Ridgid Technical Support

PdaNet for Android Review

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 07:14:32 PDT

PdaNet is a cross-platform app that lets you tether your smartphone to a computer either via USB or Bluetooth DUN. When you use PdaNet, you won't have to root your phone. This version works on Android phones.

There are two ways to install it. You can download it directly to your phone, connect your phone to your computer, mount the phone as a drive, and the run the executable from there. Or you can download it directly to your computer and run it. Either way, the instructions that accompany the installation are clear and concise in getting you going. Once everything's been installed, connect the phone to your laptop, run the phone app, and then complete the connection from the PdaNet system tray icon.

There were also occasional hiccups when waking the laptop from hibernating, but otherwise there were no connection problems. To get around those apparent connection loss situations, disconnect and then re-establish the tether. PdaNet is light on system resources, and an easy-to-use choice for those who want the benefits of tethering without the risks involved in rooting.

Reset MAC OS X password without an OS X CD

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

It is easy to reset your password just by popping in the OS X CD that came with your computer and reset the password. Same as easy if that CD is not around as well.

Here is how to reset your OS X password without an OS X CD. You need to enter terminal and create a new admin account:

1. Reboot
2. Hold apple + s down after you hear the chime.
3. When you get text prompt enter in these terminal commands to create a brand new admin account (hitting return after each line):

mount -uw /
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
shutdown -h now

4. After rebooting you should have a brand new admin account. When you login as the new admin you can simply delete the old one and you're good to go again.

How to add Notes inside Gmail

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Gmail notes keep you organized, even if your inbox is cluttered with thousands of email messages. Setting up the notes feature can be as easy as creating a label and a filter and sending emails to yourself.

First log into your Gmail email account using your registered email address and password then make a new label by clicking on "Settings" and "Labels." Enter the new label's name in the text field and press "Create." You can call this label whatever you want, but for this example, we'll call it "Notes."

Now click on the "Filters" tab and choose "Create a new filter." Type your Gmail user name and "+notes@gmail.com" in the "To:" section. If your user name were "John" it would look like this: John+Notes@gmail.com. Select "Next Step." Then mark "Apply the Label" and select "Notes."

You're all set! Now test your note-writing ability by sending an email to the address you created above. Know that you have sent a successful note when the note appears in your inbox.

Note: You can send notes to yourself using any email address--not just your Gmail address.

Requesting an Ubuntu (Linux) CD for FREE

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more.

Ubuntu is available free of charge and can send you a CD of the latest version (8.10 (Intrepid Ibex)) with no extra cost, but the delivery may take up to ten weeks, so you should consider downloading the CD image if you have a fast Internet connection. You can read more about this operating system and download the CD image here: http://www.ubuntu.com/

Request the Ubuntu Linux-based operating system here for free: https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

I requested mine two months ago and already been using the CD for a couple of machines. Also installed the same CD on my friends computers for free. Take a look inside the world of Linux. Have fun!

How to back up Files correctly

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:11:33 PST

Throughout the world of computers, it’s simply amazing just how many people are scared to death of losing their data. Most of those who are scared, don’t give a second thought to backing up their data. Even though the thought may be the same, most people are worried more about losing their data than actually backing it up - which can prove to be a downfall in the face of disaster.

The process of backing up files is done by using servers, floppy disks, CD, DVD, external hard drives, or other methods to keep the data protected. Offsite backups are great as well, as the data you backup isn’t left around your office, it is instead entrusted with a company who will ensure that it stays protected. This way, when something happens to your hard drive and you lose your information, you’ll have the information backed up so that you can easily access it again.

If you are using Windows as your operating system, it will be a lot easier to back up your files. Windows XP has a back up facility in it, so that it can make things a lot easier when you create your backups. If data that is stored on hard drives with XP becomes lost, Windows will immediately fetch the file from another drive or area where it has been stored as a back up. This is a very useful technique, although it still has to be practiced to ensure that you understand how it works. Although it may be very useful, it isn’t as safe as other options.

No matter which method or methods you have decided to use for backing up your data, you’ll be happy to know that they are all easy to use. All in all, creating backups of your data and information is the perfect way to ensure that you always have it in the event of a disaster.

Should you buy the Nokia 6301? (review)

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

I have recently extended my contract on my phone carrier company and decided to get the Nokia 6301. The design puts function over form. Ergonomic controls and vibrant display are exceedingly easy to use. At 4.2 inches by 1.7 inches by 0.5 inch and only 1.4 ounces, the 6301 is compact and portable but it's big enough to mimic the feel of a home cordless phone. It comes with a charging base that is included in the box (you don't have to use it, i don't). It's a convenient way to keep your phone in one place when you're at home-no more hunting around for it when you get a call--and power it up at the same time.

