GENERAL CLEANING TIPS

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 computer components. Your computer components could damage, if you do not keep it clean on periodically basis, because dust is the main cause to heat up your system and heat link to hardware failure.

• Never place your computer on the ground, always use computer table or shelf for this purpose.
• To clean computer case first unplugs your system power from the electrical outlet. Remove all cables and connectors from the back side of your computer.
• Now blow the air around all the hardware components 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 using lightly dampened cloth or spray any cleaning fluids on the computer case and use paper towel to dry it.
• Never clean inside computer components or other circuit board with damp or wet cloth.
• Always be careful to eat or drink around the computer.

Wireless Headset Tips

The Best Wireless Headset

The best wireless headset for you will depend on your needs and how often you will use it. For a cell phone wireless headset, you will want to look for a blue tooth headset, as that is the industry standard. Other features to consider include:

• Comfortable fit
• Features you require
• Within your price range
• Compatible with your current cell phone.

If you need a wireless headset with a landline telephone, you need to consider some alternate options:

• What brand name are you most comfortable with? Wireless headsets for your regular phone come from various manufacturers including Plantronics, GN Netcom and Polycom.
• How much desk space you want it to take up?
• How much range it needs to have (how large is your office)

You may not have considered it, but you can also get a headset for your computer. If you use Skype or any of the other nifty computer phone call programs, you may have a headset plugged into your desktop or laptop already, but wireless may make your life much more flexible.

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Wireless Headset: Bluetooth

Bluetooth is another wireless standard, mostly used for short range connectivity. You will often find Bluetooth technology in printers, cell phones and wireless headsets. Its range is significantly shorter then other wireless technology, about 30 feet. It is less expensive then other Wi-Fi standards and works well for many home offices. This is why Bluetooth has been included in many wireless headsets - but beware of that range, you don't want to wander too far from your source and lose you call.

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Reasons to Use a Wireless

A wireless headset offers you significantly more freedom while you talk on your cell phone or regular phone. By plugging in the wireless adaptor, you can walk all over your home or office. The benefits in an office environment are clear, but these are also great for stay at home parents who may be chasing an active toddler all over the house! The car is another obvious location for the use of a wireless headset.

Good wireless headsets come equipped with volume control and answer buttons and they should be small and fit comfortably over your ear. They should be snug enough so you don't have to worry about the headset slipping off your ear or falling to the ground.

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Problems with Wireless Headset

If your wireless headset is having performance issues, there are a few things you can check.

• Make sure your telephone or ell phone is within range and not overly obstructed.
• Check to make sure your cell phone battery is charged and you are receiving a good signal.
• Typically, with wireless headsets you will have multiple channels from which to select the best signal, so make sure that you have switched around to see which is best and that you aren't still on the default channel.
• Make sure you try your phone without the headset on at all to ensure that the line or signal is strong.
• Finally, check to make sure the batteries in the wireless headset are charged.

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Wireless Headset

A wireless headset is a small device you slip over your ear that allows you to talk via your cell phone, but hands free. Using the blue tooth technology standard, wireless headsets offer an excellent range and great hands free features.

These wireless headsets have been especially popular with commuters and people who need to use their cell phones in their car. The increased safety afforded when you are using both hands to drive makes the investment in one of the headsets an easy decision. Additionally, you aren't hampered by an annoying cord which can also be hazardous if you need full range of motion to avoid a potential car accident.

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Wireless Headset with Regular Phone

There are wireless headsets on the market that you can use with a regular phone, but don't think you'll have to buy a different headset for every phone in your home or office. There are also wireless headset devices that you can hook up to a regular phone, cell phone and PDA, and you can alternate which device you wish to use your wireless headset with. This kind of flexibility is key in this day and age of telecommunications - and for your wallet.

How to create One-Click Hibernation icon on your desktop?

Today tip will help you to start the quicker hibernation process with a single click on desktop icon. This is the easiest way to start the hibernation process in windows XP. A simple click on hibernation icon, close the all running applications and will start hibernation process properly. This tip is very useful to save energy and time as well. If any case this desktop shortcut does not work, then you should need to configure your computer to enable hibernation. Go on the Start button and select "Settings". Click on "Control Panel" then double-click on the "Power Options" icon. Click on the "Hibernate" tab and make sure the "Enable Hibernate" checkbox is checked.

