The Helpful Technician

Setting Up an Ideal Power Plan for Your Laptop Computer in Windows

2013-02-20T16:45:00.003-05:00

The power plan on a laptop computer refers to the settings that your machine uses in relation to its battery. Certain default power plans are designed for different purposes. For example, a “Power Saver” plan might be designed to disregard your computer’s overall performance and instead focus on saving the battery. A “Performance” plan might strive for increased performance at the expense of overall power. You can customize and set up your own ideal power plan for your laptop computer in just a few basic steps.

Step 1

Click “Start.” Place your cursor inside the “Search” bar and type “Power Options.” Click the green icon labeled “Power Options” in the “Control Panel” section of the “Search” results. The Windows application that manages your laptop battery will open on screen.

Step 2

Click the blue hyperlink labeled “Create a power plan” from the left side of the screen.

Step 3

Pick one of the three power plans on screen that is close to your ideal settings but not exact. You will use the selected plan as a template to create your own. You can choose from a “Balanced” plan, a “Power Saver” plan and a “High Performance” plan. Type a name for your power plan into the “Plan Name” box and click the “Next” button.

Step 4

Use the drop down menus on screen to choose settings for your power plan. Both plans are separated into two columns – one labeled “On battery” and one labeled “Plugged in.” They control settings for when your laptop is using battery power or when it is plugged into a wall outlet, respectively.

Use the drop down menu to choose when your display dims after periods of idle. Also choose when to turn off your display automatically and put your computer to sleep during periods of idle.

Use the horizontal slider to adjust the overall brightness of your laptop screen. Keep in mind that brighter screens are easier to see, but they also use a dramatically larger amount of your laptop’s battery power.

Step 5

Click the button labeled “Create.” Your new power plan will be created and your laptop will immediately begin using it and stop using your existing power plan.

How to Restore Your System in Windows

2013-02-15T07:27:00.000-05:00

Microsoft Windows has a built in program called “System Restore” that is designed to help you recover your computer in the event of a catastrophe. If you get a virus or experience other issues that are playing havoc with the way your machine operates, you can run “System Restore” and reverse the whole machine back to a previous state. This will allow your machine to operate the same way it did before the problems ever appeared in the first place. If you want to run “System Restore,” you just have to know where to look for the program. It’s already installed on your computer, so no additional downloads or purchases are required.

Step 1

Open “System Restore” on your Windows computer. This can be accomplished by clicking “Start,” “All Programs,” “Accessories,” “System Tools” and finally on the icon for the program in that order.

Step 2

Click “Next” in the window that appears on screen. This will allow you to view a complete list of all the “Restore Points” that have been created on your computer. These “Restore Points” will be logged in chronological order by date, with the newest point being listed first.

Step 3

Click on the “Restore Point” that you want to use. You should choose a “Restore Point” based on when the problem with your computer first occurred. If you first started experiencing problems on the 10^th of the month, for example, pick any point from the list that is dated before that. Click “Next” to confirm your selection.

Step 4

Click “Finish.” This will begin the process of rolling back your computer to the way it operated on the specified date.

Step 5

Wait patiently for the process to finish. Do not attempt to use your computer or shut it down during this process. Doing so could potentially result in damage to the system files on your machine. When the process is finished you will be notified with an indicator box on screen. You may then go about using your computer as normal, free of the issues you have been having.

How to Automatically Back Up Your Windows Computer

2013-02-15T07:25:00.001-05:00

Any number of things can cause you to lose data stored on your computer hard drive. A virus or other calamity could affect certain segments of your hard drive, causing you to lose entire folders filled with important content. Your hard drive could also crash, which could potentially cause you to lose every last bit of data that was stored on it. It is for these reasons that it is extremely important to periodically back up the contents of your Windows computer to avoid hassles later on. Luckily, the Windows operating system includes a free program that lets you do just that. You can also set the program to automatically back up your hard drive at regular intervals, which means that after the initial setup you don’t ever have to think about the process again.

Step 1

Click “Start.” Open the Microsoft Windows “All Programs” menu and select the “Maintenance” folder. From here, click “Backup and Restore.” This will launch the automated Windows utility that allows you to back up your computer.

Step 2

Click the “Set up Backup” link on the right side of the screen. This will open a new window on screen. The new window will take a few seconds to fully load, so be patient.

Step 3

Select the destination where you want your computer backup to be stored. If you want to create a backup onto a DVD, for example, insert a blank DVD into your computer’s burner and select the DVD burner drive from the list. Note that you cannot create a backup of your main hard drive on that same drive, as doing so would defeat the purpose of having a backup in the first place. Click “Next” to continue.

Step 4

Select “Let Me Choose” if you want to specify exactly what content you would like to archive. Use the window that opens to select the files, folders and directories that you want to include in the backup. You may also select “Let Windows Choose” to allow your operating system to select for you. Click “Next” to continue.

Step 5

Click “Change Schedule” to select a recurring time for your backup. If you want to archive your hard drive every Wednesday at 11:00am, for example, specify this information on the window that opens. Click the button labeled “Save Settings and Run Backup” to begin the backup process. Depending on the size of your hard drive and the total amount of data you have selected to archive, this could take anywhere from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours. Do not attempt to use your computer during this time, as doing so could dramatically slow and impair the utility’s overall progress.

iTunes Tutorial: What Are Podcasts and How Do I Download Them?

2013-02-05T12:17:00.001-05:00

Podcasts are essentially Internet radio shows that you can download on an episode by episode basis the same way you would download something like a song. Podcasts came into prominence with the release of Apple’s iPod in the mid-2000s and are currently more popular than ever. There are a variety of different reasons as to why podcasts are more than worth your time. You can download podcasts quickly and easily using the software that practically invented them - Apple's iTunes.

