Instant Messenger

To send a text from a computer to a mobile phone:

First and foremost you must know the ten digit cell phone number that you need to text to. In order to send text from computer to cell phone you have to register with a website which allows you to do just that. For e.g. - www.textem.net the registration of this site is free and will allow you to text without any fee. You can only send a text up to specific character count, sort of like a Twitter message. This is not a live text conversation. The advantage of this method is that it is free of cost. You can also send text using a mail account. For this you have to know how to text from computer via email.

To send text via email is very easy.

You just need to compose an email and mark the sender section with the ten-digit cell number at whatever the service the individual is using. For example if an individual is using a Verizon cellular service and his cell number is 1234567890 then you can make the email out to 1234567890@vtext.com. If the individual is using the cell phone service from T-mobile, you can send text from computer via email to 1234567890@tmomail.net.

To send text with instant messenger:

The most commonly used way to text from the computer is using the IM (Instant Messenger). This is the simplest way of communicating to anyone in any part of the world. The most important thing to consider here is the person whom you want to send text must be using same IM application. In order to receive the text and he must also be connected to the Internet via his computer at the same time you send the message. This is a kind of live chat where you send a text from computer via IM and you can get an immediate reply by whomsoever you are sending the text. The most important advantage of this type of sending text from computer is that there is no limitation for text message size.

Photo Credits: Wesley Fryer

Originally posted 2010-04-06 03:41:49.

HDTV

The first step is to determine the type of connector your system has. Check the back of the computer to determine whether your system has a HDMI or a VGA connector pin. HDMI outlet looks very similar to USB connector. However, it is not exactly rectangular in shape, unlike the USB connector. A VGA outlet is a fifteen pin connector. It is easy to recognize this outlet, since it has a monitor symbol next to it. VGA cables are cheaper when compared to HDMI cables. Once you know what type of connector pin you have you can purchase the connector cable, assuming you do not already have one.

Connect one end of the cable to your computer and take the other end of the cable to the back of your HDTV. Connect the cable, either HDMI or VGA to the back of your HDTV. If you have a long cable, then it will be easy to tuck the cable when you are not using your computer. This helps you maintain an organized and a tidy look.

On your HDTV, choose the input number of the HDMI or the VGA connector. Most of the latest HDTVs provide you the option of customizing the names of the input connectors. You can easily configure the input connectors and name them, so that, the next time you use your computer with your HDTV, you can set up quicker.

Switch on your computer and then press the F5 button to enable the viewing of output video from your computer on the HDTV through an external video connector. In case this step does not work and you cannot view the computer output on your HDTV, then choose your video card and open its settings and then manually choose the output of the video of the computer through the external HDMI or VGA connector.

2 Advantages of Connecting Your Computer to Your HDTV:

1. If your HDTV has a tuner in it, you just need to have an ordinary antenna, which costs around thirty bucks to tune into free locally broadcast high definition channels.
2. You can view high definition programs available online. There is a lot of high definition entertainment media available online, absolutely free of cost, which you can easily enjoy on your big screen.

Photo Credits: blakespot

Originally posted 2010-04-17 03:53:08.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Comfort

The most important thing to note when buying a new keyboard is if it’s comfortable or not. Comfort options on a keyboard include whether the keyboard has larger keys if needed, and if the keys it does have are easy to press. Keyboards also come in all different shapes and sizes, to accommodate the different sized hands of different people. Another common feature that comes with certain keyboards is a front hand rest that can help reduce strain during long term use. When considering all of these options, it’s most important to follow the simple advice that you must consider exactly what you’re looking for and try to match that with a desired product.

Extras and Features

“What extras and features can a keyboard have?” you might ask. Well, keyboards can feature a myriad of extra options such as volume control and even a stop and start button for your favorite MP3 program. For example, the Logitech G15 features a screen that displays the name of the song you’re currently listening to, while offering sound controls, next song, previous song, and pause options all on the keyboard! It’s also important to note if the keyboard has extra bind ready buttons. By bind ready I mean that these keys can be bound to whatever you want for use in multimedia programs and online video games. If you’re using Photoshop this bind ready button may be able to save your program with the press of a single key.

Connection

Another important factor to consider when you’re buying a new keyboard is whether or not it can fit into your desired connection. Most keyboards now come standard as USB, while some computers or old keyboards utilize ADP connections. Also always remember to question whether or not you want to deal with the hassles that come with a wireless keyboard, or if you’d rather just get a standard wired cord.