Display measures a generous 2 inches and supports 16.7 million colors. Graphics and photos look fantastic, the text is readable, and the Series 40 (third edition) menu interface is intuitive. You can change the font size if you wish. All controls are tactile and their arrangement is spacious, not like my Nokia N91. Keypad buttons are equally easy to use. The individual keys are raised above the surface of the phone and they give a firm, tactile feel when pressed. Though the buttons feel a tad cramped, I had no issues dialing or texting. The numbers on the keys are small but the keys are brightly backlit.

The 6301 has a 1,000-contact phone book with room in each entry for five phone numbers, an e-mail address, a URL, a company name and job title, a formal name, a nickname, a street address, a birthday, and notes (the SIM cards holds additional names). You can save callers to a group and pair them with a photo or one of 15 polyphonic ringtones.

Other essentials include text and multimedia messaging, a vibrate mode, an alarm clock, a calendar, a to-do list, notes, a calculator, a countdown timer, a stopwatch, a notepad, a currency and unit converter, and a world clock. But the 6301 doesn't stop there. You'll also find full Bluetooth, PC syncing, USB mass storage, instant messaging, a voice recorder, POP3 e-mail, speaker-independent voice dialing and commands, and a speakerphone.

The volume was fine but I had to place the phone upside down to get maximum output from the rear-facing speaker. Callers could understand me most of the time, but I had to be in a quiet place in order to be heard. The 6301 has a rated battery life of 3.5 hours talk time and 14.5 days standby time. According to FCC radiation tests, the 6301 has a digital SAR of 0.71 watts per kilogram.

The bottom line: The 6301 is a great choice for a cell phone. Simple, easy-to-use design with a brilliant display and well-designed navigation controls. Call quality is top-notch. Just don't count on its camera.

Search effectively using Google

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:41:28 PST

Several of us use Google through out the day for simple stuff, but we've never quite grasped the power of this tool. So, I am copypasting some tips and key points from an article I've seen around the internet.

1. Download and install the Google toolbar. Not only does it put the Google search box into your browser full-time, but it also blocks pop-up ads and fills in forms for you. For Windows at httptoolbar.google.com .

2. Phrase your question in the form of an answer. So instead of typing, What is the average rainfall in the Amazon basin, you might get better results by typing The average rainfall in the Amazon basin is.

3. This is an old one, but very important. Put quotes around phrases that must be searched together. If you put quotes around electric curtains, Google won't waste your time finding one set of Web pages containing the word electric and another set containing the word curtains.

4. Similarly, put a hyphen right before any word you want screened out. If you're looking up dolphins, for example, you'll have to wade through a million Miami Dolphins pages unless you search for dolphins -Miami.

5. Google is a global White Pages and Yellow Pages. Search for phonebook home depot norwalk, ct, Google instantly produces the address and phone number of the Norwalk Home Depot. This works with names (phonebookrobert jones las vegas, NV) as well as businesses.
Don't put any space after phonebook. And in all of the following examples, don't type the quotes I'm showing you here.

6. Google is a package tracker. Type a FedEx or UPS package number (just the digits); when you click Search, Google offers a link to its tracking information. Also a calculator. Type in an equation (32+23453-234=). And a units-of-measurement converter. Type teaspoons in a gallon, for example, or centimeters in a foot.

7. Google is a stock ticker. Type in AAPL or MSFT, for example, to see a link to the current Apple or Microsoft stock price, graphs, financial news and so on. Also an atlas. Type in an area code, like 212, to see a Mapquest map of the area.

8. Google is Wal-Mart's computer. Type in a UPC bar code number, such as 036000250015, to see the description of the product you've just scanned in. Also an aviation buff. Type in a flight number like United 22 for a link to a map of that flight's progress in the air. Or type in the tail number you see on an airplane for the full registration form for that plane.

9. Google is the Department of Motor Vehicles. Type in a VIN (vehicle identification number, which is etched onto a plate, usually on the door frame, of every car), like JH4NA1157MT001832, to find out the car's year, make and model. - source:trap17.com/

Get your free Gmail stickers from Google Team

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Some folks from Google, created some Gmail m-velope stickers. Soon the demand was high and now they created a program for us users to get some for free.

There's actually some useful stuff in this kit. The included keyboard overlays can remind you of Gmail shortcuts. To order your stickers, send a self-addressed envelope to:

Send me some Gmail stickers already
P.O. Box 391420
Mountain View, CA 94039-1420

Make sure to include enough postage to return a sticker pack via U.S. mail. It's less than one ounce, so a standard $0.42 stamp will do if you're in the United States; enclose an international reply coupon (IRC) if you're outside of the U.S. (one per person policy).

