5 Tips On How To Avoid Viruses

This is a fairly well known subject but there are a few things that still infect people on a regular basis. One of my clients has about 65 users and 90 computers. I am constantly cleaning viruses and spybots because the users download them unknowingly and can't figure out why. Here is a basic list of virus hot spots and how to avoid them. These are all from personal experience and how I have been infected in the past.

1. The number one place I have seen viruses downloaded are FREE mouse cursors, and screensavers. I'm not sure why this is the case, but 90% of the viruses I deal with are from these downloads. It's an easy way to drop a virus in the registry because of the installer needed for the cursors and screensavers. You may end up with the content you like but run a scan afterwards and you will more than likely find some type of virus or spybot.

2. The next way and sure fire way of infecting your computer very badly is using P2P networking. These are better known as sites like; Limewire, Kazaa, Bearshare, etc.. Although they are great places to find free music, movies, games, programs, etc. (which are illegal to download) many of the files are packed full of viruses. An easy way to spot most of the viruses is to look at what you want to download, and then look at the size of the file. For example, if you are downloading music in MP3 form, one minute equals 1MB give or take. If the song you want is four minutes long and the file size is only 53kb, there is a very good chance that it contains a virus package. Basically if the file size seems way too small for what you want, it's probably infected.

3. Another way to download viruses unknowingly is to look for free pornography. This is a sensitive subject for some so I won't expand too much. A lot of so called free sites like to plant viruses in pictures and "ActiveX" content which you have to download to view the site. NEVER download this content if you have a choice. Also if a site asks you to click OK to view the site, it is more than likely a cleverly disguised installer that once you hit OK will download and install a virus or virus package for you.

4. Also, you can get viruses not only from the internet, but also from e-mail. This subject is hopefully well known but I can't stress enough how important it is to know how to filter these "spam" e-mails. If you set up your online e-mail in Microsoft outlook, there is a fairly good junk e-mail filter. Beware that sometimes legitimate e-mails are dropped into this folder so check it regularly. Only open e-mails from people or businesses you recognize. If you have to read an e-mail that you do not recognize, please don't download the attachments. Finally, the internet is full of get rich quick, lose weight fast, and free offers "too good to pass up" and most of them are scams. If it looks good it's probably not. Research the site in google and put either "reviews" or "scam" after the subject in question.

5. Finally, where I have caught the worst and most malicious viruses is while surfing the web and a pop-up comes up with "your computer is infected" or something along those lines. I made the mistake of downloading one of the so called tools just to find that it was a nice little virus package with something around 100 viruses included. Long story short I ended up having to rebuild my computer and spend a lot of time on trying to clean it. This virus was one that after it was removed it left a small batch file that would connect to the host site and download the package every time you restarted. So if you do catch one of these, disconnect from the internet immediately. Run all the tools you can get your hands on and remove anything that looks suspect. If you are lucky enough to get rid of it completely, never under any circumstances repeat what got you there in the first place.

I hope that these five subjects will help you become a more knowledgeable internet browser and e-mail reader and help keep you free of viruses. One thing I didn't mention is that spybots are the same if not worse than viruses and a lot of them nowadays will steal your information and are aimed at taking your identity. Bottom line is, be careful, do not open yourself up to be easily influenced, and be sure to research anything that you are interested in.

By Branden Dilorenzo

Branden DiLorenzo

http://www.ccissolutions.com
http://speedupmycomputernow.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Branden_Dilorenzo

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7 Ways To Increase The Speed Of Your PC

If you're tired of having a slow computer that crawls to a halt whenever you open up multiple windows, here are 7 tips guaranteed to increase the speed and performance of your computer.

1) Disk Defragmenter

This comes free with Windows. By analysing your computer files and defragmenting, this puts the files in your computer in order so that the accessing time reduces for the hard disk.

2) Remove Startup programs

Ever experienced long booting times? That's because every time your computer boots up, it has been instructed to load up a software application. Use RegClean to see what these files are and delete them.

3) Turn off visual effects

By going to your control panel and system, you can turn of the visual effects of your computer. Less resources spent on glamour goes to speeding up the opening time of your folders and internet explorer.

4) Overclock your PC

This one is for the pros. Overclocking your PC will give you boost to your computer's speed.

5) Registry Cleaner

A registry cleaner scans for errors in your registry. Your computer registry contains information about your computer and certain data that is no longer required in your computer which is linked to a software stays in your registry even though the software has been uninstalled. The more clutter you have in your computer the more work your hard disk needs to do.

6) Get more RAM

The more RAM, the better. Try to have at least 1Gig of RAM, this will certainly increase the speed of your Microsoft Windows, Excel, Photoshop applications and allow you to open multiple windows without a decrease in speed.

