Daily Computer tips and tricks

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How to identify the hardware problems with the computer beep:
2007-11-02 17:33:00
How familiar does the following sound? Your computer was working fine, but then suddenly started locking up (hanging or freezing), rebooting itself (crashing) or shutting down spontaneously? If you know only too well what I am talking about, then read on! Performing the simple steps below can fix the majority of lockup cases. 1. Check for recently installed software or hardware.If the lockups started to happen after you installed a new peace of hardware, new software program, or new drivers, uninstall it and see if the problem goes away.2. Check for free hard drive space.When no viruses are found, check out free hard drive space on drive C:. Make sure there is more than 20% of free space available; low disk space can lead to random lockups.3. Check for overheating.Overheating is another known cause of lockups. It can be caused by problems with fans inside the case, dust buildup, or other cooling problems. Make sure the power supply fan and CPU fan are running and free of dust buildu...
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Windows Shortcuts:
2007-11-02 17:14:00
Some basic shortcuts to Remember:Tab Move forward from link to link on active page.Shift + Tab Move backward from link to link on active page.Alt + Tab Switch between open applications.Alt + Shift + Tab Switch backwards between open applications.Alt + Esc Switch Between open applications on taskbar.F5 Refresh ContentsAlt + F4 Closes Current open program.Ctrl + F4 Closes Window in ProgramAlt + Enter Opens properties window of Selected icon or program.Shift + F10 Simulates right click on selected item.Shift + Del Delete file without throwing into the recycle bin. (i.e. Non-Recoverable)Holding Shift When putting in an audio CD will prevent CD Player from playing.Windows + D Minimize all open windows and return to the desktop.(press again to restore all windows to active state)Windows + M Minimize all open windows and return to the desktop.Shift + Windows + M Restore minimized windows to active state.Windows + E Launch Windows Explorer (different from Internet Explorer)Alt + F File menu...
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Tips for working with the list of duplicate files:
2007-11-02 14:37:00
Use either the Print Report or Export Data commands on the File menu to create a permanent record of the duplicate files. Use the Sort command on the View menu to reorganize the list for better analysis. To get more detailed information about any file, select the file, pull down the File menu, and select the Info command. Leave duplicate files in the Windows folder and its subfolders alone. If you don't recognize the duplicate file, it's better to use the Rename or Move commands on the File menu rather than the Delete command. Note: This tip applies to both Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional. Courtsey:Techrepublic.com
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Some Do's and Dont's in your day to day Computer operations:
2007-11-01 16:56:00
Refresh the desktop after closing any application. This will remove any unused files from the RAM.Do not clutter your Desktop with a lot of shortcuts. Each shortcut on the desktop uses up to 500 bytes of RAM.Empty the recycle bin regularly. The files are not really deleted from your hard drive until you empty the recycle bin.Delete the temporary internet files regularly.Use disk cleanup regularly.Defragment your hard drive once every two months. This will free up a lot of space on your hard drive and rearrange the files so that your applications run faster.Always make two partitions in your hard drive. Install all large Softwares (like PSP, Photoshop, 3DS Max etc) in the second partition. Windows uses all the available empty space in C drive as virtual memory when your Computer RAM is full. Keep the C Drive as empty as possible.When installing new Softwares disable the option of having a tray icon. The tray icons use up available RAM, and also slow down the booting of your PC.
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Effective Emailing:
2007-10-31 14:22:00
Manage your Inbox: Sort messages by priority, subject, date, sender, and other options to help find important e-mail that requires your attention. Proper e-mail etiquette dictates that you respond to all e-mail in a timely fashion. Generally speaking, you should respond to all professional e-mail within a business day, even if it's just to say you've received the message and will look into the matter. Occasionally, you may receive an e-mail thread that contains responses from several people; always read the entire thread before responding.   Compose professional messages: It's easy to convey the impression that you're unprofessional or careless if you don't follow some basic principles of good business writing. Make sure you follow proper grammar and sentence structure when composing and responding to messages and use a spell checker. Don't type in all capital letters?it creates the effect of shouting. Break your message into paragraphs for logic and readability...
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When Is It Time To Get a New PC?
2007-10-29 13:34:00
When should you upgrade your computer? Here are some rules of thumb to keep in mind...   Dead Components - Eventually your hard drive, optical drive, power supply, or motherboard will fail. These events can range from minor annoyances to catastrophic disasters, but depending on the age of the computer, any of them could be cause for upgrading to a new machine. Consider the power supply. Old, cheap power supplies are frequent failure points, and new supplies often don't fit in old cases and/or don't have the right connectors to work with old motherboards. You can hunt down compatible equipment and adapter cables, but even then it can be dicey installing it. Last time I upgraded an ancient computer's power supply I had to drill new holes in the case to line up the mounting screws properly. At some point, you might just say it's not worth the trouble and that it's time to dump the old PC and get a new one. On the other hand, motherboard meltdowns are usually so...
