Free Computer Help

Boot Windows 7 in just under 10 seconds

Great success is achieved by Microsoft by reducing the boot timing for its latest operating system, Windows 7, to only 10 seconds.

This is amazing, considering the fact that the BIOS has to turn on everything in the system from the CPU to hard drive, before the

OS begins to load.

Windows 7 has achieved this feat of extremely low boot time by using a healthy hardware configuration. Moreover, most of the

hardware manufacturing firms are paying more attention on cutting the boot time.

For example the Lenovo Group Ltd is making some remarkable changes like:

* Helps to prevent the BIOS phase from the loading of driver.
* Fixing the drivers of on-board hardware components that were cumulatively causing massive delays.
* Avoiding the loading of unessential application being included in the Startup programs. Using msconfig to disable stuff that

runs on startup

Dell, Toshiba and HP are also on course to follow the same trend.

Windows 7 version works extremely good even in the case of multiple operating systems. If your hard disk has ample space then you

can create a partition and dual boot your system. When you will turn on your computer, it will ask you about the option of OS.

If you wish to improve the boot processing then Windows 7 offers you some ultimate tools as mentioned below:

* Defragmenter should be used frequently.
* Defragment your Windows page file and registry as well.
* Check your hard drive from the temporary files frequently.
* Load up Windows faster by using Startup Delayer a free program that will speed up the boot time of Windows by delaying the

startup of programs.
* MSCONFIG will help you keep a check on many of useless Startup programs.
* Use a program click memtest86 or Prime95 to check bad memories on your PC.
* Do check your BIOS version, if required update it.
* Run chkdisk to remove bad sectors in hard drive.

Boot Windows 7 in just under 10 seconds

Great success is achieved by Microsoft by reducing the boot timing for its latest operating system, Windows 7 , to only 10 seconds.

This is amazing, considering the fact that the BIOS has to turn on everything in the system from the CPU to hard drive, before the

OS begins to load.

Windows 7 has achieved this feat of extremely low boot time by using a healthy hardware configuration. Moreover, most of the

hardware manufacturing firms are paying more attention on cutting the boot time.

For example the Lenovo Group Ltd is making some remarkable changes like:

* Helps to prevent the BIOS phase from the loading of driver.
* Fixing the drivers of on-board hardware components that were cumulatively causing massive delays.
* Avoiding the loading of unessential application being included in the Startup programs. Using msconfig to disable stuff that

runs on startup

Dell, Toshiba and HP are also on course to follow the same trend.

Windows 7 version works extremely good even in the case of multiple operating systems . If your hard disk has ample space then you

can create a partition and dual boot your system. When you will turn on your computer, it will ask you about the option of OS.

If you wish to improve the boot processing then Windows 7 offers you some ultimate tools as mentioned below:

* Defragmenter should be used frequently.
* Defragment your Windows page file and registry as well.
* Check your hard drive from the temporary files frequently.
* Load up Windows faster by using Startup Delayer a free program that will speed up the boot time of Windows by delaying the

startup of programs.
* MSCONFIG will help you keep a check on many of useless Startup programs.
* Use a program click memtest86 or Prime95 to check bad memories on your PC.
* Do check your BIOS version, if required update it.
* Run chkdisk to remove bad sectors in hard drive.

How to find your wep key?

You can retrieve the key for you wireless network through the router's control interface. Type the IP address of the router into your web browser and log in. Navigate to the Wireless security area, the WPA password is usually there.

To find you router's IP address, press (on the keyboard) (Windows key + R), type 'cmd' then press enter. on the black screen that comes up, type 'ipconfig'. Look for default gateway, and thats your router's IP address. Type that number into your browser. 10.1.1.1 OR 192.168.1.1 are common ones.

To log into the router, for most modems the username is 'admin' and the password is also 'admin' by default. Check your usermanual, or search you router's brand on the internet.

You can also find you wep key (for windows vista and xp) by following these steps:

1.go to your internet browser.

2.type in 192.168.1 OR 192.168.1.01 (whichever one works)

3.when a window pops up that asks for a username and password...put admin on the username and admin on the password.

4.to find your wep password, go to the tab wireless, and then the subtab wireless security.(it depends on the type of router that you have...im basing these steps off of a linksys router but they shouldn't be much different).

5.in the box labeled "key 1" there should be either a 13 number/letter combination or a 26 letter/number combination.

6.THAT'S YOUR WEP KEY!

How to make your myspace profile 2.0 private?

