Putting A Computer Together Step By Step Part III: RAM - Funny home videos are a click away
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Putting A Computer Together Step By Step Part III: RAM
Label: ComputerPutting A Computer Together Step By Step Part I: Motherboard
Putting A Computer Together Step By Step Part II:CPU
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Humans Are Dead: Aka: Basic Computer Maintenance
Label: Computer[HighDef] [Tutorial] - Optimize Your Computer's Settings
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Make your computer more secure
Label: Computersource : www.microsoft.com
It seems like the media report on a new Internet attack, spyware program, or virus every week. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a security expert to improve your computer’s security.
The quickest way to protect yourself is to sign up for Windows Live OneCare. OneCare provides virus scanning, a firewall, tune-ups, automatic updates, and most everything else you need to help protect your computer. If you don’t understand how those security features work, it’s okay, because OneCare does almost everything automatically. If OneCare does need information from you, the software service walks you through the process in a straightforward, friendly manner.
If you’d rather not use OneCare, follow these four steps to make your computer more secure:
1. Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), available freely from Microsoft Update, greatly improves the security of your computer. SP2 updates your computer to prevent known security threats, enables Automatic Updates to help protect you from future security threats, and enables Windows Firewall to help protect you from direct Internet attacks.
2. Install antivirus software
Viruses install themselves on your computer by exploiting a security weakness. Once installed, viruses attempt to propagate to other computers across the Internet. Windows XP does not include antivirus software, so you need to download and install an antivirus program, such as Windows Live OneCare. Many other software vendors offer antivirus software, too.
Microsoft also offers the free Malicious Software Removal Tool to help clean your computer if it should become infected. However, the Malicious Software Removal Tool cleans only a limited number of viruses and cannot prevent virus infections. Therefore, you still need to install antivirus software.
3. Install antispyware software
Spyware is a broad term used to describe software that might install itself without your knowledge, take unwanted actions (such as monitoring your computer usage or displaying advertisements), and make itself difficult to remove. If you have ever had your Internet Explorer home page change, seen a toolbar appear unexpectedly, or noticed new icons near your system clock, you may have spyware on your computer.
Antispyware improves your protection by helping you remove known spyware from your computer and helping block the installation of new spyware. Microsoft offers the free Windows Defender for spyware protection.
4. Back up your computer
The first three steps work to protect you from threats against your computer. However, not all threats can be prevented. In particular, hardware failure, theft, and fire can damage your computer and destroy your data. To protect yourself from these threats, plan for recovery by backing up your computer. If disaster strikes, copies of your pictures, home movies, e-mail, and other important documents will be stored safely in your backup.
Klik disini untuk melanjutkan »»Remove programs you don't need anymore
source : www.microsoft.com
If you installed a program and it wasn't as useful or as fun as you had hoped, it's a good idea to remove it. Every program installed on your computer takes up space, and some programs slow your computer down (even if you don't use them).
To remove a program
1. | Log on to your computer as an administrator. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. |
2. | Click Add or Remove Programs. |
3. | In the Currently installed programs list, click the program that you want to remove. Then, click Remove or Change/Remove. |
4. | Follow the instructions that appear to remove your program. Each program has a different process. Restart your computer if prompted. |
Note: There may be programs on your computer that you're not directly using but that are important. (Operating system updates are an example.) If you're not sure what a program does, it's wise not to remove it until you're sure it's something you do not need. Some programs cannot be removed from the Add or Remove Programs window. In this case, antispyware software such as Windows Defender may be able to remove the software.
Klik disini untuk melanjutkan »»Delete files you don't need anymore
source : www.microsoft.com
If you don't get rid of or recycle things in your house from time to time, you eventually run out of room. This is true for your computer as well. Whether it's a digital picture with everyone’s eyes closed, an outdated resume, or a song you're tired of, at some point everyone needs to delete files. Deleting a file removes it from your computer and frees up space for more files, just like getting rid of old clothes and shoes frees up room in your closet.
To help you avoid accidentally deleting a file, Windows automatically moves a deleted file to the Recycle Bin, rather than removing it from your computer. You can then choose to restore it from the Recycle Bin or permanently remove it by emptying your Recycle Bin. The sections that follow describe how to delete files and use the Recycle Bin.
