How To Remove Page Info From Printed Pages

By default browsers will add the date, page number and URL to any page printed from the Internet. For most (if not all) of the printables on this site, you probably don’t want text at the top and bottom of the page. Luckily it’s pretty easy to fix, just pick your browser and follow the instructions below.
Internet Explorer 7 Printing Tips
By default there’s a small image of a printer, click that and go to “Page Setup…”. Below is a screenshot showing the button you’re looking for.
Go to “File”, “Page Setup…”, then erase the text in the “Headers and Footers text boxes.
(The default for header is &w&bPage &p of &P and for footer &u&b&d if you need to put it back later. IE’s default margins are 0.75 inches.)
Click the “OK” button and you’re done.
Firefox Printing Tips
From the menu in the top left corner of your browser, choose “File”, then “Page setup..”. Go to the second tab called “Margins & Header / Footer”, in the drop down lists choose “Blank” for all the items you don’t want printed. The screenshot below gives a better view of what I mean.
If you want, you can also adjust the print margins here as well, Firefox’s default margins are set at 0.5 inches. Once you have your setting chosen, click “OK”, and you’re done!
If you’d like a faster way to get to the print preview feature from within Firefox, the Print / Print Preview extensions is very handy. It adds a submenu to your context menu (the menu that pops up when you right click on a webpage) with “Print”, “Print Preview” and “Page Setup”. Much faster if you change margins, headers etc. often.

How to Set Up and Troubleshoot a Home Computer Network

Setting up a home computer network may sound daunting, but it’s relatively simple, provided you break everything down into specific steps. Home computer networks are ideal for sharing a wireless connection among multiple computers, especially for those who have a home office, teenagers, or another computer configuration.

Purchasing a Router

Before you begin to worry about software, worry about hardware. A excellent router, like a Cisco router or a Linksys router, will save you from having to endlessly reboot and reprogram while still allowing you to quickly set up a home network. Make sure you buy from a company that has years of experience designing high quality routers that are capable of handling high amounts of traffic (such as data heavy media files). Virtually any home network will run smoothly without irritating slowness or delays.

Wireless Bandwidth

After you’ve purchased a router, the next step is to determine how much bandwidth you are receiving from your wireless connection. This becomes particularly important if you have a household where the network users are habitually downloading movies or other large data files. While a router can rapidly transfer this information, it is constrained by the amount of bandwidth available to the household. A connection that transmits data at 2.4 GHz with a 54 megabit speed is usually adequate to the task.

If your network feels exceptionally sluggish, check to make sure that you are receiving the wireless by ‘pinging’ the network. Alternatively, if you are receiving the full wireless bandwidth but are still experiencing slow results because of the types of media you are transferring, you may consider paying for a faster service.

Software Drivers

While software drivers for networking are fairly easy to find and download from the Internet, purchasing software directly from a computer retailer is recommended as a way to keep your network free of faulty software. A higher incidence of spyware and viruses makes downloading free software inadvisable, especially for something as sensitive as a computer network.

Purchasing software from one of the major companies, such as McAfee or Symantec, will also provide you with another vital component of wireless home networking: a firewall. Because wireless networks are difficult to secure, the best option is to buy software that not only allows you to network, but is built specifically to keep out uninvited users. Firewalls are designed to protect your valuable information behind a tightly secured ‘wall’ which can’t be accessed unless a very specific encrypted code is used.

Basic Set-Up

Now that you have all the components, you’ll want to set up the router first. Install the software driver onto each computer that will use the network. Set up a passkey that is fairly hard to break. Avoid simple or obvious terms that an outside user could easily guess. Set up each computer with this information.

The company that is providing your wireless connection will usually assign you a name and a passkey. However, in some configurations, you will be able to reprogram this information.

Troubleshooting

No matter how expertly a system is set up, on occasion a technical problem manifests, resulting in a lack of connectivity for computers. There are a few ways to quickly check what’s working and what’s not.

Usually, problems are caused by one of two things: the software on the computer itself is malfunctioning, and not allowing the computer to connect. You can test this by seeing if any other computers can connect to the network. If they can, the problem is local to that computer. A simple reboot of the software should solve this problem. However, if the software continues to be unable to connect to the internet, you will need to uninstall the software, and then reinstall it. Sometimes, a version can become corrupted. By wiping it clean and starting anew, the problem should resolve itself.

The second most common problem is that the router needs a quick reboot. If you purchase a quality router, you will not have this problem very often, although every now and again even the best routers need a quick reboot. Turn the router off for at least thirty seconds. Switch it back on, and check your connectivity in about ten minutes. This gives the system plenty of time to reset itself.

If this doesn’t work, the wireless provider may temporarily be out. Call your wireless provider to determine if they are experiencing an outage, and when you can expect the resumption of service. If all of these methods don’t resolve your problem, there is a basic flaw in your initial setup.

Computer Tips & Tricks How to Improve Your Computer’s Performance

Tips for Speeding Up Your PC

Few things are as frustrating as dealing with a slow, sluggish computer. When a computer is brand new, it works wonderfully well. Over time, though, its performance can slowly begin to worsen. This happens for a number of reasons, but the biggest culprits are things like spyware, adware and other computer threats that are unwittingly downloaded along with other content while online. You don’t have to download thousands of MP3s, movies or other items to experience these problems, either – nobody is immune to them. Instead of accepting the situation, there are plenty of techniques and strategies that you can use to make it better – a few of the best ones are outlined below.

Strategy #1: Clean Your Computer’s Windows Registry

The biggest cause of slow, sluggish PC performance is errors and problems within its Windows registry. Adware, spyware and other threats usually target the registry, damaging or misplacing important files within it. When it comes to PC cleaning, a daily Windows registry cleaning should be at the top of your list of priorities. However, this should never be done manually – there are too many opportunities for major errors that could seriously damage your PC’s operating system. Instead, invest in a high-quality Windows registry cleanup program and configure it to run once per day – you won’t believe the difference that it makes.

