Computer Tips, Trick + Tutorials

About PC Memory

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 08:14:00 -0800

PC memory is temporary data storage. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer uses memory to retrieve the instructions it needs to process. There are two basic types of memory; Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). RAM is typically installed on the motherboard, whereas ROM is generally used in storage media such as CDs and DVDs, as well as in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS.) The term "PC memory" only refers to RAM.

History

The memory which came with the first PC computers in the early 1980s was generally very small. The IBM 5150, introduced in 1981, came with 16 Kilobytes (K) of memory. Early PC memory was sold in Dual Inline Packages (DIPs) that were comprised of small chips. These were often soldered onto the motherboard, but could also be inserted into sockets in some cases. Later, these packages were placed on Single Inline Memory Modules (SIMMs) which simplified the installation of computer memory.

Function

PC memory stores information so that the CPU doesn't have to access the hard drive directly. RAM modules are able to access and send data to the CPU much faster than the hard drive, which is limited by the rotation rate of the disk's platters and the speed of its arms and heads. Thus, memory modules dramatically increase the computer's speed. RAM comes in different speeds just like CPUs. Generally, the speed of RAM that should be installed on a computer is determined at the time of manufacture.

Features

Modern memory modules are integrated onto circuit boards. In SIMMs the circuits appear on one side of the board, and in Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs) they appear on both sides. SIMMs must be used in pairs, but DIMMs can be used singly. There are small electrical contacts on the bottom of the modules. These plug into small motherboard slots or "banks" so that the memory can communicate with the CPU.

Types

PC RAM types include Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM) and Rambus RAM (RDRAM.) SDRAM and DDR SDRAM are the most common types. DDR memory has about double the bandwidth of single rate SDRAM. Designed by Intel, Rambus RAM comes in Rambus Inline Memory Modules (RIMMs.) While it can be up to 10 times faster than SDRAM, it is expensive and can only be installed on a motherboard with Rambus sockets. Memory also comes in Error Correction Code (ECC) and Non-Error Correction Code (Non-ECC). ECC memory can correct errors which occur during the transmission of data; Non-ECC cannot.

Benefits

The benefits of memory depend on which type of memory you have installed. DDR SDRAM is superior to regular SD RAM. It is the best memory to purchase when upgrading a computer. ECC memory is typically only used in mainframes and servers. It is too expensive for PCs. Since PCs suffer very few errors, it's also unnecessary. Non-ECC memory offers the most benefits due to its lower cost. PC users should avoid registered, Rambus and static RAM for the same reasons.

How to Use Apple's Spotlight to Free Space on Your Mac Hard Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 9 Sep 2008 06:13:00 -0700

Is the hard drive on your Mac filling up fast? Can't seem to figure out where all that storage space went? Use Apple's own Spotlight search feature to find and eliminate large, unwanted files and recover that space.

Things You’ll Need:

Mac OS X 10.5 or newer
15 minutes of your time
A full hard drive

Step 1

Start in the Right Place
In the Apple Mac OS X Finder, open a new window by choosing the "File" option in the menu bar and select "New Finder Window" from the list of choices. You can also do this by using the ⌘-N (Command and N) keyboard shortcut. Then navigate to your user folder on the hard drive and select it (single click)

Step2

Set Up Your Search
Type the ⌘-F (Command and F) keystroke to initiate a Spotlight search. In the pull-down menu that appears under the word "Search:", select the "Other..." option if the "Size" option does not appear in the list. If it is already there, skip to Step 4.

Step3

Add "Size" To Your Search Options
Once you've selected "Other...", a box will appear with a list of additional Spotlight search attributes. Scroll down to the "Size" option and click its checkbox in the "In Menu" column. If the attribute list is not alphabetized by name, click on the "Attributes" column heading.

Step4

Define the Size of the Search
Choose "Size" from the search pull-down menu. Once selected, define the size of the files you'd like to find by entering the necessary information in the 3 menus/fields found to the right of the "Size" option. For example, select "is greater than", "100", and "MB", respectively. This will cause Spotlight to search for any file in the Users folder that is larger than 100 megabytes. Simply change the value of parameters to suit your needs.

Step5

Dump the Clutter
Once Spotlight has displayed the list of files, carefully review them and decide which ones you no longer need. Drag any unwanted files to the Trash. After reviewing the contents of the Trash folder one last time (one can never be too careful), empty the Trash.

Source : ehow.com

How to Analyze Your Computer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 7 Sep 2008 00:33:00 -0700

Things You’ll Need:

CPU-Z Software

Step 1

Download CPU-Z from "www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php" and copy the zip file's contents into a folder. CPU-Z requires no installation, which means you can simply delete the folder when you are finished with it! The first CPU tab shows general information about your system processor.

Step 2

Switch to the Mainboard tab and you can see details about your motherboard, BIOS, and graphic interface. Take particular note of your motherboard's manufacturer- this will come in handy if your board becomes faulty and you need to call customer support.

Step 3

Click on the Memory tab- you'll see your system's RAM type shown in the first box. If you want to add to your PC's memory, then you should buy the same type in order to ensure compatibility. For a computer running Windows Vista, you should ideally have at least 1024 MB of ram.

Step 4

Select the About tab. This tab contains three tools, including the Registers Dump utility - click on the Registers Dump button and save a text file. Open this file up, and you'll find a plethora of different PC specifications, which will be helpful to more advanced users.

Source : www.ehow.com

How to Dual Boot Vista and OS X

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 6 Sep 2008 01:00:00 -0700

With the release of OS X, Apple has directly confronted Microsoft's Windows in the ongoing war between Macintosh and the PCs. Vista programs can now run on a Mac and vice versa. You can even set up your computer to dual boot Vista and OS X.

Instructions

Step 1

Buy a full version of OS X or Vista. Since your are adding a totally different operating system to the computer, you can't use upgrade versions of the software. Make sure you purchase a 32-bit version of the new software if you have a 32-bit version of your current software.

Step 2

Back up your files before you dual boot. Whenever you make changes to your hard drive, you risk losing information on that drive.