7) Use Reg Cure or Reg Fix

These are the top of the line registry cleaners that clean up the obsolete data in your computer. These registry cleaners scan for errors such as COM/ActiveX Entries, Font Entries, Shared DLLs, Empty Registry Keys, Program Short Cuts that no longer exist and removes them. An additional resource to turbo charge your PC can be found at http://fixbluescreenofdeath.blogspot.com/

By Sherman Choo

Speed up your computer with registry cleaners. http://www.registrycleanercompare.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherman_Choo

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Some Tips To Consider When Buying A Laptop

Many lap top computers are far more powerful than even high end desk top computers were just a few years ago. So let's take a look at some tips you'll want to be aware of when you go to buy a lap top computer.

As the capacities, power, size and lower cost of laptops continues to improve, laptop computers continue to represent increasing value for the dollar. But there are some important things to be aware of when considering a laptop. This article will focus on some of the primary issues.

The first decision to consider when purchasing a laptop is whether you need or want a Windows, Apple or Linux operating system.

Because the windows operating system has become so pervasive the majority will stick by with a Windows operating system. Windows XP Pro should be minimum and their new VISTA operating system if you can afford it. Keep in mind, if you are going to be dependent on friends and family to help you in getting used to using your new laptop computer, most of them will not have knowledge of the VISTA Operating system until even as late as 2010.

Those who have used Apple in the past, and are more familiar with Apple will have far more limited options, but are probably best off sticking with Apple.

Linux users will need to analyze compatibility issues on Linux forums online.

Again, if you are new to computing, and know you will be dependent on friends, family or even business associates for assistance as you get up to speed on using your computer, they are far more likely to be able to help you if you have a Windows Operating System on your laptop than a Mac or Linux operating system. Not that one operating system is necessarily any better than the other, but windows is known best by most computer users.

Assuming you know what operating system you are looking for, the next step is to set a budget, and determine whether you want a new or used machine. Used laptops represent a good value for machines in the $600 - $700 range and below. However they come with zero warranty. There are some excellent deals that can be found on "Refurbished" laptop computers, but you need to buy them locally, find out what the warranty and support conditions are and whether or not you can pay a little extra to increase the warranty and support period.

If you don't think you need all the bells and whistles of a brand new system, buying a used system through a seller at EBay or from a laptop refurbishing company can make a lot of sense economically. When scouring EBay, look for the Power Sellers who sell many used laptops, and make sure their customer satisfaction and return policies are solid. Don't be tempted to buy systems without enough processing power just because they are cheap. Now days, anything below a Pentium 3 processor is best avoided, as Pentium 3 machines can already be found relatively inexpensively used or refurbished.

Once you have set your budget, determine the minimum memory capacity for your needs. Here I am referring to RAM or Random Access Memory. I would highly recommend setting 512 MegaBytes as your minimum memory capacity. If you are intending to do high end graphic presentations or video presentations 1024 MegaBytes should be your minimum. Stripping memory out of a computer is a common way to sell them at lower prices. But memory is often the weak link in personal computer systems, bringing the performance of the machine down significantly. Lots of memory is the great equalizer in computers, and many people fail to realize that a lower end laptop with lots of memory will often outperform a higher end one without the memory.

Once you have you memory needs and budget set, you can start to compare models for weight, ergonomics, and most importantly, screen size. Finding a size and weight that is acceptable to you is important, but finding the correct screen size should be your primary consideration.

Many people are excited by the larger screened laptops, but fail to fully appreciate the impact of resolutions. Most laptops come with a set with an ideal resolution, and switching to a higher or lower resolution can distort text. Some laptops with large 17 inch screens are set at very high screen resolution, making them difficult to read for long periods of time without some eye strain. Some of the inexpensive laptops with 15 inch screens can also be difficult to read and with on than laptops with larger screens. 1024x768 should be an acceptable screen resolution for most laptop monitors. Avoiding larger screens that require higher resolutions above 1024X768 can save a lot of money, and deliver a machine that is just as easy to work on and read from.

Finally, there are networking considerations. By now, it does not make a lot of sense to purchase any laptop without WiFi wireless networking capabilities. Most new laptops will come with this standard, but with older and used laptops it is an item you need to verify. With the constant increase in wireless accessibility, a laptop without this capability will become obsolete within a few years.

By Dwayne Garrett

Dwayne Garrett is the author of several eBooks and popular software applications, he also offers an affordable IT Resource Guide that will help you to make sense of Information Technology and your business. Visit: http://www.InfoTechForSmallBusiness.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dwayne_Garrett

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Computer Performance Improvement - 8 Tips to Make Your Computer Purr Like a Kitten

SIGNS OF A COMPUTER WITH PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS!

(If this is indicative of your computer, you need help!)

Programs run slower than they used to.

Frequent freezes or crashes.

Sporadic system instability.

Frequent blue error screens.

Requires frequent reboots because of system hangs.

These 8 simple tips will help clean up your computer and you'll be surprised at the performance improvement!