Strategy #2: Remove Unneeded Files

Every time you log on to the Internet or otherwise use your computer, temporary files are generated. They are usually only needed once; however, they don’t disappear on their own. Instead, they accumulate over time until they are cluttering up your computer’s file system and affecting its performance. While it’s possible to remove these files one-by-one, it’s much easier and quicker to use a PC cleaning tool that’s designed for the purpose. Try to do so about one time per week to keep your computer humming along with ease.

Strategy #3: Remove Unneeded Programs

Like many people, you probably download and try out many different programs each month. How many of them do you actually end up using on a regular basis? Chances are, not very many of them. By getting into the habit of uninstalling unused and unneeded programs, you can keep your computer’s file system a lot less cluttered. In turn, your PC’s performance will improve dramatically. You can optimize your computer in this way by using its Add/Remove Programs feature. Its location varies by operating system, but you should be able to find it somewhere in the Control Panel.

Strategy #4: Empty the Recycle Bin

When you click “delete” on a file or a program, it doesn’t go away for good – not immediately, anyway. Instead, it sits in a kind of purgatory in your computer’s Recycle Bin. As things pile up in the Recycle Bin, your computer can start exhibiting some very annoying problems. If sluggish startups and frequent crashes are occurring with increasing frequency – and your computer’s recycle bin is very full – go ahead and empty it. From then on, get into the habit of doing so about one time per week. This small but important strategy can make a huge difference.

Strategy #5: Perform a Disk Defragmentation

Windows isn’t very efficient when it comes to storing files. It actually splits them up, depositing them into whatever spaces are available. The more spaced apart the pieces of a file are, the harder your computer has to work to make them run. The Windows disk defragmentation system tune-up utility works to piece all of those files back together again. The process is a long one, though, and only needs to be done about four times per year. Set it up to run automatically once every three months. By doing so, you’ll be able to keep your computer running in tiptop shape.

When it comes to keeping your computer running optimally, small but regular maintenance is the best way to go. Protecting your PC only does so much; even the most careful Internet users in the world unintentionally download malicious software from time to time. By using basic system tune-up tools, cleaning your computer’s Windows registry regularly, performing regular file-cleaning maintenance and otherwise optimizing your PC, you should be able to keep it in like-new condition for a lot longer. Even if your computer has been performing slowly for some time, beginning this regimen is sure to produce results. In the end, you’ll be able to enjoy a computer that flies along – instead of one that spins its wheels.

free computer repair tips

 Computer problems may seem immensely complicated at first
                  glance. But some are relatively easy to fix.


                  That doesn't mean they will be cheap if someone else does the
                  job. Replacing a hard drive is probably a minimum $250-$300
                  job at a computer shop.
                  However, some jobs can be done by the average Joe or Jane. On
                  a scale of 1 to 10 (where 10 should only be performed by
                  certified technicians who have no less than three electronic
                  gadgets on their belt), replacing memory is usually about a 4.
                  Installing a new hard drive is tougher (about 6 or 7), but
                  still do-able. Replacing a video card or internal modem is no
                  more than a 2.
                  Here are four common PC problems you may be able to fix by
                  yourself:
                  1. You turn on the computer and nothing happens.
                  No lights, no beeps, no fan noise. What is the first thing you
                  do? Be sure the darn thing is plugged in! Even if you're
                  absolutely certain that it is connected, double check.
                  Assuming that it is plugged in, you probably have a bad power
                  supply. This is a metal box located in the top and back of the
                  computer. It is usually held in by four screws and the power
                  cable connects to it. A fan blows air out the back.
                  A wiring harness exits the power supply inside the computer.
                  Numerous power connectors are attached to the ends of the
                  wires. These plug into drives, fans and possibly other gizmos.
                  The harness also will have connectors to the motherboard. It
                  doesn't matter which wire connects where, as long as the
                  connector fits.
                  When you open the computer, this mess of wiring can be very
                  intimidating. Study it, and you'll find it less mysterious.
                  Note the connections in writing, if necessary. Disconnect the
                  wires and remove the power supply. Take it to the computer
                  store and get a replacement with the same wattage. Figure
                  $50-$70.
                  2. The computer comes on, but nothing appears on your monitor.
                  In other words, Windows never shows up. You may have a monitor
                  problem. Try using another known-good monitor on the computer
                  and see if anything shows up on the screen. If the second
                  monitor works, the first one is bad. Monitors are not worth
                  repairing. Just buy a new one. Never open the back of a
                  monitor to fix it. The capacitors inside monitors store
                  electricity. You could be injured or even killed.
                  If the screen is dark, it could be a video card problem.
                  First, find the video card. This is a circuit board that fits
                  into a slot in the motherboard. The cable from the monitor
                  connects to the VGA (video graphics adapter) port, which
                  sticks out through the back of the computer. If the VGA port
                  is part of the motherboard, the video is built-in. You can't
                  fix that. Otherwise, it will be part of the video card.
                  Assuming you have a separate card, be sure it is firmly
                  seated. The front end of the card can rise out of the slot
                  inadvertently when the back end is screwed down to the
                  computer frame.
                  If you have a computer that is working perfectly, turn it off
                  and remove the video card. Put the card that works in the
                  problem computer. If the system works, you need a new card. If
                  you don't have an extra card to test your system, buy a cheap
                  one ($30-$50). If it doesn't solve the problem, take it back.
                  You can spend hundreds of dollars on a video card. But if
                  you're running business applications and surfing the Web, buy
                  on price. The expensive stuff is for serious gamers.
                  3. If you regularly get the "Blue Screen of Death," you may
                  have a random access memory (RAM) problem.
                  Note the message on the blue screen, especially the numbers.
                  Check it in Microsoft's Help and Support Knowledge Base. Also,
                  put it in a search engine and check the Internet.
                  Assuming you can diagnose it, a memory problem is easy to fix.
                  If you can't find the diagnosis information you need online,
                  you can try swapping out memory sticks from another computer.
                  But that memory must be the same type. If all else fails, take
                  the old memory to a computer store. The people there may be
                  willing to test it.
                  Sticks of memory go in slots near the microprocessor. They're
                  about four inches long. Remove the old memory and match it at
                  the store. Memory prices are all over the map, depending on
                  type and speed. Be sure you get the same type.
                  When you press the new memory into the slot, you will probably
                  have to use some force. The clips on each end will snap into
                  place when the memory is seated properly.
                  4. If you boot up, and the computer cannot find the C: drive,
                  you might have a bad hard drive.
                  If you have another computer, swap hard drives to diagnose the
                  problem. If your computer boots with the other drive, yours is
                  probably bad.
                  Sometimes, a reboot will work. Your drive might have enough
                  life to spin up occasionally. If this works, transfer your
                  data to another drive, pronto.
                  According to techie lore, you can seal a nonworking drive in a
                  bag and put it in a freezer overnight. That could shrink
                  things enough to free them up. I've used this trick a few
                  times and it's worth a try.
                  A regular backup regimen will save you in case of hard-drive
                  failure, assuming you aren't backing up to the same hard
                  drive. If the drive is dead and you don't have a backup, a
                  computer shop may be able to save your data.
                  Hard drives are cheap. You can get a replacement for less than
                  $100. Get one boxed for retail, which will include
                  instructions and any hardware needed.
                  Your hard drive is in the front of your machine. It will be
                  about the size of a paperback book and is probably held in by
                  four screws, two on each side. Power and ribbon cables connect
                  to the back.
                  Put the new drive in and install it as the master. Reconfigure
                  the old drive as the slave. The instructions that come with
                  the new drive should explain that. Boot the computer and
                  install Windows on the new drive. If you're lucky, the
                  computer will see the old drive (it will be D:). You can then
                  transfer your data to the new drive.
                  Replacing a hard drive is more difficult than the other
                  operations. However, if you pay to have the work done, it may
                  not be cost effective. You might be better off buying a new
                  machine. So if you are adventuresome, and you have the time,
                  changing the hard drive may be worthwhile.
                  Know your limitations
                  Some things may be beyond your ability. For instance,
                  upgrading a microprocessor can be dicey. Even if a faster
                  microprocessor will fit in your motherboard, you probably need
                  to upgrade the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). This is done
                  through a process called "flashing," in which information is
                  downloaded to change the BIOS. If flashing isn't done
                  correctly, the computer can be rendered useless. Leave that to
                  the experts.
                  There are times when fixing a computer just isn't worthwhile.
                  New machines can be had for less than $500. That might be all
                  you need for business purposes. So, if you're facing a $300
                  repair, maybe it's time to look around. That repair probably
                  won't be the last.
                  A word of caution: Static electricity can kill the circuitry
                  inside your computer. Before you reach for anything inside
                  that box, ground yourself by touching the metal computer