Step 3

Create a partition large enough for the operating system and programs working with Vista or OS X, depending on your original computer. For example, divide a 250-gigabyte hard drive into 150 gigabytes for the original system and a new partition of 100 gigabytes for OS X and its programs. After you calculate the recommended space needed for the new operating system and programs, add extra space for future programs.

Step 4

Restart the computer to see the new partitions.

Step 5

Put the installation disk in the appropriate drive and wait a moment for the installation menu to appear.

Step 6

Choose the "Custom" option for the type of installation you want to perform. If you choose the "Standard" option, you will create problems for the computer as you try to install a totally different operating system over your current system.

Step 7

Select the partition drive you created to install the new operating system. Do not select the "C" drive as the location for your new operating system.

Step 8

Select the button to start the installation. Follow the onscreen instructions to add activation codes, register the software and set up your personal preferences for the new operating system.

Step 9

Choose the operating system you want to use in your dual-boot system when the computer reboots and when you start the computer in the future.

Source : eHow Computers Editor

How to Determine the Type of Video Card a Computer Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 5 Sep 2008 01:16:00 -0700

The type of video card needed depends on how you use your computer. Usage includes Web browsing, watching videos, listening to music and more complex uses, such as advanced gaming and video editing. Here is how to determine the type of video card your computer needs.

Instructions

Step 1

Understand the purpose for which the computer is to be used. If it is to be used by average users for casual purposes, such as listening music, watching movies or Web browsing, an inexpensive 4 MB to 8 MB video card supporting at least 1280x1024 resolution at 85 MHz refresh rate can be used.

Step 2

Decide if the computer is to be used for designing graphics. If yes, a video card with high resolution capacity, say 1600x1200 resolution or higher, will be needed. This will ensure more visible detail.

Step 3

Decide on your need for multi-monitor display. This will require the graphic card to support two monitors by expanding the graphical workstation.

Step 4

Decide on video editing needs. Video editing will have supplementary needs for video-in/video-out (VIVO) facility. However, if the video card does not have this feature, it can be added externally.

Step 5

Recognize your gaming needs. If you want to play games that are not 3D or games that are 3D but you are not concerned with speed, a card supporting directX9 and having a memory of 128 MB of video will be suitable. On the other hand, if you are a game freak and want every detail enhanced, you need a video card that can support the current 3D games on the market. The 3D video cards should support directX9 with a minimum of 256 MB graphics memory.

Source : eHow Computers Editor

Free Book: Windows Vista - Customization Manual

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:29:00 -0700

The book is titled 'Windows Vista - Customization Manual' and covers the basics of customizing your Windows Vista machine. I’ve designed this book to aim at users of all skill levels - even if you’re new to Windows Vista or computers in general, you can still follow along easily. I’ve included a chapter titled “Getting Started” that will help you build a solid foundation, which will help you as you work through the rest of the book.

Get a FREE copy of the book here.

Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 9 Jun 2008 07:36:00 -0700

Video technology is accelerating so quickly that it’s hard to keep up, and not all video editors play nice with—or even support—all video formats. One program that offers broad compatibility and a wealth of functionality is Ulead Video Studio 11.5 Plus.

This update of VideoStudio Plus makes the program more powerful than ever. Features include the ability to import AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition), write HD video to a camcorder, burn HD or Bluray discs, upload to YouTube, import to or save files from mobile devices, and more.

VideoStudio 11.5 Plus is a full-featured editor, so mastering its function set will take time. Two automated features, the Movie Wizard and the DV-to-DVD Wizard, are very user-friendly. The Movie Wizard has templates with background music that let you make a slideshow or movie in minutes. The DV-to-DVD Wizard converts and burns your DV (digital video) files straight to DVD.

The main program interface includes editing tools such as color correction and artifact removal. The MPEG Optimizer can help determine the best encoding settings.

VideoStudio 11.5 Plus has stout system requirements. If your PC isn’t up to the task or you don’t require the high-tech perks, Video- Studio 11 ($89.99) is another option (try either free). If you have VideoStudio 11 Plus, you can upgrade to 11.5 free.

Google Proposes Fast National Wireless Service

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 07:49:00 -0700

GOOGLE IS PUSHING hard to launch a national wireless service that promises superfast national data access us - ing the so-called white spaces on the analog TV spectrum.

In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, Google suggested that the spectrum could deliver “faster, longer-range, higher data rates” than are available now from telecoms and na - tional Wi-Fi hotspot services.

White spaces consist of the unused wireless spectrum between TV channels. Th ose spaces serve to prevent one analog channel from interfering with a neighboring channel. Broadcasters have long argued that the spaces can’t be used because that would create interference with TV broadcasts. Aft er the February 2009 transition to digital TV, however, that position makes less sense.

This portion of the spectrum (the 700-MHz band) can travel long distances and penetrate obstacles such as buildings and walls, making it very desirable to various would-be developers.

By using white spaces, Google could off er wireless Internet access to many portable devices, in cluding new mo - bile phones that run Googlebacked An droid soft ware, now being developed by a consortium of companies.

Richard Whitt, Washington telecom and media counsel for Google, wrote the March 21, 2008, letter to the FCC. He called the new wireless technology “Wi-Fi 2.0” and touted its ability to deliver “data rates in the gigabitsper- second range.” If the FCC gives Google the green light, Whitt said, the service could be available to consumers as early as next year.

Whitt’s letter also suggested that the new broadband could serve the needs of people in rural areas. And he asserted that the plan would provide “much-needed competition” to current broadband service providers.

Microsoft and the White Spaces Coalition, whose members include Dell, Intel, and Philips Electronics, are backing Google’s plan.

