Computer Internet, Computer Education

Changing the appearance of the desktop and other tips

2008-11-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

There are thousands of possible tweaks and the ones that I have chosen may not suit everybody. Also there are a myriad of computer configurations and what works for me may not work the same for you. Most important of all, please remember that you should make no changes to your system before first backing up.

System Restore

A very important feature of Windows XP is the ability to return system files to the same state they were in at some previous point in time. Before making any tweaks create a new “Restore Point.” Go to Control Panel-Performance and Maintenance-System Restore or Start-All Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Restore and select "Create a restore point.” (Note: this does NOT take the place of a complete backup.)

System Restore itself should be tweaked. If it is left alone, it will consume a good portion of your disk space with unnecessary restore points. By default it will use up to 12% of each of your drives. Although you may have a big hard drive and no need of the space, a lot of extra restore points can slow down processes such as virus checking, disk defragmenting, and other procedures. Go to My Computer, right-click, select “Properties” and then click the “System Restore” tab. These steps are illustrated in the two figures below below.

The figure above shows a system with only one volume or drive. Use the slide bar to set aside a reasonable amount of space. What is “reasonable”? It depends on your system but on mine, 200 MB (the minimum allowed) will hold 5 or 6 restore points and is all I use. Somewhere between the minimum 200 MB and 1 GB should suffice for most people. If you have a dual-boot system, highlight the drive where the other operating system is installed, click “Settings”, and put a check by “Turn off System Restore for this drive”. Also, if you have partitions for data, turn off System Restore there as well. There is no benefit from monitoring non-system files.

More about System Restore is on this page. A tutorial on System Restore in Macromedia Flash 6 format can be viewed at the sister site Windows for Beginners.

Error reporting

Microsoft wants information about any crashes you experience. Although it might seem like a good idea to let them collect data that could in theory help improve the operating system, I would prefer that information about my system, including a memory dump, not be sent out.For one thing, personal information can get included in the memory dump. Go to "My Computer" and right-click. Then choose "Properties". Click the “Advanced “ tab in the properties sheet that opens and then the “Error Reporting” button. The figure below illustrates the appropriate window.

As shown in the figure below, check "Disable error reporting," You can leave "But notify me when critical errors occur" checked.

Visual settings

If your computer is on the low end of having the power to handle all of the XP visual effects, you may find that performance is slowed. Or you may be like me and just prefer a less gaudy appearance. There is a lot of animation, shadowing, rounding and other things that consume computer resources. Also the color depth chosen may be more than you need or want. One route to adjust the system to your liking is to go to Control Panel-Appearance and Themes and make various changes there. Another route is to right-click My Computer, open the properties sheet and click the "Advanced" tab. (First figure in Error Reporting above.) In the “Performance” section, click the “Settings” button. The window in the figure below will open. Try “Adjust for best performance” to see how that works (Windows will probably change your theme) Or if you wish, you can unselect the various settings individually.

Return to the "Classic" Settings

Rather than fiddle with a lot of individual settings, you may prefer to return the look of your desktop to something resembling Windows 98. Right-click on an empty spot on the desktop and open the Properties sheet from the context menu. Select the Themes tab (First figure below) and in the drop-down menu choose “Windows Classic.” Click “Apply” and “OK”. If you prefer not to change the whole theme (including background and sounds) but just want windows and buttons changed, click the "Appearance" tab (second figure below) and in the “Windows and buttons” drop-down menu, select Windows Classic style. Click “Apply” and “OK”.

The new XP look to the Start menu can also be returned to the older style. Right-click on Start and open “Properties” from the context menu. Choose the radio button by the entry “Classic Start menu”. Click “Apply” and “OK”.

More tweaks are here

How to get rid of Windows messenger spam

2008-11-25T08:20:00.001-08:00

The messenger referred to here is not to be confused with MSN messenger or other instant messaging services. Unfortunately, XP has two kinds of "Windows Messenger" which have almost the same name. One is an instant messaging application similar to other IM software such as AIM and ICQ. That messenger is the one that you use to chat back and forth with your buddies. The second one is what we will be discussing here and is the so-called "messenger service." This is a built-in service normally running in the background that is intended to allow systems administrators to send pop-up messages concerning maintenance and the like to the users on a local area network. Although this "messenger service" is of no particular use on a stand-alone computer or to most home users, it runs by default. Spammers have discovered that they can use this service to send pop-up messages to computers that are connected to the Internet. Judging from the number of complaints , the practice is pretty wide-spread. The spammers have computers that rapidly scan large numbers of Internet IP addresses and whenever they happen upon someone with an open XP system, a spam message is sent via the messenger service. The hapless PC user suddenly sees a pop-up window intruding on the screen with some sort of unwanted message, usually advertising. The pop-up windows can be identified by the name "Messenger Service" in the title bar. Since pornographic sites are among the active spammers, children may get inappropriate material. An example of a pop-up window is shown in the figure below.

Most typical home users do not need the messenger service, and it is easily turned off. As is usually true in Windows, there are several different ways but here is probably the quickest. Go to Start|Run and enter “services.msc” without the quotes, as shown in the figure below.

The Services module will open, listing all the services, as the next figure shows. Scroll to “Messenger”, highlight it, and then right-click to obtain the context menu.

Choose “Properties” (shown in the next figure) and then in “Startup type” choose “Disabled”. Click “Stop” and “OK”. Of course, you have to be using an account with administrator privileges (not normally a problem with the Home edition of XP)

You can also read the Microsoft article on how to stop Messenger spam. If you prefer a different route, Steve Gibson has written a little program to allow messenger service to be easily turned on and off. The free download and a discussion of the messenger problem is here.

To conclude, here is a word about the other Windows messenger, the one that is an instant messaging program. I do not use it but apparently those who do have also encountered spam or unwanted visitors there as well. To prevent messages from unknown users, go to the “Tools” menu of this program, choose “Options” and make sure that “All Others” is selected in the Block List.

The Start-Run Line

2008-11-03T14:29:00.000-08:00

The "Run" line in the Start menu can be used to speed up access to a whole variety of functions. Some examples of the shortcuts that are available are discussed here.

Introduction to the Run Line

The Run command line may be one of the least utilized functions in the Start menu. This is a pity since it can be very useful. It is often the quickest way to launch programs or to open folders and documents. The figure below shows the Start-Run entry.

Clicking the entry "Run" opens the box shown below, where commands may be typed and entered.

Opening applications in Run

Although applications can be opened in a variety of ways, the Run line often provides the quickest route. Desktop shortcut icons are also a quick route but you have to know how to create a shortcut for all the applications and you may end up with dozens of icons.

The best candidates for the Run line are applications that are in the "path" environment. (Go to this page for more discussion of the path.) The path environment is a set of folders whose names do not have to be included when entering a command. The path environment variable normally includes \Windows\ and \Windows\system32\. Many common accessories and Windows applets are in these folders and can be opened by entering just the executable file name. Several that I use constantly are the Registry editor (regedit) and the System Configuration Utility (msconfig). Note that neither of these frequently used system tools has an entry in Start- All Programs. The Run line is the standard method of accessing them.

A table listing some applications that can be opened in the Run line is given below.

A few applications for the Run line
Entry for Run	Function
calc	Opens calculator
cmd	Opens command prompt window
explorer	Opens Windows explorer
magnify	Screen magnifier accessory
msconfig	System Configuration Utility
mshearts	Opens Hearts game
msinfo32	System Information applet
mspaint	Opens graphics accessory Paint
notepad	Notepad accessory
regedit	Registry editor
sol	Opens Classical Solitaire game

Programs not in the path require their full address, including the root folder and all subfolders. Actually typing long path names is not required since a "Browse" function comes with the Run line. This provides a way to search for files of interest and to enter them directly without typing. If desired, frequently used programs can be added to the path environment using the methods that are discussed in a section below.

Opening Management Consoles

Some of the functions that I find convenient to open by means of the Run line include various Management Consoles. For example, the disk defragmenter is opened by entering "dfrg.msc" . I find this easier than the multi-step process involved otherwise. A list of the appropriate file names for opening some of the various services is given in the table below. A more complete list is on this page.

Commands for some Management Consoles (msc extension required)
Entry for Run	Function
ciadv.msc	Manages the Indexing Service
compmgmt.msc	Computer Management Console. It contains a number of the other consoles
devmgmt.msc	Device Manager
dfrg.msc	Disk Defragmenter
diskmgmt.msc	Disk Management
gpedit.msc	Group Policy Editor. Windows XP Professional only
services.msc	Manages the many services involved in Windows and installed software

Opening Control Panel Applets

It is also possible to use Run to open the applets that appear in the Control Panel. A full discussion of shortcuts to Control Panel applets is given on this page. For example,entering "main.cpl" launches the mouse properties window.

Rundll32.exe

There are a number of commands employing Rundll32.exe that can be entered into Start-Run. A full discussion can be found here.

Opening folders in Run

Not only files but also folders can be opened in the Run line. Folders contained by a folder in the path are in this category. Examples are folders within \Windows\ and \Windows\system32\ such as the folders Fonts and "Drivers". Folders that are in \Documents and Settings\{Current User}\ can also be opened in Run. An example is SendTo (written as one word). Being able to open this folder in Run is convenient for editing. It makes it easier to add functions to the "Send To" entry in the right-click context menu. (See this page) Another example of a folder from the same location that can be entered is Cookies.
Note about Vista: Certain system folders like SendTo and Cookies are not directly accessible in Vista. See the page on the Shell command.

There are also some interesting shortcuts to folders that are available in Run. Typing the backslash (\) in the run line and entering it brings up the root folder, usually the C: drive. Typing and entering a period (.) brings up the folder \Documents and Settings\{Current User}\ in Windows XP (or Users\(Current User} in Vista). Entering two periods (..) opens the folder \Documents and Settings\ (or Users in Vista).

Dragging and dropping folders and files into the Run line

If the Run line is open (make sure it is empty) folders or files can be dragged and dropped on it from an open folder window. The full path of the dropped object will be inserted into the Run line and clicking "OK' or pressing the "Enter" key will open the dropped file or folder. Although this feature presents no particular advantage in general, it can be helpful to those who have trouble with double-clicking the mouse.

Adding applications to the Path

The ability to enter a short file name into the Run line to open a program can be extended to any program by putting the folder containing the program executable into the path. Adding folders to the path is described here.

Alternatively, the Registry can be edited to explicitly contain the path to the desired executable file or files. The Registry key involved isHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

Create a new sub-key with the name of the executable file that you wish to add to the path. e .g., HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\somefile.exe
In this new key, add a string variable named "Path" containing the value of the the path to your new executable file, e.g., C:\Program files\newprogramfolder\
The new key will already have an empty variable (Default). Edit it to have the string value of entire address of the new program executable , e.g., C:\Program files\newprogramfolder\somefile.exe

You can now enter "somefile.exe" into the Run line to open the program. An example of what the Regedit entries look like is shown in the figure below. I have added a chess game with the executable "winchen.exe" to the path.

A number of files are likely to have already been added on your system. Many applications place themselves here when they are installed. Examples are Microsoft Office components. It is sufficient to enter "winword" into the Run line to open Microsoft Word or "excel" to open Microsoft Excel.

Internet Applications

If you are connected to the Internet, entering an URL into Run opens Internet Explorer (or other browser if it is properly associated) and takes you right to the appropriate web site. The "Browse" function can be used to go to your Favorites folder and you can then click on a link. (Be sure the Browse function is showing "All files" as the file type.) On some systems it will even initiate a Web connection if you are not already on-line. You can also start e-mail by entering “mailto:someone@somewhere.com”. This will open a blank new e-mail with the address already entered. If you want to use an e-mail client other than the Microsoft application Outlook Express, it will have to be associated with the “mailto” function. Many e-mail clients do this automatically when they are installed. (As far as I know, this does not apply to AOL.)

Google supports a command line function that allows for simple searches on on a single term. Enter "www.google.com/search?q=%1" into the Run line, where %1 is the term that is being searched. A dash can be used to combine words. For example, try "www.google.com/search?q=windows-registry" (Omit the quotes.)

Comparison of Run with the Command Prompt

Although a great many commands can be executed in either the Run line or a command prompt, some commands will run directly only in one or the other. Commands which are built into the command interpreter cannot be entered in the Run line without first invoking cmd.exe. They are listed here. These include commands like "dir" and "del". Certain special features of the Run line such as the direct way of opening folders or the Internet shortcuts discussed above do not work in a command prompt unless prefaced with the command "Start".

Accessing the Command Shell from Run

The command interpreter can be invoked to carry out a command from the Run line by entering cmd /c some_commandWith the switch "/c", some_command will be carried out and the command shell will then close. If you want the command shell to remain open, use the switch "/k". Enter cmd /k some_command

The Run Line in Vista

The Start menu in Vista has no Run line in its default setting. Many of the functions of Run can be carried out in the new Search function that is at the bottom of the Vista Start menu but I still like to use Run sometimes. You can get Run back temporarily by using the keyboard shortcut Windows key+R. To put Run permanently back in the Start menu :

Right-click on the Start menu and choose "Properties"
Select the "Start Menu" tab and click on the "Customize..." button
Check the "Run command" option

Configuring the Command Prompt Window

2008-11-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

The interface to the command shell can be customized in a number of ways and these are discussed.

The default settings for the window that displays a command prompt can be changed to suit individual preferences. Among the properties that can be changed are those that affect the appearance such as window size, background and foreground color, and font style. Others that affect operation such as the editing mode and command history buffer can also be configured.

The command prompt properties dialog

Changing the settings for the command prompt can be done through the properties dialog box. This can be reached in the menu that is opened by left-clicking the icon in the left-top corner or by right-clicking anywhere in the title bar at the top of a command prompt window. In the menu that opens choose "Properties". Figures 1 and 2 show the procedure.

Fig. 1. Menu for command window	Fig. 2. Entry for properties dialog

The properties dialog box contains four tabs. Each of these is discussed below.

Options tab

The figure on the right shows the dialog box for the Options tab. Settings here include provision for configuring cursor size and window or full-screen display. The "Quick Edit" mode allows you to use the mouse to cut and paste text to and from the command window. You can also choose insert or overwriting for editing by checking or unchecking "Insert Mode".

Command History buffer

A new feature is the "Command History" buffer. This buffer stores the previous commands that you have entered so that you do not have to retype them (reminiscent of Doskey). The default value is 50 but can be made as large as 999 (remember that they do take RAM) . The up-and-down arrow keys can be used to navigate the previously entered commands. Alternatively, pressing the F7 key will display a pop-up window with a list of the commands.