How to insert a sound or music on a PowerPoint Slide?

MS- Power Point helps to create and organize presentations very easily and quickly and presentation is a systematic approach through which ideas are delivered to others in a will-mannered way. The slides created have different information, graphics and clipart are arranged in a proper order. You can also insert sound or music on a slide. It may be a sound or movie. When you run slide show, movie or sound also plays with that presentation.

Perform the following steps to insert a music file on a slide:

First display the slide you want to add music or sound to.



On the Insert menu, point to Movies and Sound, submenu will appear then do one of the following steps.

To insert a sound from the Clip Gallery, click Sound from Gallery, and then locate and insert the sound you want.

To insert a sound from another location, click Sound from File, locate the folder that contains the sound, and then double-click the sound file that you want to add.
   


Here a sound icon appears on the slide.

A message is display, if you want the sound to play automatically when you go to the slide, click Yes, if you want the sound to play only when you click the sound icon during a slide show, click No button.

To preview the sound in normal view, double click the sound icon.

How to find a lost file on your Computer?

Today tip will help you to enjoy the quick and easy way to find lost files on your computer. Here I recommends you, try to search a file with its file extensions (for example for word file, type *.doc, Excel *.xls, Acrobat *.pdf, *.ppt and *.exe for executable files. If you don't know the name of file but know that it contains a string of text then try to search for files containing specific text, type the text you want to find from any file or folder. This is time taking process but creates very precise result. In Look in, click the drive, folder, or network you want to search. To save time, always select the specified drive or location instead of whole computer.

Click Start Button, point to Search, and then click For File or Folders, a Search Results dialog box will appear. In Search for files or folders named, type the file name or folder name you want to find in containing text.

To specify additional search criteria, click Search Options, and then click one or more of the following options to narrow your search:

* Select Date to look for files that were created or modified on or between specific dates.

* Select Type to look for files of a specific type, such as a text or WordPad document.

* Select Size to look for files of a specific size.

* Select Advanced Options to specify additional search criteria.
Click Search now.

Tips For Buying Flat Panels

Introduction of Flat Panel Monitors

These are two basic type of monitor that are used with personal computer, CRT Monitor and Flat-Panel Monitor. Flat Panel is a relatively new technology when compared to the CRT or standard monitor technology. Due to new technology some important considerations to look at when purchasing a flat panel Monitor.


Technology of LCD

There are two categories of LCDs then Before looking at what type of configurations you need to look for when purchasing a computer Flat Panel it is important to know if you want Active Matrix LCD or Passive Matrix LCD.

Look for the best flat panel TV deal so you can buy at discounted prices.

Active Matrix LCD : Active Matrix LCD uses a transistor for each liquid crystal cell or pixel and thus displays high quality images. Active Matrix LCD is also known Thin Film Transistor(TFT) display. Today, new generation of TFT is called organic LED that displays brighter images than standard TFT display. The organic LED uses organic molecules to generate output on the screen.

Passive Matrix LCD : Passive Matrix LCD uses fewer transistors and requires less power than active matrix LCD. The colors on Passive Matrix LCD are not bright as compared to active matrix LCD.

Resolution

The quality of LCD screen depends on its resolution, which is generally proportional to the size of screen.

15" flat panel monitor typically has a resolution of  800 x 600 / 1,024 x 768

17" flat panel monitor typically has a resolution of  1,280 x 1,024

19" flat panel monitor typically has a resolution of  1,280 x 1024

21" flat panel monitor typically has a resolution of  1,600 x 1,200

Tips On Buying A CD-ROM Drives.