Follow the given steps to create the shutdown icon:

To create a new shortcut, right click on any empty area of your desktop and go to New then

Shortcut.

Now a small windows dialog box will appear with the title "Create Windows". In the "Create Shortcut" window, type the following command.

rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll, SetSuspendState

Click Next button to type the name of this shortcut and press Finish to close it. Now click on Hibernate icon to verify the process.

How to protect your computer with advanced backup and recovery?

A backup is a duplicate copy of a file, program or disk that can be used if the original copy is lost, damaged, or destroyed. Thus, if you regularly take backups of your sensitive data or programs and update them as and when needed, system failures can be covered easily through these backups. For example, in Norton Ghost, you can takes backup of your complete system within minute. Norton Ghost by Symantec provides us a complete solution of system backup. Norton Ghost has a very simple wizard base control panel to help the all level of users. Norton Ghost offerings with the full system backup and restore, partition backup, file and folders backup, backup using compression and encryption and incremental backups also.

Using Norton Ghost, you can create the image of full hard disk to another hard disk, or image of one partition to other partitions. You can store this image to almost any media CD/DVD, USB, external storage device, zip drive and network drive also. You can download this tool for any windows version using Symantec website. Download it and run the easy setup.

After installation launch Norton Ghost, the first screen will appear with title “Norton Ghost Year”. First click on “Backup” (Backup your computer to a Ghost image file) link and then click on Next button to start backup process.

Here you can select disk or partition to backup, If you want to create backup of your C drive (windows with all installed programs), then select only C drive under “Source” section. Now under destination section, select the option “File” (hard disk) or “Recordable CD or DVD” (if you have CD/DVD writer and empty writeable CD/ DVD) and click Next button.

Now click on Browse button to choose destination drive then enter image file name and click on “Save” button.

Again press the Next button to open Advance settings (optional setting), click on advance settings button, if want to choose compression, image password and others features.

Now click on Next button to view the summary. Press “Run Now” button to start process

Here a message will prompt you, save your data and close all open application.

When you pressed Ok button, your system will restart to run Norton Ghost (DOS base process).

In DOS mode, System will take time (depends upon your data size) to complete the process and then you view and verify backup file in normal mode.

Now you can use this backup files (using Restore option) to restore system backup when you will need or move to any other computer.

Useful tip to Hide drives and Partitions

You can hide your system partitions or drives from other users. This tip is very useful if different type of users are using same computer then you can safe your important drives with this trick from any illegal action. You can use windows XP TweakUI utility or registry editor to hide drives. To work with windows XP TweakUI go to Run and type tweakui then press enter. A small TweakUI interface will open with options to uncheck drives that you want hidden. Click OK to finish it.

You can also use registry editor to edit the computer registry to turn off the display of drives, but be careful to work with computer registry.

Follow the given steps to hide computer drives:

• First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option.

• Here locate the location to:

HKey_Current_User \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows

\ Current Version \ Policies \ Explorer

• Here right click on right side of Registry editor panel and add new DWORD then put its value 3FFFFFF.

• Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Different methods through viruses may be transferred

There are different methods through viruses may be transferred from one computer to another.

Now- a-days, most of the viruses spread due to receiving unknown e-mail messages that contains viruses. When a user opens such an infected message, the virus is also loaded into the computer memory. In this way, many other program files loaded into the memory are infected. This virus is also transferred to other computers when e-mail messages are sent from the infected computer to them. Due to these viruses, some time an auto generated email message from your email ID sends to your friends from your side with different virus messages. Never open unknown and attractive subject line email messages, always scan first even if you know the sender of the message.

Another way of spreading virus is by using Internet and other networks. For example, when you download infected executables files or data files from the Internet or from a shared disk on the network, viruses are transferred to your computer. It must be noted that many software are available on the Internet with free of cost. Most of that software contains viruses, for example free PHP or ASP scripts are the main source of virus, always get these scripts from reliable sources. In an LAN, if a computer contains a virus, then all the computers on the network may be infected with that virus.

One important means of exchanging data is through the use of removable media like, CDs, MP3 player, ipod and flash devices. So, when you copy the data from one computer to another by using a removable media, the viruses are also transferred.

The virus can also infect your computer by using pirated software. The software, which is installed into your computer without license is referred to as pirated software. Some companies may intentionally attach some virus programs into their software. This program will only activate when it does not find some special files like license files on your computer.

How to eliminate the needless visual effects for better windows performance?

