, they go directly to a Message that has the comment form on it and submit it from there. They are still trying to get to my old messages like once every minute, of ever hour of every day, persistent aren't they. I felt bad for them and reinstalled the messages, yup, well the folder and the file names of the messages and what is on those pages you ask, food for spambots. Now, I hardly get any errors for pages not there (messages) because I am feeding them. If it is a legitimate User requesting an old message from the message board, there is an explanation for them as to why they are on that page and why and what it is for. If a Spambot goes there, bogus emails, garbage and hey some forms for it to fill in, it is called a Honeypot. If your Forum or Guestbook uses MYSQL for it's data base, then the spambots cannot access it, if it is setup properly. Then it comes down to your registration process, I use Captcha and an extra question, to see it in action register on my Forum. Once a user passes the registration processes, they could spam, then you have to setup acct's so that their first few posts are approved by you, if they are legit users, promote them to an acct that is not Moderated.

What in the world is a Honeypot, well I am glade you asked, here are a couple links to some Honeypot's and if you want, you can join the fight and add a link from these sites onto your site, if you have one. The first one
/* JavaScript */
Harvest Killer gives the spammer all kinds of bogus email addresses for their data base, which they will have to clean out from their data base in order to sell it lol, have fun spammer, have a taste of your own medicine. The next one is another Spambots killer with bogus emails to harvest Anti Spam these are encoded links to protect the good bots, these links are made from javascript, sooo if you have java turned off, the links will not work. I also have a little script that feeds the bots some yum yum lol and hopefully crashes it.

Well that should do it, I have the robots.txt, htaccess, meta: NOFOLLOW NOINDEX, rename files, renamed folders, password protected folders, captcha, encode links and email addresses, fake forms, links to anti spammer sites, a honeypot, a javascript Menu, so they can't see the links I don't want them to see or at least a bot can't see, give them fake message pages, well my work is done, ya right, it is a line of defense that has to be monitored all the time. You have to keep up with how things are evolving with the Internet, it is a lot of work and I do this as a hobby, crazy comes to mind, I must be crazy to keep doing this, yes it is a lot of work, but I think it is interesting, frustrating, challenging and a good learning experience, stimulates your mind, oh boy does it do that. lol

I'm thinking and looking at Comment Forms, I know a Form, Mike=ARE YOU CRAZY MAN, lol. My reasoning is this, my email address is still open to individual spammers, with the Comment Form I would no longer have any address on the site, hmmm. A Safe, Secure and Hack proof Form that protects my email address and the users address, that is the challenge, I'm looking at one that seems to meet the criteria, just a WEE BIT Nervous about forms, lol. It uses Captcha, so Spambots for now, are out, only sends the mail to me and does not save any addresses on the server, a plus! Oh Oh I got another spam message in my inbox Woot, err, it will only accept comments from MY website, cool, no other ( another spam in inbox) website can access the form and use it, yes they try and do that, to send spam to us using my Form, nice huh. If I install it and test it and decide to use it, (as a nervous chill goes through my body), I will have it listed under Message in the Main Menu, if and that is a BIG nervous if, why so nervous, because I had one a few years back and the form was used to send out other BAD websites mail and I had to remove it fast. Oh Oh another spam in inbox, shakes head! You can go to The Spamcon Foundation to find out more information about, what they are doing to protect our rights and some info on what we can do to stop spammers. Another site that lists some information is Spam Abuse they have links to report fraud, fake stock promoters, child porn, missing children and more.

I installed the Comment Form, so far it is working, except some spammers still come to the form and manually send me spam, what ya going to do, lol. I removed an old calendar script and replaced it with a non input java calendar. The hackers and spammers are attacking websites with a vengeance, so I'm trying to stay one step ahead of them. They are attacking any input forms and are trying to hack the scripts on the servers. This is getting pretty wild, it is like they are trying to remove any interactive content on the web, granted, most are spammers trying to drop links to websites in forms, to increase the ranking of that individual website, particularly poker and porn related sites, they have actually turned their attention to the web verses your inbox, because of the ease of running a spambot to achieve their goals. I'm really not sure where this is all going, I have blocked access to my site to some spammers, but they continue to bang on the door. Websites with limited resources might end up with non interactive content only on their websites, that would be a real shame. Well the story is unfolding, only time will tell and by the way, the bad people know all this stuff and more, it is us trying to stay ahead of them.

Windows 98 Tools

2008-09-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

MSCONFIG
If you go to --Start--Run--Type in--msconfig, a window pops up, click on the Startup Tab. You will see a window with a list of items with checked boxes, these are programs running all the time on your Computer. On my Computer the only things I have check are SysTray, Explore (do not uncheck these two they run the Computer), Norton email scan, my sound card runs a program called WSload, 3dfx tools (my video card), Taskmonitor (Windows program), mdac-runonce (Windows system program) and Zone Alarm (my Firewall Program). The other 14 I unchecked, to stop them from running all the time and using resources. Every time I install a program, it tries to run a program in my System Tray (lower right hand corner of the monitors screen) and I have to go to msconfig to turn it off. Windows 95 does not have this feature, but you can use a small free program made by PC Computing Magazine called Startup Cop (link to a picture of it), actually I have Startup Cop even though I have Windows 98, it is easier to use and gives me the option of removing a program entry that is no longer on my Computer and I do not have to Reboot every time I check or uncheck a program. Here are some Links to Pages that show the different files, a description and whether to leave it checked or to unchecked in msconfig and more info on Startup Problems and msconfig.

Scan Disk
Start--Programs--Accessories--System Tools. This Scans your Harddrives for disk errors, set it on, automatically Fix errors, run it every couple weeks.

Disk Defragmentor
Before you run Disk Defragmentor (you should first run Scan Disk). Geeks call this Defraging your drive, what it does, is puts all your files back in order, like having a messy desk and reorganizing it. You should Defrag if you get below 87% of Disk Defragmented or your computer is running slow.

Defragmenting Problems
When you run Windows Defragmentor or any Defragmentor, go to Ctlr-Alt-Delete and End the Tasks on everything , except SysTray and Explorer. Defragmentor will take forever or just keep restarting when all those programs are running.

System File Checker "Windows 98 only"
Go to Start--Programs--Accessories--System Tools--System Information --Choose Tools--System File Checker . Windows Scans it's files and replaces any Corrupted or Damaged files. If it finds any corrupted files or entries, Windows will ask you for the Windows Disk or use the Restore Disk if you did not receive a Windows Disk, Windows will fix the damaged file.

Direct X Diagnostic Tool
Go to Start--Programs--Accessories--System Tools--System Information--Choose Tools--Direct X Diagnostic Tool. This will give you Information concerning Direct X, you need this for your software, especially Games or Graphics Programs. The Latest Version out is Direct X 9.0c. There are Tabs for Sound, Video and Network, check each Tab, in the bottom window it will tell you if there are problems and if you should reinstall Direct X, when you Install Software, sometimes it will replace or change a file of Direct X. In my Input Tab it shows my Joystick files and says I should should reinstall Direct X, I don't have my Joystick connected, so I just ignore the message. Also in my Sound Tab it shows I have uncertified Sound Drivers for my Sound Blaster Card, this is ok, it just means Microsoft hasn't tested them yet.

Trouble Shooter
Go to Start--Help--Trouble Shooter, sometimes this is useful.

Winipcfg
This will tell you about your Network connections, IP addresses, Network Card, Adapter Address, Subnet Maske, Default Gateway, the name you gave the Computer and Renew buttons to refresh the settings. Go to Start-Run-Type in-winipcfg

Device Manager
Go to Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager Tab. This is where you can check for Hardware conflicts. If there is a Yellow Exclamation Mark on an item there is a problem. Check the properties of that item, it should tell you about the problem. Generally it is a Driver or an IRQ conflict for that Hardware, if it is a Driver reinstalling or Updating the Driver will take care of the problem, if it is an IRQ Conflict, Remove the item and Reboot and let Windows Reinstall it ( make sure you have the Driver Disk if you or your Restore Disk). If it is a Controller or an item that does not have a Driver, try Removing the item and Reboot and let Windows Reinstall it. Check out the Device Manager and get acquainted with what is shown here, so when there is a problem, you will be familiar with what it should look like. If your system for some reason out of the Blue, want's you to start in Safe Mode, Windows probably doubled some of the entries, go in and remove the extra ones and reboot. This has happen to me several times, once Windows doubled every entry in the Device Manager, why ? who knows. You should Print out what is in the Device Manager, there is an Option to do that.

Auto Run for CD-ROM Drive
Go to Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager Tab. Double click your CD-ROM drive-go to Properties-Settings Tab, check the Auto insert notification box, your CD-ROM will now Auto Run CDs.

Windows Disk Cleanup Utility
This is Windows Version of a Product like Clean Sweep from Symantec, this only cleans up Four Folders, the Temporary Files, Recycling Bin, Internet Downloaded Program Files, Internet Temporary Files. You can get to this Utility two ways.
1. Click on My Computer-Right Click on the C: Drive-Properties -Disk Cleanup Button.
2. Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Disk Cleanup.

Backup Registry
If you are going to make changes to the Registry, use the Registry Checker,( System Information-Tools-Registry Checker ) and have it make a backup before you change the Registry. after making the changes, go back to the Registry Checker and run it again, if it finds that the Registry is corrupted, it will use the Backup you made to Restore the Registry. There are 2 files System.dat and User.dat, but you should make backups of these 4 files, System.dat-User.dat-Win.ini-System.ini,( you want be able to access them, so you must unhide them, Go to Windows Explorer and choose View- Folder Options-click on the View tab and check Show All Files ) These files are located in the C:\Windows Folder. One way to back these up is to make a New Folder, maybe name it Reg Backup, COPY and Paste these 4 files into this folder or onto a Zip disk ( to big for a floppy ). Windows automatically Backs up the Registry every time you Start it and will restore that copy at startup if it finds problems. But if it Backed up the Registry with a problem, you would need to use your backups to Restore those files. Go to the folder where you Saved the Backups, COPY them and Paste them into the C:\Windows Folder, say YES to overwrite the Existing files.

Help a Senior get a Computer

2008-08-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Fix up an old computer for a Senior

Are you a Senior like me and know a Senior that is not online or is opposed or afraid of computers. I think older people should have a computer and access to the Internet, but they would need help with feeling comfortable with the computer first and many Seniors can not afford a computer or Internet access. There are nonprofit programs available for Seniors to obtain Internet access for free, check with your local community for a list of those services. Next they would need a computer, again many Seniors cannot afford a computer, but how many of us have old computers laying around that we no longer use, a Senior is only going to use the computer to look up information and emailing. If you have a old computer laying around, fire it up, reformat it and reinstall the OS, hook it up to your Internet connection and update everything, install some free software like, Adaware, OpenOffice.org a free Office program, AGV free Anti-virus by free.grisoft.com, maybe download the free version of IncrediMail. After you have it all cleaned up and running, check out the free Internet accesses and install the appropriate Network or Modem Card. What you may want to do as you are setting up the computer, is to bookmark some web sites in the browsers favorites, being that is for a Senior, perhaps some trusted medical sites, where they can look up medicines, local clinic and Hospital websites. Maybe bookmark ARP, my website for computer basics, set Google as the Home page in the browser so it is less confusing for them to search, bookmark Yahoo for a page with multiple links, a news site, shopping site, weather site, dictionary site, sites to get them interested in searching for more information, Walmart, Sears, Social Security site.Ok we have a surfing machine ready to go, now all you need is a Senior to enjoy it. If you do not know a Senior that could use your computer, you could contact your local Religious groups and see if they may know of some Seniors that might be interested or maybe a coworker knows someone, maybe check with your local government agencies. You have found or know a Senior that is interested in receiving your gift. Now you need to spend some time with them. Go through step by step of how to setup their computer, maybe open up the case of the computer and explain what is inside the case, so it does not seem so intimidating to them, if they see that there is really not that much to a computer and have some idea as to how it works, they may feel more comfortable

with it. Once you have it all setup and have let them set it up a couple times, it is time to fire that baby up and unleash the power of computing to them, well anyways start teaching them the basics of the computer.

