Problem :
when i close computer, or restart... i gett this message. Windows-Drive no ready
"the drive is not redy for use; its door may be open, please check drive A: and make sure that a disk inserted and that the drive dore is closed"
Answer :
go to NOD32 control center, click AMON,
Setup, Media and un tick the Diskette drive AND/OR the Shut Down tickboxes.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
How To Make My Computer Go Faster
By Logan Albright
Computers are getting more and more common in this day and age, we have a strong reliance on these "household appliances" that it would be almost improbable to imagine living one day without these luxuries by our sides. However, the ever non-satisfied personality of humans pushes towards greater excellence and not just do we want convenience, but rather, we desire to have convenience in an instant. For example, the traditional way of brewing coffee has now been restricted to 3 in 1 sachets of coffee power or the way to fill our stomachs is either to order take out or drop by any fast food outlet and grab a quick bite.
Nonetheless, we too want our lives to not only be enhanced, but also to be accelerated, to do things fast and quick. It is no wonder that when we face with something trying to slow our hectic lifestyle, we feel uncomfortable and queasy. One of such "things" is especially when our computer begins to slow down in its functions and ability. As mentioned earlier, computers are as good as our daily companion, we do practically most of our work in it and for it to not function at its maximum capacity, it only irritates us as business deals worth millions can be just in that one click away.
In this article we will look into some of the ways by which you can increase the speed of your computer.
1. Upgrade your RAM
If you have reason to believe that your computer has been around for too long and its components are not up to date, you may want to consider upgrading your RAM to give your computer more available memory. Upgrading memory now is becoming much cheaper but you should only do this if you already know that a lack of memory is the cause of your PC speed problems.
2. Deal with your computer's registry
The registry section of our computers is not commonly familiar amongst users however it does play an important role that may be the reason for your computer slowing down. This section contains numerous files named registry keys that instruct your computer how it should run. However, if a computer has been used over a long period of time, there is a high chance whereby some of the files have become corrupted or missing resulting in a slowing down of the computer's performance. How you should handle such a problem is to download the cleaner software immediately. Followed by scanning through your computer to find our whether there are errors in our registry and fix your computer's registry if there are.
Another cause for registry problems is the presence of false entries. Your computer constantly makes and deletes entries from your registry and this causes the formation of false entries. Moreover, spyware and viruses also leave behind lots of false entries even after they have been removed successfully. Thus after running through a virus scan and eradicating them off, you also have to run a registry cleaner to ensure your computer is functioning at maximum capacity.
3. Stop having multiple programs
Some people love to multi-task everything they need to complete at the same time. For example, a person at work may be using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word together with a dozen pages of websites while researching and at the same time is chatting with friends or colleagues through the web messenger. No wonder the computer would be processing so slowly! Each computer has its limits and if you step beyond them, it would cause it to function below its peak potential.
Logan Albright is an authority on troubleshooting computer problems at http://www.pcaholic.com. Where he helps thousands how to optimize their computers through a proper computer check up. Click Here to speed up your pc for free.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Logan_Albright
Computers are getting more and more common in this day and age, we have a strong reliance on these "household appliances" that it would be almost improbable to imagine living one day without these luxuries by our sides. However, the ever non-satisfied personality of humans pushes towards greater excellence and not just do we want convenience, but rather, we desire to have convenience in an instant. For example, the traditional way of brewing coffee has now been restricted to 3 in 1 sachets of coffee power or the way to fill our stomachs is either to order take out or drop by any fast food outlet and grab a quick bite.
Nonetheless, we too want our lives to not only be enhanced, but also to be accelerated, to do things fast and quick. It is no wonder that when we face with something trying to slow our hectic lifestyle, we feel uncomfortable and queasy. One of such "things" is especially when our computer begins to slow down in its functions and ability. As mentioned earlier, computers are as good as our daily companion, we do practically most of our work in it and for it to not function at its maximum capacity, it only irritates us as business deals worth millions can be just in that one click away.
In this article we will look into some of the ways by which you can increase the speed of your computer.
1. Upgrade your RAM
If you have reason to believe that your computer has been around for too long and its components are not up to date, you may want to consider upgrading your RAM to give your computer more available memory. Upgrading memory now is becoming much cheaper but you should only do this if you already know that a lack of memory is the cause of your PC speed problems.
2. Deal with your computer's registry
The registry section of our computers is not commonly familiar amongst users however it does play an important role that may be the reason for your computer slowing down. This section contains numerous files named registry keys that instruct your computer how it should run. However, if a computer has been used over a long period of time, there is a high chance whereby some of the files have become corrupted or missing resulting in a slowing down of the computer's performance. How you should handle such a problem is to download the cleaner software immediately. Followed by scanning through your computer to find our whether there are errors in our registry and fix your computer's registry if there are.
Another cause for registry problems is the presence of false entries. Your computer constantly makes and deletes entries from your registry and this causes the formation of false entries. Moreover, spyware and viruses also leave behind lots of false entries even after they have been removed successfully. Thus after running through a virus scan and eradicating them off, you also have to run a registry cleaner to ensure your computer is functioning at maximum capacity.
3. Stop having multiple programs
Some people love to multi-task everything they need to complete at the same time. For example, a person at work may be using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word together with a dozen pages of websites while researching and at the same time is chatting with friends or colleagues through the web messenger. No wonder the computer would be processing so slowly! Each computer has its limits and if you step beyond them, it would cause it to function below its peak potential.
Logan Albright is an authority on troubleshooting computer problems at http://www.pcaholic.com. Where he helps thousands how to optimize their computers through a proper computer check up. Click Here to speed up your pc for free.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Logan_Albright
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
When Your Laptop Drive Is Damaged - 7 Mistakes to Avoid
By Alan Mod
Below numbering of the seven disastrous faults not to do while your hard disc is damaged.
1- Encase of fire harm don't try to clean, or to put in refrigerator or deep freezer on fire damaged media.
2- Encase of physical harm don't attempt to remove disc drive, don't shake, dismantle any hard disk or notebook that has been damaged, since wrong handling can do retrieval more serious or impractical.
3- After physical harm immediately switch off PC, never try to operate whatsoever visible damaged devices as additional operation may harm data irremediably.
4- Water harm case : Never ever try to make clean or dry out water damaged hard drive by opening it or disclosing it to heat (the high temperature of a hair drier for instance).
5- Once a user check messages such as "Operating System not found", "Corrupt Volume" or once he may merely be missing files and folders he had better at once shut down the computer. (Since the more durable a damaged hard disk is left working, the many more data that can be entirely dropped off).
6- Encase of mechanical harm if you pick up strange makes noise or grinding, don't carry a check disk software package (CHKDSK or some another software like that).
7- And at last if you're a newcomer, never set about to try the retrieval alone whenever you have some valuable data.
In this seven sort of case you'll have to get through narrowed down company, and that can/will cost you in all probability a good deal of money.
As a matter of fact the biggest erroneous belief to stave off is the absence of backup, I'll never say it sufficient, backup your files, backup your files... Backup...
Or get fix to confront a catastrophe.
Visit http://www.laptop-support.net to learn more about Backup and Laptop.
I'm moderator for http://www.laptop-support.net, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Below numbering of the seven disastrous faults not to do while your hard disc is damaged.
1- Encase of fire harm don't try to clean, or to put in refrigerator or deep freezer on fire damaged media.
2- Encase of physical harm don't attempt to remove disc drive, don't shake, dismantle any hard disk or notebook that has been damaged, since wrong handling can do retrieval more serious or impractical.
3- After physical harm immediately switch off PC, never try to operate whatsoever visible damaged devices as additional operation may harm data irremediably.
4- Water harm case : Never ever try to make clean or dry out water damaged hard drive by opening it or disclosing it to heat (the high temperature of a hair drier for instance).
5- Once a user check messages such as "Operating System not found", "Corrupt Volume" or once he may merely be missing files and folders he had better at once shut down the computer. (Since the more durable a damaged hard disk is left working, the many more data that can be entirely dropped off).
6- Encase of mechanical harm if you pick up strange makes noise or grinding, don't carry a check disk software package (CHKDSK or some another software like that).
7- And at last if you're a newcomer, never set about to try the retrieval alone whenever you have some valuable data.
In this seven sort of case you'll have to get through narrowed down company, and that can/will cost you in all probability a good deal of money.
As a matter of fact the biggest erroneous belief to stave off is the absence of backup, I'll never say it sufficient, backup your files, backup your files... Backup...
Or get fix to confront a catastrophe.
Visit http://www.laptop-support.net to learn more about Backup and Laptop.
I'm moderator for http://www.laptop-support.net, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Free Ways to Protect Your Home Computer
By Aaron Siegel
I remember the day when computers were first in my classroom. I laugh sometimes just remembering the green front Apple and Orange font IBM computers. When using them little did I know one day there would be graphic rich multimedia with unlimited connectivity to the world and information.
I also remember my friend as a child who had a computer science father. As a birthday gift he gave his son two little boxes with 8 numerical buttons and one little red LCD display on each box. These little boxes were a way for me and my friend to send codes back and forth from each other from our phone lines when at home. We created our own code talk to decipher messages. We felt like spies and had a great time messaging nonsense for hours.
Little did I know as a child that these seemingly simple things would grow into the powerful and world dominating PC and Internet. Even less did I know the impact it would have on all the lives of the world and how easy and fun it would become. As a naive child, I would never imagine the evil that would lurk to destroy such great technological advances.
With the birth of the Internet came the birth of viruses, spyware, and spam. The Internet world could now virally be infected with computer destroying codes almost instantly worldwide along with pop-up ads all over your computer screen and your inbox bombarded with propositions of the unthinkable and bizarre.
Once introduced, the world forever would be on their toes watching their backs for this malicious onslaught of computer created menaces and dangers . The industry created to thwart the destructive codings has boomed and never looked back and it is doubtful that it will ever be out of demand as more lives rely on the Internet and the computers used to access it.
Hundreds of different anti-virus, ant-spam, and anti-spyware software exists today and some can come at a bargain while others can cost you an arm and leg. Some are excellent while others are mediocre, but for today we will discuss good and honest protection that is free.
Spam as we all know can ruin a good visit to the inbox. For protection against spam you must be responsible with your email address and be careful who gets it. Applying for bogus free offers and money making schemes can open up your whole account to the dreaded inbox disease.
If you are needing spam protection you can open up a free email account with Yahoo Mail or HotMail and receive free spam protection with the service without any additional software or setup. Yahoo offers a yearly paid account with additional spam protection if the free version is not enough for you. Yahoo charges about $20.00 a year, which I myself subscribe to.
With spyware you can expect unexpected pop-ups, search intrusions, as well as the possibility of identity theft. This makes spyware no laughing matter and lucky for you you don't have to pay to be protected. Lavasoft and AVG are just two companies that offer outstanding free anti-spyware software for your computer. Even Yahoo has gotten into the act and have given their toolbar users free spyware software that can be launched from their toolbar. I recommend running it once a day.
Viruses can literally destroy your operating system and even your whole computer which makes this last threat one of the most dangerous when it comes to your PC. You would expect to pay hundreds of dollars perhaps to protect your computer or maybe an annual subscription which is common too. Why even pay when you can get it for free?
There are two great anti-virus programs out there that you can use free for your home computer without any catch other than maybe a registration. I highly recommend these two products and use them for my own computers completely free.
Anti-virus #1: AVG has an anti-virus download that takes care of all the virus updates daily and scans your computer everyday at a specified time which is convenient for those who forget to protect their PCs.
Anti-Virus #2: Avast is an excellent program for keeping both spyware and viruses off of your computer and in the gutter where they belong. They have a more complex registration which requires email authentication and online registration, but only takes about 10 minutes of your time, a lot less time than the hours you have to work to buy a new computer or OS.
Don't let the word free deter you from these great resources. It is amazing what these companies are offering the general PC population and you should take full advantage of their offer. I use all the mentioned software myself and it just goes to show, some of the best things in life really are free.
TopSavings.Net - High Speed Broadband Internet Providers are easy to compare online for your area online. Just use your email and phone number to find the best rates in Cable, Satellite, and DSL Internet. No sales calls, just great rates. NOTE: This article may not be reproduced without this information intact with working links.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aaron_Siegel
I remember the day when computers were first in my classroom. I laugh sometimes just remembering the green front Apple and Orange font IBM computers. When using them little did I know one day there would be graphic rich multimedia with unlimited connectivity to the world and information.
I also remember my friend as a child who had a computer science father. As a birthday gift he gave his son two little boxes with 8 numerical buttons and one little red LCD display on each box. These little boxes were a way for me and my friend to send codes back and forth from each other from our phone lines when at home. We created our own code talk to decipher messages. We felt like spies and had a great time messaging nonsense for hours.
Little did I know as a child that these seemingly simple things would grow into the powerful and world dominating PC and Internet. Even less did I know the impact it would have on all the lives of the world and how easy and fun it would become. As a naive child, I would never imagine the evil that would lurk to destroy such great technological advances.
With the birth of the Internet came the birth of viruses, spyware, and spam. The Internet world could now virally be infected with computer destroying codes almost instantly worldwide along with pop-up ads all over your computer screen and your inbox bombarded with propositions of the unthinkable and bizarre.
Once introduced, the world forever would be on their toes watching their backs for this malicious onslaught of computer created menaces and dangers . The industry created to thwart the destructive codings has boomed and never looked back and it is doubtful that it will ever be out of demand as more lives rely on the Internet and the computers used to access it.
Hundreds of different anti-virus, ant-spam, and anti-spyware software exists today and some can come at a bargain while others can cost you an arm and leg. Some are excellent while others are mediocre, but for today we will discuss good and honest protection that is free.
Spam as we all know can ruin a good visit to the inbox. For protection against spam you must be responsible with your email address and be careful who gets it. Applying for bogus free offers and money making schemes can open up your whole account to the dreaded inbox disease.
If you are needing spam protection you can open up a free email account with Yahoo Mail or HotMail and receive free spam protection with the service without any additional software or setup. Yahoo offers a yearly paid account with additional spam protection if the free version is not enough for you. Yahoo charges about $20.00 a year, which I myself subscribe to.
With spyware you can expect unexpected pop-ups, search intrusions, as well as the possibility of identity theft. This makes spyware no laughing matter and lucky for you you don't have to pay to be protected. Lavasoft and AVG are just two companies that offer outstanding free anti-spyware software for your computer. Even Yahoo has gotten into the act and have given their toolbar users free spyware software that can be launched from their toolbar. I recommend running it once a day.
Viruses can literally destroy your operating system and even your whole computer which makes this last threat one of the most dangerous when it comes to your PC. You would expect to pay hundreds of dollars perhaps to protect your computer or maybe an annual subscription which is common too. Why even pay when you can get it for free?
There are two great anti-virus programs out there that you can use free for your home computer without any catch other than maybe a registration. I highly recommend these two products and use them for my own computers completely free.
Anti-virus #1: AVG has an anti-virus download that takes care of all the virus updates daily and scans your computer everyday at a specified time which is convenient for those who forget to protect their PCs.
Anti-Virus #2: Avast is an excellent program for keeping both spyware and viruses off of your computer and in the gutter where they belong. They have a more complex registration which requires email authentication and online registration, but only takes about 10 minutes of your time, a lot less time than the hours you have to work to buy a new computer or OS.
Don't let the word free deter you from these great resources. It is amazing what these companies are offering the general PC population and you should take full advantage of their offer. I use all the mentioned software myself and it just goes to show, some of the best things in life really are free.
TopSavings.Net - High Speed Broadband Internet Providers are easy to compare online for your area online. Just use your email and phone number to find the best rates in Cable, Satellite, and DSL Internet. No sales calls, just great rates. NOTE: This article may not be reproduced without this information intact with working links.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aaron_Siegel
Friday, March 28, 2008
Disable Autorun and autoplay
you can disable the auto-run or auto-play features in Windows XP and Windows 2000 operating system. To disable automatically running CD-ROMs and Audio CDs, users must edit the registry value:
Click Start -> Run.
Type RegEdit in the Open text box, then press ENTER.
In the Registry Editor, locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
System
CurrentControlSet
Services
CDRom
Modify the value of the Autorun to 0 (zero)
so that CD-ROMs and Audio CDs do not run and start automatically when inserted.
Next navigate to the following registry subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion
Policies
Explorer
Modify the value of the
NoDriveTypeAutoRun
entry to
0xb5
value to turn off the AutoRun feature
for CD-ROMs by right-click NoDriveTypeAutoRun and then click Modify to type B5 in the Value data box. Select Hexadecimal, and then click OK.
Quit Registry Editor.
Restart your computer.
Click Start -> Run.
