TECHIES AND NEWBIES

How to add or delete user account

2009-09-17T00:39:00.000-07:00

First, Go to START
Second, Control Panel
Third, User account
Fourth, select account you want to edit or delete
Fifth, add some restrictions to the account
Sixth, then click OK

that's it. . . .
note: restart or log off your PC to test your newly created aacount

How to remove program from your PC

2009-09-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

First, Go to START
Second, Control Panel
Third, Add/Remove Program
Fourth, Select a program you want to remove
Fifth, then click change/Remove

that's it. . . .
note: some application required to restart your PC to effectively remove the program.

2009-09-17T00:05:00.001-07:00

Free xml sitemap generator

WINDOW SYSTEM REGISTRY

2009-09-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

REGISTRY is one of the important configurations to set-up the Microsoft Windows Operating system. Some viruses modify the normal sequence flow of the system and some of them will delete important registry files and windows will not work properly. When fixing a registry back to the default, it takes time to find the exact files. There’s an efficient solution for that.

Just follow my instruction.

First, open a notepad

Second, copy the code below and paste it to the notepad

[Version]

Signature="$Chicago$"

Provider=Symantec

[DefaultInstall]

AddReg=UnhookRegKey

[UnhookRegKey]

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\batfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\comfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\exefile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\piffile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\regfile\shell\open\command,,,"regedit.exe ""%1"""

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\scrfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System,DisableRegistryTools,0x00000020,0

Third, save the notepad to your desktop and name it UnhookRegKey.inf, close the notepad.exe

Forth, go to your desktop and locate the UnhookRegKey.inf, just right click on it and choose install.

Lastly, congrats, you’ve done it, don’t worry everything’s fine, your system will reload and your registry is now already set to default.

Just leave me a comment. Good luck.

Thanks

Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet

2009-09-15T19:01:00.000-07:00

Point To Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE)

The working standard for the PPPoE protocol was published by the IETF in 1999. The IETF specification for PPPoE is RFC 2516. PPPoE expands the original capability of PPP by allowing a virtual point to point connection over a multipoint Ethernet network architecture. PPPoE is a protocol that is widely used by ISPs to provision digital subscriber line (DSL) high speed Internet services, of which the most popular service is ADSL. The similarity between PPPoE and PPP has led to the widespread adoption of PPPoE as the preferred protocol for implementing high speed Internet access. Service providers can use the same authentication server for both PPP and PPPoE sessions, resulting in a cost savings. PPPoE uses standard methods of encryption, authentication, and compression specified by PPP.

PPPoE is configured as a point to point connection between two Ethernet ports. As a tunneling protocol, PPPoE is used as an effective foundation for the transport of IP packets at the network layer. IP is overlaid over a PPP connection and uses PPP as a virtual dial up connection between points on the network. From the user's perspective, a PPPoE session is initiated by using connection software on the client machine or router. PPPoE session initiation involves the identification of the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the remote device. This process, also known as PPPoE discovery, involves the following steps:

Initiation - The client software sends a PPPoE Active Discovery Initiation (PADI) packet to the server to intitiate the session.

Offer - The server responds with a PPPoE Active Discovery Offer (PADO) packet.
Request - Upon receipt of the PADO packet, the client responds by sending a PPPoE Active Discovery Request (PADR) packet to the server.
Confirmation - Upon receipt of the PADR packet, the server responds by generating a unique ID for the PPP session and sends it in a PPPoE Active Discovery Session (PADS) confirmation packet to the client.

When a PPPoE session is initiated, the destination IP address is only used when the session is active. The IP address is released after the session is closed, allowing for efficient re-use of IP addresses.

iMAC Design and Memory

2009-09-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

Skeptics have already pointed out that the new iPod-influenced iMac is hardly a new concept, even from Apple. The 20th Anniversary Mac was a computer in a screen too, and while it was curved and black rather than flat and white, the overall concept is the same: put everything in the screen.

The screen itself is amazing. We ordered the 20-inch model, and it's sharp, bright and colorful. At a native resolution of 1680 x 1050, you have a very large work area - large enough to display two browser windows side-by-side and happily read both at the same time. Those of us with failing eyesight might find small text sometimes a little hard to read, but both our testers found the pixel size comfortable.

We're also impressed with the quality of the image when set to magnified resolutions, although we see little general need for them. Previously, we've found LCD displays don't look so good when you use other resolutions, but though there's some softening of high-contrast elements, the various other image sizes are still very useable in the iMac G5, offering a choice between letter-boxed and stretched formats in several cases.

This iMac has finally convinced us that CRT monitors will go the way of the dinosaur. Previously we'd found the price difference too high and some visual artifacts unappealing, and while price remains a concern, the remarkable quality of this screen made us want to throw out all our CRTs. The image on this LCD is bright and colorful, and the small footprint reclaimed much workspace. And if that is not enough, a widescreen display just seems to work better with applications like Final Cut Pro, Motion, and so on. We used to think that the solution was to have two monitors side-by-side, but a widescreen display is much easier to work with.

In addition to its size and aspect ratio (ideal for many applications with multiple tool windows) the iMac G5's screen is incredibly bright. Neither of the CRTs could hold a candle to it, in terms of brightness. Color reproduction seemed very good. Comparing photographic images on multiple monitors, the iMac always looked brighter and more colorful.

Using a Calibrate Your Monitor page, we attempted to compare the LCD with the CRTs. While this is a limited test, it provides a simple way to see any major problems in monitor calibration. We could distinguish the shades of gray, and the color swatches were similarly displayed (on both the LCD and the CRT, the yellow swatches blended at about the 70% level).

Finally, by going into Displays and dropping the brightness down considerably we were able to get a similar display to the CRTs we were comparing it to. This screen is bright.

Of course, we've so far omitted any mention of the heart of the beast, a G5 processor running at 1.8 GHz. Just a year ago we reviewed one of the first G5 Power Macs - the middle-of-the-line 1.8GHz model at that time. In the tests we performed for this review (see Benchmarks) the iMac G5 performed almost identically to that Power Mac, which is a fast computer, indeed. If you don't need the expandability of the big Power Mac (or the dual processors of the current model) the iMac G5 can handle the same workloads with aplomb.

One caveat: the basic configuration includes only 256 MBytes of memory. While this might be acceptable for a few people, it hobbles the computer in typical applications, and we strongly recommend that you at least install a second 256-MByte memory module, which only costs about $55. The computer performs better with matched pairs of memory, as Apple documents and our benchmarks demonstrated.

iMAC Accesibility and Services

2009-09-15T18:12:00.000-07:00

Apple has created a new support web site for the iMac that includes a Troubleshooting Assistant that takes you through a series of questions and will link to tech notes, as well as offer to provide an online connection to a tech support person. It requires you to enter your computer's serial number to chat with an agent. If you quit the web browser, it even attempts to restart from where you were the next time you return to the site.

With the iMac G5, Apple has written a new chapter in computer accessibility. You simply lay it face-down on a flat surface covered with a cotton cloth, unscrew three captive Phillips-head screws, and tilt off the back with its integral stand. You then have complete, unfettered access to the entire computer, and it's very easy to add an AirPort card or upgrade memory. The hard drive is right there, too, along with the rest of the components. Apple seems to be setting up a new service system that encourages customers to do many of their own repairs

Retrieving files using other computer

2009-09-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

How to locate files from the other hard disk using your PC?

When your PC is down due to a motherboard defection or whatever problem it is, there are few steps to retrieve important files and data from your hard disk.

First, open you computer, locate your hard disk and pull-off the IDE cable from the motherboard
Second, go to your working personal computer with the hard disk you pulled-off earlier
Third, open your PC casing and attach the hard disk to the secondary ports of your motherboard
note: when you open your PC or working some stuff with the hardware, make it sure that the PC is shut down
Fourth, when all is done, open your PC, go to My Computer, as you notice new hard drive found in your system
note: make it sure to log in as administrator so that you have the rigth to view all folders from the other accounts
Fifth, to locate some of your file,

go to My computer
then the local disk of the newly attached hard disk
documents and settings
select the account folder where your data are store
if you are looking the My Documents, it is located at the user account folder of the newly attached drive.
then copy your files to your back-up or do everything what you want with your files

that's it .......Good luck!

please leave a comment.

VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY

2009-09-13T22:08:00.000-07:00

What is virtualization?

Virtualization is a unique technology which uses Virtual machine -is a software implementation of a machine that's execute like a real machine. It is a software technology which uses a physical resource such as a server and divides it up into virtual resources called virtual machines (VM's). Virtualization allows users to consolidate physical resources, simplify deployment and administration, and reduce power and cooling requirements. While virtualization technology is most popular in the server world, virtualization technology is also being used in data storage such as Storage Area Networks, and inside of operating systems such as Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V.