One of the main benefits of a podcast is that all shows are, for better or worse, completely uncensored. Unlike radio shows, podcasts are distributed solely on the Internet and are therefore not governed by the FCC. This means that podcast hosts and guests can say whatever they want. This results in a more raw and real experience than you could ever find on a terrestrial radio station. Note that this does, however, mean that podcasts marked with an “Explicit” label in iTunes feature harsh language and adult material.

Podcasts aren’t just created by amateurs. A lot of professional entertainers, comedians and general celebrities have their own podcasts. These are people that would never be able to get or sustain a regular radio show but have now been given an outlet for their voice and personality thanks to iTunes and the Internet. This is just one of the many reasons that podcasts are more versatile than radio shows could ever hope to be.

Downloading a podcast is simple. Load the iTunes program on your computer and click on the “iTunes Store” link on the left side of the screen. Select the “Podcast” button from the top to browse podcasts the same way you would music or television shows. You can choose to view podcasts by genre to narrow your selection. For example, if you’re looking for a funny podcast you might select “Comedy.” You can also choose to view a “Weekly Top Shows” list for every category. You can also search for podcasts by keywords that match your interest.

Once you’ve found the page for a podcast you want to download, your two options are to “Get Episode” or “Subscribe.” The first option allows you to download only a single episode. This can be a great way to try out a show to see if you like it. The second option allows all past and future episodes of that particular show to automatically download into your iTunes program. This is similar to the way a magazine would be delivered right to your doorstep.

To listen to a podcast in iTunes, click the “Podcasts” button on the left side of the screen. Double-click the name of a podcast to play it, just like you would play a song in the same program. You can also sync podcasts to your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad to listen to them on the go.

All podcasts in the iTunes store are completely free of charge. If someone is charging money for a podcast, because of the iTunes terms and conditions it technically stops being a podcast and is then considered to be an “Audiobook.”

What You Should Keep in Mind on Black Friday

2012-10-31T06:34:00.003-04:00

Black Friday is widely regarded as the busiest shopping day of the year for customers and one of the most profitable days of the year for businesses. Many items are heavily discounted on this day to mark a strong start to the holiday buying season. It’s a common misconception that all items are heavily discounted on Black Friday. Likewise, it’s also a misconception that an item that is on sale on Black Friday is a savings over its normal price. By keeping just a few things in mind on Black Friday you can help to make sure that you’re actually getting that good deal you think you are.

Pay attention to an item’s normal price in the months and weeks leading up to Black Friday. Items in stores like Best Buy are rarely sold at their manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Because Black Friday is most commonly associated with excellent deals, a particular store may return the price to its suggested retail price and discount from that, as opposed to giving further discounts of an items normal price. This could result in a savings of only a few dollars off of what you could get a particular item at any other day of the year, which is certainly not worth standing in line for hours to get.

You don’t necessarily have to go to the store to score all the best deals. This goes for “door busters” as well. Stores like Best Buy allow customers of their Reward Zone Premiere Silver program to access all Black Friday deals, including door busters, online. Additionally, most of these same stores allow people to start buying discounted products the Monday before Black Friday even begins. If you’re a member of one of these services or know someone who is a member you could potentially get the same deals with none of the hassle commonly associated with Black Friday crowds.

Electronic equipment is typically heavily discounted. Part of the reason why items like computers and high definition television sets are marked down on Black Friday is because the new models are just around the corner. Stores are trying to clear out their stock of all old inventory items to make way for new models that will debut after the first of the year. Because of this, Black Friday is traditionally a great day to pick up these types of items. Just be aware that you’re picking up something that will become outdated and potentially obsolete in a short period of time.

Pay attention to the brands that are being discounted. Certain stores have their own “in house” brands of products that they sell. For example, the Insignia brand that is sold exclusively at Best Buy is also a brand manufactured by Best Buy. Because of these, Insignia brand televisions and electronic devices are likely to be discounted heavier than other brands on Black Friday. An in house brand may also not be reviewed as highly as devices from other brands.

How to Add Keyboard Shortcuts to Your Apple iPhone

2012-10-31T06:34:00.000-04:00

Keyboard shortcuts can be a great way to save some time when typing out long e-mails or text messages on your Apple iPhone. A keyboard shortcut is a short phrase that triggers your iPhone to automatically insert a much longer phrase into a message. For example, instead of constantly typing out “I’m on my way” in a message, you can just type “omw” or some variation thereof. Your iPhone will then automatically insert the longer “I’m on my way” in place of the shortcut. You can set up any keyboard shortcut you’d like on your iPhone in just a few short moments.

Step 1

Turn on your iPhone and navigate to the unit’s main “Home” screen. Scroll through your icon pages and folders until you find the “Settings” application. Open the application to continue the process.

Step 2

Tap “General.” Though the “General” category should be selected by default, if it isn’t you can select it by tapping on its name one time in the list of options. Scroll through the “General” setting until you find the menu option labeled “Keyboard.” Tap the “Keyboard” option one time to continue.

Step 3

Scroll to the bottom of the “Keyboard” screen. The section labeled “Shortcuts” will show you all of the shortcuts that already exist on your iPhone. Each iPhone comes pre-programmed with certain keyboard shortcuts. Tap the button labeled “Add New Shortcut” to create a new keyboard shortcut of your own.

Step 4

Type the phrase you want to create a shortcut for into the box on screen labeled “Phrase.” You should type the longer phrase that you want your iPhone to automatically type each time you enter the keyboard shortcut into a particular box. This can be whatever phrase you’d like, no matter how long or short.

