How to Open Office Documents Through Your Network

In the past, when you need to open office documents that are saved in different computers, you usually have to go to each one, locate the file, and open it from there. If you needed to consolidate all your documents in one computer, you had to copy them all into a portable storage device and save them in one unit, or you had to send them all in your email address and download them. Despite being in the computer age, with the presence of all these high-technology gadgetry, this was still a tedious and very unnecessary task to do. Fortunately, with the use of networking, you no longer have to go through this same act over and over again.

A network, also known as a workgroup, is exactly what it sounds like: it is composed of several computers in a single connection - much like a net. Within this structure, you can access any computer within the group through a single unit, provided that all the necessary parameters and settings are configured first. You can open directories in other computers as if you were directly using it and what is best, you can communicate with other users in the group and even copy or modify the files contained in every unit, for as long as you have the permission to do so. You can access this network over a variety of media, whether it be through a local area network, otherwise known as LAN; through remote access using the Internet, which would need certain software to enable you to do so; Bluetooth®, which must be available and functional in both units; and via a wireless network, whether with the use of the Internet or through a local connection.

In order to work on documents that are contained in other computers, you must first make sure that these computers are connected to the group. At work, home, or in school, there is usually a workgroup designated by a certain name. All the computers must be made members of this network, with the useful directories enabled to be capable of sharing and modification. Usually, the latter function is only available to network administrators and controllers. The basic thing to consider is the drive where you need to obtain the document from is open to sharing.

To open a document, all you have to do is to browse for the document as if you were using the computer where it is saved. You can access this directory through the networking application in your computer. In Windows XP, this would be an application named "My Network Places". Just browse for the document and open it. The corresponding word processing application will then open the document. However, since this accessibility is over the network, you may experience a certain lag in operation. You can overcome this by copying the document into your unit instead and opening it from there. You can also open office documents from other places through the Internet, Bluetooth®, or through a wireless connection using another computer, a laptop, mobile phone, table PC, or a handheld device. Not only will this prove to be more practical, but this solution will also prove to be more convenient.

By Sam Miller

If you are interested in Open Office Documents, check this web-site to learn more about open office file.

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

Read More..

Best Printers - What to Look For Before You Buy a Printer

When looking for the best printer you should probably go for a laser printer as these have many more advantages over the old ink jet or dot matrix printers.
The main reason why laser printers are the best printers to buy is due to the stunning clarity of the images and text that you are printing and the speed at which this happens. When researching printers and faxes it is helpful to know that the speediest black and white printers can print more than 200 pages per minute or 12,000 pages per hour, with the color laser printer scanner coming a little bit behind with over 100 pages per minute or 6000 pages per hour.
Most of the best printers on the market now always print on A4 size paper, but if you want to be able to print on different size paper you should check that it has this feature. You can get a specific A3 laser printer if that is all you will ever print but I think it would be wise to get one that does all sizes.

The laser process is achieved by using a printing process called xerographic which basically means a laser beam is used to scan the image or text and uses that scanned image, which is very accurate and prints it onto paper.

Some main features that you may want to look out for.

Monochrome or Colour?
Do you want to print in black and white or colour? I know it may sound a silly question, but there are different printers that will do either with the black and white models being significantly cheaper at the printer sale which may be what attracted you, so make sure you look at the spec as it is not always obvious on the packaging.

Long Lasting Toner Cartridges - Check that the cartridges have a good life span. The life span of an average cartridge is about 1,500 prints but this can vary with the model. Either way there should be a warning light to advise you when it needs to be changed.
Minimal Wait times between Prints - If it's a laser printer scanner that you want look out for one that has a fast modem speed (min 33.6 kbps), so that you documents are processed fast. This will mean that you will not be left hanging around waiting.

Network Printers - If it's a network printer that you are after look out for the ones that have wireless capability. As these allow you to connect the whole office to the printer very easily using a USB Ethernet connection.

By Jonny Rae

My name is Jonny Rae and I hope you have found this article interesting and informative. An outstanding resource for printers and faxes can be found at my website under the following link. http://www.oneshoplive.co.uk/bestprinters/

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

Read More..