Type RegEdit in the Open text box, then press ENTER.
In the Registry Editor, locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
System
CurrentControlSet
Services
CDRom
Modify the value of the Autorun to 0 (zero)
so that CD-ROMs and Audio CDs do not run and start automatically when inserted.
Next navigate to the following registry subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion
Policies
Explorer
Modify the value of the
NoDriveTypeAutoRun
entry to
0xb5
value to turn off the AutoRun feature
for CD-ROMs by right-click NoDriveTypeAutoRun and then click Modify to type B5 in the Value data box. Select Hexadecimal, and then click OK.
Quit Registry Editor.
Restart your computer.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
10 Computer Maintenance Tips
By Freddie Stewart
Before you start making mistakes that could cost you the life of your precious computer, you had better learn how to take care of your new arrival. The things you do to your computer now will determine how long your computer will last without crashing.
Below are some tips you should know when using your computer:
Never EVER switch off your computer without waiting for Windows to shut it down. This may cause permanent hard drive defects caused by the hard drive heads contacting the surface of the disc drive and cause a host of Windows problems.
The only time you can force a shutdown is if your hard drive "hangs" or refuses to respond. In this case, try pressing ALT+CTRL+DEL keys at the same time and wait for task manager to launch. The Task Manager window will have a tab you can press to enable you to shutdown normally. If Task Manager fails to launch, then you can safely switch off your computer and switch it on again after about 3 minutes. Perform emergency shutdown only when absolutely necessary.
Plug your computer into a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply). This will prevent power surges in cases of low and high voltage occurrences. A UPS will protect your computer from any type of power disaster.
Backup important files as soon as you can. Purchase a CD burner to store files (make at least 2 copies of the same files on CD). Don't wait until the next day if you can help it. A crash may occur any time.
Use Scandisk and Defragmenter at least once a month. Just like you need to have a check up once in a while to catch any disease that may be forming, your computer also needs to be checked up to keep it healthy and crash-free.
Do not unplug peripherals while they are powered up. Doing so may damage your motherboard.
Keep at least 100 MB of your C: free for Windows to use. Maxing out your drive may result in Windows dumping data to your hard drive, or your computer will run really, really slow.
Do not let a lot of programs load when starting up your computer. Uninstall or delete programs that start up as soon as you start up your computer.
Use an antivirus program. You really need one if you want your computer to keep running smoothly. Downloaded attachments from friends, installed programs downloaded from the net and a host of other ways could infect your computer. An antivirus program will make sure no "bad" stuff is allowed into the system.
Use a firewall if you have a high speed internet connection. A firewall will prevent your computer from getting "hijacked". You may not be aware of it, but your computer may have been hacked at least once. Hackers use search programs to seek out computers at random. Get a firewall program and use it.
Do not throw away installer software once you've installed the program. You will need to reformat your computer some time and all data on the drive will be erased and you will need to reinstall your software.
F Stewart is an IT Professional. His company, Ambient Technology Group, provides website development and IT services. For more information, visit http://www.AmbientTechnologyGroup.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Freddie_Stewart
Before you start making mistakes that could cost you the life of your precious computer, you had better learn how to take care of your new arrival. The things you do to your computer now will determine how long your computer will last without crashing.
Below are some tips you should know when using your computer:
Never EVER switch off your computer without waiting for Windows to shut it down. This may cause permanent hard drive defects caused by the hard drive heads contacting the surface of the disc drive and cause a host of Windows problems.
The only time you can force a shutdown is if your hard drive "hangs" or refuses to respond. In this case, try pressing ALT+CTRL+DEL keys at the same time and wait for task manager to launch. The Task Manager window will have a tab you can press to enable you to shutdown normally. If Task Manager fails to launch, then you can safely switch off your computer and switch it on again after about 3 minutes. Perform emergency shutdown only when absolutely necessary.
Plug your computer into a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply). This will prevent power surges in cases of low and high voltage occurrences. A UPS will protect your computer from any type of power disaster.
Backup important files as soon as you can. Purchase a CD burner to store files (make at least 2 copies of the same files on CD). Don't wait until the next day if you can help it. A crash may occur any time.
Use Scandisk and Defragmenter at least once a month. Just like you need to have a check up once in a while to catch any disease that may be forming, your computer also needs to be checked up to keep it healthy and crash-free.
Do not unplug peripherals while they are powered up. Doing so may damage your motherboard.
Keep at least 100 MB of your C: free for Windows to use. Maxing out your drive may result in Windows dumping data to your hard drive, or your computer will run really, really slow.
Do not let a lot of programs load when starting up your computer. Uninstall or delete programs that start up as soon as you start up your computer.
Use an antivirus program. You really need one if you want your computer to keep running smoothly. Downloaded attachments from friends, installed programs downloaded from the net and a host of other ways could infect your computer. An antivirus program will make sure no "bad" stuff is allowed into the system.
Use a firewall if you have a high speed internet connection. A firewall will prevent your computer from getting "hijacked". You may not be aware of it, but your computer may have been hacked at least once. Hackers use search programs to seek out computers at random. Get a firewall program and use it.
Do not throw away installer software once you've installed the program. You will need to reformat your computer some time and all data on the drive will be erased and you will need to reinstall your software.
F Stewart is an IT Professional. His company, Ambient Technology Group, provides website development and IT services. For more information, visit http://www.AmbientTechnologyGroup.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Freddie_Stewart
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
How You Know When Your Computer Is Being Attacked By Spyware
By Reina S Brown
Humans are not the only ones who go into battle needing protection. Computers do as well. Every time your computer goes online, it is going into battle. This is because viruses, malicious software, and spyware are just waiting to attack it among other things. Because computer protection is a topic that requires a lot of lengthy detail, we'll cover the issue of spyware for now. Here are some ways you'll know if your computer is under spyware attack.
The first thing you'll notice is that your computer will start to run slower than usual. Applications may take a bit longer to load. Not to mention, your sound could become distorted. It may sound like a stuttering or skipping CD. This is usually because it may take awhile for the sound file to fully load. The sound is not the only thing affected by this slowness.
Programs could take much longer to open than before. The things you once were able to pull up with just a simple click may take minutes to open. Some have stated that it could take long enough to go to the bathroom and come back. If this is happening to you, this is definitely not normal, not for any computer.
Something else you'll notice is that you'll be getting pop ups more than usual. What's more, the ads will be unfamiliar and shady. Things such as get rich quick ads, porn, work at home, or anything else not well known and suspicious looking, are perfect examples.
Another major give away is that you'll get pop ups when you are off line. They may come up when you open programs such as word documents and applications. Legitimate pop ups from well known advertisers only come up when you open the sites in your browser, not when you are off line.
How Can Spyware Generate Pop Up Ads?
You may wonder why this happens. This is due to spyware programs having the information from your computer logged, which will enable the sites to send pop ups to your browser forcing you to see them. The only way to stop such pop ups is by removing the spyware. Of course, it is an entirely different story if the spyware is embedded into the programs on your computer. In these cases, you'll need to reformat your entire hard drive.
Finally, your browser could be hijacked. This means that spyware will change your home page to something you've never seen, and your browser will randomly visit sites you never intended to go. Thus, it will have a mind of its own. A prime example of this is that you'll type a url into the address bar, and instead of taking you to the site you want to go to, you'll be directed somewhere else.
In most cases, spyware is easy to locate: however, there are cases when the hacker or writer of the spyware software can overwrite programs that are normally supposed to be on your computer. Hence, you'll never know they are there.
Protecting your computer is a critical part of ensuring its safety in the Internet war zone. After all, it will be shielded against such spyware attacks.
Reina S. Brown is the owner of Waldorf PC. At Waldorf PC, Our knowledgeable and friendly support representatives provide 24/7 service. We are never closed. We save you money and productivity, using our innovative strategy of proactive computer maintenance and quick tech support.
We are located on the web at http://www.waldorfpc.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reina_S_Brown
Humans are not the only ones who go into battle needing protection. Computers do as well. Every time your computer goes online, it is going into battle. This is because viruses, malicious software, and spyware are just waiting to attack it among other things. Because computer protection is a topic that requires a lot of lengthy detail, we'll cover the issue of spyware for now. Here are some ways you'll know if your computer is under spyware attack.
The first thing you'll notice is that your computer will start to run slower than usual. Applications may take a bit longer to load. Not to mention, your sound could become distorted. It may sound like a stuttering or skipping CD. This is usually because it may take awhile for the sound file to fully load. The sound is not the only thing affected by this slowness.
Programs could take much longer to open than before. The things you once were able to pull up with just a simple click may take minutes to open. Some have stated that it could take long enough to go to the bathroom and come back. If this is happening to you, this is definitely not normal, not for any computer.
Something else you'll notice is that you'll be getting pop ups more than usual. What's more, the ads will be unfamiliar and shady. Things such as get rich quick ads, porn, work at home, or anything else not well known and suspicious looking, are perfect examples.
Another major give away is that you'll get pop ups when you are off line. They may come up when you open programs such as word documents and applications. Legitimate pop ups from well known advertisers only come up when you open the sites in your browser, not when you are off line.
How Can Spyware Generate Pop Up Ads?
You may wonder why this happens. This is due to spyware programs having the information from your computer logged, which will enable the sites to send pop ups to your browser forcing you to see them. The only way to stop such pop ups is by removing the spyware. Of course, it is an entirely different story if the spyware is embedded into the programs on your computer. In these cases, you'll need to reformat your entire hard drive.
Finally, your browser could be hijacked. This means that spyware will change your home page to something you've never seen, and your browser will randomly visit sites you never intended to go. Thus, it will have a mind of its own. A prime example of this is that you'll type a url into the address bar, and instead of taking you to the site you want to go to, you'll be directed somewhere else.
In most cases, spyware is easy to locate: however, there are cases when the hacker or writer of the spyware software can overwrite programs that are normally supposed to be on your computer. Hence, you'll never know they are there.
Protecting your computer is a critical part of ensuring its safety in the Internet war zone. After all, it will be shielded against such spyware attacks.
Reina S. Brown is the owner of Waldorf PC. At Waldorf PC, Our knowledgeable and friendly support representatives provide 24/7 service. We are never closed. We save you money and productivity, using our innovative strategy of proactive computer maintenance and quick tech support.
We are located on the web at http://www.waldorfpc.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reina_S_Brown
Monday, March 17, 2008
How To Clean The Windows XP Registry
By Cynthia Blake
The Windows Registry
The Windows XP registry is notorious for getting cluttered and corrupted with obsolete, outdated, and empty files and folders. The reasons for this clutter vary. Sometimes these files are left behind by programs that have been incompletely uninstalled from your computer. Other times they are the result of viruses and spyware programs.
Wherever they come from, there is really only one way to clean the registry thoroughly, safely, and efficiently.
Best Methods
By using a good Windows XP registry cleaner software program you will not only save yourself time, but you will also make the process much safer. It's not recommended that you go into the registry yourself and try to remove entries by hand unless you know exactly what you are doing.
Even if you did know precisely what you were doing, finding all the obsolete and empty files and folders could take hours upon hours, and you still might not get all of them. Registry repair software will allow you to scan your registry in just a few minutes and remove all the useless files with the click of a mouse.
Backup Safety
In order to make this a safe process, it's always a good idea to make a manual backup of your registry. This is a very easy process that takes about 30 seconds.
Go to Start / Run
Type in "regedit" (no quotes) and press enter
This opens the Windows registry editor
Click File - Export
Name the registry file and pick a good place to save it
Click save
That's it! Now you have a backup copy of your registry just in case anything goes wrong when you clean it out. Registry repair programs are usually very safe, however making a backup copy is a good idea before doing any sort of computer upgrade or maintenance.
Visit our site for information on the best registry cleaners available.
For a review of the top registry repair utility on the market, check out our RegCure review.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cynthia_Blake
The Windows Registry
The Windows XP registry is notorious for getting cluttered and corrupted with obsolete, outdated, and empty files and folders. The reasons for this clutter vary. Sometimes these files are left behind by programs that have been incompletely uninstalled from your computer. Other times they are the result of viruses and spyware programs.
Wherever they come from, there is really only one way to clean the registry thoroughly, safely, and efficiently.
Best Methods
By using a good Windows XP registry cleaner software program you will not only save yourself time, but you will also make the process much safer. It's not recommended that you go into the registry yourself and try to remove entries by hand unless you know exactly what you are doing.
Even if you did know precisely what you were doing, finding all the obsolete and empty files and folders could take hours upon hours, and you still might not get all of them. Registry repair software will allow you to scan your registry in just a few minutes and remove all the useless files with the click of a mouse.
Backup Safety
In order to make this a safe process, it's always a good idea to make a manual backup of your registry. This is a very easy process that takes about 30 seconds.
Go to Start / Run
Type in "regedit" (no quotes) and press enter
This opens the Windows registry editor
Click File - Export
Name the registry file and pick a good place to save it
Click save
That's it! Now you have a backup copy of your registry just in case anything goes wrong when you clean it out. Registry repair programs are usually very safe, however making a backup copy is a good idea before doing any sort of computer upgrade or maintenance.
Visit our site for information on the best registry cleaners available.
For a review of the top registry repair utility on the market, check out our RegCure review.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cynthia_Blake
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
CCleaner 1.41.544
CCleaner (formerly Crap Cleaner) is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused and temporary files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster, more efficiently and giving you more hard disk space. The best part is that it's fast! (normally taking less than a second to run) and Free.
Cleans the following:
- Internet Explorer Cache, History, Cookies, Index.dat.
- Recycle Bin, Temporary files and Log files.
- Recently opened URLs and files.
- Third-party application temp files and recent file lists (MRUs).
- Including: Firefox, Opera, Media Player, eMule, Kazaa, Google Toolbar, Netscape,
Office XP, Nero, Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, WinAce, WinZip and more...
- Advanced Registry scanner and cleaner to remove unused and old entries.
- Including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more... Backup for registry clean.
- Windows Startup tool.
If you like and use this software then it is polite to make a donation to the author.
ccleaner
Download CCleaner from FileHippo.com
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/2927/
Cleans the following:
- Internet Explorer Cache, History, Cookies, Index.dat.
- Recycle Bin, Temporary files and Log files.
- Recently opened URLs and files.
- Third-party application temp files and recent file lists (MRUs).
- Including: Firefox, Opera, Media Player, eMule, Kazaa, Google Toolbar, Netscape,
Office XP, Nero, Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, WinAce, WinZip and more...
- Advanced Registry scanner and cleaner to remove unused and old entries.
- Including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more... Backup for registry clean.
- Windows Startup tool.
If you like and use this software then it is polite to make a donation to the author.
ccleaner
Download CCleaner from FileHippo.com
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/2927/
AVG Free Edition 7.5.516a1225
Well-known free antivirus protection software.
AVG Free is the most popular free solution available at no cost to home users and provides the high level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers.
Easy to use, low system resources
Automatic update functionality
Real-time protection as files are opened and programs are run
AVG’s Virus Vault for the safe handling of infected files
AVG Anti-Virus Free is only available for single computer use for home and non commercial use
Follow the link and
Free Download AVG Free Edition Now
AVG Free is the most popular free solution available at no cost to home users and provides the high level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers.
Easy to use, low system resources
Automatic update functionality
Real-time protection as files are opened and programs are run
AVG’s Virus Vault for the safe handling of infected files
AVG Anti-Virus Free is only available for single computer use for home and non commercial use
Follow the link and
Free Download AVG Free Edition Now
Thursday, March 6, 2008
When Your Laptop Drive Is Damaged Avoid These 7 Mistakes At All Costs!
By Alan Mod
Below listing of the 7 fatal errors not to do when your hard disk is damaged.
1- In case of fire damage do not attempt to clean, or to place in refrigerator or freezer a fire damaged media.
2- In case of physical damage do not try to remove hard drive, do not shake, disassemble any hard disc or laptop that has been damaged , because improper handling can make recovery more difficult or impossible.
3- After physical damage immediately turn off computer, never attempt to operate any visibly damaged devices because further operation may damage data irremediably.
4- Water damage case : Never not attempt to clean or dry water-damaged disc drive by opening it or exposing it to heat(the heat of a hairdryer for example).
5- When a user see messages such as "Operating System not found", "Corrupt Volume" or when he may simply be missing files and folders he should immediately shut down the computer.(Because the longer a damaged hard disc is left running, the more data that can be totally lost).
6- In case of mechanical damage if you hear strange noises or grinding, do not run a check disc software(CHKDSK or VRepair).
7- And finally if you are a newbie, never attempt to try the recovery alone if you have any valuable data.
In this 7 kind of case you will have to contact specialised company, and that can/will cost you probably a lot of money.