Note: The following types of files are not placed in the Recycle Bin:
• | Files stored on removable disks |
• | Files stored on network drives |
• | Files deleted from compressed (zipped) folders |
How to delete a file
1. | To delete a file, click it to select it, and then press the DELETE key. |
2. | When prompted, click Yes. |
When you delete a file, Microsoft Windows XP moves it to the Recycle Bin so you can recover it later, as described in the next section. If you want to permanently remove a file, empty your Recycle Bin.
Tip: To bypass the Recycle Bin when deleting a file, hold down the SHIFT key while pressing DELETE. When prompted, click Yes to immediately remove the file from your computer.
How to restore a file from the Recycle Bin
If you deleted the wrong file, don't panic. Deleted files are temporarily stored in the Recycle Bin. To protect you from accidentally deleting a file, the Recycle Bin stores a copy of the files you delete.
To restore your file from the Recycle Bin
1. | On your desktop, double-click the Recycle Bin. |
2. | In the Recycle Bin, you will see every file you have recently deleted. (As the Recycle Bin fills, Windows will automatically delete the oldest items first.) Find the file you want to recover, right-click it, and then click Restore. |
3. | Your file is returned to its original location. You can close the Recycle Bin |
Tip: You can easily access your desktop by right-clicking your clock and then clicking Show The Desktop.
How to empty the Recycle Bin
Rather than wait for Windows to automatically delete files when your Recycle Bin is full, you can free up space for new files by emptying it.
To empty your Recycle Bin
1. | On your desktop, right-click the Recycle Bin, and then click Empty Recycle Bin. |
2. | When prompted to confirm the action, click Yes. |
Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently removes your files, making them unavailable to most users. However, skilled computer users might be able to recover files even after they have been removed from the Recycle Bin. Therefore, while emptying the Recycle Bin frees up disk space, it is not sufficient for removing highly confidential information. To remove every trace of a file, use a tool such as Cipher.exe to permanently overwrite deleted data.
Specify how folders open
source : www.microsoft.com
Microsoft Windows XP automatically chooses how to display folders based on the types of files they contain. For example, Windows XP displays your My Pictures folder in either Filmstrip or Thumbnails view so that you can see the pictures without opening the files. However, Windows XP displays your My Music folder in Tiles view so that you can see the names of the songs. In this article, you’ll learn the difference between each type of view and how to change your folder settings for individual folders or for all the folders on your computer.
Change the view for a single folder
If you are not satisfied with the way Windows XP displays a folder, you can change it by clicking the Views button on the toolbar and then selecting one of the following options:
• | Filmstrip. Displays a row of thumbnails (reduced images of pictures) and a large preview of the currently selected picture. Filmstrip view is perfect for folders that contain a few pictures. |
• | Thumbnails. Displays thumbnails of pictures and videos. Thumbnails view is the best choice for folders containing a large number of pictures. |
• | Tiles. Displays large icons, file names, and file information for each file. |
• | Icons. Displays medium-sized icons and file names for each file. |
• | List. Displays small icons and file names for each file. |
• | Details. Displays small icons, file names, and other information about each file. Details view allows you to quickly sort files by clicking the column headings. |
Change the view for all folders
Clicking the Views button allows you to change the view for only the folder you currently have open. You can also reset the view for all folders.
To reset the view for all folders
1. | Click Start, and then click My Documents. |
2. | Click the Views button, and then click the view that you want to apply to all folders. |
3. | Click Tools, and then click Folder Options. |
4. | Click the View tab, and then click Apply to All Folders. |
5. | Click Yes. |
6. | Click OK. |
The next time you open a folder, it will be displayed using the view you chose. To restore your original folder settings, repeat steps 1-3. Then, for step 4, click Reset All Folders.
Klik disini untuk melanjutkan »»Organize files and folders
source : www.microsoft.com
Your computer puts information at your fingertips. Over time, however, you might have so many files that it can be difficult to find the specific file you need. Just like a physical filing cabinet, your computer files can benefit from better organization.
