Maintaining Your PC Health

Your PC is probably one of the most important gadgets in your home and life without it could look pretty bleak. Without the right maintenance though, your computer could very well stop functioning. So, if you notice a slow response or constant crashing, take them as warning signals and give your PC a health check immediately.

The best way to prevent your computer from getting damaged or sluggish is to take precautions well in advance. Regular maintenance is a must for a healthy PC. Doing so on a routine basis will help keep your computer in top shape.

Start by getting rid of the dust. Most computer owners are guilty of not taking out enough time to do so. Excessive dust and dirt in your computer could lead to overheating and thus, it is very important for you to keep the system as clean as possible. You should ideally clean it with lint free wipes at least once a year. Also, remember to use an antistatic wrist band to protect your computer interiors while cleaning inside the CPU case.

Get a power surge protector for your PC as well. Most computers are poorly protected against power surges that could very well damage the entire system. So, invest in a good quality surge protector to safeguard your PC from sudden power outages or lightening strikes. Preferably, the power surge unit should come with a warning indicator for added effectiveness.

Turn off the monitor when you're not using your computer. This is a common enough tip and should be followed diligently. This step is particularly important for computers with LCD screens as these monitor types are more likely to burn out or acquire bad pixels after long periods of use without rest.

Windows XP users should use an error checking utility to check the health of their hard disks at regular intervals. This will help determine the condition of your hard disk, whether good or bad. If the check comes up with 100 or more errors, it could mean that your drive is full of bad sectors. The best way to deal with this issue it back up all your important files and then try and get the drive repaired.

An anti virus program is an absolute must for any computer. Yet, many home computers are often found without one. This particular software is non negotiable for any PC model. After all, it's the only way to successfully protect your PC from viruses as well as other threats to your privacy and computer health. Consider getting an accredited anti virus program such as those created by Norton or Mcafee for best results.

These simple maintenance measures will help you keep your computer in good shape with great functionality. And by simply taking care of your computer the right way, you will be able to ensure for yourself a hassle free experience with the PC.

How To Speed Up Your Computer?

A slow and lethargic computer can be a source of irritation. It is truly quite annoying to wait for your computer to open a single word document. But, you do not have to deal with your computer's slow pace, when you can actually speed up your computer in few simple steps.

The first and the foremost thing that you need to do to speed up your computer is to clear unnecessary start up programs. There are several applications in your start up cycle that are just not required. If you wish to increase the speed of your computer, it is important that your remove all the unnecessary programs from the boot cycle.

Defragmenting your hard drive can also be of great help in speeding up your computer. The more fragmented your hard drive is, the longer it will take to load. Defragmenting your hard drive helps you store files in a much more organized manner. It creates a specific location for the downloaded files and helps you stay more organized. This in turn boosts the speed of your computer. In case you need several divisions in your hard drive, defragmenting it once in a while will help.

As you browse through the various drives of your computer, you will realize that there are a lot of files that you just may not need anymore. Removing this unnecessary data from your computer will help boost the speed. In case, you are not sure whether you are going to need the given data or not, you can create a backup. You can store the files in a pen drive or burn them in a CD. This serves two purposes. It helps you create a backup of your data so in case there is some problem with your computer, you have something to fall back upon. Besides, lesser data means a faster and well organized computer.

Though there are several factors that could be responsible for a slow computer speed, it is viruses that are the most common. Viruses and malware can affect your computer immensely and slow down your computer. It is for this reason that you should run an anti virus from time to time. This will help clear any kind of virus from the system and help increase speed.

Removing temporary files from your computer will also help. When you are surfing the web, there are several temporary files that get downloaded to your computer automatically. It is important that you clear these temporary files on a periodic basis. Some times these temporary files may hide them so you may consider using a freeware program.

Don't keep on juggling with a slow computer. Try these simple tips and you will be able to achieve the speed you want.

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Personal Computers

The most worse aspect of computer crashes is that the computer system rarely shows any warning signs. And that is why it is impossible to know when your hard drive may crash so it is wise to have computer backup every day. However, there are certain signs that can tell you that your hard drive is at risk.