Font tab

This tab is more or less self-explanatory. On most machines, there is a choice of two font faces, Raster (the default) and Lucinda Console. Lucinda Console is more versatile. A selection of font sizes is available. As is true in general about settings, changes in font can be made for the present window only or for all command windows with the same title.

Layout tab

The window size and position can be set here. There are also settings for the screen buffer size. This determines how many lines back that you can scroll.( Incidentally, this ability to scroll back to previous commands was not present in DOS. Once something was off the screen, you couldn't scroll back.)

Color tab

The dialog box for configuring colors is shown on the right. The default colors for a command window and its fonts are the old black and white combination. However, other color combinations are available. The colors for pop-up windows associated with the command window can also be configured. As shown in the figure on the right, colors can be changed by clicking on the appropriate choice or by entering numerical values in the 256 color RGB notation. In the figure, I have chosen a blue screen background with yellow screen text as illustration. Color changes can be made for the current screen only or applied to all command windows.

Screen colors can also be changed with the "color" command or a command-line switch directly modifying the command interpreter. Both these methods are discussed below.

It is also possible to have shortcuts that open the command line with more than one color scheme and this is discussed in the shortcut section below.

Applying changes to all command windows

Note that changes apply to the current command window only unless you specify otherwise. When making configuration changes, you will be shown the dialog box on the right. To make changes stick after the current command session is closed, check the button by the entry, " Save properties for future windows with same title".

Configuring shortcuts for the command prompt

If you use the command prompt a great deal, you may want to place a shortcut on the desktop or in the Quick Launch bar. After creating the shortcut, you can configure the properties of the command window that it will open in much the same way as discussed above. Right-click the shortcut and choose "Properties" from the context menu. Four of the the tabs at the top of the properties sheet will be the same as those discussed above. They are marked in the figure on the right. You can apply whatever customization you like and it will apply only to command windows that are opened from this particular shortcut.

Another way to configure the properties of a particular shortcut is to apply the changes in a command window that has been opened with that shortcut. After configuring the changes to the open command window by the methods discussed in sections above, the dialog box shown on the right will open. Check the button by the entry, "Modify shortcut that started this window".

The "color" command

The screen colors can be configured from the command line itself with the command "color" followed by a two-digit hexadecimal number. The first digit determines the background and the second determines the text color. The table below shows the relationship between the hex numbers and colors.

Table I. Hexadecimal color codes
0 = Black	8 = Gray
1 = Blue	9 = Light Blue
2 = Green	A = Light Green
3 = Aqua	B = Light Aqua
4 = Red	C = Light Red
5 = Purple	D = Light Purple
6 = Yellow	E = Light Yellow
7 = White	F = Bright White

For example the command "color 1E" will give a blue background with yellow text. Settings made this way apply only to the current session. Entering "color" with no argument will return the system to the starting colors.

Switches for the command interpreter cmd.exe

Another way to modify the behavior of the command prompt is to use switches with the command interpreter cmd.exe. The syntax for cmd.exe is:
cmd [[{/c|/k}] [/s] [/q] [/d] [{/a|/u}] [/t:fg] [/e:{on|off}] [/f:{on|off}] [/v:{on|off}] string]
Table II describes the parameters briefly. See the Windows Help and Support Center for more detail.

Table II. Switches for cmd.exe
Parameter	Description
/c	Carries out the command specified by string and then exits
/k	Carries out the command specified by string and stays open
/s	Modifies the treatment of string after/c or /k. See Windows Help for details
/q	Turns the echo off. Default is echo on
/d	Disables execution of AutoRun commands
/a	Creates ANSI output (the default)
/u	Creates Unicode output
/t:fg	Sets the foreground f and background g colors. The hex codes for f and g are in Table I.
/e:on /e:off	Enables or disables commands extensions. The default is "on"
/f:on /f:off	Enables or disables file and directory name completion
/v:on /v:off	Enables or disables delayed environment variable expansion
string	Specifies the command you want to carry out

Commands that everybody can use

2008-11-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

Since the command prompt is often used by systems administrators, many of the commands are specialized for networks and administration. However, the average PC user is not left out; there are some powerful commands for everyday tasks that anybody will find useful. Here we discuss some examples.

For convenience in the examples below, I will use simple names for files and folders without indicating the full path. Please remember that paths for all commands are relative to the folder indicated in the command prompt itself, unless explicitly indicated otherwise. The default reference folder is usually C:\Documents and Settings\(log on name)\. Thus if a reference is made to a file "somefile.txt", the computer assumes you mean C:\Documents and Settings\(log on name)\somefile.txt. If what you really want is C:\someotherfolder\somefile.txt, then you must enter the entire name with the correct path. Note that paths containing spaces have to be enclosed in quotes. A convenient way to be able to open the command prompt in a folder of your choice can be obtained by installing the Microsoft PowerToy “Command Prompt Here”. The right-click context menu will then contain an entry for opening a command prompt in any selected folder. The accessory can be downloaded here. Another way to get file names into the command line without having to type a long path is by using drag and drop. Open a command window and enter the command you want with a space after it. Then use Windows Explorer to open the folder containing the file you want to use. Drag the file over to the command window and drop it. (Drag and drop does not work in Vista.)

Power deleting with the expanded "Del" command

The delete command “del” now has a switch “/s” that provides for deletions in subfolders. Thus the commanddel /s myfolder\* will delete all files in myfolder and all files in any subfolders of myfolder. Note the convenient asterisk wildcard “*”, which allows for multiple deletions in a single user operation. Together with the switch “/s”, a single “del” command can clean out Temp folders and do other useful housekeeping chores. Another switch "/f" will force the deletion of read-only files. If you are sure about what is being deleted, add the “/q” switch to run in quiet mode so you aren’t asked if you really want to delete for every single file. Because of its power, this extended del command has to be used carefully. Any files deleted this way do not go into the Recycle Bin but are permanently removed.

To delete only files with a particular extension EXT, use the commanddel /s myfolder\*.ext Note that this command will delete all files of a particular type in a folder and all its subfolders. One example of its use is to get rid of all temporary files with the extension TMP.

Enhanced management of folders (directories)

The command "rmdir" or its twin "rd" are also expanded compared to the old DOS version. To remove folders (directories), use “rmdir” (just “rd” will also work). Folders must be empty before they can be deleted. However, there is a switch “/s” for deleting subfolders and with this switch files are also deleted. It is like the old command "deltree". The command rd /s myfolder will remove "myfolder" and everything in it. Adding the switch /q for a "quiet" mode is also possible.

Options have also been added to the command for making folders. The command “mkdir” or “md” can now make a whole tree. For example, consider the commandmd new\new1\new2 This will create a folder “new” with a subfolder “new1” that in turn has a subfolder “new2”.

Xcopy- Powerful and versatile way to copy or back up files

For copying large numbers of files or backing up a large folder, the command line is often the fastest and easiest way to go. The command “xcopy” is a very useful and powerful command for this purpose. (The old DOS also had an “xcopy” command but it sometimes had trouble with long file names. The XP version has no such problems.) “xcopy” comes with an alphabet soup of assorted switches that give it great versatility for use as a file backup utility. Enter “xcopy /?” in a command prompt to see them all. For example with the switch “/d:[mm-dd-yyy]” only files changed after a given date are copied. A command that will copy all files from the folder myfolder that have changed since June 1, 2003 to the folder mybackup is given byxcopy myfolder mybackup /d:06-01-2003 If no date is specified the switch “/d” will copy all files that have changed at any time.As is true in general, if there are spaces in a name, the path and file name have to be enclosed in quotes. Adding the switch "/s" provides that subfolders and their contents will also be copied. Other switches provide for read-only and hidden files. Altogether, there are something like 27 command line options for xcopy. More information is on this page.

How to list files with "dir"

The "dir" command is not new but it remains one of the most useful for average PC users. If you have ever wanted to make a list of all the files contained in a particular folder, you will have discovered that the Windows GUI provides no easy way to do this. It is very straightforward, however, when using the command line. The command “dir myfolder” will list the files and folders contained in myfolder. Again, there are switches that provide for various modifications of the command. For example “/h” will show hidden files and “/s” will list the contents of sub-folders in addition to those of the main folder. Of course, the normal output of the command is to the screen. To output to a file instead of the screen, the command isdir myfolder >listmyfolder.txt where “>” is the redirection symbol. The file "listmyfolder.txt" will be created by the command. Output can also be redirected straight to a printer on the LPT1 port but I think it is better to first create a file and then print from there if hardcopy is desired. These lists can be a lot longer than you might think. (These days most printers are on USB, anyway.) This use of dir is also available in Windows 98/Me.

The dir command can also be used to list only files with a given extension. For exampledir myfolder\*.doc /s >listmyfolder.txt will list all Microsoft Word files in myfolder and its subfolders. This form of the command will also list all the directories and sub-directories. If you want a list of filenames only, add the switch /b. The filename will include the full path.

Renaming files with "ren"

Renaming a a large number of files can be tedious. The command ren (also written rename) is somewhat limited but its ability to use wild cards can sometimes be useful. The basic command is ren file1 file2 The renamed file has to stay in the same folder as the original; this command cannot move files to another folder. The wildcard capability can be used to change the extension of all files of a certain type. Thus ren *.txt *.doc will rename all text files to have a DOC extension.

Moving files

The command "move" takes a file from one folder and puts it in another. Its ability to use wild cards makes it useful for moving all the files of a given type to another location. A command of the typemove /y folder1\*.mp3 folder2\will move all MP3 files from folder1 to folder2. The switch " /y" is used if you want to prevent the system from asking if it should overwrite existing files of the same name. To prevent overwriting, use the switch "/-y".

Changing file attributes with "attrib"

In addition to their actual content, files also have a set of properties that characterize them (sometimes called metadata.) One set of these properties are the four attributes read-only, hidden, system, and archive. The archive attribute is primarily used in backup procedures but the other three can be encountered in various contexts. These attributes can be turned on or off with the command "attrib" and its switches. The great utility of this command is that it can act on subfolders with its switch "/s" and can use the wildcard "*". For example, to clear the read-only , system, and hidden attributes from a file use attrib -r -s -h somefile This operation is not uncommon when system files have to be edited. To restore the attributes the command is attrib +r +s +h somefile A common situation where it is desirable to clear the read-only attribute from many files is when files are copied from a CD. By default CD files are normally marked read-only. This can interfere with editing. To clear the read-only attribute from all files in a folder and its subfolders use attrib -r somefolder\*.* /s If you want to process all files of a certain type such as MP3, use attrib -r somefolder\*.mp3 /s

How to make your favorite folder easily accessible in Windows dialog boxes

Another older command that I find handy is "subst". There are certain folders that I use over and over and I like to have ready access to them. One way to do this is to use the command “subst” to assign a drive letter to a folder. Since drives are at the top of My Computer and any folder trees in browse lists, it makes the folder very easy to get to. To map the “Z:” drive to a folder "myfolder", entersubst z: myfolder Unless you are working from the parent folder of "myfolder" you will need the full path for it. The assignment only lasts until the user logs off or the computer is shut down so I have a one-line batch file in my Startup folder that reinstitutes the assignment.

Other commands

There are so many commands that we can only give the briefest sketches here. A list of some that I think might be useful on home computers is given here. I urge you to look into as many as possible since I feel you will be surprised at how useful some can be. For example, there are a whole host of commands for checking network functions and for use on the Internet. (Many have names that begin with “net…”) There are new ones as well as versions of the well-known commands such as “ping” and “tracert”. As more and more people have home networks, these commands are assuming greater significance to the average PC user. Go to this page for more discussion of some networking commands.

Useful command line programs in scripts

Average PC users are not always comfortable using the command line and I have used VBScripts to wrap some of the examples discussed above with an easy-to-use graphical interface. Description of the free scripts and instructions for their use and downloading are at a sister site.

Command Line List and Reference

2008-11-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

The complete list of possible commands is quite large. Collected here is a selection of those that I believe are likely to be the most applicable to home PC use.

Many of the commands listed below are also discussed in more detail elsewhere on this site as is indicated by the link "details here". Most commands have switches that are not given in the table. For more information, open a command prompt and enter "commandname /?" (without quotes). Detailed information about these commands and a larger list is available at this Microsoft reference.

Selected list of commands
Command	Description	Example
assoc	Displays or modifies file name extension associations. Used alone, displays a list of all the current file name associations	details here
at	Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date. Requires the Schedule service. Superseded by schtasks
attrib	Configures file attributes read only, hidden, system	details here
bootcfg	Used to repair or edit the boot.ini file	details here
cd or chdir	Displays the name of the current directory or changes the current folder	cd folderpath
chkdsk	Checks hard drives for errors. With switches,does repairs.	details here
cls	Clears the screen	cls
copy	Copies a file from one location to another	copy somefile somefolder
del	Deletes one or more files	details here
dir	Displays a list of a folder's files and subfolders	details here
echo	Used to display a message or to turn off/on messages in batch scripts	echo message
exit	Exits batch script or current command control	exit
fc	Compares two files and displays the differences between them	fc file1 file2
for	Runs a specified command for each item in a set	details here
fsutil	Displays and configures certain file system properties. A suite of various commands	details here
ftype	Displays or modifies file types used in file name extension associations	details here
getmac	Returns the media access control (MAC) address for your network card	getmac
goto	Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program	details here
if	Performs conditional processing in batch programs	details here
ipconfig	Displays all current TCP/IP network configuration values and refreshes Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS) settings	details here
md or mkdir	Creates a directory (folder) or subdirectory (subfolder)	details here
more	Displays one screen of output at a time. Used with another command that has extensive output	command \|more
move	Moves a file from one folder to another	details here
net	A suite of various networking and service commands	details here
netsh	Network services shell . Complex suite of commands.	details here
netstat	Displays active TCP connections, ports on which the computer is listening, Ethernet statistics, the IP routing table, statistics for the IP, ICMP, TCP, and UDP protocols	details here
path	Sets the command path in the PATH environment variable, which is the set of directories used to search for executable files	details here
pathping	Provides information about network performance and conditions at intermediate hops between a source and destination	details here
pause	Used in batch scripts	pause
ping	Checks connectivity to other networked computers, routers, or Internet sites	details here
popd, pushd	Changes the directory being referenced in a command prompt. Pushd changes the directory and stores the previous directory. Popd changes the current directory to the directory stored by the pushd command	pushd somefolder popd
powercfg	Manages the power settings such as hibernation. Has numerous switches
reg	Adds, changes, and displays registry entries. A suite of various commands	details here
rd or rmdir	Deletes a directory (folder)	details here
ren or rename	Changes the name of a file or a set of files	details here
sc	Used to obtain information about services and to configure them. A suite of various commands	details here
schtasks	Schedules commands and programs to run periodically or at a specific time
set	Displays, sets, or removes environment variables	details here and also here
sfc	System file checker scans and verifies the versions of all protected system files	sfc /scannow
shutdown	Shuts down or restarts a computer	details here
start	Starts an application or opens a new command window	details here
subst	Associates a folder with a drive letter	details here
systeminfo	Displays detailed configuration information about a computer and its operating system	systeminfo \| more
taskkill	Ends one or more tasks or processes	details here
tasklist	Displays a list of applications and services with their Process ID (PID) for all tasks running	details here
tree	Graphically displays the directory structure of a folder or drive	tree somefolder
type	Displays the contents of a text file	type somefile.txt
xcopy	Powerful command with many switches for copying and backing up files and folders	details here

Introduction to the Command Prompt

2008-11-03T14:23:00.001-08:00

DOS is dead, long live the command line

Before proceeding further, I wish to clear up a common misconception that the command prompt in Windows XP is the same as DOS. Even some experts who know better sometimes refer to the command prompt as a “DOS window”. In fact, Microsoft itself isn't always careful about the distinction. There are some superficial resemblances and some commands with the same name but in fact the old 16-bit DOS is dead. All remnants of DOS are totally gone from the Windows XP kernel (there is a DOS emulator for legacy programs). Windows XP is a 32-bit protected memory system with a totally different approach from the DOS/9X/Me family. The command line in XP has many more capabilities and none of the 16-bit limitations like the restriction to the DOS 8.3 file name format. The augmented capabilities make the command line a powerful tool.