In order to keep your information organized, try these tips:
• | First, create a folder structure that organizes your files according to category. |
• | Once you've done that, you will be able to find most files by simply clicking the folder. If a folder has a large number of files, you can use the Details view to locate the file you need. |
• | If you aren't sure which folder contains the file you need, you can search your computer for the file. |
Create a folder structure
The most effective way to organize your files is to create a folder structure that fits how you use your computer. For example, you might have folders within My Documents for:
• | Finances: Documents related to your budget and taxes |
• | School: Class notes and reports |
• | Work: Your résumé and other work-related documents |
• | Shopping: Notes comparing different products and stores |
• | Home: Records relating to home maintenance and improvements |
To create a folder structure
1. | Click Start, and then click My Documents. |
2. | Click the File menu, click New, and then click Folder. |
3. | Type the name for your new folder, and then press ENTER. |
4. | Repeat steps 2 and 3 to create additional folders. Note: You can create sub-folders within folders for multiple levels of organization. |
After you have created your folder structure, you can move files into your new folders
1. | In My Documents, select the files or folders that you want to move. To select multiple files, hold down the CTRL key and click each file you want to select. |
2. | Click the Edit menu, and then click Cut. |
3. | Open the folder you want to store your files in. Click the Edit menu, and then click Paste. |
4. | Repeat steps 1-3 until you have moved all of your files to their new locations. |
Now that you have an organized system of folders, when you save new files, be sure to save them in one of your folders to keep things organized.
Browsing files
Sometimes you know where a file is stored, but there are so many files in the folder that it's difficult to find the file you want. The best way to search through a large folder is to use the Details view. The Details view allows you to quickly sort your files and view different types of information about all the files in a folder.
To use the Details view
1. | Open the folder you want to browse |
2. | Click the Views button, and then click Details. |
3. | To sort the files, click the column heading that you want to sort by. For example, to sort files from oldest to newest, click the Date Modified heading. To reverse the sort order (for example, to sort from newest to oldest), click the column heading twice. |
4. | By default, the Details view shows the file name, date, size, and type. You can add other information as well. To add or remove columns, right-click a column heading, and then click More. |
5. | In the Choose Details dialog box, select the columns you want to see in the Details view. For pictures and videos, you can add Dimensions to sort by size. For music, you can add Artist, Album Title, and Genre to make it easier to find the songs you want. |
6. | Click OK to add the columns to your Details view. |
When you modify the columns in the Details view, it affects only the folder you are viewing. To change the layout of all folders on your computer, read Specify how folders open.
Searching for files
If you don't remember which folder you saved a file in, you can search for it. To search for a file
1. | Click Start, and then click Search. |
2. | In the left pane, click the type of file you want to search for, or click All files and folders. |
3. | Based on the type of file you chose to search for, specify your criteria. If you know part of the file name, type it. Then click Search. |
4. | Windows XP searches your computer, which may take several minutes. Windows XP then displays the search results, which you can browse just like files in a folder. Once you are done searching, click Yes, finished searching. Tip: If you want to view any of the search results, double-click the file and it will open in the relevant application. You can do this as many times as necessary to find the file you need. Note: For even faster search results, download and install the MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search. With Windows Desktop Search, you can find files on your computer in just a few seconds. |
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Computer Hardware Preventive Maintenance Software
Label: ComputerComputers often break down at the worst of all times. These problems can be averted, or at least minimized with preventive maintenance. Several methods of keeping computer hardware in good working order deal with the external components of the computer, such as the keyboard and monitor. For example, it is important to keep the processor away from excess heat and moisture. There are also computer hardware preventive maintenance software programs that can help with the upkeep of other internal aspects of a computer.
While it is rare to find a CMMS that works on all of a computer’s hardware, many different programs can be utilized simultaneously. Some computers have periodic automatic updates available that can be downloaded and used to improve the computer’s performance. Other software programs, known as disk defragmenters, manage hard drive space so that software programs take less time to access. Programs known as hardware diagnostic utilities can check the computer’s hardware components and alert the user about any potential failures. Since some new hardware will not always work on all computers and could cause existing hardware to malfunction, it is important to have a CMMS program to ensure that the new hardware is compatible with existing hardware.
Antivirus programs are another important component of computer hardware preventive maintenance software. Computer viruses have become increasingly common in recent years and can render a good computer useless. While computer viruses mainly attack software programs, they can ruin hardware as well. Several manufacturers make reliable antivirus software. A couple of well-known companies are Norton and McAfee. As with much preventive maintenance software, these programs are usually available for a free trial period before the user must pay a subscription fee.
Computer hardware preventive maintenance software is necessary to keep computers in good working order. This software manages aspects of computer hardware that would be difficult and time-consuming for even the most computer savvy users.
Preventive Maintenance Software Info features detailed information on preventive maintenance software for health care and correctional institutions, computer hardware, and personal assets, as well as reviews of preventive maintenance software companies. Preventive Maintenance Software Info is the sister site of Fleet Maintenance Software Web.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Bailey