Jealous of that slick Mac interface...?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:48:00 -0700

ObjectDock 1.9 ( Freeware )

Jealous of that slick Mac interface ? Check out ObjectDock, a free utility that replaces the Windows Taskbar with a colorful, animated dock similar to the taskbar in Mac OS X. ObjectDock displays icons for currently running applications and can hold quick-launch icons for your favorite programs. As you pass the cursor over each icon, ObjectDock magnifies it and displays relevant information, helping you find what you need even when you're running several programs at once. An attractive clock rounds out the toolbar. The tiny utility comes with a dozen attractive skins, and users with slow computers can reduce the animation quality to increase speed.

Download Link...

There is one major drawback: the lack of a system tray. There is a free, imperfect docklet plug-in available from a third-party provider that valiantly tries to remedy the problem, although it's a bit buggy. You can also upgrade to the Plus edition for $20, which includes system tray support, tabbed docks, support for multiple docks and multiple monitors, and other features.

If you're dissatisfied with the Windows Taskbar or just want to spice up your Desktop, ObjectDock makes a very good, no-risk choice.

VisionTek Radeon HD 3870 X2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:58:00 -0700

Specifications:

Dual HD3870 high-definition GPUs on single card for better performance, and failsafe GPU redundancy
Ideal for high end gamer or workstation professional
1GB high-speed GDDR3 memory
ATI CrossfireX technology enabled on single card
Internal CrossfireX technology enabled design, without additional flexible CrossfireXTM bridge
4 Dual-link DVI outputs (2 active when CrossFire is enabled)
Integrated audio multi-channel audio (5.1 surround) thru. DVI-HDMI dongle (optional)
Quad Heatpipes Silent Fan
Variable speed quiet, Dual 7.5cm fans controlled by temperature
Massive copper Quad heatpipe driven cooling apparatus
48 PCI-E lanes for switching – 16 lanes communicate with PCIE bus, 16 lanes to 2 GPUs respectively.
Superscalar unified shader architecture
320 x2 stream processing units
256-bit memory x2 interface
DirectX® 10.1 / Shader Model 4.1 support
PCI Express® 2.0 support
High-speed 128-bit HDR (High Dynamic Range) rendering
Up to 24x Custom Filter Anti-Aliasing
ATI Avivo™ HD video and display technology
Support for the ATI Radeon™ DVI to HDMI adapter
Unified Video Decoder (UVD) for Blu-ray™ and HD DVD
Dynamic geometry acceleration
Game physics processing capability
Closer Look :

Features:

HD Video Beyond 1080p
The latest Blu-ray and HD DVD movies play smoothly at full 1080p and your CPU is unbound for other tasks thanks to the Unified Video Decoder. Enjoy ultimate image quality with resolutions upscaled beyond1080p for the most processing-intensive content. And with a choice of digital outputs, you have more options when enjoying your digital entertainment.
- Unified Video Decoder – Enjoy the latest Blu-ray and HD DVD movies with a dedicated hardware video decoder that leaves your CPU unbound to do other tasks.
- Ultimate Image Quality – Performance that rivals high end HD-DVD and Blu-ray players on displays with resolutions that exceed 1080p - up to 2560x1600.
- Integrated Digital Outputs – Enjoy all your digital content the way you want to, with built-in HDMI and DVI output capability.
Break-through Efficiency
ATI Radeon™ HD 3800 Series graphics processors have breakthrough efficiency, with up to twice the processing performance per watt than previous generations of AMD GPUs. Take advantage of the latest graphics features that can help drive productivity at an extraordinary price. Runs cool and quiet – With a smaller chip designed to use less power, your system can take advantage of high-end Windows Vista® features while running more efficiently and quieter than ever

Ultimate HD Gaming
Advance to ultimate HD gaming with incredible performance, life-like graphics and support for Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1. With dual ATI Radeon™ HD 3870 GPUs working in exquisite precision, you’re ready to dominate the battlefield from over one teraFLOPS of GPU compute power. And thanks to plug-and-play ATI CrossFireX™ upgradeability, you can scale your performance to even greater heights.

ATI Avivo™ HD Technology
The ATI Radeon™ HD 3870 GPU features ATI Avivo™ HD technology with advanced audio, video processing, display and connectivity capabilities for high definition entertainment solutions
1. Introducing a breakthrough for the playback of Blu-ray™ and HD DVD discs
2. UVD (Unified Video Decoder) is a new HD video processor that provides hardware decoding of Blu-ray and HD DVD
3. UVD is designed to enable a cool, quiet media PC with low GPU and CPU power requirements
4. ATI Avivo™ HD technology includes fully integrated HD audio capabilities and supports playback of multi-channel (5.1) audio streams. When combined with the integrated HDCP copy protection, ATI Avivo HD enables a one-cable HDMI™ connectivity solution to high definition home theaters
ATI Unified Video Decoder Technology
Connect your PC to your home theater and start watching HD content from your computer using new ATI Radeon™ HD 3800 series graphics cards. The ATI Radeon™ HD 3800 Series is designed to decode and playback Blu-ray and HD DVD formats using dedicated hardware within the GPU. This technology, known as UVD or Unified Video Decoding, is part of ATI Avivo™ HD, the new collection of technologies that are designed to improve the visual and connectivity capabilities of ATI Radeon™ HD 3800 Series GPUs. The new and improved UVD offloads the intensive process of HD video decoding and playback from the CPU while improving the visual quality. This means you can get smooth, high quality HD video playback at full HD 1080p from most entry level PCs, or free up the CPU for other tasks while you enjoy the movie. And with HDCP* built into the GPU, the new cards easily enable playback of HDCP protected content.

Price: $449.99

AMD Radeon HD 3850

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 9 May 2008 21:02:00 -0700

One step forward, one step back

We were so pleased with the price/performance ratio of AMD’s Radeon HD 3870 that we awarded Asus’s implementation of it a 9 Kick Ass verdict in our January 2008 issue. We’re not nearly as impressed with the gaming performance of the architecture’s cheaper cousin, the Radeon HD 3850.

The two GPUs share many features, including the same number of stream processors (320), the same 256-bit memory interface, and AMD’s Unifi ed Video Decoder (for offl oading all HD-video decoding from the host CPU). Both parts also provide HDCP support on both DVI links, so Blu-ray and HD DVD movies can be displayed on a 30-inch panel at the screen’s native resolution.