The command prompt window

The command prompt is run from its own window by invoking the Windows XP command interpreter that is provided by the file cmd.exe located in the folder \Windows\System32\. (The old DOS command interpreter is command.com.) If you look in this folder you may also see several files that look suspiciously like some of the old DOS files. They are, however, different 32-bit versions with many new features. The command prompt window can be opened by entering "cmd" (without quotes) into Start-Run or through Start-All Programs-Accessories. A black and white window (the colors can be changed) containing the command prompt will open. The window looks just like the old DOS window but don’t be fooled, it isn’t. Note that it is possible to open several windows containing command prompts, all running independently. It is even possible to run a separate command prompt shell inside another command prompt window.

Internal and external commands

There are two kinds of commands that can be run from the command prompt. There are the internal commands that are built into the command interpreter like “del” and “dir”. These commands can only be run from a command prompt (or by invoking the command interpreter in some other way). They are listed in the table below. There is also a large list of external commands that use an additional executable file that can be run from either the command prompt or the Start-Run line. Details of the various commands are available in several places. In the Professional version of Windows XP there is a help file ntcmds.chm, which has details of all the commands and their many switches. The help file can be opened by entering (without the quotes) "hh ntcmds.chm" into Start-Run. It may or may not be in the Home Edition, depending on what setup you have. However, in both versions a list of many (but not all) of the commands available can be obtained by entering "help" (without quotes) into a command prompt. For more detail on a specific command, enter "help command-name" or "command-name /?" For example to get information on the command xcopy, enter "help xcopy" or "xcopy /?”. Microsoft keeps moving things, but the last time I checked they had a command line reference at this link. Some of the commonly used commands are discussed on this page and in the list given here.

Table I. Internal commands in the command shell
assoc	dir	move	set
break	echo	path	setlocal
call	endlocal	pause	shift
cd	exit	popd	start
cls	for	prompt	time
color	ftype	pushd	title
copy	goto	rd	type
date	if	rem	verify
del	md	ren	volume

Some symbols that are used

In addition to the commands, there are several symbols that are used. These modify or combine the actions of commands. The table below gives a list.

Table II. Symbols used with commands
Symbol	Function	Example
>	Sends output to a named file. If file does not exist, it creates one. Overwrites existing file	command > somefile
>>	Appends output to contents of a named file or creates a file if none exists	command >> somefile
<	Uses contents of a named file as input to a command	command <>
¦	Sends ("pipes") the output of command1 to the input of command2	command1 ¦ command2
&	Used to combine two commands. Executes command1 and then command2	command1 & command2
&&	A conditional combination. Executes command2 if command1 completes successfully	command1 && command2
¦¦	Command2 executes only if command1 does not complete successfully.	command1 ¦¦ command2
@	Used in batch files at the beginning of a line to turn off the display of commands	@echo off

The most commonly used symbols are the two redirection symbols ">" and ">>" and the so-called pipe, "¦" . (Just to make sure there is no confusion, the "pipe" is the symbol above the back slash on most keyboards. On keyboards it has a break in the middle but the break does not always show when you type the symbol. A special code is used to show it on a Web page.)

Tutorials for Learning Basic Functions in Windows

2008-11-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some tutorials for those who are new to computing. Basic computer functions like using the mouse and keyboard as well as simple Windows operations like copy and paste are explained. The most basic file operations are also covered.

Clicking a link below will open a tutorial in a new window. When you have finished looking at a tutorial, close its window to return to the main menu.

(Please note that Microsoft has been forced to modify Internet Explorer because of patent issues. This means that the Macromedia Flash presentation windows must now be clicked first to allow the files to play. The Firefox browser does not have these problems and works just fine.)

(Later note: Microsoft's patent issues were resolved and updated versions of Internet Explorer now play Flash presentations as originally intended.)

Elementary computer concepts

Slide show introducing computers: Presents elementary concepts of how computers work and what the essential components such as the CPU, RAM, and the hard drive are. Briefly describes the concept of an operating system and what the file system is.
A survey of some of the keys on a PC keyboard: A tutorial in Macromedia Flash 6 format showing some of the different keys on a PC keyboard.
A guide to clicking the mouse in Windows
Mouse Tutorial and Exercises: A group of entertaining interactive exercises for practicing elementary operations such as the double-click and drag-and-drop. Has sound effects so be sure to turn on your speakers. Also contains an interactive drawing exercise. In Flash 6 format. ( Note: the mouse exercises have been updated to get around the Internet Explorer extra click problem. However, the workaround uses JavaScript so be sure it is enabled.)

Elements of Windows

Slide show introducing the file system: Describes the basic concepts of how information is stored in files and folders. Introduces the idea of different types of file formats requiring different software
Elementary Windows menu operations: An interactive Flash tutorial for practicing very basic operations with the standard Windows menus "File" and " Edit"
Using the Task Pane to copy a file: Folders in Windows XP contain a handy area called the "Task Pane", where various file and folder operations can be carried out. This Flash demonstration shows how to copy a file.
Using the Task Pane to move a file: Another Flash presentation, this time showing how to move a file in Windows XP
Copying multiple files: Continuing the Flash presentations on simple file operations in Windows XP
Tutorial on selecting text for copying or editing: A Macromedia Flash presentation on how to use the mouse to select or highlight text designated for copying to another document window or for editing purposes. This non-interactive presentation has occasional sound.

Vdu: the Computer Monitoring System

2008-10-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION
the Visual display Unit (VDU) according to International Labour Office (1989) defined VDU as an electrical instrument that is use to display the information recieved from the computer system,in a very short period of time emerged from comparative obscruity in scientific laboratory(s) to become an integral and indespensable part of normal working life for millions of people both in home and in workplaces. As the technological revolutioncontinues, the use of computer with screen-base output unit or VDU grows at an incresing rate. worlwide, millions of VDUs are now in use, recieving and processing information on television-like screen or monitors. Also, it is a television type monitor that display information recieved from computer system wordprocessor rather than from a signal broad cast for televisio. The VDU contributes the interactive element between the operator and the computer system. The VDU could be limited to a main computer, as with a terminal or the physical entity comporising the VDU could also include the computer system, as with a personal computer (PC). the basic principle of operation of most VDUs in use is simikar to that of television sets.They contain a large evacuated glass tube, called Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), which include a source of electrons (The Cathode) and a phospor coating on thte inside of the vewing face of the screen. A high voltage (typically) in the range of 10-25kv accelerated electrons, releasing from the cathod towards a second electrode called The Cathode. They pass the through a hole in the anode on to the phosphor materials. However, computers are very important and for all the apparent complexity, they seems to hve a wide range of uses and play an ever-increasing role within our society likeoffice, commerce and industries, public services and of course schools and home, with this we can see that the importance of computer monitor can not be over emphasis.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The study is to determine the influence of computer monitor (VDU) a computer system of an organisation and it is stated below:
1. what are the effect of VDU to human and health?
2. what are the control measure and prevention of VDU effect?
3. what are the measuement and level of control of radiation emmision of VDU?

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this seminar is to provide information on the computer monitor which base on the influence, importance and the uses of computer monitor in a computer system of an organisation.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This project work will be based mainly on the use, importance and the configuration of a computer monitor

METHODOLOGY
During the course of this project work, data were obtained from second sorce, this cisist of information from the periodicals, texetrbooks, encarta software and research findings. Aslo, search engines like www.google.com, www.devilfinder.com, www.mamma.com, and son on will also contacted during the project work.

LIMIITATION OF THE STUDY
This research work suppose to go in-depth but due to the power fai.lure, there is no money to move from one place another, insufficient time allocation and the resarch is also expensive to carry out.

ANALYSIS TO THE STUDY
In the first generation of computerwhich was between the year 1945-1958 one of the first digital computer in this generation was a machine called ENIAC (Electrical Numerical Integrator and Calculator) was design band built at the Moore school of Electrical Engineering at the univesity of Pennsylvanian in 1956. This ENIAC contained over 18,000 vacuum tubes wieghed more than 30 tons and required 1500 square fact of floor space. It was programmed by setting up to 6,000 switch and connecting cables between the various units of the computer.
The second generation introduced the designing computer which was between (1958-1964) machine based on the store concet using discrete semiconductor element diodes, translator and so on. The vacuum tube was reduce to weighed about 25 tons and required 1000 sqaure of the floor space and again reduction in heat generation. The size-reduction brought by the utilization of semiconductor elements.
Between 1964-1971 which was the third generation f computer which was the third generation of computer which was characterized by further reduction in sixe of the VDu low cast, low in heat generatiion. Introduction of im[proved method of storing datas and applicaron of Integrated Circuits (I.C.), they accepted their input data through magnetic tape and magnetic disk, which they also accepted for secondary storage.
During 1971-1975, Here computer were first designed on the basis of large-scale integrated circuit along with vacuum 3tube and transistror. Each electronic along has its own set of characteristics including reliability, packing density, heated dissipation, speed and cost of all which designer must balance then the VDU size was drastically reduced compare to the first generation and the cost which is very cheap. This fourth of computer are otherwise known as microprocessor on a chip and is characterized by the energence of personal computer (PCs) so called foruth generation programming language such as spread sheet, Dbase III, windowing menu dialoging and other paraphernalia.
The fifth generation of computer (1975-1995) is the mother language or lingual franca of each user. Hence the following thechonolgies were involved in the fifth generation; (1) Micro electronics (2) computer architecture (3) Artificial intelligence (4) Language processing (5) database management. A logical influence is an elementary inductive method of reasoning and each lips is equivalent to some 300 instruction on a conventional computer.
The sixth generation of computer monitor was the geneation which innovation called Optic Computer, the computer of this generation is from year 1995 till date and the computer of this generation are laptop computer, palmtop computer, plasma computer all which are usin a flat screen are been constructed. Here are the computer monitor that came into being in this generation MDA (Monocrono Display Adapter), HA (Hercules Adapter). CGA (Color Graphic Adapter), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), Palmtop Plasma Television and so on.

THE DESIGN OF A MONITOR
The Monitor could be linke to a main computer, as with a terminal, or the physical entity comprising the VDU could also include the computer system, as with a personal computer (PC). The basic principle of operation of most VDUs in use is similar to that of television sets. They contain a large evacuated glass tube called Cathod Ray Tube (CRT), which include a source of electrons (the cathode) and a phosphor coating on the inside of the viewing face of the screen. A high voltage (typically in the range of 10-25kv) accelerates electrons release trom the cathod towards a second elctrode on to the direction and thus the impact of the points of the electrons on the phosphor are controlledby magnetic field produced by deflecting the coils mounted near the back of the tube. In this manner, the electron beam is swept horizontally and vertically across the viewing face-the whole face normally being-covered in about 1/70th of a second. By modulating the intensity of the electron beam in each position, the resulting pattern of light and dark points can be generated into pictrue. The electronic circuit used to control these processess gives rise to both radio frequency (RF) field and to electric and magnetic fields of lower frequencies. Recently, solid state circuitry in conjuction with liquid crystal, gas plasma or similar display technology(s) has been used to replace cathode ray tube. However, to a rather limited extent.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Computer:- an electronic device capable of storing and processing information in accordance with a set of instruction.
Cathode Ray Tube:- a vacuum tube in which beam of electrones produce a luminous image on a fluorescence screen, used in television and display unit (VDU).
Monitor:- a television used to view a pictrue from a particular camera o a display from a computer.
Monochrome:- consisting of or display image in black and white or in varying tones of one color.
Hercules:- requiring or having greate strnght or effects.
Flash:- shine with a bright but brief or irregular light.
Pixel (Pictrue Element):- any of the tiny ray of light on a display screen which are made up of an image.
Pallete:- a thin board on which an artist lay anf mixes pints abd the range of color used by an artists.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, there are no health hazards associated wityh radiation, graphic adapter and field from VDUs. However, since a large number of people are involved in VDU work measure sohould be taken to ensure that VDU workplace are economically well designed. This include aspect of the VDU, the workstation and the work environment as well as work organiszation.

REFERENCES
Bergqiust, U. (1984), "Video Display Terminals and Health", in scandinavia via journal of work environment and
health (helsinkin), vol.10.
Health and Welfare (Canada).1993), Investigations of Radiation Emission from Vidoe Display Terminals, Reporter 83-
-91 (Ottawa, Environment Health Directorate).
Intenational Labour Office (ILO), 1989. Working With Visual Display Unit, Occupational safety and Health Series
No. 61.
Locksley E.A. et al (2006). Introduction to Computer Studies 1, Immacuilate Concept, Ogbomosho, Oyo state
Pg. 3-7.
Micheal Tooley (1997), PC Troubleshooting Pocket Book, the bath press Pg. 150.

By Ajibola Daniel

Computer Security

2008-10-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

What is Computer Security?

Computer Security is a branch of technology known as information security as applied to computers. Information security means protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. The objective of computer security varies and can include protection of information from theft or corruption, or the preservation of availability, as defined in the security policy.

Technological and managerial procedures applied to computer systems to ensure the availability, integrity and confidentiality of information managed by the computer system

Computer security imposes requirements on computers that are different from most system requirements because they often take the form of constraints on what computers are not supposed to do.

Typical approaches to improving computer security can include the following:

Physically limit access to computers to only those who will not compromise security.