INTRODUCTION

CD-ROM drive is used with computer to read the information from the CD-ROM. Today CD-ROM drives have transfer rates ranging from 48X to 75X or more. Generally Purchasing a CD-ROM drive relatively easy task however can involve some considerations when purchasing.


Technology of CD-ROM

Before considering purchasing a CD-ROM it is also good consider the other available options.

CD-R - A CD-writer or recorder (or simply CD-R drive) is used to write data on CD-R disks. Usually, a CD-writer can read information from CD as well as write information on CD, The locally produced CD-R disks are created with CD writer. The speed of these drives is up to 52X or more.

CD-RW - You must have a CD-RW drive to write date on the CD-RW. These drives have read and write speed is up to 52X or more but the re-write speed is 10X or more. The CD-RW drive is advanced and more expensive than CD-R drive. It can write data on both CD-R and CD-RW discs and also read data from them

DVD - DVD stands for Digital Video Disk Versatile Disc. DVD-ROM is an extremely high capacity optical disc with storage capacity from 4.7 GB to 17 GB.

TRANSFER RATES

Today CD-ROM  drives have transfer rates or speeds ranging from 52X to 72X or more. For Example, a 52X CD-ROM drive has a data transfer rate of 7,200 KBps (i.e. 48 X 150 = 7200)or 7.2 MBps. It means that the higher the number, the faster the CD-ROM drive. This speed is generally only going to be noticeable when installing a program or copying large amounts of data from a CD.

PRICE RANGE

For a CD-ROM drive, not to be confused with a CD-R, CD-RW or DVD drive can vary depending upon the speed and the interface the CD-ROM drive uses.

Tips On Buying A Desktop Computer

INTRODUCTION

A desktop personal computer is a most popular mode of personal computer. The system unit of the desktop personal computer can lie flat on the desk or table. In desktop personal computer, is usually placed on the system unit. A Purchasing a home or business computer can be a big and sometimes costly decision. It may be important to consider whether a laptop may be a better option instead,  Below is a listing of helpful suggestions for what to look for and ask when purchasing a home or business computer new or used.


NEW vs. USED

Today there are two options to buy a computer, a new or used computer. Used computer are some time out of date, but you can buy it with very low price as compare to new computer, but I think branded or used computer are much stable than a new  computer. Before purchasing a computer consider if you should purchase a new or used computer. Many individuals sell computer before they are out of date allow you to purchase a relatively decent computer. Before purchasing a new computer from a computer manufacture look at what is available and review the below precautions when purchasing a computer.

More Considerations

When purchasing a computer it is likely that you will have a general idea of what you may like in the computer or how you would like to configure the computer. Below is a listing of the various components likely to be found in a computer and recommendations and tips when considering any of the following components.

Device

Short recommendation

Case

Generally there are two types of Computer Case are available in market, for Example  Tower case and desktop case. The system unit of the desktop personal computer can lie flat on the desk or table and the monitor is usually placed on the system unit. An other model of the computer case is known tower. The system unit of the tower PC is vertically placed on the desk or table. But purchasing a computer case is generally not an important consideration when you are going to buy a Computer.  However it depends upon the user needs and choice to building a computer case may find it important to consider the following considerations.

 CD Media

CD-R -always will be an important consideration to think about when purchasing a new computer or used computer. A CD-writer or recorder (or simply CD-R drive) is used to write data on CD-R disks. Usually, a CD-writer can read information from CD as well as write information on CD, The locally produced CD-R disks are created with CD writer. The speed of these drives is up to 52X or more.

CD-RW - You must have a CD-RW drive to write date on the CD-RW. These drives have read and write speed is up to 52X or more but the re-write speed is 10X or more. The CD-RW drive is advanced and more expensive than CD-R drive. It can write data on both CD-R and CD-RW discs and also read data from them

DVD - DVD stands for Digital Video Disk Versatile Disc. DVD-ROM is an extremely high capacity optical disc with storage capacity from 4.7 GB to 17 GB.

Hard Drive

Hard drives have and always will be an important consideration to think about when purchasing a new computer or used computer. Hard disk is most commonly used storage device in personal computers and laptop computers. Most application programs and operation systems require hard disk for installation and operation.

 Processor

The computer processor is and will always be an important consideration when purchasing a computer. Processor is considered the brain of the computer. The CPU fetches instructions of program from main memory and executes them one by one. The speed of the CPU is measured in Mega Hertz or Giga Hertz and speed from 500 MHz to 3.4 GHz, it depends upon a user needs, that is why purchasing a processor is an important consideration when building or buying a computer. There are several considerations and additional information about what to ask and look for when purchasing a processor directly or already installed into a computer. 

10 Maintenance Tips to Improve Your Laptop’s Life

Laptops are expensive gadgets made for mobility. Generally, they are not very tough, and are not known to take too well to being mishandled . If you do end up messing your laptop, even the smallest of repairs will set you back by a lot of money. Read on to learn how to care for your laptop. This also includes tips to take care of your laptop Battery and explains how to keep your battery healthy. I have also included some important pointers you need to stick to before, during and after using your laptop.

10 Laptop Maintenance Tips for Better life of Laptops

1. Clean It Right

Since your laptop is such an expensive gadget be extremely careful while cleaning the screen. Make sure the cloth is very soft, and has no imprints or monograms on it, as these may scratch the screen. Also ensure that the cloth is lint-free, else it will leave fibres on the screen, and make the display unclear.
Make sure you don’t spray any cleaner directly on the screen. Instead, spray onto the cleaning cloth, and
allow the cloth to capture the dirt and contaminants.
Choosing The Spray
The screen is the most expensive component of your laptop. Adequate care must be taken while choosing the cleaning spray. Harsh sprays could turn the screen yellow, and may even cause cracking. Use plain water or vinegar to clean the screen.

2. Placing The Laptop

Hard drives work on the property of magnetic flux, so any electrical field may damage the hard disk and the data on it. Make sure your laptop is at least 13 cm away from any electrical appliance that generates a strong magnetic field – such as a microwave oven.

