Computer Problems - How to Prevent Common PC Errors

Computers can have issues and errors. These many times happen because there are security flaws in the system, malicious software, and some poor computer habits that the user is causing. Learn what you can do to help prevent computer errors on your machine as much as possible.

One of the most common mistakes is filling up the hard drive. A Windows machine needs at least a few gigabytes of space to correctly save settings when shutting down the machine. The extra space will also help your computer run faster since when you are using it, you need some space for your temporary files. There are variety of issues that you can avoid by deleting a few files or moving them to an external hard drive and leaving a few gigabytes of space. An external hard drive is a worthwhile purchase, not only will you help keep your computer's hard drive clutter free, but you will have a back up of all your important files.

Another step that needs to be taken is to always shut down the computer properly. Many times people might just hold down the power button to make the machine turn off. This is not good for the computer on the hardware side or even the software side. It's important to properly go through the shut down procedures to prevent possible complications.

One thing that should always be done regardless of what type of machine you are using is to update the operating system. There are many security patches that are there for your protection. Whenever there is an operating system update, be sure to get it as soon as possible.

The same goes for your applications that you are running on your machine especially those that are connected to the internet. The browser is attacked all the time regardless of which one you choose to use. You need to update the browser whenever there is patch available because it will help keep your machine more secure.

Following these steps will help prevent a variety of issues that you might have otherwise had to face. It is not fun to have any type of computer failure and many times failure happens because of something that could not be prevented. However, for peace of mind it is important to do what you can to keep your computer healthy and help to avoid any issues. You will be glad you did!

Cecil is a freelance website designer as well as a home improvement junkie! He loves to spend time tinkering in his workshop and finding ways to save energy around the home. You can read his reviews on the different types of radiant space heater on his website: http://www.radiantspaceheater.org.

Talking Rugged Notebook

A rugged notebook offers mobile professionals the ability to work in any environment and in any location. Versatile and powerful, rugged notebook computers are designed specifically for both in-plant and outdoor industrial (and military) applications. Built to handle the toughest environments, fully ruggedized notebooks should have IP54 environmental protection, meet MIL-STD 810F and have heavy duty - generally magnesium alloy - cases. Rugged notebook computers enable professionals to work smoothly in adverse environments and are adequately equipped to face almost any tough situation with ease. Naturally, these rugged notebook computers are heavier than non-rugged models but offer substantially more protection than standard laptops. RuggedNotebooks.com offer a variety of semi-rugged and rugged notebooks, wireless tablets and even rugged PDAs in their Recon series. They also offer custom solutions.

Arguably the most rugged and heavy-duty notebook available is the Rough Rider III from http://www.RuggedNotebooks.com. Meeting IEC and MIL-STD 810F, temperature, humidity, altitude, shock, vibration and drop standards, the case also conforms to IEC 529 and Ingress IP 54 requirements. It has extensive configuration options and a second bay available with internal PCI connector that supports a wide variety of options including two additional COM ports (RS232, RS422, or RS 485), two additional PCMCIA slots, a SCSI-2 port, DGPS or wireless modules, an auxiliary battery, or fixed floppy drive. It can be configured with 1.4 or 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium M processor, up to 2GB of DDR RAM, a 60GB HDD, and up to a 14.1 inch screen. It also provides extended wireless communications with 802.11b Wi-Fi, GSM/GPRS and DataTAC connectivity. As you might expect, all this ruggedness comes with a penalty and with the primary battery installed, the Rough Rider III rugged notebook weighs 12.7 pounds, definitely not a light-weight.

RuggedNotebooks.com offers a variety of semi-rugged and rugged notebooks, wireless tablets and even rugged PDAs in their Recon series. They also offer custom solutions. As one of the premier providers of notebook computers that meet and exceed military (810F and 461E) and industry standards (IP54), anyone interested in a high quality semi- or rugged notebook should make it a point to check them out.