In fact the greatest error to avoid is the absence of backup, I will never say it enough, backup, backup, backup...
Or get ready to face a disaster.
For more advices about laptops and data recovery visit The Laptop Support Community.
I'm moderator for The Laptop Support Community, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Below listing of the 7 fatal errors not to do when your hard disk is damaged.
1- In case of fire damage do not attempt to clean, or to place in refrigerator or freezer a fire damaged media.
2- In case of physical damage do not try to remove hard drive, do not shake, disassemble any hard disc or laptop that has been damaged , because improper handling can make recovery more difficult or impossible.
3- After physical damage immediately turn off computer, never attempt to operate any visibly damaged devices because further operation may damage data irremediably.
4- Water damage case : Never not attempt to clean or dry water-damaged disc drive by opening it or exposing it to heat(the heat of a hairdryer for example).
5- When a user see messages such as "Operating System not found", "Corrupt Volume" or when he may simply be missing files and folders he should immediately shut down the computer.(Because the longer a damaged hard disc is left running, the more data that can be totally lost).
6- In case of mechanical damage if you hear strange noises or grinding, do not run a check disc software(CHKDSK or VRepair).
7- And finally if you are a newbie, never attempt to try the recovery alone if you have any valuable data.
In this 7 kind of case you will have to contact specialised company, and that can/will cost you probably a lot of money.
In fact the greatest error to avoid is the absence of backup, I will never say it enough, backup, backup, backup...
Or get ready to face a disaster.
For more advices about laptops and data recovery visit The Laptop Support Community.
I'm moderator for The Laptop Support Community, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Laptop and Computer Repairs Guide
By John Tahan
Troubleshooting a laptop or a desktop computer can be a daunting task but with a systematic approach you can learn to cope with some of the headaches when facing a computer crash. There are so many possibilities and scenarios that can cause your computer or laptop to go down. When problems occurs the first thing to do is to determine if you have a software or hardware problem, finding out if the problem is actually a physical issue like a bad component such as memory, hard disk, motherboard etc. or a software issue like a bad driver, a virus or spyware, corrupt system files etc.
If you suspect a software issue and don't really want to spend the whole day finding out if you have a bad video driver or virus, spyware, or system file corruption, then the best thing to do is to format your computer or laptop, meaning wiping out the hard disk clean. I suggest doing a backup of important data if possible if your operating system is accessible. If your data is extremely important like for most people and a backup system was never put in place before the time of the crash, and the operating system is not accessible, then you will have no choice but to remove your hard disk physically from the computer or the laptop and place it in another computer as a slave. If you are equipped with an external hard disk enclosure, you could simply install that drive that needs to be backed up inside that enclosure and you will directly connect the enclosure via a USB port to a working computer. You will then be able to access your drive and backup all important data directly to that computer.
Once the backup is done and most important configuration are written down, again if your operating system is somewhat accessible. You are now ready for the following step, formatting (wiping your hard disk clean) and re-install the operating system, providing that you have your official operating system license cd, then once the operating system is installed, you will need to re-configure all your internal and external peripherals such as: sound card, video card, network card, modem, printers, scanners etc.(keep in mind that on some systems depending on the chipset of the motherboard, you will be spared from installing some drivers, nevertheless it is always advisable to get the latest drivers from the manufacturers sites. Your final step will be to restore all backed up data, and finalize the installation of all additional software and other downloads that you may require. Don't i repeat please don't forget your email and address book backup too. Once the computer is formatted, it will be impossible for you to go back and recover lost data if you are not a professional with specialized tools and software.
A hardware issue is a little difficult to pin point especially on laptops, many issues can make a computer or laptop not want to boot up or even turn on. I would advise calling a professional if you aren't sure what is it you are up against.
If you need more assistance dealing with computer problems, you can always visit my website at http://www.bytelan.com, my name is John Tahan, a webmaster, network engineer and musician. More sites to visit at :
http://www.tzarrockmetal.com - http://www.ineedcupid.com
Thank you
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Tahan
Troubleshooting a laptop or a desktop computer can be a daunting task but with a systematic approach you can learn to cope with some of the headaches when facing a computer crash. There are so many possibilities and scenarios that can cause your computer or laptop to go down. When problems occurs the first thing to do is to determine if you have a software or hardware problem, finding out if the problem is actually a physical issue like a bad component such as memory, hard disk, motherboard etc. or a software issue like a bad driver, a virus or spyware, corrupt system files etc.
If you suspect a software issue and don't really want to spend the whole day finding out if you have a bad video driver or virus, spyware, or system file corruption, then the best thing to do is to format your computer or laptop, meaning wiping out the hard disk clean. I suggest doing a backup of important data if possible if your operating system is accessible. If your data is extremely important like for most people and a backup system was never put in place before the time of the crash, and the operating system is not accessible, then you will have no choice but to remove your hard disk physically from the computer or the laptop and place it in another computer as a slave. If you are equipped with an external hard disk enclosure, you could simply install that drive that needs to be backed up inside that enclosure and you will directly connect the enclosure via a USB port to a working computer. You will then be able to access your drive and backup all important data directly to that computer.
Once the backup is done and most important configuration are written down, again if your operating system is somewhat accessible. You are now ready for the following step, formatting (wiping your hard disk clean) and re-install the operating system, providing that you have your official operating system license cd, then once the operating system is installed, you will need to re-configure all your internal and external peripherals such as: sound card, video card, network card, modem, printers, scanners etc.(keep in mind that on some systems depending on the chipset of the motherboard, you will be spared from installing some drivers, nevertheless it is always advisable to get the latest drivers from the manufacturers sites. Your final step will be to restore all backed up data, and finalize the installation of all additional software and other downloads that you may require. Don't i repeat please don't forget your email and address book backup too. Once the computer is formatted, it will be impossible for you to go back and recover lost data if you are not a professional with specialized tools and software.
A hardware issue is a little difficult to pin point especially on laptops, many issues can make a computer or laptop not want to boot up or even turn on. I would advise calling a professional if you aren't sure what is it you are up against.
If you need more assistance dealing with computer problems, you can always visit my website at http://www.bytelan.com, my name is John Tahan, a webmaster, network engineer and musician. More sites to visit at :
http://www.tzarrockmetal.com - http://www.ineedcupid.com
Thank you
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Tahan
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
How Important Is Computer Backup Software? Do You Have Any?
By Gary Levy
With the digital world ever growing with files getting larger by the second it's about time the world started taking backing up of their data seriously! What if I told you that many people in the world right now are losing thousands due to corrupt data... Shocking?
I have been working in the Information Technology (IT) game for many years, I have built a nice client base of company's which rely on me supporting their IT needs. This includes making sure their current backup software backs up their important data files.
The problem the world encounters today is the lack of decent programs in the software market, we have our standard computer backup software which comes with most server OS software but its limited to what it can do.
But what should you be looking out for when searching for new backup software?
I'm going to list some of the most important factors that you need to take in to account when buying new computer backup software, there is no need for you to spend thousands on fancy programmers to write you up something, there is hope out there!
First you want a program which will backup your data when it's in use, most programs out there don't do this and show up errors within the logs that its had to skip a file because of file permissions. To get round this you will want a program which can copy the data without hindering the user using the file, a decent backup software program will do this.
You will also want a program which will display the right amount of detail in the log files, this can be one of the most annoying things with computer backup software. They can either tell you too much information or tell you too little information, getting the right balance can be hard.
Make sure you can give the software a trial run there is no point spending out money just to find out that the computer backup software does not do what it says on the tin... Think before spending your cash! If they don't give trials of their computer backup software then ask if they can set you up on one or even give you a guarantee refund.
Reviews! It's very important to read other peoples fews on any program your about to buy, don't purchase anything without reading real user reviews on a product. Some cases this can be hard to find but if you can't find any reviews at all then stay away since the product has not been fully tested by a third party source.
Remember computer backup software is very important to have, its not only costly to have but its even more costly to not have one so think before buying your computer backup software. Picking the right software is key to your company's future, don't lose data that you have taken years to build as it can only take 3 seconds for that data to be lost.
My name is Gary Levy, owner of Computer Backup Software I am an IT Engineer that works for many big company's within the UK London.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Levy
With the digital world ever growing with files getting larger by the second it's about time the world started taking backing up of their data seriously! What if I told you that many people in the world right now are losing thousands due to corrupt data... Shocking?
I have been working in the Information Technology (IT) game for many years, I have built a nice client base of company's which rely on me supporting their IT needs. This includes making sure their current backup software backs up their important data files.
The problem the world encounters today is the lack of decent programs in the software market, we have our standard computer backup software which comes with most server OS software but its limited to what it can do.
But what should you be looking out for when searching for new backup software?
I'm going to list some of the most important factors that you need to take in to account when buying new computer backup software, there is no need for you to spend thousands on fancy programmers to write you up something, there is hope out there!
First you want a program which will backup your data when it's in use, most programs out there don't do this and show up errors within the logs that its had to skip a file because of file permissions. To get round this you will want a program which can copy the data without hindering the user using the file, a decent backup software program will do this.
You will also want a program which will display the right amount of detail in the log files, this can be one of the most annoying things with computer backup software. They can either tell you too much information or tell you too little information, getting the right balance can be hard.
Make sure you can give the software a trial run there is no point spending out money just to find out that the computer backup software does not do what it says on the tin... Think before spending your cash! If they don't give trials of their computer backup software then ask if they can set you up on one or even give you a guarantee refund.
Reviews! It's very important to read other peoples fews on any program your about to buy, don't purchase anything without reading real user reviews on a product. Some cases this can be hard to find but if you can't find any reviews at all then stay away since the product has not been fully tested by a third party source.
Remember computer backup software is very important to have, its not only costly to have but its even more costly to not have one so think before buying your computer backup software. Picking the right software is key to your company's future, don't lose data that you have taken years to build as it can only take 3 seconds for that data to be lost.
My name is Gary Levy, owner of Computer Backup Software I am an IT Engineer that works for many big company's within the UK London.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Levy
Crashed Hard Drives - Data Recovery Is Big Business
By Brandon McVey
Over my 20 years of computer repair, it is safe to say that I have had to replace 1 defective hard drive a week. That's 52 a year, so that's 1000 hard drives give or take. It is also safe to say that 20% of those crashed hard drives did not even phase the customer. Maybe 60% just considered it a hassle. But that leaves another 20% that were almost in tears because they filled it with family photos or work documents with out any form of data backup.
The purpose of this article is to cover a few backup options along with the cost associated with it. You will be surprised at the worst case scenario.
I'm willing to bet that every one smart enough to find this article has a CD burner on there computer. Right there you have no excuse for not backing up your files, but it is time consuming. The CDs need to organized to some extent and they are susceptible to scratches, nicks and heat. So while it is an option, it is not to practical.
Personally I pay about $9 a month for web hosting. With this I can simply set up a folder that is password protected on the server. Then every few days I connect to it and upload my whole drive by dragging and dropping. Take a FTP program of your choice and tell it to copy only the newer files and it's just that easy. What's that? $108 a year? Even then my hosting company backs up my backup while I can tend to the various blogs and sites I maintain.
Quick question... who much does it cost to add a second hard drive to your system? For as little as $200 - $250 you could get an external hard drive in it's own little case that plugs into your USB port. Again, just set it up to copy over the new data.
While there are many more mays to back up your hard drive, here is the part that floors people. Many times over I have had a customer tell me that they need the data off of a dead drive no matter what the cost... then they eat there words or change there mind after they get the details. I'm going to use Ontrack just as an example just because I have used them dozens of times and they have been around longer then me. ( Highly recommended but not affiliated )
They sell data recovery software, as do several other companies. $449 for an Outlook file recovery program. A general data recovery program for just under $200. A professional commercial and consulting, yearly license runs $1499. All this is assuming that the hard drive is spinning correctly and can can be seen by the system. But what if the heads crash or it does not spin at all or the BIOS does not see it? Then it needs to go to a clean room for physical repairs and that's where it starts to add up.
Recently I've seen places advertise that they can fix a drive for $500 on the average with a 88% success rate. That may be the case but most places I've worked with require that much as a non refundable diagnostic fee. Then expect another $1000 for them to put the data on another hard drive. Even then, you usually need to reinstall Windows and all your applications. This is just data recovery.
So in the long run, I hope you can see how practical the time and money it takes to keep your own data backed up is. There is no guarantee that when you wake up in the morning your hard drive will wake up with you. So do yourself a favor and take action sooner then later.
With 20 years of computer repairs behind me, I'm here to share some of the most popular problems and ways to avoid them in my new blog Computer Nightmares. Over the years, the main issues have shifted from hardware to software and I address both. All in an effort to save you from the troubles I've had to seen over and over again.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_McVey
Over my 20 years of computer repair, it is safe to say that I have had to replace 1 defective hard drive a week. That's 52 a year, so that's 1000 hard drives give or take. It is also safe to say that 20% of those crashed hard drives did not even phase the customer. Maybe 60% just considered it a hassle. But that leaves another 20% that were almost in tears because they filled it with family photos or work documents with out any form of data backup.
The purpose of this article is to cover a few backup options along with the cost associated with it. You will be surprised at the worst case scenario.
I'm willing to bet that every one smart enough to find this article has a CD burner on there computer. Right there you have no excuse for not backing up your files, but it is time consuming. The CDs need to organized to some extent and they are susceptible to scratches, nicks and heat. So while it is an option, it is not to practical.
Personally I pay about $9 a month for web hosting. With this I can simply set up a folder that is password protected on the server. Then every few days I connect to it and upload my whole drive by dragging and dropping. Take a FTP program of your choice and tell it to copy only the newer files and it's just that easy. What's that? $108 a year? Even then my hosting company backs up my backup while I can tend to the various blogs and sites I maintain.
Quick question... who much does it cost to add a second hard drive to your system? For as little as $200 - $250 you could get an external hard drive in it's own little case that plugs into your USB port. Again, just set it up to copy over the new data.
While there are many more mays to back up your hard drive, here is the part that floors people. Many times over I have had a customer tell me that they need the data off of a dead drive no matter what the cost... then they eat there words or change there mind after they get the details. I'm going to use Ontrack just as an example just because I have used them dozens of times and they have been around longer then me. ( Highly recommended but not affiliated )
They sell data recovery software, as do several other companies. $449 for an Outlook file recovery program. A general data recovery program for just under $200. A professional commercial and consulting, yearly license runs $1499. All this is assuming that the hard drive is spinning correctly and can can be seen by the system. But what if the heads crash or it does not spin at all or the BIOS does not see it? Then it needs to go to a clean room for physical repairs and that's where it starts to add up.
Recently I've seen places advertise that they can fix a drive for $500 on the average with a 88% success rate. That may be the case but most places I've worked with require that much as a non refundable diagnostic fee. Then expect another $1000 for them to put the data on another hard drive. Even then, you usually need to reinstall Windows and all your applications. This is just data recovery.
So in the long run, I hope you can see how practical the time and money it takes to keep your own data backed up is. There is no guarantee that when you wake up in the morning your hard drive will wake up with you. So do yourself a favor and take action sooner then later.
With 20 years of computer repairs behind me, I'm here to share some of the most popular problems and ways to avoid them in my new blog Computer Nightmares. Over the years, the main issues have shifted from hardware to software and I address both. All in an effort to save you from the troubles I've had to seen over and over again.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_McVey
Monday, March 3, 2008
How to Repair Your Windows Registry
By Lisa Nobles
For those who don't know what a Windows Registry is, or whether or not they even have one, the simple answer is that if you are running a computer that has Windows installed, then you have a Windows Registry. The registry is a storage area that contains all the important information needed to run the computer, such as the preferences and settings for all the hardware and software that is installed.
Viruses, hardware and software upgrades, as well as regular computer use can corrupt the registry, causing the computer to run more slowly and making the system less stable. Signs that you may have a registry problem include frequent freezing, constant errors, and system crashing. If one or more of these problems are occurring, cleaning up the registry will help you to restabilize the system.
There are two main ways to repair your windows registry - manually or with a registry cleaner. However, undertaking this task manually is a huge task and requires hours of work, as you have to sit and sift through all the errors, making changes one by one. It can be done, but there is a much easier, and quicker way.
Registry cleaning software is available for use and is much quicker. The software will scan your computer and inform you of the number of errors it finds. You will then be given options to 'repair' or 'delete' errors, depending on how the errors are affecting the system. All of the repair options are built in automatically, so clean-up just requires a single click of the button.
It is advisable that before using a registry cleaner, you do a backup of your current system. On occasion a current and useful file may be deleted. However, most registry cleaners are fairly accurate when suggesting which files can be deleted. Some also have a built in backup option, so that the system is backed up by the cleaning software before the deletion is undertaken and important files can be restored if needed.