First I would show them how to start the computer and how to shut it down. Next open a program and show them how to close it using ctrl-alt-delete, then show them how to End Task to shut the program down, while doing that, explain that sometimes a program may freeze and that it will not be their fault and that is how to close the troubled software. Next I would delete a shortcut on the Desktop and then open the Recycle Bin and restore it, that way they will know how to delete something, where it will be placed and how to Restore it if they make a mistake. Next the Start Menu program list, show them how to open a program and how to close programs, they need to be shown that they can click around and open up programs and not be afraid to look around and maybe explain to them that the worst thing that could happen is that you would have to reformat and reinstall the OS. Take them to the Control Panel and have them open everything and explain what they are. You may have to do this in several sessions so it is not overwhelming to them. Next would be how they get online, if it is a dailup connection write the user name and password and put it on the monitor for easy reference. Once online take them to the different sites you have saved in the Favorites, show them how to click on different links and how to open a movie link, try to explain how the links work and how to bookmark a page that they are interested in, then save a page and go into the Favorites list and show them how to delete the links they no longer want in their Favorites. Once they get the feel for it, then show them how to disconnect from the Internet.

Next sending and receiving mail, let them watch as you setup their account, then send an email to their account and show them how to Send mail and how to receive mail. If you set them up with Outlook Express you can install Spam Fighter to help with the Spam, this is a free program that I use. Explain to them about Spam and not to open any mail that is not from someone they know and how to block it and how to empty the Spam folder. I would make sure that whatever email program you setup up for them, make sure the preview pane is off, which will help stop any email infections from happening, plus AGV will scan the incoming mail. One thing we should remember to do, is show them how to set the Text Size for programs. Also make sure to set all the programs to Auto Update and empty folders when they exit the programs.
If you setup a printer for them, you will want to show them how to copy text and paste it into Notepad or Word and then how to Save it to the Desktop or a Folder, then show them how to print it out. Then how to Print a web page, using the browser. Seems like a lot for a Senior to learn, we take for granted how much about computers we really know, compared to someone who is a little intimidated and leery of a computer. So you will have to be patient and try to remember back to when you first sat down to that screen, mouse and keyboard. You could also fix up the Computer and donate it to a School, Church, Nursing Home, Library, Senior Center or a Homeless Center.

Is your Computer running slow?

2008-08-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

A lot of people buy a new computer that runs fast at first, then months later it is running very slow. It isn't the computers fault, it is because you have not maintained it to keep running at it's peak performance level. So first, why does a computer start slowing down? Well to be honest it can be a lot of different things that can affect a computers performance. We are going to concentrate on the users actions and how it affects the computer and what you can do to get it back up to it's peak performance level and keep it running at that level.

The average user mostly uses his or her computer for surfing the internet, instant messaging, emailing, pictures and music. First let's take the pictures and music. If you download music or pictures from the internet, beware, you can get bad stuff imbedded in them that can affect the computer. Also if you install a lot of pics and music and then remove some in order to install more, will have an affect on the computer. This also goes for software that you download or buy, install and then when bored of it, remove it. None of these activities are bad, but they have effects on the computer that start to slow it's performance.

Surfing, Iming and email. If you go to certain web sites, little programs or tracking cookies are put on your computer. Also, if you open attachments in emails, little programs can be installed on your computer. If you Instant Message a lot and go to web site links people send you or open things other people send you, all affect the computers performance. None of these activities are bad, they are fun and that is why we have computers. So what the heck are you trying to say Mike. lol These are just some of the activities that end up slowing the computer down and the reason why you need to do some simple maintenance once in awhile or wait and take it to a shop and pay a Tech $90.00 to do it for you. Ya Ya Blah Blah Blah lol. Ya I know, boring, wait I just got an email, lol.

The following steps are what I do to cleanup someone's computer, after it has gotten to the point of slow return, lol. I will list these chores on a printer friendly page to.

* The first things I do is to empty the Recycle Bin and Windows temp folder. steps are next.
* Recycle Bin is on the Desktop, right click on it and choose Empty Recycle Bin.
* Next go to Start-Accessories-Windows Explorer-My Computer-(C:) WINDOWS (double click to open)-TEMP folder, double click the temp folder to open it, then go to Edit-click it once to open it-choose-Select All, everything will be highlighted blue. Then right click on a highlighted file and choose Delete. Yes you want to delete everything, when you do this make sure you have all programs closed. If it says it can not delete something, try right clicking on each separate file and delete it if you can't delete a file just leave it, you have a program running that has a file there.
* Next go to Start-Control Panel-Internet Options, double click it to open it. Then go to the General tab, should be at that tab when you open options. Go to Browsing History and click the Settings Button, I am using IE 7, if you have 7 then click the Delete Files under Temporary Internet Files. I usually click the bottom button, Delete ALL, ( I do not save passwords or usernames with IE or any browser, I use Password Safe and copy and paste them into the forms, that is why I delete them all ), if you use Windows IE auto complete, just delete the Temporary Internet Files, check the cookies with a Spyware program like AVG Free Spyware software. If you are using an earlier version, check the delete offline box and then the delete button. Ok, that clears your cache. Click Close and OK.

Ok, a little yakking before we continue to the next step. Whenever you install a program, knowingly or unknowingly, it may put an Icon in your Taskbar, usually the bottom right corner of your screen. What are these little Icons, all they are is a quick launch for some programs, do you need these, No, I have one in my Taskbar, it is for my Anti virus Program. Most are placed there when you install a program, usually it will ask to put one there, but others just install it. They are running in the Background and help to slow down the computer. How do you stop them?

- Next step msconfig. Go to Start-Run-type in, msconfig go to the Startup tab. These are little programs that startup when your computer boots into Windows, are they needed, yes, some of them are necessary, but not all of them. To find out if you really need it, open Google and type in the name plus .exe at the end of the name, see what the program does, then decide whether it is necessary. I keep avgcc.exe checked because it is part of my AVG free Anti virus program and SFAgent.exe is my Spam Blocker program. I have a nwiz.exe that is part of my GeForce driver program, but it will at times use 100% of my CPU and is not needed, so I uncheck it. You can also check my Startup page Startup Programs. Some of the ones I have unchecked are, Adobe Gamma, Adobe Reader Synchronizer, Adobe Reader Speed Launch, jusched, nwiz, NvMctray, NvCpl, Nero Check, Hpcmpmgr, CTSysVol, Reader_sl, some of these are auto updaters, some are options for my graphic card, some just launch the software faster, I like my computer to run as fast as it can so I disable them. You will have to reboot the computer, when it boots back up there will be a popup telling you there have been changes, check the box on the bottom left corner then OK and then it will not popup every time you bootup. If later you miss one of those startup programs just follow the same steps, but this time Uncheck it.

- Next step go to the Control Panel-Add/Remove and see if there are is any Software installed that is no longer used or that has been installed without you knowing it. If there is Remove them, if you are not sure what they are, do a search on Google and find out about it. If you know what they are but forgot what they do, go to the start menu and start it up. When you buy a computer from a store it comes preloaded with a lot of software that has a 30 day free trial period and then it bugs you to buy it. I just remove it right from the getgo and download free versions, like anti-virus I use AVG Free Version, Anti-spyware I use AVG free Anti-spyware, Office program I use OpenOffice.org, Registry Cleaner I use RegCleaner all are free and work just as good if not better then the $$$ ones.

Well we are getting there. These steps are to clean up the system, there will not be so much to do after these steps are completed. : )

* Next we want to check for Viruses and Spyware, if you have a virus program, update it and run a full system scan. If you do not have one go here and run a full system check for viruses and your Anti-Spyware software for spyware, I use free Anti virus and Spyware programs AVG free Anti-Virus, for Spyware I use AVG free Anti-Spyware.

* Next we want to cleanup any errors on the drive using Scandisk, so go to Start-My Computer-right click on the C: drive and choose Properties-Tools Tab-Error checking-click the Check Now button-check the Automatically fix system errors-click Start. It will tell you it cannot run now and will run at the next boot, click Ok and restart the computer. Once that is done and the computer has boot back into Windows, next step.

* Next we are going to run Defragmenter, Start-My Computer-right click on the C: drive and choose Properties-Tools Tab-click the Defragment Now button-click the Analyze button. It may say that the drive does not need to be Defragmented, go ahead and click the Defragment button, take a break and let it finish, may take 30 min to a few hours depending on how much stuff you have on your drive. When it is done a little popup box will be displayed, click OK and close the program.

* One last thing you can do is turn off some of Windows Services go to this page for Services info, I would for sure disable the Indexing Service, BIG resource hog, it makes searching for files on your computer faster, but slows your computer down when you are not searching, you don't need it running.

* Make sure that you only run one Anti-virus, one Anti-Spyware and One Firewall program, if you run two of those, like two Firewall programs it will create problems, remember Windows Firewall is on by default so if you buy a suite of programs, like Norton Internet Suite (where the A-V, A-S and Firewall are all together) remove any others that are on your computer before you install a new one and disable Windows Firewall if you bought one.

* Ok we should be done and your computer should be running much faster. One more thing to consider is how much RAM or Memory does your computer have. Go to Start-Accessories-System Tools-System Information, look at the Total Physical Memory, if you only have 256.00 MB you may want to add more. XP should have a min of 512MB and if you do any gaming or have multiple programs running put in a 1 gig. Go to this page on how to install RAM.
Ok that is it, that wasn't hard now was it?

* I personally do not have my Anti-Virus or Anti-Spyware programs running full time, I have my Anti-Virus scanning my Emails full time and that is it, I do manual scans. Most people should let them run, they sometimes will slow your computer down, but you are protected full time that way.

Weekly chores:
* Scan System with Spyware scanner, after updating.
* Clear Browser Temporary Internet Files.

Monthly chores:
* Empty Recycle Bin.
* Empty Windows Temp folder.
* Run Scandisk.
* Run Defragmenter.
* Full System Virus scan.

Power Supply Precautions

2008-08-21T10:17:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of the inside of the Power Supply, it is shown only for illustrative purposes only. Some of the parts inside the Power Supply hold a High Electrical Charge for quite awhile, so only a qualified service person should open and service it. I removed the cover so you could see what it looks like inside of the box. The fan or fans are located at the rear and bottom of the Power Supply, this one has two fans and this is the bottom of the box, you can see the fan that is at the back of the case here, the other fan I removed so you could see inside the box.

The only reason I am showing you this is to emphasize that this is the
only thing that has Electricity stored when you unplug the Power Supply Cord from the computer and to take special care when cleaning it. As I said above only stick the small plastic tube that you attached to the can of compressed air into the Power Supply Box, do not over spray inside this box, just spray enough to clean out most of the dust.