Step 1 : You need a MySpace Profile 2.0 already set up, or in the works, in order to actually complete this how-to.

Step 2 : Log onto your MySpace.
Once logged on, click "Profile" in the main MySpace toolbar, and then select "Customize Profile" from the drop down menu.

Step 3 : A new page will come up, and at the top of the page you will see a box with a title bar that reads "Profile 2.0 - Customize Profile".
Make sure the option on the right of the screen that says "Modules" is set to show (a minus sign should show). If you want, you can set the "Control Panel" to not show (a plus sign).

Step 4 : If you mouse over the different modules of your profile, you will see the title bar of each module. In this bar, you should also see symbols, which read "settings", "visibility", etc., if you mouse over them.

Step 5 : Go to the "blogs" module, or "blurbs" module in order to see how this will work.
Click the symbol that looks like a lock, "visibility".

Step 6 : "Module Name - Visiblity" will show up in a dialog box.
"Who can view this module" has 4 different options under it.
"Everyone" will make the module visible to everyone.
"Friends only" will make the module visible to your MySpace friends.
"Just me" will make the module invisible to everyone but you.

Step 7 : You can check off the "Apply to all modules" checkbox to apply whatever option you have chosen to all your modules.

Step 8 : Click "Apply Changes" to make these settings appear on your Profile 2.0.

Step 9 : Click the "Publish" option that appears to the top-right of the page in order to confirm the settings will appear on your MySpace.

Step 10 : FINISHED! You have just made your custom privacy settings on your MySpace Profile 2.0

You can log out of MySpace and then pull your profile up, so you can see how it will appear to people that are not your MySpace friends.

SECURING WINDOWS XP

This guide will show you how to secure Windows XP. While it covers the basics it also goes beyond them without going into "paranoid" mode. Protecting yourself from all the "bad guys" on the Internet requires a multi-tiered approach. There is no single product, either hardware or software based that will adequately protect you from the perils of being connected to the Internet. Only you can protect yourself and that will require some effort to understand the nature of the threats, the potential ways to protect yourself, and how these protective measures can be integrated together.

This guide is for home users in a stand-alone or workgroup environment. It is intended as a step-by-step guide and we highly suggest you read through the entire article before taking any action. We welcome suggestions and feedback.

Before we begin allow us to share a few of our thoughts with you. This is simply our opinion nothing more...

1 - There is no such thing as a secure OS (operating system), or web browser. If you want true security (read something like this somewhere at some time); disconnect your network card, turn off/unplug your computer, take out the hard drive and smash it to bits, take computer to a construction site and ask the bulldozer operator to run over it.

2 - In the real world, Windows operating systems are less secure than the newest versions of Linux (distro) and Mac OS X. We'll leave the argument over why that is and the advantages of one OS over another to internet forums/discussion boards.

3 - A fully patched Windows XP and to a lesser degree Windows 2000 are the only non-server Microsoft OS's that are even remotely secure. If you care about security you shouldn't be running any other Microsoft OS's. If you have machines on your home network that run anything less than a fully patched XP, 2k, Linux (distro), OS X then the security of any machine on your network is lessened.

To give you a feel for how dangerous some of these threats can be, let us talk about port scans. A "port" is the doorway by which computers communicate with each other. A "port scan" often takes place with the use of programs called "port scanners". Crackers use port scanners to identify open ports on your system. Once an open port is found they attempt to enter your system to collect data or place malicious programs on it. Scary, isn't it? But, is this threat real or imagined? DShield.org tracks port scans in real time. Reports on attempted port scans from participating companies and individuals are sent to DShield on a real time basis. At the time of writing, the number of reported entry attempts is averaging over 1.1 BILLION attempts per month. Remember that this only represents a small percentage of the actual number of port scan attacks, those that are reported by participants.

In fact, the current "survival time" (the average time for an unprotected system to be attacked and compromised) is only 27 minutes. This means that a newly installed unprotected operating system connecting to the Internet for the first time will, on average, be attacked within 27 minutes and compromised in some way. That further implies that there is insufficient time for a new system to connect to the Windows Update site and download the latest security and critical updates from Microsoft before the system is attacked and compromised. Yes, the Internet is a dangerous place for the unwary.

Let us describe another, far more subtle form of attack. Recently it was discovered that viruses, Trojans and other executable files could be embedded within a simple .jpg (picture) file. If an infected .jpg is downloaded by your browser or email client, the embedded executable could run and install a Trojan or virus. Microsoft, software and anti virus developers have been working hard to close this vulnerability.