In case your computer is slow in the booting process or it is taking more time to turn on, you can get a hint that something is wrong. You should not avoid this sign by attributing the slow speed to a newly installed anti-virus software. The reasons are that your hard drive is suffering from bad sectors.

Another sign of the crashing risk is that your computer will start to whir along with making extra noises. You will definitely see a change in the sound while you are operating your computer. This noise indicates that the disks within the hard drive are having trouble to rotate. One thing should be kept in mind. All the components of your computer system are extremely close to each other. Therefore, even specks of dust can damage these parts.

One more sign is that your computer experiences a read or write error. This is an indication of the fact that some disk has failed to respond to the commands.

There are a few steps by which you can protect your computer along with your precious business. The best way is to be prepared for the data recovery after the crash. The professionals reveal that there is no fool-proof way to protect your hard disk from crashing. You can get online storage services for the purpose of data recovery process. So, do sign up for it.

You should also ask your computer to scan for any errors or bad blocks. This is not an automated process so you have to do it yourself. You have to follow a few steps. Go to my computer and select manage. On the left side, you will see Event Viewer, click the plus sign that is left to it. Then click System, scroll down and search for red “X” entries. These red marked entries are an indication of an existing problem. Double click this and you will get the entire detail of the error.

If your entire business is working with the help of the hard drive of your computer system, make sure you have a back up. Hard drive crashing is a problem that will enter your system without knocking! It can happen any time unexpectedly. As there is no way out to prevent it completely, it is wise to prepare ways to recover the data!

How To Install Windows XP From Scratch?

Nearly every computer uses Windows these days. If you own a PC, it is a must for you to be aware of the process of installing Windows on a computer. Since Windows XP is the most popular version of the Windows operating system this article provides you details about how to install Windows XP on the computer from scratch. You may also refer to the process as performing a clean install of Windows XP on the computer.

Before you start, it is must that you have the Windows XP boot and installation media and your Windows XP product key at hand. Keep in mind that when you perform a clean install of Windows, all the data on the disk drive is wiped because of repartitioning and reformatting that takes place. All your programs are also to be installed on the computer again. Performing a clean install might seem intimidating at first but if you are able to get the hang on things, you would be able to do it easily and as and when needed.

It is a must that before you start performing a clean install of Windows XP, you backup all the important information to an external storage device. This may be a CD ROM/DVD ROM, external or portable hard drive or a USB based pen drive. In some cases, network backups are also possible.

To begin the installation, you have to boot your computer from the Windows XP CD. In order to do this, you have to set the computer to boot from the CD ROM. Generally, this is possible if the CD drive and motherboard BIOS are compatible with El Torito CD-ROM Boot specification. Don't worry, unless you have a really old computer, this would not be an issue. You will be prompted to "Press any key to boot from CD". Just press the 'Enter' button on your keyboard. You will be presented the 'Welcome to Setup' screen which would again require you to press 'Enter' to continue.

You will be presented with the Windows XP End User License Agreement. Read it and press F8 if you agree. If you don't agree, press Esc and the computer will restart without installing. After you have agreed to the EULA, you will be asked to format the hard disk and choose the partition to install Windows and its file system. Choose C: and format it as NTFS or FAT 32. NTFS is recommended on most drives though FAT 32 is better if you have an old hard drive.

From here onwards, it is just a matter of reading what message is displayed on the screen and clicking the appropriate button. Once Windows is installed, your computer will ask to activate Windows. Do it and also update Windows to install all the latest security and stability patches.

A Look At Computer Accessories

In the present day scenario, most of us are addicted to our computers for some or the other reason. While some of us are glued to the computer for web surfing, there are others who love their comp for playing games. Whatever be the reasons, computers do make for a regular aide. If you want to further enrich the experience of using your computer, then installing a few computer accessories could be a great idea.

A web camera is one of the best accessories that you can have for your computer. Install a web cam and you could start a video chat with a friend in any corner of the world. You could even use it for work related purpose by opting for video conferencing.