Cleaning your Monitor and hooking everything back up:

2008-08-21T10:16:00.001-07:00

Next you should take a damp (not wet) cloth towel and wipe off your Monitor's Screen “lightly” and then use a dry cloth to dry it off, do not use a paper towel this will scratch the screen. The best thing and what I use is, Anti-Static Cleaning Wipes, you can buy these anywhere a Computer is sold. You should then use the cloth rags to clean the Monitor's Case and base. Now you can bring the case back in and start hooking up the cables. If you laid out the cables on the floor in the order you took them off, then start by hooking the cables at the bottom of the case and work your way up so the last cable you plug in is the Power Supply cable. If you were careful not to have the rag to wet and you know everything has dried off, then start it up. Well all the cleaning is done and I'm sure it took less time then it took me to do this E-book, lol. If you did everything right it should boot right up and hopefully be running cooler. If you have a problems make sure all the cables are in the right place

Cleaning the Keyboard and Mouse:

2008-08-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Before you hook the case back up to all the cables, lets clean the Keyboard and mouse. First take the can of compressed air and spray the Keys of the Keyboard, also turn it upside down to let any bigger objects fall out. You can pop each Key off from the Keyboard with a flat screw driver to clean under them, just remember where they go, lol. I also use one of those Anti-Static Wipes for cleaning these.

Next take a damp paper towel and wipe off the pads on the bottom of your mouse and the mouse's body, do not wipe off the optical light, just blow that off, sometimes a piece of lint will get stuck in front of that light and then the mouse will act crazy. If you have an Optical Mouse and it is acting weird check to make sure nothing is blocking the light and the batteries are good.

If you have the ball type mouse, remove the ball by turning the retainer ring that is around the ball, then remove the rubber ball.

Then take a cotton swab and clean off the three plastic rollers that the ball rests on in the mouse body. These get lint built up on them from the rubber ball and makes the mouse act slow and weird. If you dip the swab in some alcohol, then take it and run it across the face of the roller. Then you may be able to take a tweezers and grab the lint and pull it off, you'll be amazed at how much lint is on the rollers, lol.

Next put some alcohol on a cloth and clean the rubber ball, then dry it. Once you are done cleaning, put the ball back in and then the ring, then twist the ring to lock it into positio

Picture of the reassembled mouse.

Cleaning your Monitor and hooking everything back up:

2008-08-17T08:26:00.001-07:00

Reinstalling the Case Panels:

2008-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

Next put all the sides and top panel back on the case. Make sure that if you wiped down the back on the case that you did not flip the on/off switch and did not change the switch for the type of power the case uses, the ones above where the Power Cable connects, the top one should have the – depressed and the orange one shown here is set at 115, in the USA we use 110v/115v in other countries it may be set to use the 220v/230v these are used to set the input voltage to the Power Supply.

Cleaning the inside of the Computer Case:

2008-08-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Start with spraying the fan or fans in the Power Supply, blow out all the accessible areas of the Power Supply, here is a picture of the fan on the back of the computer.
Next spray the heat sinks fan and fins the silver things under the fan, pictured below. You can use your flashlight to see the fins better and what needs more spraying. Sitting on top the CPU there is a heat sink and then on top of that is the fan. The heat sink sits right on top of the CPU and draws the heat up off the CPU into the fins, the fan pulls air up through the fins cooling them, this keeps the CPU operating at a cooler temperature. If the CPU overheats the computer will start rebooting or just start acting weird. If it gets way to hot it will ruin the CPU and the computer will not boot at all. So it is very important to make sure the spaces between those fins are cleaned out.

If you cannot get all the dust blown off the fan blades with the canned air, you can use a cotton swab to clean them. Once you have loosed up the dust use the can of air to blow off the excess.

Picture of a CPU, Heat Sink and Fan on a Mother Board that is about to be installed into a case. You can see the Fan sitting on those fins and the CPU is under those fins inserted into that white plate at the bottom laying right on the Mother Board.

Now take the can of compressed air and start spraying the inside of the case, use the flashlight to see if you are missing any dust. Make sure you spray the case fan on the lower right corner. Your case may have more fans then this case. If you cannot remove all the dust from these you can use a cotton swab on them like you may have done with the CPU fan. If there is some debris laying at the bottom of the case that will not blow out, try using the vacuum with the crevice tool attached to clean it. Just be very careful using the vacuum you do not want to use it on anything but the inside bottom of the case.

Make sure that you do not dislodge or unplug any wires inside the case, most are pretty hard to unplug. But there are some very small wires with small connectors that can come loose fairly easy, so be careful.
After you get the inside of the case cleaned, you may have air slots in the front of the case like these. Remember that fan I pointed out on the bottom right of the case, that pulls room air in through these slots and blows it over the parts in the case. The fan on the Power Supply pulls that air up through the Power Supply and blows it out into the room. This is how the inside of the case stays cool, if this air flow is restricted the parts in the computer will get to hot and they get very hot. When a part gets to hot you start get errors or reboots or the computer just starts acting weird, so cleaning is important.

Blow these slots out really good, a lot of dust and etc gets trapped in there, use your flashlight to see in those slots better. You can also see in there by looking in-between the fan blades of the fan on the other side inside the case. On one of my other cases there is a removable filter inserted into the bottom of the cream colored plastic shroud, if your's has that feature remove the filter and blow that out and then reinstall it. After everything is cleaned, touching the metal frame of the computer case with one hand, use the other hand to check and make sure all the plugs are seated tight and the cards are tightly seated into any slots snugly. Do not put to much pressure on anything, just push on them enough to make sure they are all seated tight.
There may be a Graphics Card installed in your computer, that has a fan on it. Make sure you blow this fan off to. It will be sitting in a slot on the Main Board and connected to the back of the case, it will be the card that your Monitor cable was connected to. Here is a picture of a Graphic Card and the fan.

The fan is rather hard to get to so you may want to lay the case on it's side to blow out the fan.

Removing the case panels:

2008-08-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Next remove the Top and the side Panels on the computer. With this case I removed two screws from the top panel and then the side Panels slide up and out. You may have to use your screw driver and remove the screws that hold the Panels to the back frame of the computer and then side them towards the back of the computer. Check your computer manual on how to remove the Panels. If this is a new computer, there might be a sticker or piece of tape that says, if you cut this your warranty is voided, you may want to wait until your warranty period is over or call and ask if you can cut the tape to clean the computer. This is a picture of the Top and main Panels being removed.

A Guide to cleaning your computer, Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor

2008-08-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Introduction

This a Guide to cleaning your Computer, it is what I do to clean my Computers. When you handle any electrical components there is a risk of getting an electrical shock, so be very careful when following this Guide. Never work on any electrical components when they are still connected to an electrical source, such as an electrical outlet. Always unplug the electrical component from the electrical source. When dealing with a Computer there is a risk of static electricity on you harming an electronic component inside of the computer or by cleaning accessories attached to the computer while they are still plugged into the computer, such as a Keyboard, Mouse or Monitor. Once the Power Cord is unplugged there is no Electricity running through the computer, there are some parts in the Power Supply that hold an Electrical charge so do not stick anything but the small plastic tube that comes with the can of compressed air into the Power Supply Box. Before you touch anything inside the computer case touch the Metal Frame to discharge any static electricity you may have. You should wear Safety Glasses when using the canned air. Be sure that you read this Guide before attempting to clean your computer, if after reading the Guide you feel that you are comfortable with the steps taken to clean the computer, start cleaning!

Table of Contents:

Disconnecting the cables from the computer
Untangling the cables.
Work Bench and cleaning the outside of the case.
Removing the case Panels.
Cleaning the inside of the Computer Case.
Reinstalling the Case Panels.
Cleaning the Keyboard and Mouse.
Cleaning your Monitor and hooking everything back up.
Power Supply Precautions

The tools, supplies and work bench you can use:

Here is what I use to clean my computers:

* A can of Compressed Air, they sell for $5.00 to $15.00 depending on the size. Insert the small tube into the nozzle of the can and then take a small piece of tape and tape it to the nozzle. Sometimes they have a tendency to fly off the nozzle, you do not want it to fly off into the Power Supply.
* Some Cotton Swabs.
* A bottle of Rubbing Alcohol.
*Optional: A vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool.
* A clean work surface, such as the Kitchen Counter top, you do not want to be standing on a carpeted floor while doing this.
* Some cloth rags, paper towels and water.
* A nonmagnetic philips screw driver.
* A Flashlight.
* Tweezers
* Optional: Anti-Static Cleaning Wipes to clean your Monitor and your TV screens, worth the money. I also use these to clean the case Panels, keyboard, mouse and the plastic around the monitor.
* Safety Glasses

Picture of the tools, supplies and work bench you can use.

Disconnecting the cables from the Computer:

The first cable you will disconnect is the Power Cord, the one connected to the electrical outlet. After that is unplugged you can safely disconnect the other cables. I usually start with the top cables and work my way down, laying them on the floor in an orderly fashion. Also unplug the Electrical Cord to the Monitor.

Untangling the cables:

If some of the cables are tangled this is a good time to untangle them. Picture of all the cables disconnected from the back of the computer When you take them off start with the top one, the Power Supply cord and then keep going down. Also as you unplug them, untangle them from other cables and then lay them on the floor in the order you unplugged them. This will make it easier when it comes time to plug them back in.

Work Bench and cleaning the outside of the case:

Now take the computer case out to the clean Kitchen Counter Top, stand it upright just as it was when it was connected to the cables. Now you should put those Safety Glasses on.

Now you should take a damp towel and clean the outside of the case, just clean the sides, top, front and bottom of the case. Next use the can of compressed air and spray the back of the case, including the Power Supply fan opening, stick the little tube in between the fan blades and spray around the inside of the Power Supply Box The Power Supply still has High Voltage Electricity in it so only use the small plastic tube that comes with the can of compressed air inside the Power Supply Box, do not over spray inside the box, just a few short bursts.

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The Author does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement, or other information written in this Guide. You acknowledge that any reliance upon any such opinion, advice, statement, memorandum, or information shall be at your sole risk. The Author reserves the right, in his sole discretion, to correct any errors or omissions in any portion of this Guide at any time. This Guide is protected by copyright as a collective work and/or compilation, pursuant to U.S. copyright laws, international conventions, and other copyright laws. The contents of this Guide are only for your personal, non-commercial use. All materials contained in this Guide are protected by copyright, and are owned or controlled by the Author or the party credited as the provider of the Content. You will abide by any and all additional copyright notices, information, or restrictions contained in any Content in the Guide and Website. You may download and make one [copy/copies] of the Content of this Guide for personal, noncommercial use only, provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained in such Content. Copying or storing of any Content for other than personal, noncommercial use is expressly prohibited without the prior written permission from the Author or the copyright holder identified in the individual Contents copyright notice.
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Architecting a Modern Network

2008-08-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Most everyone who's worked in a large building has experienced this: It's 5 p.m., businesses are closing for the day and people are scurrying to the elevators to take them to the lobby-sometimes they get lucky and find a car with enough room for them or, just as likely, they have to wait for another, emptier one. Once they're in the lobby, there's another mad dash for the doors, with workers eager to get home pushing out into the street, sometimes cramming themselves into revolving doors two at a time.
Quite a sight to be sure, but by simply standing by and observing, architects can easily determine where the bottlenecks are in situations such as these-the elevators, the lobby and the doors (revolving or not)-and, with that knowledge in hand, design other buildings to ease this congestion. They can widen hallways, add elevators (or make the stairs more accessible), enlarge the lobby and create additional street egresses.

Now if it were only that easy for the IT personnel in charge of monitoring TCP/IP activity on their systems. While the monitoring tools built into the zSeries* operating systems may suit most mainframe shops, enterprises that continue to grow and must forecast for additional networking, bandwidth and computing-resource needs may require expanded capabilities. Unlike building architects, these IT professionals can't simply stand by and watch this type of activity. They must have active monitoring tools that can not only examine current activity but also archive it for future planning use.