CLEAN UP YOUR WINDOWS REGISTRY

This essential task is often overlooked but will remarkably improve PC performance. Most PC users don't even know there is such a thing as a Registry much less that that it should be regularly cleaned. In fact, Microsoft doesn't even include a cleanup tool in Windows.

Every time a program is installed or uninstalled changes are made to the Windows Registry which is a huge internal database of Windows' settings. All programs, as well as Windows itself, store a huge amount of information in this database and these entries control the way everything in the computer looks and behaves.

Many times, changes to a computer are not handled correctly leading to conflicts and the slowing of the computer due to a corrupted Registry. Some things which can cause this are:

• frequently installing or uninstalling programs

• removing a program and leaving traces behind

• leftover entries from a hardware uninstall

• power failure or system crash in the midst of updating the registry

• unused drivers on the system

• Spyware or Adware type programs that come back every time the PC is restarted

The Registry can be edited manually using a Windows program called RegEdit, but woe to the novice; this is really a job best left to the experts. Instead, you need to use a special program which makes the cleanup for you.

EMPTY THE RECYCLE BIN

Regularly empty the Windows' Recycle Bin thereby releasing hard drive space and helping to improve performance.

When you delete a file, instead of removing it completely from your computer, Windows puts it into the Recycle Bin. You then can restore these flies from the Recycle Bin back to their original place on your computer if you should need to.

REMOVE UNNECESSARY PROGRAMS

If you're like me and download a lot of free programs or free trials, after a while your computer might begin to slow down. That means it's time to remove some of the old programs you don't use any more (and most you probably only used once just to see how they work).

After installing a program, if you decide you don't need it and won't use it, get it off the computer thereby freeing up system resources. Most programs come with their own uninstaller but if it doesn't you will have to use the Operating System's Add/Remove Programs feature which you can get to through The Control Panel.

Uninstalling unused programs will help speed up your computer, but removing the wrong files can cause you some really big problems. NEVER, NEVER EVER just delete a program file by using the delete key; this can really mess up the Registry. Be careful and if you are not sure, ask for help from someone you know who is more experienced. If you are unsure whether or not to remove a program, it's best to leave it.

Some programs leave uninstalled junk all over the Windows Registry! Therefore, to improve PC performance AFTER AN UNINSTALL, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO CLEAN THE REGISTRY.

RUN DISK CLEAN UP

Windows Disk Clean Up is a great built-in utility that automates regular maintenance tasks to improve PC performance. Whenever you "surf the net", open file attachments, delete files, etc., your computer saves a record of your activity. Most if not all of these files are harmless, and are very small. But if you spend a lot of time on your computer, before long they will use up enough space to slow your computer down a tad.

Double-click My Computer, right click on the 'C:' drive, then click Properties, then click Disk Cleanup. The PC will then spend a few moments analyzing.

When it has completed analyzing, Windows will give you a list of areas where it has found files to cleanup. To clean an area, check the box next to it. To leave something intact, such as Temporary files, just remove the check mark next to the item and click OK.

Your computer will then begin the removal process which can take a good while.

DISK DEFRAGMENTATION

When Windows stores programs and files on your hard disk it saves fragments of files in the nearest empty spaces and then links these pieces together. When the computer needs to retrieve a file, it has to go through the process of chasing these links hunting down the fragments and piecing the file back together. This can really slow down a computer, especially if it has small internal memory and has to do a lot of caching and file swapping.

The cure is to routinely run the Windows Disk Defragmenter which gathers together the fragments of files and puts them back in the right order in as near contiguous space as possible.

This makes it far easier for your computer to find what it's looking for on the hard drive, enabling programs and files to load more quickly.

To defragment your hard disk click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and then Disk Defragment. When the program has loaded, click Defragment. Before starting you need to run "scandisk" which checks for disk errors. Without scanning your disk first for possible errors, defrag may refuse to continue its defragmentation routine.

The process can take over an hour. Because defragmenting your hard disk takes such a long time, you really don't want to go through the process very often; maybe every 3-4 months and it's best not to use the computer while defragmenting

GET A HIGH SPEED INTERNET CONNECTION If you spend a lot of time on the internet, a high speed internet connection is a must. It is more expensive, but for most people the savings in time and effort is worth the added expense.

Some of the advantages to having a high speed internet connection: faster surfing, web pages open more quickly, files download faster, and if you send or receive large files, like pictures or video, they will open in a flash when compared to a slower dialup connection.

If you're already spending money for your dialup connection (through your phone line) then you'll find DSL to be comparable in price, and a lot faster.

A cable internet connection might cost a little more, but it is usually the fastest type of internet connection you can get from home.

REMOVE SPYWARE & ADWARE

If you've ever had spyware or adware on your computer, you know how frustrating it can be. All kinds of strange things happen: your homepage changes seemingly on its own, unwanted and inappropriate popups, unfamiliar icons, and the list goes on.

Spyware or Adware are files that are often downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge (or at least without you knowing what they really are).