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How To Upgrade to Windows Vista:
2007-10-26 14:08:00
 Given the Step-by-Step Procedure?   1. Insert Windows Vista software disc.   2. Double-click My Computer. Double-click Optical Drive.   3. Double-click the Setup icon.   4. A window will open that will ask if you want to check your notebook's Vista compatibility online (it takes you to the Windows Upgrade Advisor) or to install the program. If you're not sure your notebook has the specs necessary to run Vista, click the compatibility link. Otherwise, double-click Install.   5. A new window will give you the option to go online to get the latest Vista updates or to install. If you don't have an Internet connection or want to get the updates later, double-click Install.   6. Input your installation key and click Next.   7. You'll arrive at the license-agreement page. Check the Yes box and click OK.   8. At the installation page, you'll be asked whether you want to perform an Upgrade (which installs Vista while keepin...
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Add items to your start Button:
2007-10-25 14:35:00
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. ·      &nbs p;  First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option. ·      &nbs p;  In Registry Editor go to left hand panel, and find HKey_Classes_Root / Directory / Shell ·      &nbs p;  Here Right click on Shell folder option and add any new key with descriptive name and Press Enter. ·      &nbs p;  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 filemsofficemsexcel.EXE. ·    &nb...
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Automatic screen refresh:
2007-10-24 16:11:00
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.   ·      &nbs p;  First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option. ·      &nbs p;  In Registry Editor panel go to the path: ·      &nbs p;  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / System / CurrentContro...
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Is Free Becoming A Thing Of The Past?
2007-10-24 16:07:00
There's something about the word "free". I mean, it's very attractive and for some reason many of us think that "free" also means "quality" and "desirable" and, of course, "get it now". That's one reason why you see free stuff all over the web. Of course, giving away free services and goods has been a way to get people into a store (or to a web site) for countless ages. I'm sure that way back in the Roman times they gave away free bread or trinkets to get people hook people in, just like web sites do now. But on the web "free" seems to have been taken to ludicrous extremes. it seems that everyone wants it for "free". A web site has to offer something, anything, for free to get people to visit. There are entire companies who are entirely devoted to giving away free things. Even such giants as "Yahoo" are almost entirely based upon the concept of free giveaways. Now that Yahoo has announ...
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How Private Is Your Email?
2007-10-24 16:04:00
Many years ago I was a consultant for a company who decided they wanted to perform a security audit of their computer systems. One of the components of their system that I was requested to check out was email. My client wanted to determine if their email was secure.   It took me all of a minute to determine that their email was totally and completely insecure. Fortunately for them, this was in the days before it was common for company computer systems to be directly connected to the internet, because their email messages were stored in plain text in a well known system location. In fact, not only were the email messages stored in a completely insecure manner, but deleted messages were not actually deleted until an administrator purged them - and since they didn't have anyone doing that there was a complete record of company emails going back years in the past.   I had spent about thirty minutes on this part of the audit so far and was ready to move on when one of th...
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The First Email:
2007-10-24 16:02:00
Email is by far and away the most popular application on the internet. Just about everyone uses email, and generally people use it all of the time. Some users may send one or two messages a week, others dozens, and some, like me, send and receive thousands.   It all began in 1968 with a company called Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN). This firm was hired by the United States Defense Department to create something called the ARPANET, which later became the internet. ARPANET stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, and it's purpose was to create a method that military and educational institutions could communicate with each other.   In 1971, an engineer named Ray Tomlinson was assigned to a project called SNDMSG. This program was not new, in fact it had existed for a number of years. By today's standards it was more than primitive. All it did was allow users on the same machine to send messages to each other. Users could create text files which would the...
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Customize Windows XP?s General tab:
2007-10-23 15:16:00
It's easy to customize Windows XP's General tab in the System Properties dialog box with your support contact information and your company's logo just by using Notepad. Here are the steps: Launch Notepad and type the following text, replacing the dummy information shown   here with your own:         ;  [General]         ;  Manufacturer=XYZ's Computers     &n bsp;   Model=5551212         ;  [Support Information]         ;  Line1=Call 555-1212 for technical support         ;  Line2=Call 555-1212 for technical support         ;  Line3=Call 555-1212 for technical support   Line4=Call 555-1212 for technical support Save the file in the C:WindowsSystem32 folder as Oeminfo.ini. To add your logo ...