This is what the Principal Financial Group was seeking as it began moving much of its network to TCP/IP. While the company had monitoring tools available for its previous SNA-based network, it had trouble finding functional equivalents for TCP/IP. Essential for both current TCP/IP-stack monitoring and future growth predictions, The Principal found its solution in the Minneapolis, Minn.-based Software Diversified Services' (SDSs) Vital Signs.

Looking Like One

Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, The Principal is one of the world's largest providers of financial products, offering business, individual and institutional customers a variety of retirement, investment, insurance and mortgage services. In fact, it has some 13 million customers around the globe, with offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States.

Supporting this worldwide footprint is an environment consisting of 2064-IC8s systems running in a zSeries Parallel Sysplex* cluster-a technology that allows direct, concurrent read/write access to shared data across all of the processing nodes in a cluster. In addition, two OSA Express Gigabit Ethernet adapters per 2064 connect the machines to the company's Ethernet network, which is both local and wide area.

Until about four years ago, SNA served as the company's primary communications protocol. It was used within the Parallel Sysplex as well as between client machines and the Parallel Sysplex. However, as TCP/IP began to unseat SNA as the de facto networking protocol, and as users and vendors began writing applications with TCP/IP sockets, The Principal started looking into ways to work TCP/IP into its networking architecture.

"We're still SNA within the Sysplex," notes Tom Zimmerman, assistant director of IS with The Principal, "but IP is bringing traffic into the mainframes. And that's because IP has won the battle of networking protocols, so not only are the workstations using IP as their primary method of connecting to the mainframes, but so are our other customers and vendors."

Verizon expands broadband network across Western Kentucky

2008-08-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Verizon Wireless has expanded the rollout of its high-speed wireless network to include all of its Western Kentucky coverage area. The expansion encompasses Burna, Benton, Draffenville, Eddyville, Fulton, Kuttawa, La Center, Marion, Sturgis and Wickliffe.

According to the company, with the wireless broadband network now available throughout western Kentucky, its customers can enjoy services like BroadbandAccess, a high-speed wireless service, and V Cast, a consumer-oriented multimedia service.

Greg Haller, president of Kentucky/Indiana/Michigan region at Verizon Wireless, said: "The expansion of our wireless broadband network across the remainder of our western Kentucky coverage area provides our customers with access to the very latest wireless technology.

Sun announces online release of 3D animation film

2008-08-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

Sun Microsystems has announced the online release of the 3D animation film 'Big Buck Bunny' rendered using Network.com's Sun Grid compute utility service.

The movie is created using open source 3D software suite Blender, available from blender.org as well as Network.com Application Catalog, a collection of online grid-enabled applications that can be used in an on-demand basis. Additionally, Network.com is one of the web hosting locations for the online release.

Sun has said that the movie promotes open content creation as it is not only developed using open source software but also distributed under an open license that gives artists free access to the entire studio database of assets and files used to make the movie.

CyberTAN uses Vitesse's router system-on-a-chip

2008-08-04T06:38:00.000-07:00

CyberTAN, an original design manufacturer of broadband networking equipment, is using Vitesse Semiconductor's G-RocX Gigabit Router system-on-a-chip to deliver production-level EPON FTTH Residential Gateway.

Vitesse has said that its G-RocX Gigabit Router integrates a CPU with Gigabit Ethernet switch and voltage-mode PHY technology into a single chip.

Vitesse's G-RocX VSC7501 provides Gigabit LAN connectivity, including Gigabit Ethernet system performance and Quality of Service (QoS) technology, for Home Residential Gateways. This allows CyberTAN to develop its family of gateways that meet the carrier-class video, data and voice delivery requirements of the FTTH market.

Brian Jaroszewski, senior product marketing manager at Vitesse Semiconductor, said: "Service providers today are looking for ways to capture lucrative revenue opportunities from triple play services. Vitesse's highly integrated G-RocX host CPU architecture provides our ODM customers with a feature-rich, cost-optimized solution that meets Carrier residential gateway needs."

BIOS

2008-08-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

BIOS (pronounced), in computing, stands for Basic Input/Output System.

The term is incorrectly known as Binary Input/Output System, Basic Integrated Operating System and occasionally Built In Operating System. BIOS refers to the firmware code run by an IBM PC when first powered on. The primary function of the BIOS is to identify and initiate component hardware (such as hard disk, floppy and optical disk drives). This is to prepare the machine so other software programs stored on various media can load, execute, and assume control of the PC. This process is known as booting, or booting up, which is short for bootstrapping.

BIOS can also be said to be a coded program embedded on a chip that recognizes and controls various devices that make up x86 personal computers. Among other classes of computers, the generic terms boot monitor, boot loader or boot ROM were commonly used. Some Sun and Macintosh PowerPC computers used Open Firmware for this purpose. There are a few proposed alternatives for Legacy BIOS in the x86 world: Extensible Firmware Interface, Open Firmware (used on the OLPC XO-1) and coreboot.

The term first appeared in the CP/M operating system, describing the part of CP/M loaded during boot time that interfaced directly with the hardware (CP/M machines usually had a simple boot loader in ROM, and nothing else). Most versions of DOS have a file called "IBMBIO.COM" or "IO.SYS" that is analogous to the CP/M disk BIOS.

The BIOS runs from the PROM, EPROM or, most commonly, flash memory when the computer is powered on. It initializes several motherboard components and peripherals, including:

* The clock generator.
* The processors and caches.
* The chipset (memory controller and I/O controller).
* The system memory.
* All PCI devices (by assigning bus numbers and resources).
* The primary graphics controller.
* Mass storage controllers (such as SATA and IDE controllers).
* Various I/O controllers (such keyboard/mouse and USB).

Finally, it loads the boot loader for the operating system, and transfers control to it. The entire process is known as power-on self-test (POST). On the original IBM PC, the hardware only needed minimal configuration and POST was indeed used for testing; on modern systems, most of POST actually consists of hardware configuration.

Once system memory is initialized, the BIOS typically copies/decompresses itself into that memory and keeps executing from it.

Nearly all recent BIOS implementations can optionally execute a setup program interfacing the nonvolatile BIOS memory (CMOS). This memory holds user-customizable configuration data (passwords, time, date, hard drive details, etc.) accessed by BIOS code. The 80x86 source code for early PC and AT BIOS was included with the "IBM Personal Computer Technical Reference Manual".[4]

In most modern BIOS implementations, users select where the BIOS obtains its boot image: CD, hard disk, floppy disk, USB device or via a networked connection. This is

particularly useful for installing operating systems or booting to a Live CD or flash keydrive, and for selecting the order of testing for the presence of bootable media.

Some BIOSes allow the user to select the operating system to load (e.g. load another OS from the second hard disk), though this is more often handled by a second-stage boot loader.

BIOS Chip and Recovery

2008-08-02T08:36:00.001-07:00

Before 1990 or so BIOSes were held on ROM chips that could not be altered. As its complexity and need for updates grew, BIOS firmware was subsequently stored on EEPROM or flash memory devices. The first flash chips attached to the ISA bus. Starting in 1998, the BIOS flash moved to the LPC bus, a functional replacement for ISA, following a new standard implementation known as "firmware hub" (FWH). In 2006, the first systems supporting a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) appeared, and the BIOS flash moved again.

EEPROM chips are advantageous because they can be easily updated by the user; hardware manufacturers frequently issue BIOS updates to upgrade their products, improve compatibility and remove bugs. However, this advantage had the risk that an improperly executed or aborted BIOS update could render the computer or device unusable. To avoid these situations, more recent BIOSes use a "boot block"; a portion of the BIOS which runs first and can not be altered by updates. This code verifies if the rest of the BIOS is intact (using hash checksums or other methods), before transferring control to it. If the boot block detects any corruption in the main BIOS, it will typically warn the user that a recovery process must be initiated by booting from removable media (floppy, CD or USB memory) so the user can try flashing the BIOS again. Some motherboards have a backup BIOS (sometimes referred to as DualBIOS boards) to recover from BIOS corruptions. In 2007, Gigabyte began offering motherboards with a QuadBIOS recovery feature.[5]

Due to the limitation on the number of times flash memory media can be flashed, a flash-based BIOS is vulnerable to "flash-burn" viruses that repeatedly write to the flash, permanently corrupting chip content. Such attacks can be prevented by some form of write-protection, the ultimate protection being the replacement of the flash memory with a true ROM.
The size of the BIOS, and the capacities of the ROM, EEPROM and other media it may be stored on, has increased over time as new features have been added to the code; BIOS versions now exist with sizes up to 8 megabytes.

A computer system can contain several BIOS firmware chips. The motherboard BIOS typically contains code to access fundamental hardware components such as the keyboard, floppy drives, ATA (IDE) hard disk controllers, USB human interface devices, and storage devices. In addition, plug-in adapter cards such as SCSI, RAID, Network interface cards, and video boards often include their own BIOS, complementing or replacing the system BIOS code for the given component.

In some devices that can be used by add-in adapters and actually directly integrated on the motherboard, the add-in ROM may also be stored as separate code on the main BIOS flash chip. It may then be possible to upgrade this "add-in" BIOS (sometimes called an option ROM) separately from the main BIOS code.

Add-in cards usually only require such an add-in BIOS if they:

* Need to be used prior to the time that the operating system loads (e.g. they may be used as part of the process which loads (bootstraps) the operating system), and:

* Are not sufficiently simple, or generic in operation to be handled by the main BIOS directly

PC operating systems such as DOS, including all DOS-based versions of MS Windows, as well as bootloaders, may continue to make use of the BIOS to handle input and output. However, other modern operating systems will interact with hardware devices directly by using their own device drivers to directly access the hardware. Occasionally these add-in BIOSs are still called by these operating systems, in order to carry out specific tasks such as preliminary device initialization.

To find these memory mapped expansion ROMs during the boot process, PC BIOS implementations scan real memory from 0xC0000 to 0xF0000 on 2 kibibyte boundaries looking for the ROM signature bytes of 55h followed by AAh (0xAA55). For a valid expansion ROM, its signature is immediately followed by a single byte indicating the number of 512-byte blocks it occupies in real memory. The BIOS then jumps to the offset located immediately after this size byte; at which point the expansion ROM code takes over, using the BIOS services to register interrupt vectors for use by post-boot applications and provide a user configuration interface, or display diagnostic information.

There are many methods and utilities for dumping the contents of various motherboard BIOS and expansion ROMs. Under a Microsoft OS, DEBUG can be used to examine 64 KiB segments of memory and save the contents to a file. For UNIX systems the dd command can be used by a user with root privileges: "dd if=/dev/mem bs=1k skip=768 count=256 2>/dev/null strings -n 8".Some operating systems, for example MS-DOS, rely on the BIOS to carry out most input/output tasks within the PC. A variety of technical reasons makes it inefficient for some recent operating systems written for 32-bit CPUs such as Linux and Microsoft Windows to invoke the BIOS directly. Larger, more powerful, servers and workstations using PowerPC or SPARC CPUs by several manufacturers developed a platform-independent Open Firmware (IEEE-1275), based on the Forth programming language. It is included with Sun's SPARC computers, IBM's RS/6000 line, and other PowerPC CHRP motherboards. Later x86-based personal computer operating systems, like Windows NT, use their own, native drivers which also makes it much easier to extend support to new hardware, while the BIOS still relies on a legacy 16-bit runtime interface. As such, the BIOS was relegated to bootstrapping, at which point the operating system's own drivers can take control of the hardware.