Today tip will help you to increase the performance of your computer by eliminating the needless visual effects. By default windows XP gives you many options in the graphics fields to enjoy maximum graphics. For example, you can add pictures on folders and drop shadow on icon to give you better look but it will effect on the performance of your computer, especially on an older computer. Window XP has many default graphics which is not so useful for a common user, if you re-adjust these graphics then there is less effect on the user activities but the performance of computer will be increase tremendously. Here I will tell you how to choose:

To edit these settings, first you should log onto your computer with administrative rights.

Click Start button and type sysdm.cpl in Run box then press Ok button for next.

Here a dialog box will appear with the title "System Properties", select "Advanced" tab.

Here click on Settings button under Performance area.

When you have done then "Performance Options" dialog box will appear with different options. Here select the Visual Effects tab and choose the settings you want to use for the appearance and performance of windows on this computer.

Turns off all the visual effects in the option of "Adjust for best performance" and when you select the option "Adjust for best appearance" it will gives you opposite effect ,Everything will turns on. Selecting "Let Windows choose what's best for my computer" triggers, as you might guess, different choices on different computers. And to pick and choose individual effects yourself, choose "custom" then decide which ones you want.

Loaded driver Mup.sys

Loaded driver agp440.sys

Did not load driver ACPI Uniprocessor PC

Did not load driver Audio Codecs

Did not load driver Legacy Audio Drivers

Did not load driver Media Control Devices

Did not load driver Legacy Video Capture Devices

Did not load driver Video Codecs

To enable boot logging, reboot your computer and press F8 keys. An advance menu screen will appear with different options.

• Safe Mode

• Safe Mode with Networking

• Safe Mode with Command Prompt

• Enable Boot Logging

• Enable VGA Mode.

• Last known Good Configuration

• Start Windows Normally

• Reboot

Here select the option Enable Boot Logging, and press Enter button, your system will be returned to main menu screen and again press Enter button to start logging.

If there is no problem in windows startup, then your system will boot successfully in normal mode, and you can review the log file. In case any problems in log file regarding loading services and drivers then you can troubleshoot that services (stop and restart) and drivers (reinstall).

If your problem does cause Windows to crash then restart your system and again Press F8 button to reboot your system in safe mode. In safe mode again reviewing the ntbootlog.txt file and identifies the problems either disable any device or uninstall any third party application. If your problem is still there then visit your hardware vendor website for help.

How to Enable Boot Logging to troubleshoot windows startup problem?

You can troubleshoot the windows startup problems by enabling the windows boot logging features. When you will start your computer with enable boot logging feature, a log file will be created to identify the drivers and services that is creating the problem during startup process. The name of this file is

ntbootlog.txt and located in windows root directory (%SYSTEMROOT%, normally in C drive). You can search this file with the name of "ntbootlog.txt" in C drive. Follow the example of ntbootlog.txt in windows XP.

Service Pack 2 8 7 2007 22:02:09.500

Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\hal.dll

Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\KDCOM.DLL

Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\BOOTVID.dll

Loaded driver ACPI.sys

Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\WMILIB.SYS

Loaded driver pci.sys

Loaded driver isapnp.sys

Loaded driver intelide.sys

Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\PCIIDEX.SYS

Loaded driver MountMgr.sys

Loaded driver ftdisk.sys

Loaded driver dmload.sys

Loaded driver dmio.sys

Loaded driver PartMgr.sys

Loaded driver VolSnap.sys

Loaded driver atapi.sys

Loaded driver disk.sys

Loaded driver \WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\CLASSPNP.SYS

Loaded driver fltMgr.sys

Loaded driver sr.sys

Loaded driver Fastfat.sys

Loaded driver KSecDD.sys

Loaded driver NDIS.sys

How to enjoy Chatting on your network with WinChat ?

Next you should go to Conversation Menu and then click the dial option.

Here choose that person you want to chat with on your network (when you will click on dial then you will get list of that persons with which you are going to connect on your network even if they are running winchat or not. If you dial any body of your list they are not responding or ignoring you, then they may not be running the winchat.

When any body is running winchat he will hear a ringing sound. Both you and your networking sharing person will free to chat with each other when your recipient clicks the answer button.

Reduce the shutdown time of Windows 2000 and XP.

You can reduce the shutdown time of windows 2000 and XP using some tricks. Actually windows XP take time to close all running programs and applications before shutdown, but you can minimize this time if you have little knowledge about editing windows registry.