What is a Network?

A network can be internal to an organization or span the world by connecting itself to the internet. In computer network, Network operating system is used that controls and co-ordinates the activities of computers that are connected to the network. The examples of these operating systems are: Windows NT, UNIX, Novell etc.

The large organizations and institutions have their own computer network systems. A computer network provides many advantages. The main advantages are:

1. Communication
The most important feature of computer network is the communication. People can communicate efficiently and easily at very low cost via e-mail, chatting, video telephone, video conferencing, internet telephone, groupware and SMS service etc.

2. Sharing Hardware
In a computer network each computer attached with the network can access the printer, scanner or disk drives etc. For example, if several personal computers and a single laser printer are connected to a network, than each user can access the printer.

3. Sharing Data
In a network environment, and authorized person can access data stored on other computers on the network. For example, on the Internet, a large number of internet users (including mobile users) can access same database.

4. Sharing Software
In a network environment connected users can access same software stored on the network server. These software are multi users software. The software developers sell network version or site license of their software.

5. Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT)
EFT allows users connected to a network to transfer money from one bank account to another via telephone line or other telephone media. For example, some consumers use an ATM to access their bank accounts. They also use credit cards to make purchases from super stores and pay bills online.

By Baber Rasheed

Computer Tips
Computer Networking

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

Read More..

Computer Runs Slow - You May Have A Registry Problem

A new computer in pristine condition, right from the box, will run at the full speed it was built for. Exactly how fast it runs depends on the speed of the computer chip,the amount of software you have installed and the amount of ram memory you have amongst other things.Obviously it also depends on the type of internet service you have. A dial up service is slow no matter what kind of computer you have. A broadband high speed internet service is fast and some extreme high speed services are available which are even faster.

If your computer is slowing down noticeably probably the most important thing that you need to do is to clean your registry. Registry? What is that?.

All windows computers have a registry which is a database that the operating system uses to run the computer and programs. Over time as the computer is used the registry becomes choked with fragments of programs and other data. Every time you download a program from the internet or uninstall a program there is the possibility that data fragments will be left in the registry. Over time depending on how much use the computer gets this unwanted material builds up and bloats the registry. The operating system must navigate through this material to find the entries it needs to run the machine. This can cause very slow running,freezing and occasionally crashing. This gets worse as time goes by unless it is corrected.

The registry can be cleaned manually by using the Regedit function which is installed on the machine for this purpose. However be seriously forewarned that just one error here may disable the computer to the extent that it will not run. The only thing to be done then is to reinstall the operating system. Obviously we do not want to do this and lose all material stored in the computer. There has to be a better way and yes indeed there is.

Several companies make registry cleaner applications available for download on the internet. These programs will backup your registry then clean all unwanted material out. When finished which takes only a few minutes the machine will run like new again with a registry in good condition.

There are a number of these registry repair utilities available from several companies. Most of them will first offer you a free online scan of your registry to determine if there is in fact a problem there. You can look at the results of the scan and decide if you want to pay a reasonable fee for the program to clean your registry. We certainly recommend this rather than trying to do it yourself unless you really know what should and should not be in the registry.

Quality of the registry cleaners varies somewhat. There is a good,better and best as with most things.

By John Mowatt

Want to get your slow computer back to full speed quickly and easily? Want to know which registry repair program our tests found to be the best of all? Check out our website. You can if you wish have a free scan to fix the problem. It takes only a minute or two: REGISTRY REPAIR

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

Read More..

How to Get Rid of Malware - What is Malware and How Do I Get Rid of It?

Malware is becoming more and more of a problem these days as we shift more of our lives online, so knowing how to get rid of malware and how to avoid it in the first place will stand you in good stead for the future and help you to enjoy more of your online experience.

What Exactly Is Malware?

Malware is an abbreviated term for "malicious software", and refers to a wide variety of "virtual nasties", as I like to call them. These nasties can be sometimes be difficult to get rid of and include things like:

Worms - these "burrow" into a system and cause damage often via email, and use your email contacts or address book to continue the process.

Trojans - harmful or annoying software that comes in by the back door, often disguised as a normal file.