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Nineteen words that don't belong in your Resume:
2007-10-22 16:37:00
Term Reasons to avoid Example Possible rephrasing Assist, assisted Hiring managers want to know what you did, not how you helped. If you're familiar enough with a task to put it on your resume, you can choose a better word than assist. Assisted marketing director by researching PDAs. Researched PDAs for marketing department. Experiment No one wants to hear about what you tried to do?only what you have accomplished. Experimented with new LAN management software. Tested and evaluated new LAN management software. Skillfully, effectively, carefully, quickly, expert, mastered Hiring managers often object to words that describe how well you do a particular task. In many cases, it comes across as boastful?and it's unnecessary. "If you aren't good at it, why are you putting it on your resume?" one recruiter said. Skillfully managed transition from Windows NT to Windows Server 2003 Migrated organization from Windows NT...
More About: Words , Resume , Belo , Inet

How to Unsubscribe from mailing lists:
2007-10-21 18:50:00
I'm sure you've received messages from mailing lists and wanted to unsubscribe. Perhaps you don't remember subscribing in the first place, or maybe you've just grown tired of the subject. For whatever reason, you just want to get off the list, and you want off fast.On virtually every list, it is common practice to put the unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of every message (Yahoo groups, also called egroups, is an exception in that sometimes there are no unsubscribe instructions at all). You simply do what is described and you will be removed from the list.In most cases, a simple blank email to an email address or a clicked link is all you need to do. Sometimes you need to include the word "remove" or "unsubscribe" in the subject or body of the message. It just depends upon the conventions of the list.Now, this article only applies to mailing lists to which you have subscribed (opt-in). Before you click on any link or send an email off to parts unknown that the message is no...
More About: Lists , Mailing lists , Subs , Unsubscribe , Scribe

Mozilla to work on new Web browser for mobiles:
2007-10-19 19:34:00
Mozilla recently hired new developers to start work on a mobile version of their popular browser Firefox. The project is expected to be completed in a year or two.An excerpt from PC World:As Mozilla continues to develop Mozilla2, the second version of the platform on which Firefox is built, it will add mobile devices as a category. Mike Schroepfer, vice president of engineering at Mozilla, wrote in his blog that developers of Mozilla2, which is expected to be complete in early 2009, will keep mobile phones in mind as they build the new platform.Mozilla had a similar bowser, called Minimo, in the works (News.com). However, there are no plans for further development of Minimo.Mozilla faces a number of competitors in this field (Register). Along with browsers offered by handset makers, there is competition from companies such as Opera, which already has a mobile browser.Do you think Mozilla can make a dent in the mobile-browsing space with its extensibility and interface that won the h...
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Copy and paste from Windows XP Pro?s command prompt straight to the Clipboa
2007-10-19 19:15:00
If you need to copy output from a command and paste it into a Windows program, such as Notepad, while working at the command prompt, chances are you?ll try to use the Mark and Copy commands on the command prompt?s Edit menu. A better way to get information from a command prompt and onto the Clipboard is the Clip.exe command line tool.Clip.exe comes with Windows Server 2003, but it also works in Windows XP Professional. Simply copy Clip.exe from the WindowsSystem32 directory on a Windows Server 2003 system, and then paste it into the WindowsSystem32 directory on a Windows XP system.Once you have a copy of Clip.exe on your Windows XP system, using it is as easy as appending the pipe and the clip command ( clip) to the end of your command line. For example, you can use this command to copy the directory listing to the clipboard (Dir clip), or you can use it to collect, copy, and paste the results of the Ipconfig command (Ipconfig /all clip).
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Get more out of Internet Explorer 7 tabs when using Windows XP:
2007-10-19 19:12:00
Many Windows XP users have upgraded to Internet Explorer 7 in order to take advantage of the Tabs feature, which allows you to view multiple sites at the same time. Here are some shortcuts and tricks that you can use to get even more out of Internet Explorer 7?s tabs.While clicking the tabs to switch between them is handy, you can also switch between tabs by pressing [Ctrl][Tab]. If you have a wheel mouse, you can open a link in a new tab by clicking the link with the wheel button.While you can start a new tab by clicking the small New Tab button, you can also open a new tab by pressing [Ctrl]T.If you?re scanning several sites on multiple tabs and want to return to this same set of tabs at a later date, click the Add To Favorites button and use the Add Tab Group To Favorites command.If you have a wheel mouse, you can close any tab by clicking it with the wheel button.When scanning several sites on multiple tabs, you can click and drag the tabs in any arrangement that you wish.

Tips to use Pop up Blockers:
2007-10-17 16:25:00
Pop-up window messages basically used for online advertising to increase the web traffic with minimum cost, but these pop-up messages can be used to damage a computer or also for hacking purpose. In routine when you are browsing the internet and suddenly a new window pop-up dialog box display with different messages for example" speed-up your internet ","free upload your files or images". All pop-up messages are not dangerous for you but some unwanted program and website that might be disturb your computer performance.There are many free pop-up blocker software's available in market but always download it from well-known sites. Simply Download Google toolbar and install it to use its feature "Block annoying pop-up" to block the pop-up messages, You can say this is simple and best way to block unwanted program.If you are working with Internet Explorer and want to block the pop-ups windows and unwanted messages. Open the Internet Explorer and click on Tools menu and go to Pop-up Bloc...