Advantages

Server consolidation
Reduced power and cooling
Green computing
Ease of deployment and administration
High availability and disaster recovery

Famous virtualization products

VMware

Microsoft Hyper-V

Virtual Iron

Fatal1ty USB Gaming Headset

2009-09-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Fatal1ty USB Gaming Headset

Creative has included its X-Fi software, which apparently can simulate 3D sound through two channels.

After an extended test, playing Far Cry 2 non-stop for a day, it was clear that this is 2.5D sound. Occasionally it works very well, but sometimes everything sounded muffled.

If you've already got a decent sound card and a moderate headset, the Fatalwonties aren't worth it. But if you're running onboard sound with cheapo headphones, these cans are nigh-on essential.

source: http://techradar.com

Asus Xonar DS 7.1 sound card

2009-09-11T21:29:00.000-07:00

Asus Xonar DS 7.1

Although this is most definitely a budget card, the processor means it rarely shows any signs of being so.

Full 7.1 support is one of the obvious selling points, and Vista users will relish the DS3D GX drivers – the Asus equivalent of Creative's ALchemy – which translate EAX 3D sound into something Microsoft's audio-challenged OS can handle with aplomb.

For those who appreciate fantastic fidelity (and don't mind the lack of Dolby Digital processing), the Xonar is a real low-cost gem.

source: http://techradar.com

CoolIT Domino ALC

2009-09-11T21:25:00.000-07:00

CoolIT Domino ALC

If the Jules Verne-esque multitude of pumps and pipes normally required to water-cool your system has put you off before, you need fret no longer with CoolIT's all-in-one solution.

There's no fan on the heatsink itself, so you're effectively getting two fans for the price of one, and a much quieter PC as part of the bargain.

source: http://techradar.com

CoolerMaster CMStorm Sniper Chassis

2009-09-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

CoolerMaster CMStorm Sniper Chassis

The Sniper is the first case from CoolerMaster's new CMStorm sub-brand. It's precisely laser-targeted at gamers, ready to explode their heads in a burst of airflow excitement.

It does a lot of things we like. The giant knob on the front adjusts fan speeds, and lighting can be turned off, so watching a movie on your PC is no longer like sitting in the engine room on a long-distance ferry trip.

source: http://techradar.com

Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 1,600MHz RAM

2009-09-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 1,600MHz

Core i7 brings with it triple-channel memory, and while 4GB is better than 2, 6GB is, of course, even better. So long as you can afford it.

The Dominator runs at 1,600MHz, so there are no problems with running at full speed.

If money's no object then this Dominator kit is without doubt the ﬁnest triple-channel offering.

source: http://techradar.com

MSI X58 Pro Motherboard

2009-09-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

MSI X58 Pro

MSI's X58 Pro is proof that, as predicted, the X58 chipset price drop continues unabated.

The motherboard stayed very cool when we were testing it, and it all seems to work.

In addition MSI has included its GreenPower software, which lets you overclock and underclock every element of the board from within Windows.

source: http://techradar.com

Western Digital Velociraptor WD3000HLFS

2009-09-11T21:05:00.000-07:00

Western Digital Velociraptor WD3000HLFS

Western Digital's Velociraptor WD3000HLFS drive is a calculated riposte to SSDs, constituting a ground-up reworking of the Raptor drives that have sat pretty at the top of the HDD pile for years now.

Its peak read times aren't far behind the Intel X25, but it canes the X25 for write times – it's comfortably the fastest drive in our real-world 9GB file copy test.

source: http://techradar.com

ZOTAC GTX 295 INFINITY VIDEO CARD

2009-09-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

Zotac GTX 295 Infinity

Zotac's latest Inﬁnity edition takes the doubled up PCB of a GeForce GTX 295 and wraps it neatly around a copper cooling block.

You provide the water cooling pump and hey presto, you pretty much reach the limits of your CPU for in-game frame rates.

Despite that, though, we're not really knocking points off the score for value for money. We're well into the realms of 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it'.

source: http://techradar.com

INTEL CORE i7

2009-09-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

Intel Core i7

In the multi-threaded benchmarks, the Core i7 beat the Core 2 Duo to a bloody, whimpering pulp. It's around 60 per cent quicker in the X264 video encode test than the best Core 2 processor, for example. That's almost silly.

It's a ridiculously impressive new processor, so it's well worth getting to grips with all the new technology.

We have everything from technical analysis so hardcore it will make your brain boil to benchmarks of a literally record-breaking machine based on the fastest Core i7 chip of all.

source:http://techradar.com

TOUCHSCREEN RUBIK'S CUBE

2009-09-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

World's First Touchscreen Rubik's Cube

The TouchCube works just like its more antiquated brethren, but instead of grinding the actual spinning cogs (manual labor is for suckers!), a simple swipe of the finger in a straight line or an 'L' shape (for rotations) does the trick. There's an accelerometer built in that ensures only the upwards-facing surfaces respond to your touch, so you can still hold the thing.

Features:

TouchCube can solve itself as you watch, and even teach you, step by step, how to do it.
Built-in memory will also save your cube's state if you need to take a break.
Touchscreen cube

source: http://digg.com/

New iPOD NANO by Apple

2009-09-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

Here come's the most awaited! ..

nano shoot video..

The new iPod nano. Now rocking a video camera, a polished anod ized aluminum finish, and a larger screen. Also making its debut: FM radio with Live Pause.

iPod nano now comes with a built-in video camera that lets you spontaneously shoot video wherever you are. Yet it’s still the same ultraportable size and The new built-in FM tuner has two amazing features — iTunes Tagging and Live Pause — that make listening to the radio nothing like listening to the radio.

KAIZER internet viruses remover

2009-09-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

KAIZER killer

Here is the solution of your sicking problem.

click here to download

Good luck!.

WINDOWS 7

2009-09-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

This FAQ has been created by the staff of Windows 7 News to provide visitors with information about the Windows 7 operating system. A full review of Windows 7 can be found here, as well as the latest Windows 7 News, Windows 7 Screenshots and Windows 7 Videos. There are also Windows 7 Wallpapers and a Windows 7 Theme you can download for your PC.

WELCOME to WINDOWS 7

2009-09-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

Windows 7 is the latest version of Microsoft's Operating System release; it is the combination of Windows Vista display and most likely a Windows XP over all function.

Below are the Windows 7 Compatibility, Minimum Requirements & Specifications required to install or upgrade, (Although it is recommended that you do increase this as it you will find the operating system quite slow, and lacking in space.).

These are the Microsoft minimum hardware recommendations for systems that will be running the Windows 7. These recommendations are specific to the beta release and are subject to change:

Processor: 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
Memory: 1 GB of system memory
Hard drive: 16 GB of available disk space
Video card: Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
Drive: DVD-R/W drive
Internet connection (to download the Beta and get updates)

For more updates, news, tips and guides, click here.

INTEL ATOM Overview

2009-09-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

The Intel® Atom™ processor is Intel's smallest processor, built with the world's smallest transistors and manufactured on Intel's industry-leading 45nm Hi-k Metal Gate technology. The Intel Atom processor was purpose-built for simple, affordable, netbooks and nettops.

Intel Atom processor-based netbooks and nettops offer both an easy-to-use mobile device with simple interfaces and targeted performance for a good online experience. They are rugged and compact in design, and offer the freedom and flexibility of wireless connectivity¹.

Great for Internet, these devices are an affordable option for education, photo and video viewing, social networking, voice over IP, e-mail, messaging, browsing, and numerous other Internet activities and basic applications.

source: http://www.intel.com/products/processor/atom/index.htm

INTEL ATOM

2009-09-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

As Intel's smallest and lowest power processor², the Intel® Atom™ processor enables the latest Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), and another new category of devices for the internet called netbooks and nettops.

Newly designed from the ground up, 45nm Intel® Atom™ processors pack an astounding 47 million transistors on a single chip measuring less than 26mm², making them Intel's smallest and lowest power processors.¹ All this while delivering the power and performance you need for full Internet capabilities.+

Get a new range of power-efficient devices with excellent performance enabled by all new hafnium-infused 45nm high-k silicon technology
Increase energy efficiency in smaller more compact designs with a thermal design power specification ranging from less than 1W to 2.5 watts for mobile devices
Extend battery life in select devices with an incredibly low idle and average power allowing the device to stay powered on while also conserving energy

Based on an entirely new microarchitecture, the Intel® Atom™ processor was developed specifically for targeted performance and low power while maintaining full Intel® Core™ microarchitecture instruction set compatibility. Intel® Atom™ processors also feature multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness.

RFID

2009-09-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

How the Radio Frequency Identification works?