Supplies seem to be limited, so avid sticker collectors/gmail users best move quickly. I'm ready to send mine out on my way to work. See full article on Gmail Blog.

Schedule a phone call with a text-to-speech message.

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Schedule free wake-up calls and reminders online with web site Wakerupper. Just enter the time and date you want your call, your timezone, phone number, and an optional bit of reminder text that will be played text-to-speech style when you get the call.

The site requires no registration, though registration is possible if you want to use the service for more than the occasional one-off wake-up call. Most of us have learned to use our cell phones as anywhere alarms, but if you're paranoid about waking up when you're traveling or before an important meeting, this free service is a useful tool for creating anywhere, anytime wake-up calls.

Reformatting your computer using Windows XP

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:07:32 PST

Reformatting your Windows XP computer will erase everything on your hard drive and reinstall the operating system. To avoid losing your data (documents, pictures, music, etc.), you will want to backup your information prior to reformatting. After you have reformatted your computer, you will need to reinstall all of your personal data, as well as any software products you may use.

Reformatting your Windows XP computer has three main parts:

Reformatting the computer from your operating system CD.
Reinstalling the drivers that came with your computer.
Running Windows Update to reinstall all security updates and patches.

Please contact your product's technical support service prior to reformatting your computer if you have questions about any of these processes involved.

NOTE: If you have a network connection, please unplug from the network before starting installation.

1. First, make sure that your computer is set to Boot to CD. This is a different procedure depending on your computer. When your computer first boots look for an option to enter the BIOS settings. Under the BIOS settings find the "Boot Order" and make sure the CD-ROM is set to boot first.

2. With the Windows XP CD in the CD-ROM drive, save your BIOS settings and exit.

3. If you've done everything correctly you should be asked to "Press Any Key to Boot from CD".

4. After installing the necessary setup files, Windows XP will display your partitions. Delete any existing partitions by selecting the desired partition with the arrow keys, press D to delete and then L to confirm the deletion.

5. You should now have only one option, "Unpartitioned Space". Press Enter to install Windows XP to the unpartitioned space.

6. When asked how you would like to format the partition, select "Format using the NTFS file system".

7. After the partition is formatted, Windows XP will begin installation. The computer will reboot. While the computer is rebooting, please do not touch any keys.

8. Enter your product key. If you purchased Windows XP from the IMU Bookstore, the product key will be located on the back of the sleeve your CD came in. If you are reformatting using a Windows XP CD that came with your computer, the product key may be located on a sticker somewhere on your computer case.

9. When asked for Network Settings, choose "Typical Settings".

10. Windows XP will now complete installation. Upon completion you will need to re-install the drivers for your hardware (Modem, Sound, Video, etc). Many PC companies such as Dell, Gateway, and HP will include a "Driver Installation CD" with the computer. Simply insert the CD and follow the instructions. Otherwise, you can download current drivers from many manufacturer's support web sites.

11. Run Windows Update by opening Internet Explorer, then clicking on Tools -> Windows Update. Follow the on-screen instructions for installing critical updates. Restart your computer.

How to copy songs from your iPod to your PC

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:06 PDT

A straightforward way for Windows users to transfer music from an iPod to your hard drive, without extra software:

Connect the iPod to your PC. If iTunes starts syncing (ie erasing) your music automatically, hit the X in the upper right hand corner of iTunes display, to the left of the search box, to stop it.
In Control Panel, Portable Media Devices, double-click your iPod.
In the Tools menu -> Options, in the View Tab, check "Show hidden files and folders."
Navigate to the Music folder. On my 2nd gen 'pod, the full path is
Portable Media Devices\GINA'S IPOD (F:)\iPod_Control\Music
Select all the music folders, and drag and drop them into a folder on your hard drive, or directly into iTunes.

And you're done! The iPod music folder structure is strange and inexplicable, but once you move your files into iTunes you can set it to automatically organize your folder by artist and album to clean that up. (To do this, in iTunes Edit menu, choose Preferences and in the Advanced tab, check "Keep iTunes Music Folder organized.")

Turn an old hard drive into an external drive

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

I have been recently given an old laptop (Compaq Presario) it boots on Windows ME. The notebook was still okey excepts it needs a new battery. Since I have no plans on spending money on the old laptop, I searched the internet on how to make the internal hard drive to a external hard drive and use it as my additional storage.

An external hard drive can serve countless uses: moving large files from one PC to another, backing up data, rescuing files from an unbootable drive, and, of course, expanding your available storage space. It can also act as a holding tank for your data while you perform a hard drive swipe or OS reinstall. Here's how to turn any cast-off internal drive into an external drive with a new lease on life.