Headphones are another must have computer accessory. Whether you want to listen to your favorite music or watch online videos, you will need them for sure. If you want to up the looks quotient of your computer then using fancy mouse mats can be a great idea. You can easily find mouse mats in a wide range of shapes.

Opt for these computer accessories and you are sure to enjoy spending time on your computer even more.

 

How To Keep Your Wireless Network Safe?

A wireless network has both- its good as well as bad. While it proves to be of great use when you constantly need to share files, it also opens up your personal computer to potential attacks from hackers. But, you can cut down these risks significantly provided you take a few steps to keep your wireless network safe.

Sometimes applying simple common sense can work wonders. A simple and basic thing like shutting your computer off can go at length in protecting your wireless network. There are so many people who keep their computer running 24X7. This is irrespective of whether they are using it or not. When you switch off your computer, the chances of a potential attack are reduced considerably. Even switching off your modem can be of considerable help in protecting your wireless network.

Yet another thing that you can do to keep your wireless network safe is limit sharing. Typically, the other computers on your network will have access to the entire hard drive of your computer. However, this is something that must be avoided if you wish to keep the wireless network safe. Instead, allow access to only a limited number of files and directories. You can even consider disabling file and print sharing altogether.

How about adding a personal firewall to your computer? This is one of the most effective things that you can do to keep your computer safe. The firewall will add an all together new level of protection to your computer. So, the hacker will have to try even harder to get through your system. And, in case you have installed an effective and strong firewall, getting through your system could even be impossible.

Most people make the common mistake of leaving the safety of their wireless network to WPA i.e. Wireless Protected Access. But, is your device i.e. laptop, PC or even phone configured to meet the requirements? If not, then the entire network by default switches to a WEP encryption that is less secure. Also, it is important to ensure that you are using an enhanced version of wireless encryption.

Turning off the broadcast SSID feature also ensures safety of your wireless network. The broadcast SSID feature automatically searches for wireless connections that are available and logs you on them. This could expose you to potential threats. However, there is a downside too. Disabling this function would mean that you would have to enter your network and credentials each time you want to access it. But, nevertheless this is still better than having your system hacked.

Follow the above mentioned tips and you will not have to worry about the safety of your system.

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Anti-Spyware- What Is It And Why Do You Need It?

The Internet is not a safe place any more. Among the newly emerging threats, spyware is easily considered a user's worst nightmare. It is designed to steal crucial information from your PC. Anti-spyware is meant to detect and remove spyware from your computer and make sure that it does not enter your computer again. You can find both- free and paid anti-spyware tools.

Going by the definition of spyware, it is marked to be any tool which installs on your computer without your explicit knowledge and steals information from your computer and sends it back to someone else. In most cases, spyware also displays unwanted advertisements on your computer but its main job is to steal information.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive spyware definition. As the computer technologies advance, the nature of spyware also keeps on changing. New types of spyware tools emerge and older ones are morphed to look as legitimate applications. The most common practices by which spyware installs itself on your computer is either piggybacking a legit application or installing itself as a drive by download.

The first case is where spyware attaches itself to any clean application you download and install. Since the spyware poses as a part of the application, most people do not think of it as spyware but as an essential part of the software they are installing. This means that technically the spyware comes in the computer with user's permission but this permission is obtained in the wrong way.

The second case is that of a drive by download. This is a bit more technical way. In this case, the person who wants to install spyware on user's computers creates a specially crafted web page that can take advantage of the browser's vulnerabilities. In this case, no download and install on user's part is required. Instead, the entire thing takes place on its own.

Antispyware comes with two special features which allow you to remain safe from these malicious software. These features are a resident scanner and an automatic update feature. The latter is a special system by which the anti-spyware vendor updates the spyware signature database of anti-spyware. The software uses these signatures to check if any spyware is present on the computer.

The former feature works on the principal of Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR). Using this principle, the anti-spyware tool remains active in the background and keeps an eye on all the activity that is going on. In case the anti-spyware finds anything suspicious, it would report the activity to you and ask you what you want to do. If you are careful about the data on your computer having an anti-spyware is a must for you.

What If Your Computer Doesn't Turn On?