Follow the given steps to reduce the shutdown time:

First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option. Here locate the location to:

Go to Hkey_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop

Here in right side panel, double click on AutoEndTasks and here its default value is 0. Now change it to 1.

Now in same side panel double click on value name WaitToKillAppTimeout. Its default value data is 20000; now change this value of WaitToKillAppTimeout to 3500.

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Edit windows registry keys to change the Registered Owner.

Some time you entered the wrong or invalid registered owner information when you installed the windows. But don't worry you can change the registered owner information any time, if you have little knowledge about editing windows registry.

Follow the given steps to change the owner name:

• First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option.

• Here locate the location to:

• Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion

• Here in right side panel, double click on RegisteredOwner and here change its value data as you wish.

• Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Changing the Location of Special Folders

You can modify the registry to change the location of special folders like:

• My Documents

• Favorites

• My Pictures

• Personal

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

3. Double click on any locations you want to change and alter the path

4. Logoff or restart for the changes to go into effect.
   

Set the status of NUM LOCK key enabled automatically.

You can manage the status of NUM LOCK key is different for each user and you can set its status enable or disable when user logon. NUM LOCK status is disable by default and if you want your NUM LOCK key is enable automatically before a user presses CTRL+ALT+DEL to log on. You need to edit the registry of your computer to change this status enabled.

Follow the given steps to enable NUM LOCK key :

Click Start button then type regedit in Run option then press Enter for next.

Here locate the location to:

HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Keyboard

Here in right side panel, double click on the value InitialKeyboardIndicators then change its value data from 0 to 2.

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Automatic Screen Refresh Tips

When you are working on your local computer and want to refresh any changes in your system automatically. For example some times you are watching sports results, online Stock Exchange rates and any changes to your hard drive but these changes are not usually refreshed until you press the F5 key on your keyboard.

To refresh your screen automatically you should edit your system Registry. But the best technique to edit the windows registry keys, always export or backup the whole windows registry keys on backup drive before editing. Because any mistake in Registry can cause serious problem in your computer to run properly.

Follow the given steps to change the updates automatically.

• First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option.

• In Registry Editor panel go to the path:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentControlSet /

Control / UpdateMode

• Here in right hand side panel edit the DWORD value to be between 1 and 5.

• Now restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

How to add Items to the Start Button using Registry?

The best technique to edit the windows registry keys, always export or backup the whole windows registry keys on backup drive before editing. Because any mistake in Registry can cause serious problem in your computer to run properly.

Follow the given steps to change the Start button setting.

• First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option.

• In Registry Editor go to left hand panel, and find HKey_Classes_Root / Directory / Shell

• Here Right click on Shell folder option and add any new key with descriptive name and Press Enter.

• Now Right click on that key and give the full path of that program you are interested to add in start button. For example if you want to add MS excel, then full path may be C:\program file\msoffice\msexcel.EXE.

• Now close all open programs and check the changes in your computer Start button.

How to secure your desktop Icons and other settings?

Today tip is very useful particularly for home users who want to secure their default desktop icons and other desktop settings against unwanted changes that other users can make. For example changes in system desktop appearance, change icons title or image, themes, and screen saver as well as other display settings. Using registry editor, you can disable the save settings functionality to prevent the unwanted changes.

Follow the given steps to disable the save settings functionality for desktop:

To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.

Click Start button and type regedit in Run option then press Enter for next.

Here locate the location to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Here in right side panel, right click to create a new DWORD value with the name NoSaveSettings (it is case sensitive), then assign number 1 in value data box.

Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

But next time, if you want to enable right click functionality on desktop then simply change the value to 0 of data box or delete the NoSaveSettings DWORD item.

Mozilla And Netscape E-Mail Back up path

With Netscape Communicator and Mozilla the default e-mail clients location share the same folder locations for e-mail database:

C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\
C:\Windows\Profiles\User Name\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\

Mozilla profile contains your bookmarks, mail/news files and account settings, stored passwords, address book, security certificates and preferences.

• Mail. Mail messages are stored in the Mail sub-directory. To back up your mail messages, save the files without extension, for example INBOX. To back up filters too, save the rules.dat file. The *.msf files are index files that will be automatically regenerated if removed. Save the entire Mail directory if you are uncertain what to save.