Sterling Computer Sales in Landenberg, PA, offers a series of rugged notebooks meeting MIL STD 810E (which primarily involves small drops and rough transport). Their RB1500 has a rubber mounted HDD, spill-proof keyboard and magnesium alloy case. It comes with a 15.1 inch TFT boasting sXGA+ resolution (1400X1050) and a Pentium 4 Mobile 1.6Ghz processor. You can stuff it with up to 2GB of DDR ram and a 100GB HD. For communications this rugged notebook includes modem, Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wireless. This might be better considered a semi-rugged, but the price with default options starts at only $1,595.

The Durabook N15RI is a rugged notebook that has a magnesium alloy top and bottom case - which is 20 times stronger than plastic. This rugged notebook has anti-shock mounting and spill-resistant keyboard, scroll buttons and touch-pad. While it meets some (modified) 810F military specifications for ruggedness it doesn't appear to be IP54 compliant and is probably best viewed as a more rugged than usual semi-rugged notebook. It still provides the mobile professional with a tough, durable notebook at a more reasonable price than a fully rugged notebook.

HP also has a rugged notebook series - the HP nr3610 Rugged Notebook. This model meets MIL STD for ruggedness in the areas of ESD (Electrostatic Discharge), low pressure, humidity, sealing, temperature and vibration - and the Ingress IP-54 Protection rating for dust and water. However, it is very pricey for a notebook with a 12.1 LCD (over $4000) and nearly impossible to find currently.

Another rugged notebook, offering the choice of 14.1" and 15" Tflex displays - which work very well both outdoors and indoors, is the Argonaut Ranger. The hard drive and LCD are both shock mounted and the case is constructed of magnesium alloy. Both models of this rugged notebook - Argonaut Ranger - meet military specifications for ruggedness. The keyboard is spill-proof and the circuitry of this rugged notebook makes use of anti-corrosive technology for extra protection. Designed particularly for marine use the TFlex display works extremely well under any lighting conditions - from full darkness to direct sunlight.

Panasonic has its ToughBook line of semi-rugged and rugged notebook computers which are also worth looking into. The semi-rugged notebooks have a variety of features from the T2 with touchscreen weighing in at only 2.7 pounds to the Toughbook 51, available with a 2GHz Intel Pentium M 760, a shock-mounted 80 GB HDD and up to 2 GB of DDR2 SDRAM, with a 15 inch TFT Active Matrix Color LCD and a standard Combo Drive of a DVD multi-drive, weighing in at about 6.7 pounds. Base pricing for the T51 seems to start around $1600.

The Panasonic Toughbook-29 is a fully rugged notebook tested to MIL STD 810F. The vibration and drop-shock resistant design has Intel Centrino Mobile Tech and integrated 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN. It has a 13.3 inch outdoor-readable TFT Active Matrix Color LCD (optional touchscreen), a shock-mounted removable HDD in a stainless steel case, sealed port and connector covers and a full magnesium alloy case with handle. With battery and floppy drive it weighs 7.9 pounds. Base version pricing seems to be around $3500 currently.

One thing you need to be aware of about rugged notebooks - particularly full MIL-STD ruggedized models - they can be a little hard to find at your local computer store - or even on some of the big internet sites. The substantial added costs of manufacture and testing - and sometimes, the performance compromises that are made, make them a questionable option for the usual notebook user. If you will be working under harsh conditions, then they may be your only rational choice. However, for a user who will simply be doing a lot of traveling, day in and day out, and wants a notebook computer that can better tolerate the inevitable shocks and bumps, a semi-rugged notebook could be a much more affordable option, providing reasonable protection and better performance at a lower price.

Copyright 2005 Richard Keir

Richard, a computer professional and writer, has a strong interest in hardware as well as software. For more about all kinds of notebook computers and accessories, visit Completely Notebooks at http://Completely-Notebooks.net

Computer Hard Drives - Hard Drive Problems and Symptoms

Is your hard drive acting up? Do you fear the loss of data, downtime, and possible loss of revenue this could bring? Let's take a look at diagnosing hard drive problems, and what the symptoms are.