Spyware - often comprising keyloggers and screen capture systems, designed to track your online movements and extort personal details, like bank account numbers, social security numbers etc. for the purpose of online fraud.

Adware - a normally harmless but annoying piece of code or software that monitors your online movements and presents advertisements linked to your browsing habits, generating revenue for the creator of the code. They are often linked with illegal or illicit sites such as pornography or hacking.

The damage these parasites cause can range from slight slow downs in your computer's performance, or annoying pop-ups, all the way to harvesting your personal details and information and even the irreparable damage to files your operating system as a whole.

How Do I Get Rid Of Malware?

Now that we've established what it actually is, we can get on to the task of how to get rid of malware.

Get An Anti-Spyware Software

While many people may have an anti-virus software, these days it is always good practice to have an anti-spyware application too, as this will create a double barrier of protection and take care of all the latest malware and virus definitions. If you don't have an anti-spyware software yet, you can find some recommendations and get a free scan at my website, at the bottom of this article.

Switch Off Your Internet Connection and Run A Scan Immediately

Run your anti-virus and anti-spyware scanning software immediately if you suspect you may be infected. Running both softwares will stop malware "falling through the net". Switching off your internet connection will avoid any slow down and prevent any new attacks to your computer, as well as stopping the malware that may be on your machine from communicating or spreading itself to other computers.

Once Detected, Zap It!

Once your software has detected the rogue in question, follow the instructions on how to get rid of the malware. Simply deleting it may not work - if it's a program file it will need to be uninstalled through the Add/Remove Programs utility in your Windows Control Panel. If the parasite has made changes to your registry, you may need to use a registry cleaner to help restore things back to normal, and get rid of the malware completely.

How Do I Avoid Malware In The Future?

Here are some good practice tips to help you avoid getting malware in the future.

Always Use A Firewall

The firewall helps to prevent attacks against your computer without you knowing. Making use of a firewall is essential when going online today. In fact if you're not using one right now, make that your first priority. Windows computers all come with a default firewall which is pretty good, so get that set up immediately if you haven't already done so. Most anti-virus software and anti-spyware softwares come with some pretty beefed-up firewalls these days so there's no reason to be without one.

Use Anti-virus Scanners To Check All Downloads and Emails

All downloads and emails should be run through your anti-virus software before being placed on your computer system, even if they're from a trusted friend. This will eliminate many possible problems.

If you're running on Windows, and downloading executable files, .exe files, (such as programs or software) you should often get a dialog box telling you whether the site you're downloading from is authenticated by Microsoft. While this is not 100% effective as not all legitimate sites have been through the authentication process, it can help you think twice if you have any doubts.

Be Careful What Sites You Visit

Particular care should be taken on Torrent and Peer-2-Peer file sharing networks as these have become a haven for hackers to spread their plagues via seemingly harmless Trojans.

This goes without saying really, but please avoid illegal or immoral websites as these are where the most dangerous and lethal virus and malware attacks occur. However, it is always good practice to follow the above tips and make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware systems are up-to-date, just in case you get redirected to any of those questionable sites...yes, this does happen.

By Jake Unsworth

How many of your personal details do you enter on your computer on a regular basis? For instance, do you bank online, or pay bills or a credit card? Perhaps you buy gifts and other purchases online? According to CNN, if you use the internet there is a 90% chance that your computer is infected with spyware. How can you be sure that your information is not being viewed by a third party right now?

Put your mind at rest and perform a FREE scan here ==> How To Get Rid Of Malware

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

Read More..

Define Computer Hardware

It is quite well known that the working of the computer is pulled by hardware and software. One can define computer hardware as the electronic, magnetic, and electric devices that carry out the computing functions. Hardware is the physical components of the computer like microprocessor, hard disks, RAM, and motherboard. The peripheral devices such as monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer, and speakers can also be included in the list of hardware parts. The programs that run on the computers like Windows, C++, and Photoshop are the software parts of the computer. A good example for an easy understanding of hardware-software definition is music CDs. The actual compact disk is the hardware, while the songs and music in the CD are the software parts.