Unfortunately, many of these programs "sneak" their way onto your computer, and avoiding them entirely is difficult, especially if you spend a lot of time on your computer, surfing the Internet and downloading new programs and files.

There are ways to remove these unwanted files from your computer.

Check out these 2 adware/spyware removal programs that are simple to use (both are free):

Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ Spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Adware/Spyware continue to be such a problem because most of these programs make money for the people creating and spreading them. If you find these unwanted intruders on your computer, don't panic. In most cases, it is not vicious like a Virus or Worm. You just have some extra "junk" on your computer. However, keeping it off of your computer will help it perform more efficiently.

ADD MORE INTERNAL MEMORY (RAM) AND A LARGER HARD DRIVE

If you have done all/most of the above and your Computer's performance is still so bad that you are thinking: Gee, I guess I am going to have to buy another computer! If everything else about the computer is satisfactory to you, then you might consider an Upgrade. If the PC is only a couple years old, it can easily be upgraded.

If you still have the manuals that came with it, you can determine the type of memory it uses and buy it off of the internet at a good price. If you don't have the manuals, take it to Best Buy or Circuit City and ask them if it can be upgraded (or take the model and make info to them). Their upgrade cost is not that bad and certainly cheaper than buying a new computer.

Another alternative: if you know a High School Kid who has taken some computer courses, he/she can probably do it real cheap.

I have personally maxed out my computers memory and added another hard drive. Together with the items above, my computer runs like a "Tiger chasing a Scared Bunny".

I hope this has been of help to you. I have prepared a brief video which depicts the frustration I was having with my computers performance and how I Cured My Computers Performance Problems. You can see it by clicking the link below.

By Gene Higginbotham

The author has spent his entire professional career of over 40 years in the Computer Business where he programmed or managed Computer projects for NASA, U.S. Dept of Defense and as a consultant to private industry. Click this link for a short video of how He cured his computer performance problems -- http://www.RegistryCleaner.factsNinfo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Higginbotham

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Top 10 Ways To Make A Computer Run Faster

Today I am going to be talking about different ways you can make a computer run faster. There is actually a lot you can do yourself that will boost your PC's performance. So lets take a look at different ways we can remedy that slow computer of yours!

1. Free Up Disk Space

A great way to make a computer run faster is to free up some disk space. Windows comes with a disk cleanup tool that helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete without messing anything up, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

How to use disk cleanup tool.

* Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

* In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list. (If you have multiple hard drives you will have to select which one to scan.)

* Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.

* When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click OK.

2. Use Defrag Tool

When you add a file or a new program to a new computer, the hard drive is relatively empty so new data is saved to the hard drive in one whole block. When you need to use that information, the computer can quickly access it because it is all in one place. Defragging your system is definitely a way to make a computer run faster.

How to use defrag tool.

* From the start menu point to "all programs"
* Point to "Accessories"
* Point to "System Tools"
* Click on "Disk Defragmenter"
* The disk defragmenter will display the hard drives on your computer. Just select and click Defragment.

3. Get rid of spyware

Definition

Spyware is software with malicious intent - by design; it does something bad to your computer. Usually, it gets installed without your knowledge. It sometimes takes advantage of the fact that most people click "I Agree" to software licenses without reading them.

The only way to get rid of spyware is to have some kind of scanner, sort of like an anti-virus. In order to make a computer run faster and keep it safer your going to need an anti-spyware program. This is tricky, a lot of the spyware programs out there are malicious and will actually add viruses and spyware to your computer by using the "spyware scanner and blocker". So please remember to be very careful when choosing your anti-spyware program.

4. Find and repair disk errors

Detect and Repair Disk Errors

In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

How to run the error checking utility.

* Click Start, and then click My Computer.
* In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
* In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
* Click the Check Now button.
* In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
* If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.
Tip: Only select the Automatically fix file system errors check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.

5. Get an external hard drive

Adding an External Hard Drive to your computer will allow you to clear out a lot of the things you don't need to be storing on your normal hard drive.

A great example would be your music or pictures. All those songs and pictures are sitting on your computer making it go slower. You will see a decline in your computers performance as soon as you use over half of your hard drive space.

Moving all your songs or pictures to your external hard drive will free up a lot of space on your main hard drive. You can even move applications such as photoshop or games.

An external hard drive is also handy because it is portable. You can unplug it from your computer and take it to a friends house and plug it in there, sharing photos and pictures very easily.

This is truly a great way to make a computer run faster.

by: Brooks Carver

About The Author

My name is Brooks Carver and I am a pretty die hard computer tech. I have been working with computer directly for over 20 years now. I have a beautiful wife and daughter, and when I am not programming or fixing computers I enjoy spending time in the out doors.