Step 5

Type the shortcut you want to use into the box labeled “Shortcut.” Type something simple that you can remember. When finished, tap the button labeled “Save.” Your new keyboard shortcut will be saved. Every time you type the shortcut, your iPhone will automatically replace it with the longer phrase that you specified.

You can add as many keyboard shortcuts as you’d like to your iPhone by returning to the “Keyboard” window and tapping on the “Add New Shortcut” button.

How to Run a Full System Scan in Norton Internet Security

2012-10-30T11:27:00.002-04:00

Running a quick scan of your computer’s hard drive using Norton Internet Security will check only the directories on your computer where viruses are most likely to be. While these quick scans are capable of weeding out a lot of threats and getting them off your machine, you can’t expect a quick scan to find every last piece of malicious software on your hard drive. Performing a full system scan of your computer in Norton Internet Security is the only way to be completely sure that your computer and the content contained on it is safe.

Step 1

Open the Norton Internet Security software on your computer. You can accomplish this by using either the shortcut icon that was created on your desktop during the original Norton Internet Security installation or by clicking on the icon in the “Norton” folder of your computer’s “Start” menu.

Step 2

Click one time on the button labeled “Scan Now” in the center of the Norton Internet Security program window. A new section detailing a list of options related to the scanning of your computer will expand across the middle portion of the window.

Step 3

Select the option reading “Full System Scan.” Norton Internet Security will immediately begin scanning your computer for viruses, spyware and all other types of malicious programs.

Step 4

Use the drop down menu labeled “On scan completion” to tell Norton Internet Security what to do when the scan completes. You can choose to have your computer remain powered on or have it automatically shut itself down based on your preferences.

Step 5

Wait patiently for Norton Internet Security’s full system scan to complete. Depending on both the overall speed of your computer and the total number of files on your hard drive, this could take an hour or more. Any viruses that the program identifies will be automatically quarantined from the rest of the files on your hard drive and deleted for the maximum safety of your machine.

How to Perform a Full System Scan in McAfee Total Protection

2012-10-22T08:30:00.002-04:00

It’s always important to perform a full scan of your computer system for viruses and other malware types on a frequent basis. Doing so checks every last file on your computer for traces of malicious software. McAfee Total Protection will quarantine any infected files that it finds, which also prevents those files from being executed. You can then go on using your computer worry-free, comforted by the knowledge that all of your personal documents and files are as safe and secure as they can possibly be.

Step 1

Open the main McAfee Total Protection interface on your computer. When the program was originally installed and set up, an icon labeled “McAfee Total Protection” was placed on your desktop. Double click this icon to run the program.

Step 2

Click on the section of the screen labeled “Updates” to run a check for new program and virus definitions. You never want to run a full system scan without the latest virus definitions, as doing so could potentially allow viruses to slip through the cracks. Wait for the “Updates” status on the main McAfee Total Protection” screen to read “Current” before you continue.

Step 3

Click the section of the screen reading “Real-time scanning.” A new list of options will fill the right side of the McAfee Total Protection window.

Step 4

Click “Scan your PC.” When the new “Scan your PC” section of the program window loads, click “Run a full scan.” McAfee Total Protection will now begin to scan all of the files and folders on your computer for viruses. You can track the progress of the scan using the constantly updating boxes of information on screen. Any threats that are identified will be listed in the main window. You can also see how much information in gigabytes has been checked, along with how many individual files have been a part of the scan.

When the scan finishes, close the McAfee Total Protection window to return to your computer’s desktop.

How to Turn Off Auto-Correct On Your Apple iPhone

2012-09-27T09:57:00.000-04:00

The Auto-Correct feature on an Apple iPhone will automatically correct any perceived spelling errors that the device recognizes as you type. While this feature can be great for some, it can also lead to hilarious and even embarrassing word choices if you’re not careful. To prevent Auto-Correct-induced mistakes from happening, you can simply disable the feature at any time by taking a quick trip through your iPhone’s “Settings” application. While this won’t improve your spelling, it will help prevent sending a message that you didn’t mean to send.

Step 1

Close the app that you’re currently using (if application) and open your iPhone’s “Settings” utility. Much like entering the menu system and selecting “Settings” or “Preferences” on a regular cell phone, the “Settings” application on your iPhone allows you to drastically alter the way your device operates.

Step 2

Scroll to the very top of the third section of options on screen and select “General.” Scroll all the way to the bottom of the window that opens and select “Keyboard” to view a list of keyboard-related iPhone options that you can adjust to better meet your individual preferences.

Step 3

Look for the option reading “Auto-Correction.” This option controls whether or not your iPhone’s Auto-Correct feature is enabled. Under default settings, this option will be listed as “On” from the moment you turn on your phone for the first time.

Step 4

Tap the word “On” one time to change it to read “Off.” The change indicates that the Auto-Correct feature of your iPhone is now off.

Step 5

Test out your iPhone by composing a new e-mail message or SMS text message. You don’t actually have to send a new message – any blank text box will do. Type a word that you know is misspelled. Because the Auto-Correct feature is now off, your iPhone should make no attempt to correct the misspelled word.

How to Clear Your iCloud Photo Stream From Your Web Browser

2012-09-26T15:37:00.001-04:00

Upgrading to iOS 6 on your iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad automatically syncs all of the photo streams on your device with your iCloud account. Any photo that you take is then automatically backed up to the iCloud service for safe keeping. Copies of these photos are accessible through your Web browser by logging into iCloud. Clearing your iCloud photo stream removes these copies from the actual iCloud service but not from your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad. You can clear your iCloud photo stream using your Web browser in just a few short moments of your time.