And like the 3870, the cheaper 3850 supports PCI Express 2.0, Direct3D 10.1, and Shader Model 4.0 (none of Nvidia’s GPUs support the latter two features, although it will be a long time before this advantage really means anything). But while the 3870 reference design features 512MB of GDDR4 memory and a dual-slot cooler, the 3850 board we received was outfi tted with just 256MB of GDDR3 memory, a singleslot cooler and relatively tame core, and memory clock speeds of 670MHz and 829MHz, respectively.

For gaming, the Radeon HD 3870 was at least competitive with Nvidia’s 8800 GT, but the Radeon HD 3850 is a laggard when it comes to gaming at the native resolution of a 24-inch screen (1920x1200). The frame rates we achieved were roughly half of what we obtained with the 8800 GT. If the 3850 cost half as much as an 8800 GT (average street price: $260), this card would garner a Kick Ass award, but at press time, the average street price for these boards was $190. The extra $70 not only buys a faster GPU, but a frame buffer that’s twice as large. If gaming isn’t your bag, the Radeon 3850 is a fi ne GPU for watching high-defi nition movies. But we prefer videocards that can do it all.

On paper, the Radeon HD 3850 looks remarkably similar to the
Radeon HD 3870, but key differences in clock speeds and memory
render the former a tortoise and the latter a hare.

Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.22.349

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 4 May 2008 20:37:00 -0700

Comodo Firewall Pro gets a major revision from its publisher, upgrading to Version 3 with some significant changes. Most importantly, user complaints about resource hogging when Version 2 came out have been all but eradicated with the new model.

The program still provides a smorgasbord of information and options for advanced users, but it's simple enough for beginners, and runs smoothly and silently in the background. The most obvious new features include support for Windows Vista at the expense of Windows 2000 support, although the older v2.4 with Windows 2000 support is still available.

Download...

The other big change is the new interface. This new UI isn't exactly an improvement on the old one. However, the blue color scheme has been toned down in favor of basic white, and there's more empty space between the various options. Old terminology has been replaced with more intuitive terms. The new main tabs are Summary, Firewall, Defense +, and Miscellaneous. In each, though, there are links to relevant security issues so users can drill down to learn more about how the firewall is performing.

There's a new feature called the Host Intrusion Prevention System that supposedly protects against unknown threats. Obviously, it's hard to tell if it works unless an unknown threat gets in, but it didn't seem to affect system performance negatively. Mostly, Comodo rears its head most often soon after installation when Security Alerts ask about new Internet connections as the program "learns" your computer's behavior.

Don't be fooled by the name, either. Comodo is labeled Pro but it offers up its dragon-sized treasure of features for free.

Microsoft and Yahoo: Not even on the same page

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 4 May 2008 00:18:00 -0700

Despite a brief moment of optimism heading into Saturday, Microsoft and Yahoo were really never closer to doing a merger deal than two ships passing in the night.

There was almost no discussion of price, and those talks that were held suggested to Microsoft that Yahoo was never really prepared to sell itself to the software company, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

A source familiar with Yahoo's negotiating stance disputed the characterization. However, judging by Yahoo's relative intransigence on price and insistence on several other requirements, it's clear the company wasn't eager to strike a deal. The company didn't want to let it itself be sold at what it deemed a "fire sale" price, the source familiar with Yahoo's position said.

Yahoo wasn't eager to rush things. Although Microsoft made its initial unsolicited $31-share offer for Microsoft on February 1, the first substantive meeting didn't take place until April 15--10 days after Microsoft set a three-week deadline for Yahoo to come to the negotiating table. At that meeting, which was initiated by Yahoo and held in Portland, Ore., Yahoo went through its own revised business forecast as well as some non-price-related deal terms.

Asked by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer where Yahoo stood on a takeover price, Yahoo executives responded that they didn't really have one. On April 18, there was a follow-up call with five bankers representing the two companies, sources familiar with the negotiations said. Yahoo's bankers indicated during the call that the company was only prepared to do a friendly deal at $40 a share or higher, sources said; Yahoo began its negotiations with that price because that's what Microsoft had offered in a bid to acquire Yahoo in 2006. That was the only discussion on price until this week, one source said.

Yahoo indicated to Microsoft this week that it might be willing to do a deal at a price lower than $40, and Microsoft later told Yahoo that it was willing to increase its offer by a couple dollars a share. On Friday, Microsoft said it was willing to offer $33 a share, which it viewed as a substantial increase from its original offer given that the original cash-and-stock offer had dropped below $30 a share.

The two sides arranged agreed to meet face-to-face at Seattle's Sea-Tac airport to discuss the revised positions. Microsoft and its bankers headed into the meeting with a fair amount of optimism because that they believed Yahoo shareholders were willing to do a deal at close to Microsoft's improved offer of $33 a share. However, at the meeting, Yahoo co-founders Jerry Yang and David Filo said their board was willing to do a deal around $37 a share, but that they would rather see a deal at around $38 a share.

The disagreements were not confined to price, sources said. Shortly after the April 15 Portland meeting, Yahoo gave Microsoft a list of nonfinancial deal terms.

"They were complete non-starters," one source said.

Yahoo wanted Microsoft to go through an antitrust review that Microsoft believed would have take several months to complete, sources said. One particular area of concern to Yahoo was the combined strength in e-mail that would Microsoft would have by combining Yahoo Mail and Microsoft's Hotmail, and the complications and risks of splitting off parts of the combined business, one source said.

Other conditions that rankled included a breakup fee--essentially, money Microsoft would have to commit to pay to compensate Yahoo in case the deal fell through down the road because of some issue such as regulatory review. And Microsoft was strongly displeased with a provision, added to Yahoo bylaws after Microsoft announced its acquisition proposal, that would require severance payments to all Yahoo employees in the event of acquisition-related layoffs.

"Jerry didn't want to sell the company," one source familiar with the negotiations said.