Choose an enclosure
Your hard drive needs a new home, a small case that supplies power, protection and a USB. Prices for these enclosures range from as little as $10 on up to around $100, though I wouldn't pay more than $20-30 for one. (Some of the pricier models can connect directly to TVs for video and audio streaming, and even come with wireless remotes.)

The key consideration is size: If your hard drive came from a notebook, you'll need a 2.5-inch enclosure. Desktop drives require a 3.5-inch enclosure.

If you're into eye candy, look for a see-through chassis or one with LEDs or other decorative elements. As for where to buy, I've found excellent selection and low prices at Micro Center here in chicago (Got mine for $9.99) or you may buy online.

Install the drive
Once you've settled on an enclosure, it's time to install the drive. There's nothing difficult about it—you probably won't need anything more sophisticated than a screwdriver. But the usual electronics-handling rules apply: Make sure you're working in a static-free environment, handle everything with care, don't force the connections, etc. From there, just mount the drive, connect the interface and power plugs, and close everything up.

Connect the drive
If you purchased an enclosure for a 3.5-inch drive, it no doubt came with an external power supply. Plug it in and power up the enclosure; you should hear the drive spin up (and see a little LED activity if the enclosure has LEDs). Notebook-drive enclosures are usually powered by their USB or FireWire connections, so no external adapter is necessary.

Mac and Windows XP/Vista systems should automatically detect the drive and load any necessary drivers. Windows 98 and Me systems will probably require a driver CD, which should have come with the enclosure. Follow the provided instructions to install the drivers.

How to start windows in safe mode

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Many times in order to remove a piece of spyware or for troubleshooting and diagnostic purposes, you'll have to start Windows in Safe Mode. While in Safe Mode, only specific programs and files needed to run the operating system are loaded. Some functions, such as connecting to the internet, will not be active in Safe Mode and a standard video driver will be loaded causing a washed out look and a possible change in resolution.

However, because just the essential programs and files are loaded in Safe Mode, this allows us to remove some spyware, adware, viruses and such that cannot be removed in Normal Mode. Follow the instructions below to Start Safe Mode for your specific version of Windows.

Windows 95
Restart your computer then just after the POST diagnostics and memory count, start pressing the F8 key and on the Startup Menu, choose Safe Mode.

Windows 98/Me
Restart the computer then just after the POST diagnostics and memory count, start pressing the F8 key and on the Startup Menu, choose Safe Mode or you may use the System Configuration Utility Method.

While in Normal mode, Close all programs. Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK and In the System Configuration Utility, on the General Tab, click the Advanced Button and in the Advanced Troubleshooting Settings dialog box, check Enable Startup Menu. Click OK. Click OK again when the System Configuration Utility reappears. You will be prompted to restart the computer. Click Yes. The computer will restart in Safe mode. When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again and uncheck "Enable Start-up Menu." under the Advanced Menu, then click OK and restart your computer

Windows 2000
If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power now wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on. When you see the black-and-white Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen, start tapping the F8 key. The Windows 2000 Advanced Options Menu appears. Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected. In most cases, it is the first item in the list and is selected by default now press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode. When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

Windows XP
If Windows XP is the only operating system installed on your computer, booting into Safe Mode with these instructions.

If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power now wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on. Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again. Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected now press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode. When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

To use the System Configuration Utility method close all open programs. Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK. The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted. The computer restarts in Safe mode then Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode. When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab, uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer

Windows as part of a multiboot system
Use this method ONLY if you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer.

If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power then wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on. When the Boot loader menu (list of the available operating systems) appears, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the version Windows what you want now press Enter, and then immediately begin tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears. Scroll to and select the Safe mode menu item, and then press Enter.

Windows Vista
Windows Vista is similar to Windows XP for starting in Safe Mode.

Turn the computer on or Restart the computer. Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Boot Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again. Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected (the top option) then press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode. When you are finished with troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

How to protect yourself from spam

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Spam. We all hate those thousands of emails we get each day that have nothing to do with what we have a email address for. According to various security sites on the web the average email user gets approximately 1400 spam emails in any given twenty-four hour period, 365 days a year and this number is increasing monthly. In this article we are going to discuss a strategy that works for me to get rid of about 99.9% of my 2000 spam messages a day. I've had the same email address for four years now and was about to just switch over until the company improved its handling of spam messages on the server side. During this time I did learn a few tricks to keep from getting spammed. You will notice I am fond of Google Gmail. I'm sure these same tactics can be used on just about any email service of your choice.