Imagine going to the grocery store, filling up your cart and walking right out the door. No longer will you have to wait as someone rings up each item in your cart one at a time. Instead, these RFID tags will communicate with an electronic reader that will detect every item in the cart and ring each up almost instantly. The reader will be connected to a large network that will send information on your products to the retailer and product manufacturers. Your bank will then be notified and the amount of the bill will be deducted from your account. No lines, no waiting.

Long checkout lines at the grocery store are one of the biggest complaints about the shopping experience. Soon, these lines could disappear when the ubiquitous Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code is replaced by smart labels, also called radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID tags are intelligent bar codes that can talk to a networked system to track every product that you put in your shopping cart.

RFID tags, a technology once limited to tracking cattle, are tracking consumer products worldwide. Many manufacturers use the tags to track the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's pulled off the shelf and tossed in a shopping cart.

TABLETOP PC

2009-09-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the amazing interface technology I've ever seen. an all in one really friendly user PC.
Watch the video below and amaze the next-generation technology PC.

Microsoft has chosen what it sees as the next-generation in PC form factors -- a computer the size and shape of a coffee table with a flat, touchscreen display -- as the third major product it has designed and is branding for the consumer electronics market.

iMAC G5 Performance

2009-09-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

We attempted to reproduce the same benchmarks we ran on the Power Mac G5 last year, upgrading the Power Mac operating system from 10.2 to 10.3.5. We did not run SpeedRun because it is no longer being updated, and we used a newer version of Cinebench, optimized for the G5 processor. While we were interested in seeing how the iMac compared to our previous tests, we were most interested in comparing the iMac G5 to the Power Mac G5/1.8GHz.

These tests (iMac G5 Benchmarks) revealed that the iMac G5/1.8GHz performed on par with the single-processor Power Mac G5/1.8GHz system, which is very well indeed. While there were a few minor differences, some of these were actually in the iMac's favor.
From a hardware perspective, the Power Mac's most significant difference to the iMac is that it has a higher bus speed (900 versus 600 MHz), but none of the benchmarks, or even our real world tests, showed a major difference, as a result.

We also noted that About This Mac describes the iMac G5's chip as a "PowerPC G5 (3.0)", while the Power Mac G5's is a "PowerPC 970 (2.2)." Obviously there must be differences in the motherboard and firmware, as well, that could be responsible for minor differences.
The iMac G5 uses Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics hardware with 64 MBytes of video memory, just like the Power Mac G5, and it shows comparable graphics performance.
The Power Mac G5 came with a Sony DVD RW DW-U10A SuperDrive, while the iMac G5 has a Matshita DVD-R UJ-825 mechanism.The speed of these drives is comparable, though current Power Mac G5s ship with faster drives.

There were fractional differences in performance for all tests, but not significant enough to be noticeable in real-world tasks. The one exception was the effect of processor mode: running in the Auto mode, video compression took substantially longer on the iMac G5, yet the speed was practically identical if the Power Mac and iMac were both set to "Highest" mode.

iMAC G5 Software

2009-09-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Mac OS X 10.3.5 is installed on the iMac G5, and Apple's new Setup Assistant runs when you turn on the computer the first time, offering you the option to migrate the files from another Mac that supports FireWire Disk Target mode. The source computer must have a FireWire port and be running an appropriate version of Mac OS X. Alternatively, you can connect a FireWire drive containing a clone of your old system and use that instead.

We didn't go through this process when we first started the computer, but later did launch the Setup Assistant and copied the files from a Power Mac G5 across to the iMac G5.

This went very easily - just hook up the cable, restart the source computer while holding down the 'T' key, and select what you want to copy. You can choose to copy a selected users files, as well as the contents of the Applications folder, network settings and desktop files. This is easy to use, but you can't choose individual folders or files. It took us about three hours to transfer 100 GB of data.

Classic was not installed by default on our machine (as it isn't on many machines Apple is now shipping.) Classic is included on the "Additional Software and Apple Hardware Test" disc. Apple's "Install Mac OS 9 to use Classic applications" Knowledge Base article describes the process.

Installation was simple enough, although the first time we ran a Mac OS 9 application, Mac OS X said that it could not locate an installation of Classic. Using the Classic control panel, it was easy enough to locate the Classic System folder, and then we were set. We had to repeat this process in each user account we had set up. We also discovered that we had two copies of Classic installed; the other having been transferred from the Power Mac G5.

Setup Assistant doesn't handle all types of files, and some software from your old system may not work on the new system without being re-installed. In our case, we found both PGP and Kensington trackball features failed. Repairing permissions had no effect. These applications rely on "kernel extensions" (.kext), which Setup Assistant apparently avoids transferring for fear of creating low-level incompatibilities.

We also tried booting the iMac G5 from an external FireWire drive with clone of Mac OS X 10.3.5 from a Power Mac G4 installed. This booted successfully, but we found a critical feature missing: Energy Saver's Processor Performance option.

The iMac comes with a larger collection of software than our Power Mac G5 of a year ago. Along with programs like Safari, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and iTunes that we have come to expect, GarageBand is included, along with Quicken 2004 (QuickBooks came with the Power Mac), World Book 2004 Edition, the game Marble Blast Gold, and AppleWorks 6. Interestingly, we had erased the drive and reinstalled the software from CD-ROM after the iMac arrived, and AppleWorks was not installed by default. We had to run the Install Bundled Software application, go into Customize and select the English-language version of AppleWorks we wanted to install.

Inside the iMAC G5 Package

2009-09-08T19:15:00.001-07:00

When you plan to purchase iMAC G5, get rid with the package and please read below to familiarize what’s inside the box.

The iMac G5 arrived in an almost rectangular, but not very deep, box, 22 x 24 x 9.5 inches. There's a plastic handle on the top of the box, but it's surprisingly heavy to move around. Inside, the cables, mouse, keyboard and documentation are on the top of the Styrofoam insert, the computer sitting underneath. (The iMac G5 came with the same white single-button mouse and keyboard as the Power Mac G5 we bought a year ago.)

Lifting the computer from the box reveals the first surprise: there's no obvious place to grab it. There's no handle, and the surface is surprisingly slippery. Combined with its weight, you really have to be careful how you carry it. Apple provides a technote, that recommends "grasping both sides of the computer".

The next thing you notice about the new iMac is that it's not really like an iPod at all, despite Apple marketing their design similarities. Sure, it's white and has an LCD screen, but the iPod has beveled edges, while the iMac's edges are straight. The iMac is also encased in a layer of clear plastic. You can actually see 1/8 of an inch of clear plastic all around its edge.

There's been some talk about too much white space underneath the screen and whether this makes it difficult for shorter users to position the computer. While we can't authoritatively answer this question, the iMac doesn't seem objectionable when compared with other large screens.

Our older Nokia 20" CRT monitor has 3 1/2" of controls and molding under the screen compared to the iMac's 4 1/2". While the diagonal measurement for both screens is identical, with its smaller edges at the sides and top, the iMac box physically seems smaller, yet its screen seems larger. (Of course, it's difficult to directly compare a 4:3 format screen with a 16:10 one.) A final note: the bottom edge of the visible portion of both screens was the same height from the desktop.

The iMac sits on a pedestal that lets it tilt forward and back. The screen does not rotate; you have to rotate the base. The computer will tilt about 5 degrees past vertical when tilted forward, and about 30 degrees from vertical when tilted back. We believe this should make it usable in most situations.

Like the earlier Power Mac G5, the new iMac's power cable features a collar that must be pushed firmly into the body of the computer. It is surprisingly easy to think you have it in correctly yet not have a connection. The plug is in the back center of the computer, and the cable can go through a hole in the pedestal. Underneath that is a security slot for connecting a lock and cable.

Also on the back are all of the I/O plugs: audio line in, sound out, video out, three USB 2.0 ports, two Firewire 400 ports, modem and Ethernet (10/100 Base-T).

There are also two USB 1.1 ports on the keyboard, although one of those will probably be used for the mouse. So, once your keyboard and mouse are installed, you still have two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 1.1 port left.

At the bottom, below those inputs, is the power button. This means you have to reach around behind the screen to push the power button. Though it's fairly easy to find by feel, one might prefer it to be on the front, especially as the iMac already has a light on the front that comes on in sleep mode.

The USB 2.0 ports also work with USB 1.1 devices and support both low-speed, full-speed and high-speed data transfers at maximum rates of 1.5 Mbit/sec., 12 Mbit/sec., and 480 Mbit/sec. respectively. The USB 2.0 interface is now common on PC peripherals, and its speed is similar to FireWire's (apparently without some of the reliability problems that have plagued FireWire devices). It's far superior to USB 1.1 for hard drives, digital cameras, scanners, etc., and the iMac G5's support gives you better choices when buying peripherals.