The source declined to go into specifics regarding Yahoo's demand for review, but said the two sides were as far apart on nonfinancial issues as they were on financial ones.

Sources : CNET News.com

Reclaim Disk Space after Windows Vista SP1 install

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 2 May 2008 20:27:00 -0700

Installation of Vista SP1 backs up all the files that it replaces. This is done so, if, should you choose to uninstall SP1 at any point of time, these backed up files are readily available.

However after a couple of weeks, if you are comfortable with SP1 and if you are sure that you will not need to uninstall SP1, then you may wish to consider removal of several 100 MB of such back up files and reclaim disk space. You will be able to free disk space of 600-800 MB.

Vista SP1 integrates a tool named vsp1cln.exe situated in the system32 folder.

To run this tool, open a cmd or simply press Winkey + R keys and enter: vsp1cln.exe

The following switches can also be used:

/o: path to an offline Windows
/Verbose - display extra details
/quiet - silent execution, skips questions
/h: display Vsp1cln.exe commands list

This tool removes older versions of components that have been updated in SP1, which are stored during the installation in case you need to uninstall SP1 later. You can use this tool both online and offline, but you must have SP1 installed. You will not be able to uninstall SP1 after you run this tool.

Nero 8 Ultra Edition 8.2.8.0

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 2 May 2008 12:37:00 -0700

Nero 8 Ultra delivers a refurbished digital media suite that's still as comprehensive as they come, though now in a more polished wrapper. The installation file is massive; also, once Nero is on your machine, it consumes a hefty serving of memory. Considering all it can do, though, we can only complain so much.

CD- and DVD-burning is still Nero's core; welcome shortcuts for burning and ripping CDs and DVDs are now accessible from the new StartSmart GUI, which is now adorned with a programmable RSS reader. Authoring and burning high-definition CDs and DVDs are added features, and so is the ability to export video files made and edited with Nero to YouTube, MySpace, and MyNero.

Nero 8 Ultra introduces RescueAgent, a tool to recover data from damaged disks, and a gaggle of Vista features, including a one-click desktop gadget for copying CDs.

Despite the cosmetic alterations, Vista support, and enhancements, particularly to Nero Vision, the dramatic changes are slim. However, Nero Ultra 8's significantly faster application launch time and improved usability make the audio, video, photo, data, and home entertainment workhorse that lets you edit MP3s, capture and edit video, record and playback TV, create slide shows, back up data, convert audio files, check your hardware specs, and design disc covers with ease well worth a try.

ECS GeForce 8800 GT

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 2 May 2008 09:27:00 -0700

Closer Look:

At first glance, the ECS GeForce 8800 GT looks like any other 8800 GT card, with the exception of the unique cooler instead of the reference single slot cooler many other 8800 GTs have. ECS went with a blue PC board for the 8800 GT and added a custom cooler for maximum cooling and overclocking.

There are two DVI ports, which support up to a 2560x1600 resolution, and an S-Video out. The back of the card has the 6-pin PCI Express power connector to provide the aditional power the card needs to run efficiently. The ECS GeForce 8800 GT is a PCI Express 2.0 card and supports DirectX 10.0, Shader Model 4.0, and OpenGL 2.0 and is SLi capable with another 8800 GT video card using an SLi bridge.

Stripping off the coolers, we can get a better look at the memory and the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The memory is made by Qimonda and runs at 700MHz for the stock speeds, which is 200MHz less than a reference 8800 GT, and on a 256-bit memory bus. Will this drop in speed hurt the performance? The GPU is based on the nVidia G92 core and runs at 600MHz, which is on par for a stock 8800 GT. But wait, all of the memory spaces are filled? So is there actually 512MB there onboard? Under the tail end of the heatsink you can see where the voltage regulation occurs providing the raw power to the GPU and memory to make the video card work.

Specifications:

Chipset	nVidia G92
GPU Speed	600MHz
Memory	256MB / 512MB with BIOS update
Memory Bus	256 bit
Memory Type	GDDR3
Card Dimensions	Low Profile with ATX Bracket
Bus Type	PCI Express 2.0
Bus Speed	x16
Connections	Dual DVI, S-Video
PureHD	Yes
SLi capable	Yes

Features:

Features 112 stream processors and an impressive 256-bit frame buffer.
Depth of Field (DOF) enables in-game "Focus" effects.
nVidia SLi ready.
Supports nVidia PureHD for outstanding Blu-Ray and HD DVD movie quality.
Next Generation PCI Express 2.0 technology.
RoHS Compliant.

Optimize your spam filter settings

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:09:00 -0700

SPAM OVERLOAD

A common complaint: "What did I do to deserve this? Spammers dump a daily dose of filth in my Inbox, and my colleagues are starting to wonder about me. I've turned on Outlook's spam filter and set it to High, yet the junk just keeps coming. Make it stop!"
As much as Outlook's spam filter has improved in the latest version, plenty of junk mail still slips through the cracks. And if you're using an older version of Outlook, your daily spam delivery can easily outnumber the legitimate messages you get.

Here are some tips and utilities that will keep the flood of junk from cluttering your mailboxes.

1. Tweak your spam settings.If you're getting deluged with spam, make sure Outlook's junk filter (in version 2003) is set to High. From the Tools menu, select Options, click the Junk E-mail button, and make sure the High radio button is selected. If you want hard-core spam protection, select Safe Lists Only, which will block all messages except those sent from addresses you put in the Safe Senders list (also known as a whitelist). It's an extreme measure that will probably block many legitimate messages, but you'll never get spam again. Also, be sure you have the latest SP1 update of Outlook 2003; its spam filter is improved over the initial version's.

2. Shore up Outlook's spam filter.If Outlook's junk-mail filter isn't doing the trick, call for reinforcements. Antispam add-ons such as Outlook Spam Filter, InBoxer, and MailFrontier Desktop use advanced Bayesian filters that analyze your legitimate e-mail and learn the types of messages you send and receive, making the junk mail easier to catch.