3. Give It A Breather

If you have just shut down your laptop, give it 30 seconds before you start it up again. This ensures that the hard drive has spun down, and is no subjected to sudden switching on and off.

4. Data Backup

Always back up your data. Laptops are mobile devices, and are susceptible to breakage. Also, it’s possible that the hard disk simply crashes. Remember, you can never back up too frequently.

5. Laptop Battery Care

The bane of most laptop users is the lack of a really long battery life. There are three main types of laptop
batteries:
Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd)
Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)
Lithium Ion (Li-ion).
Nickel-Cadmium
This type of battery must be fully discharged and then fully recharged every few weeks. If you don’t do this, it will quickly lose battery life due to what is known as the ‘memory effect’. The memory effect means if you don’t follow the above procedure, your battery will only charge up to the percentage of the last charge.
For instance, if you discharge it to 30 per cent, it will only charge up the remaining 70 per cent. Do this repeatedly, and the 30 per cent will become unusable, giving you an effective 70 per cent charge even though the indicator will still show a 100 per cent charge each time you charge it.


Nickel Metal Hydride
Ni-MH batteries are similar to Ni-Cd batteries, although they are less susceptible to the memory effect. They also have a higher capacity.
Lithium Ion
These are the latest type of batteries, and have no real problems as far as the memory effect is concerned. The problem with these is that they lose their effectiveness if overcharged or left for a long time with a full charge. Always discharge these batteries if you’re going to be storing them away.

6. Keep Your Battery Healthy

Before the first use, charge the batteries for 12 hours or the minimum charge time, as mentioned in the manual. For daily use, charge the battery to capacity, then run the laptop on battery power until it is completely drained (for Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries, this prevents the memory effect) or almost drained. (For
Li-ion batteries, this can help prevent overcharging).
Don’t leave your battery unused for long periods of time. Even if you use AC power most of the time, use the battery regularly to keep it in good condition. Switch off your AC adapter when the laptop is not in use. This prevents overcharging.
To extend battery life, you can try decreasing the LCD brightness while using your notebook. You can activate the ‘Standby’ and ‘Hibernation’ power-saving modes, too, for better battery life.

7. Battery Storage

If you do not use your laptop for extended periods of time – a week or more – remove the battery pack from the laptop, but only after discharging it fully. The batteries should be stored in a cool dry place, removed from heat, humidity and dust as well as metal objects.

8. Use A Laptop Case

It is advisable to spend a couple of thousand rupees and get a sturdy carry-case for your laptop. The case should ideally be hard from the outside and soft on the inside, while being a comfortable fit. It should be able to absorb shocks and carry your laptop accessories.

9. Keep Eatables Away

Obviously, no eating and drinking near or around your laptop. The least bit of water could short-circuit some sensitive laptop circuits, and render it useless.

10. No Hard Booting

You may sometimes be tempted to turn your laptop off by simply holding down the power button until it powers down. Although quick, this method is harmful to the laptop and could cause data loss.  A hard reboot should only be used as a last resort. Sometimes this is inevitable, for instance,  when Windows hangs. But this should not be a regular practice.
These steps when followed will help your laptop in many ways as a little care in maintenance will go a long way in increasing your laptop’s life.

10 Tips For Making A Computer Run Faster

We all get annoyed when our computers are slow but unfortunately most people put up with this state as they do not know what makes a computer run faster. The steps to speed up your computer are very easy to follow.

Whether you need a temporary boost in speed or something long-term, here are 10 tips for making a computer run faster, from easy tips like plugging in your laptop to difficult tips like over-clocking your computer processor.

Computer Tips #1: Turn Off Anti-Virus (Leave On Firewall)

When you need a quick speed boost to play a game or finish an assignment, try turning off your anti-virus software. As long as you don’t open any infected files you should be safe and the speed increase can be significant.

However, make sure that you don’t turn off your firewall when you disable your anti-virus. Firewalls use very little computer processing power but protect you against threats coming from the Internet.

Make sure you turn your anti-virus back on when you don’t need the extra speed anymore.

Computer Tips #2: Plug In Laptops

All laptops built in the last 10 years make their batteries last longer by slowing down the computer processor when you don’t seem to be using all of it. Although this works great to prolong battery life, it means that your laptop runs slower when it runs off battery.

To switch your laptop back into normal mode, all you have to do is plug in your laptop and the computer processor will run at full power, giving you 100% of the speed you expected when you bought the laptop.

Computer Tips #3: Close Unnecessary Programs

Right now my computer says there are 198 programs running—but that’s a lie. Computers can only run one program at the same time for each computer processor in your computer. My computer only has one processor, so it can only run one program.

Computers hide this secret by switching between running programs thousands of times faster than humans can perceive. They switch between programs so fast that computer processor times are measured in nanoseconds.

But keeping up this illusion of running multiple programs at the same time requires extra computer processing speed—speed you can easily add to your most important programs just by closing down your least important programs. If you need a speed boost, start by closing any applications you’re not using; then close any programs in your task bar that you’re not using.

Closing unnecessary programs can easily double the speed of an overloaded computer.

Computer Tips #4: Add Memory

There’s really only one way to make your computer run faster—get faster hardware. All of the other tips in this article tell you how to optimize your computer for speed, but if you’re serious about making your computer run faster, you’re going to need to upgrade its hardware.

It used to be that you could upgrade the processor in computers, but these days that’s mostly wasted effort. The only three pieces of performance-affecting hardware in your computer that you can upgrade are your disk drive, graphics card, and memory.

Super-fast disk drives are expensive and won’t help most users. Faster graphics cards only help those playing games or doing 3-D rendering. But a memory upgrade can help anyone.

There are a lot of things to consider before installing new memory in your computer. You need to know if you have space for it in your computer, whether your operating system can use the extra memory, and what kind of memory to buy. If you don’t feel comfortable buying and installing memory in your computer, your local computer repair shop will do it for $20 to $50 plus the cost of the memory itself.

Computer Tips #5: Defragment

Do you remember how your parents told you to put away your toys as soon as you were done with them—but you never did, so when it came time to clean your room it was a giant mess?