If you like these tips then you will love my website. It gives the top 10 ways you can speed up your computer. It is very user friendly, it has pictures going along with every step to show you exactly what I mean. I also give out valuable information about what anit-virus and spyware programs that are safe to buy and really work. There are other fun things there too, such as top fastest things on the internet that you can vote on. If your looking to make a computer run faster this is your #1 resource! Click below now!

http://www.squidoo.com/makecomputerrunfaster/

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Tips of security

Protecting private information

Information is the lifeblood of most, if not all, modern organisations, so protecting (this) information against unauthorised disclosure, modification or erasure is a basic requirement of management. Executives and staff in all organisations rely on the timeliness and accuracy of information in order to operate in the most efficient and effective manner. Increasingly, with advances in technology, there is the danger that this information may be unavailable or may be corrupted, either accidentally or deliberately. There are frequent reports of computer hacking (unauthorised access to computers), viruses and other disasters that can affect information such as fires, power failures or simple human error.
What Is Sensitive Information

Sensitive information can be many different kind of information, like:

* Name, address, phone number
* Date of birth
* Social Security Number (SSN)
* Credit card numbers
* Driver's license number (DL)
* Banking and financial information
* Medical information
* Employment/education information
* Patient, Student and Faculty records
* Grades
* Intellectual property (your creation)
* Proprietary information (unique data)
* Trade secrets (Coke)
* Passwords and access codes

Protecting Information In Your Office Area

A few basic steps to secure information in your office:

*Documents that include sensitive information need to be secured during printing, transmission, storage, and disposal.
*Don't leave paper documents containing sensitive information unattended. Credit card slips or paper checks should not be sent through intercampus mail.
* Be aware of the potential of others to overhear sensitive information. Don't discuss confidential information outside of the office.
* Verify identities of all visitors and escort them; verify identities of those requesting sensitive information.
* Lock your office, desks, and file drawers when unattended. Don't store keys in easily accessible areas.

Protecting Your Computer And Its Information

Simple steps to protect your computer and its information:

* Lock down PCs, laptops, PDAs, flat panel displays, printers, and other high-value items.
* Avoid allowing strangers or visitors to use your computer. Be aware of who can see your screen, especially when viewing sensitive information.
* Create strong passwords or pass-phrases. Use a combination of letters and numbers, and don't use dictionary words.
* Change your passwords when prompted by the system and never share them or write them down.
* Avoid discussing confidential information, accepting downloads or authorizing transactions or payments on IM, IRC or other chat programs.
* Privacy and confidentiality of email messages is not guaranteed. Information can be opened or read by someone other than the intended recipient. Exercise caution in using email to communicate confidential or sensitive information.
* Use only approved and necessary software applications.
* Make sure anti-virus software is installed on every computer you use.
* Make a backup copy (to a removable disk or flash drive) of your most important files and store the backup in a safe place, preferably in a different location. Backup your files at least on a weekly basis.
* Delete files you no longer need.
* Don't accept unsolicited downloads.
* Don't use P2P or file-sharing systems.
* Log off when not using your computer or at least use a screen saver that requires a password.
* Turn your computer off when leaving for the night.
* Follow all LTS and University IT policies and procedures regarding information technology security. Immediately advise an LTS supervisor of any suspicious activity on University computers.

Protecting Your Trash Can

Also be careful with your Trash can:

* Avoid careless disposal. Shred any discarded materials containing sensitive or confidential information.
* If you find sensitive information carelessly discarded in a public place, notify your manager.

Protecting Your Privacy

Never give out personally-identifying information unless you know:

* Who is receiving the information
* Why the information is needed
* What specific elements of information are needed
* How the information will be used, and by whom
* With whom the information will be shared
* How the information will be protected

Article source: information security awareness

About the Author: information security awareness

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Computer Tips

Computer errors are very common and every computer user may face different kinds of issues so they should learn about the solutions of the common computer related problems. The common factors that cause problems in computer are viruses, spyware, Trojan horses, adware, corrupted registry, faulty hardware, low memory, low capacity hard disk, low CPU speed and stuffing computers with large number of software applications. In this article, I have compiled a list of the most common computer problems and their solutions.

Computer is very slow

This is very common issue and it arises due to the several factors such as too many programs running at the startup, low RAM, low processor speed, spyware running as a background application, errors in the Windows registry and the buildup of the garbage files on the hard disk. Scanning your computer with an up-to-dated anti virus and anti spyware program, cleaning and repairing Windows registry, increasing memory, deleting temporary files, deselecting the programs at startup and uninstalling unwanted software applications can solve this problem to a very large extent.

Network Server is not accessible

In a networked environment every computer depends on the server for logon authentication, files access, internet and printing access and sharing server resources. The downtime and the communication failure with the server are very problematic and frustrating for the users. Check both end of the network cable and make sure that the attached RJ-45 connectors are properly plugged into the LAN card and hub/switch. Ping the server’s IP and make sure you get the reply from server. Ensure that your server is on and working fine. A large number of the running applications on the server and simultaneous access to the server from a number of users can slow down the performance and speed of the server. Scan your PC with an up-to-dated antivirus program because certain viruses and spyware are responsible for the communication failure. Replace your LAN card with new one and assign different IP address and try to connect with the server.