Hardware mechanisms that impose rules on computer programs, thus avoiding depending on computer programs for computer security.

Operating system mechanisms that impose rules on programs to avoid trusting computer programs.

Programming strategies to make computer programs dependable and resist subversion.

Computer Security has three Layers:

o Hacking

o Cracking

o Phreaking

Hacking:

Unauthorized use or attempts to circumvent or bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network.

Computer hacking always involves some degree of infringement on the privacy of others or damage to computer-based property such as files, web pages or software. The impact of computer hacking varies from simply being simply invasive and annoying to illegal.

Cracking:

The act of breaking into a computer system.

Software Cracking is the modification of software to remove protection methods: copy prevention, trial/demo version, serial number, hardware key, CD check or software annoyances like nag screens and adware.

The most common software crack is the modification of an application's binary to cause or prevent a specific key branch in the program's execution.

Phreaking:

The art and science of cracking the phone network.

Security by design:

The technologies of computer security are based on logic. There is no universal standard notion of what secure behavior is. "Security" is a concept that is unique to each situation. Security is extraneous to the function of a computer application, rather than ancillary to it, thus security necessarily imposes restrictions on the application's behavior.

There are several approaches to security in computing; sometimes a combination of approaches is valid:

Trust all the software to abide by a security policy but the software is not trustworthy (this is computer insecurity).

Trust all the software to abide by a security policy and the software is validated as trustworthy (by tedious branch and path analysis for example).

Trust no software but enforce a security policy with mechanisms that are not trustworthy (again this is computer insecurity).

Trust no software but enforce a security policy with trustworthy mechanisms.

12 tips for computer security:

Update / patch ALL your software every now and then!

Check / adjust ALL your settings so they are safe, since they ARENT by default!

Use firewall, like ZoneAlarm to control what goes in and out from your computer!

Use good passwords: at least 13marks long, containing both letters and numbers. Remember to change your password every few months atleast and dont ever use the same password in two places!

Get a good antivirus program: NOD32, F-Secure or Norton Antivirus and keep it updated!

Don’t open or execute files that you are not 100% sure are absolutely safe nomatter where or how you get them.

Wipe your historyfiles (like cookies, internet history and temporary files, etc.), logs and personal files, with specific wiping program (like Eraser) instead of just deleting them.

Use encryption to enhance your privacy! Use encrypted email (like Hushmail or Ziplip), www-surfing and encrypt sensitive files on your computer (PGP).

When you are finished using some internet-based service like email, sign out of it rather than just closing your browser! Also, when you leave your computer, make sure that none of such programs or connections are left open that someone could abuse. In WindowsNT/2k/XP, press Windowskey+L to lock the workstation.

Don’t use public computers for anything you need to type in your logins, they usually have Trojan horses that capture your passwords.

Make backups and store them in safe place! Easiest way to do a total-backup is to make an "Image" of your harddrive or partition and store it on safe location, but floppies will usually be just fine for storing documents, etc.

Install and Use a Hardware Firewall

By David Tuffel

Hack Back Your Computer - Revive Your Lagging Pc

2008-10-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Over time and use with a windows machine you may notice that it does not run as fast as when you first got it.

This is usually because of a number of different problems that can occur with regular use of a computer. The smart computer user knows about these things and how to repair them on their own rather then having to hire a technician to solve the problem, (costing you time with out your computer and usually around 50 dollars an hour).

Possible problems usually include one or many of the following things:

Viruses

They happen, even if you spend all the money you can on antivirus software, you likely don’t even know you have one.

Spam

Loosely falls under the same definition as a virus but with some negligible variations, can also include programs that hit you computer with nasty pop ups and redirect you to web pages you don’t want to visit.

Registry

This is a comprehensive list of all programs that have ever been installed on your computer, sometimes when you uninstall a program some information can still be left on this list, the longer you have your computer the larger this list is likely to be.

To much junk

Unused programs and applications (different browser menus, and other programs)

Start up programs

On the bottom right of your computer beside the clock is usually a bunch of icons. These represent programs that are running on your computer at a given time, the problem is that not all programs that are running display an icon in the taskbar. There is usually much more programs running at a time that you are unaware of.

So lets get started then. Bellow are some tips almost any computer user can performe, to help speed up your computer

1. Restore Point

Before we get started we are going to record a windows restore point. If at any point you feel you’ve made a big mistake you can always go back into the windows restore program and reverte to where you’re computer was at before you tried to fix it. This should give you the confidence to play and adjust settings on your computer without the worry of messing it up. To do this you go to the start menu -> Program files - > Accessories -> System tools -> System restore.

A new program will open from there all you have to do is ask your computer to set a restore point, later if needed you can revert to it. A restore point is a virtual snap shot of your computers settings. It may take a few moments to process.

2. Safe Mode

Because you probably have viruses and unwanted programs slowing down your computer, in order to make the clean up process easier and more efficient we will put your computer into safe mode to run quicker. Safe mode is a basic start up of windows without all the extra bells and whistles that slow down your computer. Also if there is any viruses or programs running on your computer they will very likely not be running in safe mode.

To get into safe mode simply restart your computer then right as it is starting up press F8 on your keyboard, A menu will come up listing some options for you, you need to select Safe mode with networking so that you can still have access to the internet.

It is important to press F8 at a precise time as windows is starting up, some computers will prompt you on the bottom of the screen as its loading but its ok if you just keep pressing it until the menu loads, you can definitely press it more than once.

3a. Windows Updates

Windows frequently releases security updates for problems they find with their operating system. It is usually set up to do it automatically but most people ignore it for whatever reason. Even if this is not the case go to www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and run through their automatic updates program. Its really easy just basically keep clicking yes and next until it is complete. Once the updates are finished it will prompt you to restart your computer, do so before you continue onto the next step.

3b. Restart Again

The computer will likely restart you into normal windows mode, we will continue to work on your computer through safe mode as it will run the next steps quicker, and we can pretty much guarantee that the viruses won’t be running aswell. So restart your computer again and enter into safe mode again.

4. Anti-virus

Ok the easy step to do now is to run a virus scan. Even if you don’t have an anti-virus program on your computer you can still scan your computer for free. The site I recommend is antivirus.com put on by a company called trendmicro, this company mainly profits from its corporate clients but offers a free online scan to public users. Simply go to antivurs.com and look for their free online services for home and office use. Then follow the instructions to run the housecall program on all your local hard drives. This program will provide a current scan of your computer removing all known viruses. Its updates everyday with new definitions so you always know you have an up to date program.

There are a couple other virus programs I should mention. Some of the commercial versions of virus software (Norton and Mcafee) are usually expensive, and require a subscription. In addition to the cost they all use alot of your computers resources to run. So if you are trying to remove virus to speed up a computer by installing Norton you likely won’t notice a difference in speed as it is probably making just as slow.

The solution is to get AVG free edition, Which is a free virus program for all to use, They do also have a subscription version that has a few more features but even the full version of AVG uses way less resources on your computer then norton or Mcafee.So after you’ve finished fixing your computer if you do want to install an antivirus program you may choose to.

4b. Restart in normal mode

At this point you will need to restart you computer and let it boot normally to get out of safe mode

5. MSCONFIG

This program isn’t very well known to most computer users but it is crucial to keeping your computer clean and organized. MSCONFIG is a windows program on all windows machines that controls all start up settings. To access it go to your start menu and click on the run command then type MSCONFIG and press enter.
This program will open in a new window and there will usually be 4 tabs at the top of the window. The main one that you can edit with little difficulty or computer knowledge is the start up tab, click on it and you will see a list of all programs that start when your computer starts up. In reality there is really only 2 or 3 programs that are absolutely necessary These are your systray and anything to do with windows explorer. At this point what you can do is go through the list and uncheck any programs that look suspicious or that you know are malicious or unwanted. When you apply the settings it will ask you to reboot. Once the reboot is complete if all is well you can uncheck more of the programs from the list and see if you computer will still run as you need it. Usually I uncheck almost all of them then add the ones I absolutely need back in after. You can also work in reverse and gradually remove a few at a time and make sure your computer is still ok after each reset. You will need to performe this step a number of times until you have the computer running as quickly as possible with the programs you need.

Usually some of the types of programs that are ok to have on your start up include your software for your burner, msn, your antivirus software, printer software,windows themes.

Tip: If your not sure what a particular program does then you can google all the information list in the startup list on that program and you can usually get an answer.

6. Registry

Similarly to MSCONFIG and the start up list. Your computer registry stores a list of all programs that have ever been installed on your machine. So if you’ve had your computer a while and added and removed alot of programs there can be alot of entries in your registry. A handy program also available on the antivirus.com site is the Hijack This program. This program allows you to clean up and edit your registry.

Caution!!!!!
Be very careful with this step, only remove entries you are sure that are old and unused. This can mess up your computer if done incorrectly, that is why the hijack this program is a good tool to use. Risk of failure can be reduced by setting another restore point before you performe this task.

The windows program that is used to allow you to perform the same task is called REGEDIT. I would only suggest this program for advanced users, and I only use it when I know specifically what program I want to remove from the registry as I can search for it with the find and replace tool.

Hope these tips provide you with a little more confidence and can save you a few service call to the tech support companies.

By Geoffrey Vaughan

The World of Computer Speakers

2008-10-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

The most well known speaker in the world is out to give you yet another stunning performance. Computer speakers are such in demand in the market now. People using the internet, teenagers hooked with their on line games are the primary users of this electronic device. Their ground-breaking inventions and improvements will surely fascinate you.

A computer speaker is a built-in device that generates the sound from the computer. This kind of speaker is designed for PCs or personal computers. A lot of different computer speakers can connect via a jack, USB, RCA connectors, socket and plug. They are commonly designed as attractive, small and versatile.

There are also durable brands that are a bit expensive but are worth the price. Computer speakers can also be used when you are listening to music, playing 3D games or watching a number of movies.

Moreover, computer speakers are in demand in the market now. People using the internet, teenagers hooked with their on line games are the primary users of this electronic device. Even the movie addict who only knows how to download their favourite and the latest movie on the net is obsessed with the idea of a good sound woofer in order to imitate their home theatres.

External speakers or the multimedia speakers are commonly equipped with a low-power internal amplifier. The standard audio connection is a stereo jack pug about 3.5 mm and coloured green for computer sound cards. Some uses an RCA connector for input but there are also types who use USB speakers which are provided with 5 Volts at 200 milliamps which can allow about a half watt of output power. They usually have an equalization feature for treble controls and bass. Computer speakers usually range from low quality, high-quality and expensive speakers.

Computer speakers vary greatly in price and quality and the typical speakers that are included in the computer package is mediocre in performance and sound quality.

Listed below are some of the types of computer speakers

Logitech Z_2300: This computer speaker is loud and nice. The sound comes out without distortion or losing clarity. This is even at a high volume level. The Z_2300 computer speaker has a two forty watt satellite and a one hundred twenty watt subwoofer. The Logitech computer speaker is an adapter speaker that can be used in DVD players as well as in gaming.

Lansing VS2421: This brand of computer speaker is a high-quality basic speaker. The VS2421 has a thirty five Hz to twenty Hz for a full volume sound. It also uses twenty eight watts of electricity. This computer speaker device has a hardwire remote control used for controlling the treble and volume. Its hardware remote control includes a mute button, auxiliary input both for CD players and MP3s, as well as a microphone.

Logitech Z_5500: This brand of computer speaker device consists of six speakers as well as a subwoofer. This five hundred five watt Logitech speaker is the best speaker for movie buffs and computer gamers. The Z_5500 speaker has a very high volume level and bass control. It can also be used in CD players as well as portable DVD players.

Tritton USB Portable Computer Speaker: This computer speaker is especially made for portable computers. Tritton USB speakers have a fixed subwoofer that is suitable both for low and high volume control. This type of speaker does not need power adapters or even batteries. This USB portable computer speaker is powered by fifty centimeters of USB cable. This speaker uses about one hundred ten to two hundred watts.

Edifier S2.1 computer speaker: This computer speaker features three different inputs such as analog and two digital inputs. The two digital inputs inside this speaker consist of one optical and one coax. The S2.1 speakers have a wired remote, LFE, treble and loudness volume. This computer speaker comes with four meters of optical cable and three meters of cable stereo analogue. It also has a decent high output for a sixty-five inch subwoofer. Edifier speakers have removable grills. The S2.1 has a maximum of one thousand power consumption.

Groove PM21Computer Speakers: This speaker brings high-qualities of sound. It also mixes great sound to PCs and laptops. PM21 has a simple set up composed of three speakers as well as a modern design for flat monitors. It also includes a compact style that is suitable for travelers. This speaker is around two hundred twenty watts. Groove computer speakers bring a clear and nice sound to every computer.

Cyber Acoustic 3001 Personal Computer Speakers: This kind of speaker for computers is the best and most affordable three-piece subwoofer for computers. It has a suitable desktop volume level and cloth grill coating. The speakers have three poly carbons, two high rate satellite radiators plus a high quality woofer.

Labtec Pulse 430 Personal Computer speakers: The Pulse speaker has a tall three-piece audio that is cheap and very convenient for everyday usage. It also has a great subwoofer for throbbing bass as well as packed in satellite speakers. This three-piece powerful speaker provides realistic, dynamic, powerful and crystal clear sounds. Labtec Pulse features a USB, jack, socket and plug connector.

Hidden Spy Computer Speakers: This speaker delivers high quality, powerful clear sounds. Computer speakers of this brand have an attractive style as well as coat cover speakers. It has a USB cable and jack connection. Hidden Spy speakers are around one hundred ten watts to two hundred twenty watts.

Thus, when it comes to recently featured computer speakers, Altec- Lansing is well known and respected. This is due to the long years it has put in developing the best sound woofers for your computers.

In fact, Altec-Lansing released their new high-end computer speakers. It has a simple, elegant style and complete with fantastic sounds, making it perfect for people who only seek quality computer speakers for their computers and audio devices.

Their FX series possess a remarkable sound from the FX satellites' REAL two-way system. This means that each satellite has two drivers that are both active. The beauty of this new innovation is that the FX 4021 and FX 5051 can be mounted on the wall. Thus, the first 5.1 system of FX5051 can offer the advantage of having a USB plug -and -play connectivity, which adds to its ease of use.

Comparing the FX 4021 and the FX 5051 specifications, with regards to its unique features are as follows:

FX 4021 uses an isobaric subwoofer with dual 5.25 inches woofers. Aside from this, the rest of the specifications are already similar to the FX 5051. Hence, the FX5051 is similar on some specifications with the FX 4021 but it has a better isobaric subwoofer with dual 6.5 inches woofers, a USB 5.1 connectivity, digital hardwired controller for stand-by, master volume, bass, treble and centre controls.