The first thing I did was get a honey pot email address. Much like its relative the honey pot server, the honey pot email address is a account I send all new people I deal with on the internet for a few weeks to see if I'm going to get spammed from them. After a few weeks if the company I added to that account is not showing signs of being a spammer, I switch the email address over to my Google Gmail account and assign it to its particular filter. I use Yahoo mail as my honey pot account.

The second thing I do, I never delete spam from my Gmail in folder. I always check it and click the spam button so it registers with google as being reported as spam. With millions of users reporting spam daily, spammers are identified quickly and in my experience Google Gmail automatically identifies about 99.9% of the spam coming to your address. The only reason for using the honey pot email address is so your spam folder in your main email account has such a small amount of spam that you can easily look and check to see if google was overly aggressive in declaring any of your wanted email as spam.

The third thing I do, I use a disposable email address for everyday email requests. Due to everyone and his mother wanting to build a email list, you have to enter your email address to use just about any website now. I've never been fond of this practice as I know why they ask for it. Some day, some time your going to get spam from that website. So when downloading software, signing up for forums, and just about every other place I know I'm only going to go once, I use a service like Mailinator. Mailinator lets you create your own email address with a variety of domains that you can use immediately. Mailinator even has a widget you can put on your personal web page that will show you the email messages currently in your box. Mailinator works by only keeping the email messages in your box for a few hours so this is a great service for when you have to enter your email address to get access to a website immediately. Mailinator is so popular that some places will not allow you to use a email address with a domain controlled by them. However they have plenty of domains and I have never came across a website that blocked them all. I created a widget for my email address on each domain and copied the code over to a personal web page on my PC that I can bring up at anytime to see who is sending emails. The only bad thing about Mailinator is that anyone who knows your email address can access it on the Mailinator website. Mailinator does not require you to enter a password to check your address.

Using just these three methods you should be able to get virtually 100% of the spam you get to the place it belongs, the trash can.

How to format a flash drive

noreply@blogger.com (ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

One of the biggest advantages of formatting your flash drive in MS-DOS (for Mac) or FAT32 (for Windows) is that you can access the stored data on every Windows installed machine regardless of the operating system. Formatting to Ext 2/3 allows you to access the data only on Linux. Here is how to format a flash drive.

Windows platform (OS)
Start your computer and plug in the flash drive in the USB port then click on "My Computer" click on "Manage" in the "Explorer" window of "My Computer." Now open the "Device Manager" and locate your USBDrive installed under the "Disk Drives" tab. Right click on "Removable Disk Drive" and click on "Properties" from the menu. Click on the "Policies" tab and choose "Optimize for Performance" from the options. Click "OK" and continue. Then click on "My Computer" and choose the format on the flash drive. Now choose "NTFS" or "FAT32" depending on the type you want from the dropdown menu box. Finally, click "OK" to complete the format.

Mac platform (OS X)
First, place the flash drive on the desktop then start the "Disk Utility." Click on "Macally" flash drive. Use the "Erase" button. Select the "MS-DOS File System" in "Volume Format" and provide a new name for the drive. Click the "Erase" button. Then perform the instructions given on the screen and finish the formatting.

Linux platform
To see what is the file system for your flash drive type df. Then type mkfs /dev/sdb1
(the /dev/sdb1 is according to your outcome of the df command previously.) This command will format the flash drive to ext3 format which is the default. Now, to format it to fat; type mkfs -t vfat /dev/sdb1.

How to access/use IP Config

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

IP Config is a command used in the Dos Prompt to find the information on your system about the detailed network you are connected to. This can be used to find the Subnet Mask, IP address, and to release and reset your IP address. This small test can be run in order to see that you are able to connect to the Internet without requiring the assistance of a technician.

Bring up your command prompt by clicking on your Start button and then hitting Run in Windows XP, and type in CMD in the box and hit Enter. If using Vista, type in CMD in the Search box and hit Enter when you hit the Windows icon at the bottom left of your start screen.

Type in IPCONFIG/ALL after the new prompt that is opened in the Dos window. This will bring up all the network information on your system, as well as let you know if you have any errors with your IP address. You should not have 0.0.0.0 or 165 or 169 as the first three numbers of your IP address. This information is found under Ethernet on this screen.

Type PING GOOGLE.COM after the new prompt that starts and hit Enter. This will contact Google.com and if you are able to access the Internet, it will respond back to you with 4 sent packets and 4 received packets. This means your computer is working at the capacity it should be.

Force the adapter to give up it’s current IP address if you have 0.0.0.0 as your IP address by typing in IPCONFIG/RELEASE and hit Enter. This will erase your address so that you can access a new one that will work on the Internet.

Renew your IP address now by typing in IPCONFIG/RENEW and hit Enter after the new prompt. This accesses the Internet and your network, and reassigns a good IP address to your computer so that you may now surf. Type in EXIT, and hit Enter. Now close the Dos window and you have renewed your IP address.