To begin using a registry cleaner, you need to either download a free or trial copy from the internet, or purchase a copy of your chosen software. After doing a backup of your system, simply install the cleaner and run a scan on your computer.
A good cleaner will return a total number of errors, perhaps 305, and a 'safe to delete' or 'safe to remove' total, of, for instance 112 errors. Be wary if the cleaner informs you that all the errors can be deleted. It's likely that some are attached to current programs, and deleting them will cause problems. Of course, as long as you've made a back up of the system, if something is deleted in error, it can always be reloaded. And you don't have to choose to delete the errors if you think that it will be a problem. Most errors can be repaired automatically, doing very little, if any noticeable harm comes to your system.
The type of registry cleaner you decide to use will depend on the options that you want. Some allow you to manually sift through the errors and select which ones you want removed. Some provide detailed descriptions of the errors that have been found. Others are completely automated, with no manual settings available. Depending on your experience level, you can pick and choose amongst a large number of solutions to find one that will work just right for you.
No matter which you choose, registry cleaners are generally easy to use, and save you a lot of time in comparison to sorting through your registry manually. As long as you perform a system back up before deleting any errors, you'll find that using cleaning software is a pain free process.
Cleaning out your Windows registry is crucial to the performance of your PC. If you're ready to clear out your computer's registry errors, you'll want to review registry cleaners before you buy. Review the top registry cleaners on the web and download trial versions today from http://www.registrycleanersreviewed.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Nobles
For those who don't know what a Windows Registry is, or whether or not they even have one, the simple answer is that if you are running a computer that has Windows installed, then you have a Windows Registry. The registry is a storage area that contains all the important information needed to run the computer, such as the preferences and settings for all the hardware and software that is installed.
Viruses, hardware and software upgrades, as well as regular computer use can corrupt the registry, causing the computer to run more slowly and making the system less stable. Signs that you may have a registry problem include frequent freezing, constant errors, and system crashing. If one or more of these problems are occurring, cleaning up the registry will help you to restabilize the system.
There are two main ways to repair your windows registry - manually or with a registry cleaner. However, undertaking this task manually is a huge task and requires hours of work, as you have to sit and sift through all the errors, making changes one by one. It can be done, but there is a much easier, and quicker way.
Registry cleaning software is available for use and is much quicker. The software will scan your computer and inform you of the number of errors it finds. You will then be given options to 'repair' or 'delete' errors, depending on how the errors are affecting the system. All of the repair options are built in automatically, so clean-up just requires a single click of the button.
It is advisable that before using a registry cleaner, you do a backup of your current system. On occasion a current and useful file may be deleted. However, most registry cleaners are fairly accurate when suggesting which files can be deleted. Some also have a built in backup option, so that the system is backed up by the cleaning software before the deletion is undertaken and important files can be restored if needed.
To begin using a registry cleaner, you need to either download a free or trial copy from the internet, or purchase a copy of your chosen software. After doing a backup of your system, simply install the cleaner and run a scan on your computer.
A good cleaner will return a total number of errors, perhaps 305, and a 'safe to delete' or 'safe to remove' total, of, for instance 112 errors. Be wary if the cleaner informs you that all the errors can be deleted. It's likely that some are attached to current programs, and deleting them will cause problems. Of course, as long as you've made a back up of the system, if something is deleted in error, it can always be reloaded. And you don't have to choose to delete the errors if you think that it will be a problem. Most errors can be repaired automatically, doing very little, if any noticeable harm comes to your system.
The type of registry cleaner you decide to use will depend on the options that you want. Some allow you to manually sift through the errors and select which ones you want removed. Some provide detailed descriptions of the errors that have been found. Others are completely automated, with no manual settings available. Depending on your experience level, you can pick and choose amongst a large number of solutions to find one that will work just right for you.
No matter which you choose, registry cleaners are generally easy to use, and save you a lot of time in comparison to sorting through your registry manually. As long as you perform a system back up before deleting any errors, you'll find that using cleaning software is a pain free process.
Cleaning out your Windows registry is crucial to the performance of your PC. If you're ready to clear out your computer's registry errors, you'll want to review registry cleaners before you buy. Review the top registry cleaners on the web and download trial versions today from http://www.registrycleanersreviewed.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Nobles
Microsoft Skydrive - New Free Online Backup - Benefits And How To Use
By Ton Van Creij
Released from beta the new option to make online backups from Microsoft called Skydrive.
This feature is very interesting for several reasons. First of all for people who work on more than one location, for example at home and at work. You can work on the latest version of a document or file from anywhere. The same thing if more people need to access the same file, e.g. pictures, price lists etc. The online backup works like a hard drive of 5 Gb (500 Mb) and it is possible to make a part protected, a part shared, and a part public.
Another advantage of online backup is the safety. A hard disk, dvd or CD can be damaged.
More advantages besides the ease of use are the already mentioned possibility of sharing on a central location files, documents and pictures (with e.g. colleagues, parents or friends in other locations or countries).
Also for people who travel and need to be able to access files from different places like representatives, business men, engineers, presentation for seminars etc.
Other benefits: safety in case of burn down of house or office. And in case of recovery the easy access: easier to find than dvd's, cd's, tapes or other backup media.
Even for people who don't own a computer can store their own data! Imagine countries where computers are still a luxury item and people depend on internet centers. Now they can store their own files without having a computer!
The online file storage service offers password protection and allows users to delegate different permission levels of access to personal, shared or public folders.
Skydrive is available at the moment in 38 countries and you can get an account for free at http://skydrive.live.com/
To access the service, one needs a Windows Live ID. In order to share folders, people who need to access the files also need to have a Windows Live ID.
It works very easy with your actual hotmail/windows live account. As soon as you enter the service you can choose if you want to upload something in your personal folder, your shared folder or public folder. After that you make the choice what you want to upload, which file(s) - click and there they go!
To download - same procedure, it is really easy to use and nobody can have the excuse not to have a backup.
Often people only start making backups after losing a lot of data. Nowadays with these new tools and options it is not necessary to lose any data. It is important to get used to the routine of making backups of important files all the time!
Windows SkyDrive also provides RSS feeds for the shared folders, so your subscribers will know the moment you upload new files. You can also embed files / folders in web pages for your readers to download files directly from your website saving space on your provider and have things centrally located.
Ton van Creij, http://excellent-internet-marketing.com/c - Free Online Internet Marketing Course
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ton_Van_Creij
Released from beta the new option to make online backups from Microsoft called Skydrive.
This feature is very interesting for several reasons. First of all for people who work on more than one location, for example at home and at work. You can work on the latest version of a document or file from anywhere. The same thing if more people need to access the same file, e.g. pictures, price lists etc. The online backup works like a hard drive of 5 Gb (500 Mb) and it is possible to make a part protected, a part shared, and a part public.
Another advantage of online backup is the safety. A hard disk, dvd or CD can be damaged.
More advantages besides the ease of use are the already mentioned possibility of sharing on a central location files, documents and pictures (with e.g. colleagues, parents or friends in other locations or countries).
Also for people who travel and need to be able to access files from different places like representatives, business men, engineers, presentation for seminars etc.
Other benefits: safety in case of burn down of house or office. And in case of recovery the easy access: easier to find than dvd's, cd's, tapes or other backup media.
Even for people who don't own a computer can store their own data! Imagine countries where computers are still a luxury item and people depend on internet centers. Now they can store their own files without having a computer!
The online file storage service offers password protection and allows users to delegate different permission levels of access to personal, shared or public folders.
Skydrive is available at the moment in 38 countries and you can get an account for free at http://skydrive.live.com/
To access the service, one needs a Windows Live ID. In order to share folders, people who need to access the files also need to have a Windows Live ID.
It works very easy with your actual hotmail/windows live account. As soon as you enter the service you can choose if you want to upload something in your personal folder, your shared folder or public folder. After that you make the choice what you want to upload, which file(s) - click and there they go!
To download - same procedure, it is really easy to use and nobody can have the excuse not to have a backup.
Often people only start making backups after losing a lot of data. Nowadays with these new tools and options it is not necessary to lose any data. It is important to get used to the routine of making backups of important files all the time!
Windows SkyDrive also provides RSS feeds for the shared folders, so your subscribers will know the moment you upload new files. You can also embed files / folders in web pages for your readers to download files directly from your website saving space on your provider and have things centrally located.
Ton van Creij, http://excellent-internet-marketing.com/c - Free Online Internet Marketing Course
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ton_Van_Creij
Are You Aware Of These 6 Danger?
By Alan Mod
Is your laptop ready to face at least one of these 6 dangers :
- Hardware or system failure
- Human error (accidental formating or deletion)
- Data corruption (during software upgrades or installations)
- Accidental drop down
- Natural disasters (inundation, earthquakes,fires)
- Computer viruses
I've been using computers at home since 1987, and I lived much computer disasters, believe me or not the only way to really avoid a computer disaster is to regularly backup your data.
Yes it is annoying, wearying, time consuming, but did a computer disaster ever arrive to you ?
If not just imagine, all your data, your work, movies, pictures, software, passwords, web registration(cookies), everything vanish, a real disaster...
This is a free advice, I'm not trying to sell you anything I'm owning a site about Laptop Support and most if not all the disasters my visitors are facing could have been avoided, or reduced by a simple Hard Disc backup.
Many great backup software allow you to browse directly backup, then even if your laptop is physically destroyed, your data are secure and you can restore them on an other computer.
All you have to do is to schedule a daily, weekly or monthly(dangerous) backup of you hard disc.
As I said it earlier to you I am not here to sell, backup software are much on the market, try them choose the one that feet your need and secure your data.
For more advices about laptops and data recovery visit The Laptop Support Community
I'm moderator for The Laptop Support Community, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Is your laptop ready to face at least one of these 6 dangers :
- Hardware or system failure
- Human error (accidental formating or deletion)
- Data corruption (during software upgrades or installations)
- Accidental drop down
- Natural disasters (inundation, earthquakes,fires)
- Computer viruses
I've been using computers at home since 1987, and I lived much computer disasters, believe me or not the only way to really avoid a computer disaster is to regularly backup your data.
Yes it is annoying, wearying, time consuming, but did a computer disaster ever arrive to you ?
If not just imagine, all your data, your work, movies, pictures, software, passwords, web registration(cookies), everything vanish, a real disaster...
This is a free advice, I'm not trying to sell you anything I'm owning a site about Laptop Support and most if not all the disasters my visitors are facing could have been avoided, or reduced by a simple Hard Disc backup.
Many great backup software allow you to browse directly backup, then even if your laptop is physically destroyed, your data are secure and you can restore them on an other computer.
All you have to do is to schedule a daily, weekly or monthly(dangerous) backup of you hard disc.
As I said it earlier to you I am not here to sell, backup software are much on the market, try them choose the one that feet your need and secure your data.
For more advices about laptops and data recovery visit The Laptop Support Community
I'm moderator for The Laptop Support Community, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Friday, February 29, 2008
How To Secure Your Computer System?
By Edwin Zhang
Today, more and more people are using their computers for everything from communication to online banking and investing to shopping. As we do these things on a more regular basis, we open ourselves up to potential hackers, attackers and crackers.
There are numerous ways in which the security of your computer can be breached. The most common threats come from worms, viruses, Trojans, phishing, hackers and crackers. Potential security breaches can come in the form of downloading unfamiliar email attachments, being monitored by spyware, maliciously attacked by malware, or probed through port scanning.
Computer security can be a difficult concept for many people. But as long as you follow these easy, cost-effective steps, you can take to make your computer more secure.
1. Always make backups of important information and store in a safe place separate from your computer.
There are so many ways you can lose the information on your computer. Your child decides to play Chopin on your keyboard, a power surge, lightening, a virus, or even simple equipment failure. Therefore, backing up the contents of your hard drive is an absolute MUST. By regularly making backup copies of your files and storing them in a separate location, you can typically get some, if not all, of your information back in the event your computer crashes.
2. Don't run unfamiliar programs on your computer and do not open unknown email attachments.
It sounds like common sense, but many of the most prominent attacks have involved spyware and email attachment worms such as Bagle and Netsky. If you don't recognize the sender, don't download its attachments. Sometimes it is simply not enough that you may recognize the address from which it originates because many viruses can spread from a familiar address.
3. Update and patch your operating system,web browser and other applications frequently.
Many industry experts believe that most network security attacks would be stopped if computer users would just keep their computers updated with patches and security fixes. Too often, we forget to do this on a regular basis. Remember that every day, new viruses, worms and Trojans are being created and distributed. They are looking for the weaknesses in your computer system. Having outdated software is basically the same as holding the door open and inviting them in for a visit.
4. Install a firewall.
Without a good firewall, viruses, worms, Trojans, malware and adware can all easily access your computer from the Internet. Consideration should be given to the benefits and differences between hardware and software based firewall programs.
5. Install antivirus software and set for automatic updates so that you receive the most current versions.
6. Don't use weak passwords.
Use passwords which are difficult for someone to figure out. People frequently use the names of children, pets, anniversary dates, or birthdays. Because there seems to be a password needed for everything, it is not uncommon to see many people using the same password for everything. Big mistake! The use of only one password provides a hacker with easy access to a smorgasbord of personal information. If you have to write your passwords down, it is best not to leave them on a post-it, attached to the screen of your computer. You may chuckle at the absurdity, but it happens more than you think.
7. Don't allow unrestricted physical access to your computer.
If you have sensitive or proprietary information on your computer, allowing other employees or family members to use your computer can lead to potential breaches in your computer's security.
For more information about pc security, please visit: http://www.pcsecurityarticles.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edwin_Zhang
Today, more and more people are using their computers for everything from communication to online banking and investing to shopping. As we do these things on a more regular basis, we open ourselves up to potential hackers, attackers and crackers.
There are numerous ways in which the security of your computer can be breached. The most common threats come from worms, viruses, Trojans, phishing, hackers and crackers. Potential security breaches can come in the form of downloading unfamiliar email attachments, being monitored by spyware, maliciously attacked by malware, or probed through port scanning.
Computer security can be a difficult concept for many people. But as long as you follow these easy, cost-effective steps, you can take to make your computer more secure.
1. Always make backups of important information and store in a safe place separate from your computer.
There are so many ways you can lose the information on your computer. Your child decides to play Chopin on your keyboard, a power surge, lightening, a virus, or even simple equipment failure. Therefore, backing up the contents of your hard drive is an absolute MUST. By regularly making backup copies of your files and storing them in a separate location, you can typically get some, if not all, of your information back in the event your computer crashes.
2. Don't run unfamiliar programs on your computer and do not open unknown email attachments.
It sounds like common sense, but many of the most prominent attacks have involved spyware and email attachment worms such as Bagle and Netsky. If you don't recognize the sender, don't download its attachments. Sometimes it is simply not enough that you may recognize the address from which it originates because many viruses can spread from a familiar address.
3. Update and patch your operating system,web browser and other applications frequently.
Many industry experts believe that most network security attacks would be stopped if computer users would just keep their computers updated with patches and security fixes. Too often, we forget to do this on a regular basis. Remember that every day, new viruses, worms and Trojans are being created and distributed. They are looking for the weaknesses in your computer system. Having outdated software is basically the same as holding the door open and inviting them in for a visit.
4. Install a firewall.
Without a good firewall, viruses, worms, Trojans, malware and adware can all easily access your computer from the Internet. Consideration should be given to the benefits and differences between hardware and software based firewall programs.
5. Install antivirus software and set for automatic updates so that you receive the most current versions.
6. Don't use weak passwords.
Use passwords which are difficult for someone to figure out. People frequently use the names of children, pets, anniversary dates, or birthdays. Because there seems to be a password needed for everything, it is not uncommon to see many people using the same password for everything. Big mistake! The use of only one password provides a hacker with easy access to a smorgasbord of personal information. If you have to write your passwords down, it is best not to leave them on a post-it, attached to the screen of your computer. You may chuckle at the absurdity, but it happens more than you think.
7. Don't allow unrestricted physical access to your computer.
If you have sensitive or proprietary information on your computer, allowing other employees or family members to use your computer can lead to potential breaches in your computer's security.
For more information about pc security, please visit: http://www.pcsecurityarticles.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edwin_Zhang
What is Data Recovery?
By Alan Mod
Laptop or notebook data recovery is the process of recovering data from a laptop or notebook.
Laptops are more and more common in the market place today, and due to the way they are used they are highly exposed to many dangers, one of the more recurrent is data loss.
What can cause data loss ?