The surest sign of a major problem is this: when you write data to the disk, and retrieve it later, errors pop up. It might take the form of small amounts of data going missing, or being turned into gibberish. If this happens in more than one program, disk failure looms in the very near future.

Some users "cure" this problem by reformatting the drive, then re-installing the OS and all programs. Unfortunately, this doesn't correct the root cause of the trouble, and it will only be a matter of time before it pops up again, perhaps fatally.

Strange noises, particularly high pitched squeaks, are often attributed to the hard drive. In the majority of cases, these squeaks aren't coming from the drive, but from a case fan, or power supply fan.

Listen closely with one of the side panels removed to zero in on the sound. If necessary, unplug the drive's power cable, then turn the computer on. If you still hear the squeak, you know it's a fan. But if the squeak goes away, only to return when you boot the hard drive, you have a very serious problem.

If your hard drive seems to be working too much, constantly chugging away, always sending data to and from RAM, the problem isn't your drive. The odds are you need more RAM. Today's giant programs are memory hogs, immense in size, creating multi-megabyte files.

If your hard drive is slowing down there are a number of different causes. These won't lead to disk failure, but they can be frustrating.

The first, and easiest to deal with, is drive fragmentation. In XP and Vista it's easy to defragment a drive, requiring only a few mouse clicks, yet most users let months go by without doing it. They wait until their machines have slowed to a crawl before performing this most basic act of computer maintenance.

Another cause is the volume of data stored there. The more data on the disk, the slower retrieval and write-to rates become. The cure is obvious. Either do a bit of house cleaning, removing unneeded files, or add another drive.

Sometimes, a sluggish hard drive can be a symptom of spyware, adware, or a virus. A good security program can scan your drive, and tell you if you have one of these problems.

Michael Quarles is the author of "Building a PC for Beginners" and "Speed Up Your Computer". His website is http://www.monkeyseemonkeydobooks.com .

The Organized Coach, Part 4--Choosing a System of Organization

Before the coach begins to organize all of his materials a very important decision must be made. The method or system of organization is selected to match the objectives and expectations of the project. In today's office supply mega-stores, there is no shortage of organizational options and tools. Picking the right one for you is the key to becoming "The Organized Coach."

Due to my propensity to be organized from a young age I have become familiar with all types of organizational systems. By experiencing different systems I have come to a comfortable place in my organizational world. Each coach needs to select a system that works for him and that he will be most motivated to use. Being motivated to use your system once you get it into place is the most important element of this entire process. I've been frustrated in the past with coaches who take time to clear out the clutter and start over, just to abandon the system of choice shortly after turning over a new leaf.

The message you need to hear loud and clear is that all efforts without action are useless. Action is the spark plug that ignites any venture big or small. Let's review the steps that must be in place prior to the action step.

1. Decide you are unorganized and want to become an Organized Coach.

2. Commit to getting rid of everything that you do not need.

3. Divide and Conquer from Part 3 in this series. Placing information in piles according to label; i.e.--Offense, philosophy, drills, motivation, clinics.

4. Choose a system of organization which is the purpose of this article in Part 4.

5. Put ACTION behind your desire to be "The Organized Coach" and you will be amazed at the results.

Choosing a system depends on the individual and his preferences. No system is better than the other. Actually, the best system is the one that is best for you. If you can keep everything in its place and access it quickly, then that system is a great one for you. Your assistant coach or coaching buddy may use an entirely different system.

Try these exercises:

1. Think back to a time when you were most organized in your life. What system did you use and why was it a good system for you?

2. Identify a fellow teacher, coach, or businessman that you think is super organized and consult with them and their system. It may or may not be for you but you will learn a lot about what you do like by following through with this exercise.