Note: To bring a computer back onto the network after moving it to a different location, or experiencing an unexpected outage, first release, then renew the IP address. Computers on DHCP networks often (but not always) re-establish network connectivity automatically.

How to take a screenshot in Linux (Ubuntu)

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

There are several ways to take a screenshot Linux in general. I'm going to use Ubuntu as an example for I use this in my partition drive, but most of these will work on any Linux distro. If you aren't using GNOME, then the GNOME-specific items won't work.

I'll start with the common ways to take screenshots in Linux, and then show you a nice shell script for taking custom screenshots in GNOME with just one click of the mouse. The shell script will also work in other windows managers like KDE, but you will have to figure out how to make the custom application launcher for it.

One way to take a screenshot in Ubuntu is to go to the main menu: Applications > Accessories > Take Screenshot.

How to take a screenshot in Linux with the printscreen button.
You can also take a screenshot of the entire screen by pushing the "Print Screen" (PrtSc) button on your keyboard. To get a screenshot of only the active window, use Alt-PrtSc. This is easier than using the GNOME "Take Screenshot" tool. You can also control this GNOME screenshot tool from the terminal as described in a newer Linux screenshot tutorial.

How to cancel/delete pending print job

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

You can cancel or delete a print job if you decide that you don't want to print the document after all. You'll save paper and reduce the wear and tear on your printer if you cancel unwanted jobs, especially if the document is several pages long. These instructions are for Windows XP. Instructions for other operating systems or versions may vary but you'll get the idea.

To cancel a print job, click on the Start menu and then click on Control Panel. From the Control Panel menu, click on Printers and other hardwares after that select the Printers and Faxes. Click on the icon representing the printer that you are using. A document window will appear. The document window lists all of the print jobs that are pending. Click on the document that you want to cancel. This selects the document. With the document selected, click on Cancel Printing. If the print job has already started, it should cancel after the current page finishes printing.

Canceling a print job on a networked printer:
After you click Print, an icon for the printer you're using appears on the right of your Windows task bar, beside the clock. Double-click on this printer icon to see a list of all the documents waiting to be printed. Select your document, then choose Cancel Printing from the Printing menu.

Tips: You also have the option of pausing the print job and resuming the task later. You can't cancel someone else's print job, only your own.

Linux on Windows XP - Linux installer (Wubi) - Ubuntu

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Wubi is an officially supported Ubuntu installer for Windows users that can bring you to the Linux world with a single click. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other Windows application, in a simple and safe way. Are you curious about Linux and Ubuntu? Trying them out has never been easier! I am just new to the wonderful world of Linux and was thinking of buying a machine dedicated to its OS. I strongly recommend using Linux.

Wubi is Simple - there is no need to burn a CD. Just run the installer, enter a password for the new account, and click "Install", go grab a coffee, and when you are back, Ubuntu will be ready for you.

Wubi is Safe - you keep Windows as it is, Wubi only adds an extra option to boot into Ubuntu. Wubi does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application. Wubi is spyware and malware free, and being open source, anyone can verify that.

Wubi is Discrete - keeps most of the files in one folder, and if you do not like it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.

Wubi is Free - cost absolutely nothing (free as in beer), but yet provide a state of the art, fully functional, operating system that does not require any activation and does not impose any restriction on its use (free as in freedom).

Requirements: 256 MB memory, 5 GB harddisk space, Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista.

What is this Swatch .beats?

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

I know there is already a "universal time". It's even called Universal Time, and abbreviated UT (or UTC, where the C is for coordinated). It's been around for years and is also known as Greenwich Mean Time, and also Zulu Time. Banks use it. Other international businesses use it. And, more importantly, computers use it. Every computer in the world can tell you what the time is, in real Universal Time. Let us give this Swatch .beat a look.

Swatch has created a new universal time. Internet Time represents a completely new global concept of time. So what is the deal? Basically, the Swatch Beat, the revolutionary new unit of time means the following:

The 24 hours of a day are divided into 1000 beats: 1 beat = 1 minute 26.4 seconds. Internet time is displayed by @ and three digits, ranging from @000 to @999. The Internet day starts at midnight (wintertime) in Biel, Switzerland, the home of Swatch. No more time zones, no more borders, no geographical differences. One world - one time. That means that 12 noon in the old time system is the equivalent of @500 Swatch beats.

Okay, so how can a surfer in New York, or a passenger on a transatlantic flight know when it is @500 Swatch Beats in Central Europe for example? How can the New York surfer make a date for a chat with his cyber friend in Rome? Easy, Internet Time is the same all over the world.