On the other hand, the lack of support for Firewire 800 is curious. Admittedly, if you're using the FireWire port with an iPod, or to transfer video from a DV camcorder, then the lack of FW800 support isn't significant. But for those who might want to add faster hard drives, we wonder why there's no FW800 port. There are reports that the G5 has performance problems with FW800, but perhaps it's a marketing issue. Apple hasn't explained the choice.

The SuperDrive drive is on the right side of the computer and it's a slot-loaded design: You push the CD into the slot, and when it's almost completely in, the computer sucks it in the rest of the way. We found that we had to look at the side of the computer to align the disc correctly; blindly trying to find the slot didn't really work.

Our iMac G5 came with a Matshita DVD-R UJ-825 optical drive, which will write DVD-R and CD-R formats. According to Apple's site, it writes DVD-R discs at up to 4x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 16x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 8x speed and reads CDs at up to 24x speed. Power Macs currently ship with a SuperDrive that writes DVDs at 8x and reads them at 10x.

Introduction of iMAC G5

2009-09-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

A new iMac, a new design, and once again everyone focus on the enclosure, ignoring the operating system or even the capabilities of the hardware inside it. You need look no further to understand that Apple is a hardware company first, and a software company second.

This is the second generation of iMacs to be built around an LCD screen rather than a CRT. The previous iMac, which more closely resembled an office lamp, was greeted with similar excitement, but for a variety of reasons didn't sell as well as expected. Whether it was because of the economy, the increased price of the LCD screen, or the comparative value and flexibility of iBooks and PowerBooks, we're sure that Apple is hoping this new iMac will be a bigger success.

Taken on its own, the new iMac is an impressive piece of equipment. It combines the speed of last year's Power Mac model with a gorgeous screen in a very pleasant-looking box with the best access we've ever seen to internal components.

SONY VAIO Specification

2009-09-08T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here is the officially announced of Sony and it’s own version of a high-end netbook. Not that this is Sony’ first but the Vaio P departs from the usual netbook form factor and cheap pricing by offering a pocket-sized version.

The Sony Vaio P skipped the trackpad in favor of a pointing stick (nipple mouse) so they were able to save more space. Live photos courtesy of Engadget and official specs are listed below.

Intel Atom Z530 1.33GHz
8 inch (1600×768 pixels) display screen
60GB HDD, 64GB SSD or 128GB SSD Storage
2GB DDR2 RAM
2 USB ports
SD/Memory Stick slot
Ethernet
WiFi 802.11n
Bluetooth
3G (EV-DO)
Integrated GPS
Webcam
MS Windows Vista

It has one of the oddest dimensions — 9.6″ x 4.7″ x .78″ — but is short and thin enough to allegedly fit in your pocket. Weighs only 1.4 pounds too and comes with a default 3-cell battery that could last 4 hours (an optional 6-cell battery will last it 8 hours). It also has that instant-on feature where it boots up almost automatically with limited features.

Price starts at $899.99 to $1,499 on the SSD options.

Info from: http://www.yugatech.com/blog/personal-computing/sony-vaio-p-official-specs-and-photos/

How to change your saved file icon in PSP

2009-09-07T21:03:00.000-07:00

* Whenever you save a game, one or two pictures are created on your memory stick: ICON#.PNG - the 144x80 icon displayed when you select your saved file. The #, normally 0, may be higher if a game places multiple saves in one folder. PIC 1. PNG - the 480x272 background that's displayed when you cursor over your save or game disk. Knowing this, you can customize your save icons and backgrounds by simply replacing them with new . PNG files. However, make sure that you keep the new file less than or equal to the original file's resolution, or the PSP will cut off sections to make it fit.

First Connect your PSP to your PC. Then locate the save file you want to change. All saves are located in the PSPSAVEDATA folder, divided into separate sub folders to keep necessary files together. Once you've found the save icon you want to change, add .ori to the end of the file name, in case you ever want to change it back to the original. Resize the image you want as you're save icon to 144x80 and save it as a .PNG named ICON#.PNG - “where # was the number found on the file you renamed”. Then move the new picture into your save folder.

Now, whenever you see your save files on your PSP, its icon will be the picture you changed it to. Use the same method to change PIC 1.PNG files to your own custom pictures, but remember that the resolutions must be at most 480x272. *Please note this is a bit complicated and could result in losing all saves if not done correctly. This tweak is really for those who have knowledge of using these types of files. Please use caution when attempting this or have someone that knows how to work with these files help you.

Configure your PSP with your Car Stereo System Speaker

2009-09-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

* Use the following instructions to play your PSP games and movies with your cars audio system. You will need a FM modulator, a cable with a male stereo 1/8" headphone connector at one end and split left and right RCA connectors at the other. The red wire with the 'in' line fuse goes to your car battery or switch. The ground wire grounds to the frame. Set the car's CD or tape deck to the FM frequency that is on the modulator. The frequency is usually 88.7 or 89.1. Plug the RCA connectors from the cable into the RCA jacks on the modulator. Plug the headphone end of the cable into the PSP. Turn on the PSP with the volume set at half way.

The PSP's sound goes through your car's antenna. No extra wires are needed nor are any other adjustments. Your games, music and movies will now play through your car's stereo speakers. Please note: take care when trying this and make sure you know how to use the modulator and know the right way to hook up the wire to the fuse box and ground wire. If this is not done right, this can damage or even short out the PSP.

Connect PSP to PC via USB cable

2009-09-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

Connect your PSP via a USB Cable

You can directly connect your PSP to your PC with a USB cable - you will need a USB cable with a USB 5-Pin Mini-B connector on one end, and a standard USB PC connector on the other end.

This cable is not normally supplied with the PSP, so if you do not have such a cable, you will need to purchase one.

Connect the mini connector to the top of your PSP and the other end of the cable into a USB slot on your PC. For the best perfornance, connect your PSP to a USB 2.0 slot.
Make sure the PSP is on.
Scroll to the 'Settings' menu by pressing the left arrow on the PSP.
Select 'USB Connection' using the up and down arrows on the control pad.
Press the 'X' button.
Your PC should detect the PSP device, and show it in Explorer as a new drive (for example, 'F:').

Connect PSP to the internet via WiFi

2009-09-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

PSP has a built-in WiFi, if you have a wireless router or hotspot nearby, you can easily connect your psp to internet via WiFi, upgrade your psp, or browse the internet. And here's how to set up psp WiFi.

Please make sure WiFi is switched on by flipping up the switch.

1. Now go to your psp's main screen, and scroll down to the network settings.
2. If you have a wireless router or hotspot, select "Infrastructure Mode", and press ○ to continue.
3. Now click on connection and your psp starts to detect WiFi signals.
4. If your psp find any signal, it shows all available WiFi hotspots.
5. Select any WiFi hotspot and it prompts to configure WLAN Security Setting, if it's open WiFi network, select none, otherwise select WEP or WPA-PSK if it's encrypted.
6. IP address, select easy.
7. Enter the name and save the changes and it's set.

Now open your browser and select the access point you created just now, you can see that your psp connected to internet via wifi.

Good luck!

PSP Specification

2009-09-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

Sony's PlayStation Portable is the most powerful handheld game console so far, but it is also the largest and heaviest (though the Nintendo DS is larger overall when open). It's also the nicest looking, with a sleek, rounded industrial design aesthetic. The button configuration matches that of its big brother, the PlayStation 2, except the PSP only has one shoulder button on each side and has only a single analog nub instead of the PS2's dual sticks.

PSP's Sights and Sounds

The PSP's screen is larger than that of other handhelds, with a higher resolution, so playing games and even watching movies is a visual feast. The stereo sound isn't especially loud through the built-in speakers (third-party manufacturers offer small external speakers to make up for it), but with headphones on you can hear every sound effect and crank up the volume to buffet your eardrums.

Multimedia for PSP

Games and movies are available on Sony's UMD (Universal Media Disc) format, which is -- Sony says -- DVD quality. There is also a Memory Stick slot for a Memory Stick Duo or Pro Duo. The PSP can play back audio and video saved on a PSP-formatted Memory Stick, and can display saved photos or other image files. Each firmware update supports more audio, graphics, and video formats, expanding the possibilities

PSP Power

A lithium-ion battery pack offers a decent length of play time (playing graphics-intensive games or movies will drain the battery faster than playing music with the screen dark) -- just don't expect it to last as long as your Gameboy without recharging. The AC adaptor, of course, allows you to play and charge the battery at the same time.

PSP Hardware Specifications

Here's all the technical info about just what the PSP has inside and out.