3. Close your eyes and picture your office in its best, most organized state. Capture that mental image and re-create it through your own organizational project.

4. Go to Office Depot, Staples, or any large office supply store. Walk the aisles and check out all of the materials available. You will probably see some products that you had never seen before and like their potential in your system. Try not to overdo it and load up on a ton of materials, but if you see something you can use, buy it and give it a try.

TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS

1. Filing System -- One of the oldest forms of organizing. Can be used for any purpose and for any profession. How you decide to arrange, separate and divide your folders is the biggest factor once this system has been chosen.

2. Notebook System -- This system has great advantages over the other systems. Notebooks are portable and with three-ring binders your materials will not get lost or misplaced. Just like the filing system, the most important item is to decide how to arrange, separate and divide the materials into notebooks. Section separators and removable tabs are also another consideration. You must have a heavy duty three hole punch to use the notebook system properly.

3. Computer System -- Everything we have can be computerized no matter how long ago we obtained it. The ability to scan materials now makes it possible to computerize all of your materials. This can be a very time consuming process, even more than files and notebooks. The test is how quickly you can access materials on your computer and the ability to print these materials. The possibility exists that your hard drive can be wiped out at any time, leaving you in bad shape. Lack of familiarity with computers forces many coaches to shy away from this system.

4. Card Catalog -- This system allows you to organize your materials by using key words such as OB, Offense, Half court defense, and shooting drills. By keeping a card catalog system you can access materials quickly and efficiently. The cards are the center of your entire system and can keep you organized as long as you stay with the system.

5. Storage Racks -- These are useful for displaying books, DVD's, video tapes, and scrap books. It is important to purchase storage racks that are functional. Beware that storage racks can become a place to store a little bit of everything and will become a garage sale item before long.

6. Combinations of one or more systems -- Due to the kind of materials you have, you may want to use some of a couple systems. This is a very acceptable method and is used by most organized people.

This brings us to a point in the organizing process where your efforts begin to pay off. Once you select a system of organization, the rest is downhill. Moving to the ACTION Stage will put the final touches on this worthwhile project. Look ahead to Step 5 for the last and productive step!

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA appearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com

Why I Keep a Journal

I am a journaler. I have kept a journal for over 25 years. You can give me any date in the past 25 years and I can tell you what I was doing on that date. Some people have questioned why I do this. Why bother? What good reasons do I have to keep a journal? That's what I would like to talk about today.

Let me introduce my topic by sharing this little story with you:

There were two elderly couples who were enjoying a friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, "Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?" "Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques...visualization, word association...it made a huge difference for me." "That's great!" his friend said. "What was the name of the clinic?" Fred went blank. He thought and thought, but couldn't remember. Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?" "You mean a rose?" His pal answered. "Yes," Fred exclaimed. "That's it!" Then he turned to his wife and said, "Rose, what was the name of that clinic?"

Let's face it. None of us has a perfect memory. Let me ask you this, can you remember what you did yesterday? Probably most of you can. What about a week ago? How many of you can remember what you did a month ago from today? How about a year ago today? How quickly we forget.

A life worth living is a life worth recording

Go to any cemetery and you will find headstone after headstone of people who have nothing left of their lives except a name on a headstone. That's it! Many of these people lived an entire lifetime full of trials and struggles, triumphs and failures and all that is left is their name - because nothing was recorded.

What would you think if I told you I have in my hands you mother's personal journal and that I'm going to read to you what she wrote on the day you were born? Would you like to hear what she wrote? Of course you would. So would I. But I can't do that because I don't really have her journal. I don't know if your mother kept a journal. Did she? If she had, would you be interested in reading it? I think you would.

I would like to share with you the 8 reasons I have discovered for keeping a journal. Here they are:

8 Reasons to Keep a Journal

1. Its Therapeutic

There is a psychological benefit that comes when you are able to express the thoughts and concerns and deepest feelings of your heart. It can provide a way for you to vent your pent up emotions. Plus it's cheaper than counseling!