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Internet Error Codes and Meanings:
2007-10-17 16:22:00
Sometimes when you are browsing the internet and trying to open any website, your e-mail and any FTP sites , but you see different error codes there. You should be familiar with these error codes. You can solve these problems if you are well-known with the meaning of error codes. Lets look into some of the error codes we face quite common.400 This is bad request error, First check you may be typing wrong URL name and server could not understand your request.401 You are trying to open any unauthorized access site or page. Check your username and password if you are trying to open any webpage.402 Payment Required Error 403 You are trying to open any forbidden page and you are blocked by that domain.404 Here you are trying to open the webpage that was removed or re-named, also check the URL spelling.408 This is time out error. you should send the request with in time that the server set for you.
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Delete your files directly without Routing it to Recycle bin:
2007-10-17 16:18:00
The Recycle Bin is the special folders of windows on the hard disk to store deleted files and folders. These files or folders can be restored from the Recycle Bin to their original location if required for use. But you can set the Recycle Bin setting that the files and folders are deleted from hard disk are not placed in the Recycle Bin. So with the help of Windows registry editor you can set the Recycle Bin to always delete items.Follow the simple steps to edit computer registry for Recycle Bin.. 1.First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option. 2.Here locate the location to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWin dowsCurrentVersionExplorerBitBucket 3.Here in right side panel, double click on NukeOnDelete and set its value 1. Now close the Registry editor and Restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.
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Content Thieves:
2007-10-16 18:58:00
Have you ever surfed the net and accidentally bumped into a site which looks familiar, but you just cannot put your finger on it? Or perhaps you like something like Star Trek, and you've noticed that site after site has exactly the same images, wallpapers and desktop themes? Or perhaps you've run into an article that seems ... like you've seen it before?Perhaps you have seen them before - because it just may be that someone has "borrowed" something from another site.Paramount (the owners of Star Trek) has run into this problem again and again. Some people just think that they can simply copy images right off their web site and add them to their own sites. It's gotten so bad that Paramount has even sent letters to some sites asking them to take down the offending material.I've even seen whole web pages just and inserted into a new site without regard for copyrights or anything like that. I've have heard on occasion of an entire site that's been copied!Okay, so you see a pictur...
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Spywares and Adwares:
2007-10-16 18:51:00
What are spyware and adware?Although they may sometimes be confused with one another, spyware and adware are different. Spyware is a program or technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organisation, often without their knowledge, and includes programs like hijackers and keyloggers. Adware is typically a program that displays advertising through pop-up or pop-under windows while you are surfing the Web. You may have unknowingly installed spyware or adware when you downloaded programs from the Internet or installed software from disks. Spyware is easy to install but often difficult to remove without downloading specialized anti-spyware programs. Many applications may display a window or interrupt your activities while you are using your computer. For example, Yahoo! Messenger may display an alert or a chat window from time to time, either of which may contain an advertisement. Most people do not classify these kinds of communications as adware because they were ...
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Is your PC working slow:
2007-10-16 18:44:00
Are your sure it's your PC, and not the network you're talking on that's slow? Sometimes networks get bogged down with traffic, making it seem like it's your PC that's slow.If your PC has been fine, and just seems slow today, it's probably the network. If your PC seems slow from now on, it probably really IS your PC. There are several simple things you can do yourself to speed things up, most of which have to do with freeing up space on your hard drive, or reducing the amount of fragmentation inside the hard drive. Look in your Help section for information on how to delete no-longer-needed information your PC has stored off the internet. Look on your PC for an application called Defrag and run it. If your disc is nearly full, off load some of the contents to CD or an external hard drive, so your PC has more memory to work with.
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Should I make Google a Part of Programmer's Interview?
2007-10-16 05:02:00
I've noticed lately that even though everybody in IT uses Google , not everybody knows some of the quick basic tips that can really help when trying to zero in on the answer to a particular search. It's gotten to the point that I'm seriously considering adding some Google questions into my standard list when I interview potential new hires. Because I think good Googling makes you more productive. It means you'll be able to quickly find an answer to a programming problem even if you don't know the answer off the top of your head. Some Googling Tips:Lets look into some advanced tips, usually I'm trying to exclude specific terms from the search. For example, if you're trying to search for "hello", but you want to exclude any pages that refer to usual words, you can use the minus sign(-) to exclude words from the search like.. hello -hi Same in the case for including words with the help of plus sign(+)hello +hiSurprisingly, I also find that a lot of people don't know you can do a...
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