Computer locks up or freezes

Missing .dll files, viruses, faulty registry, defective RAM and spyware slows down the performance of the server and it locks up frequently. Scanning PC with the anti virus and anti spyware program, cleaning and repairing registry and increasing RAM can solve this issue.

Computer won’t boot

Faulty power cable, power extension and power supply all contributes to this problem. Checking one by one each of the above components can pinpoint the problematic part. Simply replace that part with new one and your compute is okay.

Computer reboots itself

Defective cooling fan, power supply, RAM, viruses and spyware can cause this to happen.

Memory usage is maximum in computer

Either the memory is less than the recommend memory to run certain applications, swap memory chips with each other, scan your computer for viruses and spyware, increasing the page file and physical memory can overcome this problem.

Browser’s home page has changed itself

This is most likely a spyware problem and scanning computer with an up-to-dated anti spyware program can fix this issue.

Computer’s clock losing time

If you see that your computer’s clock is losing time frequently replace your CMOS battery.

My computer can’t get connected to internet

Check IP address, gateway address, scan your PC for viruses and spyware, check network cables and make sure that server’s or gateway’s firewall application is not blocking http requests from your PC.

Computer making noises

Faulty RAM, VGA, hard disk, Sound card, Processor and other components produce noises. Make sure that each hardware device is properly connected inside the PC and if the problem is still not resolved then replace the faulty hardware component with new one.

About the Author: B. Bashir manages Networking Tutorials and regularly writes articles on various topics such as Computer Networking, OSI Model Layer Wireless Networking, Computer Hardware, Certifications, How Tos, Introduction To ATM Network and Computer tips.

article source : www.easyarticle.com

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Free Data Recovery Tips

Imagine this scary moment. You log into your computer like you do every morning. But today when you go to open the files for the important project you have been working on you can’t find them. Keeping you cool you check the Recycling Bin; unfortunately they are not there. Next you use your computer’s search function to see if you accidentally moved the files to another location. Again, you have no luck. You now realize the files appear to no longer be on your harddrive.

Then finely a bit of good news; you check for signs of a hardware failure. Things like the sound of a clicking harddrive, or strange error messages like “CRC read IO Error. Do Not Proceed.” And, you do not find anything.

This is good news because if you data loss is not due to a hardware failure then you know there is a good chance that your files can be recovered. Even better, there are several good pieces of free software to help you “undelete” your lost files.

At this point, it is important that you stop using the system. This is because you want to reduce the likelihood of writing over the areas of your computer that may still contain you lost files. Even if you are not actively creating and saving files your computer still uses your system's hardrive as a swap disk for its memory. That alone can inadvertently write over what you are hoping to recover.

Now you need to find and download some data recovery software onto another system. Once this is there, save it either to a USB memory stick, or to a CDROM. You will run the recovery software directly from there. Once your lost files have been found you should play it safe and copy the files unto your USB memory stick or to another system. This is just in case the issue arises again.

PC Inspector is a free data recovery program you may want to consider. This program was developed by the Convar company. Conver has been doing data recovery for 15+ years.

With PC Inspector you can recover files of any size, folders, or programs you want. Often you will recover the original date and time stamp of documents at the time the files were lost. That information may be helpful in determining what actually caused the data loss.

By David Wegener

Find out more about Data Recovery techniques by visiting http://harddrive-data-recovery.com a site dedicated to making the task of recovering your lost data easier.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Wegener

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Knowing Your Data Is Safe

All companies of today make great use of the technology available to them and rely on their data. Most businesses however, don’t have the budget to invest in network storage or large servers, which is what the bigger companies use to transfer information and create a backup of the information they rely on to carry out their operations.

Smaller businesses have a limited budget. When most encounter a disaster they never seem to recover, normally going out of business. Past disasters such as 9/11 or the dreaded hurricane have showed the importance of backups and disaster planning. Companies that thought things out and protected their data survived these disasters, while those that didn’t went out of business.

There are several ways that you can protect your data and keep it safe. One of the most popular and easiest ways to protect your data is with a server. Servers are great for both large and small businesses, and protection the data for your business. They can tend to get expensive though, with the most popular server, Microsoft, starting out around $3,000.

Unlike other options, servers provide you with a safe and secure system to store all of your corporate data. You can set the permission of your files to prevent any unauthorized access, to keep your files safe. When using servers, most of the loss comes from either accidental deletion or employees that are upset with corporate management and decide to get into the server and erase files.

When using a server, your data will be stored in one central location, and not spread around over different computers in your network. Servers are very user friendly, and keep your files neat and tidy - in one location. This way you don’t have to go looking all over the place for your data, you can look in the server and find everything you need.

Another way to keep your data safe is with CDs, DVDs, and even external hard drives. If you are using any of these methods, you should always do a backup of your information at the end of every day. With disasters being completely unpredictable, backing things up every day will ensure that you are protected if something should occur.