The most important thing to do when purchasing your keyboard is making sure you buy one that’s comfortable and that has any special features you may want. If you review the advice given in this article, you will make the correct choice when buying your new keyboard.

Photo Credits: splorp

Originally posted 2009-12-04 03:25:41.

Multiple Network Connections

Here is how you go about it:

We will be specifically talking about an internet connection that is a cable one. The reason for this is simple; connecting to a computer that is on wireless internet makes no sense as you can directly connect to the wireless net. So in this tutorial we are talking about cable internet.

Nearly everyone knows that computers connect cable internet connection through the LAN card. So if you want to connect to a computer that is on cable connection, make sure your computer has a working LAN card. The first thing you will need to learn is how to connect two computers using the LAN card.

It is fairly easy – the computer which has the internet needs to allow the other computer to be able to use the network. Go into the control panel and click on the 'Network and Sharing Center' icon. Now you simply need to enable network discovery. You should also allow file sharing and public sharing folder options so that it gets easier for the other computer to connect.

Now the second step is to see whether the first computer is showing your LAN on it or not. For this you will need to connect your LAN card to that computer. Once it is connected it would be displayed in the Network Connections.

Now comes the tricky part!

You need to make a right-click on the local area connection where the LAN is shown and go to its properties. The next step is to get into the properties of the 'Networking' icon and go into the 'Protocol Version 4.' Now, you will need to give an IP address against the command ‘Use the following IP’ and name an IP address. At this time you are actually done configuring this pc and you need to move on to the other one through which you want to use the internet.

The first thing you need to do is to check whether the LAN card is enabled on this computer or not. If it is enabled then go to networking properties and click on the ‘obtain an IP address automatically’ tab and it will retrieve the IP address from the first computer. Your computer is now connected to the internet of the first computer. Try browsing or connecting to the internet and if it’s not working then try pinging. You will get to know whether the computer is running on the internet or not either by browsing or by pinging. It is just this simple to connect to another computer’s internet.

Photo Credits: dcmorton

Originally posted 2010-04-22 03:33:29.

Internet Cable

Connecting to a cable network:

The easiest way of connecting to the internet through your computer is by establishing a cable connection. You first need to check whether your LAN card is properly installed and whether it is working or not. Once you know this the next step is to connect the cable to your computer.

In the case of a broadband connection, your LAN card will automatically receive an IP address through which it will connect to the internet. If it doesn’t go into the networking options and click on the ‘Automatically choose IP’ option. These are the things that are dependent upon your service provider. If you are given a particular ID then you would not need to click on the 'automatically select IP address' option instead you would have to manually enter the IP address in the network connection options. So make sure you ask your internet provider about which method you should use.

Connecting to a wireless network:

If you want to connect to a wireless network then the first thing you will need to make sure of is that your computer has a working LAN card and a Wi-Fi booth. You will need to go to the network connections option and click on 'create a new network'. Or you can use the wireless booth software and detect the any wireless internet connection in your range and it will automatically create the properties. This process is dependent on the type of booster you are using. If it doesn’t automatically connect then create a new network connection and choose the wireless connection option. Once you do this you will get a list of available connections in your range. If you are trying to access a secured connection then you would need the password for it but you can connect to an unsecured network easily without the need of a password.

Connecting to a dial-up connection:

If you want to connect to a dial-up then the first thing you’ll need to do is to connect your phone line to your computer through the LAN. Once this is done then click on ‘create a new network connection’ and make it a dial-up one. You will need to enter the password, user ID, etc. Dial-up connections are a bit difficult to configure and they are generally not very effective. It is best not to opt for a dial-up internet connection. Cable networks are the best and the easiest to connect to.

Photo Credits: Justin Marty

Originally posted 2010-04-23 09:41:47.

Hard Drive

1. Uninstall Unused Programs- One of the biggest memory wasters on old computers are old programs that you installed and simply don’t use anymore. So what should you do if these programs are littering your computer? To manually uninstall unused programs: go to your start menu, go to control panel, add and remove programs, and remove any program that you don’t need any more. Alternatively you can remove windows components that you don’t use. To do this go to start, control panel, add or remove programs, add or remove Windows Components, select which components you don’t want, and hit okay.