Step 1

Load your iCloud user account profile in your Web browser of choice. To do so, navigate to Apple’s official iCloud website and click “Sign In.” Type your Apple username and password into the boxes on screen to log into your account. Note that this is the same Apple username and password you would use to purchase content from the iTunes App Store and iTunes Media Store on your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad.

Once logged in, your main iCloud control panel will appear in your Web browser window.

Step 2

Click the “User Account” button in the upper right corner of the screen. The “User Account” button will have your full account name printed on it rather than the words “User Account.” The account name will be whatever full name you provided when you originally registered for and set up your iCloud account. A new “Account” window will appear over top of the main iCloud control panel.

Step 3

Click the button labeled “Advanced” to view a menu filled with detailed advanced iCloud options.

Step 4

Click the option labeled “Reset Photo Stream.” When the confirmation box appears on screen, click the blue button labeled “Reset” to continue.

Step 5

Confirm your actions by typing your Apple account password into the box on screen. Click “OK.” The photo stream associated with your iCloud account will be immediately reset and you will be returned to the main iCloud control panel. Note that all of your photos will still exist on your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad. The only change is that those same photos will no longer be archived to the Internet via your iCloud account.

How to Use the New "Do Not Disturb" Mode in iOS 6

2012-09-26T15:34:00.000-04:00

One of the best new features in Apple’s iOS 6 mobile operating system is designed for people who do a lot of communication on their devices. “Do Not Disturb” mode is designed to stop notifications of any time for the duration that the mode is enabled. It will prevent not just phone calls and text messages, but e-mails, Facebook notifications and Twitter alerts as well. Using “Do Not Disturb” mode on your iOS 6 devices is easy – you just have to know how to properly turn the feature on.

Step 1

Turn on whichever Apple device you are using with the iOS 6 operating system. Depending on how old your device is, this can be an iPod Touch, an iPhone or an iPad. Once turned on, load the Apple ‘Settings” application on your iOS device. Note that the “Settings” application and icon has not changed from previous versions of the iOS operating system.

Step 2

Locate the option labeled “Do Not Disturb.” The “Do Not Disturb” option is in the second section of the “Settings” application, just above the option labeled “Notifications” and just below the option labeled “Bluetooth.” Tap the “Do Not Disturb” option one time to turn the “Do Not Disturb” mode from “Off” to “On.” The “Do Not Disturb” mode will now operate using default settings.

Return to this menu at any time and tap the “Do Not Disturb” option again to turn the mode from “On” to “Off.” To change the basic “Do Not Disturb” settings, continue to the next step.

Step 3

Tap the option labeled “Notifications.” Because the new iOS 6 “Do Not Disturb” mode relates mainly to the way your iOS device handles notifications while the mode is enabled, you have to enter the “Notifications” section of the “Settings” application to change the way the mode actually operates.

Tap the section heading labeled “Do Not Disturb” to continue.

Step 4

If you want to receive scheduled alerts even when “Do Not Disturb” mode is enabled, tap the option in the window on screen labeled “Scheduled.” With this option enabled, any scheduled alerts (like ones that you’ve manually added to your device’s “Calendar” application) will still be received.

Step 5

Tap the option labeled “Receive Calls From” to change which callers can get through while “Do Not Disturb” mode is enabled. You can choose from “Everyone,” “No One” or “Favorites.” Make your selection by tapping the appropriate option in the window on screen.

If you want repeated calls to get through even when “Do Not Disturb” mode is active, tap the option labeled “Repeated Calls” at the bottom of the “Do Not Disturb” window. A first call from a particular person will be silenced while “Do Not Disturb” mode is active. If that same person calls back within three minutes, however, that second call will make it through under these settings.

How to Change Your Apple iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad Password

2012-09-20T17:46:00.000-04:00

Downloading anything from the iTunes Store on your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad requires you to enter your Apple ID password. The Apple ID password is directly tied to your iTunes user account, which is in turn tied to your credit or debit card. If your Apple ID is ever compromised or someone gets ahold of your password, they could potentially rack up a large amount of charges using that debit or credit card. It is always important to remember not to share this password with anyone. If you ever fear that your password has been compromised or your account has been hacked, you need to change that password as quickly as you can. You can do this right from any computer with an Internet connection.

Step 1

Open your Web browser of choice and navigate to Apple’s official Apple ID management site at AppleID.Apple.com. The page that loads will have a series of options that run across the right side of the page. Click the blue hyperlink labeled “Reset Your Password” in the “Manage Your Apple ID” section of the screen.

Step 2

Enter your Apple ID into the box on screen. Depending on the age of your account, your Apple ID will either be a regular username or an e-mail address. Newer accounts are required to use an e-mail address as an ID, but older accounts can still use user-selected screen names. Click “Next” to continue.

Step 3

If you can remember the security questions you designated when you set up your Apple ID, click the option labeled “Answer Security Questions” and click “Next.” Provide the answers to the security questions in the boxes on screen and click “Next” to continue. If you do not remember the answers to your security questions, continue to the next step.

Step 4

Select the option labeled “Email Authentication” and click “Next.” An authentication code will be mailed to the address on file with your account. Open your mail provider and copy the code from the message into the box on screen. Click “Next” to continue.

Step 5

Type your desired new password into the two boxes on screen. Use the “Password Strength” indicator to judge how secure your new password will be. If your password registers as “Weak,” try again until your password registers as “Strong.” Click the “Reset Password” button to change your password.

Note that you will have to sign in using your new password the next time you attempt to use services like iCloud, iTunes App Store or iTunes Music Store on your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad.