If you are backing things up to CD or DVD media, you should always put the discs in a safe and secure location, preferably a fireproof safe. This way, if the office should catch on fire, you’ll have your backup discs protected. You should always add your new backups to the safe at the end of every working day, so you’ll have them tomorrow if you need them.

You can also store your data and information offsite as well. This is a highly recommended option, as you pay a flat monthly fee and a company stores your information. Most have secure vaults and servers for your data, which ensures protection from unauthorized accidents or hazards. You don’t need to worry about your data when using these services, as they will do the protection for you.

No matter which method you use for protecting your information, you should always make sure that you have a plan. Corporate data is very important and essential to success, which is why you should look into immediately if you don’t have a plan already. If you know your data is safe and protected from hazards and unauthorized access - you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that your data will be there each and every time you need it.

by: John Ugoshowa

About The Author

John Ugoshowa. You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your ezines as long as you have a link back to http://www.quickregister.net/partners/

For more information on data recovery see the computer section of Quickregister.net Free Search Engine Submission Service at: http://www.quickregister.net/partners/

article source : www.articlecity.com

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Tips For Data Recovery

Anytime your hard drive crashes or you lose your data, you’ll need to turn to data recovery to properly restore your information. Data recovery is something most computer users are familiar with, as a majority of us have had to turn to data recovery at some point in time. Even though hard drives are becoming better and better, they are still mechanical and will always encounter problems.

The first thing to do, before any problems happen, is to always back up your data. If you create backups of your information, you’ll be well prepared in the event of a disaster. This way, even if your hard drive cannot be repaired and the data is lost forever, you’ll have the back ups to continue going as normal. If you didn’t make back ups, you’ll find the situation very traumatic when you discover that your data cannot be recovered.

Most hard drives will last for years before they start to encounter any type of malfunction or hardware problems. You can help prevent data loss by turning off your computer when it isn’t in use, or shutting it down when you hear the hard drive making an odd noise. If the hard drive starts to malfunction, letting it continue to run will only do more damage. If you shut it off immediately and take it to a specialist, you’ll have a much better chance of getting it repaired.

With natural disasters, hackers, viruses, or other problems, you won’t have the time to react. Before you know it, your hard drive will be damaged and your data will be gone. Although this can be very frustrating, data recovery can normally bring your information back. All you need to do is take the hard drive to a local specialist, then let them work their magic and show you the power of data recovery.

There are software programs out there that claim to recover lost data, although you should avoid them at all costs. Most of time, these software programs will do your hard drive more bad than good. Even though software may cost a lot less than professional data recovery services, the professional services will guarantee their work. If you turn to software and it only makes things worse - your more or less out of luck, as the software doesn’t guarantee anything.

Anytime your hard drive fails and you seem to have lost your data, you should turn to professional data recovery services immediately. They may cost you a lot of money, although they do the job right the first time. When it comes to your data, you really don’t want to take any chances - especially if you had important documents and files stored on your hard drive.

by: John Ugoshowa

About The Author

John Ugoshowa. You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your ezines as long as you have a link back to http://www.quickregister.net/partners/

For more information on data recovery see the computer section of Quickregister.net Free Search Engine Submission Service at: http://www.quickregister.net/partners/

article source : www.articlecity.com

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Choosing A Domain Name

--About Domain Names--

Choosing a domain name for your web site is a major step for any individual or organization. You need domain names that are sticky, short, meaningful, easy to remember and at the roll of your tongue!

It is very easy to choose a domain name but difficult to find a good name, simply because of the fact that most of the good domain names are taken up by organisations. These domain name organisations take up hundreds of thousands of domain names and treat them as investments. It is not as easy to choose a good domain name. Sometimes, even web professionals spend hours at their computers to find good domain names!

Domain name registrations are cheap to maintain and subscriptions typically last a year. The subscriptions are renewable and paid to registrars by the design companies.

The most common domain names end with .com, .net, etc. Country specific domain names will end with com.au, co.uk, .co.jp, etc. For organisations, domain names will end with .org or be country specific- .org.au, .org.uk, etc.

Not sure about domain names and web sites? Seek web professional help.

by: Lester Boey

About The Author

Lester Boey works in an Australian SEO and Web Design company http://www.definiteweb.com/

His life revolves around SEO; providing full-time and freelance seo services to US and Australian businesses. Email: projects@definiteweb.com

definiteweb1@hotmail.com

article source : www.articlecity.com

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Tips to Easily Choose Good Secure PINs and Passwords

As it is necessary to be able to remember passwords and PINs readily, we are tempted to use something that we are already very familiar with to make it easier. We are also tempted to opt for universal passwords and PINs for everything because it is easier to remember just one set rather than several different sets. Unfortunately, it is dangerous to do this as a smart identity thief can break them with relative ease.