How many times has it happened that you have tried to turn on your computer to no avail? Perhaps quite a few times! Your computer not turning on can be quite a dreadful situation. But, there is nothing for you to panic as here is a complete troubleshooting guide in case your computer does not turn on.

When faced with a computer that doesn't switch on, most people think that their precious data is gone forever. However, this is not true. In most cases, it could be a temporary fault that can be easily resolved. And, even if the problem is more serious such as a disk crash, a backup of your data can be taken. When your computer doesn't turn on, your data is not lost. It is just that the data is inaccessible for some time.

Though there can be several reasons for your computer not turning on, it is usually the failure of some hardware that accounts for the most common reason. However, it is not necessary that the failed hardware is your hard drive. So, there is absolutely no reason for you to panic.

In some cases when the computer is not turning on, there could be chances that the machine is not showing any signs of power. Try checking the power supply in such a situation. A loose wire could also be the reason. So, try unplugging and plugging wires again as this will help eliminate a loose connection, if any.

There may be some cases where in the computer does turn on for a few minutes and then turns off automatically without completing the booting process. The fans may turn on and the computer may show power too but this does not last for more than a few minutes. In such a situation, you ought to check the power supply voltage of the computer. Resetting every thing inside the computer could also help troubleshoot the problem.

If your computer turns on, shows all sign of power but there is nothing to display, chances are that the problem could be with your monitor. Check the monitor in case you find a fault. Clearing the BIOS memory on your motherboard will also prove to be of significant aid. This helps set the memory to their default active levels.

Another situation could be when your computer does turn on but it stops booting during the POST. In such a case, you may notice a BIOS error on the monitor. If yes, then you may consider troubleshooting the cause of the same. Clearing the CMOs also helps.

Lastly, if none of the above mentioned things help, then you may have to switch to the services of a professional. But odds of the same are very low.

Various Types Of Laptop Spare Parts

Laptop is not a stand alone device. Being a full fledged computer in a clamshell form factor, it comes with all the usual requirements that you would need in any desktop computer. Laptop spare parts can be easily divided into three parts. There are components which are absolutely necessary for your computer to function, then there are laptop peripherals which have significant importance but nonetheless your laptop would work in their absence. Consumables are the third category.

The first type are the components which are absolutely necessary for your laptop to run. These laptop spare parts include the processor, RAM, hard drive and graphics card. Of these four, RAM and hard drive are really easy to find and change. The laptop companies provide special panels on most of the laptop computers which can be opened and these parts can be changed from there.

Processor and graphics card are a bit more complicated. Some high end gaming laptops which come with advanced graphics cards allow you to replace the card easily. They come with a panel. In case of laptops not having such a panel or where the processor of the laptop needs to be replaced, the entire machine has to be disassembled. Naturally, you must look for exactly the same brand and model when it comes to replacement of graphics cards or processors.

Next up are the laptop spare parts which are classified as peripherals. These devices are there in the laptop for you to use them. In case you do not have these laptop spare parts, it is not that your computer would stop working altogether. At the most, you may suffer serious functionality setbacks. The most common of these peripherals are laptop battery, modem and network interface card. Laptop battery is very important if you want to be mobile as it provides power on the go.

Modem is required to access internet through a phone line. There are a number of areas where you would not be able to get high speed internet connections. In such areas, you have to rely on the modem and the phone line. Without a modem, you might not be able to access the internet. Then come the network interface cards. These are special peripherals which allow your laptop to connect to an Ethernet based local area network. These laptop spare parts are rather cheap and easy to find.

Finally, there are those laptop spare parts which are not really necessary but are nonetheless better to have. The biggest example of such laptop spare parts is the optical drive. Most of the activities which are done using these drives can be done over the network, ranging from procuring movies or music and installation of software. These laptop spare parts generally contribute to the overall weight only and you can still use the laptop without them quite easily.