How to Uninstall a Device in the Device Manager in Microsoft Windows

2012-09-11T15:24:00.000-04:00

The Device Manager is a program in the Windows operating system that manages all of the various hardware components installed in your computer. The Device Manager is typically used to diagnose the problems that you may experience with your hardware. You will also need to use the Device Manager when removing a particular piece of hardware from your machine. If you uninstall your computer’s wireless Internet card, for example, an entry for that card will remain in the Device Manager because that card’s driver is still installed. You can uninstall a device from the Device Manager in the Windows operating system by following just a few basic steps.

Step 1

Locate the icon labeled “Computer” on your Windows desktop. Right-click on this icon one time and select the “Properties” option. Note that some configurations will not display a “Computer” icon on your desktop. If the appropriate icon is not present, click the “Start” menu and right-click on the icon in that location to continue the process.

Step 2

Click the option labeled “Device Manager” on the left side of the screen. Note that if you are not logged in as the administrator account on your computer you will have to provide the administrator password before you are allowed to continue.

Step 3

Locate the category for the device you just uninstalled. If you just installed a network adapter, for example, click the category labeled “Network Adapters” one time to expand it. A list of all hardware components that fall into that category will appear on screen.

Step 4

Right-click on the option for the hardware device you want to uninstall. Select the “Uninstall” option from the menu on screen. A new window will appear.

Step 5

Click the “OK” button to uninstall the device driver for the selected hardware component. Restart your computer to finish the installation process. The selected device will no longer be installed on your machine. Note that you can repeat these steps for any other device you want to uninstall at any time using the Windows operating system.

Repairing a Program Installation in Microsoft Windows

2012-09-11T15:08:00.001-04:00

The Microsoft Windows operating system allows you to repair the installation of many of the different programs installed on a computer. If a particular program has developed an error, for example, performing a repair can actually be a great way to fix the issue without actually uninstalling and reinstalling the software. A repair essentially reinstalls the software over top of itself, which fixes any corrupt or missing files the program may be trying to use. You can repair a program installation in Microsoft Windows using the Control Panel.

Step 1

Open “Programs and Features.” To accomplish this, open the Control Panel via the “Start” menu and look for the icon labeled “Programs and Features.” You can also type the name of the utility into the “Search” bar of your computer (either on your taskbar or in the “Start” menu) to open the program.

Step 2

Locate the name of the program that you want to repair. Keep in mind that not all programs support a repair. Some will only support the “Change” and “Uninstall” options. If your program does not support this feature, you will have no choice but to uninstall and completely reinstall the program to fix any errors you may be experiencing.

Step 3

Click once on the name of the program you want to repair. A series of options labeled “Uninstall,” “Change” and “Repair” will become available in the toolbar that runs across the top of the screen. Click the button labeled “Repair.” The program’s original installation utility will load on your monitor.

Step 4

Select the option labeled “Repair” from the installation utility and click “Next.” Continue to click “Next” to advance through the utility until the repair process begins. You can track the repair progress using the status bar on screen. When the repair is finished, close all windows and try to open the program. Any issues that you’ve been having should now be fixed.

How to Scan and Repair Your Windows Registry Using CCleaner

2012-09-11T07:05:00.000-04:00

One of the many worthwhile functions available in the free CCleaner utility is the ability to scan and repair your Windows registry. The Windows registry is like a giant instructional database for your computer. Windows uses the information in the registry to perform even the most basic functions on your machine. Errors in the registry can, at best, cause your computer to dramatically slow down. At worst, errors in the registry can cause your computer to fail at accessing various types of information. CCleaner can find and repair all these errors in just a few mouse clicks.

Step 1

Download and install the free version of CCleaner from its official website (if you haven’t already). CCleaner is also available in a “premium” version, but you don’t have to spend the additional money to scan and repair your registry. If all you want to use are the registry tools, don’t bother paying for the full version of the program.

Step 2

Launch CCleaner. A shortcut icon labeled “CCleaner” was added to your desktop during the program’s installation. Double click the icon to launch the program.

Step 3

Click the blue button labeled “Registry” from the column on the left side of the CCleaner window. You can also access the same button with a keyboard shortcut by holding the “ALT” and “G” keys at the same time.

Step 4

Check all of the boxes in the “Registry Cleaner” column on screen. These boxes tell CCleaner which portions of your registry it needs to check for errors. Checking all the boxes will check all the sections of your registry.

Step 5

Click the button labeled “Scan for Issues.” CCleaner will take the next few minutes to scan your registry and list any issues that it finds on screen.

When the status on the scan reaches 100%, click the grey button labeled “Fix Selected Issues.” Click the “Yes” button in the window that pops up to create a backup of your registry. While this will likely be an unnecessary step, it’s better to have your backup in case something goes wrong than not have it and permanently alter your registry.

Click the grey button in the window on screen reading “Fix All Selected Issues.” CCleaner will take the necessary steps to fix all identified issues, leaving you with a Windows registry that is free of all errors.

How to Use a Proxy Network on Your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad

2012-09-05T13:53:00.001-04:00

A proxy network or server is a very specific type of connection used when two or more devices communicate with each other over the Internet. Proxy networks have a variety of different uses, like keeping the computers or devices involved anonymous and bypassing certain filters that an Internet service provider has put into place. While using a proxy network or server on a computer is commonplace at this point, many people may not realize that you can also use a proxy connection on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad as well. You just have to know where on your device you need to enter the specific information to get the connection up and running.

Step 1

Open the “Settings” menu on your Apple device and select “Wi-Fi.” This is the same process you would go through if you were trying to connect to a wireless network under normal circumstances.