3. Try a challenge/response service.Spam usually comes from an automated e-mail server, not a person (and if there are any spammers out there lovingly crafting each junk message by hand, we'd rather not meet them). Challenge/response e-mail services (such as MailBlocks, which is compatible with Outlook) target spam by checking to see if there's a real person behind an incoming message. If anyone who's not in your e-mail address whitelist sends you a message, the service automatically sends a reply that asks the sender to click a link, to enter a series of numbers, or to do some other task that proves there's an actual person sending the message. If the sender passes the test, the message goes in your Inbox. The only problem with challenge/response services is that they might block automated messages that you want, such as newsletters and autoreplies for lost passwords.

4. Use disposable passwords.How many times have you blithely sent your e-mail address over a Web form? Too many to count? Unfortunately, spammers love grabbing e-mail addresses from online forms--and from Web pages, for that matter. Instead of handing over your real e-mail address when you're online, try using disposable addresses. E-mail services such as Yahoo Mail, Spamex and E-mailias let you create temporary e-mail aliases that you can use in Web forms. If you get a sudden influx of spam from one of the aliases, just turn off the alias and get a new one.

How To Add Your Own Folders To The Places Bar Or Favorite Links

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:17:00 -0700

Whenever you create a new file, open a new file or save a new file, you are presented with a File Dialog Box, where you can save the files. On its LHS are mentioned standard locations or places like Desktop, Computers, Pictures, etc, which are easily accessible. This is called as the Places Bar or the Favourites Links in Vista.

You can with this tip, add your desired custom shortcuts to Open and Save dialog boxes in Vista.

Open Explorer and navigate to folder C:\Users\Owner\Links, where, Owner is Your Name. Rt click in the window pane and choose New > Create Shortcut. Paste the path of the folder, which you are desirous of adding > Next > Give Shortcut a Name > Finish. Your Places Box will now show the custom desired places ! WinVistaClub / Downloads have been added this way, below.

There are other ways too for doing this.

1) Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32\Placesbar

Rt click on the Place0 in RHS pane and click on Modify. Add the desired folder path in Value Data and click OK. Do so similarly for other places.

2) The places bar can also be changed using Group Policy. To do so, Type gpedit.msc in Start Search Bar and hit enter. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Explorer > Common Open File Dialog > Items Displayed In Places Bar.

Click on Display Properties, to open its Dialog Box. Select Configured, and add the folder paths in the boxes provided. Click Apply > OK.

In Vista, this policy change setting will apply only to applications that are using the XP style common dialog box and not to the new Vista common dialog box style!

Advanced WindowsCare Personal Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:37:00 -0700

This comprehensive PC-care utility has a one-click approach to helping protect, repair and optimize your PC. Advanced WindowsCare Personal Edition helps protect, optimize, and repair your PC –– with daily use.

Features of this fantastic, award-winning, 100% free program include:

Ending slow downs, freezes, crashes, and security threats.

Scanning and finding what other utilities miss on your PC.

Keeping your PC error-free & running more smoothly than ever.

Designed for Windows Vista, XP, and 2000.

Over 10,000,000 downloads since 2006.

Availability is free of charge for private use.

Plus, Advanced WindowsCare Personal is 100% safe and clean with no adware, spyware, or viruses.

Key Benefits

Extremely Easy to Use: Completes its work with just one click. Scans, repairs and gives personal care to your PC in one minute.
Defends Your PC with 100% Freeware: Scans and removes spyware and adware using up-to-date definition files. Prevents spyware, hackers and hijackers from installing malicious items on your computer. Erases and updates your PC’s activity history.
Cleans your Windows: Boosts your system’s performance by cleaning missing files, destroying unwanted files, deleting obsolete files, removing junk files, and eliminating corrupt registry entries.
Keeps Your PC Running at Peak Performance: Tunes up Windows by unleashing the built-in power of your system. Dramatically improves both system and Internet performance. Fixes
Multiple System Errors: Does more than a registry cleaner, keeping your PC stable and running at peak efficiency. Repairs PC configurations by eliminating system bottlenecks and preventing crashes.
Safe and 100% Free: 100% free with no spyware or adware! Advanced WindowsCare Personal Edition is a safe and trusted solution from a leading software vendor.

Download...

Most Useful Top 10 Windows Vista Sidebar Gadgets

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:24:00 -0700

1) The Vista Orb Clock.
Smart and Sharp styling with several skins ! Definately a must-have, in my opinion !

Download...

2) System Control.
System Control is much more than your average shutdown gadget. Aside from the normal Shutdown, Restart, Lock, and StandBy (Hibernate), you can Switch User, Log Off, Task Manager, Run Window, and Command Prompt. All of those buttons can be re-ordered or disabled / enabled.

Download...

3) App Launcher.
You can add applications to the Launcher by Dragging and Dropping or use settings. In settings you can reorder the apps using the arrows, add or delete them. You can drag and drop folders or drives from My Computer. Now includes My Computer, Control Panel, Network and Recycle Bin links. With Recycle Bin you can delete the files, view contents or change settings

Download...

4) Dual Core Multi Meter.
Shows CPU usage % ( 2 cores ), Ram Usage %, Ram info ( Total, used, left size), Status bars animated above 90%, 100 Skins + background selection, Help and email support, Shortcut options.

Download...

5) Alarm Gadget.
The Alarm gadget gives you the possibility to set an alarm with sound but also gives you the possibility to program the closing, restart etc, of your computer. The gadget includes many designs too!

Download...

6) Clipboard History Manager.
You had some useful text in the Windows clipboard, but copied over it with a hasty Ctrl-C when you didn't mean to? Clipboard History keeps track of the last several text clipboard entries and lets you plop any of them back into the clipboard with a single click!

Download...

7) Ultimate Search Explorer.
The Ultimate Explorer allows you to search 11 different websites conveniently from your desktop in a single compact tool. Search Amazon, Google, Digg, YouTube, Yahoo, Drugstore, The Pirate Bay, Wikipedia.

Download...