It also needs a minimum system requirement of a personal computer with a 500 MHz processor, Operating system of Windows 98SE, 2000, ME or XP, a minimum Random Access Memory of 64 megabytes, music and game title that is encoded for 5.1. This is along with an available Universal Serial Bus or USB port.

Both models have a two- way satellite that can be mounted to the wall. Plus, each satellite possesses the following:

a 40 mm midrange driver
18 mm tweeter
wireless remote for controls
built in cable management
conveniently located auxiliary input for mp3
portable Compact Disc players
Head Phone jack

Another innovative invention is the FX6021 which has a so called InConcert technology. This can be for music, home theatre or gaming addicts.

Moreover, this technology can deliver a crisp, clean, full- volume sound that feels like its covering every bit of you. This can even express s sound that is in a straight forward manner, not up and down. This means that the sound is clearer and uncluttered by the reflections of the ceiling, wall or floor.

Aside from this, it also has two super slim satellites that feature 12 neodymium one-inch micro drivers. Each micro driver is supported by its very own distinct amplifier. A 6.5 inches subwoofer accomplishes the sound through its low- frequency and a full- throated bass.

Comparing this high end speaker, FX6021, with a high performance speaker like the VS 4221 that possesses an impressive bass capable of registering on your Richter scale, they are still not on equal footing. This is due to the fact that the VS4221 has a 3 inch driver for a warm, uniform sound, capable of surrounding an entire room. The stunning result would be robust, rich sounds that only very few woofers can match.

Thus, a wide selection of speakers is now available and they differ depending on the user's demands and needs. With this, it is imperative that you are constantly updated on the types of computer speakers available in the market. This way, you will be able to keep in touch with how the evolving technology can work to your advantage.

By David H.

New York Computer Crimes

2008-10-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

The term “computer crimes” is not one often heard in criminal news. Most people don’t even realize it exists. Nevertheless, computer crimes are specifically addressed by most states’ legislatures. New York computer criminal statutes are codified in Section 156 of New York Penal Code. This article, written by a New York City criminal defense lawyer Joseph Potashnik provides a short glimpse into what is considered a New York computer crime.

The most common New York computer crime is Unauthorized use of a computer. You may be guilty of unauthorized use of a computer if you knowingly use a computer or computer service without authorization and the computer or system you use is protected by password or another security feature. Unauthorized use of a computer is a class A misdemeanor.

Another common New York computer criminal charge is Computer Trespass. Computer trespass means the person knowingly uses a computer or computer service without authorization with an intent to commit or attempt to commit any felony or, alternatively, the person knowingly gains access to computer material. Computer trespass is a class E felony.

Next in line is Computer tampering. This offense may be in several degrees depending on circumstances. You may be guilty of computer tampering in the fourth degree for using a computer or computer service (even with permission) and intentionally altering or destroying computer data or a computer program of another person without permission to do so. Computer tampering in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor.

If, in addition to this, the person has an intent to commit any felony or if the person has been previously convicted of any computer or theft of services crime, or the act of deleting computer material was deliberate or with the intent to cause damages for more than $1000 dollars, the person may be guilty in computer tampering in the third degree, which is a class E felony.

New York computer tampering in the second degree involves committing the crime of computer tampering in the fourth degree plus intentionally altering or destroying computer data or a computer program so as to cause damages for more than three thousand dollars. Computer tampering in the second degree is a class D felony. Finally, if an act causes more than $50,000 in damages, the person could be guilty of computer tampering in the first degree, a class C felony.

Tampering aside, another line of statutes deals with illegal copying of computer related material. Under NY Penal Law 156.30, a person may be guilty of unlawful duplication of computer related material when they illegally copy or duplicate computer or program data causing owners economic damages in the amount of more than $2,500 or copying these materials with an intent to commit felony. Unlawful duplication of computer related material is a class E felony.

You don’t have to illegally duplicate computer material to violate the statute. Simple possession of computer data may be a felony, too. For example, under Section 156.35,
a person is guilty of criminal possession of computer related material when having no right to do so, he knowingly possesses, a copy, reproduction or duplicate of any computer data or computer program which was copied, reproduced or duplicated in violation of section 156.30 with intent to benefit himself or a person other than an owner. Criminal possession of computer related material is a class E felony.

New York computer crimes statute allows for some defenses a defendant may use. Some of them include a defense that the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that he had authorization to do all the proscribed activities.

By Joseph P

Learn About Computers With Free Computer Learning Courses

2008-10-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

“There’s too much to learn!” “Everything changes so quickly!” “I just don’t understand!”

These are all common reactions to the overwhelming challenge of learning to use a personal computer. The volume of information, the pace of change and the intimidating technical language can make learning about computers seem like an unattainable and unrealistic goal.

However, with the right strategy, learning about computers doesn’t have to be impossible. In fact, thanks to numerous opportunities on the Internet, free computer learning courses are available to everyone and, with a structured approach; you can overcome the barriers to learning about computers and find yourself mastering computer skills quickly and painlessly.

The first step on your path to learning about computers is to tune out all of the ridicule from your friends, forget your precocious eight-year-old niece’s computer skills and focus on yourself. You can do this by defining what success means to you. Do this by setting a few compelling and attainable goals that are relevant to you and assigning them realistic timelines. Make sure these goals are observable and measurable so that you know when you’ve achieved them and can celebrate your success.

For example, if you’ve never touched a computer before, you might set a goal of being able to turn the machine on and to launch three of your favorite programs by the end of your first month of learning. Or you might focus on a specific area of learning about computers, such as navigating the Internet, and set a goal of being able to find two free computer learning courses on a program you would like to learn. Your first goal should be challenging, but not overwhelming. If you stay in your comfort zone, you won’t advance, but if you set goals you can’t achieve, you’ll quickly become discouraged. By achieving some success early on, you’ll be more motivated to challenge yourself to learn faster. This will also make learning about computers fun, which will keep your motivation at a high level.

After you’ve met your first goal – and you will! – take a little time out to celebrate your success. Brag to a friend or family member. Treat yourself to a reward for overcoming all the fear, doubt and uncertainty that comes with tackling such a daunting task. Once you’ve tasted a little success and gotten your feet wet, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what you want and need to learn. If you’ve learned how to launch your three favorite programs, you might realize that you really want or need to master one of those programs. If your goal was to navigate to some free computer learning courses, you might soon realize that you need to understand the features and functionality of a specific site. While it’s tempting at this point to dive in and learn all there is to know, resist that temptation, or you’ll risk becoming overwhelmed. Remember to read sections of the web site that will teach you how to use the site properly. You can often find these under sections like FAQs, How it Works and Getting Started.

To keep your learning on track, identify your ultimate goal and then break that down into smaller steps and goals to get you there. Once you’ve broken down your end goal into a collection of smaller, bite-size chunks of skills to learn, make sure you assign dates to each of them so that you have a timeline with which to work. Again, it’s important to challenge yourself, but don’t set timelines that are so aggressive that they seem unrealistic. Once you know all the things that you need to learn and by when, it’s simply a matter of finding the resources for learning about computers by exploring the Internet, bookstores, libraries and classroom options, such as local community colleges. There are also several free computer learning courses online that will get you started in the right direction. Most of these courses allow you to learn at your own pace and will give you a great start to learning computers with little or no financial obligation. With a little research, you can find a reputable online computer learning courses, and be on your way to materializing your goals for learning about computers in no time.

Tackling the enormous undertaking of learning how to use your computer can be overwhelming. However, by breaking it down into manageable tasks and setting your own pace for learning, you’ll be a computer guru on your own terms in no time.

By Free Computers Learning

Your Home Network

2008-10-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

First of all, the router is the mamma of the network. Buy a fast router, something like a D-link wireless G 108Mbps. It'll support the G standard, yet is also backwards compatible with the B standard.

Go wireless. Don't invest in major renovation projects just to run that Ethernet through the walls. With WPA, wireless can be nearly as secure as a wired network.

Also, remember that your Tivo and other tech gizmos are likely to need access to the network. Employ security protocols that they can understand.

Finally, make sure you have all of the latest patches for Windows, the drivers for the network adapters and the firmware updates for the router.

Computer Hardware Preventive Maintenance Software

2008-09-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

by: Jennifer Bailey

Computers often break down at the worst of all times. These problems can be averted, or at least minimized with preventive maintenance. Several methods of keeping computer hardware in good working order deal with the external components of the computer, such as the keyboard and monitor. For example, it is important to keep the processor away from excess heat and moisture. There are also computer hardware preventive maintenance software programs that can help with the upkeep of other internal aspects of a computer.

While it is rare to find a CMMS that works on all of a computer’s hardware, many different programs can be utilized simultaneously. Some computers have periodic automatic updates available that can be downloaded and used to improve the computer’s performance. Other software programs, known as disk defragmenters, manage hard drive space so that software programs take less time to access. Programs known as hardware diagnostic utilities can check the computer’s hardware components and alert the user about any potential failures. Since some new hardware will not always work on all computers and could cause existing hardware to malfunction, it is important to have a CMMS program to ensure that the new hardware is compatible with existing hardware.

Antivirus programs are another important component of computer hardware preventive maintenance software. Computer viruses have become increasingly common in recent years and can render a good computer useless. While computer viruses mainly attack software programs, they can ruin hardware as well. Several manufacturers make reliable antivirus software. A couple of well-known companies are Norton and McAfee. As with much preventive maintenance software, these programs are usually available for a free trial period before the user must pay a subscription fee.

Computer hardware preventive maintenance software is necessary to keep computers in good working order. This software manages aspects of computer hardware that would be difficult and time-consuming for even the most computer savvy users.

Computer Accessories We All Want For Our New Computer!

2008-09-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

by: Bonnie Archer

Printers
A computer accessory we all need. From inexpensive ink jets to monochrome and color lasers, different printers are designed to do different jobs with your computer. You will have a few choices to make when getting your new printer: price, speed, and print quality are the main ones. Ink jet printers and digital cameras are changing how we print photographs. Load your printer up with special photo inks and paper and ink jet/bubble jet printers have become one of the best options for transforming a digital image into a photograph! For speed and razor sharp text the monochrome laser printers are fantastic.

Scanner
This computer accessory is for input into your computer. Graphic designers will use a scanner often to input pictures etc. If you don't have a digital camera a scanner is the only other way to get pictures into your computer to email, manipulate, add to cards, etc.

Speakers
These are computer accessories that most computers come equipped with. But some people like 'game players' want to upgrade for surround sound. You will find many different versions and brands.

Keyboard and Mouse
These are also computer accessories that usually come with a computer system. Although most people will have to purchase new ones during the life of their computer. This is because they do not last as long as the computer system itself. Of course, it is dependent on how much you use them, how rough you are on them, and how clean you keep them

COMPUTER BACKUPS

2008-09-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

COMPUTERS AND HALLOWEEN, DO THEY MIX?

Computer backup is so important to your computer that to ignore it is to risk its damnation.

Computers require care and feeding. They require that you attend to their needs. If you don't, then they will most surely be sent to Hell.

Halloween means Hell. What! What do you mean that Halloween means Hell?

Well, if your computer is given the option of trick or treat, which will it accept? Will it accept the trick or the treat? What do you think?

Halloween is the time that computers are subject to tricks or treats. Did you know that more computers fail on Halloween than any other day of the year? That’s right. It’s true (smile). Your computer is in danger! Protect it. Do your computer backups.

Back to the Hell thing. Hell you say? Yep. Well, what do you mean by Hell?

Computer hell is the place for computers without computer backup. The failure to perform hard drive backup means that you are playing Russian Roulette with your data. Data needs your protection. Failure to protect your data may cause your home or business records to be sent to Hell.

Hell in this instance is for the records and files that cannot be resurrected. Resurrected you say, what does that mean?

It means that without computer backup as a source of salvation then the files can safely enjoy eternal oblivion. Oblivion you say, what does that mean? That means they are eternally lost from computer resurrection.

Is there any mercy for my precious files, you ask?

Why yes there is. Would like to know what the mercy for your files is? Yes! Yes! You say.

OK boys and girls listen carefully. The salvation, mercy, resurrection and redemption of your files lies in regular and consistent and persistent computer backup.

If you backup your computer consistently and persistently your files will be resurrected and saved from accidental deletion, hard drive failure and those nasty things like fire, flood, theft, earthquake, hurricanes, tornados and the like!

Computer backup is the key to your data's salvation!

Do your computer backups boys and girls.

Milk and cookies will be served in the pantry.

Trick or treat for your computer backup?

Digital Cameras Are Fun

2008-09-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

What is one of the most fun computer accessories? Digital cameras I love mine! Wouldn't you like to send some pictures to some friends and family by e-mail? A digital camera is the easiest way to do that. Also, it is the easiest way to get pictures onto your computer. You can also print them from your computer, most modern printers and some quality photo paper will print great quality photos.

The best part is that you can see the pictures instantly on the camera's LCD screen with the review feature, or load them onto your computer.

Digital makes it so easy to take great pictures because you can see how they turned out instantly and re-take if necessary. No waiting for film to be developed either, just load onto your computer with the software program that comes with the digital camera, and print. There are lots of different sizes, prices, and brands to choose from. So have some fun -- get a digital camera today! One of the greatest computer accessories you will love to use.

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2008-09-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

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How SMS Works

2008-09-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

SMS, or Short Message Service, is the technology behind what we often refer to as ‘text messages’ or ‘SMSes’, as well as what allows for news alerts on cellular phones. In recent years SMS has ballooned to over a 50 billion dollar industry and is quickly taking the communications world by storm.

Short Message Service actually refers to a framework that uniquely allows computers, or in this case phones, to communicate with each other without the need of a central hub. With SMS, phones can find each other, send short packets of information back and forth, and do it all without any central computer to guide them. But because the system does not rely upon fixed lines like a land based telephone system does, the amount of information that can be sent at one time is limited in size. This depends on the language spoken, but for English letters this typically means around 150 characters (Chinese and Japanese letters are limited to 70).

Quite recently, however, new developments in the technology have allowed for even longer messages to be sent. Long or Concatenated SMS is a development that allows multiple messages to be combined to form a single message. In effect, what happens is that your phone actually sends out a few smaller messages and then the receiving phone simply compiles those messages so that for users on both ends, it appears as though the message were cohesive. While there are some limitations, the brilliance behind SMS is that because there is no need for central hubs, and thus the system can be expanded indefinitely without any concerns of it slowing down or becoming more expensive.