-Physical accident :
Impact damage, through being dropped
Vibration damage
-Computer Viruses
-Human errors :
Accidental reformatting of partitions
Water, coffee and other liquid damage
-Hardware or System Problems :
Hard disk component failure and crashes
Inaccessible drives and partitions
-Data Corruption or Program Problems :
Corrupted data
Applications that are unable to run or load data
-Natural Disasters :
Fire
Inundation
Laptop users and many experts often believe lost data permanently destroyed, with no possibility of recovery.
The fact that most information about data loss is complex, inconsistent or inaccurate, make that it is not surprising that data loss and data recovery are some of the most misunderstood and confusing concepts.
The true :
Never assume your valuable data can not be recovered, in most of the cases, data is recoverable.
Yes, my findings indicate only 56% of lost data are a result of hardware problems, So, in these situation data may have been able to be recovered with any data recovery software.
In the remaining 56% due to hardware problems all depend of the state of your drive, if you just detect any malfunction in your device make immediately a disc image.
In the other situation you will have to contact qualified notebook data recovery engineers before determining what to do when laptop data loss has occurred.
And for more information about laptop and data recovery visit The Laptop Support Community
I'm moderator for the The Laptop Support Community, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Laptop or notebook data recovery is the process of recovering data from a laptop or notebook.
Laptops are more and more common in the market place today, and due to the way they are used they are highly exposed to many dangers, one of the more recurrent is data loss.
What can cause data loss ?
-Physical accident :
Impact damage, through being dropped
Vibration damage
-Computer Viruses
-Human errors :
Accidental reformatting of partitions
Water, coffee and other liquid damage
-Hardware or System Problems :
Hard disk component failure and crashes
Inaccessible drives and partitions
-Data Corruption or Program Problems :
Corrupted data
Applications that are unable to run or load data
-Natural Disasters :
Fire
Inundation
Laptop users and many experts often believe lost data permanently destroyed, with no possibility of recovery.
The fact that most information about data loss is complex, inconsistent or inaccurate, make that it is not surprising that data loss and data recovery are some of the most misunderstood and confusing concepts.
The true :
Never assume your valuable data can not be recovered, in most of the cases, data is recoverable.
Yes, my findings indicate only 56% of lost data are a result of hardware problems, So, in these situation data may have been able to be recovered with any data recovery software.
In the remaining 56% due to hardware problems all depend of the state of your drive, if you just detect any malfunction in your device make immediately a disc image.
In the other situation you will have to contact qualified notebook data recovery engineers before determining what to do when laptop data loss has occurred.
And for more information about laptop and data recovery visit The Laptop Support Community
I'm moderator for the The Laptop Support Community, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The 6 Steps To Recovering Your Laptop Data
By Alan Mod
Laptops are concentrations of high technologies, so data recovery on notebook computers seems a mysterious secret world where only geeks can succeed.
The Reality is that a great part of this world is accessible to almost all of us. Well of course in the event of shock, water projection or any other accident that can cause a physical destruction of your laptop, you will be certainly forced to call a specialized firm.
However in the other cases the methods functioning on simple PC for the recovery, function almost all on the notebooks.
You can recover most of the data easily with a simple software in the event of losses of data due for example to a partitioning, a failure of the files system, or a fast formatting.
Well what to do when you lose your data?
1. Immediately turn off your laptop to stop any writing operation on the disc.
2. Go to the nearest PC dealer an buy a 2.5" USB case(take care about the ATA and SATA connectivity).
3. Carefully uninstall your drive (there are many manuals on the web that explain how to do this).
4. Mount your drive in the case.
5. Install recovery software on another PC.
6. Connect your drive on this PC and follow the recovery instructions of your software(check before if you have enough space on your PC drive to make the recovery).
Note that the base of a good restoration is to cease any activity on the disc at the time you detect the loss of data.
And remember that there is no better way to avoid the loss of data than to make backups and secure your system.
For more information about laptop and backup visit The Laptop Support Community.
I'm moderator for the The Laptop Support Community, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Laptops are concentrations of high technologies, so data recovery on notebook computers seems a mysterious secret world where only geeks can succeed.
The Reality is that a great part of this world is accessible to almost all of us. Well of course in the event of shock, water projection or any other accident that can cause a physical destruction of your laptop, you will be certainly forced to call a specialized firm.
However in the other cases the methods functioning on simple PC for the recovery, function almost all on the notebooks.
You can recover most of the data easily with a simple software in the event of losses of data due for example to a partitioning, a failure of the files system, or a fast formatting.
Well what to do when you lose your data?
1. Immediately turn off your laptop to stop any writing operation on the disc.
2. Go to the nearest PC dealer an buy a 2.5" USB case(take care about the ATA and SATA connectivity).
3. Carefully uninstall your drive (there are many manuals on the web that explain how to do this).
4. Mount your drive in the case.
5. Install recovery software on another PC.
6. Connect your drive on this PC and follow the recovery instructions of your software(check before if you have enough space on your PC drive to make the recovery).
Note that the base of a good restoration is to cease any activity on the disc at the time you detect the loss of data.
And remember that there is no better way to avoid the loss of data than to make backups and secure your system.
For more information about laptop and backup visit The Laptop Support Community.
I'm moderator for the The Laptop Support Community, and I'm hoping contribute to make grow our community by sharing my knowledge and helping people.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Mod
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
How To Recover From The Black Screen Of Death
By Sheryl Schuff
When all is right with the world, you turn on your PC and in a couple of minutes you're ready to go to work. You probably don't notice any of the magical things that have to happen with the operating system. You just wait for the desktop to appear and you can start computing.
One of the things that happens without your awareness is that the system checks what's called the boot sector on your hard disk. This is a physical location where it finds the necessary magnetically encoded information to get Windows loaded so you can use it.
But sometimes something goes wrong and the boot sector gets compromised. It might be caused by a virus infection. Or it might just be physical degradation of an aging hard disk. That's what happened to me about a year ago, without any warning.
The result is that when you turn on your machine, nothing happens. All you see is a blank gray or black screen called the Black Screen of Death (BSOD).
But all is not lost. If you know what to do, you can recover from this seeming tragedy.
First, turn OFF the computer. Wait a minute or so before turning it on again. Look in your owner's manual to see what key gets you into SETUP mode. Better yet, look it up now and write it down so you have it if you need it.
HINT: most computers use either the F2 key or the delete key. When your computer starts normally, it usually flashes a message at the top telling you to press this key if you want to enter setup. look for it the next time you boot up.
Now, turn the computer back on and at the same time, press the key to enter setup mode. It might be hard to get the timing just right, since you probably won't see anything on the screen. If you hit it at precisely the right time, you'll see a screen filled with setup options.
If you still have the BSOD, turn off the machine and try again.
Exactly what you'll see where depends on your particular computer. Look carefully until you find the section of the setup instructions that tells where to boot from.
It will be set to hard disk (because that's where you normally boot from). Change this option to boot from CD. Click on save, then exit. Insert a Windows bootable CD into the CD drive and turn off the machine.
Turn the computer back on and you should be able to get to your desktop and get back to work.
WARNING: What I mean by a Windows bootable CD is NOT something that came with your computer. That's probably a reinstallation CD which reinstalls Windows and gets your machine back to its original factory condition.
There are many disaster recovery services and backup software products on the market that can help you create the bootable CD. Two of the most highly rated are True Image from a company called Acronis and Shadowprotect from a company named StorageCraft.
I hope you never see the BSOD. And I hope you prepare for it ahead of time anyway.
Sheryl Schuff is a Certified Public Accountant, author, and consultant who has been in private practice for almost 30 years. She teaches small business owners how to use PCs and the Internet to simplify their business operations. You can get Sheryl's FREE special report with time saving tips at http://www.SherylSchuff.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sheryl_Schuff
When all is right with the world, you turn on your PC and in a couple of minutes you're ready to go to work. You probably don't notice any of the magical things that have to happen with the operating system. You just wait for the desktop to appear and you can start computing.
One of the things that happens without your awareness is that the system checks what's called the boot sector on your hard disk. This is a physical location where it finds the necessary magnetically encoded information to get Windows loaded so you can use it.
But sometimes something goes wrong and the boot sector gets compromised. It might be caused by a virus infection. Or it might just be physical degradation of an aging hard disk. That's what happened to me about a year ago, without any warning.
The result is that when you turn on your machine, nothing happens. All you see is a blank gray or black screen called the Black Screen of Death (BSOD).
But all is not lost. If you know what to do, you can recover from this seeming tragedy.
First, turn OFF the computer. Wait a minute or so before turning it on again. Look in your owner's manual to see what key gets you into SETUP mode. Better yet, look it up now and write it down so you have it if you need it.
HINT: most computers use either the F2 key or the delete key. When your computer starts normally, it usually flashes a message at the top telling you to press this key if you want to enter setup. look for it the next time you boot up.
Now, turn the computer back on and at the same time, press the key to enter setup mode. It might be hard to get the timing just right, since you probably won't see anything on the screen. If you hit it at precisely the right time, you'll see a screen filled with setup options.
If you still have the BSOD, turn off the machine and try again.
Exactly what you'll see where depends on your particular computer. Look carefully until you find the section of the setup instructions that tells where to boot from.
It will be set to hard disk (because that's where you normally boot from). Change this option to boot from CD. Click on save, then exit. Insert a Windows bootable CD into the CD drive and turn off the machine.
Turn the computer back on and you should be able to get to your desktop and get back to work.
WARNING: What I mean by a Windows bootable CD is NOT something that came with your computer. That's probably a reinstallation CD which reinstalls Windows and gets your machine back to its original factory condition.
There are many disaster recovery services and backup software products on the market that can help you create the bootable CD. Two of the most highly rated are True Image from a company called Acronis and Shadowprotect from a company named StorageCraft.
I hope you never see the BSOD. And I hope you prepare for it ahead of time anyway.
Sheryl Schuff is a Certified Public Accountant, author, and consultant who has been in private practice for almost 30 years. She teaches small business owners how to use PCs and the Internet to simplify their business operations. You can get Sheryl's FREE special report with time saving tips at http://www.SherylSchuff.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sheryl_Schuff
Monday, February 25, 2008
Avoid Losing Data In Microsoft Outlook
By Suhaimi Baruddin
Microsoft Outlook is an email client (Mail User Agent to some) which I'm sure you know what it does. If not, let me try to explain it as simply as possible. Email clients are programs or application's which retrieves emails from the web server and downloads it onto your desktop.
Now with that out of the way, did you know that you can lose your mails because of your email client? This is a big deal as email is now a large part of communication both in the corporate world and the private/home user.
How can you lose your emails?
When you use email clients, you risk losing your email just like any other data on your desktop. Here is a list:
- Virus attack
- Corrupted partitions/volumes
- Deletion/Format
- Hard Disk Crash
- Theft/natural disaster
In Microsoft Outlook versions 2003, 2002, 98 and 97, once Outlook's PST file size goes above 2gb, your emails, or rather, the PST file, gets corrupted.
- PST corruption
Installation of anti-virus/anti-spyware
Prevention of viruses, spyware and basically all malware is important as they cause your system and programs to become sluggish, unstable and perform undesirable operations.
And since when you use Microsoft outlook, your emails will get affected as the mails on the server gets downloaded onto your computer.
- Install anti-virus/anti-spyware and update frequently
Anti-virus/anti-spyware is available widely and should often be updated for the latest updates and patches.
Use it to scan you computer, and to scan ALL emails if they contain attachments.
Never download anything directly to your computer unless you are certain of the reliability and credibility of its source.
For a detailed view of how to remove viruses, refer to this article on removing viruses
Backup
The most reliable way to prevent the loss of your Outlook emails is to backup your PST file. To do this, simply copy your PST to another storage media (such as your thumb drive) or another drive on the same computer.
The PST file can be found by simply opening the search function (go to start menu and you can find the search function there) and copy and paste this term into the search box " .pst " without the double quotes.
Wait for the search finish. The default .pst file name is outlook.pst. Then just copy and paste the .pst file onto your backup media. Backup frequently, as you may never know when the outlook files (or any other important files for that matter) gets accidentally deleted, formatted or corrupted.
Computer Maintenance
Although this should already part of your routine, it bears reminding again. You should maintain your system by defragmenting, running scandsk and so on. This is basic maintenance for your computer as it can help prevent file system problems. It also enables your system to run smoothly and prevent system slowdown.
Here is a slew of other maintenance tips for you to look into
Outlook housekeeping
Yes, even in outlook, you need to do some basic maintenance. This is done to prevent your .PST file from getting corrupted.
Before outlook 2003 (and in earlier versions of outlook 2003), the .PST file limit was set at 2GB. If the .PST file size exceeded this limit, it would be very difficult, if at all possible, to retrieve any data from the .PST file as it would get corrupted.
When you are doing housekeeping, you are trying to keep this limit down and at the same time, helps in organising you mails so that they are easier to retrieve when you need to read them again.
How do you do that? Simple.
Delete all the old mails that you do not need, and remember to empty the trash. Categorise all your mails accordingly. For example, all your work folders should be in a separate folder from you personal emails and so on.
Create a NEW pst file
Another way to keep control of your PST file size is to create another .PST file. Of course, don't create a new .PST file for the sake of creating one.
Have separate .PST files for business and personal mails. To create this a new .PST file, simply open outlook and follow these steps:
1.Go to File menu, to New, and then click Outlook Data File
2. In the next window, you should see two options. Simply choose Office Outlook Personal Folders file. In Outlook 2003, there is an option to increase compatibility with older outlook versions, choose the Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File option. Click Ok
3. Then choose an appropriate location to save your new .PST in. Choose a location, and the type in the filename of your new .PST file.
And there you have it. A new .PST file, all ready for use.
In actual fact, prevention of lost Outlook mails is not hard. However, you need to be constantly maintaining your system and backing up your mails which take up precious time. It is a necessary step to take to prevent you from losing all your precious emails.
Suhaimi Baruddin is currently employed as a writer, designer,researcher and data recovery engineer at Adroit Data Recovery Centre's laboratory, which is located in Singapore's Science Hub.
With the necessary tools, parts and experience, ADRC strives to spread the word about data recovery, and help people recover data which means so much to them. - Adroit Data Recovery Centre Pte Ltd
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suhaimi_Baruddin
Microsoft Outlook is an email client (Mail User Agent to some) which I'm sure you know what it does. If not, let me try to explain it as simply as possible. Email clients are programs or application's which retrieves emails from the web server and downloads it onto your desktop.
Now with that out of the way, did you know that you can lose your mails because of your email client? This is a big deal as email is now a large part of communication both in the corporate world and the private/home user.
How can you lose your emails?
When you use email clients, you risk losing your email just like any other data on your desktop. Here is a list:
- Virus attack
- Corrupted partitions/volumes
- Deletion/Format
- Hard Disk Crash
- Theft/natural disaster
In Microsoft Outlook versions 2003, 2002, 98 and 97, once Outlook's PST file size goes above 2gb, your emails, or rather, the PST file, gets corrupted.
- PST corruption
Installation of anti-virus/anti-spyware
Prevention of viruses, spyware and basically all malware is important as they cause your system and programs to become sluggish, unstable and perform undesirable operations.
And since when you use Microsoft outlook, your emails will get affected as the mails on the server gets downloaded onto your computer.
- Install anti-virus/anti-spyware and update frequently
Anti-virus/anti-spyware is available widely and should often be updated for the latest updates and patches.
Use it to scan you computer, and to scan ALL emails if they contain attachments.
Never download anything directly to your computer unless you are certain of the reliability and credibility of its source.
For a detailed view of how to remove viruses, refer to this article on removing viruses
Backup
The most reliable way to prevent the loss of your Outlook emails is to backup your PST file. To do this, simply copy your PST to another storage media (such as your thumb drive) or another drive on the same computer.
The PST file can be found by simply opening the search function (go to start menu and you can find the search function there) and copy and paste this term into the search box " .pst " without the double quotes.
Wait for the search finish. The default .pst file name is outlook.pst. Then just copy and paste the .pst file onto your backup media. Backup frequently, as you may never know when the outlook files (or any other important files for that matter) gets accidentally deleted, formatted or corrupted.
Computer Maintenance
Although this should already part of your routine, it bears reminding again. You should maintain your system by defragmenting, running scandsk and so on. This is basic maintenance for your computer as it can help prevent file system problems. It also enables your system to run smoothly and prevent system slowdown.
Here is a slew of other maintenance tips for you to look into
Outlook housekeeping
Yes, even in outlook, you need to do some basic maintenance. This is done to prevent your .PST file from getting corrupted.
Before outlook 2003 (and in earlier versions of outlook 2003), the .PST file limit was set at 2GB. If the .PST file size exceeded this limit, it would be very difficult, if at all possible, to retrieve any data from the .PST file as it would get corrupted.