Color:
- black
- ceramic white (Japan and Europe only)
- pink (Europe only)
- Tsukimi -- black with copper (Japan only)
- Kachofugetsu -- white with black and red (Japan only)
Dimensions: 6.7"/170 mm wide x 2.9"/74 mm high x .9"/23 mm deep
Weight: .62 lbs/280 g (including battery)
CPU: PSP CPU (1-333 MHz)
Memory:
- 32 MB Main Memory
- 4 MB embedded DRAM
Display:
- 4.3", 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD screen
- 480 x 272 pixels
- 16.77 million colors
- maximum luminance 180/130/80 cd/m2 (when using battery pack)
- maximum luminance 200/180/130/ 80 cd/m2 (when using AC adaptor)
Sound:
- built-in stereo speakers
- headset connector
Connectors, Ports and Drives:
- IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi)
- USB 2.0 (mini-B)
- Memory Stick Duo
- infrared
- DC in 5 V connector
- headset connector
- UMD drive (Read only)
Buttons and Switches:
- d-pad
- analog nub
- triangle, circle, cross, square
- right and left shoulder
- Start, Select, and Home
- Power/Hold
- display brightness, sound, volume up, volume down
- wireless LAN on/off
- UMD latch
Power:
- lithium-ion battery
- AC adaptor
Access control:
- UMD region coding
- parental control

UMD (Universal Media Disc) Specifications

Dimensions:
- 65 mm tall x 64 mm wide x 4.2 mm deep
- 60 mm disc diameter
Weight: 10 g
Capacity: 1.8 GB (single-sided, dual layer)
Wavelength: 660 nm (red laser)
Encryption: AES 128-bit

(Source: Sony Computer Entertainment.)

WINDOWS TIPS

2009-09-05T00:25:00.000-07:00

1. Right-click a shortcut on the desktop or in the start menu, and then click Properties .

2. On the Shortcut tab, click in the Shortcut Key box.

3. Press the key you want to use. Windows will add Ctrl+Alt to it. So if you choose U the combination will be Ctrl+Alt+U.
You can also choose one of the function keys you don't use otherwise, F7 as example. Just one button to click then.

4. Click OK .

XP hidden features

2009-09-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

The following will show you how to use the Iexpress2.0 tool.

The tool allows you to make a self extracting file and much more : To play with this hidden feature of XP :

Navigate to : Windows\system32\

look for a file called iexpress.exe.

Double left click on it and follow the wizzard.

USB DSL/ cable modem

2009-09-05T00:21:00.000-07:00

Some usb dsl/cable modems may get disconnected after a little while. A possible reason that could cause this problem is that in windows xp there is an option that allows the computer to turn off a usb device to save power. To disable this option:

1) click start, highlight my computer, right click and select properties and a window will pop up with the system properties
2) click on the hardware tab and press the device manager button
3) expand the universal serial bus controllers
4) Double click on the USB Root Hub.
5)Select the Power Management tab and UNTICK the "allow the computer to turn off the device to save power"

If you have more than one USB Root Hub, then you should apply the steps to each one of them
That's it, you won't need to restart the computer!

How to stop modem noise

2009-09-05T00:18:00.000-07:00

The noise that some dial up 33/56k modems make is awful, and the volume slider in modem properties never seems to stop it. Make sure you're modem is NOT connected to the internet at the time.

Go to Control Panel>Phone and Modem Options and click on the Modem tab, click on the modem listed and click on properties. In the new dialogue box that comes up click on Advanced. In the text box under the words Extra Initialization Commands type ATM0 (number 0 not letter O). Click on OK, then OK again, etc.

Try this to another modem.

How to remove unwanted Program

2009-09-05T00:16:00.000-07:00

If you want to remove some additional programs that are installed with windows but are not initially visible in Add / Remove, edit a file called "C:\WINDOWS\INF\SYSOC.INF". In there you will find a listing of programs, and you will note that some programs have the word 'hide' at the end. Simply remove the word 'hide' but leave the extra comma:

BEFORE:msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

AFTER:msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7

Now when you open Add-Remove Windows Components, you will see a new choice, in this example, "Windows Messenger"

LynkSys Router Tweaks

2009-09-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

Lynksys Routers

Here's how to stealth your port 113.

Open your Internet Explorer home page and in the address bar type in http://(then your ip address given to you by your router. If you dont know it follow this thread: Start/All Programs Accessories/Command Prompt. In Command Prompt type in ipconfig(spacebar)/all - now dont type in the spacebar but hit your spacebar then forward slash/all. your ip address will
come up. If we have the same router it should be 192.168.1.1. So it should be http://192.168.1.1 - when you click go an NR041 window should pop up. Now in the Password box type in the password given to you by Lynksys or if we have the same it should be admin <--- (in lowercase). You wont need to type in a Username

When the Cable/Router Basic Setup window opens it may open to the Basic Settings so if this is the case click on the Advanced Settings tab. When the Advanced Settings window opens click on the Forwarding tab. - The Advanced Settings may automatically open at first so the better.

Now when the Forwarding window opens, on the left hand of that window go down to Customized Applications. In the box below Customized Applications type in a title called Port 113 Stealth.

Now in the following boxes to the right you should type this:

Ext. Port - 113

Protocal TCP - put a check in this box by clicking on it.

Protocol UDP - leave blank.

Int Port - 113

IP Address - 192.168.1.250

Enable - put a check in this box by clicking on it.

Now click on the Apply button below.

Now go to grc.com and do a port scan and walla your port 113 will now be in stealth mode.

Install XP using DOS command

2009-09-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

If XP will not install from the CD or if you have a new drive with no operating system on it yet try these:

Install Windows XP from the hard drive with Windows 98 already installed:

Boot Windows 98
Insert the XP CD into your CD reader
Explore Windows XP through My Computer
Copy i386 folder to C:\
Go into C:\i386 folder and double click on winnt32.exe to launch the setup from the hard drive

Install Windows XP from DOS (ie. no OS on a new hard drive):

Boot with a Windows 98 Start Up disk
Insert the Windows 98 CD into the CD reader
Run smartdrv.exe from the Win98 directory on the windows 98 CD (file caching)
Type cd.. to back up to the root directory
Insert Windows XP CD into the CD reader
Copy the i386 folder to C:\
Go into C:\i386 folder on C: and type winnt.exe to launch the setup from the hard drive.

KaZaA

2009-09-03T20:59:00.000-07:00

KaZaA, one of the most famous P2P programs tends to hog the processor, this results in the termination of the program after few seconds. This tweak can be used on systems that have the above mentioned problem. Here it is...

1. Download and install KaZaA.
2. Right-click on the shortcut of the program and click on "Run as...", this will prompt you to select a user to run the progam as..do not forget to select the "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program activity".
3. Click OK and everything is back to normal..happy downloading!!

Here is a final note on what I just discovered..you cannot change the options while running in the protected mode..so just run it in the normal mode, I mean the mode that hogs your CPU...change the necessary options and close down before KaZaA terminates...this should do the trick!

Cheers!

Easy IP check

2009-09-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

This tweak is a batch file that allows you to check your IP,Subnet,Gateway,MAC,DNS server, Etc. As well as check connectivity with your NIC. From the Run Command line.

Copy this code into notepad and save it in the windows directory folder as ip.bat.

To run Goto Start>Run and type ip

PHONE DIALER

2009-09-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

If your phone dialer is missing from the communications section.

go to "run"

type dialer

INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 6 IPv6

2009-09-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

This protocol is distined to replace the Internet Protocal Version 4 used by Internet Explorer it uses hexadecimal ip addresses instead of decimal example ( decimal ip 62.98.231.67) (hexadecimal IP 2001:6b8:0:400::70c)

To install the IPv6 Protocol for Windows XP:

Log on to the computer running Windows XP with a user account that has local administrator privileges.
Open a command prompt. From the Windows XP desktop, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
At the command prompt, type:

Ipv6 install

For more information on IPv6, visit the site below:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/administration/ipv6/default.asp

How to decrease TEMP files on Internet Explorer

2009-09-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

The temporary internet files clutter your hard drive with copies of each page visited. These can build up over time and take up disk space. Even more bothersome is that instead of getting new pages each time IE often takes the page out the temp internet files. This can be a problem if you are viewing a website that is updated all the time. If you are on a slow connection such as a 56K or lower then this can be good but if you are on a fast broadband connection, like me, then you can get away with decreasing the size of your temp internet files to just one meg without any preformance decrease.