The most common form of SMS is ‘texting’. This usually takes place with a cellular phone in which individuals use the letters behind the number pad on their phone to spell out words and phrases and then send them out. Because many companies charge by the word, individuals have come up with a sort of ‘texting slang’ to cut down on the amount of words required to convey a particular message. For example, ‘gr8’ and ‘BTW’ mean ‘great’ and ‘by the way’. In addition, other words have just been shortened, such as ‘lata’ to mean ‘later’. Most users simply pick up the lingo through frequent use, and although some slang is widely understood and used, other shortcuts are developed within circles of friends and family.

The major advantage of SMS is its price. The price is typically $0.05 per message, a significant cut below that of traditional telephony and cell phone per-minute charges. The savings of SMS has its roots in the nature of the technology. Short Message Service, like SIP, is modeled on a peer to peer model and not a cog and wheel like traditional communication systems. This means that instead of having to route a message through a central hub, your text goes straight from you to its destination. This has radically cut down on the cost of SMS implementation and led to its overwhelming popularity throughout the world.

Short Message Service (SMS) has radically changed the face of the communications industry. While the practice has become quite common throughout the world, it has only recently become popular here in the United Stats, a growth partly predicated upon, surprisingly enough, its featured role in the show American Idol. The fact that ‘texting’ is quickly gaining both in popularity and recognition in the United States is not surprising however, due to its ability to offer users a cheap, quick, and often fun way to communicate with friends and family.

EPSON STYLUS PHOTO 810/820 PRINTER SERVICE MANUAL

2008-09-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

This service manual describes basic functions, theory of electrical and mechanical operations, maintenance and repair procedures of the printer. The instructions and procedures included herein are intended for the experienced repair technicians, and attention should be given to the precautions on the preceding page.

This manual consists of six chapters and Appendix.

CHAPTER 1.PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS
Provides a general overview and specifications of the product.

CHAPTER 2.OPERATING PRINCIPLES
Describes the theory of electrical and mechanical operations of the product.

CHAPTER 3.TROUBLESHOOTING
Describes the step-by-step procedures for the troubleshooting.

CHAPTER 4.DISASSEMBLY / ASSEMBLY
Describes the step-by-step procedures for disassembling and assembling the product.

CHAPTER 5.ADJUSTMENT
Provides Epson-approved methods for adjustment.

CHAPTER 6.MAINTENANCE
Provides preventive maintenance procedures and the lists of Epson-approved lubricants and adhesives required for servicing the product.

CHAPTER 7.APPENDIX
Provides the following additional information for reference:

Connector pin assignments
Electric circuit boards components layout
Electrical circuit boards schematics
Exploded diagram & Parts List

Download EPSON STYLUS PHOTO 810/820 PRINTER SERVICE MANUAL
password : printer1.blogspot.com

CANON PIXMA MP530 ALL IN ONE PHOTO INKJET PRINTER

2008-09-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

The Canon Pixma MP530 is a versatile all-in-one unit combines printing, scanning, faxing, and copying capabilities in a compact, space-saving device that delivers fast, professional after the results of employment for employment.

You can use the MP530 to print both text and photos, copies of important papers, fax documents and forms, scanning and personal notebooks and photos. With a production of 30-page automatic document feeder that can copy, scan, or fax multiple-page documents, this powerful unit prints up to 29 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 19 ppm in color, and offers a 4 Without Frontiers-by-6-inch photo in about 51 seconds. Fax up to 33.6 kbps in color or black and white, tent speed of 40 dialing codes and enjoy the convenience of the 150-page fax memory that stores safety of all incoming faxes if paper or ink is exhausted. Finally, the built-in scanner offers 1200 x 2400 dots per inch (dpi) optical resolution with 48-bit color depth vibrant images.

Thanks to its precision nozzles 1856, the MP530 offers exceptional print resolution up to 9600 x 2400 dpi and ink droplets the size of a picoliter produce exceptionally detailed photos. And you can enjoy these results immediately, taking advantage of click-connection of printing options. Simply capture an image with a PictBridge ready digital camera or DV camcorder, then connect and print - is so easy. In addition, the USB 2.0 interface enables the fastest possible image transfers and scanning speeds, while the dual color gamut processing technology to automatically optimizes the copy quality based on the type of original that is copied. This means that you can always rely on the MP530 to deliver the highest quality of materials to help keep your business productive.

CANON PIXMA MP520 ALL IN ONE PHOTO INKJET PRINTER

2008-09-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

The versatile Canon PIXMA MP520 photo all-in-one inkjet printer allows you to preview, scan, copy and print photographs and documents with a simple machine. This all-in-one printer has a compact, streamlined design that can preview images in high resolution in its two-inch TFT screen, beautiful images with color scanning resolution up to 2400 by 4800 dpi, or print photos directly from memory cards, cameras, video DV cameras or camera phones. The scroll wheel printer for easy operation makes it a breeze, while the Auto-Image Fix feature ensures that each picture is amazingly clear and vivid - even when difficult issues are explored, such as thick notebooks or faded images . In his useful dual paper tray, you can store perfectly clear and photographic paper, at the same time.

Just press the power button and get to work, thanks to help from Quick Start to printer design,. The copies come out crisper than ever with the double color gamut processing technology. Compatible with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Mac OS X 10.2.8 to 10.4.x7 operating systems, this printer is backed by a 1-year limited warranty from the manufacturer.

Best Antivirus - Does Free Software Work As Well As Paid?

2008-09-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

By Robert Fogelsong

Like many people I thought that my computer was well protected against viruses and other malicious software by the name brand antivirus software that was included with the computer when I bought it.

I browsed the Internet with no problem and everything seemed to work smoothly until one day something took over my machine. Random sounds and music began playing and the screen would flicker. Little cartoon characters would briefly appear on the screen. Yikes. What had infected my computer?

I cleared the browser cache, shut down the computer, and rebooted. The thing was still there. I ran a complete scan using the antivirus software that came with the computer. It did not find the problem.

I was still able to access the Internet, so I started searching for better antivirus software. I wasn't looking for a casual recommendation on a forum or someone's blog. I wanted to find some test results from a recognized authority. I was looking for an antivirus program with high detection rates, whether it was free or required payment.

I found that testing antivirus software is a specialized business now. Even the people at PC Magazine said that they don't do their own tests with live viruses. They rely on tests conducted by independent testing labs, including AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, ICSA Labs, Virus Bulletin, and West Coast Labs.

These independent testing labs have reliable data on detection rates for both free and paid antivirus software. However not all of these testing labs have user-friendly websites for the general public.

Virus Bulletin conducts independent testing of antivirus software and makes some of the results available on their website without charge, but they require a subscription fee of $175 per year to access all of their test reports.
ICSA Labs provides a list of antivirus products that they have certified, but I was not able to find a ranking of how well the programs performed in comparison to each other. A simple list of certified products is not that useful for people looking to identify the best antivirus software.
West Coast Labs provides independent testing of antivirus software for their clients who are mostly the developers of the software. The developers probably receive detailed reports on how their products compare to others, but I found only a check mark type certification of products on the West Coast Labs website. Again this is not that helpful to those looking for a ranking of the best antivirus software.
AV-Comparatives is a testing organization based in Innsbruck, Austria and they provide antivirus testing for clients in an arrangement similar to that of West Coast Labs. However AV-Comparatives appears to make much more of their raw data available to visitors of their website. They do provide a ranking of virus detection rates. However there were only 16 programs tested in the recent report I viewed.
AV-Test is an independent software testing lab based in Magdeburg, Germany and is associated with a University located there. PC Magazine refers to AV-Test as one of the top research facilities in the world for testing antivirus software. AV-Test has test results for 30 antivirus programs.

I did not want to spend all day searching for information while my computer was making strange noises so I selected an antivirus program with a high ranking from AV-Test and downloaded it.

The new antivirus software quickly located the malicious program on my computer and automatically removed it. I had selected a paid program because it was ranked very highly, and I thought I might need customer support. However some free software is ranked very high at virus detection by AV-Test. And they gave a very low detection score to the commercial antivirus software that came with my computer. That did not surprise me. I should have checked with them earlier.

All five of these testing labs are worth checking for current information on both free and paid antivirus software. There is a great deal of information to sort through and more things to consider beyond detection rates. For instance, programs often rank differently on proactive defense, where they attempt to identify virus behavior before a virus has been identified and added to the signature database. This is becoming more important as new viruses proliferate.

For those who are interested I have posted a summary of programs that rank as the best antivirus software according to detection rates and other features discussed by these testing labs. I have posted this along with other software reviews on zolosoft.com. Most antivirus software now includes spyware and adware detection, since the distinction between different types of malicious software has blurred. But not all programs include this. Programs also differ in their rate of false positives, in their ability to remove viruses, and in their detection of root kits.

Free Anti-virus Software For XP - Smart Or Penny Pinching Stupid?

2008-09-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

By Hugh Duddy

Free anti-virus software for xp is not only the perfect option for those of you looking for PC protection on a budget, it is also a fact that many of today's top free anti virus software programs meet or exceed the most popular paid options that are on the market, such as Norton and McAfee. Without a doubt, both of these choices deliver outstanding service when it comes to keeping your computer clean, but why spend money when you can get the same service at little-to-no cost?

Will Free Anti-Virus Software Work On Your Computer?

Downloading free anti-virus software will work on any computer with xp installed, so long as you have the proper resources. Unlike store-bought anti-virus, you do not have to worry about installing any hardware or CDs. It is all done with the click of a mouse. The resources needed are minimal, but to be safe check with the specific requirements of the program you choose.

How Does Free Anti-virus Software For XP Work?

Free anti-virus works exactly the same as standard paid-versions of the service. The program will scan all of your hard disks for any files that may be infected. There are literally hundreds of thousands of such viruses that can cause enormous damage to your computer, and in many cases causing it to crash and wipe out all data. When the virus scanner finds an infection it will attempt to clean the file, quarantine, or delete it.

Recommended Free Anti-virus Software For XP Programs

There are many free anti-virus software services to choose from that are reliable and continue to add updates on a daily basis. Constant updates are important because new threats and viruses are created every day. Protect yourself from these dangers by choosing one of the following no-cost anti-virus solutions:

Avast: Created for both Windows and Linux, Avast is probably my favorite choice among the rest. I say that because it has many features that are simple to operate. Even a child can download and keep up with the program. With updates practically every day, Avast free anti virus software is an easy-to-use program that is the perfect home computer protection solution.

AntiVir: Equally as effective as Avast, AntiVir is an exceptional protection program that bundles anti-spyware, email protection,firewall, and award-winning malware protection. They offer Premium and Security Suite for those that need extra features. But for the majority of personal computer users, the free personal option is all that you need. With AntiVir free anti virus software, you can surf the web at peace knowing you have full protection against expensive dialers, viruses, worms, trojans, and phishing.

ClamWin: Don't forget to check out ClamWin free anti virus software as your personal army against PC security issues. Designed to work with Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista, ClamWin is an open source anti-virus choice that is easy to install and combines the following features for total protection: scanning scheduler, dependable detection rates for spyware, viruses, and automatic updates.

Now before many of you burst into flames as I have not mentioned the free version of AVG anti-virus, there is a reason. The new version 8 of AVG has a few teething problems. It was the same with ver 7 and was put right by the release of 7.5. Grisoft has extended the deadline of 7.5 which I am guessing is to allow end-users to continue using it until the minor bugs are ironed out in the latest release.

Although AVG free has always been at the top of my list, at the moment it is not the best free anti-virus software for xp.

For more free anti-virus software for xp tips and the Best PC Security Articles - head over to http://www.easypcsecurity.com

XP Antivirus - Dreading Security Software Removal

2008-09-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

By Alberta Glamerheim

The year 2008 definitely showed its benevolence for Internet scammers: they found a way to get paid for their illegal activity.

And that way includes wild promotion of fake security software via aggressive spamming on forums and blogs.

One example of such software is a notoriously known XP antivirus, also called Windows XP antivirus 2008. It is a classic rogue software that behaves quite differently from what it claims to do.

So, instead of scanning for viruses and removing them, it ruins the system security by opening wide breaches, then installs Trojans and acts like any other spyware - but that's not all. XP antivirus scares the user into buying the full version of it! Of course, the paid version doesn't get any milder on the computer, but it reaches the goal - its creators get money for their evil work.

So how do you tell if your PC has been infected with XP anti virus?

There are signs that cannot go unnoticed:

Windows-like balloons inform about malware detected in the system.
A corrupt Windows security center recommends downloading antivirus software.
Pop-ups scare the user with all kinds of messages urging to get the protection NOW.
While visiting websites you may see annoying pop-ups offering free online scan.

A sad fact about this rogue software is that it stays unnoticed by antivirus programs. To get rid of XP antivirus, you can follow several simple manual steps:

unregister DLL-files related to XP antivirus or modified by it;
end malicious processes in the Task Manager;
remove relevant entries from the Windows registry;
locate and delete program files installed by the software.

There's nothing really complicated with the manual removal procedure; any intermediate PC user can do that.

However, if you don't feel like playing with the system and registry (which is always risky), there are tools that can do the removal process for you for free.

Visit the hubpage in my resource box to find detailed instructions on how to get rid of XP antivirus in under 5 minutes.

Visit XP Antivirus Removal hubpage for a set of detailed instruction on how to get rid of this new rogue software.
Alberta Glamerheim is PC maintenance consultant who writes articles about computer security issues and related topics.

Antivirus Comparisons - How to Choose the Best Antivirus Software Product

2008-09-13T11:37:00.001-07:00

By Paul Elms

Years ago it used to be important that you had some antivirus software on your machine. With the Internet, it is now imperative. Viruses can spread extremely quickly thanks to email, file sharing and chatrooms. To protect yourself you will want the best products available to you. Here is how to carry out antivirus comparisons to make sure you are using the best product.

First you should visit the websites of companies that carry out antivirus software reviews. Virus Bulletin and AV-Comparatives specialise in this type of software and both have a respected position in the industry. You can also visit the websites of computer magazines or buy them from a newsstand.

These reviews will concentrate on how effective the software is at doing its job: finding and eliminating viruses. Narrow your search down to the top performing products. But there are a lot more factors that will affect your choice. The first of these are speed and stability.

Find user reviews online that discuss how the software has performed on people's computers. Has it adversely affected the speed of the computer or are their conflicts with other software? Once you have carried out this bit of research, download a trial version. Any problems with stability will now show up before you actually spend money on the product.

Use the trial to evaluate other features such as ease of use and the graphical user interface. This type of software is very advanced but some manufacturers have succeeded in making it very easy to use. Others still have a way to go.

Another feature that many people ask for is a 'set and forget' option. This allows you to set the software to automatically perform scans and pick up updates. You should evaluate this process with the free trial.