8) Magic Folder.
For those who usually have a mess on the Desktop, this ones for you ! The Magic Folder is a gadget that helps you categorize and move files. When you drag a file to the gadget it will look at the file extension and place Document files (like doc, xls, ppt, etc) in the Document folder. It places image files like (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, etc) into the Pictures folder.

Download...

9) VCalculator.
It is a calculator for Windows Vista Sidebar, which also displays calculation history. It supports trigonometric functions, log functions, and binary operators. It's like a Powertoy calculator for Vista.

Download...

10) Screen Sapper.
Screen Snaper is a powerful, flexible and intuitive screen-capture utility. It allows you to capture anything on the screen; full screen; windows; objects or regions in the screen. It can copy image to clipboard automatically and also save captured images in 7 popular formats.

Download...

cannot use Password to get back into Windows XP...?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:50:00 -0700

Because of the security features built into Windows XP, it is virtually impossible to get back into the system without the password. You have several options to try and get around this problem.

If you have access to another user account with administrator rights, you can use that account to change the password of the account that is locked out. You can also use the default Administrator account that is built into Windows XP.

First you need to boot the system into Safe Mode.

Restart your system.
When you see the blue Dell globe or screen, press the ( F8 ) key about 3 times a second.
You should get the Windows startup menu. Use the (Up or Down) arrow keys to highlight (SafeMode)
Press (Enter) on (Safe Mode), then press (Enter) on (Windows XP).
The system should boot to Safe Mode.

Once you are at the Account Log on Screen, click on the icon for the user account with administrator rights, or click on the icon for the administrators account. Note: For Home the Administrator account isn't normally shown & in Safe Mode you have to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys twice to show. For PRO you can do this in normal mode

When the system has booted to the desktop, use the following steps to change the accounts password.
Click Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools.
Click Computer Management.
Double click Local Users and Groups, double click the folder Users.
Right click on the account name that is locked out, and click on Set Password.
You may get a warning message about changing the password, simply click proceed.
Leave the New Password box blank, also leave the Confirm Password box blank.
Click OK, and OK again.
Then close all Windows, reboot the system and try to log in.

There are also applications that can recover the password for you.
The following companies provide these applications at a cost.
iOpus® Password Recovery XP here.
LostPassword.com, here.
Asterisk Password Recovery XP v1.89 here.
Windows XP / 2000 / NT Key here.

If the above information does not help in recovering the password, the only option left is to
format the hard drive then reinstall Windows and the system software.

How to disable the System File Checker In Windows XP

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:55:00 -0700

Why you would want to do this?

1. It takes away from performance.

Not much but those that are hardcore go after every performance tweak they can get.

2. To delete and modify any file or folder on your system.

System File Checker protects a lot of junk on your hard drive. Like the Tour folder that holds the files from the "Welcome To Windows Tour" that nobody cares about.

3. To free up some extra space.

System File Checker itself creates a lot of files which can gobble up hard drive space.

Tools you will need:

1. Windows XP Installation Disk

Sorry for those of you who have pre-installed versions and don't have a copy of the XP install disk. I'm sure someone will read this and let us know how to do it on those machines.

2. Hex Editor (Here I used UltraEdit32 9.0a)

First Things First:

Make sure you have unhide system and hidden files unchecked.

To do so open up My Computer go to the Tools menu, Folder Options.

Go to the View tab. Make sure to have "Show hidden files and folders ON" and the rest off.

Step 1: Modify SFC_OS.DLL

Go to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 directory.

Shortcut: Click "Start", then "Run", and copy and paste this without the quotation marks "%systemroot%\system32\"

***Make a backup the SFC_OS.DLL***

Right click the SFC_OS.DLL file and make a copy of it and call it SFC_OS1.DLL.

Open SFC_OS1.DLL it in a hex editor.

At offset 0000E2B8 (0E2B8h) you should find the values "8B" and "C6".
Change the values "8B C6" to read "90 90" and save the changes.

Tip: You will not see 0000E2B8 in the left hand column. The increments go by tens.

NOTE:----> If you have installed the Windows XP Service Pack 1 then go to offset 0000E3BB (E3BB hex) and change the 8BC6 bytes to read 9090.

Step 2: Install Recovery Console

Go to a run command prompt and type D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons

If you CD-ROM drive isn't D: change it to whatever it is.

It may try to contact the Windows Update site, if so just cancel it. No updates are needed for this.

Then reboot.

Step 3: Overwrite SFC_OS.DLL

When you reboot you'll be given a black screen with the choice to start XP or go into the Recovery Console. Choose Recovery Console.

Note: In Recovery Console System File Checker is inactive so you can delete anything you want.
The whole point of doing this is so that you can delete anything you want from within Windows.

Run these commands at the C:\WINDOWS> command prompt:

copy c:\windows\system32\SFC_OS1.DLL c:\windows\system32\SFC_OS.DLL

copy c:\windows\system32\SFC_OS1.DLL c:\windows\system32\dllcache\SFC_OS.DLL

It will ask you to over ride files. Say Yes. Then restart your computer back in regular mode.

Step 4: Modify The Registry

From a run command prompt type Regedit.

Go to this location in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SFCDisable

Shortcut: Once you have Regedit open, collapse all folders and click on My Computer.

Then hit F3 on your keyboard and type "SFCDisable".

Note: Reason for this is because the Registry searches from start to end one time through from top to bottom. So if you are mid way through the registry it would start its search from that spot till the end and that's it.

Select (Double Click) SFCDisable and change it to ffffff9d.

Restart.

That's it! System File Checker has now been deactivated!

Note: This setting turns System File Checker completely off.

Other options:

"0" to enable it
"1" for disabled, prompt at boot to re-enable
"2" for disabled at next boot only, no prompt to re-enable
"4" for enabled, with popups disabled
"ffffff9d" for completely disabled

Tip:

Now that you have System File Checker off, go to the windows\system32\dllcache directory and you are free to delete all those files in there to reclaim some hard drive space.

How To Change Timeout Setting On Boot Menu

Every time now that you boot your PC you will be give the option to start Recovery Console or regular XP.
The default time for this is set to 30 seconds.