There is another way to define computer hardware. Hardware devices are the executors of the commands provided by software applications. For example, let us see what happens when you click the print button of the web browsing software. The software application provides a command to the processor, which is the central part of all computer hardware. Processor in turn checks for an attached printer. If the printer is ready, the software will get a positive response from the processor. Then the software application provides instruction to the printer via the processor to print the web page. In that sense, hardware parts are the foot soldiers and software applications are the commanders in the digital operation that takes place within a computer.

The main player of computer hardware is undoubtedly the microprocessor. It is the sun in the solar system of computer hardware devices. It is the central component and all other components work around it. It is an integrated chip on which a number of functions are incorporated. Two specifications determine its efficiency. One is its processing speed, which is measured in gigahertz. The other is its bit rate. Commonly available processors are 32 bit and 64 bit. The bit rate is a measure of the efficiency of a processor to carry out multiple operations at the same time.

One cannot define computer hardware without mentioning the two types of memory used in computers. One is permanent memory. It refers to the magnetic storage capacity of hard disk. It is measured in gigabytes. The second is RAM or random access memory. This memory is able to store data only when the computer is switched on. The memory will lose all the data when the computer is switched off.

Another important product that one should mention when one defines computer hardware is motherboard. It is the electric and electronic circuit board on which all the other components are inserted. There are several other kinds of products such as sound card, video card, network card, and modem that complete the hardware spectrum.

By Candis Reade

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about Define Computer Hardware, please visit Electronics Software for current articles and discussions.

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

Read More..

Discovering Your Local Area Network

In the late 1960's as large college universities and several research labs gained an ever increasing amount of computers, the need for interconnections that worked at high-speed was great, and the pressure was on. It was not until the mid 1970's that an answer to the demand was created, they called it LAN.

LAN stands for Local-Area Network, with the ability to cover small areas, such as a home or office or group of buildings (schools, warehouse, etc.), LANs have higher data-transfer rates, smaller range and do not require licensed telecommunication lines as opposed to WAN (Wide-Area Network). ARCNET and Token Ring were two LANs that were widely used in the past. Ethernet and Wi-Fi are two of today's most common LANs.

A LAN is an important component to gamers. By setting up a LAN, gamers can link together their computers and play with or against their friends. Games, such as "Diablo II" and "S.O.C.O.M.", allows gamers to cooperate together in a team while either on line or while their computers are connected by LAN.Games, such as "Unreal Tournament" and "Starcraft", allow gamers connected by the internet or a LAN to work as a team or to compete against each other.computers are usually linked by what is known as a Cat-5 cable to a HUB; and the HUB acts like a mediator. The Cat-5 cable connects to the back of the computer through the Ethernet port on the Network card, network adapter, LAN adapter or NIC (Network Interface Card). A network card operates on both the physical layer and the data link layer; it allows a low-level addressing system, using Mac Addresses, also known as an IP address, and physical access to the networking medium (the HUB). Not all LANs are the same; some use cables while others are wireless.

While other network technology exists, since the mid 1990's, the Ethernet network card has been leading the crowd, due to low cost and easy integration and use. A unique 48-bit serial number is on every Ethernet network card, stored in the ROM; the serial number is your computers Mac address. The Mac address for every computer must be unique; otherwise only one computer with a given Mac address could be on line and connected to the LAN at a time. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is responsible for each unique Mac address getting assigned to vendors of interface controllers; this is so no two network cards share the same Mac address.

At one point network cards were expansion cards that had to be plugged into the motherboard. Most new computers have the network card built into the motherboard; some may even have two ports built in so the computer can be connected to multiple networks. Some companies have started using optical fiber instead of Cat-5 cables or USB cords, because optical fiber is immune to electromagnetic interference. Optical fibers are made of glass or plastic, instead of metal, and carry light along their full length. The electrical signals sent along the optical fiber degrade less during transfer than signals sent along metal wires (Cat-5 cables and USB cords).

By Victor Epand

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for computer memory, PC supplies, and computer games. When shopping, we recommend the best online stores for PC supplies, LAN, computer memory, RAM.

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

Read More..