When you are carrying out antivirus comparisons, don't be afraid to put several products on free trial. Just be aware that most antivirus software is incompatible. You have to remove one before you can install another.

Learn more about free virus software by visiting http://www.top-antivirus-software.com. Can free antivirus programs be better than paid? The results are surprising.

Cyber Insecurity vs Internet Security

2008-09-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

By Bill Wardell

Pandora's box has been opened and the explosion of information both personal and non-personal seems to be limitless and increases exponentially. And according to the National Opinion Poll taken in January of 2007 half the UK harbors a "deep mistrust" due to security concerns. Not only is there a deep public mistrust but, the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology are inquiring into the need for personal Internet Security because of the growing use of home computers, expansion of broadband, internet banking and commerce (Brent MacLean "A new look at Internet Security" Monday September 10, 2007).

Every one is talking extensively ( ISP Associations, Richard Clayton of the Cambridge Security Lab, John Carr of the Children's Charities Coalition on Internet Safety, as well as Johnathan Zittrain of the Oxford Internet Institute and many others), gathering evidence of information and compiling it all for what? Sadly, most businesses and citizens still do not take the threat posed by cyber-insecurity seriously.

You would think with dependency of economies relying on certain infrastructures involving the Internet and information exchange between key service providers, that a disruption would certainly result in loss of lives, loss of property, and the collapse of public confidence globablly. Today simple domestic hacking is not the issue that will bring on devastating destruction like those designed by terrorist activities directed at nuclear plants, banking systems, hospitals, air traffic control as well as domain name servers, the possibilities are limitless. However, it is imperative to remove these personal and public computers from the arsenal of cyber terrorists as well as cybercriminals. With 225 million Internet users in North America (Nielson-Netratings), the personal computer dominates the Internet and at the same time is the most vulnerable. Millions of PCs are under the control of "zombie masters". Red Herring, the technical business journal, estimated that in 2005 a 172,000 computers were hijacked and taken over each day and became "zombies" and under the control of a hacker. By 2007, Secure Computing, which tracks the Internet landscape, identified more than 500,000 new zombies per day that were hijacked and under the control of "bot" herders. Triple the level only two years earlier. The FBI says that because of their wideley distributed capabilities, botnets are a growing threat to national security, the national information infrastructure, and the economy.

The total number of compromised computers on the Internet is not known; however, Vince Cerf, Father of the Internet, estimates that about 150 million PCs currently connected to the Internet and are part of botnets. Based on FBI reports and other independent researchers the aforementioned number may be significantly higher. The typical home computer is attached to "always on" broadband facilities, severely compromised with malware (viruses, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers, etc.), usually without degradation of their ordinary capabilities and doing the bidding of their "zombie master". Hacking, virus dissemination, denial od service (DoS), theft of personal data, ID fraud, keyloggers, spamming, distribution of pornography, spying through webcams, click fraud and many other cyber exploits are all now almost wholly orchestrated via zombie networks.

Computers weren't designed for security; they were designed to perform complex work. As complex as computers are, each computer has 65,000 open ports (doorways) to the Internet; a simple element that leaves them vulnerable. You might wonder why an individual would want control of a herd of zombies, there are several reasons. For exploits whether it's a denial of service, to bring down the servers of banks, major corporations, or a competitor. Inherently, whenever a computer says "hello" to another computer, that computer must respond with a "hello" back. A "bot herder" with tens of thousands of computers under their control has all of them say hello at the same time to your computer or a network of computers, what do think happens. Most likely the responding PC or server is overwhelmed and crashes, it simply can't respond to that many hellos. A botnet can be purchased on the black market to carry out attacks. Zombie-making virus kits can be purchased on the net, requiring little or no technical knowledge and which provides the breeding ground for future international cybercriminals and the training ground for cybergangs (terrorists).

What are we to do? Implementing new laws when it's already difficult to pursue and in some cases unenforceable and with cross-border criminal investigations not to mention the resources needed are vast and costly with little results.

How do we secure the Internet now? One idea is to improve administrative, regulatory, and technical solutions to produce a safer Net and then apply resources to fortify banks, airports, power plants from the insecure internet we have allowed to develop. It begins with securing the end-user and creating an awareness that we are all responsible for the safety of the Internet and we all need to "Become Responsible Cybercitizens".

We the people have to make an effort to make sure our machines run clean and free of malware (viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.). That involves current patches, updates, upgrades, and professional software technologies. It also obligates everyone of us to make sure that we have not been compromised by having our computers serviced by a security technician and assured that there is no malware present. There is a service, the Invisus PC security service, that will provide a fully managed computer security service including unlimited security technical support plus several additional benefits that will earn you the title of a "Responsible Cybercitizen".

Requiring ISPs to scan data traffic going to and from computers attached to their networks for unusual patterns of traffic and then deny them Internet access until it has been determined they are not zombies. We can also ask the ISP to provide remote patches, updates and software updates. However, the ISPs will bulk at the cost, liability, autonomy, support, and delivery. Or have our ISPs provide a value-added service similar to subscription-based services offered by the Invisus PC security service which not only provides for a hassle-free computing experience but, is a total security package locking down the end-users computer for a minimum monthly fee.

In order to succeed we must meld security and convenience. The consumer doesn't want to be responsible for their security. All they want to know is how to turn their computer on and off. Unfortunately, we can't have our cake and eat it too. The time has come to learn how to maintain a safe and healthy computer (saving the consumer both time and money) void of infections that keep spreading and infecting other computers. It's not necessary to be technically savvy to operate a computer, like your automobile there's no need to be a technically savvy mechanic but, it is important to make sure your car is in good operating condition not only for its performance but, for the safety of others. We have laws to assure us the security of cars and their owners are safe. Those who are ignorant of how to maintain the safety of an automobile are required to perform certain responsibilities to insure the safety of their vehicle for others as well as the owner of the car. To insure the safety of others we require a certain level of education and knowledge of the rules of the road. You can't drive without insurance or a drivers license, which means that you have undertaken and understand some level of instructions.

You may disagree but, unfortunately as impossible as it may be practically, politically, and ethically, to require every consumer... including the ignorant, the poor, and even the wealthy, to be legally responsible for keeping their computer in a state of reasonable security, the fact is you are guilty until proven innocent. So, the next best approach might be to offer to try and educate them but we probably cannot impose a "computer-driving license". Again, we may be able to offer an alternative by requiring the consumer to take necessary steps to assure that their computers are serviced and up-to-date with professional security software and that they are checked and given a clean bill of health; free of malware.

Internet Security Product Review (NetCom3)

2008-09-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

By Ronald Hudkins

As you can easily assume with the rich history of NetCom3 since 1998 in is its proven track record to secure customer's sensitive Internet interactions by providing consumer abilities to remove Spyware, Adware, and to optimize and fix PC errors that allow PCs to run faster and error free; it is no wonder their software is used by well over 8 million people in the USA, Canada, Europe, India and the UK.

With the popularity, availability and ever increasing ease of use of computer technology for both personal and business needs the corresponding product availability of software programs has filled the retail shelves as well. One can buy program software to solve any computer security, optimization, entertainment or efficiency enhancement consideration that comes to mind.

Though software manufactures are quick to keep up with market demands and some have been savvy enough to make some security and optimization software solutions multi-functional; many consumers past and present still find themselves with a shelf of products designed specifically to do this, that or something else. Until lately, there has not been a credible software suite that is virtually stand alone in its ability to both optimize and provide computer systems security in an ever increasing Hacker laden Internet experience. Evaluations of NetCom3 have determined that this software actually catches more Spyware than Trend Micro, Windows Live One Care, PC-cillin, PC Tools, AVG Internet Security and Norton security software products.

NetCom3 works like a firewall for Pop Up advertising. You would have no aggravating experiences with floating ads, mass mailing service spam and any other form of Pop Ups that inundate your computer screen while surfing the web. The blocking ability of this software is endless in its abilities to eliminate potential script viruses from installing on your computer, pop up ad attacks and other drive-by downloads beyond your recent control. NetCom3 keeps these forms of Spyware, Adware and other forms of Malware in constant check. The simple process of downloading music, movie or game files, installing free programs or simply visiting any given website no longer becomes an issue.

The NetCom3 Security software suit registry cleaning option will most assuredly sustain maximum processing performance by your personal and business computer(s). The software deep scan, defragmentation, and optimization of your registry by this software suite will keep any Windows platform at peek efficiency and disallow system slowdowns, crashes and seizures. The NetCom3 software will maintain maximum CPU processing power, memory, RAM and optimize your Internet settings allowing the achievement of faster information medium downloads.

The Spyware removal function of NetCom3 is updated daily and as such, has nothing less than an impeccable ability to remove hostile code configured to steal identities, financial information and other personal information you strive to keep private. NetCom3 is in actuality a software security and optimization solution that is comprised of over 5 complementary products that have a worry free installation process and subsequent ease of use interface.

Sadly, despite the fact the Federal Trade Commission, FBI, TV advertising, Major newspaper headlines and Radio spots tell us that identity theft and credit card fraud is the #1 white collar crimes in America, most computers are not just vulnerable but remain; completely unprotected. The Netom3 security suite was specifically designed to be the perfect support bundle for Windows PC operating systems that proclaim they function in a secure and optimized environment with their existing and complementary antiviral products.

Ronald Hudkins is the webmaster for the site named Registry Repair Fixing and Software Solutions located at http://www.registryfixing.com and this site addresses Registry Repair Concerns, overviews and compares registry repair programs designed to check and fix a PC's invalid pathways, empty register keys, traces of uninstalled software, orphan references, spyware, corrupt files and numerous other areas of potential troubles within a computer registry

Free Tweaks to Speed Up Your Computer - Speed Up the Internet

2008-09-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

By Willie Stanford

Are you trying to get things done online; but you notice that your computer has a mind of its own? It keeps freezing up and crashing? Well it just means that your computer may have too much clutter on it and it needs attention. In this article we are going to provide some free tweaks to speed up computer so that you can speed up internet process.

First you may want to consider removing or uninstalling any programs or applications that are sitting on your computer and you have not used in sometime. Throughout the course of our computers life span; we all download different types of software and application programs that we feel that may be beneficial to us; however we never find ourselves using them more than once. Yet they sit on our computer dormant. This does affect our computers performance and can be easily solved by just taking the time to remove the unused applications and giving our computer more speed.

If you have any applications that you have not used in say six months time frame; chances are you will probably not be using them again. Well now it is time to remove them. So lets walk through the procedure.

Go to the "Start button" and then choose "my computer" when the screen appears on your computer you will want locate the one that says "remove add programs" choose that one. Okay now you will want to scroll down and choose the application that you want to remove. When you click on it; your computer is going to ask you if you are sure that you want to remove it; just click ok. Now you can sit back and wait until your computer goes through the process of removing it from your PC.

You may be asked to turn off your PC or restart it; but the computer will let you know what you need to do. Once it has went through the entire procedure that application should not be on your computer anymore and you may begin to notice that this is one of the free tweaks to speed up computer that may even speed up internet service.

Not fast enough; okay try speeding up Internet Explorer; if you are experiencing problems with Internet Explorer; then you should try cleaning out the temporary files. So we are going to want to open up Internet Explorer, click on "tools" then hit "Internet Options" A screen will appear and you will hit "delete files" once again you will be asked if you are sure and just confirm that you do want to continue.

Then sit back and let the computer do its thing. Once you finish these two free tweaks to speed up computer; you should notice a huge difference in the way your PC performs.

If you found this article on "free tweaks to speed up computer - speed up internet" helpful; visit our site below. You can easily and freely scan your computer today to make sure that it is performing at its best and fastest possible speed.

Internet Safety Tip - How to Check a Computer For Internet Pornography

2008-09-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

By Matthew Yarro

Everyone is concerned about Internet pornography and Internet safety; but not everyone knows how to check a computer to see if anyone has been accessing Internet porn. Whether you suspect that someone has been abusing pornography or not, if you have computer and an Internet connection in your home, you need to check and check regularly.

Starting with the Internet Browsers

One of the first applications to check are all of the Internet browsers installed on your computer-that's right, I said all of them. There are several browser applications that exist and almost all of them are free to download and use. Some you may have heard of-such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera-and others you may not have heard of-such as Netscape Navigator, Maxthon, Avant, Ace Explorer, and many others.

Why is it important to check all of the browsers installed? Because, each browser maintains its own records of which websites have been accessed. If you check your Internet Explorer regularly, but your child uses Firefox to access Internet pornography, you would never find any clues. You have to know what browsers are installed on your computer and check them all.

What Browsers are Installed?

To determine what browsers are installed on a Windows computer, click on start > control panel > add and remove programs. This utility will show you a list of every application that has been installed on your computer. Scroll through the list. If there is a name that you don't recognize, use Google to determine what the application is. Keep a list of the browser application you find so that you can check them.

You might also want to make it very clear to your family that, as one of your Internet-use rules, only one or two browsers can be installed on the computer. If someone keeps adding new browsers to your computer, chances are you have a problem.

Checking the Browser History

The next step is to launch each of the Internet browsers one by one, and check the browser's history. To open the browser history, click the Control and H keys simultaneously (Command and H key for Macintosh).

The panel that opens shows you all of the websites and URLs that have been accessed. When you are reviewing them, look for obvious word combinations that might suggest an inappropriate website. You can also click on any of the sites listed to open them in the browser window.

Some sites may not be what they appear to be. For a very long time, whitehouse.com was a pornographic website. So if you don't recognize some of the websites you see, click on them and make sure they are clean and appropriate.

Deleted Caches

Unfortunately, a person can easily delete the browser cache, removing any evidence that he or she has been accessing pornographic content. If you check a browser's history and it is empty, and you know for certain that someone was just using that browser to surf the Internet, someone has deleted the cache. Deleting the cache is a big warning sign that someone is doing something they shouldn't be doing.

There are legitimate reasons for clearing the cache. But, as another house rule, only parents should be allowed to clear the cache.

Other Files Swapping Applications

Furthermore, browsers are not the only applications that an individual can use to exchange pornographic content over the Internet. FTP clients, P2P clients, email, instant messaging, cell phones, thumb drives, iPods, and many other applications and devices can all be used to exchange files. Just because you checked a computer's browser history doesn't mean that somebody hasn't been accessing pornography.

For further investigation, what you need is a tool that allows you to quickly check for pornographic content throughout a computer system. You should consider purchasing a pornography-detection tool.

Pornography Detection Tool

A pornography-detection tool, such as SurfRecon, allows you to quickly and easily scan a computer system for pornographic images and/or video. The advantages of SurfRecon is that it automatically finds and identifies pornographic content for you-not only in the browser caches, but anywhere pornography could be hidden on the computer system or on any other device that could be connected to the computer.