Step 2

Tap the blue arrow to the right of the network that you’re connected to. Don’t just tap on the name, as doing so will only confirm that you’re connected to that network. Tapping on the name of a network that you’re not connected to will connect with it, so make sure you’re tapping the blue arrow.

Step 3

Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see the “HTTP Proxy” section. The word “Off” will be highlighted. Tap the word “Manual” to turn on the proxy capabilities of your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad.

Step 4

Enter your proxy information into the boxes that are now on screen. You will need to specify the exact server of the proxy you’re trying to use as well as the port your device needs access to. If you want to turn on the authentication features of your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad you can do so by tapping the “On” button next to “Authentication.”

Step 5

Tap the “Wi-Fi Networks” button in the top-left corner of the screen. Doing so will return you to the previous page. Your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad will now connect to the network you have specified through the proxy server that you have chosen in the previous steps.

Five Apps for the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad That Can Help You Get Back to School

2012-09-04T08:21:00.000-04:00

The iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad devices are all powerful enough that they have essentially replaced a large portion of the preparation you need to do when heading back to school for the fall. What used to require an expensive trip down to a store like Office Max or Staples now just requires a few minutes of browsing in the iTunes App Store. By downloading and installing the following applications onto your device you can make sure you’re more than ready by the time your teacher starts his or her first lesson when you get back to class in the fall.

Adobe Reader

The official Adobe Reader application is designed to allow all iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad users to store and open Adobe PDF files on their devices. Teachers have a tendency to distribute digital copies of files to students, especially if that class has an online component. Distributing files in this format is also a great way to save teachers the troubles of printing off a few hundred copies of a document every few days. Having Adobe Reader installed on your device before the first class will make sure you’re ready for all handouts that you get from a teacher or professor.

Dropbox

The official Dropbox application allows you to access and open all files in your Dropbox account on your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad. Dropbox is a service that allows you to take files and make them instantly available over the Internet. Using Dropbox can be a great way to access a term paper or other types of research materials on your device whenever you’d like. Using Dropbox can save you the trouble of printing out large quantities of documents on your home printer or at the school library.

iNoteBox

iNoteBox is a word processor and note taking application designed specifically for users of Apple’s iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad devices. You can take notes instantly in class and organize them into a series of digital notebooks for your convenience. No longer do you have to pay for one specific notebook for each class you decide to take.

iBooks

iBooks is Apple’s first party electronic book reader application for the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. Apple has given educators and book publishers the ability to purchase text books through the iBooks interface. Instead of carrying a few hundred pounds of books around with you in a backpack wherever you go, consider spending much less money on digital versions of the books instead. iBooks also allows you to highlight and make notes within the pages of a book, the same way you would be able to on a hard copy.

OmniFocus

OmniFocus is the ideal task management program for iOS devices. It’s a great way to keep track of your projects, homework, responsibilities, schedules and more. Instead of writing down something in a day planner, consider writing it down within the OmniFocus app. The app will also send you “Push” notifications whenever a specific deadline or task date approaches.

How to Enable the E-Mail Shield in Avast Free Antivirus

2012-08-27T08:18:00.000-04:00

One of the many features offered to all users of the Avast Free Antivirus software is a fully functional e-mail shield. When enabled, the program will scan all incoming messages and outgoing messages for viruses and other types of malware that may be hiding as attachments. You can both enable and configure this feature at any time using tools already available to you in the main Avast Free Antivirus program window. No additional software downloads are required to get this feature off the ground.

Step 1

Open the Avast Free Antivirus software on your computer using the exact same steps you would if you were changing program settings or scanning your hard drive for threats.

Step 2

Click one time on the button on the left side of the Avast window labeled “Real-Time Shields.” A series of options, all related to the real-time protection capabilities of the software, will expand and fill the area of the screen beneath this button.

Step 3

Click the button labeled “Mail Shield” to view the settings related to the e-mail scanning functionality of Avast Free Antivirus.

Step 4

Locate the section of the screen labeled “Settings.” Check two boxes in this section of the screen. The boxes will be labeled “Scan inbound messages” and “Scan outbound messages.” Avast will immediately start scanning all messages both sent and received through your mail client. The status listed in the “Protection Status” section of the window at the top of the screen will now read “Running.”

Step 5

Click the button labeled “Expert Status” to change more preferences related to the Avast e-mail shield. You can choose what specific types of e-mail accounts to scan (like POP3, IMAP4 and more) and all specify the exact behavior of the scanner. Make any changes that you’d like and click the “OK” button at the bottom of the window so that those changes can go into effect immediately.

How to Manage Automatic Downloads on Your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad

2012-08-25T10:09:00.000-04:00

Automatic downloads make transferring data between all of your Apple devices easier than ever before. If you download an application onto your iPad, for example, that application will then automatically download right to your iPhone. Likewise, downloading an application using your computer will cause that app to automatically appear on your iPod Touch. You don’t have to manually download the same app on both your Apple iOS devices and your computer. All you have to do is enable automatic downloads on each of your devices, which you can do in just a few easy steps.

Step 1

Turn on the first Apple device that you want to use with the “Automatic Downloads” function. Tap the “Settings” icon on the device’s “Home” screen to continue.

Step 2

Scroll through the “Settings” application on your device until you find the listing reading “Store.” Tap this listing one time to continue.

Step 3

Tap the button labeled “Off” next to “Music” to automatically download purchased music to this device. The word “Off” will immediately change to “On.” With this option enabled, any songs or albums that you download on any other Apple devices (including via your computer with the iTunes software) will automatically download to this device.