• News. News settings and messages are stored in the News sub-directory. Your subscribed groups are stored in the *.rc files. The complete news server groups list is stored in hostinfo.dat. *.msf files store message summaries. To back up news, save the *.rc, *.dat, and *.msf files.

• Address book. In your profile directory, save abook.mab (personal address book) and history.mab (collected addresses). If you have more than one address book, save all *.mab files.

• Bookmarks. Save the bookmarks.html file.

• Saved password data. Username and password data is stored in 12345678.s (the number part is random). Save the file.

• Cookies. Save the cookies.txt file.

How to create One-Click Restart icon on your desktop?

How to create One-Click Restart icon on your desktop?

Today tip will help you to enjoy the quicker restart of your computer with a single click on desktop Restart icon. You can set the time when your computer will start the restart process. A single click on Restart icon will close the all running applications and start the restart properly after predefined time. This tip is very useful to save power and time as well. After the execution of this command, a small window will appear to start count time of system restart.

Follow the given steps to create the shutdown icon:

To create a new shortcut, right click on any empty area of your desktop and go to New then Shortcut.

Now a small windows dialog box will appear with the title “Create Windows”. In the “Create Shortcut” window, type the following command.

SHUTDOWN -r -t 30

Here t 30 means time in second, for example if you want your computer will restart automatically after half minute then the command will be shutdown -r -t 30. But if you want your computer will restart without any countdown then type command as shutdown -r -t 00.

Click Next button to type the name of this shortcut and press Finish to close it.

This command starts a 30-second countdown for restart, which permits you to abort it (with a shutdown -a command).

At the end, when you click on restart icon, a windows dialog box will appear with the information” This system is shutting down. Please save all work in progress and log off. Any unsaved changes will be lost. This shutdown was initiated by administrator”.

How to preview the Word documents without opening?

How to preview the Word documents without opening?

In Microsoft Word, you can preview the document list within Word without having to open the document. This tip is very useful, if you have many word files and are not sure which file contain the information that you need. Almost all versions of Word support this feature to view all word file as preview one by one.

Follow the given steps to preview the word document without having to open the document:

First click on Start button, go to Program then click on Microsoft Word to run the word application.

Now go to File menu and click on Open option to open any word file. Here a small dialog will appear with title "Open".

Now on the right hand side of the toolbar click the down arrow on Views and choose Preview.

This will open the preview pane. Click on any file on the left hand side and preview what inside the file. When you find the file you need just click Open button to open the file.

Laptop Tips and Tricks

Laptop Tips and Tricks

Thermal dissipation - Laptop cooling
Never use your laptop directly on a surface that prevents proper air flow, such as inside the laptop case, on a blanket or pillow. Periodically check that vents are not obstructed. Use a mobile cooling pad if necessary.

Battery charge - Laptop autonomy
Discharge completely your battery at least once per month.

Security - Laptop tracking
Use the CyberAngel security solution to track your laptop in case it is stolen.

Viruses
It is not enough to have an antivirus program installed. It needs to be kept up-to-date, and we recommend to update it at least once per week.

Windows Updates
Make sure that your computer downloads Window Updates periodically and frequently. This will enhance stability and security of your operating system.

Carrying
Always use an appropriate carrying bag when traveling, to enhance shock absorption. Whenever you need to ship your laptop through a carrier (SUPS, FedEx, UPS, etc...), always use packaging specifically designed for laptops transit.

Shocks
Because of they are designed to maximize mobility, laptops are prone to shocks. Always turn your laptop OFF before you move your notebook from a place to another, unless it is well stabilized on a stand that is designed to absorb shocks.

Humidity
Laptops are very sensitive to humidity. Avoid liquid exposure as much as you can (water, wine, etc...).

Dust
Laptops are very sensitive to dust. Make sure the laptop is never left on a floor, but that it is always high on a table, desk, stand, etc... Check vents frequently to see if they are not obstructed.

Preventing Laptop Computer Theft

Laptop computers are easy targets for thieves. Laptop computers are small, valuable, can be removed quickly, and are easily hidden. Laptop computers can be worth up to $5000 or more. The laptop computer can be pawned at a pawnshop for half its value.

Here are a few tips to reduce the risk of having your laptop stolen.

• Don’t leave your laptop out in the open even for a second.

• Remember extreme temperatures can cause damage to your laptop.

• Transport your laptop in a nondescript case.

• Write down the serial number and keep it in a safe place.

• Always back up your information on disks and store them in a safe place.