The programmers who wrote Windows also thought it would be a good idea to delay putting away their toys—they knew it would be quicker to save files if they didn’t clean up the filesystem after every save. That means that you need to occasionally clean up your filesystem or Windows will spend longer and longer looking for files under the clutter that builds up.

Luckily, cleaning your filesystem is a lot easier than cleaning your childhood bedroom. Simply go to the control panel and start the defragmentor. Of course we mention this in our computer maintenance checklist. It’ll take a few hours the first time you run it each month, so you probably want to let it run overnight.

Computer Tips #6: Unplug Unused Devices

Just like your computer pretends to run dozens or hundreds of programs at the same time, it pretends to use all of its devices at the same time. In reality, your computer can only do one thing at a time for each computer processor it has, so each device your computer manages takes time from using other devices and programs.

Most devices seem to sit idle. For example, my scanner does nothing most of the day. Yet that scanner does send a message to my computer about once a second just to tell the computer that it’s still there, and that message takes up a tiny bit of my computer’s processing power.

Most devices are like my scanner—unplugging them won’t give you a noticeable speed boost. But some devices are faulty (or have faulty cords) and send hundreds or thousands of messages to your computer every minute, and that does take up a lot of processing power.

Unfortunately, you usually can’t recognize these faulty devices just by looking at them. You need to unplug the devices and test whether your computer runs faster.

Computer Tips #7: Reinstall Windows

Many system administrators got in the habit of reinstalling Windows 95 or 98 every year because they’d fill up with crud and slow down to a crawl.

Recent versions of Windows don’t fill up with crud as fast nor slow down so much, but if your computer is inexplicably running slow and nothing else works, your best solution may be to reinstall Windows. Just remember to make a through backup of everything first. This is where an external harddrive comes in handy, but always double check the files are in fact copied to the new drive before deleting!

Computer Tips #8: Cool CPU

The electricity that powers your computer travels pretty much the same speed—60% the speed of light—no matter what, but when your computer gets hot, the electricity doesn’t travel as far as it does when your computer is cool. That means that your computer may need to send hardware instructions several times before they arrive. And, if your computer gets too hot, it’ll automatically shutdown, which is the ultimate slow down.

Keeping your computer cool is easy. First, if possible, make sure you keep it in a room where the temperature doesn’t go above about 90 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius). Second, make sure you clean the dust out of your computer about once a year (twice a year if someone smokes near your computer). Dust helps trap the heat in your computer, causing it to overheat.

To clean the dust out of your computer, buy a can of compressed air at the local supermarket or office supply store, turn off your computer, carefully open up its case, cover your eyes and mouth, and spray air at every bit of dust you see. Pay special attention to the fan above the CPU and the fan in your power supply (where the power cord plugs into your computer).

Computer Tips #9: Over-clock CPU

Some computer processors can be modified to run faster than normal, which is called over-clocking. Over-clocking will make your computer run faster, but it also generates increased heat in the sensitive areas of your processor, increasing the chance that it will burn itself out. Over-clocking is best done on old machines you can afford to lose.

Over-clocking can also take a long time to set up. The instructions for over-clocking vary from processor to processor, so we can’t include any specific instructions here. We can only include a warning: don’t over-clock unless you’re prepared to destroy your computer processor.

Computer Tips #10: Use A Separate User

If Windows is running slow for you, but you’re not prepared to reinstall it yet, you may find a speed boost by creating a new user account. Your new user account won’t start up as many minor programs automatically and won’t have any accidental misconfigurations.

You can also create separate user accounts for specific tasks, like gaming. I myself have a two accounts on my computer—one for work and one for play. Bonus tips: Besides being able to optimize my play account, I also find that removing all of the game icons from my work account helps keep me focused during the day.

Overheating

Frequent overheating will damage the motherboard! Here is an expanded article on heat and laptops.

Symptoms:

The laptop starts beeping, freezes, restarts by itself or shuts down after it has been on for some time, typically 10-15 minutes or more. If you start it again, it does the same thing after just a few minutes.

Troubleshooting:

Most laptops overheat because the fan intake is blocked either from placing the laptop on a soft surface or by dust. In either case you will need to let it cool down before turning it back on (may take up to 30 min). If you suspect that dust is blocking the fan/heatsink, get a compressed air can and try to clean it now (that will cool down the laptop too).

Sometimes overheating is caused by a fan malfunction. If the fan is completely stuck, the laptop will show an error message immediately after starting. However in rare cases the fan’s fins are just loose or broken and won’t move enough air to cool the laptop.

In either case you should try cleaning the fan(s) and heatsink(s) with compressed air. That is best done outside, as usually there is a surprising amount of dust accumulated in there. If the laptop continues to overheat, you will need to bring it to a repair shop.

Also if you have dropped the laptop, the screws holding the heatsink may have broken off. In this case the laptop will overheat in just a couple of minutes as the CPU has lost contact with the heatsink and is not cooled at all.

Motherboard

A motherboard failure on a laptop that is out of warranty would usually mean that… it’s time for a new laptop. The price of a new motherboard is usually higher than the current value of the laptop.

Symptoms:
Plug in the power adaptor and try to start the laptop.

Nothing happens.
The “ON” light comes on, the fan spins, but nothing on the screen (black) and you can’t hear the HD working after 10-15 sec.
The “ON” light comes on, the fan spins, but after a few seconds the light goes off.
After pressing the “ON” button the screen stays black and you can hear a quiet high-pitched sound coming from the laptop.
Troubleshooting:
Look for the “lid closed” switch and try pushing it a few times. It’s usually a small switch near the hinges that is pressed when the lid(the screen) is closed. Sometimes these switches get stuck in the “lid closed” position that results in black screen(no backlight) or non-starting laptop. Also some laptops have a magnetic switch (newer Dell’s and most Apple’s), that doesn’t get stuck.

Test the laptop with another power adaptor. Although not common, the adaptor can fail and not supply the needed voltage even if it has a green “power on” light that lights up when you plug it in. Even if you measure the output voltage and it’s OK, the adaptor may have failed and wouldn’t supply that voltage under load (typically 3.5A to 6A). You can use an universal adaptor or go to an independent repair shop and ask them to check it (some shops will try to charge you for “estimate” for doing just that, so ask in advance).