Step 4

Tap the button labeled “Off” next to “Apps” to automatically download purchased applications to the device you are using. As with the “Music” section, the word “Off” will change to read “On.” Downloading an application using the “Store” application on the device you are using will cause that application to automatically download to both your computer and all other Apple devices with “Automatic Downloads” enabled. The reverse of this process is also true.

Step 5

Go through the list of installed applications at the bottom of the screen and enable automatic downloading for any app that you desire. Certain applications like the New York Times support automatic downloads from one device to another. If new stories become available on the New York Times application, for example, you can download them on one device to have them automatically appear on all other devices in your home.

Step 6

Repeat these steps on any other Apple device that you own.

Five Best iPad Apps for Movie Lovers

2012-08-24T08:13:00.000-04:00

One of the best parts about Apple’s iPad tablet device is its ability to let you enjoy multimedia content with you wherever you go. Whether you just want to watch a few movies or want to learn more about one of your favorite hobbies, there are a wide variety of different applications available in the iTunes App Store that are designed specifically for both movie lovers and cinema aficionados. No movie lover’s iPad is complete without the following applications. These applications can be downloaded and added to your device in a matter of seconds.

iTunes Trailers

Many movie trailers are released exclusively online through Apple’s iTunes Trailers service. One recent example is for the film “The Avengers.” The trailer for that film was available through iTunes Trailers exclusively for an extended period of time. Instead of trying to find a computer when you want to watch the latest previews, download the iTunes Trailers app and watch them all on your iPad.

Amazon Instant Video

Amazon Instant Video is Amazon’s answer to the Netflix service. If you’re an Amazon Prime member you can have access to hundreds of thousands of films and television show episodes free of charge. The Amazon Instant Video app allows you to watch this content right from your iPad whenever you’d like. You can also rent and purchase content through the application.

Crackle – Movies & TV

Crackle is a service similar to Hulu that is owned and operated by Sony Pictures. Crackle gives you access to countless full movies and entire seasons of certain popular television shows. Once you sign up for your free Crackle account you can watch all of this content any time you’d like through the main Crackle application.

DVD Profiler for iOS

DVD Profiler is an application specifically designed to allow you to catalog your home video disc collection. You can use the camera present on the iPad 2 and 3 to scan the barcode of each disc you own. Your collection is them compiled as a list that you can browse anytime and take with you wherever you go. For people with large collections this is a great way to prevent accidentally purchasing something you already own.

Backstory

Backstory is a digital magazine owned and operated by film journalist Jeff Goldsmith. It is considered to be the successor to the now defunct Creative Screenwriting Magazine. Issues are released on a bi-monthly basis and are available for purchase through the application itself. Issues take full advantage of the multimedia abilities of the iPad as well as the device’s touch screen interface. Each issue is a mixture of text-based pieces, video and audio interviews, film clips and even full film screenplays. No film lover’s iPad is complete without a subscription to the wonderful Backstory.

Five Apps for Your iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad That Can Help you Run Your Website or Blog

2012-08-23T12:43:00.000-04:00

Apple’s iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad devices aren’t just for checking your e-mail, making phone calls and listening to music on the go. Each device also has the ability to let you maintain and update your own personal website from wherever you happen to be. You no longer need to be near your desktop computer or always take your laptop with you wherever you go to update your site. By downloading one of a few key applications you can update your blog or website from anywhere on the planet as long as you have your Apple device with you.

WordPress

If your site is hosted on WordPress, this is the application you need to have. Everything that can be done in your Internet browser can be accomplished using the official WordPress app. The standard WordPress interface has been completely redesigned to take advantage of smaller screens on devices like the iPhone and iPad, allowing you to constantly update your site on the go.

BlogPress

BlogPress allows you to access blogs from a variety of different services, like Blogger or WordPress, directly from your Apple iOS device. One of the main selling points of the application is that an advanced knowledge of HTML is not required. You can create new posts for your site directly from the app similar to the way you would create a new document in something like Microsoft Word.

Blogsy

Blogsy is a multi-purpose application that allows you to interface with a variety of different Web hosting services. The service takes full advantage of the touch screen capabilities of an Apple device by allowing you to drag and drop multimedia elements like photos directly into blog posts as you compose them. You can then upload these posts right to your blog or site directly from the Blogsy application.

Good Docs

Good Docs combines the features of Google Docs with a fully functional mobile HTML editor. There is simply no better application for editing HTML-rich documents as you travel. The application also allows you to access files saved on Google Docs and save files from your device to the Docs service.

Blogger

Blogger’s official application is similar in concept to the official WordPress app. It takes the interface of Blogger and optimizes it for smaller touch screen devices. The only downside is that it isn’t a universal app. The resolution of the app is designed specifically for the iPod Touch and iPhone. While the Blogger app will work on an iPad, you have to use the “zoom” feature to enlarge the interface to take advantage of the device’s larger screen.

How to Invite Your Friends to Pinterest

2012-08-22T09:53:00.000-04:00

One of the best parts of any social network is interacting with all of your friends. Pinterest is relatively new and is still gaining popularity, so all of your friends may not necessarily have their own accounts. Pinterest allows you to use your e-mail and social network contacts from a variety of different services to invite your friends to create their own accounts on the rising social network. You can accomplish this by following just a few steps using tools that are present on your main Pinterest account page.

Step 1

Click the “Username” button in the upper right corner of your main Pinterest homepage. Instead of literally saying the word “Username,” the label on the button will be your own first name. Click the “Invite Friends” button in the drop down menu to continue.