Launch Internet Explorer.
Select the Tools from the menu bar.
Then select Internet Options... from the drop down menu.
Once the internet options has loaded click on the general tab.
Under the temporary internet files section click the settings button.
A settings window will load. Slide the slider all the way to the left so the size indicated in the text box on the right is one.
Click OK
Click OK

Universal Plug and Play Device Host

2009-09-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

To completely disable the potentially dangerous UPnP service from Windows XP, there are two services present that should be disabled. You can access the Services panel through Administrative Tools (Control Panel>>Performance and Maintenance). The two services you need to disable are:

Universal Plug and Play Device Host

AND

SSDP Discovery Service

Most users don't realize it, but the SSDP service is the actual server that's open to the internet (unless you're firewalled), and the service that turns on the UPnP Device Host. Disable the UPnP Device Host first by double-clicking on the service and selecting "Disabled" in the drop-down menu, instead of the default "Manual." Next, go on to the SSDP Discovery Service, double-click and select to stop the service, then disable it in the same manner.

I hope this helps anyone who might be confused about how to be rid of UPnP.

How to assign Static IP address

2009-09-02T21:03:00.001-07:00

To assign a Static IP Address to your network connection follow these steps:

1. Open Network Connections

2. Right click the connection you wish to assign a Static Address to and choose Properties.

3. In the Properties box that comes up select "Internet Protocol TCP/IP" and click the Properties button beneath.

4. In Internet Protocol TCP/IP Properties place a dot in "Use the following IP Address".

5. Enter the IP address you wish to use and OK the change. Click OK on Local Area Connection Properties.

6. Reboot

Sacrifice the graphics for a fast system speed

2009-09-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

XP is very graphic-intensive which results in a large consumption of RAM. Sometimes to squeeze in the nitty-gritty megs of memory can be, by sacrificing the pretty little bits and colors that are on your screen.

- For starters, reducing the color density and and bit display of your screen will ultimately increase speed to your computer.

1.)On your desktop, right click and go to PROPERTIES.
2.)In properties go to Settings, and set your color quality to the lowest bit-rating (most likely 15 bit). This will reduce color density, and icon quality, but will heavily boast system performance.

- If you really want to increase your system performance, new Windows themes are NOT the way to go, if you are ill-equipped with RAM.

1.) Go into Control Panel and into Performance and Maintenence (If you are using the "classic" view skip to step 2).
2.) Get into System and click on the Advanced tab.
3.) Now click on Performance
4.) Under your visual effects, select CHOOSE BEST PERFORMANCE.
5.) This will undoubtedly increase your system performance by returning XP into Classic Style and getting rid of the fancy-shmancy fading menus, shadows and whatnot.

Now your graphically challenged computer, has turned into a mean, lean, computing machine.

Happy Tweaking!

Tweak for fast system booting

2009-09-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

If your computer takes a long time to become useable after starting up or logging on, or you want a clean boot of Windows XP try this,

Click Start > Run > Type "msconfig" > On the Startup tab click Disable All and on the Services tab check the Hide All Microsoft Service box and then click Disable All. Click Restart and Windows XP will restart with only the system services and applications running resulting in a vey fast logon / startup.

N.B This tweak will disable all non-system startup sevices and applications so if you have anything you want to run in the background such as anti virus software do not disable that item.

DMA mode on IDE devices

2009-09-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

Just like Windows 2000, Windows XP still fails to set the DMA mode correctly for the IDE device designated as the slaves on the primary IDE and secondary IDE channels. Most CD-ROMS are capable of supporting DMA mode, but the default in XP is still PIO. Setting it to DMA won't make your CD-ROM faster, but it will consume less CPU cycles. Here's how:

1. Open the Device Manager. One way to do that is to right click on "My Computer", select the Hardware tab, and Select Device Manager.
2. Expand "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers" and double-click on "Primary IDE Channel"
3. Under the "Advanced Settings" tab, check the "Device 1" setting. More than likely, your current transfer mode is set to PIO.
4. Set it to "DMA if available".

Repeat the step for the "Secondary IDE Channel" if you have devices attached to it. Reboot.

(Note: You will not see the Advanced Settings section if your hardware does not support it)

How to disable Auto-reboot

2009-09-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

When using windows operating system and it crashes, you will get a blue screen and it will automatically restart, ofter it will restart too fast for you to see the error message. You could check the error log in this case but that is too easy. We are going to disable auto restart on system failure.

1. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System (Windows+Pause works, too)
2. Go to Advanced
3. Under the Startup and Recovery section, click Settings...
4. Under System Failure un-check "Automatically restart"

Thanks. Just leave me a comment

WHAT IS TCP/IP?

2009-09-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

What is TCP/IP?

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be used as a communications protocol in a private network (either an intranet or an extranet). When you are set up with direct access to the Internet, your computer is provided with a copy of the TCP/IP program just as every other computer that you may send messages to or get information from also has a copy of TCP/IP.

TCP/IP is a two-layer program. The higher layer, Transmission Control Protocol, manages the assembling of a message or file into smaller packets that are transmitted over the Internet and received by a TCP layer that reassembles the packets into the original message. The lower layer, Internet Protocol, handles the address part of each packet so that it gets to the right destination. Each gateway computer on the network checks this address to see where to forward the message. Even though some packets from the same message are routed differently than others, they'll be reassembled at the destination.

TCP/IP uses the client/server model of communication in which a computer user (a client) requests and is provided a service (such as sending a Web page) by another computer (a server) in the network. TCP/IP communication is primarily point-to-point, meaning each communication is from one point (or host computer) in the network to another point or host computer. TCP/IP and the higher-level applications that use it are collectively said to be "stateless" because each client request is considered a new request unrelated to any previous one (unlike ordinary phone conversations that require a dedicated connection for the call duration). Being stateless frees network paths so that everyone can use them continuously. (Note that the TCP layer itself is not stateless as far as any one message is concerned. Its connection remains in place until all packets in a message have been received.)

Many Internet users are familiar with the even higher layer application protocols that use TCP/IP to get to the Internet. These include the World Wide Web's Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Telnet (Telnet) which lets you logon to remote computers, and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). These and other protocols are often packaged together with TCP/IP as a "suite."

Personal computer users with an analog phone modem connection to the Internet usually get to the Internet through the Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) or the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP). These protocols encapsulate the IP packets so that they can be sent over the dial-up phone connection to an access provider's modem.

Protocols related to TCP/IP include the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which is used instead of TCP for special purposes. Other protocols are used by network host computers for exchanging router information. These include the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), the Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP), the Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP), and the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).

DRIVER SCANNER

2009-09-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

Computers run hardware devices, such as printers or graphics cards, using software called drivers. Without drivers you wouldn’t be able to print a document, read this webpage or connect to the Internet. All hardware elements in your PC, including your graphics and sound card, your motherboard, your hard disk, your modem or even your keyboard, come with drivers. Initially these may have come preinstalled with the operating system, or you may have installed them from the manufacturer’s CD. However the manufacturers will since have improved these drivers by removing bugs and adding extra features or functionality. This means that unless you update your drivers regularly you may face any of a range of problems, from the relatively minor, such as hardware that seems buggy and poorly performing, to the more major such as hardware failures, conflicts and complete system crashes.

With so many drivers installed on your system you cannot reasonably keep track of which drivers have been updated, which is why you need driver update management software to help out. Driver Scanner is the perfect solution for automatically updating drivers, saving you the hassle of having to identifying all your system’s drivers, then find updates for them using, before then downloading them from the manufacturer’s website. Driver Scanner scans your PC’s drivers and checks them against our comprehensive library of the latest drivers, to give you a full list of all those that need to be updated. With single click simplicity Driver Scanner will then install each update on your PC. But what’s more, Driver Scanner will also backup all your drivers to an external device, meaning that the next time you reinstall your system you can load up all your latest drivers, from one place.

Uniblue DriverScanner 2009

Just click the link above and download the free trial version. If you want serial key for full version, just post your email and I will send it to you. Thanks

REGISTRY BOOSTER

2009-09-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that the longer you have your computer, the slower it runs and the more it crashes? Often this is because whenever you install or uninstall software, add or remove hardware, or change your computer’s settings, the Windows registry is updated. These changes can leave the registry fragmented, with obsolete, corrupted and, in some cases, harmful files. Over time the registry starts to get bogged down and conflicts emerge. Left unchecked, your system will become increasingly unstable, run more slowly and crash more frequently.

RegistryBooster is the easy answer to all your Windows registry problems. It will conduct a deep scan of your registry, checking for file extension errors and other registry conflicts. RegistryBooster will then repair or remove unused, corrupted and harmful files so optimizing your PC’s performance. You can then use regular scans to keep your registry structured and your PC speeding along at peak efficiency. With RegistryBooster you’ll see immediate increases in performance and decreases in system conflicts.