Go to your C:\ directory (or whatever your primary drive is labeled).

First right click the file and change the read only setting.

Open BOOT.INI in Notepad.

Change the value after Timeout to whatever you'd like.
The time is in seconds. By default it's set to 30 seconds.

Save and restart.

Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850W

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:59:00 -0700

Introduction:

With the release of all the new processors from Intel and the release of power hungry video cards, you may be wondering what you need to do to keep enough power going to your computer. You may not have two or more video cards inside of your case, but even if you think a little further down the road that you might want to, then you should get a power supply that is going to be able to power all of your components and your processor. Yet with so many choices, which is the best? This is where Cooler Master comes in, with their Real Power Pro 850W power supply, which is said to be able to power a Quad-SLI setup. This should more than protect you from any upgrades you may add to your computer. Let's take a look at this piece of hardware and see what makes it so special and stand out from the others.

Closer Look:

Taking a look at the packaging that the Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850W comes in, you are able to see that the power supply does have enough connectors to support an SLI setup, which can be a big selling point for some purchasers. Also, by taking a look at the front of the package, you are able to see that the power supply not only comes with 850W of power, but a five year warranty to back it up, which is another big selling point for some system builders. There is not a lot of information on the two sides of the package, other than that the power supply is English type and that if you wish for more information, to consult their website. However, the back of the box is packed with information. When you look, all of the specifications are listed out in a neat table and there are a few key features that are important for you to read if you are interested in the power supply.

When you open up the package, you are able to see that Cooler Master packed this product very nicely using molded foam to keep the product in its place and protected from any type of damage during the shipping process. Not only is the cooler Master Real Power Pro 850W power supply protected by the foam, it is also wrapped in a plastic cover to keep from getting scratches on it during the shipping process. Everything is divided up into its own little section of the package, which makes it neat and organized. With the Real Power Pro 850W, you also get a power cord to power the device, as well as an instruction book, a case badge and a bottle opener for your key chain, which could come in handy for the installation of this piece of hardware.

Let's keep looking at the Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850W power supply and see what it looks like up close and personal.

Writed by Justin Wombwel

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:53:00 -0700

Introduction:

The 45nm chips have been out for some time now. The dual core E8400 and E8500 are proven performers, many reaching insane speeds. The problem has been that the only 45nm Yorkfield processors out have been the "Extreme" line-up, specifically the QX9650 and now QX9770 models. While the performance of the Extreme line-up has been well documented but the consumer looking for a non "Extreme" quad core CPU has been left out in the cold...until now. The regular quad core 45nm parts, Q9300, Q9450, and Q9550 are in e-tailors' hands for shipment (If you can find them in stock), so it was high time that a performance testing was in order. With all of the latest games becoming more and more CPU intensive, multiple core CPUs will start to become more advantageous during gameplay, not to mention the benefits during video encoding and workstation productivity.

So what does the Intel Core 2 Quad 9450 offer over its 65nm predecessors to make it an attractive buy? First, there is the additional L2 cache, three megabytes per core versus two per core, a higher bus speed (333MHz vs. 266MHz), higher clockspeed of 2.66GHz instead of the 2.4GHz on the Q6600 that we have grown so fond of. The 45nm manufacturing process has reduced the die size, and hence the power requirements needed to operate. This of course brings the benefit of reduced energy consumption and a lower thermal signature. But hey, this is Overclockerclub, we're not worried about that, so let's get on to seeing just how far the Q9450 can be pushed since that's what really matters. Let's see if the quad core Q9450 can duplicate the results of its dual core cousins.

Closer Look:

The Q9450 is an OEM version and is sent in a standard plastic shell. The foam block securely holds the processor in place during shipment. As an OEM processor, there is no heatsink shipped with it, so an aftermarket cooling solution will be required.

The Q9450 is a socket 775 processor sporting a 1333MHz bus speed. As an enthusiast, one of the things that is of interest to me is the headroom over the stock speeds. Many times production codes are looked at and compared to find the best production run. With a new series of processors, that bank of information is not yet available to compare the performance differences between the "steppings." With that in mind, there is always the luck of the draw and the hope that the chip is a good one.

Fix Vista Networking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:17:00 -0700

Get PCs talking seamlessly

In the name of security, Vista wholly revamps the way networking operates. The Network and Sharing Center (part of the Control Panel) can be daunting and confusing when you want to share files on your local network. Here’s the easy way to get the job done.

First, make sure you use the same workgroup name on all PCs. In Vista, this setting is in the System control panel. Click Change Settings on the main page to join another workgroup.

Second, you’ll have a far easier time if you use the same username and password on all PCs you want to network. In Vista, you set up users in the User Accounts control panel. Administrator rights make this considerably easier, though it’s officially discouraged.

Now you’re ready to set preferences in the Network and Sharing Center control panel. Here’s how it should look:

Network discovery: On This makes your PC visible on the network. • File sharing: On The equivalent of installing File and Printer Sharing on XP. You need it to do anything.
Public folder sharing: Up to you The Public folder is a special folder Vista creates in which you can put data you know you want to share across the network with multiple users. You might store your pictures, videos, and music here, for example. It’s just like any other folder, except it can be simply managed and shared with one click here. Turn it on (either read only or read/write) and you’ll see the Public folder in the Computer view directly under the Desktop folder.
Printer sharing: Up to you Only if you want to print across the network.
Password protected sharing: On This is the setting that lets users with a valid login on the Vista PC reach shared folders on that computer. Turn password-protected sharing off and users can do just about anything. Leave it on for better security.
Media sharing: On This is largely useless, unless you stream music to your Xbox or another UPnP device, but leave it on, why not?

When finished configuring the Network and Sharing Center, your interface should look about like this.

Your last step is to select and share folders. This process is much like it is in XP. Just right-click any folder and select Share. If you followed the above instructions, you can accept the defaults at the following menu: “Share to your username only and with owner rights assigned.” Click Share again to seal the deal!

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