When you are doing housekeeping, you are trying to keep this limit down and at the same time, helps in organising you mails so that they are easier to retrieve when you need to read them again.
How do you do that? Simple.
Delete all the old mails that you do not need, and remember to empty the trash. Categorise all your mails accordingly. For example, all your work folders should be in a separate folder from you personal emails and so on.
Create a NEW pst file
Another way to keep control of your PST file size is to create another .PST file. Of course, don't create a new .PST file for the sake of creating one.
Have separate .PST files for business and personal mails. To create this a new .PST file, simply open outlook and follow these steps:
1.Go to File menu, to New, and then click Outlook Data File
2. In the next window, you should see two options. Simply choose Office Outlook Personal Folders file. In Outlook 2003, there is an option to increase compatibility with older outlook versions, choose the Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File option. Click Ok
3. Then choose an appropriate location to save your new .PST in. Choose a location, and the type in the filename of your new .PST file.
And there you have it. A new .PST file, all ready for use.
In actual fact, prevention of lost Outlook mails is not hard. However, you need to be constantly maintaining your system and backing up your mails which take up precious time. It is a necessary step to take to prevent you from losing all your precious emails.
Suhaimi Baruddin is currently employed as a writer, designer,researcher and data recovery engineer at Adroit Data Recovery Centre's laboratory, which is located in Singapore's Science Hub.
With the necessary tools, parts and experience, ADRC strives to spread the word about data recovery, and help people recover data which means so much to them. - Adroit Data Recovery Centre Pte Ltd
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suhaimi_Baruddin
Blue Screen Error - How To Solve Computer & Windows Crash
By Sherman C
I've seen many IT forum users searching for answers to the Blue Screen Error. The screen turns blue with the following detailed error message written across the screen:
"A problem has been detected and windows had been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.
KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR
If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.
If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode."
Even after following these instructions, your computer probably will have the blue screen error at random periods. In the past, I used to do a complete format of my hard disk when the blue screen error appears. This is not the best solution. You may find that while in the midst of installing your operating system, the blue screen can pop up halfway. This is 99% a RAM issue, and when that happens, you'll be left with an unbootable half installed windows operating system.
A solution I use is to install Regcure and check for registry, driver errors. Run the scan and fix them with the software if there are, then reboot to see if the blue screen error appears. If it persists, the second solutino is to do a process of elimination with the RAM. RAM stands for random access memory and you'll need 2 sticks of RAM for this. Remove 1, boot up the computer and check for the error, if it does not appear, then your problem is solved.
These 2 steps will 99.9% solve your blue screen errors.
Get the simple Blue Screen on Windows XP solution at http://registrycleanercompare.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherman_C
I've seen many IT forum users searching for answers to the Blue Screen Error. The screen turns blue with the following detailed error message written across the screen:
"A problem has been detected and windows had been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.
KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR
If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.
If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode."
Even after following these instructions, your computer probably will have the blue screen error at random periods. In the past, I used to do a complete format of my hard disk when the blue screen error appears. This is not the best solution. You may find that while in the midst of installing your operating system, the blue screen can pop up halfway. This is 99% a RAM issue, and when that happens, you'll be left with an unbootable half installed windows operating system.
A solution I use is to install Regcure and check for registry, driver errors. Run the scan and fix them with the software if there are, then reboot to see if the blue screen error appears. If it persists, the second solutino is to do a process of elimination with the RAM. RAM stands for random access memory and you'll need 2 sticks of RAM for this. Remove 1, boot up the computer and check for the error, if it does not appear, then your problem is solved.
These 2 steps will 99.9% solve your blue screen errors.
Get the simple Blue Screen on Windows XP solution at http://registrycleanercompare.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherman_C
How To Configure Hardrive For Copying-Cloning (IDE)
By Jermaine Reid
Hard Drive configurations
1) Old hardrive to new hardrive- primary master to secondary slave (connect both drives to the same IDE ribbon cable)
Ensure jumpers are physically set right. Old hardrive jumpers are suppose to set to master and new hardrive is set jumpers set to slave. Refer to manufacters manual if any. Again this assumes that your connecting both drives to the same ide ribbon cable. This does not apply for sata drives
2) Old hardrive to new hardrive- primary master to secondary master (old drive is connected to the primary controller and new drive is connected to the secondary controller)
If however you are using the secondary controller then you should set the new hardrive jumper to master. This does not apply to SATA. SATA drives are configured from the systems bios. Use your system bios to configure drives. This configuration (IDE) assumes that there is no other device connected if however there is a cdrom connected to the secondary controller set the jumper to slave thus making it a secondary slave.
Note the red stripes on the IDE ribbon must lay flush with power plug to each drive. If you connect the ribbon opposite the hardrive will not power up. This is on for IDE Drives
If you are planning to backup your computer without a second drive. You are going to need a program to partition your hardrive and split it into sections. Most programs that I have used require the hardrive split size this is called partitioning. Kinda makes sense why would you backup you system up on a faulty part of your drive. Best rule of thumb is to use one section for your regular everyday things and the other for backup purposes. So if your system encounter problems you can recover your system with ease.
So how do you really make an identical copy of your hard drive? You can't just drag and drop files in Windows to the new drive. You must do a bit-for-bit copy of your drive, including all the hidden files, files in use, and other junk that doesn't show up in Windows Explorer.
Power users have long relied on Symantec's Norton Ghost to make bit-for-bit copies, or clones, of their hard drives. But at $70 a copy, that can be a little pricey for something many people may use only once. (In fairness to Ghost, the software does include lots of additional features that make it suitable for general backup use too.)
You know what I'm going to say next: How about a free alternative? Enter Clonezilla, an open source cloning application that works well and... hey, did I mention it's free?
As with Ghost, Clonezilla isn't exactly for computer novices. You burn the program to a bootable CD, and DOS-like prompts guide you through the cloning process. The amount of information displayed can be daunting, but most of it can be ignored. To copy a disk, just select the disk-to-disk option at the menu, and let it do its thing.
I gave it a shot using two 250GB drives (with the source drive having about 100GB of data on it), and the job was done in about 20 minutes. When finished, I had a perfect copy of my original hard drive that I could have subbed in for the original. In my case, I just saved it as a handy "just in case" backup. Clonezilla works with SATA or IDE drives and even supports USB drives. Give it a spin next time you have a big drive copying job to do.
Free computer downloads
http://www.jrcps.com
Author: JR owner of JR Computers LLC is a freelance computer tech serving the local grand forks ND area with his computer repair services.
http://www.symantec.com get free trial download of ghost
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/clonezilla/clonezilla-live-1.0.7-18.iso?modtime=1197296601&big_mirror=0 get open source backup program here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jermaine_Reid
Hard Drive configurations
1) Old hardrive to new hardrive- primary master to secondary slave (connect both drives to the same IDE ribbon cable)
Ensure jumpers are physically set right. Old hardrive jumpers are suppose to set to master and new hardrive is set jumpers set to slave. Refer to manufacters manual if any. Again this assumes that your connecting both drives to the same ide ribbon cable. This does not apply for sata drives
2) Old hardrive to new hardrive- primary master to secondary master (old drive is connected to the primary controller and new drive is connected to the secondary controller)
If however you are using the secondary controller then you should set the new hardrive jumper to master. This does not apply to SATA. SATA drives are configured from the systems bios. Use your system bios to configure drives. This configuration (IDE) assumes that there is no other device connected if however there is a cdrom connected to the secondary controller set the jumper to slave thus making it a secondary slave.
Note the red stripes on the IDE ribbon must lay flush with power plug to each drive. If you connect the ribbon opposite the hardrive will not power up. This is on for IDE Drives
If you are planning to backup your computer without a second drive. You are going to need a program to partition your hardrive and split it into sections. Most programs that I have used require the hardrive split size this is called partitioning. Kinda makes sense why would you backup you system up on a faulty part of your drive. Best rule of thumb is to use one section for your regular everyday things and the other for backup purposes. So if your system encounter problems you can recover your system with ease.
So how do you really make an identical copy of your hard drive? You can't just drag and drop files in Windows to the new drive. You must do a bit-for-bit copy of your drive, including all the hidden files, files in use, and other junk that doesn't show up in Windows Explorer.
Power users have long relied on Symantec's Norton Ghost to make bit-for-bit copies, or clones, of their hard drives. But at $70 a copy, that can be a little pricey for something many people may use only once. (In fairness to Ghost, the software does include lots of additional features that make it suitable for general backup use too.)
You know what I'm going to say next: How about a free alternative? Enter Clonezilla, an open source cloning application that works well and... hey, did I mention it's free?
As with Ghost, Clonezilla isn't exactly for computer novices. You burn the program to a bootable CD, and DOS-like prompts guide you through the cloning process. The amount of information displayed can be daunting, but most of it can be ignored. To copy a disk, just select the disk-to-disk option at the menu, and let it do its thing.
I gave it a shot using two 250GB drives (with the source drive having about 100GB of data on it), and the job was done in about 20 minutes. When finished, I had a perfect copy of my original hard drive that I could have subbed in for the original. In my case, I just saved it as a handy "just in case" backup. Clonezilla works with SATA or IDE drives and even supports USB drives. Give it a spin next time you have a big drive copying job to do.
Free computer downloads
http://www.jrcps.com
Author: JR owner of JR Computers LLC is a freelance computer tech serving the local grand forks ND area with his computer repair services.
http://www.symantec.com get free trial download of ghost
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/clonezilla/clonezilla-live-1.0.7-18.iso?modtime=1197296601&big_mirror=0 get open source backup program here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jermaine_Reid
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Data Recovery: Beginners Tips
by: Jeff Walters
Right now you probably in a lot of mental pain, and all you’re concerned about is recovering your data as quickly as possible - so we’ll refrain from comments on the wisdom of regular back ups. The time for preventative measures has gone - the issue at hand is data recovery.
First - a simple tip could save you a lot of money. Take out your rolodex and get hold of your tech-savvy friends. If you’re in luck, they’ll offer to help, and if you’re really lucky, they might even have some disk recovery software.
If you’re out of luck, then get out your wallet or purse out now... because this is going to cost you. Also, be prepared for a lot of time being wasted - data recovery can take a long time.
The first thing to establish is what exactly is wrong with your hard disk:
* Either your computer won’t boot up, or
* Your computer boots up OK but you can’t see one of your other drives.
Let’s see if we can eliminate the worst scenario. Listen closely to your hard drive - is it making any sort of weird noise, such as scratching, scraping, ticking etc?
If so, then your drive is physically damaged and the only hope that you have is to take it to a data recovery service where experts might be able to get your data off for you. These services are expensive and time consuming - so you need to make a judgement call as to the value of data on the disk:
If it’s only your saved game data or downloaded music files you would like back, you’re probably better off kicking yourself for not backing up, and accepting the data loss.
If, on the other hand, it’s a book or other type of information product that you’ve been working on for years, then send it to a data recovery service for an evaluation and quote - it usually costs nothing.
If your hard disk sounds OK, then you stand a decent chance of recovering data yourself.
First you’ll need to download some software to help you out.
Unfortunately, the better software utilities are not free, but the good news is that many allow you to try them out to see if they can access the data. There are some freeware products available but generally speaking these are not easy to use - no user interface / little documentation, or they are not very effective.
There’s a list of recommended software on our site - http://www.recoverdatafiles.com - compare the different options then download a few of the trial versions.
Your next steps will be based on how your hard drive/s were setup:
* If you only have a single hard drive that has not been partitioned or split into different “logical” drives, you’ll probably need to attach the hard drive to another computer that has enough space to store all your data. This can be quite technical so if you don’t have the skills please get a computer savvy friend to help out.
Another option is to purchase an external USB hard drive case. You can then simply slot the hard drive into the case and plug it into another PC using a USB port.
* If you have a multiple drive setup and your computer boots up fine, then it will merely be a case of getting the downloaded software to read the files and then copy them to another drive - provided you have a drive with enough space on it. If not, you’ll need to attach the hard drive to another machine with enough spare capacity.
* The scenario where you have a multiple drive setup, where the problem drive is the one that contains your operating system files is more tricky.
Look for a data recovery software package that has a boot disk option available. What this means is that when you start your computer with the boot disk in it, it will automatically run the data recovery program without trying to start windows. You should be able to see your files and then copy them across to another drive.
Hopefully these tips will enable you to get all your important files back.
Once you’ve had some time to recover, please take a look at the various articles on our website - our goal is to make it one of the best resources on data recovery.
© 2005 Intellinova (Pty) Ltd. - All Rights Reserved
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_3265.shtml
Right now you probably in a lot of mental pain, and all you’re concerned about is recovering your data as quickly as possible - so we’ll refrain from comments on the wisdom of regular back ups. The time for preventative measures has gone - the issue at hand is data recovery.
First - a simple tip could save you a lot of money. Take out your rolodex and get hold of your tech-savvy friends. If you’re in luck, they’ll offer to help, and if you’re really lucky, they might even have some disk recovery software.
If you’re out of luck, then get out your wallet or purse out now... because this is going to cost you. Also, be prepared for a lot of time being wasted - data recovery can take a long time.
The first thing to establish is what exactly is wrong with your hard disk:
* Either your computer won’t boot up, or
* Your computer boots up OK but you can’t see one of your other drives.
Let’s see if we can eliminate the worst scenario. Listen closely to your hard drive - is it making any sort of weird noise, such as scratching, scraping, ticking etc?
If so, then your drive is physically damaged and the only hope that you have is to take it to a data recovery service where experts might be able to get your data off for you. These services are expensive and time consuming - so you need to make a judgement call as to the value of data on the disk:
If it’s only your saved game data or downloaded music files you would like back, you’re probably better off kicking yourself for not backing up, and accepting the data loss.
If, on the other hand, it’s a book or other type of information product that you’ve been working on for years, then send it to a data recovery service for an evaluation and quote - it usually costs nothing.
If your hard disk sounds OK, then you stand a decent chance of recovering data yourself.
First you’ll need to download some software to help you out.
Unfortunately, the better software utilities are not free, but the good news is that many allow you to try them out to see if they can access the data. There are some freeware products available but generally speaking these are not easy to use - no user interface / little documentation, or they are not very effective.
There’s a list of recommended software on our site - http://www.recoverdatafiles.com - compare the different options then download a few of the trial versions.
Your next steps will be based on how your hard drive/s were setup:
* If you only have a single hard drive that has not been partitioned or split into different “logical” drives, you’ll probably need to attach the hard drive to another computer that has enough space to store all your data. This can be quite technical so if you don’t have the skills please get a computer savvy friend to help out.
Another option is to purchase an external USB hard drive case. You can then simply slot the hard drive into the case and plug it into another PC using a USB port.
* If you have a multiple drive setup and your computer boots up fine, then it will merely be a case of getting the downloaded software to read the files and then copy them to another drive - provided you have a drive with enough space on it. If not, you’ll need to attach the hard drive to another machine with enough spare capacity.
* The scenario where you have a multiple drive setup, where the problem drive is the one that contains your operating system files is more tricky.
Look for a data recovery software package that has a boot disk option available. What this means is that when you start your computer with the boot disk in it, it will automatically run the data recovery program without trying to start windows. You should be able to see your files and then copy them across to another drive.
Hopefully these tips will enable you to get all your important files back.
Once you’ve had some time to recover, please take a look at the various articles on our website - our goal is to make it one of the best resources on data recovery.
© 2005 Intellinova (Pty) Ltd. - All Rights Reserved
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_3265.shtml
Software Backup For Everyone
by: John Ugoshowa
Backing up your data with almost any electrical device is crucial to keep things intact. No computer or other electronic device is crash proof, problems can occur at any time. All computers can crash at any given time, which normally results in the loss of all data that was stored on the hard drive.
The potential for less is the ideal reason to create a backup of your software and data. How often or how much you need to backup things however, all depends on how you use your computer. If your data is very important or if you use your computer for work, you may need to create a backup of your software on a daily basis, possibly even hourly for some people.
You can use various devices and equipment to backup your data, such as DVD and CD burners, tapes, external hard drives, servers on the Internet, and so on and so forth. Although each one has pros and cons, you should always use more than one backup method if your data is extremely important to you, just to be on the safe side.
When it comes to backing up your data using software, there are five different methods you can use:
1. Full backup - A full backup will create a mirror of your hard drive, every file and folder that you currently have on your computer.
2. Differential backup - A differential backup creates the backup only for files that have been changed or upgraded.
3. Disk image - This will give you the choice of backing up your entire hard drive or just the files that you select.
4. Unattended backup - Using this method, you can set the software that will create the backup to do all of the work, even if you aren’t around.