How is this possible? Swatch are not just creating a new way of measuring time, they are also creating a new meridian in Biel, Switzerland, home of Swatch. Biel Mean Time (BMT) will be the universal reference for Internet Time.

A day in Internet Time begins at midnight BMT (@000 Swatch Beats) (Central European Wintertime). The meridian is marked for all to see on the façade of the Swatch International Headquarters on Jakob-Staempfli Street, Biel, Switzerland. So it is the same time all over the world, be it night or day, the era of time zones has disappeared.

The BMT meridian was inaugurated on 23 October 1998 in the presence of Nicholas Negroponte, founder and director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Laboratory.

Chicago, Illinois
Posted by Ridgid @880 .beats

For Internet time .beats converter visit: Swatch

How do I upload a video on Youtube?

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:06 PDT

YouTube was founded in February 2005, as a free web-based service that would allow people to watch and share their videos. The site has since exploded into the web's premier multimedia entertainment destination with more than 70 million videos being viewed daily.

In October 2006, Google purchased YouTube for a whopping $1.65 billion, leading to the video site being named TIME magazine's "Invention of the Year" for 2006.

Here are some of YouTube's features. It allows any web-connected user to:

Browse millions of videos uploaded by community members
Upload, "tag" and share videos worldwide
Make uploaded videos public
Find, join and create video groups to connect with people with similar interests
Subscribe to member videos, save favorites and create playlists
Embed YouTube videos into websites using special video embed code

Now if you want to upload videos, you must first sign up for a free YouTube membership to upload videos. With your membership, you will also be able to do things like create viewing playlists and comment on other videos.

When you upload a video to YouTube, it stays online until you choose to take it down. YouTube may also take it offline if they believe your video violiates their terms of use (e.g., adult content, copyright infringement).

Once you’ve finished editing your video, make sure it's less than 10 minutes, smaller than 100MB, and in an acceptable format, you're ready to upload it.

Click the "Upload" button in the upper-right-hand corner of any YouTube page.
Enter as much information about your video as possible, including Title, Description, Tags, and Category. The more information you include, the easier it is for users to find your video!
Determine if you want your video set to Public or Private.
Click the "Upload a Video..." button.
In the next window, click the "Browse" button to browse for the video file. Select the file you want to upload.
Click the "Upload Video" button.

It can take from a couple of minutes to an hour for your video to upload to YouTube.

If you're receiving an error with your Upload, you might want to make sure you're attempting to upload a file that's recognized by YouTube. YouTube accepts video files from most digital cameras and camcorders, and cell phones in the .AVI, .MOV, .WMV, and .MPG file formats.

Have more than one video file to upload? Have a file that's larger than 100MB?
Learn how to upload them, using our Youtube uploader.

Source: webvideozone.com

Problem: Stocked on welcome screen?

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

If you select a user on the welcome screen, and after clicking the selected user, it just turned to "loggin off" and then back to the welcome screen again, your PC might have a virus. This procedure was tested on OS Windows XP. Hope this will help.

Solution: Try to run your PC on a safe mode. And if you can run your PC on safe mode, try the following steps:

1. Start -> Run

2. Type msconfig (enter)

3. Go to startup tab

4. Disable all startup programs

5. Apply

6. OK (Restart PC required)

7. After restarting your PC, try to login again to your user or administrator.

(If successful, your PC has a virus. Try to have a trusted anti-virus. I suggest NOD32 or AVAST). If you encountered the same situation in trying the safe mode, that might be a hardware problem. Also check your PC's memory, and other hardwares if they are connected properly on your motherboard. If problem persists, Reformat your machine.

How to password protect the folder using DOS

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Follow these instructions.

First open Notepad and copy the code below then change your password in the code it's shown the place where to type your password. Save file as locker.bat now double click on locker.bat then it will create folder with locker automatically for you. After creation of the locker folder, place the contents you want to lock inside the locker folder and run locker.bat again.

<-Codes to be copied, copy the whole codes.->

cls
@ECHO OFF
title Folder Locker
if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to Unlock folder
set/p "Password=>"
if NOT %Password%== type your password here goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Locker
echo Locker created successfully
goto End
:End

Yes, you can save your private data for free but here is the catch, you can edit your password by right clicking the bat file and select "edit". In order to prevent someone changing your password, try change the file name and extension such as "system.dat". You could also find free or NOT free softwares around for password protecting a folder on your computer, its easy - just follow the instructions. Enjoy and keep safe.

How to transfer files from internal to external hard drive

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:36:02 PDT

This article will teach you about external hard drives and how to transfer files from your internal hard drive to the external one. It is easy to transfer the data, and this will walk you through step by step.