2. Deleting Temporary Files- Temporary files are created during crashes and during installations; they can be where some of your disappearing hard disk is located. So how do you get rid of your temporary files? Temporary files will be left in \Document And Settings\your Username\Local Settings\Temp folder. All you need to do is simply go to this folder select files and delete them. Try not to delete any file with the current date as they may still be in use.

3. Deleting Temporary Internet Files- While temporary internet files often don’t accumulate to any significant amount of hard drive loss, they do exist, and you should get rid of them. To do this, you need to open your favorite browser, whether that is Mozilla Firefox or Internet explorer. Once there go to tools, settings/internet options, then find the delete temporary files option.

4. Disk Cleanup- One last method you can use to clean up your hard drive is the disk cleanup. To run a disk cleanup go to my computer, right click your C drive, properties and then disk cleanup. Disk cleanup is useful for detecting useless and unused files and will even help you to delete older installations of Windows. This means that if you upgraded to Vista from XP there may still be all your old XP files taking up hard drive space!

There are plenty of options available to you for cleaning up your hard drive, and none of them are very hard to utilize. It’s important to be careful to understand what it is that you’re deleting when you’re cleaning up your hard drive, but with a little research you will be fine.

Photo Credits: hildgrim

Originally posted 2009-10-30 03:57:41.

Step up your security.

1. Use Up to Date Anti-Virus Software- Perhaps the best way to keep your computer safe from the threat of viruses is anti-virus software. It’s very important to download a noteworthy company’s software such as: Ad-aware, Spybot or Avast. These companies all offer free anti-virus that’s constantly updated. It’s important when downloading anti-virus software that you’re not downloading a virus itself, because that’s one of their most common disguises. That’s why you should always stick with a trusted company.

2. Be Safe With Email- Email is one of the easiest ways to become a victim of a large scale virus infection, and the easiest way to avoid it is to not open any suspicious email or follow any odd links and attachments. If you know the sender and the attachment still seems fishy, simply ask them by phone or in person before you open the attachment.

3. Better Passwords- This has become something that companies are enforcing, but it’s still something that needs to be emphasized, use strong passwords. Don’t simply make your password your first name or your dog’s name. You need to add numbers and special characters such as a # sign to your password. This will make it much more difficult for any potential hacker/virus program to affect you. If you can’t remember long passwords, try using phrases as they usually make the best passwords.

4. Use Anti-Spyware Programs- Although many of these programs becoming pre-packaged with anti-virus programs, it’s still important to note that spyware is much more commonly affecting your computer than a virus. It may come in the form of ads popping up on your desktop, or even just a program running in your background eating your memory. They may not be viruses, but they’re deadly and it’s important you prepare for them.

5. Watch Where You Download from- Where you download files from plays one of the biggest roles in whether you’re likely to get a virus or not. Avoid using P2P networks as much as possible as they’re probably the most unsafe downloading environments there are. If you visit a website and a message box comes up asking you to install (yes or no) always ctl-alt-delete exit the website immediately. This is one of the easiest ways to allow your computer to be infected.

Photo Credits: amelungc

Originally posted 2009-11-13 03:40:56.

Camera

1. You can use the email option in your phone to email your pictures to your computer. This is a very simple option if you have just a few pictures. However it is not very convenient if there are a bit too many pictures. It will consume lot of your time if you were to mail too many pictures to your computer. The emailing method can be costly as well. Most phone service providers charge a fee on a monthly basis for sending unlimited text and using the emailing services. If you have such plans for your phone, than mailing the pictures should not be a bad or expensive option. Check to make sure what’s covered in your plan before using.

2. The photos can also be sent to the computer with the use of data cables. Nowadays, almost all phones come with an option for using data cables. You can use the data cable option and connect the two, the computer and the phone or the camera, with the cable. It is an easier option and it hardly takes any time to do. It can upload loads of pictures onto your computer provided there is space in the computer for that.

The only problem with this system of sending pictures to your computer is that you will not be able to send pictures from a remote area or a distant place. The distant between the computer and the phone or the camera is determined by the length of the data cable. The longer the cable, the greater will be the distance. Sometimes, the length of these cables is so short that it becomes inconvenient at times to send the pictures to the computer with this data cable method. There is also software required to recognise the data coming in from the phone to the computer. The companies of most of these mobile phones have websites. If you’re not sure about the usage of data cables with that particular phone, then check out your phone’s website for instructions.