2. For Yourself

I have an 83 year-old neighbor who has no children. He's a good friend of mine. One day I spoke with him about keeping a journal and his reply was, "Why would I want to do that. I have no children. Who would read it? I tried to explain to him that journals aren't just for your posterity. There is an enormous benefit from going back and reading your own thoughts and feelings that you recorded long ago. It helps you understand who you are and how far you have come in your life.

When I was in the 7th grade I lived in a small town in the desert in Arizona. For a number months I kept a diary in a very small spiral notebook. For some strange reason I made a time capsule using a mayonnaise jar and placed my diary in it and buried it in the desert. It didn't mean much to me then. Now, thirty-five years later, I've made the 14-hour drive back to that place and with a pick-axe and shovel dug and dug in the blazing sun trying to find my time capsule that contained my journal. Unfortunately I couldn't find it. What I would give to have that small diary again and explore the thoughts and feelings of my 12-year-old self.

What seems trivial and mundane to us now, we will treasure up in the distant future.

3. For Future Generations

My great grandfather was Peter Howard McBride. When he was 6 years old his family crossed the plains of America with nothing but a handcart to hold all their belongings. It was a terribly difficult trip with many trials along the way. In fact his father froze to death during a terrible snow storm in Wyoming. It is an amazing story. Why do I know this story? Because Peter's older brother Heber kept a journal. I'm sure when Heber McBride wrote in his journal he had no idea it would be quoted hundreds of time worldwide. Just do an internet search on his name and see what I mean. So yes, write for future generations.

4. Because You Forget

Like my little story I told at the beginning, our memories are temperamental and fragile things. I am amazed when I look back in my own journals and find events in my life that I have no recollection of whatsoever. It's totally gone except for the fact that I wrote it in my journal. Don't count on remembering all of the important events in your life. Like the snow melting in spring, your memories tend to melt away too.

5. For Legal Protection

If I'm ever accused of a crime I have a pretty good record of where I've been and what I've been doing. Plus, if I ever need to know when I bought that car or when that accident happened or what day my father died - it's all recorded in my journal.

6. To Remind You of Lessons Learned

They say that those who don't study history are bound to repeat it. I think that holds true with your own personal history. As you go throughout your life you are continually learning lessons from yours and other's mistakes. It can help to re-read those events and remember the lessons learned to avoid repeating them.

7. To Remind You of Your Blessings

It's good to look back and see how far you have come. Recently I was reading what I wrote in my journal twenty years ago. At that time my wife and I were in the middle of buying and moving into our current home. We basically had nothing back then. We could only afford a few pieces of used furniture and were scraping by to make it financially each month. Those were hard times but happy times. I'm grateful to have gone through them. It helped my wife and I grow closer together as we struggled through those lean years. It helps me appreciate what I have today.

8. For Just Plain Fun

My wife Lisa is also an avid journal keeper. Many times we have pulled out our journals and have read them together to see what we each wrote on a given day in the past. We sit on the bed laughing so hard at the crazy things we've been through. Sometimes we'll find an argument we had in the past and read what each of us wrote about it and laugh some more. Seeming tragedies and rough times of the past become delightful and fond memories in the future.

9 Suggestions of What to Write in Your Journal

1. Your day to day activities

2. Your feelings and thoughts

3. Your spiritual experiences

4. The important events in your life

5. Your successes and failures

6. Your children

7. Record humorous experiences

8. Write about the world

9. The truth

Conclusion

I would like to conclude by sharing the words of a master journaler, Spencer W. Kimball. Even though he was busier than most of us, he managed to fill 78 large volumes of personal journals during his life.

He said:

Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life. There may be a flash of illumination here and a story of faithfulness there; you should truthfully record your real self and not what other people may see in you.

Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available. A journal is the literature of superiority. Each individual can become superior in his own humble life.