5. Snapshot backup - A snapshot backup will mirror your hard drive, backing up the images of your files.
When you decide to get a software program to assist you with backing up your files, you should always get a program that best fits your needs. Price is also an important factor, although ease of use and overall reliability should always be the most important factors when it comes to your data.
Most programs are easy to use, so even if you have never backed up your data before, you’ll be able to do it without any problems. All you’ll need to do is load the software then follow the instructions that come up on the screen.
All in all, software backup is the best way to keep your data preserved and ready. Something can happen to your computer at any given time, which is why you should always be on the safe side and back up your data every chance you get.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3775.shtml
Backing up your data with almost any electrical device is crucial to keep things intact. No computer or other electronic device is crash proof, problems can occur at any time. All computers can crash at any given time, which normally results in the loss of all data that was stored on the hard drive.
The potential for less is the ideal reason to create a backup of your software and data. How often or how much you need to backup things however, all depends on how you use your computer. If your data is very important or if you use your computer for work, you may need to create a backup of your software on a daily basis, possibly even hourly for some people.
You can use various devices and equipment to backup your data, such as DVD and CD burners, tapes, external hard drives, servers on the Internet, and so on and so forth. Although each one has pros and cons, you should always use more than one backup method if your data is extremely important to you, just to be on the safe side.
When it comes to backing up your data using software, there are five different methods you can use:
1. Full backup - A full backup will create a mirror of your hard drive, every file and folder that you currently have on your computer.
2. Differential backup - A differential backup creates the backup only for files that have been changed or upgraded.
3. Disk image - This will give you the choice of backing up your entire hard drive or just the files that you select.
4. Unattended backup - Using this method, you can set the software that will create the backup to do all of the work, even if you aren’t around.
5. Snapshot backup - A snapshot backup will mirror your hard drive, backing up the images of your files.
When you decide to get a software program to assist you with backing up your files, you should always get a program that best fits your needs. Price is also an important factor, although ease of use and overall reliability should always be the most important factors when it comes to your data.
Most programs are easy to use, so even if you have never backed up your data before, you’ll be able to do it without any problems. All you’ll need to do is load the software then follow the instructions that come up on the screen.
All in all, software backup is the best way to keep your data preserved and ready. Something can happen to your computer at any given time, which is why you should always be on the safe side and back up your data every chance you get.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3775.shtml
Tips For Data Recovery
by: John Ugoshowa
Anytime your hard drive crashes or you lose your data, you’ll need to turn to data recovery to properly restore your information. Data recovery is something most computer users are familiar with, as a majority of us have had to turn to data recovery at some point in time. Even though hard drives are becoming better and better, they are still mechanical and will always encounter problems.
The first thing to do, before any problems happen, is to always back up your data. If you create backups of your information, you’ll be well prepared in the event of a disaster. This way, even if your hard drive cannot be repaired and the data is lost forever, you’ll have the back ups to continue going as normal. If you didn’t make back ups, you’ll find the situation very traumatic when you discover that your data cannot be recovered.
Most hard drives will last for years before they start to encounter any type of malfunction or hardware problems. You can help prevent data loss by turning off your computer when it isn’t in use, or shutting it down when you hear the hard drive making an odd noise. If the hard drive starts to malfunction, letting it continue to run will only do more damage. If you shut it off immediately and take it to a specialist, you’ll have a much better chance of getting it repaired.
With natural disasters, hackers, viruses, or other problems, you won’t have the time to react. Before you know it, your hard drive will be damaged and your data will be gone. Although this can be very frustrating, data recovery can normally bring your information back. All you need to do is take the hard drive to a local specialist, then let them work their magic and show you the power of data recovery.
There are software programs out there that claim to recover lost data, although you should avoid them at all costs. Most of time, these software programs will do your hard drive more bad than good. Even though software may cost a lot less than professional data recovery services, the professional services will guarantee their work. If you turn to software and it only makes things worse - your more or less out of luck, as the software doesn’t guarantee anything.
Anytime your hard drive fails and you seem to have lost your data, you should turn to professional data recovery services immediately. They may cost you a lot of money, although they do the job right the first time. When it comes to your data, you really don’t want to take any chances - especially if you had important documents and files stored on your hard drive.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3776.shtml
Anytime your hard drive crashes or you lose your data, you’ll need to turn to data recovery to properly restore your information. Data recovery is something most computer users are familiar with, as a majority of us have had to turn to data recovery at some point in time. Even though hard drives are becoming better and better, they are still mechanical and will always encounter problems.
The first thing to do, before any problems happen, is to always back up your data. If you create backups of your information, you’ll be well prepared in the event of a disaster. This way, even if your hard drive cannot be repaired and the data is lost forever, you’ll have the back ups to continue going as normal. If you didn’t make back ups, you’ll find the situation very traumatic when you discover that your data cannot be recovered.
Most hard drives will last for years before they start to encounter any type of malfunction or hardware problems. You can help prevent data loss by turning off your computer when it isn’t in use, or shutting it down when you hear the hard drive making an odd noise. If the hard drive starts to malfunction, letting it continue to run will only do more damage. If you shut it off immediately and take it to a specialist, you’ll have a much better chance of getting it repaired.
With natural disasters, hackers, viruses, or other problems, you won’t have the time to react. Before you know it, your hard drive will be damaged and your data will be gone. Although this can be very frustrating, data recovery can normally bring your information back. All you need to do is take the hard drive to a local specialist, then let them work their magic and show you the power of data recovery.
There are software programs out there that claim to recover lost data, although you should avoid them at all costs. Most of time, these software programs will do your hard drive more bad than good. Even though software may cost a lot less than professional data recovery services, the professional services will guarantee their work. If you turn to software and it only makes things worse - your more or less out of luck, as the software doesn’t guarantee anything.
Anytime your hard drive fails and you seem to have lost your data, you should turn to professional data recovery services immediately. They may cost you a lot of money, although they do the job right the first time. When it comes to your data, you really don’t want to take any chances - especially if you had important documents and files stored on your hard drive.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/computers_and_internet/article_3776.shtml
Friday, February 22, 2008
Cheap Data Recovery Softwares - What Are Your Options
By Eddy Kong
There are time where cheap data recovery methods may be useful, but it also can make thing worst than in the beginning. According to the NCSA, this problem will continue to as programmers become more sophisticated and creative when writing viruses. Data recovery is something that will usually require the fixing and rebooting of your computer. Data backup involves the storing of files from your computer in another location.
You can try to use various computer hardware as a cheap alternative source to recover your date. They are usually between ten to twenty dollars. There are a couple of local supermarkets that have hardware for PCs.
What idea is good in recovering data?
It is always good to create an image of your hard drive with a imaging program. Perform this act before you start to do your work and save it on a back hard drive. In fact, there are possibilities that you may not able to read the file on the computer due to data corruption. I am sharing a procedure that will assist you to prevent losing your important data even without you knowing it.
How can this program or software help me?
In today's information age, every piece of software does has it purpose. There are also lots of people that are so poor that they could not afford a simple data recovery software, then this alternative of a low cost recovering program may come in handy. With lots of experiences that people are not able to launch their hard drive since the data had been lost, the only advice is not to run the drive. There will be damage if more people are using certain kind of software to recover the data as it may take a long and tedious process.
When the drive becomes more damaged, it can make the recovery process almost impossible. The recovery software does serve its' purposes when you can afford to bring your drive to a professional recovery service. It can also make a situation that was already bad even worst. Sometimes the situation can become impossible. However, when you are short on the cash flow, and you need to have the information, cheap data recovery can be the answer.
In conclusion
If the data you are trying to retrieve is vital and important, the best way to engage a professional help. He will make sure that extensive damage will not be created wile trying to recover your data. You can use cheap data recovery software or program if you think the data is not important. Some simple hardware can easily do the job and you for sure will see further damage to your hard drive when you use cheap data recovery methods.
There are all kinds of risk in everything we do, not to mention recovering your beloved data.
Therefore, Eddy has started a information guide on how to help any level of computer users to manage their data recovery process with ease and also recommend some tips and techniques in data recovery.
Eddy Kong is the owner of a website called, Cheap Data Recovery Methods. This guide will be able to help more computer users to find alternative solutions to their data recovery methods so as to start the recovering process. Drop by at his site now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddy_Kong
There are time where cheap data recovery methods may be useful, but it also can make thing worst than in the beginning. According to the NCSA, this problem will continue to as programmers become more sophisticated and creative when writing viruses. Data recovery is something that will usually require the fixing and rebooting of your computer. Data backup involves the storing of files from your computer in another location.
You can try to use various computer hardware as a cheap alternative source to recover your date. They are usually between ten to twenty dollars. There are a couple of local supermarkets that have hardware for PCs.
What idea is good in recovering data?
It is always good to create an image of your hard drive with a imaging program. Perform this act before you start to do your work and save it on a back hard drive. In fact, there are possibilities that you may not able to read the file on the computer due to data corruption. I am sharing a procedure that will assist you to prevent losing your important data even without you knowing it.
How can this program or software help me?
In today's information age, every piece of software does has it purpose. There are also lots of people that are so poor that they could not afford a simple data recovery software, then this alternative of a low cost recovering program may come in handy. With lots of experiences that people are not able to launch their hard drive since the data had been lost, the only advice is not to run the drive. There will be damage if more people are using certain kind of software to recover the data as it may take a long and tedious process.
When the drive becomes more damaged, it can make the recovery process almost impossible. The recovery software does serve its' purposes when you can afford to bring your drive to a professional recovery service. It can also make a situation that was already bad even worst. Sometimes the situation can become impossible. However, when you are short on the cash flow, and you need to have the information, cheap data recovery can be the answer.
In conclusion
If the data you are trying to retrieve is vital and important, the best way to engage a professional help. He will make sure that extensive damage will not be created wile trying to recover your data. You can use cheap data recovery software or program if you think the data is not important. Some simple hardware can easily do the job and you for sure will see further damage to your hard drive when you use cheap data recovery methods.
There are all kinds of risk in everything we do, not to mention recovering your beloved data.
Therefore, Eddy has started a information guide on how to help any level of computer users to manage their data recovery process with ease and also recommend some tips and techniques in data recovery.
Eddy Kong is the owner of a website called, Cheap Data Recovery Methods. This guide will be able to help more computer users to find alternative solutions to their data recovery methods so as to start the recovering process. Drop by at his site now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddy_Kong
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Has your computer started running slowly
By: Dennis Savoy
Has your pc started running slowly lately, or your programs have started to crash? Have you started getting error messages popping up unexpectedly? Have you tried all that your anti virus bundle has to offer (including the anti spy ware, anti mal ware and whatever else anti that came with your software bundle) and yet the solution has not emerged?
If so, it's possible that you have a problem with your Windows registry, which is something your anti virus won't fix. To find out if you do have an error in your Windows registry you'll want to use a piece of software called a "registry cleaner".
Right about now you're probably thinking to yourself "OK then, but what exactly is this Windows registry, and why does it need cleaning?" or perhaps more importantly, you may be thinking to yourself "How can I find the best registry cleaners, and be sure that it's the right software for my PC?".
Let us begin answering those questions by briefly looking at what the Windows registry is for.
The registry is a type of database or inventory of all the programs installed on your Windows PC, whether it be 98 or Vista, every program has an entry in the registry. Often programs use the same resources and system files as one another, and this is all recorded in there too. Every time you install a new program, or uninstall a program that is no longer needed, the Windows registry updates itself, letting your system know of any changes in shared files or resources.
Therein lies the potential for system malfunction. When these registry entries are changed, sometimes an error may occur. Perhaps one of the entries has been corrupted, or a change wasn't made, perhaps a system resource wasn't updated after an uninstall. Any number of reasons can cause errors in the Windows registry, and it can be extremely difficult even for a certified Windows engineer to locate and repair such a problem due to the sheer volume of entries within the registry. This is why registry cleaners were created.
A Windows registry cleaner is a piece of software specially designed to scan and read all of your Windows registry entries, spot any discrepancies or potential problems, and identify any errors. The best registry cleaners will actually correct the problems that have been discovered too.
Many basic registry cleaners may simply reset your Windows registry to its original state, as if you have just installed Windows or bought your computer brand new from a shop. Although this may suffice in some cases, quite often it just isn't good enough.
The best registry cleaners on the other hand, come programmed with information on all kinds of different programs and potential registry entries, and some of them even update their databases nearly as often as an anti virus software. The reason this is important is because there are so many different programs, games and software's that any 1 computer may have installed, it is difficult to just try a "one fix for all" type solution. Resetting your Windows registry back to "factory" settings may actually cause a lot of your favourite games or programs to stop working as well.
Some of the best registry cleaners will not only find and correct problems that exist within the Windows registry, but they can also help to speed up your PC by taking care of other little problems too. Things such as too many programs starting when your computer is turned on, invalid or missing .dll files or even duplicate files all can cause a slow down in your computers performance, and a good registry cleaner software will often take care of these problems too.
Many of the sites selling this type of software offer a free on-line scan for you to find out if you have any errors in your registry that need fixing, but you will no doubt have to buy the full product to get any problems that where found fixed. You'll find that with the best registry cleaners on the market, you'll get a free trial download as well as a free on-line scan. Sometimes the download may be time limited, or limited by the amount of errors it will allow you to fix before buying the full version.
The main points to consider when searching for a Windows registry cleaning software to help fix your problematic PC are extra features included and then what others say about it. Often enough, if the software you're thinking about purchasing is in fact one of the best registry cleaners, a Google search for the software products name will yield reviews from various sources, allowing you to make an informed decision before buying anything.
Article Source: http://ezinearticle.net
Dennis Savoy is an old Internet surfer of 67, with 12 years on the Net, searching for the best registry cleaners, to keep my PC up to pare with a free scan
Has your pc started running slowly lately, or your programs have started to crash? Have you started getting error messages popping up unexpectedly? Have you tried all that your anti virus bundle has to offer (including the anti spy ware, anti mal ware and whatever else anti that came with your software bundle) and yet the solution has not emerged?
If so, it's possible that you have a problem with your Windows registry, which is something your anti virus won't fix. To find out if you do have an error in your Windows registry you'll want to use a piece of software called a "registry cleaner".
Right about now you're probably thinking to yourself "OK then, but what exactly is this Windows registry, and why does it need cleaning?" or perhaps more importantly, you may be thinking to yourself "How can I find the best registry cleaners, and be sure that it's the right software for my PC?".
Let us begin answering those questions by briefly looking at what the Windows registry is for.
The registry is a type of database or inventory of all the programs installed on your Windows PC, whether it be 98 or Vista, every program has an entry in the registry. Often programs use the same resources and system files as one another, and this is all recorded in there too. Every time you install a new program, or uninstall a program that is no longer needed, the Windows registry updates itself, letting your system know of any changes in shared files or resources.
Therein lies the potential for system malfunction. When these registry entries are changed, sometimes an error may occur. Perhaps one of the entries has been corrupted, or a change wasn't made, perhaps a system resource wasn't updated after an uninstall. Any number of reasons can cause errors in the Windows registry, and it can be extremely difficult even for a certified Windows engineer to locate and repair such a problem due to the sheer volume of entries within the registry. This is why registry cleaners were created.
A Windows registry cleaner is a piece of software specially designed to scan and read all of your Windows registry entries, spot any discrepancies or potential problems, and identify any errors. The best registry cleaners will actually correct the problems that have been discovered too.
Many basic registry cleaners may simply reset your Windows registry to its original state, as if you have just installed Windows or bought your computer brand new from a shop. Although this may suffice in some cases, quite often it just isn't good enough.
The best registry cleaners on the other hand, come programmed with information on all kinds of different programs and potential registry entries, and some of them even update their databases nearly as often as an anti virus software. The reason this is important is because there are so many different programs, games and software's that any 1 computer may have installed, it is difficult to just try a "one fix for all" type solution. Resetting your Windows registry back to "factory" settings may actually cause a lot of your favourite games or programs to stop working as well.
Some of the best registry cleaners will not only find and correct problems that exist within the Windows registry, but they can also help to speed up your PC by taking care of other little problems too. Things such as too many programs starting when your computer is turned on, invalid or missing .dll files or even duplicate files all can cause a slow down in your computers performance, and a good registry cleaner software will often take care of these problems too.
Many of the sites selling this type of software offer a free on-line scan for you to find out if you have any errors in your registry that need fixing, but you will no doubt have to buy the full product to get any problems that where found fixed. You'll find that with the best registry cleaners on the market, you'll get a free trial download as well as a free on-line scan. Sometimes the download may be time limited, or limited by the amount of errors it will allow you to fix before buying the full version.