Another, more recent and far more dangerous threat, is crackers' use of "rootkits", "dll injection" and "global hooks" to take over systems "invisibly". These threats are difficult to prevent, detect and almost impossible to remove once they have successfully been deployed on your system. Prevention is the best way to stop these threats, as removal tools are only now being developed to clean a system after infection from one of these new threats. Removal tools for this type of threat are in their early infancy, and cannot be relied upon to clean a system once it has been compromised. Once infected, the only way to dependably remove one of these threats is to either restore a backup known to be made prior infection, or to completely reformat all your hard drives and reinstall your operating system and hardware.

One cannot depend on others to protect your system and valuable data. It is our responsibility to make our systems as resistant as possible to these kinds of threats. That requires a combination of protections. At a minimum, we recommend the following protective measures be taken by all users who connect to the Internet for any purpose:

source: weakhound.com/xp/security/page_1.htm

computer help , computer support ,computer repair

PC Help: Clear a fuzzy screen

My monitor has recently developed a fault: when I first switch on the computer, the image is bright and sharp but after a while it becomes fuzzy and slightly unfocused.

If the computer is left on, unused, and the screen saver kicks in, the sharpness returns for a time when I start to use it again.
Patrick Ford

You haven�t specified it, but presumably we�re talking about an old-style tube (CRT) monitor. This is a hardware problem but it�s not clear where it lies.

The most likely culprit is the monitor itself but other possibilities are the cable or your computer�s graphics card.

If you can swap the monitor with a friend�s, or with another one in the house, you can see whether the fault is in the monitor.

The same applies to the cable � if you can swap it with another, while leaving the monitor and computer in place, that will show if the cable is at fault. Obviously, this won�t be possible if the cable is fixed to the screen.

Faulty cables are easily dealt with, but even if the fault is with the screen, it�s not necessarily a big problem. You will need to take it to a repair shop that will work with CRT monitors, and there may not be one nearby.

If it�s still covered by the manufacturer or retailer�s warranty, you should contact the shop for them to have a look at it.

Source:computeractive.co.uk

Windows XP Virus Removal: Protecting Your Computer From Viruses

Viruses are the worst enemies of your computer. If you are one of those people who constantly work online, your computer is at risk of being attacked by those viruses floating around the web. The worst part about the new types of viruses these days is that they do not just destroy your files; they also steal your files. There are certain types of viruses that go through your computer�s hard drive and steal important information. However, the good news is that virus infections can be prevented with a good anti virus software. If you are using Microsoft Windows, you need to install Windows XP virus removal on your computer to ward off these annoying viruses. Yes, installing Windows XP virus removal software is not a one hundred percent guarantee that a deadly virus will not attack your system, but installing Windows XP virus removal software can protect your computer to a very large degree.

Getting Started

Before you install an anti virus software program, you need to make sure that your computer is not infected with any type of viruses. According to experts, an anti virus software will not function well if you install it on a computer that is already infected. Since some types of viruses mimic your other files, the anti virus software may not be able to detect these viruses. To make sure that your computer is free from viruses, use another computer that has a good anti virus software to scan the systems of your computer. You can do this by networking the two computers.

When scanning your computer for viruses, turn off your Internet connection. Note that your computer is more prone to virus intrusions if you are online, so make sure that you turn off your Internet connection while you scan your computer. Once you are sure that your computer is free from any forms of viruses, you may now install your anti virus software.

Installing Your Windows XP Virus Removal Software

Installing Windows XP virus removal software is not really difficult. Anti virus programs are menu driven so all you have to do is follow the menu and you will be home free in just a few minutes. Don�t worry; the program is very user friendly so even if you have not really installed a program on your computer before, you will not have many problems getting this one right.

After installing the anti virus software, reboot your computer to complete the installation process.

Source:freshnews.in/windows-xp-virus-removal-protecting-your-computer-from-viruses-20267

How to Protect Your Passwords On a Public Computer

Checking your e-mail or doing online banking on a computer in a public location is convenient, but you want to be sure you aren't going to steal your password by anyone. Password is the important thing which everyone wants to keep safe. There are following ways to protect your password:--

1. Check if the computer has an anti-virus program installed and if it does, have it scan the computer before you use it.

2. Go to your e-mail provider or online banking Web site.

3. Type your user name or ID into the designated field.

4. Go to the password field and type in the first character of your password. Then go to the URL field at the top of the page or another text input field on that Web page and type some random characters. Repeat this after typing each character of your password.