What could you do better for your children and your children's children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?

Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity.

Get a notebook, my young friends, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity.

Thank you.

Garold N. Larson writes on self-mastery and personal development topics. You can find more information at Keys to Personal Development

Asus 1000HE - To the Left, to the Right

As you may know by now, the Asus 1000HE is a pretty powerful netbook for being the fist to use Intel's newest powerful processor for netbooks, the Intel Atom N280. However, there are things about this mini laptop you will surely love. From left to right and top to bottom, here is the rundown of the Asus 1000HE and its features:

To The Left:

* Headphone and microphone jack
* The Kensington lock hole,
* RJ-45,
* Ventilation air vent,

To The Right:

* 4-in-1 memory card reader
* Two USB ports
* VGA ports

On The Front:

* 10-inch display
* Touchpad with buttons
* Chiclet-style keyboard (similar to the Apple Macbook)
* Spacious palm rest
* Built-in microphone below the screen,
* Four quick access buttons above the keyboard (turn on/off display, two programmable application shortcut and change display resolution)
* A 1.3-megapixel webcam (above the screen)

Inside The Netbook:

* Windows XP Operating System
* Pre-installed Skype application
* Capability to play video in High Definition format
* Microsoft Live
* Microsoft Works
* InterVideo DVD XPack
* Microsoft Office Ready

Bottom Of The Netbook:

* Seagate Momentus 5400rpm 160GB SATA hard disk
* ASint 1GB DDR2-667 memory module
* One memory slot
* Six-cell battery (up to 9.5 hours of battery life)

To be in the neighborhood:

You can connect this netbook to the Internet through its WiFi capability. You can also pair it with Bluetooth devices because of its built-in Bluetooth V2.0. The good thing about is that because of its Intel Atom N280, you can actually multi-task on this machine. This netbook is also shipped with a Recovery CD, and Drivers and Utilities.

You can find more exciting information on the ASUS 1000HE on this website http://asus1000he.com

Causes Of Data Loss And Storage Devices Damage

There are a lot of storage devices used to store data but the most common used ones are the CDs, DVDs, memory cards, memory sticks and undoubtedly the hard drives. All these storage devices have on major flaw in common, they are not infallible and this means that the data stored on them can be lost or damaged through a number of unforeseen failures. Fortunately, there are companies that employ data recovery specialists that can recover your data by using special techniques, software and tools. Data recovery can sometimes be performed by the user of the damaged device by using software but there is a high risk of failure that can result in permanently erased data or damaged storage devices.

There are a number of conditions that can cause a storage device failure and they include heat, water, impacts and power interruptions. Other causes can be viruses.

Heat damage will usually be caused by fire but in the case of electronic devices and storage media, overheated equipment is the cause in most cases. For instance, in room with an ambient temperature that is too high, the air cushion thickness will be reduced by the air pressure. The hard drive heads might touch the recording plate and data will be damaged or lost.

In the case of hard drives, this kind of damage can also be caused by physical shocks or high vibration levels.

Most drives, but not all, have a seal that goes around the sides of the drive. If the seal is broken, the drive if prone to environmental contamination. The air is not very clean and with a damaged seal, particles from the air can grind the recording plate generating corruption or lost data.

If a hard drive is wet, water damage can occur even if it is turned off. Water is corrosive and will damage the metals found inside the hard drive generating microscopic pitting.

Data recovery specialists have both the required skills and the resources to perform a successful data recovery operation. This ensures a good chance that if you experience any data loss you can recover the data, be it sentimental data or business related information. The best advice is to keep a backup of the data that is important to you, this way you can avoid the expense of data recovery. If a backup is not available, expert services provided by data recovery specialists is a must.

Unirecovery Data Recovery specialists will provide a great recuperation success rate and are probably the best Data Recovery London service, Data Recovery professionals are waiting to help you.