Reset the RAM. See the article on RAM failures for instructions.

Remove the hard drive and the CD/DVD if it’s easily removable.

Finally try to start the laptop again with only the power adaptor plugged in and with the RAM reset and all removable components and the battery out. If there’s still nothing on the screen, you will need to bring it to a repair shop.

USB Box

 USB Box

The best way to access your data when your laptop has a serious problem and wouldn’t start is to take the hard disk out and install it in an external USB box. These boxes are ridiculously cheap – starting at around $10-$15 and the whole transfer of the HD takes about 5 min. Then you will be able to access all of your files on another computer (even at an Internet cafe) and print whatever you need or copy the data to a CD.

This procedure is easily accomplished on most laptops, as the hard disk is usually held by 1-2 screws and is very easy to remove. However that will usually affect your warranty, so check the laptop’s documentation before starting.

However there are a few exceptions: on most Apple laptops and some light weight Sony and Toshiba models the hard disk is hard to remove as the laptop has to be disassembled completely to reach it. Removing the hard disk on these models would also invalidate the warranty.

Also some sub-laptops have a smaller hard disks, not the standard 2.5″ but 1.8″ HDs. Hitachi’s 1.8″ drives have the same pin configuration as the 2.5″, however Toshiba’s 1.8″ drives use their own special pin connectors (they are widely used in the hard disk based iPods). Finding an external USB enclosure for them is not that easy. It usually has to be preordered and would take a few days to arrive.

As an alternative to using USB enclosures, there are cable adaptors for standard 2.5″ HDs (including Hitachi’s 1.8″) and Toshiba 1.8″ HDs that would let you connect them to a standard IDE cable on a desktop PC.

* If you have password protected your laptop’s hard disk, transferring it to an external USB box won’t work. The only way to access it would be to connect it directly to another computer by using an IDE adaptor and then remove the password.

LCD Failures

Hardware failure – LCD, inverter, cable or backlight

Symptoms:

The laptop appears to start as usual but the screen is black, if you move it, it turns on and works properly. Failed cable.
The laptop appears to start as usual but the screen is very dark, although it changes colour a little and you can see a very feint image. Failed inverter or cable 90%/10%.
Immediately after starting the screen has dark pink/red tint and turns dark after a few seconds. Failed backlight.
The screen flickers a few times but then turns dark, if you move it or tap it lightly on the sides, it flickers again. Failed cable or LCD 50%/50%.
Screen is either black or white (no picture) and external monitor works. Failed cable or LCD 30%/70%.
There are stripes on the screen (either vertical or horizontal) that change when you move the screen or tap it lightly on the sides. Failed cable or LCD 10%/90%.
In all above cases, if you plug in an external monitor, everything shows fine on it (you have to plug it in before starting the laptop and may need to press the “Fn” key together with one of the “F1″ – “F10″ keys to make the laptop recognize the external monitor).

Troubleshooting:
If the screen is black, look for the “lid closed” switch and try pushing it a few times. It’s usually a small switch near the hinges that is pressed when the lid(the screen) is closed. Sometimes these switches get stuck in the “lid closed” position that results in black screen(no backlight) or non-starting laptop. Also some laptops have a magnetic switch (newer Dells, most Macs, etc.) that doesn’t get stuck.

The most common failures are (in this order): inverter, “lid closed” switch, cable, LCD, backlight.

RAM Failures

Bad RAM is somehow harder to diagnose as similar symptoms may be caused by software problems, other hardware problems or even motherboard failure. However if you experience any of these symptoms, you should check for bad RAM before attempting any other troubleshooting.

Symptoms:
Windows doesn’t start showing different error messages each time.
Windows crashes (blue screen) or freezes frequently.
Windows crashes as soon as you try to start a program.
Unexplained random crashes and freezes without error messages.
Troubleshooting:
Download Memtest86+ and burn it to a CD or make a floppy. For CD get the “Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)” and for floppy (if you can start your laptop from a floppy drive) get the “Pre-Compiled package for Floppy (DOS – Win)”. If you are making a CD, you will have to “burn” the ISO image to the CD, not just copy it. There are numerous guides how to do that with different CD burning software (you cannot do it with the build-in Windows CD burning). In general you need to find where on the menus of your favourite CD burning program it says something like “Create CD from Image” or “Burn Image to Disk” or similar. Then select the .iso image file and burn it. If your laptop crashes a lot and you cannot make the Memtest CD or floppy, ask a friend or talk to your local repair shop and ask them to make one for you (it probably will be $5-$10).

Start the laptop from the CD/floppy and let Memtest86 run for a couple of hours. To start your laptop from the CD you may need to select a temporary boot device by pressing F12, F11 or F8 as soon as the logo appears on the screen (2-3 sec. after turning it on) or immediately after entering the BIOS/HD password if you have set one. If that doesn’t work, you will have to change the boot order in the BIOS. To do that try pressing F1, F2 or “Esc” (for Toshiba) to get to the BIOS settings and make the CD the first booting device.

If Memtest86 finds errors (there usually will be thousands of them) try removing one of the RAM chips (if your laptop has two of them) and run Memtest86 again.

Most laptops have two RAM slots that are easily accessible under a tab on the bottom. Others have just one slot there and the other is under the keyboard, on some there is RAM soldered on the motherboard (Toshiba), and a few laptops have just one RAM slot.

Removing laptop RAM: remove the screws, touch an exposed metal part of the laptop with both your hands (usually the VGA connector has two visible screws that you can touch to discharge any static electricity), then release both clips that hold the RAM and it will pop up. Hold the RAM on the sides (avoid touching the chips) and gently pull it out. To install, insert back the RAM and gently push it down until it locks in place.On some laptops the RAM is under the keyboard, or one chip is on the bottom of the laptop as described above, and another is under the keyboard. It is usually very easy to remove the keyboard on almost all laptops. Try to find the service manual for your model and find the description there. Alternatively, there are step-by-step picture guides on the Internet for most laptop models.