5. Once you've finished typing your password, make sure not to select any option that remembers your user name or password. Submit your password and decline any options to remember or save your information.

Source:orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-howto1507dec15,0,1818883.story

Your Tech Support Executive Just A Call Away!

Imagine yourself working on an extremely important project and then bothered by a technical default in your computer. The moment can be highly frustrating. However, you can now get tech support online, through do-it-yourself programs. This not only saves your time but money as well, which is why more and more companies running operations on small and large scale prefer to beef up their electronic support offerings.

Of all computer savys, small business owners and computer enthusiasts working from home or using PCs for fun are benefitted most from Online computer support services. The best part of using live tech support is that the owner controls the actions taken on his/her system.

Calling any technical support executive at your premises can make you spend loads of dollars unnecessarily. Contrary to this, online tech support services offer a comprehensive package of efficient solutions at incredible prices. Companies offering such kind of tech-help generally have different yearly packages that are budgets-friendly too. Such an array of options is largely available for small business PC support.

Availing online computer support has proven to be cost efficient for small-scale operations. With significant advances have been done in recent years, technology assisted programs have tended to be associated with huge success. Small scale businesses based in the US, UK, and Canada are largely leveraging the online PC support services to transform their business for consistent results as their computer complexities increase.

Small businesses understand the necessity and headaches of the advanced technology. A desire for smooth functioning encourages a need for them to get their mundane Computer Repair and tech support issues handled in a user friendly manner.

Companies providing tech support offers high-touch customer experience which allows you to sit back and watch your problem getting resolved within an hour. Small businesses can avail the benefits of the online tech support for PC repair to ensure smooth functioning of operating systems in order to perform their individual roles and responsibilities in the most effective manner.
Source: http://www.tech-support-news.com

Computer Traning

Training for a computer is a good start when you don�t know much about computers. One of the many benefits of computer training is that it can be accelerated by an entire team at no extra charge most of the time, and some great computer training is designed to offer computer based training by modules, or by specific products and procedures, all accomplished in just a few hours. A few of the basic ingredients that make computer based training programs great computer software is high quality, easy to understand and follow, not requiring boring books to read or attendance to expensive classrooms, but a video training designed by professional skilled trainers running on your own computer.

These are the list of computer security tips that will help to protect you or minimize the damage if your personal information gets stolen: Firstly never use the same user id you use for email or internet logon for anything else. Although confidentiality, integrity and authenticity are the most important things when it comes to computer security in general, for everyday internet users, privacy is the most important one, because many people think that they have nothing to hide or the information they give doesn�t seem sensitive when they register with an internet service/site.

To test your memory once you have your computer running, try using a game that normally slows down the computer. If you think that you have the wrong type, just look at the memory already installed and take a note of its markings, then go to your computer store and get that kind of memory. Once you have determined the type of memory you require you can order a small chip-like device that, once installed, will add more memory to your computer.

Existing computer repair franchises are typically available immediately and are a good option for professionals looking to start a new business in the computer industry. But in the computer service repair business, there are many expenses that you will face. Customer service is a crucial part of the computer service repair business, because computer service repair is about working with customers to solve problems.

If you must download programs from the internet you should always scan them for viruses BEFORE opening them up to install on your computer. After all viruses have been quarantined or removed, reboot the computer and connect to the Internet then run Windows Update (Windows XP go to Start, Programs, Windows Update - select all critical updates). Macro viruses attack programs with macros, which are programs that allow users to run a single input and be able to trigger a series of instructions which the computer automatically executes.

Finding a good notebook computer is important to those who want to be able to work, surf the net, and email without being tethered to the office or desk at home. The issue of size and weight will determine how easily you will be able to carry around your notebook computer. For those people who just want a reasonable and a reliable notebook computer or laptop that can run the programs they need, and where cash is running low, an option is to buy a refurbished notebook computer.

I found the best way to ensure that a monitor has a nice crisp image is to buy a good brand. Walking into a store and plumping for the first monitor that one takes a fancy to is not exactly the best way to go about the task. There are various types of computer monitors, ranging from the now-obsolete 15 inch CRT monitors to the latest 21 inch LCD TFT flat screen monitors so just rush for a nice looking one but price does matter a lot.

A printer is an important peripheral of a computer, and is designed for low volume printouts. Finding a computer printer ink refills is not hard enough but buying computer printer ink repeatedly is necessary if you are using a printer a lot. You should not rely on the cost of the ink cartridges before you purchase a printer that you need to ensure and you should not don�t compromise on computer printer ink without investigate.