To pick an external hard drive - base it on what types of storage needs you have. If you have a lot of images, music files, or videos an external drive with lots of storage space on it would be ideal. If you are transferring documents and paperwork, a smaller one would work for that.

Most external hard drives are connected by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable and most computers are compatible with them. This type would be your best bet (in my opinion) and easiest to find. To transfer data, plug the USB cable into the correct port. Usually your computer will know that it has a new drive attached and a pop up box will alert you. It will scan it to determine what to do with the new connection and your computer will assign it a drive letter (eg Drive C:, and so forth.) This will allow you to transfer data to the external hard drive just like you would move files around on your computers internal hard drive. Once you have the USB cable plugged into your computers port (and the other end plugged into the external drive) you can now start saving files you would like on the external drive. You can save them just on the external hard drive or you can use it as a back up.

Open the item(s) or folder(s) you would like to transfer or save on your external hard drive. There are two ways to save them to the external hard drive - If you only have a couple of things to save, you can open each item, click on file - save as - and choose the letter/drive that was previously assigned to your external hard drive. This will save it to the external hard drive. If you have large files or a lot of them to transfer. A window will be open for your external hard drive and it will show you what has been saved on your external hard drive (or it will be blank if there is nothing saved on it.) You can click on the item you want moved (holding the right mouse button down) and drag the item over to the window for your external hard drive.

You can do this with as many files as necessary. You can select a few files at a time by holding down the shift key and clicking on the items you want to drag to the new location.

Be sure once you are done saving the files to your external hard drive, that you disconnect properly. If this is not done, it could damage your hard drive and the files on it. Down on the right hand side of your screen you will see (usually green) flashing arrow. Click on that to open you USB tool box. You will need to stop the hardware device, click on the stop button. It will ask you to confirm the device to be stopped. Make sure the item that is highlighted is the USB Mass Storage device and click ok to confirm. You will see a comment pop up at the bottom that will say Safe to Remove Hardware and it is now ok to disconnect the external hard drive USB cable.

Be sure your computer is compatible with the external hard drive you purchase. The out side of the box or the instruction sheet that comes with your external hard drive should let you know which it is compatible with.

How to make Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla or Opera your default browser

noreply@blogger.com (Ridgid) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:10 PDT

Do you want to change the browser you want as your default browser. The one that automatically opens up when you start to surf the web. Here's how you do it.

For Internet Explorer 4.x, 6.x and 5.x:
Select "Tools", then "Internet Options" from the main menu in Explorer. Change to the "Programs" tab then check the "Internet Explorer and see whether if it is the default browser" option then Click "OK" after that close all Explorer windows and restart the system. Once the system comes back up, restart Explorer. When the "Would you like to make Internet Explorer your default browser?" shows on your screen simply click "Yes".

For Mozilla 1.x:
Select "Edit", then "Preferences" from the main menu in Mozilla. Change to the "Navigator" tab/section then click the "Set Default Browser" button now click "OK". Close all Mozilla windows (for best results, restart the system). Finally, restart Mozilla.

For Mozilla Firefox 1.x it is a little different:
Select "Tools", the "Options" from the main menu in Firefox. Change to the "General" tab/section then check the "Firefox should check to see if it is the default browser when starting" option now click "OK" after that close all Firefox windows (for best results, restart the system). Finally, restart Firefox. When the "Would you like to make [Firefox] your default browser?" prompt appears, click "Yes" to make Firefox the default browser.

For Netscape 7.x:
Select "Edit", the "Preferences" from the main menu in Netscape. Change to the "Navigator" tab/section then click the "Set Default Browser" button. Click "OK" and close all Netscape windows (for best results, restart the system). Finally, restart Netscape. When the "Netscape 7.x is not currently set as your default browser. Would you like to make it your default browser?" prompt appears, click "Yes" to make Netscape the default browser.

For Netscape Navigator/Communicator 4.x:
Open the prefs.js file located in [Communicator installation directory]\users\[profile name] (for example: C:\Program Files\Netscape\users\prefs.js) using a text editor. Make sure that the following line exists and has the value false. If it does not exist, insert it at the end of the file. user_pref("browser.wfe.ignore_def_check", false);

Save changes to the file and close it then close all Communicator windows and restart it. When the "Would you like to make [Communicator] your default browser?" prompt appears, click "Yes" to make Communicator the default browser.

For Opera 7.x:
Select "File", then "Preferences" from the main menu in Opera. Change to the "Default Application" tab. Check the "Check if Opera is default browser on startup" option then click "OK". Close all Opera windows and then restart. Finally, restart Opera. When the "Would you like to use Opera as your default application for viewing web pages?" prompt appears, click "Yes" to make Opera the default browser.