Step 2

If you know the e-mail addresses of some friends that you’d like to invite to Pinterest, enter those e-mail addresses into the boxes on screen at this time. You can send Pinterest invites in waves of four at a time. Compose a personal message to the specified friends in the box at the bottom of the screen. Click the red button labeled “Send Invites” to send each of those specified friends a new invitation e-mail, complete with the personal message you composed.

Step 3

Click the “Facebook” button on the left side of the screen to invite friends to Pinterest using your Facebook contacts. You can click on the names of friends in the window that appears to automatically send out invitations. You can also search for a friend by name, similar to the way you would do so if you were actually logged in to your Facebook profile.

Step 4

Click the “Gmail” button on the left side of the screen to invite friends to Pinterest using your Google Gmail account. Click the blue button labeled “Find Friends from Gmail” on the page that loads to start browsing through your Gmail contacts list for people you want to invite to the Pinterest service. Select the name of a person to send him a personalized Pinterest invitation.

Step 5

Click the button labeled “Yahoo!” on the left side of the screen to invite people from your Yahoo e-mail contacts list to the Pinterest service. The page that loads will operate identically to the one that were loaded in the “Gmail” step.

How to Publish Your Pinterest Activity to Your Facebook Timeline

2012-08-21T08:40:00.000-04:00

Most people have accounts with a few different social networking sites. These accounts don’t always have to operate completely independently of one another. The social network Pinterest, for example, allows you to automatically post anything that you do to your Facebook account’s main news feed. Friends on that particular service can then see what you’ve been up to, even if they don’t have Pinterest accounts of their own. You can set up this account linking option directly from your main Pinterest account page.

Step 1

Load your main Pinterest account profile page in your Internet browser of choice.

Step 2

Click on your “Account” button at the top of the screen. Select the button labeled “Settings” from the menu to advance to your Pinterest account settings page.

Step 3

Scroll down to the bottom of your “Settings” page. One of the last sections will have the heading “Facebook.” The first option in this portion of the window will read “Login with Facebook.” The second option will read “Publish activity to Facebook Timeline.” The button next to this second option will be grey and will read “Off.”

Step 4

Click the “Off” button one time. A new window will pop up in your browser requesting access to your Facebook page. Additionally, you will be prompted to log into the Facebook service if you have not already done so. Provide your Facebook username and password to continue.

Step 5

Click the blue button reading “Add to Facebook.” The application necessary to allow your Pinterest activity to get published in your Facebook timeline will be added to your Facebook account. You may close the small window on screen and return to your Pinterest “Settings” page. The button next to the “Publish activity to Facebook Timeline” option will now be red and will read “On.”

How to Check on the Status of Your Norton Subscription

2012-08-20T14:08:00.003-04:00

Purchasing any Norton program, like Norton Antivirus or Norton Internet Security, also requires you to purchase a subscription plan. The subscription allows you to receive constant virus definition and security updates for your software. You are also entitled to bug fixes and other upgrades to the program that are released during the duration of your subscription. You can check on the status of your subscription and see when it expires in just a few short moments using your actual Norton program and an Internet browser.

Step 1

Open any Norton product that you have on your computer. Norton programs like Norton Antivirus, Norton 360 and Norton Internet Security all allow users to check the status of their Norton subscriptions right from the main program window. As all Norton products are laid out in very similar ways, the process for checking your subscription status across all programs is almost identical.

Step 2

Click the menu labeled “Support” in the main screen of your Norton product. On the vast majority of all Norton products this menu will be located in the upper right corner of the screen.

Step 3

Select the option from the menu reading “Check Subscription Status.” A new window will automatically open on screen.

Step 4

Wait a few seconds while your Norton program uses your computer’s Internet connection to check on the status of your Norton subscription. You can track the progress of this process using the window on screen.

Step 5

Look at the bold letters in the middle of the screen. After the subscription status check is complete, the total days remaining on your subscription will be presented in bold print in the center portion of the window. Once you have the information you need, click the yellow button labeled “Finish” to close the “Subscription” window and return to the main menu of your Norton product.

How to Create a Mobile Version of Your Blogger Site

2012-08-20T14:08:00.002-04:00

A mobile site, simply put, is a version of your website or blog that is reconfigured to take advantage of the smaller screen present on most mobile devices. Websites designed to be viewed on a computer tend to look cluttered on devices like iPhones and can be needlessly difficult to navigate. Creating a mobile site fixes this problem and can allow you to bring more visitors to your site and its content. If your blog or site is hosted on Blogger, you don’t have to know anything about HTML or computer programming in order to get a mobile version of your site ready for public consumption. You can get this version of your site off the ground in just a few short minutes.

Step 1

Open your Internet browser and access your main Blogger dashboard. Navigate to the main Blogger site and either log in (if necessary) or click the “Dashboard” link at the top of the screen.

Step 2

Click the name of the blog that you want to work with. This opens a page detailing specific information about that particular blog.

Step 3

Click the option reading “Template” on the left side of the screen. You will see two options in the main portion of the window – one reading “Live on Blog” and one reading “Mobile.” Just below the “Mobile” section will be a button marked with a picture of a cog. Click this button one time.

Step 4

Click the option reading “Yes. Show mobile template.” This will enable a mobile version of your site. A preview of the mobile version of your site will immediately load in the box directly below this option.

Step 5

Click the drop down menu in the “Choose a mobile template” section to select a specific template to use for your mobile site. You can choose from one of the pre-existing templates offered by the Blogger service or you can create your own. Make any changes that you deem necessary using this screen. Click the orange “Save” button at the bottom of the screen to save your changes. The mobile version of your Blogger site will immediately go live and will be viewable on all mobile devices by users who try to access its content.