Basing a password on the real name or user name of a user should always be avoided. Also avoid basing passwords on information that can found with a bit of research on you, such as your spouse's name, child's name, type of car you own, a phone number or vehicle license tag, your address, a parent's name, your date of birth, etc.

A common method used by identity thieves to break a password is the dictionary method of attack. This method uses a dictionary in any language to try large numbers of words to see if an actual word is in the password. Reversed words, frequent misspellings and look-alike letter replacements are also checked.

Breaking PINs is approached in much the same manner. The thief begins with easy to remember number combinations like sequential numbers, duplicated numbers or numbers that can be years or birth dates.

One solution that is popular is to use a sentence that is easy to recall and use the first letter of each word in the sentence for the password. Using this method, Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you" translates into the password "anwyccdfy"

To make it more complex, mix in some upper case letters and maybe "K" for Kennedy. The year the speech was given can also be added to make the password "Anwyccdfy1961". It looks complicated but it is easy to recall the year, the speaker and the quote.

Since a great many passwords are case sensitive, the use of upper case letters greatly increases the difficulty of breaking such a password. Symbols can be used with some systems, so using an easy to remember question mark and a dollar sign will make the password "Anwy?ccdfy$1961" makes it an even better password.

A change like this adds length to the password, making it far more difficult for an identity thief to break. A password should be a minimum of eight characters but fourteen or more, like the example above, is best.

With a PIN, your options are typically more limited, usually to four numbers. It is best to select numbers at random and avoid repetition. You can also use an obscure combination such as phone extension of an employer a few jobs ago, especially if the company no longer exists. Obvious combinations, such as part of your phone number, vehicle tag number, or your birth date, are where a thief is likely to begin testing, so these should be avoided.

To enhance the security of your passwords, you should:

Use a separate password for each program or application, don't use a common password for all. Keep all passwords private, don't share them with anyone who doesn't really need to know. Every three or four months, change your passwords. So not use your passwords on shared computers such as in a public library or cyber café as there could be keystroke software installed.

If someone says they are from your bank or some such place and asks for your password, do not give it. Banks and other similar places will never ask for your PIN or password.

by: Leon Edward

About The Author

Leon Edward provides information online on identity theft prevention and FREE Identity Theft Prevention Checklist at his website http://www.PreventIdentityTheftFraud.com

Leon Edward also provides parents a free report of online child predators at http://www.ChildPrivacyOnline.com

article source : www.articlecity.com

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Tips for Efficiently Finding Your Query in All Search Engines!

World wide web is a perfect source for finding any information about any topic you are looking for. You can research a lot of information without leaving your desk. But most of the time a common problem is that you frequently waste an important portion of your valuable time with the irrevelant search results.

This article discusses the best ways to get better results from the search engines. To be able to receive the best results in terms of relevancy, you need to give some idea to the search engine. Although some people think of search engines as simple ask question and get answer robots, search engines do not programmed to work exactly in this manner. Instead, search engines work more like complicated database search and retrieval programs in which you direct the search engines about your query.

It is very important to give some idea to search engines about what you are looking for. What are you planning to find? Are you piling up any information regarding a comprehensive topic such as astrology? If any information coming out with the word "astrology" is important for you, then you are really lucky, because millions of search results will be available for you to analyze! And this is perfect solution for you if you are there to waste your spare time! Indeed irrevelant results bother many people because they try the first web site which came out as the result of search, and go to the next one, and then to the next one and so on. Altough many hours are spent in this trial and error method, the chances to reach the web site needed is still pretty low. The reason is that search engine will bring any website which includes the word "astrology" in any of its part. Can you imagine this? All the websites in world wide web with the tiny word "astrology".

Being as specific as possible is the only best solution to get what you want. If you are in front of your computer with the idea of getting more information about "Chinese Astrology", then immediately transfer this info to the search engine and type the phrase -Chinese Astrology- to the search engine. In this query, search engine will rank the web sites in an order of importance and will try to do its best to bring the websites which uses the terms "Chinese" and "astrology" at the same time according to their relevancy. You can get more relevant result by using quotes for the phrase you are searching. This way you command the search engine to give results containing both Chinese and astrology at the same time as one entity instead of retrieving one word and the other as seperate words. By doing this your search results will be filtered further and you will be closer to what you are looking for.

Web directories are great if you are already know what you are looking for. For specific queries you should prefer to look into directories other than search engines because they are organized to navigate back and forth of the directory tree with categories and sub- categories structure. Web directories may not give reference close to what you are looking for, but they are very time efficient and give perfect results since they are created according to specific topics and sub topics navigation needs.

No matter which search engine or directory you use to search the web for your needs, these tips will help you to get better results in your efforts to search the web time efficiently and get imddediate results!

by: Edita Smith

About The Author

Edita Smith has been working with the Web since late 1993 and currently leading the 3 web-based programming projects. For more information http://www.searchiest.com

Article Source : www.articlecity.com

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