Learning to Save Money

Saving money is at the heart of all of your financial goals. Want to get out of debt? Want to save for retirement? Want to just make ends meet each month?

You are going to have to learn to save money. It can be hard to learn, but is actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. Here are a few tips for getting started.

First, you have to start organizing your finances. This will help you in seeing your true financial situation. How will you be able to get out of debt if you don't know how much debt you have? How can you save if you don't know what you are spending? Gather all of your financial documents and calculate what your monthly bills are. Take the time to create a budget. Be honest and include everything -- otherwise your budget won't work.

In order to truly budget, you are going to have to know what you spend each month. This helps you see where all the money is slipping out. You can use a computer and personal financial software or a small notebook. The key is to write down every penny you spend. This sounds time consuming, but can be a lot easier if you simply get receipts for every purchase. Then write them down every couple of days. Anything you don't get a receipt for you will need to write down immediately.

Now the savings begin. You look at what you are spending and see where you can cut things. You may need to be extreme and cut out everything but the necessities. Satellite TV and cable can go. You can reduce your cell phone plan and use it for emergencies only. You can look for ways to reduce your utilities and grocery bills. If you are buying coffee each morning, stop buying it and make it at home instead.

If you have your paycheck direct deposited into your account, have your employer split it and deposit a portion into your savings. This can be $10 or $200. It doesn't matter. The idea is to start saving money. When it is automatically put in your savings and you never see it, it becomes quite easy to forget about it. If you get a raise, have the amount of the raise put in your savings each month. When you never see the money, you learn to live without it. It is the easiest way to save.

If you want to protect your budget from disruptions, you need to start a savings account that will handle your annual expenses. These are the things that don't come due on a monthly basis. You need to save for Christmas, holiday spending, birthdays, annual insurance premiums, property taxes and other annual events. By saving this amount, you won't stretch your budget beyond its limits later.

With the same idea in mind, you should start contributing something towards an emergency fund. You never know when something will break down. When it does, it usually puts you in a financial pickle. You can avoid the stress to yourself and your finances by having an emergency fund. Most financial advisors recommend that you have at least three months of expenses in the fund. Don't let this discourage you. Put anything you can in there. Even if it isn't a full month's worth, it will help out in an emergency.

This is ironic. One of the best ways to save money is to get out of debt. And that is why you start saving money in the first place. So I guess you could say that by getting out of debt you can save even more money. Think of how much you are paying in interest. That amount could be going into your savings and earning you interest. Instead of paying a lender, the bank could be paying you. It is important to get your debt paid off first, then work on your savings.

Don't focus on trying to save a certain percentage of your income unless that goal drives you to save. The key in the beginning is to save as much as possible. Have goals that you are working towards. Budget wisely and make saving a habit. It will pay off in the long run.

Martin Lukac represents RateTake Refinance Rate marketplace. RateTake matches consumers with multiple lenders offering low rates. Got too much credit debt? Get Debt Help and you'd be surprised what we can do together.

A Guide to Desktop PCs

When it comes to buying a desktop PC, the size of your budget may be one of the biggest considerations you may have. Depending on how much you are willing to spend, there are plenty of desktops that can easily accommodate your budget. Without a solid budget in mind, it's easy to become lost in the many different choices and options that come with desktops, whether you are building a system from scratch or buying a pre-built system package.

If you are a light PC user whose main activities include surfing the web and checking emails, a budget desktop  may be just what you are looking for. For about $300, you can purchase an affordable system from vendors such as eMachines and Acer. Granted that these desktops won't have the latest features or the most powerful hardware, but for a shopper on a tight budget, these desktops are an excellent choice.

Mainstream PCs start out at around the $500-$600 mark, and they generally have more options than budget computers, although they do not have as much content as their upper level counterparts. These computers often have larger hard drives, more memory and also come with a monitor. Mainstream computers are perfect for those who more than just surf the web and read email - tasks such as CD and DVD burning, plus other light multimedia functions can be done with ease on these machines.