There was a similar transition for the Apple Macintosh, where the system software originally relied heavily on the ToolBox—a set of drivers and other useful routines stored in ROM based on Motorola's 680x0 CPUs. These Apple ROMs were replaced by Open Firmware in the PowerPC Macintosh, then EFI in Intel Macintosh computers.

Later BIOS took on more complex functions, by way of interfaces such as ACPI; these functions include power management, hot swapping and thermal management. However BIOS limitations (16-bit processor mode, only 1 MiB addressable space, PC AT hardware dependencies, etc.) were seen as clearly unacceptable for the newer computer platforms. Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) is a specification which replaces the runtime interface of the legacy BIOS. Initially written for the Itanium architecture, EFI is now available for x86 and x86-64 platforms; the specification development is driven by The Unified EFI Forum, an industry Special Interest Group.

Linux has supported EFI via the elilo boot loader. The Open Source community increased their effort to develop a replacement for proprietary BIOSes and their future incarnations with an open sourced counterpart through the coreboot and OpenBIOS/Open Firmware projects. AMD provided product specifications for some chipsets, and Google is sponsoring the project. Motherboard manufacturer Tyan offers coreboot next to the standard BIOS with their Opteron line of motherboards. MSI and Gigabyte have followed suit with the MSI K9ND MS-9282 and MSI K9SD MS-9185 resp. the M57SLI-S4 modems.

Mac OS X

2008-07-31T10:06:00.001-07:00

Mac OS X is a line of proprietary, graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc., the latest of which is pre-loaded on all currently shipping Macintosh computers. Mac OS X is the successor to the original Mac OS, which had been Apple's primary operating system since 1984. Unlike its predecessor, Mac OS X is a UNIX operating system built on technology that had been developed at NeXT through the second half of the 1980s and up until Apple purchased the company in early 1997.

The operating system was first released in 1999 as Mac OS X Server 1.0, with a desktop-oriented version (Mac OS X v10.0) following in March 2001. Since then, five more distinct "end-user" and "server" editions of Mac OS X have been released, the most recent being Mac OS X v10.5, which was first made available in October 2007. Releases of Mac OS X are named after big cats; Mac OS X v10.5 is usually referred to by Apple and users as "Leopard".

The server edition, Mac OS X Server, is architecturally identical to its desktop counterpart but usually runs on Apple's line of Macintosh server hardware. Mac OS X Server includes workgroup management and administration software tools that provide simplified access to key network services, including a mail transfer agent, a Samba server, an LDAP server, a domain name server, and others.

Unix and Unix-like operating systems

2008-07-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

Ken Thompson wrote B, mainly based on BCPL, which he used to write Unix, based on his experience in the MULTICS project. B was replaced by C, and Unix developed into a large, complex family of inter-related operating systems which have been influential in every modern operating system (see History).

The Unix-like family is a diverse group of operating systems, with several major sub-categories including System V, BSD, and Linux. The name "UNIX" is a trademark of The Open Group which licenses it for use with any operating system that has been shown to conform to their definitions. "Unix-like" is commonly used to refer to the large set of operating systems which resemble the original Unix.

Unix-like systems run on a wide variety of machine architectures. They are used heavily for servers in business, as well as workstations in academic and engineering environments. Free software Unix variants, such as GNU, Linux and BSD, are popular in these areas. The market share for Linux is divided between many different distributions. Enterprise class distributions by Red Hat or Novell are used by corporations, but some home users may use those products. Historically home users typically installed a distribution themselves, but in 2007 Dell began to offer the Ubuntu Linux distribution on home PCs. Linux on the desktop is also popular in the developer and hobbyist operating system development communities. (see below)

Market share statistics for freely available operating systems are usually inaccurate since most free operating systems are not purchased, making usage under-represented. On the other hand, market share statistics based on total downloads of free operating systems are often inflated, as there is no economic disincentive to acquire multiple operating systems so users can download multiple systems, test them, and decide which they like best.

Some Unix variants like HP's HP-UX and IBM's AIX are designed to run only on that vendor's hardware. Others, such as Solaris, can run on multiple types of hardware, including x86 servers and PCs. Apple's Mac OS X, a hybrid kernel-based BSD variant derived from NeXTSTEP, Mach, and FreeBSD, has replaced Apple's earlier (non-Unix) Mac OS.

Unix interoperability was sought by establishing the POSIX standard. The POSIX standard can be applied to any operating system, although it was originally created for various Unix variants.

Microsoft Windows

2008-07-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Microsoft Windows family of operating systems originated as an add-on to the older MS-DOS operating system for the IBM PC. Modern versions are based on the newer Windows NT kernel that was originally intended for OS/2 and borrowed from VMS. Windows runs on x86, x86-64 and Itanium processors. Earlier versions also ran on the DEC Alpha, MIPS, Fairchild (later Intergraph) Clipper and PowerPC architectures (some work was done to port it to the SPARC architecture).

As of September 2007, Microsoft Windows holds a large amount of the worldwide desktop market share. Windows is also used on servers, supporting applications such as web servers and database servers. In recent years, Microsoft has spent significant marketing and research & development money to demonstrate that Windows is capable of running any enterprise application, which has resulted in consistent price/performance records (see the TPC) and significant acceptance in the enterprise market.

The most widely used version of the Microsoft Windows family is Windows XP, released on October 25, 2001.

In November 2006, after more than five years of development work, Microsoft released Windows Vista, a major new operating system version of Microsoft Windows family which contains a large number of new features and architectural changes. Chief amongst these are a new user interface and visual style called Windows Aero, a number of new security features such as User Account Control, and few new multimedia applications such as Windows DVD Maker.
Microsoft has announced a new version codenamed Windows 7 will be released in late 2009 - mid 2010

Microcomputers

2008-07-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

The first microcomputers did not have the capacity or need for the elaborate operating systems that had been developed for mainframes and minis; minimalistic operating systems were developed, often loaded from ROM and known as Monitors. One notable early disk-based operating system was CP/M, which was supported on many early microcomputers and was closely imitated in MS-DOS, which became wildly popular as the operating system chosen for the IBM PC (IBM's version of it was called IBM-DOS or PC-DOS), its successors making Microsoft one of the world's most profitable companies. In the 80's Apple Computer Inc. (now Apple Inc.) abandoned its popular Apple II series of microcomputers to introduce the Apple Macintosh computer with the an innovative Graphical User Interface (GUI) to the Mac OS

The introduction of the Intel 80386 CPU chip with 32-bit architecture and paging capabilities, provided personal computers with the ability to run multitasking operating systems like those of earlier minicomputers and mainframes. Microsoft's responded to this progress by hiring Dave Cutler, who had developed the VMS operating system for Digital Equipment Corporation. He would lead the development of the Windows NT operating system, which continues to serve as the basis for Microsoft's operating systems line. Steve Jobs, a co-founder of Apple Inc., started NeXT Computer Inc., which developed the Unix-like NEXTSTEP operating system. NEXTSTEP would later be acquired by Apple Inc. and used, along with code from FreeBSD as the core of Mac OS X.

Minix, an academic teaching tool which could be run on early PCs, would inspire another reimplementation of Unix, called Linux. Started by computer student Linus Torvalds with cooperation from volunteers over the internet, developed a kernel which was combined with the tools from the GNU Project. The Berkeley Software Distribution, known as BSD, is the UNIX derivative distributed by the University of California, Berkeley, starting in the 1970s. Freely distributed and ported to many minicomputers, it eventually also gained a following for use on PCs, mainly as FreeBSD, NetBSD and OpenBSD.

Mainframe

2008-07-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

Through the 1960s, many major features were pioneered in the field of operating systems. The development of the IBM System/360 produced a family of mainframe computers available in widely differing capacities and price points, for which a single operating system OS/360 was planned (rather than developing ad-hoc programs for every individual model). This concept of a single OS spanning an entire product line was crucial for the success of System/360 and, in fact, IBM's current mainframe operating systems are distant descendants of this original system; applications written for the OS/360 can still be run on modern machines. In the mid-70's, the MVS, the descendant of OS/360 offered the first[citation needed] implementation of using RAM as a transparent cache for disk resident data.

OS/360 also pioneered a number of concepts that, in some cases, are still not seen outside of the mainframe arena. For instance, in OS/360, when a program is started, the operating system keeps track of all of the system resources that are used including storage, locks, data files, and so on. When the process is terminated for any reason, all of these resources are re-claimed by the operating system. An alternative CP-67 system started a whole line of operating systems focused on the concept of virtual machines.

Control Data Corporation developed the SCOPE operating system in the 1960s, for batch processing. In cooperation with the University of Minnesota, the KRONOS and later the NOS operating systems were developed during the 1970s, which supported simultaneous batch and timesharing use. Like many commercial timesharing systems, its interface was an extension of the Dartmouth BASIC operating systems, one of the pioneering efforts in timesharing and programming languages. In the late 1970s, Control Data and the University of Illinois developed the PLATO operating system, which used plasma panel displays and long-distance time sharing networks. Plato was remarkably innovative for its time, featuring real-time chat, and multi-user graphical games.

Burroughs Corporation introduced the B5000 in 1961 with the MCP, (Master Control Program) operating system. The B5000 was a stack machine designed to exclusively support high-level languages with no machine language or assembler, and indeed the MCP was the first OS to be written exclusively in a high-level language – ESPOL, a dialect of ALGOL. MCP also introduced many other ground-breaking innovations, such as being the first commercial implementation of virtual memory. MCP is still in use today in the Unisys ClearPath/MCP line of computers.

UNIVAC, the first commercial computer manufacturer, produced a series of EXEC operating systems. Like all early main-frame systems, this was a batch-oriented system that managed magnetic drums, disks, card readers and line printers. In the 1970s, UNIVAC produced the Real-Time Basic (RTB) system to support large-scale time sharing, also patterned after the Dartmouth BASIC system.

General Electric and MIT developed General Electric Comprehensive Operating Supervisor (GECOS), which introduced the concept of ringed security privilege levels. After acquisition by Honeywell it was renamed to General Comprehensive Operating System (GCOS).

Digital Equipment Corporation developed many operating systems for its various computer lines, including TOPS-10 and TOPS-20 time sharing systems for the 36-bit PDP-10 class systems. Prior to the widespread use of UNIX, TOPS-10 was a particularly popular system in universities, and in the early ARPANET community.

In the late 1960s through the late 1970s, several hardware capabilities evolved that allowed similar or ported software to run on more than one system. Early systems had utilized microprogramming to implement features on their systems in order to permit different underlying architecture to appear to be the same as others in a series. In fact most 360's after the 360/40 (except the 360/165 and 360/168) were microprogrammed implementations. But soon other means of achieving application compatibility were proven to be more significant.

The enormous investment in software for these systems made since 1960s caused most of the original computer manufacturers to continue to develop compatible operating systems along with the hardware. The notable supported mainframe operating systems include:

- Burroughs MCP -- B5000,1961 to Unisys Clearpath/MCP, present.

- IBM OS/360 -- IBM System/360, 1966 to IBM z/OS, present.

- IBM CP-67 -- IBM System/360, 1967 to IBM z/VM, present.

- UNIVAC EXEC 8 -- UNIVAC 1108, 1964, to Unisys Clearpath IX, present.

History of operating systems

2008-07-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

* The first computers did not have operating systems. By the early 1960s, commercial computer vendors were supplying quite extensive tools for streamlining the development, scheduling, and execution of jobs on batch processing systems. Examples were produced by UNIVAC and Control Data Corporation, amongst others.