3. Bluetooth services are another way of uploading pictures into your computer from your phone. It is a wireless and a very hassle-free system. The requisites for this process are Bluetooth compatibilities for both the phone and the computer system. The problem though is that not many computers or desktops are computer enabled and this system does not work for every computer. There are lots of phones which are Bluetooth enabled and therefore the issue of Bluetooth availability will not come up with the phones ever. Check if your computer has this option and that it is turned on before trying to send your pictures through Bluetooth.

Photo Credits: pochacco20

Originally posted 2010-05-12 03:48:57.

Quad Bootup.

Windows

Most likely you’re reading this article on a Windows computer, why do I say this? Simple, because Windows XP/Vista are the most used OS’s on the market currently, ahead of OSX and Linux. Since Windows comprises more than 80% of computers in the world, this means that it has the most widely available support and software available. It also means that because of its wide spread use and more unsecure build, that it’s most prone to spyware and viruses. Windows is by far the greatest choice for gaming, as most games are developed natively for windows and windows systems being generally less expensive.

Mac OSX

If you’ve been paying attention to your TV lately it’s very likely that you’ve at least seen one Mac Vs PC commercial. Apple’s OS has been gaining strength over the years and for good reason too. Mac OSX is much more secure to Windows because it’s a UNIX based operating system. These means that there virtually no spyware and virus applications currently affected Mac OSX systems. OSX is also much friendly for the casual user, as it’s designed for less technically users and is generally seen as much more fun experience. A downside to OSX is that you must ‘legally’ buy a Mac machine to run it. You can’t buy an OSX computer from a third-party vender such as Dell. This means that Apple’s computers tend to much more expensive than Windows set-ups.

Linux

Linux? What’s a Linux? You might think that Linux is some new operating system just because you’ve never heard of it, but the first iteration of Linux was actually released in the 1970’s. Why hasn’t Linux caught on? Many of the pros of Linux can also be considered a con is the easiest way to explain its popularity. Linux is the most technical of the three main OS’s. Literally anything and everything in Linux can be changed to match your desired wants; you just have to figure out how to do it. It’s not for casual users; however, as many casual users have a hard time figuring out how to even install Linux on their system. Something great about Linux is that it’s highly compatible and runs on just about any hardware. It’s also even more secure than OSX, which is very impressive considering that safety is one of Apple’s strongest selling points.

Which OS is right for you? Well that question is impossible to answer without knowing what kind of user you are and what you’re looking for. Chances are, Windows is fine for most people that are reading this article. It’s never a bad idea to consider using Mac OSX or Linux, however.

Photo Credits: foskarulla

Originally posted 2009-11-30 03:13:29.

Computer crash!!!

Overheating

One of the most common causes of computer crashes is overheating. If your video card or processor is getting too hot your computer will automatically shut your computer down which could result in a loss of data or even damage the hardware if it happens enough. To fix this problem you need to either install a new fan or another cooling method and test to make sure that the part is cooling down. If you have no luck with adding cooling solutions you should consult a professional or completely replace the part at fault.

Viruses/Spyware

If your computer is infected by a virus or by spyware then that malware could possibly be causing your computer to crash. This problem can be fixed almost an infinite amount of ways but the most common way to fix this issue is by running a virus scan. If all else fails, however, then don’t count of the options of running a system restore or completely wiping your hard drive with a reformat depending on the severity of the virus.

Incompatible or Broken Hardware

This is probably the easiest of the problems to identify because it will be noticeable very quickly. If you have broken hardware when Windows tries to locate where a certain piece is and it gets nothing back it will instantly be ready to crash itself. The only solution to this probably is to unfortunately, replace the hardware which could be expensive based on which piece is broken.

Too Much Running

If you have too many background applications running then it’s very easy to cause an overload leaving very little resources for your computer. This will eventually cause a crash but will not have any serious repercussions. To solve a problem involving too many applications running it’s important that you set up programs so that they don’t boot up when you start your computer.

Computer crashes can be frustrating, but there aren’t an unlimited number of reasons to why they’re happening. If you experiment and do a little research you should be able to diagnose why you computer is crashing on you.

Photo Credits: Shht!

Originally posted 2009-12-06 03:50:31.