Plug & Play Computers PC News Blog

Timzone / Daylight Savings Changes 2010

admin — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 21:29:05 +0000

If you are not doing windows updates and are using pre-windows 7 then you may find your time does not change during the right week for daylight savings. It will eventually but to force it to catch up and be correct (eg for NSW users from last weekend who still are an hour behind) you can apply the specific windows update that just relates to having the correct dates for daylight savings:

Go to the following page and pick you operating system from the list: HERE

FREE Own Your Space Digital Book for Teens from Microsoft

admin — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:37:05 +0000

Microsoft has released a free e-book covering a wide range of security topics. Although intended for teenagers, it’s suitable for anyone who needs a primer on internet security.

It’s difficult to write books for teenagers that don’t fall into the “trying too hard to be cool” trap, but Microsoft has done an admirable job. The text is a comprehensive guide for teenagers (and new computer users) that covers everything from how to spot phishing tactics to setting up your browser to protect against browser-based exploits to dealing with cyberstalking and bullying.

Download HERE (choose the “Own Your Space Teen Book _All Chapters.pdf” option)

DVI Video Convertors and all their versions

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 05:29:40 +0000

We’ve been recently working with the different standards of DVI and just thought it would be worth pointing out what they are all about.
Wikipedia has a great article on DVI – DVI-A, DVI-D and DVI-I (yes they couldn’t make it easy on us and have just 1 standard…). Just be aware there are not converters for the difference formats (as such) – since you are actually not only physically changing pin configurations, but also from Analogue to Digital, Analogue to Dual Link etc – which is electrically a different thing as well. It will work in some combinations depending on what hardware is present at either end.
Have a check out of the tech article HERE

Microsoft Office 2010 Free Upgrade

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:22:11 +0000

Microsoft have release their upgrade path for purchasers of Office 2007 products – purchase qualifying Office 2007 product between 5 March 2010 and 30 September 2010 and you can download the upgrade for FREE once it is released on the Microsoft site – register below for the upgrade :

http://www.office.com/techg

Windows 7 Built In Fault Finding

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:33:22 +0000

One of our staff (David) found this good document on Toms Hardware on the built in tools in Windows 7 for checking on software and hardware faults – have a read here – http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-7-troubleshooting,2504.html

Good way to give your system a check over when things are not working right.

James

Windows 7 due out 22nd Oct

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:43:15 +0000

The next major upgrade to Windows is nearly here – Windows 7. It will come in 3 flavours (Premium, Pro and Ultimate) and improves on many of Vistas issues as well as adding new enhancements in. The final release version is now out and we have installed it into our production machines – read the full review of it HERE.

Suffice to say – its time for XP to be upgraded everywhere – the Windows users have been waiting for is finally here ! We will be moving to Windows 7 as our standard system OS shortly for our Hand Crafted PCs and notebooks.

WiFi 802.11n Finalised

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:43:48 +0000

The current wireless standards of 11Mb (B), 54Mb (G) and 108Mb (SuperG/TurboG) now have a new IEEE ratified standard of 270Mb (N). Draft and Pre N have been around for years now but the IEEE have finally stamped the full WiFI N. Expect 802.11n deviced to become the standard now, and upgrades to be available to all Wifi Pre/Draft N devices via firmware or software/drivers updates within the next few months.

As is normally the case most routers will handle the new standard as well as the pre and draft versions – so you wont be loosing out if you dont update straight away.

Service Pack 2 for Vista and Server 2008

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:20:15 +0000

Microsoft have just release the new service pack for Vista – SP2. Download today from:

Microsoft SP2 Site – note you will need Service Pack 1 installed on the PC PRIOR to installing SP. It includes all the updates since SP1, and enhances Wifi, Bluetooth and Blu Ray support.

Free Microsoft Office Training Guides

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:14:37 +0000

Heres a link you may find useful – a good set of training and quick start manuals for all recent versions of Office (including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook).

Mouse Training Guides

Invaluable Windows Keyboards Shortcuts

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:43:22 +0000

Here are some shortcuts that will make your Windows life a lot easier-

F2 – rename a file
Windows + E - open explorer
Windows + F – search files
Windows + M – minimize all windows
Windows + F1 – help
Windows + Pause – Windows Device Manager
Alt + F4 – Close current program
Ctrl + Z - back one step (or erase last thing you did)