* MS-DOS provided many operating system like features, such as disk access. However many DOS programs bypassed it entirely and ran directly on hardware.

* The operating systems originally deployed on mainframes, and, much later, the original microcomputer operating systems, only supported one program at a time, requiring only a very basic scheduler. Each program was in complete control of the machine while it was running. Multitasking (timesharing) first came to mainframes in the 1960's.

* In 1969-70, UNIX first appeared on the PDP-7 and later the PDP-11. It soon became capable of providing cross-platform time sharing using preemptive multitasking, advanced memory management, memory protection, and a host of other advanced features. UNIX soon gained popularity as an operating system for mainframes and minicomputers alike.

* IBM microcomputers, including the IBM PC and the IBM PC XT could run Microsoft Xenix, a UNIX-like operating system from the early 1980s. Xenix was heavily marketed by Microsoft as a multi-user alternative to its single user MS-DOS operating system.

* The CPUs of these personal computer, could not facilitate kernel memory protection or provide dual mode operation, so Microsoft Xenix relied on cooperative multitasking and had no protected memory.

* The 80286-based IBM PC AT was the first computer technically capable of using dual mode operation, and providing memory protection.

* Classic Mac OS, and Microsoft Windows 1.0-Me supported only cooperative multitasking, and were very limited in their abilities to take advantage of protected memory. Application programs running on these operating systems must yield CPU time to the scheduler when they are not using it, either by default, or by calling a function.

* Windows NT's underlying operating system kernel which was a designed by essentially the same team as Digital Equipment Corporation's VMS, a UNIX-like operating system which provided protected mode operation for all user programs, kernel memory protection, preemptive multi-tasking, virtual file system support, and a host of other features.

Classic AmigaOS and Windows 1.0-Me did not properly track resources allocated by processes at runtime. If a process had to be terminated, the resources might not be freed up for new programs until the machine was restarted

Graphical user interfaces

2008-07-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Today, most modern computer systems support Graphical User Interfaces, and often include them. In some computer systems the GUI is integrated into the kernel—for example, in the original implementations of Microsoft Windows and Mac OS, the graphical subsystem was actually part of the kernel.

While technically a graphical user interface is not an operating system service, incorporating support for one into the operating system kernel can allow the GUI to be more responsive by reducing the number of context switches required for the GUI to perform its output functions. However putting such a complicated piece of code into the operating system's kernel significantly increases the chances of the operating system becoming unstable due to bugs in the GUI. It also might present a very significant security problem for the same reasons.

Other operating systems are modular, separating the graphics subsystem from the kernel and the Operating System. In the 1980's UNIX, VMS and many others had operating systems that were built this way. Today Linux, and Mac OS X are also built this way. Windows NT, originally based on OS/2 has good user-space separation, however Windows 9x had very little distinction between the interface and the kernel.

Many computer operating systems allow the user to install or create any user interface they desire. The X Window System in conjunction with GNOME or KDE is a commonly found setup on most Unix and Unix-like (BSD, Linux, Minix) systems.

Numerous Unix-based GUIs have existed over time, most derived from X11. Competition among the various vendors of Unix (HP, IBM, Sun) led to much fragmentation, though an effort to standardize in the 1990s to COSE and CDE failed for the most part due to various reasons, eventually eclipsed by the widespread adoption of GNOME and KDE. Prior to open source-based toolkits and desktop environments, Motif was the prevalent toolkit/desktop combination (and was the basis upon which CDE was developed).

Graphical user interfaces evolve over time. For example, Windows has modified its user interface almost every time a new major version of Windows is released, and the Mac OS GUI changed dramatically with the introduction of Mac OS X in 2001.

Computer Security

2008-07-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

A computer being secure depends on a number of technologies working properly. A modern operating system provides access to a number of resources, which are available to software running on the system, and to external devices like networks via the kernel.

The operating system must be capable of distinguishing between requesters which should be allowed to be processed, and others which should not be processed. While some systems may simply distinguish between "privileged" and "non-privileged", systems commonly have a form of requester identity, such as a user name. To establish identity there may be a process of authentication. Often a username must be quoted, and each username may have a password. Other methods of authentication, such as magnetic cards or biometric data, might be used instead. In some cases, especially connections from the network, resources may be accessed with no authentication at all.

In addition to the allow/disallow model of security, a system with a high level of security will also offer auditing options. These would allow tracking of requests for access to resources (such as, "who has been reading this file?").

Internal security, or security from an already running program is only possible if all possibly harmful requests must be carried out through interrupts to the operating system kernel. If programs can directly access hardware and resources, they cannot be secured. Microsoft Windows has been heavily criticized for many years for window's almost total inability to protect one running program from another, however since windows isn't generally used as a server it has been considered less of a problem. In recent years, Microsoft has added limited user accounts, and more secure logins. However most people still operate their computers using Administrator accounts, which negates any possible internal security improvements brought about by these changes.

Linux and UNIX both have two tier security, which limits any system-wide changes to the root user, a special user account on all UNIX-like systems. While the root user has unlimited permission to affect system changes, programs as a regular user are limited only in where they can save files, and what hardware they can access. This limits the damage that a regular user can do to the computer while still providing them with plenty of freedom to do everything but affect system-wide changes. The user's settings are stored in an area of the computer's file system called the user's home directory, which is also provided as a location where the user may store their work, similar to My Documents on a windows system. Should a user have to install software or make system-wide changes, they must enter the root password for the computer, which allows them to launch certain programs as the root user.

While users generally find regular user accounts on Linux installations provide plenty of freedom for day to day activities, the need to enter a password to install software has generated criticisms from many Windows users who are used to being able to change, delete, create, and rename files anywhere on the system at whim, while also making it extremely easy to accidentally delete important files, and for viruses to infect the operating system. Windows Vista has attempted to make improvements in this area, but has also generated criticism for its highly inquisitive approach, asking the user verify their desire to do many daily activities that would rarely or never compromise security.

External security involves a request from outside the computer, such as a login at a connected console or some kind of network connection. External requests are often passed through device drivers to the operating system's kernel, where they can be passed onto applications, or carried out directly. Security of operating systems has long been a concern because of highly sensitive data held on computers, both of a commercial and military nature. The United States Government Department of Defense (DoD) created the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) which is a standard that sets basic requirements for assessing the effectiveness of security. This became of vital importance to operating system makers, because the TCSEC was used to evaluate, classify and select computer systems being considered for the processing, storage and retrieval of sensitive or classified information.

Network services include offerings such as file sharing, print services, email, web sites, and file transfer protocols (FTP), most of which can have compromised security. At the front line of security are hardware devices known as firewalls or intrusion detection/prevention systems. At the operating system level, there are a number of software firewalls available, as well as intrusion detection/prevention systems. Most modern operating systems include a software firewall, which is enabled by default. A software firewall can be configured to allow or deny network traffic to or from a service or application running on the operating system. Therefore, one can install and be running an insecure service, such as Telnet or FTP, and not have to be threatened by a security breach because the firewall would deny all traffic trying to connect to the service on that port.

An alternative strategy, and the only sandbox strategy available in systems that do not meet the Popek and Goldberg virtualization requirements, is the operating system not running user programs as native code, but instead either emulates a processor or provides a host for a p-code based system such as Java.

Internal security is especially relevant for multi-user systems; it allows each user of the system to have private files that the other users cannot tamper with or read. Internal security is also vital if auditing is to be of any use, since a program can potentially bypass the operating system, inclusive of bypassing auditing.

Zango's adware fox desperate to guard net henhouse

2008-07-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Comment Zango, creator of Hotbar, Seekmo Search Assistant and other adware programs of dubious value to end users, just can't seem to come to grips with reality. It's coughed up a $3m fine to the FTC and abandoned two lawsuits claiming anti-malware providers illegally interfered with its business after being laughed out of just about every court where it's pursued such actions.

But despite a lower-court ruling tossing out a similar suit against anti-virus provider Kaspersky, the purveyor of some of the net's most vapid and un-compelling videos and games continues to press on. Last month, it asked the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a decision by a lower-court judge that held Kaspersky was immune from such lawsuits.

"Just as a police officer who engages in criminal activity enjoys no immunity simply because he or she has been entrusted to fight criminal activity, Kaspersky does not get a 'free pass' to engage in tortious activity merely because it sells anti-spyware software," lawyers argued.

Kaspersky sees things differently. They argue the case is important to anyone who hopes to gain the upper hand over the torrent of spyware, malware or other potentially unwanted content washing into their browsers on a daily basis.

"This case asks whether Kaspersky and other internet security software vendors may continue to distribute such beneficial security software free from pressure by Zango and other purveyors of malware who do not want their malware to be detected," Kaspersky argued in a court document filed Monday. "This case, then, is akin to a cat burglar suing the alarm company."

Zango is the company that resulted from 180Solutions purchase of Hotbar. It wound up in the cross-hairs of the Federal Trade Commission after its software, which silently recorded web searches and browsing history, made its way onto consumers' PCs without their consent. Adding insult to injury, the spyware was frequently hard to remove.

Since then Zango had invested in an extensive image makeover that includes a promise to ensure consumers are explicitly notified before having adware and spyware installed on their machines. Anti-virus companies, such as Zone Labs, PC Tools and Kaspersky have remained skeptical and have warned their users against Zango downloads, much to the company's chagrin. Zango says it's being unfairly harmed by Kaspersky's finding that Zango downloads can lead to material some users may find objectionable, and its seeking a court order that would curb the practice.

At stake in the case is whether companies like Kaspersky are free to protect their customers in a way their researchers best see fit, without interference from outside interests. A win for Zango could set a dangerous precedent allowing any malware provider to challenge anti-virus providers in court.

We believe Zango when it says it has cleaned up its most abusive practices. Pop-up notifications preceding installation of their spyware are more explicit, and it's a lot easier to remove the programs if users later change their mind. Up to now, we've viewed its offerings as little more than crudware that gives very little in return for requiring users to part with their privacy.

But that could all be a thing of the past. If Zango wins, it will once again reclaim the crown as one of the net's biggest parasites.

Microsoft Abandons Yahoo Acquisition

2008-07-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has dropped its nearly three-month-long pursuit of Yahoo, ending a historic acquisition attempt whose failure takes Microsoft back to square one in its quest to boost its online business to better compete against Google.

"We continue to believe that our proposed acquisition made sense for Microsoft, Yahoo and the market as a whole. Our goal in pursuing a combination with Yahoo was to provide greater choice and innovation in the marketplace and create real value for our respective stockholders and employees," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in a statement distributed early Saturday evening.

More Money Not Sufficient

Microsoft had raised its initial bid by about US$5 billion, but that didn't convince Yahoo to accept the revised offer, Microsoft said. "After careful consideration, we believe the economics demanded by Yahoo do not make sense for us, and it is in the best interests of Microsoft stockholders, employees and other stakeholders to withdraw our proposal," said Ballmer.

In response, Yahoo issued a statement reiterating its position that Microsoft's offer was too low, and saying that many Yahoo shareholders agreed with its position.

"Yahoo is profitable, growing, and executing well on its strategic plan to capture the large opportunities in the relatively young online advertising market," Roy Bostock, the chairman of Yahoo's board, said in the statement.

Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang said that "with the distraction of Microsoft's unsolicited proposal now behind us" Yahoo can continue with "the most important transition in our history."

All parties with a stake in the deal had been waiting for Microsoft to announce its next move, after Yahoo failed to agree to a deal by last Saturday, the deadline Microsoft had set three weeks earlier.