Uniblue RegistryBooster 2009

Click the link above and download the free trial version. If you need some serial key for full version, just leave your email at the comment bulletin and I will send it to you. Thanks

SPEED UP YOUR COMPUTER

2009-09-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

The most powerful tool today to speed up your PC is in your hand.

uniblue SpeedUpMyPC 2009

This tool is a Uniblue's award-winning speed up computer solution, lets you monitor and control all your PC resources with easy, one click instructions. System settings, internet usage, disk clutter, RAM and CPU are all automatically scanned, cleaned and optimized for peak performance. You can also selectively disable or remove unnecessary background and auto-start processes to cut valuable seconds off your startup time.

You can download it here for trial version by clicking the link above. If you need the full version just post your email to the comment and i will send you the whole thing.

Thanks.

INTERNET BROWSER

2009-09-01T03:36:00.000-07:00

Opera is one of the lightest and fastest browsers available. It was also the first one to provide tabbed browsing. It has numerous customisable features and is a treat to use.
Internet Explorer (IE) has the biggest share among Internet browsers and is the most standards-compliant one. Hence, many websites prefer to work with IE and some of them will not even work with other browsers. As an unfortunate result of its popularity, IE is also a favourite target for hackers, spyware and viruses. IE then becomes a security hole in your computer. So many people have migrated to other browsers like Mozilla Firefox. Firefox has been developed to closely resemble IE and has support for tabbed browsing. But because it lacks support for ActiveX controls and VBScript, it has largely escaped many browser-based attacks. If you like Firefox, feel free to use it in place of IE but remember that Firefox by itself is not an inherently safe product. New Firefox vulnerabilities are being discovered and as the new browsers gains in popularity, it will suffer the same fate as IE.

Basic Network Problem

2009-08-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we encounter failure connection in our local area network. There are some possible reasons that we can count. Maybe the driver version of your Network Card Interface, virus, or some in the hardware part (maybe the network card is not inserted properly, the cable is broken).
First thing to troubleshoot is looking first at the software side (network driver). Try to look at your Device Manager (Control Panel>System>Hardware). When clicking the device manager button, new windows will pop-up showing your system properties, get rid on Network Adapter, double-click it and a drop-down list of your network driver will appear showing their running status. To determine its running status, just right click the driver you want and select properties, there, it will tell you if the driver is running properly. Restart your PC and try to check the connection.
If still the same problem, it’s time for the hardware side, try to check everything at the back. Check first the Ethernet cable, the LED indicator beside the Ethernet port, followed with the network card, PCI slots and your network device (Hub, switch and router).
This article will guide you to determine some system error. This is only a basic tutorial and there is more reason why you encounter this and there are lots of advance solutions on this. Try to seek all over the internet. I hope it will help a little bit. Just leave a comment. Thanks

Basic PC troubleshooting

2009-08-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

Basic PC Problem #5

Some problem with your PC it did not cooperate with your printer, in short you can’t print when printer device attach in your PC. There’s a lot of possibilities may we can reason out with this problem but before going to another conclusion let’s step first to the basic but most applied solution.

First, log-in to your administrator (if you have)

Second, go to your Control Panel.

Third, Administrative Tools.

Fourth, Service.

Fifth, you can find there all the settings of your PC

Sixth, under the Service, find Printer Spooler.

Seventh, try to look at the status of your Printer Spooler if it is disable, automatic or manual

Eight, when disable, just double click it and start the service, when automatic, stop the service and then start it again.

Ninth, restart your PC.

That’s it, after trying to do this and the same problem still occur, maybe something problem in the other component of your PC or maybe in your printer device. Try to search troubleshooting tips with your printer brand and model.

Basic PC troubleshooting

2009-08-31T17:22:00.000-07:00

Basic PC problem #4

When you are using your PC and something goes wrong such as freezing the application you use or some new window pops-up and you are trying hard to back it to normal. There's an easy way to kill those unwanted pops-up.

First, from your keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+delete.
Second, new window will pop-up appearing all active application running in your system including those unwanted application.
Third, just delete the unwanted application.
Forth, you're done. You made it, your system now is running back to normal.

Good luck. Please leave me a comment.

Basic PC troubleshooting

2009-08-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

Basic PC problem #3

My monitor is black.

Solution:
Make sure the monitor is turned on. Try pressing the power button on the monitor again.
Check to see if it is in sleep mode. Wiggle the mouse around or press the enter key.
If the green light is not on in front, check the power cord connecting the monitor into the outlet.
If the green light is on, check the brightness level by using the buttons on the monitor.
Check the cable connection from the monitor into the computer or the equipment that links your computer to the TV monitor.
If you still have some problems, call your help desk.

Basic PC troubleshooting

2009-08-31T17:14:00.000-07:00

Basic PC problem #2

When booting the machine the following message appears:

"Windows was not properly shut down. One or more of your disk drives may have errors on it. Press any key to run ScanDisk on these drives."
Solution:
The machine did not use the shut down sequence. Press the enter key and allow the machine to do a scan. If it finds lost clusters to repair, click on the OK to let it do self-repairing. You do not need to save these so select DELETE or Don’t Save when asked to make a choice.

Basic PC troubleshooting

2009-08-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

Basic Problem #1:

During your work session the following message appears:

Not enough memory/ Insufficient memory:
Solution:
- There are too many programs opened at the same time. Close some and try again.
- Memory leaks have probably occurred. Reboot the machine.

POINT TO POINT PROTOCOL

2009-08-28T01:40:00.001-07:00

Point To Point Protocol (PPP)

PPP was first proposed as a standard by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in 1989 and became a working standard in 1994. The IETF specification for PPP is RFC 1661. PPP is a protocol most widely used by Internet service providers (ISPs) to enable dial up connections to the Internet. PPP facilitates the transmission of data packets between point to point links. Originally designed to work with serial connections, PPP was adopted by ISPs to provide dial up Internet access. PPP can be encapsulated in a number of data link layer protocols, including Ethernet (PPPoE) and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (PPPoA).

PPP uses Link Control Protocol (LCP) to establish a session between a user's computer and an ISP. LCP is responsible for determining if the link is acceptable for data transmission. LCP packets are exchanged between multiple network points to determine link characteristics including device identity, packet size, and configuration errors.

PPP supports three types of user authentication protocols that provide varying levels of security. Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) is an access control protocol used to authenticate a user's password on the network access server. The network access server requests a password from the client machine and sends the retrieved password to an authentication server for verification. As an authentication protocol, PAP is considered the least secure because the password is not encrypted in transmission.

Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) is similar to PAP with several unique characteristics. Instead of requesting a password, the network access server sends a challenge message to the client machine. The challenge message is a random value. The client machine encrypts the challenge message with a user's password and sends the combination back to the access server. The access server forwards the challenge/password combination to the authentication server.
The authentication server encrypts the challenge with the user's password stored in the authentication database. If the user's response is a match, the password is considered authentic. CHAP uses the model of a shared secret (the user password) to authenticate the user. The use of CHAP is considered a moderately secure method of authentication.

Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is considered an authentication framework used by a number of secure authentication protocols. EAP is most commonly used for authentication on wireless networks.

RECOVER DATA LOSS IN WINDOWS XP

2009-08-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

If you encounter data loss in your system drive or any portable drive, Windows XP has a built in data recovery tool, compare to a some data recovery software, this is not so powerful but it give us quite ease to some basic mistake. Basically, data will loss due to a broken cable connected between data storage and the system or maybe the system is shutdown while using the data.

This is the basic steps to recover your data using the windows built-in function.

First, Go to START>RUN then type CMD
Second, a DOS prompt will pop-up
Third, in prompt page, type CHKDSK /letter of the drive u want to recover wait for a few minutes because the system try to recall the previous data saved in the derive
Finally, try to open the drive if your data are all in there.

that's it, Good luck.

HOW TO MAP NETWORK DRIVE

2009-08-27T18:01:00.000-07:00

This is a basic instruction on how to Map a network drive in Windows XP.

In my case, the name of the drives and destination is different. You have to set your own, this is only for the sake of tutorial.

To start, open My computer

Go to Tools, click it and a drop down list will appear.

Select the Map Network drive

A new window will appear, set whatever letter you want in your drive and browse a location from the entire network or local area network.

Click Finish.

In your My Computer, a networked drive appear.

That's it, you can access the network drive,anytime throughout the network.
Enjoy. Please leave a comment. Thanks

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

2009-08-25T16:48:00.000-07:00

What is DHCP?, dynamic host configuration protocol overview, network tutorials, troubleshooting tips, subnetting, IP addressing. DHCP or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is a network protocol, which is configured in such a way that is provides the IP addresses to the network computers automatically. There is no need to assign the IP address to the client computers individually. DHCP assigns the IP addresses from the given range of the numbers also called DHCP scope.
On the other end, client computers are configured in such a way that they get the IP addresses automatically from the DHCP server during the boot up process. Additionally, DNS and WINS servers can also be configured with the DHCP server.
When a computer starts up it gets the IP addresses from the DHCP server from the defined pool of addresses. The assigning of the IP address by the DHCP server can be categorized as follows

HOW DOES IT WORKS?