Memtest86 will run until you stop it by pressing “Esc” key. If your laptop freezes or restarts by itself while running the RAM test, it either is overheating or has another hardware problem.

Corrupted Files

Computer files can get damaged in several different ways: by a power interruption, by virus or badly written software, by bad RAM or by physical damage to the hard disk.

Symptoms:
The laptop starts as usual but when Windows starts to load it goes to black screen with either “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME”, “hal.dll is missing or corrupted” or “windows\system32\config\system” (or similar) is missing or corrupted. These error messages indicate a corrupted filesystem or a failing hard disk, about 40 / 60 chance.

Troubleshooting:
The easiest way to diagnose and possibly fix corrupted filesystem is to start the computer from a bootable CD, then scan the hard disk for errors. If the scan completes successfully, the registry can be restored by hand and the computer can be scanned for viruses.

The best way to do that is first to make an UBCD4WIN CD on another computer and start your PC from it. To make the UBCD4WIN you will need a working computer with high-speed Internet and CD burner, and a standard Windows XP SP2 installation disk, “Home” or “Pro”. It is possible to use XP installation disk without a service pack or with SP1, but it will have to be slipstreamed to SP2 before building UBCD4WIN (see http://www.ubcd4win.com/ for details). This is by far the best bootable CD for Windows users, as it will let you use your computer as usual. It comes with hundreds of free programs and utilities that can help you fix almost all software problems.

After starting your computer from UBCD4WIN, go to “Start” button -> Command Prompt and type chkdsk /r /f c: (in the black window that opens). This is the native Windows command for scanning and fixing your “C” drive. Depending on the size of your “C” drive and the number of files you have, this may take from about 30 min. to over 2 hours and if there are errors on the HD – even longer.

If chkdsk shows a lot of errors, especially in “Step 1″ or “Step 2″, you will have to replace the hard disk. You still should let chkdsk finish fixing the disk, so you are able to eventually copy your files to the new disk later on.

If the hard disk is very damaged, chkdsk either won’t start scanning at all or won’t be able to finish scanning it. It will get stuck and stop working. In this case the chances of you being able to copy your files to the new HD are slim. If your files are very valuable, you may consider sending the HD to a data recovery service, however the prices for that start at about $500.

If chkdsk was able to finish scanning the HD showing many errors, shut down the computer, replace the hard disk (if it’s easy to do so) and reinstall/restore Windows, or send the computer for service if it’s still under warranty. Then mount the old HD in an external USB box and try to copy your files. If you have chosen “Make my account private” when you were choosing your password, you won’t be able to open the old “My Documents” folder. Here are some instructions on how to fix that.

If chkdsk finished without any errors, or just 2-3 errors, you can assume that the hard disk is working properly. The file corruption may have been caused by freezing, restarting by itself, improper shutdown of the computer (pulling the cord), viruses or sometimes by bad RAM. If you suspect that there may be any viruses on your computer, use one or two of the antivirus programs that come with UBDC4WIN. To do that you will need Internet connection.

If the error message that prevented the computer from starting was “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME” or “hal.dll is missing or corrupted”, you can try restarting the computer as normal (not from the CD). If it still doesn’t start (both in normal and safe mode) you will have to reinstall/restore Windows, but first backup your files.

If the error message that prevented the computer from starting was “windows\system32\config\system (or similar) is missing or corrupted”, now you should restore the registry files by hand. To do that (still from UBDC4WIN) navigate to “C: -> Windows -> System32 -> config” and rename software to software.1 and system to system.1. Open another window and navigate to “C: -> System Volume Information -> _restore{any-numbers-and letters}”. There you will see a few folders named “PR” + some number. Sort them by date (right-click on empty space and choose “Arrange Icons By -> Modified”) and open one that’s about a week old. Inside you will see one folder and many files. Open the folder.

Now copy the files named _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM and _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE to the other open folder (windows\system32\config). Then rename them to only SYSTEM and SOFTWARE (no extensions).

Restart.

* The Windows System Restore is useful in only two occasions: the one described above and if a driver or Windows update doesn’t install properly and the computer wouldn’t start in normal mode but still starts in safe mode.

Scanner Cleaning Tips

Digital scanner is a very popular input device. Its main purpose to translate images and text printed on the paper into electronic form that can be processed and stored by the computer.

To clean the scanner first unplugs your system power from the electrical outlet.

Always clean the glass of your scanner with any optical surface cleaning fluid.

This process should be done after every three months if you want to save your scanner life.

Mouse Cleaning Tips

The mouse is the most commonly used pointing device in windows environment on the personal computers. That is why mouse required extra care as compare to the other parts of the computer. You should clean your mouse when you feel the mouse is slow to move in different directions or making some strange movements.

• First disconnect your mouse from the back side of the computer.
• Now read the mouse manufacturer manual about your mouse model on how to safe and clean it.
• Open the ball cover from the back side of the mouse and wash the ball then dry it with cloth.
• Now clean dust in the inner side of the mouse specially removes the dust on the rollers with lightly dampened cotton bud. You can use the compressed air for this purpose.
• At the end dry it and Re-assemble your mouse then connect with computer.

Motherboard Cleaning Tips

Motherboard is the main part of your computer that contains all hardware components. Your computer motherboard could fry, if you do not keep it clean on periodically basis. Dust is the main cause to heat up your system and heat link to hardware failure. You can save your computer maintenance cost if you clean your computer on the regular basis. This will improve the cooling and performance of the motherboard components.

• To clean your motherboard first unplugs your system power from the electrical outlet.
• Using the screwdriver remove the side covers of your computer case and put them to one side.
• Check all data and power cables connections. Inspect all motherboard PCI and AGP slots.
• Remove all add-on card of your motherboard for example RAM, modem, VGA, sound card and LAN card.
• Now blow the air around all the motherboard sides and keeping away your blower nozzle 4 to 5 inches away from main board components. You can use vacuum cleaner also for this purpose but compressed air is the better solution to clean a system.
• At the end assemble back all cards, cables and side covers of your system.
• I recommend you doing this after every three months if you want to save your system life.