The main points to consider when searching for a Windows registry cleaning software to help fix your problematic PC are extra features included and then what others say about it. Often enough, if the software you're thinking about purchasing is in fact one of the best registry cleaners, a Google search for the software products name will yield reviews from various sources, allowing you to make an informed decision before buying anything.
Article Source: http://ezinearticle.net
Dennis Savoy is an old Internet surfer of 67, with 12 years on the Net, searching for the best registry cleaners, to keep my PC up to pare with a free scan
Knowing The Basics Of Spyware
By: eduardo
With a lot of folks owning computers nowadays and the
higher number of internet usage the demands for internet
security has actually gone upwards. Everybody truly needs
to think about becoming a lot more familiar with viruses
such as spyware that can attack their computers at
anytime and they need to know that their are several
things that they can do to keep these kind of thing from
occurring.
Spyware is as a matter of fact a certain software system
that grants itself permission to just install itself
right on to your computer without you ever being aware
that it's even there. It may enter in several forms a few
of those being malware or adware. Some of the numerous
various things that these things may do are slowing down
the speed of your computer enormously, they can have the
power to produce pop up ads all over your pages that you
try and pull up, once you try and get at one certain
website spyware could actually make you go to a different
website before you even figure out what is taking place.
These things will essentially take charge over your
computer right before your very eyes without you being
capable to stop it unless you get software such as a
spyware protection program. Or there is also a couple of
freebie spyware and adware program cleaners that you are
able to get access to online that may at the least scan
your computer for you, presenting you all the numerous
things that it has already managed to do to your computer
and to your files.
Anyplace you might visit online just know that spyware
can be right there, watching your every move. Every
stroke of your keys may be monitored through spyware. Any
click of the keys can supply the information that it is
calling for in order to keep on track of your every move
and to leap on any opportunity to get that information
that you don't want to share with just anybody.
I don't know if you are among the several that download
music over the internet or not. If you are then you could
be at serious risk of your computer being turned into a
public computer for those unwelcome spyware, adware and
malware viruses that are real and have been getting into
our systems for quite some time now. Anytime you download
anything on your computer you are increasing your risk of
your computer being infected with these viruses.
Additional safe thing to do is make certain you have a
pop up blocker added, it will help keep out many of these
unwanted threats that are out there. Remember that your
firewall should at all times be turned on while you are
surfing the internet, this also can assist keeping these
things away. The best thing to invest in though is a anti
virus protection program that will cost you some money
but I promise you it will be well worth the price.
Everybody is at jeopardy of this horrible security
menace.
I know by now you have heard of identity theft.
Several of these things are occurring due to the
uninvited access to our personal information that you all
have stored on your computers. Spyware is to fault for a
great deal of this trespassing behavior that is happening
far too much.
Article Source: http://ezinearticle.net
With a lot of folks owning computers nowadays and the
higher number of internet usage the demands for internet
security has actually gone upwards. Everybody truly needs
to think about becoming a lot more familiar with viruses
such as spyware that can attack their computers at
anytime and they need to know that their are several
things that they can do to keep these kind of thing from
occurring.
Spyware is as a matter of fact a certain software system
that grants itself permission to just install itself
right on to your computer without you ever being aware
that it's even there. It may enter in several forms a few
of those being malware or adware. Some of the numerous
various things that these things may do are slowing down
the speed of your computer enormously, they can have the
power to produce pop up ads all over your pages that you
try and pull up, once you try and get at one certain
website spyware could actually make you go to a different
website before you even figure out what is taking place.
These things will essentially take charge over your
computer right before your very eyes without you being
capable to stop it unless you get software such as a
spyware protection program. Or there is also a couple of
freebie spyware and adware program cleaners that you are
able to get access to online that may at the least scan
your computer for you, presenting you all the numerous
things that it has already managed to do to your computer
and to your files.
Anyplace you might visit online just know that spyware
can be right there, watching your every move. Every
stroke of your keys may be monitored through spyware. Any
click of the keys can supply the information that it is
calling for in order to keep on track of your every move
and to leap on any opportunity to get that information
that you don't want to share with just anybody.
I don't know if you are among the several that download
music over the internet or not. If you are then you could
be at serious risk of your computer being turned into a
public computer for those unwelcome spyware, adware and
malware viruses that are real and have been getting into
our systems for quite some time now. Anytime you download
anything on your computer you are increasing your risk of
your computer being infected with these viruses.
Additional safe thing to do is make certain you have a
pop up blocker added, it will help keep out many of these
unwanted threats that are out there. Remember that your
firewall should at all times be turned on while you are
surfing the internet, this also can assist keeping these
things away. The best thing to invest in though is a anti
virus protection program that will cost you some money
but I promise you it will be well worth the price.
Everybody is at jeopardy of this horrible security
menace.
I know by now you have heard of identity theft.
Several of these things are occurring due to the
uninvited access to our personal information that you all
have stored on your computers. Spyware is to fault for a
great deal of this trespassing behavior that is happening
far too much.
Article Source: http://ezinearticle.net
iPods are More Than Portable Music Players
Submitted by Christine on 2007-03-23 and viewed 32 times.
With the evolution of technology, companies like Apple have developed mini-multimedia devices called iPods. These small, but sturdy hand held media players have captured the attention of the world as they have sold over 42 million in recent years. They can now hold over 60 gigabytes of your favorite music, videos, data and files that you would like transferred from one pc to another.
There are wireless additions and open source software that can customize the operating system to handle applications designed by individual developers. The versatility of the iPods over palm pilots and other similar devices has made them valuable tools for work and play. It has been reported that some medical firms use them to transfer x-rays and client files from one practice to another while also being used to play medical videos for patient care. An iPod in the hand of a forward thinker can become a powerful tool, which can revolutionize work flow within many industries. Training videos are another great use for the iPod and with the large storage capacity they can be used to coach through many medical procedures.
For example, imagine ambulance services with personnel who carry iPods with videos that explain how to give CPR, deliver babies, perform tracheotomies, amputations or any other critical procedure just in case of emergency. This is just one way that this piece of technology can be used to save lives. There really is no limit to the usefulness of the Apple iPod when creative imagination takes hold of one. There will always be, of course, the regular videos that it can play while you are on an airplane to a foreign country.
It can hold more music than the average jukebox found at dance halls and social halls. It even categorizes your favorite genres and will quiz you about the very music downloaded into the iPod. With wireless technologies becoming cheaper while covering wider ranges of distance, the iPod can keep constant connection within a corporate setting which can synchronize with everyone who uses the same information.
There are companies who can customize your iPod as well so that it matches your company logos or colors. Mostly the iPod will continue to be the toy that teens and young adults use to watch videos and listen to their favorite songs while adults add the customized features listed above. As storage devices, the possibilities are endless. How will you use yours?
With the evolution of technology, companies like Apple have developed mini-multimedia devices called iPods. These small, but sturdy hand held media players have captured the attention of the world as they have sold over 42 million in recent years. They can now hold over 60 gigabytes of your favorite music, videos, data and files that you would like transferred from one pc to another.
There are wireless additions and open source software that can customize the operating system to handle applications designed by individual developers. The versatility of the iPods over palm pilots and other similar devices has made them valuable tools for work and play. It has been reported that some medical firms use them to transfer x-rays and client files from one practice to another while also being used to play medical videos for patient care. An iPod in the hand of a forward thinker can become a powerful tool, which can revolutionize work flow within many industries. Training videos are another great use for the iPod and with the large storage capacity they can be used to coach through many medical procedures.
For example, imagine ambulance services with personnel who carry iPods with videos that explain how to give CPR, deliver babies, perform tracheotomies, amputations or any other critical procedure just in case of emergency. This is just one way that this piece of technology can be used to save lives. There really is no limit to the usefulness of the Apple iPod when creative imagination takes hold of one. There will always be, of course, the regular videos that it can play while you are on an airplane to a foreign country.
It can hold more music than the average jukebox found at dance halls and social halls. It even categorizes your favorite genres and will quiz you about the very music downloaded into the iPod. With wireless technologies becoming cheaper while covering wider ranges of distance, the iPod can keep constant connection within a corporate setting which can synchronize with everyone who uses the same information.
There are companies who can customize your iPod as well so that it matches your company logos or colors. Mostly the iPod will continue to be the toy that teens and young adults use to watch videos and listen to their favorite songs while adults add the customized features listed above. As storage devices, the possibilities are endless. How will you use yours?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
3 Differences Between Viruses and Spyware
By Travis Klein
So we have all probably heard of these two terms, Viruses and Spyware. Most of us however use these terms loosely without distinguishing between them. In actuality the 2 are very different in the behaviors and characteristics.
A Virus is a term we have been using since computers or PC's became popular about 14 years ago. The term Spyware however has only become popular a lot more recently, about 5 years ago.
The first difference between viruses and spyware is the fact that a virus will spread itself without the help of other programs or outside help. A virus can and will spread and infect other computers if there is a network connection, i.e. the internet. A virus is a malicious piece of code or program which will infect itself on one computer without the permission of the user. It will then proceed to copy itself and infect other parts of the computer or like stated above, infect other computers on a network.
The second difference between Viruses and Spyware is that Spyware will not copy itself, but it will attempt to steal information off of the computer it resides. Spyware more specifically can and will keep a detailed history of websites that a user goes to and what they do on those websites. Also spyware can steal even more personal information like some ones social security number if it resides on the computer somewhere or if a user is entering it on a website.
Lastly, and along the same lines as the first two. A virus seeks and tires to spread itself while spyware tries to embed itself in a computer. A virus will try replicating itself across a computer, but it may not always be doing malicious things, but yet it is still done without the users consent. This why a virus can be so dangerous. Spyware will embed itself a computer system, hiding from the user, all while 'spying' around attempting to gather information without permission.
When it comes time to run some programs to check for these elusive viruses and spyware, one needs to first do research to find out which program has the best chance to help their computer the best. You want a reputable program that has worked for others.
The best program I have used to repair my personal PC can be read about free below. You can download the program and get your computer free of all viruses and spyware in under an hour.
Click here: http://www.homecomputer-repair.com to download it. No need to stress about Viruses and Spyware anymore!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Travis_Klein
So we have all probably heard of these two terms, Viruses and Spyware. Most of us however use these terms loosely without distinguishing between them. In actuality the 2 are very different in the behaviors and characteristics.
A Virus is a term we have been using since computers or PC's became popular about 14 years ago. The term Spyware however has only become popular a lot more recently, about 5 years ago.
The first difference between viruses and spyware is the fact that a virus will spread itself without the help of other programs or outside help. A virus can and will spread and infect other computers if there is a network connection, i.e. the internet. A virus is a malicious piece of code or program which will infect itself on one computer without the permission of the user. It will then proceed to copy itself and infect other parts of the computer or like stated above, infect other computers on a network.
The second difference between Viruses and Spyware is that Spyware will not copy itself, but it will attempt to steal information off of the computer it resides. Spyware more specifically can and will keep a detailed history of websites that a user goes to and what they do on those websites. Also spyware can steal even more personal information like some ones social security number if it resides on the computer somewhere or if a user is entering it on a website.
Lastly, and along the same lines as the first two. A virus seeks and tires to spread itself while spyware tries to embed itself in a computer. A virus will try replicating itself across a computer, but it may not always be doing malicious things, but yet it is still done without the users consent. This why a virus can be so dangerous. Spyware will embed itself a computer system, hiding from the user, all while 'spying' around attempting to gather information without permission.
When it comes time to run some programs to check for these elusive viruses and spyware, one needs to first do research to find out which program has the best chance to help their computer the best. You want a reputable program that has worked for others.
The best program I have used to repair my personal PC can be read about free below. You can download the program and get your computer free of all viruses and spyware in under an hour.
Click here: http://www.homecomputer-repair.com to download it. No need to stress about Viruses and Spyware anymore!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Travis_Klein
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Anatomy of Amazon's Kindle Reader
By James Kara Murat
The newest baby of Amazon, Kindle Reader, is lighting up the minds of millions of people all over the world-or, at least, for those who have got hold of their newest innovation immediately.
Kindle is basically like your own library, only that you can bring it with you anywhere you go. You can even tuck it in your bag. It boasts of over 90,000r reading materials, such as books, magazines, and blogs. Any update from the latter two will be delivered right at your own reader. But what else do you need to know about Kindle?
1. It uses ink. This is practically no joke. Kindle is traditional in the sense that it tries to capture the readability and scan ability of physical newspapers. What sets the difference, though, is that the ink is converted to something electronic. Besides giving you the feeling that you're actually reading a real paper, it also allows you to read it even under natural sunlight. There's no need for you to suffer under the glare o computer screens.
2. It connects you. Kindle uses a new technology called Whispernet. It gives you access to the Internet without the hassle of cable wires. You don't even have to look for any WiFi hotspot. This also allows you to surf through the Web and read any interesting material from Wikipedia. Also, you can order your books immediately. They will also be delivered to you instantly. You should learn to take advantage of this as there's no extra cost attach to it.
3. It's ergonomic. The design of Kindle has received a number of harsh criticisms, but for the book lover, it spells bliss. Because a reader has a tendency to change position while reading, Kindle has been designed vertical for long form reading. Also, navigation buttons, which are located at each side, means that both the right-handed and left-handed can skim through the pages of the book with relative ease and comfort.
4. It has a QWERTY keyboard. Because anybody who has his own PC or at least used a computer knows the QWERTY keyboard really well, there's not much training you need to do when it comes to searching for and buying your favorite book, newspaper, or magazine from the Internet.
5. It lasts longer. It has one of the most long-lasting batteries, even longer than those found in cell phones and laptops. If you're going to make use of your wireless connection, you may have to recharge your reader at least every other day. Otherwise, you can have one full week of uninterrupted reading. You also don't have to wait that long too before the battery gets fully charged. Within two hours, you can go back to your routine, which is reading.
6. It has useful accessories. There's no such thing as trivial accessory if you speak about Kindle. You can utilize the USB cable when you're going to transfer files from your Kindle to your PC and vice versa. The book cover, meanwhile, offers protection to your ebook reader, making sure that it doesn't get any scratch or dirty.
James Kara Murat the contributor of PrintCountry Articles. Read more about the subject at The Anatomy of Amazon's Kindle Reader, and related resources can be found at PrintCountry Miscellaneous Articles.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Kara_Murat
Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device
The newest baby of Amazon, Kindle Reader, is lighting up the minds of millions of people all over the world-or, at least, for those who have got hold of their newest innovation immediately.
Kindle is basically like your own library, only that you can bring it with you anywhere you go. You can even tuck it in your bag. It boasts of over 90,000r reading materials, such as books, magazines, and blogs. Any update from the latter two will be delivered right at your own reader. But what else do you need to know about Kindle?
1. It uses ink. This is practically no joke. Kindle is traditional in the sense that it tries to capture the readability and scan ability of physical newspapers. What sets the difference, though, is that the ink is converted to something electronic. Besides giving you the feeling that you're actually reading a real paper, it also allows you to read it even under natural sunlight. There's no need for you to suffer under the glare o computer screens.
2. It connects you. Kindle uses a new technology called Whispernet. It gives you access to the Internet without the hassle of cable wires. You don't even have to look for any WiFi hotspot. This also allows you to surf through the Web and read any interesting material from Wikipedia. Also, you can order your books immediately. They will also be delivered to you instantly. You should learn to take advantage of this as there's no extra cost attach to it.
3. It's ergonomic. The design of Kindle has received a number of harsh criticisms, but for the book lover, it spells bliss. Because a reader has a tendency to change position while reading, Kindle has been designed vertical for long form reading. Also, navigation buttons, which are located at each side, means that both the right-handed and left-handed can skim through the pages of the book with relative ease and comfort.
4. It has a QWERTY keyboard. Because anybody who has his own PC or at least used a computer knows the QWERTY keyboard really well, there's not much training you need to do when it comes to searching for and buying your favorite book, newspaper, or magazine from the Internet.
5. It lasts longer. It has one of the most long-lasting batteries, even longer than those found in cell phones and laptops. If you're going to make use of your wireless connection, you may have to recharge your reader at least every other day. Otherwise, you can have one full week of uninterrupted reading. You also don't have to wait that long too before the battery gets fully charged. Within two hours, you can go back to your routine, which is reading.
6. It has useful accessories. There's no such thing as trivial accessory if you speak about Kindle. You can utilize the USB cable when you're going to transfer files from your Kindle to your PC and vice versa. The book cover, meanwhile, offers protection to your ebook reader, making sure that it doesn't get any scratch or dirty.
James Kara Murat the contributor of PrintCountry Articles. Read more about the subject at The Anatomy of Amazon's Kindle Reader, and related resources can be found at PrintCountry Miscellaneous Articles.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Kara_Murat
Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device
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