1. A user turns on the computer with the DHCP client enabled on it.
2. The client PC sends broadcast request (known as DHCP DISCOVER) and then look for the DHCP server to answer.
3. The DHCP server receives the DISCOVER packet and based on the availability and defined settings, the server choose any available IP address and then give to the client. Then DHCP server sends back to the client with DHCP OFFER with that available address information.
4. Again client sends a request to DHCP server known as DHCP REQUEST, in which it lets the server know that it is using the address offered by the DHCP.
5. The DHCP server then again send a acknowledgement to the client known as DHCP ACK, in which it confirm the client that the specific IP address has been assigned to it for a given period of time.

This process of assigning the IP addresses by the DHCP server also known as DORA (Discover, Offer, Request, and Acknowledgement).

When a computer uses a static IP address there can be the chances of error and conflict when two computers use the same IP address. By using the DHCP server there are no chances of such kind of conflicts and errors.

Along with the IP addresses, the DHCP server also enables the client computers to extract all the settings and configurations from the DHCP server on an IP network. These settings include the Firewall, Router, DNS, NAT, WINS, Gateway and Subnet masks settings.

The overall purpose of the DHCP server is to reduce the workload and error margins, which can occur in assigning the IP addresses manually.

The IP address assigned by the DHCP server is for the limited or leased period of time and if a client needs an to extend that leased period for the IP address then client must send a extension request to the DHCP server before this period expires. If the client do not send an extension request, then this IP address becomes free on expiration and is assigned to another client. If a user wants to change the IP address given by the DHCP server then he/she do it by giving these commands on the command prompt.

IPconfig/release then IPconfig/renew

This command will remove the current IP address and assign a new IP address to the client.
There can also be some reserved addresses based on the MAC address or hostname of the client. These reserved addresses are fixed addresses and can only be assigned to the fixed clients.

MAC Address

2009-08-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ACCESS CONTROL

A MAC address is an address which exists on Layer 2 of the OSI Model.

Layer 2 of the OSI model is the Data Link Layer. The Data Link Layer consists of two sublayers, the Media Access Control (MAC) layer and the Logical Link Control (LLC) layer. The MAC sublayer controls how a network node gains access to the data and permission to transmit it.

MAC addresses are globally unique addressed that are written into hardware at the time of manufacture. For this reason, MAC addresses are sometimes called Burned In Addresses (BIA).

After manufacture, it is possible in many cases to change the MAC address of a device in software.

MAC addresses are used by many different Layer 2 technologies, including Ethernet, Token Ring, 802.11, Bluetooth, FDDI, ATM, SCSI, and Fibre Channel.

Because MAC addresses originated in the Ethernet specification, the MAC address is sometimes referred to as the Ethernet Address.

A MAC address is 48 bits long. This means that there are 281,474,976,710,656 possible MAC addresses.

A sample MAC address looks like this:

00-0C-F1-56-98-AD

The first three bytes of this address (00-0C-F1) identify the manufacture of this network device, in this case Intel.

These first three bytes are assigned by the IEEE and the database is available online at IEEE OUI and Company_id Assignments.

The last three bytes of this address were assigned by Intel when they device was manufactured.

Domain Name Server (DNS)

2009-08-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

How DNS (Domain Name Server) works?

When we type a web address in our browser [like www.google.com] and hit go, the request goes to our local ISP servers who translate that domain name into a hard-to-remember IP address [like 66.102.7.104]

While this address resolution mechanism is transparent to the average internet user, it can sometimes be the main reason for slow internet access if the DNS servers of your ISP are acting choppy or not working at all.

To overcome these problems, you can consider changing your DNS server name to a more reliable but free service called OpenDNS. There's no software to install, just a small tweak in your internet connection settings.

We just replaced the default DSN server address of our ISP with the OpenDNS servers which are :

The DNS server can be changed from the TCP/IP Properties section. [Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local Network Connection -> TCP IP Properties]

Why OpenDNS is good ? Your domain resolution request to OpenDNS is executed from the nearest physical location and the address are also cached at their end. Therefore you notice faster internet browsing.

Second OpenDNS would auto-correct misspelled domain names [or typos]. For instance, if you type www.gooogle.com by mistake, you'll be redirected to www.google.com without any interventation. The other advantage is that you have a much safer browsing experience since OpenDNS would prevent you from visiting a scam website by error.

Some precautions before using OpenDNS

1. In the extreme situation when OpenDNS servers go down, you should keep the address of your ISP DNS servers handy.

2. You can turn off the phishing protection or auto typo correction by visiting the OpenDNS preferences page.

3. Some users might have privacy concerns with OpenDNS while some dislike seeing ads when they mis-spell domain names. The choice is completely your's here.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

2009-08-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

What is DSL?

DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, is a type of high speed Internet access. When deciding on which type of Internet access to get, you may have several options: dial up, DSL, cable, fiber optic, satellite, mesh wireless or point distribution wireless. However, in many geographic locations you may be limited in the types of Internet access that are available to you.

DSL Internet access is delivered across the telephone network backbone, an ordinary telephone connection jack can be used to plug in to DSL Internet access. Not all phone companies offer DSL service in every residential area, so even if phone service is available, it does not necessarily mean that DSL will also be available.

You can get DSL service from companies other than your local phone company, however, so even if the phone company doesn't provide DSL service, there may be other local companies who do.
As compared to a dialup connection, where a modem is used to connect to the Internet over the phone lines, DSL is always on. There is no need to dial in or disconnect. And DSL is generally much faster than a dialup connection which is limited to 56k.

DSL speed and bandwidth are usually somewhat lower than cable, which is available wherever cable TV service is available; however cable Internet access is a shared media. What this means is that if cable is available in your area, all users who are connected to the cable hub share a fixed amount of bandwidth. The more devices that are connected, the less bandwidth each user gets. With DSL, each user has a dedicated circuit and doesn't share bandwidth on that circuit with any other users.

Even though with DSL you don't have to share access with other users, the closer your home is located to a telephone company's central office switch, the better. This is a physical building where the local switching equipment is located. Distance to the switch is a determining factor for whether or not DSL service is available, and what speed will be available.

DSL service introduces interference on your phone line. It is necessary to eliminate this "noise" by using a filter supplied by your DSL provider.

The most common types of DSL for home connections are ADSL, SDSL, IDSL and RADSL.
ADSL is Asymmetric DSL

Download speeds are much faster than upload speeds. This is the most common type of DSL access for home connections.

SDSL is Symmetric DSL
Upload and download speeds are
virtually the same, or symmetric. This is a good connection for gaming or hosting a server and typically costs more than ADSL.

IDSL is ISDN DSL
IDSL provides a maximum 144kb per second connection (which is slow) and it is based on ISDN technology which makes it available at farther distances from the central office switch. It also costs more than SDSL access.

RADSL is Rate Adaptive DSL
Speed on RADSL connections varies based on line conditions. In some situations this is the only DSL service available, but ADSL or SDSL would be preferable.

NETWORK PING

2009-08-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

Network Ping - Testing Commands and Utilities

In computer networking, ping is a process for sending test messages from one computer to another to check the health of network connections. Ping tests are run using various software commands and utility programs.

What is Ping?
Ping is the name of a standard utility used to test network connections. Ping utilities are part of Windows, Mac OS X and Linux as well as some network routers and game consoles.

What Is a Computer Ping Test?
A ping test determines the latency (communication delay) between your computer and another computer on a network. Using ping tests can be useful when troubleshooting network problems, and they are also an important consideration for online gaming and other interactive applications.

IP Configuration

2009-08-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

IPCONFIG

Configure IP (internet protocol configuration)

Syntax

IPCONFIG /all Display full configuration information.

IPCONFIG /release [adapter] Release the IP address for the specified adapter.

IPCONFIG /renew [adapter] Renew the IP address for the specified adapter.

IPCONFIG /flushdns Purge the DNS Resolver cache.

IPCONFIG /registerdns Refresh all DHCP leases and re-register DNS

names.

IPCONFIG /displaydns Display the contents of the DNS Resolver Cache.

IPCONFIG /showclassid adapter Display all the DHCP class IDs allowed for adapter.

IPCONFIG /setclassid adapter [classid] Modify the dhcp class id.

If the Adapter name contains spaces, use quotes: "Adapter Name"
wildcard characters * and ? allowed, see the examples below

The default is to display only the IP address, subnet mask and default gateway for each adapter bound to TCP/IP.

For Release and Renew, if no adapter name is specified, then the IP address leases for all adapters bound to TCP/IP will be released or renewed.

For Setclassid, if no ClassId is specified, then the ClassId is removed.