If your child has a collection of CD-roms, DVD-roms, thumb drives, external hard drives, or other digital devices, you may want to scan those occasionally, along with the family computer system.

SurfRecon should be an important part of your Internet safety strategy When combined with an Internet filter it offers a superior level of parental control and Internet protection.

The Element of Surprise

Lastly, make sure to pop-in on your children and others unexpectedly. When you do, don't just asked them what they are doing, push right into the chair next to them and start checking what applications they have open, check the history quickly to see what websites they have been visiting, and see what content is still open in the browser window.

Ambushing them like this will give you access to applications and history before they have a chance to exit or delete anything. It may seem a bit pushy, but when you children's safety and well being is at stake, it is worth it.

Anonymity versus Accountability

One of the side effects that result from you regularly checking a computer or other devices is the loss of your child's online anonymity. If he or she no longer thinks that she can do anything and get away with it, she is more likely to act in a responsible way-especially if you surprise her now and then with a quick SurfRecon scan.

The fear that at any time mom or dad could check their computer system for pornography may be just the nudge your child needs to realize that messing around with porn simply isn't worth the risk.

Activity Internet 0nline Marketing Information, Computer, Fraud Tips

2008-09-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

By Bruce Chambers

NETWORKING

You didn't learn it at school, or at the office. Would you believe your mother?

Networking is more then shaking hands, and giving out business cards. Forget about the endless networking skills you may have learned at the office. We just have to put the few lessons mother taught us into practice. As a kid we were always in a hurry to find something better. Our mothers taught us patience.

If your in a hurry you miss the value that can be built taking time with building relations in networking. Establishing a relationship by taking time, gives you a solid framework in networking building.

Your mother worked hard as an example. This is one of the better examples in networking she gave you. That's why it is called networking, not sit work. For networking to be successful you have to work hard and put out the effort.

Remember her telling you to share your things with others? Some of our best resources are time, money, and information we are willing to give to the relationship. They appreciate us when we are willing to give to the relationship.

She always made you clean up after yourself. In networking, follow-up is required. Whether it's a promise to meet someone, or just a thank you is one of the most important lessons of networking. These life lessons we learned from mother during childhood are a solid basis's for strong networking skills.
Thank you mother for all your help.

The biggest time spend in selling, more so in mail order or on the Internet is developing a relationship with your customer and building trust. If you did a good job in the first two, closing a sale will take the smallest of your time spend with your customer.

CARD TRANSACTIONS REPORT TO IRS

Starting in 2011, banks or other companies that process credit cards must report the amount of the payments a merchant receives on card transactions to the IRS. The law will not apply to merchants doing less than 200 transactions totalling less than $20,000.

SCREENSAVERS

If you are looking for something different remember windows has a great choice. Don't unload any free ones from anywhere, could have bugs, and almost impossible to delete.

For windows screen savers, right click on a blank area of desktop. Click "properties", "screen savers". Click the arrow to the right of "screen savers" just below the monitor. Pick the one you want.
For the best information for your site or to check your competitors for persons who use Google AdWords, try out the Google AdWords Keyword Tool.

Just enter keyword and choose from four possible data display types.
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

ADVANCED NEWS SEARCHES

A new offering from Google - Advanced News Search, allows visitors to scour headlines by date, location, exact phrases or publication. People can use it retrieve articles from more than 4,500 news outlets publishing on the Web.

WEB PAGE TRANSLATION
This feature is particularly helpful if your search has non-English results. Google offers a facility to auto-martially translate a page for you in English. Currently, Google supports Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese languages.

LIGHTSIDE

A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

All the rooms were taken when the soldier got into town. After pleading with the desk clerk, the clerk remarked. "Well, I do have a double room with only one occupant, but to tell you the truth he snores so loudly that people in adjoining room have complained. I am not sure it would be worth it to you". "No problem." The tired army guy assured him, "I will take it'.

When he came down for breakfast the next morning the clerk asked, "How did you sleep?" "Never better", replied the soldier. The desk clerk was impressed. "No problem with the other guy snoring", the clerk asked?" "No I shut him up in no time", explained the soldier. "How did you manage that?" asked the clerk.

"Well, he was already in bed, snoring away, when I walked into the room, so I gave him a kiss on the cheek", explained the soldier". "Then, I whispered in his ear Good night beautiful, and he sat up all night watching me.

COMPUTER WARNING

The tip on unplugging your computer from the wall outlet during a thunderstorm was sound advice. And we're coming to the season when thunderstorms become more frequent. But let's take that advice one small step further. Take the time to also unplug your modem from the telephone line! Surges can also pass through the telephone lines and even a small surge of static electricity can fry the delicate circuitry in your modem.

Your Clipboard can be seen by any hacker. For your protection you should not copy passwords, credit card numbers or other sensitive information. To prevent this from happening go to: Internet Explorer: Click Tools, Internet Options, Security tab, Internet section. Go down to the Security level box, and click the Custom Level button. Scroll down to Scripting, and find the entry, "Allow Programmatic clipboard access" or "Allow paste operations via script".
Click Disable or Prompt. Click OK.

The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning that hitman scam is back in a big way. The hacker behind it is sending out a flood of emails threatening to kill the recipient if he does not receive several thousand dollars.

This scam first popped up in December 2006, then again this last February. Some personal info is included in the emails, to make it look like the crook knows all about you.
The FBI advises that you just ignore the email. Report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

ONLINE RENTAL FRAUD

June, August, September, January are competitive months for rental suites.

There are a lot of fraudulence ads being placed free on Craigslist etc. Crooks ply on the shortage of apartments by placing ads on these sites. When someone answers they are informed owner had to go out of the country for a funeral or what ever. They had no one that they could have left the keys with so the apartment could be checked.

Now comes the kicker. If you're interested in renting the apartment, send $900.00 as damage deposit, and $1200.00 for the first month's rent and the key would be courier to them.

There is a limited supply of apartments on the market, so this is a huge target for scammers.

Don't fall for this scam. People need to do their homework, physically see the apartment, talk to the owners' and have a written contract.

WARNING, CAR JACKERS IN MALL

CST. Eric Doran #656 Chatham - Kent Police Court Services
Here's the latest tactic by car thieves.

Heads up everyone! Please keep this circulating. You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into reverse when you look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space. You notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view.

When you reach the back of your car, that is when the car jackers appear out of nowhere, jumps into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

Men, you too are at risk. You can say good bye to your briefcase, and if your like many guys, who keep their wallet in the glove compartment, with your driver's licence, credit cards, plus.

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away, remove the paper later and be thankful that you read this e-mail. I hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women. A purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents, and you certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands.

Phishing still catches millions of persons who give out their personal information, believing the e-mail they received was from a bank, PayPal, taxation branch, or some other Government
Department. Further, instead of typing in the URL supplied by the Phisher they just clink on it. Just because the URL has the proper heading doesn't mean it is going to a legit URL. In phishing they have it redirected if you click on the URL and they get your personal information.

We trust our Government to safeguard the information we give them. But did you know that the government is among the biggest sources of ID leaks and that penalties for ID theft are rarely imposed on those who are negligent.

For more information on how to protect your computer and ID theft check out the website below.

NEW WEBSITE FIGHTING CRIME

The B.C. Crime Prevention Association has just launch a new website last week. Originally set up to support law enforcement, now available to everyone.

Information on cyber bulling, resource guides, blogs, printed materials including copyright law, staking, fraud awareness, I.D.theft, senior safety, and crime-proofing property.
Check out: www.bccpa.org/library

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPUTER TOO.

Internet Explorer sorts web sites for you, Internet, local Internet, trusted sites, restricted sites.

If you don't see the slider in any zone, click the default button. For restricted sites zones, I would suggest the slider to be at the very top, on high. It is the safest way to browse. It also is the most restricted. But with all the sites that could have harmful content that may damage your computer, necessary.
Don't forget to click OK to exit.

COMPUTER SECURITY TERMS

Adware is software that causes advertising to pop up on your computer display; without your permission.

Malware is malicious software that includes viruses, spyware, and other types of harmful programs.

Badware is adware or spyware that tracks your online activities and provides that information to others without your knowledge.

Spyware is software that's installed on your PC via downloaded programs. It transmits data to others about your business, behaviour on line.

A virus is typically a small, malicious program that can infect programs and replicate itself.

Spam, Virus, Spyware, Phishing, is still big headaches for people online.
Consumers have lost over $9 billion; more then 3 million computers have had to be replaced because of viruses.

DROP SHIP, WHOLESALE

SaleHoo makes importing easy. SaleHoo is a leading directory of drop ship, wholesale, liquidation and manufacturing distributors, and presents a constant and reliable supply of wanted items. Start your importing adventure with SaleHoo, and then spread your wings over the world.

ADVANCED NEWS SEARCHES

WEB PAGE TRANSLATION

This feature is particularly helpful if your search has non-English results. Google offers a facility to auto-martially translate a page for you in English. Currently, Google supports Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Portuguese languages.

Learn and Earn. Good luck.

Forex Currency Trading - Your New Job?

2008-08-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

by Anthony Dempster

On the internet of late it seems like everyone is suggesting you can be your own boss. Telling you that you can stop the 9 to 5 grind and spend more time with your family while magically making money. One of the common ways suggested is through Forex Currency Trading. If you're like me, when you first heard that term you thought "no way, too complicated!". Because currency trading seems like something that only the big corporations or ultra-savvy investors could do. It seems like something that would require lots of brain power and lots of hard work.

In the past, that statement would've been correct. However, we're now in the internet age where almost everyone has a computer in their home - yes, even you! And by reading this you've proven that you're surfing the information superhighway on the internet. There we have it, the two most important things in becoming a forex currency trader.

Of course, there is one more thing you'll need to start off - forex software. This is the element that links you and the markets together and lets you make your money. There are many variations of software, for the beginner in this market the best choice is software which is highly automated and making the decisions for you. Simply put, you tell the software how much money you are prepared to invest. It then sits and watches the market. It's like a tiger ready to pounce - using it's skill and cunning to figure out the best time to strike. It will then place a "trade" order designed to take advantage of the market movement. When the profit is made it sells that "trade", then sits and waits for the next opportunity.

Meanwhile, you can be carrying on with your day job or, the preferred option, enjoying life and spending more time with your loved ones.

Done properly, online forex currency trading can provide not only a decent living but also generate a high income - 6 figure incomes are indeed possible.

Your own 6 figure income? Yes, if this is what you seek then Forex Trading might be for you. I strongly recommend only using products with demo modes and refund periods. Forex Funnel is one such piece of software that is totally automated and has a proven history. Find out more at Forex Reviews.

Internet Home Based Business - What Are The Legit Work at Home Hidden Opportunities

2008-08-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

by Alan Lim

There are many types of legit work at home opportunities available as an internet home based business. Choosing the right one is a matter of understanding and accepting your strengths.

An internet home based business is a great choice if you choose what's right for you. The variety of legit work at home opportunities that is available while working at home on your computer is truly amazing. You can select active or passive income work and you can find jobs that are perfect for any talents or abilities. The money will depend on the type of work that you select, but it varies also depending upon how long that you want to spend on the job each day. So, pick the work that you like or create your own job and enjoy it.

Active Work

Active work is that which results when a particular act completed by you is worth a specific amount of money. If you want to earn more money, you must either perform repetitions of the act, or you must choose work which pays at a higher rate per repetition. An example of an internet home based business that you may choose is completing directory articles rich in keywords for yourself or for the web site of another. If you get paid $5 per article, for example, and you want to get more payment for your time, you can either write more articles, or you can negotiate to get paid $7.50 per article.

Passive Income

Another type of legit work at home opportunity is that provided by passive income opportunities. A major example of passive income is placing of Google AdSense ads on your web site and receiving pay per click income. If you have a web site or a blog, this type of income adds to the revenue from your site without any additional effort on your part. The better traffic levels that you attract to your web site or blog, the more your passive income is likely to grow, thus giving you two for one income.

How to Choose

When you are trying to choose the best internet home based business for you, you should carefully consider your likes and dislikes, as well as the types of jobs that are available online and go with the best match for you. Enjoy the job characteristics that best fit your personality, work style, experience and even your education. This will lead to the highest level of job satisfaction and make you more appreciative of the online job you have selected. Financial considerations also play a part in your choice, but may not be the most important factor that you consider.

Working conditions

Another consideration that is of prime importance in determining whether an internet home based business is one that you would be comfortable with is the benefits of having your home office in which to work. You will be working in comfortable and familiar surroundings without the added stress of commuting to a distant work site in order to do the duties associated with your job. If you don't want to start your job duties until 2 in the afternoon, you can certainly do that. You can work all night and sleep in the daytime if you prefer those working hours.

Which Homeschool Program Curriculum Should I Apply?

2008-08-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

by Jayen Woods

Whether your child is homeschooled or state schooled, he or she must be taught the same general curriculum. Although in the case of home schooling one can go into more detail in certain subjects if one wishes.

The major differences between the 3 types of schooling are that a public and private school setting provide the delivering of education to children in a social setting and facilitated by a professional instructor. Where as home school courses are taught to a child, typically, within the confines of the family's home under the teaching supervision of a parent or professional tutor.

Obviously, it is the desire of parents to provide the best education available. Coupled with this desire is to control the educational environment as much as possible. Those controls include the provision of a safe environment and an education that reflects the values and beliefs of the parents.

Nuts And Bolts

There are 4 basic types of a home school course program to choose from. Those types include home schooling through the Internet, computer software, videotape instruction and from textbooks.

All of these mediums can be beneficial in the learning of a child and choosing which one you should use with your child may require some testing to see how your child takes to each one.

For example, some children are very visual in their learning process. Therefore, you may wish to consider the videotape instruction. If your child enjoys working at the computer then possibly the best home school course program to enroll in is through the Internet.

As home schooling has gained popularity over the years the laws and guidelines in each state have slowly got stricter. You must make sure when starting up a home school that you abide by all regulations.

Length Of Study

When a person takes it upon themselves to homeschool a child they are in complete control of the speed of which the child learns, however normally there will be exams to test your child's progress that the authorities will enforce upon your child and if they are not passed you may be obligated to put your child back into public school.

It is not uncommon for homeschool material providers to set deadlines to help reinforce this. For instance often when you obtain homeschool materials via the Internet you will be given a license for 365 days in which you must complete the particular course materials.

Government tests

In addition, many of the governments require that children enrolled in a home school course be tested to assess the learning being gained by the student.

Those authorities that require this test often require that it be performed once a year or once every two years.

Even if this is not a requirement in the area where you reside, it is often a good idea to have your child tested on a yearly basis. This will help you to evaluate the curriculum as well as the progress you and your child are making.