The Problem of Laptop Overheating

Overheating of laptops has become a grave matter of concern these days. This dangerous tendency of laptops to get overheated is the result of densely packed transistors with video chips as well as CPU chips that together produce heat. Most of the manufacturers fail to anticipate the effect of overheating on the laptop's performance. Therefore, they pack parts closely to save money and space. What further adds on to the problem is inefficient cooling system in these machines.

Now the blame totally cannot be compounded on manufacturer as in several cases, overheating also occurs when a user leaves heavy programs switched on, on the laptop for quite a long time. It may also get overheated due to bad ventilation in a room. Overheated laptops lead to other problems as well as malfunctions and if such problem is carried over a long period of time, it can lead to damage of computer hardware permanently.

Shutting down of laptop due to overheating
Many times, laptop simply shuts down in case of overheating. One must pay attention to this symptom and understand that the hardware requires time to cool down. In case, you switch on the laptop right after it shuts down, the laptop will shut off again due to overheating. Then, you will have to leave it shut for over two hours. During this time, the laptop will cool down and then you can continue with your work.

Some other signs that suggest that the laptop is getting overheated are operation error, excessive and loud fan operation, blue screen death and memory errors.

Solutions to overcome overheating of laptop
Although gaming laptops have been designed to fight the heating problems really well. the following solutions can prevent your laptop from getting overheated:

* Avoid use of laptop in sun as it can potentially damage the hardware, thereby crashing the laptop.
* Keep your laptop clean. Clean the debris as well as dust on daily basis. If you don't do so, dust will enter into the machine and enhance the heating problems.
* Remove the power plug from time to time. In case, you keep on plugging the power plug, overheating will surely happen.
* Now, if you don't have to use laptop for say half an hour, don't leave it on hibernation mode, and switch it off instead.
* As metallic surfaces have a tendency to get heated in no time, avoid their use and it is better to place laptop on wood or a soft piece of cloth.

It is better to buy a cooling pad as it has an external fan that keeps the temperature of the laptop normal. However, the above mentioned methods would work with all sorts of laptop models.

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Soon, PCs and smartphones to become more power efficient

Computer scientists have conducted the first systematic power profiles of microprocessors, which could help cut the power consumption of both small cell phones and giant data centres.?

Their results may point the way to how companies like Google, Apple, Intel and Microsoft can make software and hardware that will lower the energy costs of very small and very large devices.

?The less power cell phones draw, the longer the battery will last,? said Kathryn McKinley, professor of computer science at The University of Texas at Austin.

?For companies like Google and Microsoft, which run these enormous data centers, there is a big incentive to find ways to be more power efficient. More and more of the money they?re spending isn?t going toward buying the hardware, but toward the power the datacenters draw.

McKinley said without detailed power profiles of how microprocessors function with different software and different chip architectures, companies are limited in terms of how well they can optimize for energy usage.

The study she conducted with Stephen M. Blackburn of The Australian National University and their graduate students is the first to systematically measure and analyze application power, performance, and energy on a wide variety of hardware.

We did some measurements that no one else had done before, asserted McKinley.

We showed that different software, and different classes of software, have really different power usage.

McKinley insisted that such an analysis has become necessary as both the culture and the technologies of computing have shifted over the past decade.

Tags: PCs, smartphones, power efficient PC, science news

Satellite phone encryption 'cracked'

Researchers in Germany claim to have for the first time cracked two encryption systems of satellite phones, a breakthrough in call deciphering which may threaten the security of such devices worldwide.

A team at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany says that the cracked encryption algorithms, known as GMR-1 and GMR-2, are actually standards used across satellite phone operators globally.

"We were able to completely reverse engineer the encryption algorithms employed," 'The Daily Telegraph' quoted Benedikt Driessen and Ralf Hund of the university as saying.

According to Driessen, the equipment and software needed to intercept and decrypt satellite phone calls from hundreds of thousands of users would cost as little as US dollars 2000.

The demonstration system takes up to half-an-hour to decipher a call, but a more powerful computer would allow eavesdropping in real time, he said.

By publishing details of how to break the encryption, the researchers hope to prompt ETSI, the organisation that sets the standards, to create stronger algorithms.

Tags: Satellite phone encryption, Satellite phone encryption cracked, science news

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