But Microsoft stayed silent for days, as observers speculated whether it would walk away or prepare a hostile takeover. However, on Friday anonymously sourced reports in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times said that Microsoft and Yahoo had turned a corner and were for the first time negotiating merger terms in earnest

Google's Shadow Hung Over Microsoft-Yahoo Deal

2008-07-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

In the end, Google played a significant part in the undoing of Microsoft's bid for Yahoo, the latest example of Google's ability to interfere with Microsoft's attempts to boost its online advertising business.

While the main reason Microsoft dropped its bid was a disagreement over price, Google served as the ammunition that Yahoo needed to discourage Microsoft from launching a hostile takeover.

At least, that's what Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer maintains. As outlined in the letter he sent Saturday to his Yahoo counterpart, Jerry Yang, Microsoft discarded the option of a hostile takeover when Yahoo threatened to outsource part of its search advertising to Google.

Deriding the Google Factor

"We regard with particular concern your apparent planning to respond to a 'hostile' bid by pursuing a new arrangement that would involve or lead to the outsourcing to Google of key paid Internet search terms offered by Yahoo today," Ballmer wrote. "In our view, such an arrangement with the dominant search provider would make an acquisition of Yahoo undesirable to us for a number of reasons."

Google has been a thorn on Microsoft's side for years. It has prompted countless valuable employees to hand Ballmer resignation letters on their way to the fabled Googleplex. It outbid Microsoft for DoubleClick. Not content with humiliating Microsoft in search advertising, Google is brazenly aiming for Microsoft's software business with its line of hosted business applications.

It's fair to assume that Ballmer's hatred for the search giant grew this weekend, seeing Google insert itself into the picture and make itself available to Yahoo as a potential spoiler of the deal.

In his letter to Yang, Ballmer said a tie-up with Google would "fundamentally undermine Yahoo's own strategy and long-term viability" by pushing more customers towards Google's advertising platform.

Yahoo, of course, would not see an advertising deal with Google as the corporate suicide that Ballmer makes it out to be.

Google-Yahoo Deal Pending

The company declined to comment about Ballmer's characterization of the Google deal, but a source familiar with Yahoo's plans said the company did not use it as a way to repel Microsoft.

"The commercial agreement was always something that the board of directors had considered as a way to monetize the search business," said the person, who asked for anonymity. A deal to outsource part of Yahoo's search ad business to Google is still on the table, and could be announced next week, the person said.

But while the deal would yield benefits in the short term, the longer term consequences of a Google tie-up could be disastrous for Yahoo, and Ballmer spends much of his letter arguing that would be the case.

An outsourcing deal would send a confusing message to Yahoo advertisers and prevent Yahoo from offering clients the benefits of a unified platform for both display and search advertising, Ballmer wrote.

He states convincingly that engineers working on Yahoo's ad systems would head for the door, and that regulatory and legal problems would rain down on Yahoo and any company that acquired it.

Even more horrifying for Ballmer, the deal would empower Google even more in search advertising, where it is already dominant.

"Accordingly, your apparent plan to pursue such an arrangement in the event of a proxy contest or exchange offer leads me to the firm decision not to pursue such a path," Ballmer wrote.

Playing the Spoiler

In other words, had it not been for the prospect of an outsourcing deal with Google, tonight's announcement would have likely been that Microsoft was getting ready to attempt a hostile takeover.

Thus, Google has helped accomplish what it wanted ever since Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Yahoo: to see the bid fizzle out. And, by extension, Google manages, again, to disrupt Microsoft's plans to give its Internet business a quick and major boost.

The question now is: How many chairs will Ballmer need to throw this weekend to vent his anger at this latest intrusion by Google?

Microsoft Release WinXP SP3

2008-07-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

“Today we are happy to announce that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has released to manufacturing (RTM). Windows XP SP3 bits are now working their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and Enterprise customers.

We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home will begin in early summer.

Thanks to everyone here who installed the public betas – you not only gave us detailed feedback but also helped each other out with timely troubleshooting. Through the beta program we found several important issues and were able to confirm some essential fixes. We couldn’t have done this without you.

We will still be monitoring this forum during the next few weeks in case you have more feedback about the release of Windows XP SP3.”

Download Windows XP SP3

Google Proxy Hacking

2008-07-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

Google Proxy Hacking:
How A Third Party Can Remove Your Site From Google SERPs

In June of 2006, while working to resolve some indexing issues for a client, I discovered a bug in Google's algorithm that allowed 3rd parties to literally hack a web page out of Google's index and search results. I notified a contact at Google soon after, once I managed to confirm that what we thought we were seeing was really happening.

The problem still exists today, so I am making this public in the hope that it will spur some action.

I have sat on this information for more than a year now. A good friend has allowed his reputation to suffer, rather than disclose what we knew. I continue to see web sites that are affected by this issue. After giving Google more than a year to resolve the issue, I have decided that the only way to spur them to action is to publish what I know.

Disclaimer: What you're about to read is as accurate as it can be, given the fact that I do not work at Google, and have no access to inside information. It's also potentially disruptive to the organic results at Google, until they fix the problem. I hope that publishing this information is for the greater good, but I can't control what others do with it, or how Google responds.

I am also not the only person who knows about this hack.

Alan Perkins (who along with many others stayed quiet about the 302 redirect bug for 2 years) knew about it the day after I found it.
Danny Sullivan has known nearly as long, and I suspect that his behind the scenes efforts are the reason why the major search engines all decided to publish "how to validate our spider" instructions after SES San Jose last year.

Bill Atchison knows, because he helped me figure out a defensive strategy for my client's sites… and along with me danced around this issue on the "Bot Obedience" panel at SES last year - trying to warn people without telling them too much.

My (now former) client Brad Fallon knows… and he's been subjected to a lot of unfair criticism that he could have easily answered by making this public. It cost him a lot of money, and "a lot of money" to Brad is a lot more than it is for most of us.

"Someone else" knows, because they were actively exploiting this bug to knock one of Brad's sites off of Google's SERPs. I suspect many other "black hats" know about it by now… because other sites are being affected. I can't believe that they're all accidents.

This is going to be a long story, I'm afraid… but bear with me, because you need to understand this, and how to defend yourself.

The story begins over a year ago…

My friend Brad Fallon had been having some troubles with Google, and one of his web sites, My Wedding Favors. In June of 2006, after exhausting all of his other options, Brad (who knows his way around SEO) hired me to direct his search marketing efforts and, in simple terms "figure out what the hell is going on with Google."

The first thing I discovered was that he wasn't "banned," but that Google was indexing everything on his site except for the home page. It took about two weeks of research and testing before I developed a working theory. When we searched Google for phrases that should have been completely unique to the My Wedding Favors home page, we kept finding a particular kind of duplicate content: proxies.

For those who don't know what a proxy is, it's a web server that's set up to deliver the content from other web sites. Among other things, proxies have been set up to allow people to surf the internet "anonymously," since the requests come from the proxy server's IP address and not their own. Some of them are set up to allow people to get to content that is blocked by firewalls and URL blocking on corporate, educational, and other networks.

The diagram below shows what this looks like, when used innocently by a human being:

Unfortuntately for Brad, the proxies weren't being used innocently, and it wasn't some kid trying to read his Myspace messages at school, it was Googlebot, fetching his home page's content under a different URL, and indexing it:

When Google fetched the copy of Brad's home page through the proxy URL, they were dropping Brad's (authentic) home page from the index completely, and keeping the (proxy) duplicate instead. Every time it happened, Brad was losing a ton of traffic.

Since at first we thought it could be a "one-off" problem, we just blocked the proxies' IP addresses from accessing our server. Sure enough, within a week or so, My Wedding Favors' home page wasn't just back in Google - it was all the way back on the first page of search results!

All good again? Not so fast…

Another week or so went by, another set of proxies showed up in Google's index, and the home page was once again completely dropped from Google.

At this point, we realized that this wasn't an accident. Someone knew exactly what they were doing. Someone was actively seeking out proxies and linking to them, so that Google would pick them up, and drop Brad's home page.

By now, more technically inclined readers should see where this is going, but keep reading - it gets better (or worse). If you're just looking for "how to hack Google" instructions, that's all I'm going to give you, so you can leave now.

Back to the story… It was pretty obvious that we had a fight on our hands… but we had some ideas for a solution. Since all of the Googlebot requests from the proxies so far had come through with Googlebot as the user-agent, we implemented a "quick fix" solution. Whenever we got a request from a Googlebot user-agent, we did a lookup on ARIN to see if the IP address was actually assigned to Google.

Another week, and they were back in, and right back on the first page of SERPs.

Now, I should mention that by this time I had contacted Matt Cutts at Google to let him know what was going on. His response was short, and he told me that he was surprised that this kind of thing could happen, but he did look into it. That was nice of Matt, because it's not really his department, but he's a good guy and actually wants to help webmasters out. I spoke about this with Matt and others on several subsequent occasions. They seemed to understand it, but nobody I talked to could do anything more than pass the word along to someone else.

That was more than a year ago.

I enlisted a few trusted folks to help me investigate, and Bill Atchison and I gave presentations at SES San Jose (August 2006) where we tried to warn people about the need to defend themselves without actually telling them "too much." Since that presentation, other folks have written about the problem of proxies and duplicate content, but fortunately or unfortunately, they didn't know how bad the problem was.

While I was in San Jose, Brad's site got hacked out again (server upgrade broke our self-defense script and it had to be rewritten)…

Brad started getting a little sick of people calling him a "fake SEO expert" because his site was showing PR0, and couldn't be found in SERPs… but he kept quiet and took the abuse, because he understood that this was dangerous information. I kept quiet too, because letting this kind of information out without giving Google a chance to fix the problem would be terribly irresponsible.

Bill kept quiet, as did Alan, Danny, and a few other folks who helped me research the issue. Either the SES San Jose presentations got through to someone, or Danny did something behind the scenes, because shortly after he learned about this, all of the search engines decided to start publishing clear instructions on how to validate their user-agents.

So, things quieted down for a bit. Google was (I thought) working on the problem, and Brad's site was doing fine.

I told you it gets worse, though…

Around the first of October, the next wave of proxies hit. A different kind of proxy, that didn't pass Googlebot's user-agent along. There was a whole network of proxies that were built to avoid detection, because they were built to allow people inside the People's Republic of China to view censored content without getting blocked by the "great firewall of China." These proxies not only spoof the user-agent, they come in through many other (intermediate) proxies, so that the IP address of the original server can not be determined.

There was way to block them by IP address, because even blocking every IP in China didn't catch them all. There was no way to catch them based on the user-agent, because the user-agent was spoofed.
I was expecting this, actually… and we had a solution in the works: reverse cloaking. Every page Brad's web servers deliver now has "noindex, nofollow" in the robots meta tag, unless the request comes from a validated search engine spider. A "spoofed" proxy visit from Googlebot delivers a page that won't be indexed. A real visit from Googlebot gets the page with "noindex" removed.

He's not the only one doing that, either. Matthew Inman at SEOMoz noticed del.ico.us doing the same thing last fall but none of the commenters could understand why… except Bill Slawski, who had seen the presentation at SES where I mentioned the "reverse cloaking" idea. Bill didn't say much, but he probably understood the whole picture by then.

Crossing our fingers, but…

So far, this defense has held up, and Brad's site isn't just back in Google, he's back at #1, and no longer has to answer questions about why he's "banned by Google."

Unfortunately, Brad was only the first person I know who was affected by this bug in Google's algorithm. He's far from the last… and I am sick of seeing people get hurt. After more than a year, Google hasn't fixed the problem, although it seems that you are now more likely to catch a "-999 penalty" than get dropped completely. In my opinion, that's not a huge improvement.

So I am going public with this, because we need solutions. We need Google to find solutions, instead of calling it a feature, like the 302 redirect bug (which BTW still exists in some form). Alan and I sat on that 302 stuff for almost 2 years before it got out. The result was no different. They still haven't completely fixed that one - all it takes is a shorter URL and random things can still happen with a 302.

Google needs to hear it loud and clear from every web site owner - "fix this problem." For any "Googlers" who may happen by and read this, here's a suggestion I passed along to Vanessa Fox last December: when you retrieve a web page, and the Sitemaps verification meta tag tells you "hey, this tag is on the wrong domain," then dump that page because you've got a proxy. That would at least help a few folks out… but it's not a complete solution.

Why Is This Even Possible? Can It Be Done To Anyone?

In simple terms, it appears that the original (authentic) page gets dropped or penalized as duplicate content.

A couple years ago, Google deployed some software & infrastructure changes collectively known as "Big Daddy." This involved crawling from many different data centers, and changes to the crawler itself. It appears that the changes include moving some of the duplicate content detection down to the crawlers. The bug probably arises from the way the data centers are synchronized. Pure speculation here, but the picture I have of what happens looks like this:

The original page exists in at least some of the data centers.
A copy (proxy) gets indexed in one data center, and that gets sync'd across to the others.
A spider visits the original, checks to see if the content is duplicate, and erroneously decides that it is.
The original is dropped or penalized.

The thing is, even if Google's system is 99.9% accurate in selecting the right version as authentic, all you have to do is overwhelm it with large numbers. Large numbers of proxies, and/or a large number of times when a spider has to make the right decision. It's possible that there's no way to "fix this" without throwing the whole system away. I don't know. I'm not an engineer.

As far as whether "any site" could get hacked," I don't know. I'm not a black hat. I don't have a link farm. I don't have a botnet to spam blogs with. So I can't manufacture thousands of links to thousands of proxies, in an attempt to knock sites off of SERPS. I wouldn't do that anyway - it's evil. So what I know is based mostly on sites reporting a problem, blocking the proxies, and seeing the problem disappear after the proxies are gone. Then repeating the exercise with the same results.

It depends on whether it's all about confusing the system, or if there are enough other factors involved. It's quite possible that some sites have so much authority, MojoRank, or whatever, that they simply could never be affected. It's possible that there are negative trust factors, such as large-scale reciprocal linking, that could make a site more vulnerable.

How To Tell If You've Been Proxy Hacked

The simplest test, if you are experiencing a problem, is to examine Google search results for a phrase (search term in quotes) that should be unique to your page. For example, if your home page says "Fred's Widget Factory sells the best down-home widgets on Earth" then you can search for that phrase.

You want to use a phrase (or combination of phrases) that should only appear on your page, and nowhere else on the web… or very few places at least. Then you do the search - if there's more than one result (your page), then you need to examine the other URLs that are listed. If some of them are delivering an exact copy of the page, you just may be dealing with a proxy that has hijacked your content

A typical proxy link looks something like this:www.example.com/nph-proxy.pl/011110A/http/www.mattcutts.com/blog/It's easy to see what URL that would fetch, if example.com were a real proxy. Other proxy URLs encode the target URL so it's not always that easy to determine what they're going to fetch just by looking.

The mere presence of proxies in the index doesn't necessarily mean you'll be dropped or penalized. The situation inside Google's systems is no doubt very complex. I have seen sites with multiple proxies indexed, and no ill effects. It's possible that there are certain factors (trust, authority, domain age, etc.) that make one site more susceptible than another. I have no idea how they make the decision on which copy of a page to keep.

If you discover that you have a problem (pages knocked out of the index, -999 "penalty"), and you can identify proxies as duplicate content, a reinclusion request is likely to work in the short term, while you implement countermeasures. If you don't mind sharing your information with me so that I can use it for further research, send an email to proxyreports@gmail.com with the affected URL and the URL of the search result page that shows the proxy duplicates, along with any search terms where your ranking appears to be affected.

Cry Havoc, And Let Slip The Dogs of Spam?
I don't know if publishing this today was the right decision… but it seems keeping quiet isn't spurring anyone at Google into action. People are already getting nailed by this. I've spent the past month going back and forth, trying to decide what to do. I'm going to hit "publish" now, and hope that any attention we can bring to this situation will spur all those Ph.Ds in Mountain View to focus on this for a little while.

Ultimately, this decision was the same one that anyone faces, who finds a security problem with any software - do you try to work with the developer behind the scenes, or inform the community and hope that the community can respond faster than the hackers? As you'll see below, the community is already responding, and I'm not publishing this without offering some solutions for those who may be affected.

How To Fight Back
There are basically three main possibilities for your situation:
Situation 1: You are running an Apache server. We have 2 solutions in this case, that were developed by Jaimie Sirovich (co-author of Professional Search Engine Optimization with PHP). We've worked some late nights on this.
Solution #1 uses mod_write and .htaccess, to pass all spider requests through a PHP script that validates the request. This will only defends against being hacked via "normal" anonymous proxies that pass long the user agent - it only inspects visits from the "Big 4" search engines (Ask, Google, MSN, and Yahoo). I call this the "first tier" defense - it won't stop every proxy that exists, but it will come close, and you can implement it without modifying any of your applications. It wil even work if your web site is all static pages. This is what I'm implementing. Jaimie doesn't like it because it's kind of a hack - and he would rather you didn't use it at all.

Solution #2 is a PHP script that implements the "reverse cloaking" defense, putting a "nonindex, nofollow" robots meta tag into your pages unless it's a spider that you have configured the script to recognize. This will only be possible if your site is built on PHP. It wouldn't be terribly difficult for a competent PHP user to implement this in an all-static site, you'd just need to change .htaccess so that your .html files are parsed as PHP. A Wordpress plug-in will follow soon. This is a more robust defense, against more proxies.

How to get the code: An implementation guide is provided on Jaimie's blog, along with a testing environment that you can use to check spider user agents & IP addresses, and of course the source code for both solutions. No warranty is given. This is hard core code for a hard core situation. Don't use it if you don't need it, and all code should really be deployed by professionals who can understand what it does, modify it to suit unique environments, etc.

Situation 2: You are running a Microsoft (IIS) server. Jaimie is working on an IIS/ASP solution similar to the Apache/PHP solution, which should be available soon. Think days, not weeks, in other words. Much sooner than his new book (Professional SEO with ASP), which is also in the pipeline.

I want to thank Jaimie for stepping up to provide these solutions on very short notice. I had some code of my own but he's a real programmer, and I'm just a guy who hacks scripts together when I need something in a hurry. This isn't a job that should be trusted to a guy who hacks code part time. You want an expert.

Situation 3: You are on a hosted solution, aren't running PHP scripts that you can edit, don't control the web server, etc. This is a more complex situation. I will have another post tomorrow that will offer some possible solutions, including one that involves creating your own caching proxy on a separate server. In this case, I don't recommend doing anything unless you really believe that you have a problem with proxies.

In fact, I have mixed feelings about recommending any "defensive" measures for anyone who isn't actually being affected… unless losing your Google traffic for a few weeks is such a daunting prospect that you feel you must put up the walls. Just understand - running extra code before you deliver a page will have a cost, in terms of server load and response times. Personally, I am putting up the walls on all of my sites.

Further disclaimer: these solutions are based, at least in part, on information that the search engines have published regarding the right way to validate spider visits. It would be nice if they would publish the information once and then stick by it, but Yahoo gave us instructions shortly after Google did, then they recently changed the domain they crawl from (was inktomisearch.com, now crawl.yahoo.net). Once you start doing this stuff, you have to keep up with what the search engines are doing. I'll certainly try to keep my subscribers informed, but not everyone gets my newsletter. Keeping up to speed on this stuff is up to you.

There are other solutions available. Bill Atchison's Crawlwall is a professional (commercial) solution, that does a lot more to prevent content theft, etc. If you have the means, you may want to consider this instead, and move the burden of "keeping up with the spiders" onto Bill's shoulders. Jaimie is working on a more general proxy-blocking solution as well. Ekstreme has the beginnings of a spider validation solution in the PHP Search Engine Bot Authentication code they published.

If You Are Operating A Proxy - Don't Be Part of the Problem

If you are operating a proxy server, and you don't want to be part of the problem, you can prevent your server from being used as a tool by adding a robots.txt file that prevents all search engine spiders from indexing proxied content through your server. For example, if all proxy URLs begin with /proxy/ then you can use:

User-agent:

* Disallow: /proxy/

Of course, not all proxies are being run by innocent people for innocent reasons. Some of them are actually designed to hijack content - to deliver ads, etc. Some people want to steal your content, and they want the search engines to index it. In fact, I would not be surprised if a large part of the overall problem isn't caused by such people firing links at their own proxies.

Is It Just Google?

You got me… I haven't seen any cases on other engines that looked like a proxy hack, but I'd be surprised if it only affected Google. Google may simply be the only search engine that shows you enough search results to let you "catch" the proxies. Google may be more susceptible because they crawl more URLs more often, and use multiple data centers.

Assuming I am not completely wrong, it sure looks like less of a design flaw, and more of an "emergent property" of the very things that make Google the world's best search engine (just my opinion, apparently the average consumer no longer agrees). I don't know that there is an easy solution, especially if the problem arises because of their multiple-data-center strategy.

Unfortunately, any countermeasures that we implement could be thwarted by someone willing to copy our content in other ways, or by constructing a proxy that spoofs user agents, uses intermediate proxies to hide its IP address, and strips out meta tags. This has always been possible, BTW. Anyone actually doing these things, of course, would likely be committing a crime… and would be a lot easier to find than some script kiddie using comment spam to fire links at someone else's proxies.

Is It Possible That You Are Totally Wrong, Dan?

Yes, I suppose it's possible that there is some other explanation, that everything at Google is perfect, etc. But I've spent a lot of time looking at this, and it sure looks to me like this is a real problem.

Defend yourselves, folks. It's a dangerous world.

P.S. I will be discussing this issue with Jim Hedger on Webmaster Radio's "The Alternative" today, Thursday August 16 - the show airs at 5pm Eastern.

UPDATE: As of May 1, 2008, I have every reason to believe that Google has solved this problem, at least in the general case. At this point, the only sites I can see getting "duped by proxy" are spammier than the proxies themselves.
Article from : SEOFASTSTART

Google Hack Tool

2008-07-24T10:19:00.001-07:00

Google Hacks: Tips & Tools for Smarter Searching (ISBN 0-596-00447-8) is a book of tips about Google, a popular Internet search engine, by Tara Calishain and Rael Dornfest. The book was published by O'Reilly in February 2003. It covers tips of all kinds, from usage hints for the novice just using Google, to advice for the expert programming the Google Web API. Much of the content provided in the book can also be used for Google Hacking, finding security issues through Google searches. Most programming examples are written in Perl.

Download Google Hack

Google Hacks is a compilation of carefully crafted Google searches that expose novel functionality from Google's search and map services. For example, you can use it to view a timeline of your search results, view a map, search for music, search for books, and perform many other specific kinds of searches. You can also use this program to use google as a proxy.The name should not imply the way it should be used.

Hacks is meant as this definition. "A Hack is a modification of a program or device to give the user access to features otherwise were unavailable to them. " Taken from Wikipedia.

Please do not use this program for illegal uses. If you have used this program to find a vulnerability or if your domain is being taken advantage of, we suggest you use Google Hacks Honey Pot

DisclaimerWhat im hoping by releasing this program is that it will help crack down on illegal and illegally distributed copyrighted material.