As you go higher in price, you'll find more desktops will even more features, such as dedicated video graphics cards for better graphics performance and dual CD/DVD/Blu-Ray burners. Premium processors such as Intel's Core 2 Duo and AMD's Athlon are commonly found in these premium PCs. For around $1000, you can find plenty of these PCs.

Avid gaming fans looking for a system that can pack a wallop can turn to gaming desktop PCs for their powerful PC fix. These machines are tailored to gamers who love to run their latest games at the highest settings possible. Customized tower cases provide better airflow, while powerful video graphics cards such as the nVidia GTX295 and the fastest processors available deliver a solid experience that is sure to please even the most hardcore gamers. Some budget-minded gaming machines can be found for under $1500, but those looking to purchase gaming desktop PCs should expect to pay $2500 and beyond for good gaming PC.

Those who want a desktop PC that can handle heavy multimedia and graphics editing programs such as Adobe's Creative Suite and AutoCAD are likely to demand more from their desktop PCs. For $1500, these power users can find desktop PCs that can handle nearly all of their needs. These PCs share some of the components that are often found on gaming desktop PCs, but these machines are geared more towards business than they are for pleasure.

The vast majority of desktop PCs will come with Microsoft's Windows Vista preinstalled, although newer systems are appearing with the latest operating system, Windows 7. Only a few manufacturers offer PCs with the Linux operating system installed, usually upon the customer's request. Nearly all desktop PCs come available with recovery CDs and other rescue tools for fixing most operating system-related problems.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in electronic consumables. If you would like more information about the desktop pc or are looking for a reputable desktop pc company please visit http://www.ebuyer.com

Guide to the Annual DSE (Data Storage Expo, Tokyo)

Japan is one of the world leaders in technology and it is for this reason that the annual Data Storage Expo held annually in Tokyo is considered to be one of the best and most comprehensive events of its kind in the world. The first DSE took place over a decade ago and today the event enjoys the support and participation from both local and international companies that showcase the latest trends in data storage.

The main exhibitor profiles for this exhibition can be broadly classified into ten different sections and these include Network Storage, Tapes/Drives, Removable storage disks/drives, Management Software, Information Lifecycle Management, Consulting services and other related products. If you are interested or work within any of these Data Storage sectors, the Show is the event which attracts the world's top companies and specialists in this quite niche field.

The event also features specialist exhibit areas like the Virtualization Zone and a Disaster Recovery Zone to cover some of the most popular sectors. All these exhibits focus on the latest data storage technology and the expo is a great place for budding professionals, entrepreneurs and technology developers to build new contacts, develop their client base and find new products and services to enhance their data storage needs.

The main visitors to this exhibition include managers and industry professionals from various fields that have copious data storage requirements. Other attendees of this event include information systems and network management professionals, people from industry sectors such as finance, supply chains, telecommunications, engineering, networking, manufacturing and marketing, systems development professionals and medical industry personnel.

People looking at cutting storage costs, who want a cheaper and better alternative for data storage and more efficient ways of managing their data, will find solutions at this event. Similarly, large companies looking for complex and sophisticated data storage systems will find something to suit their needs at this event.

Organised and coordinated by Reed Exhibitions in Japan, this three day event that takes place at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre. This is an outstanding venue with excellent transportation links to the venue and with everything you are likely to need within the venue. One issue you mean be concerned with is the language issue but this is not a problem with translators available for hire and also with the nature of this event being an international event and one at which most exhibitors tend to have English speakers available for.

Catherine works in the Exhibitions and Marketing industry and writes about Table Top Kits and Exhibition Accessories.

Your Guide to Battery Types

Every mobile electronic device we own runs on battery power, yet we take batteries for granted - at least until they run out of juice. No matter what kind of device battery - laptop battery, cell phone battery, camcorder battery, remote control battery - you need, it's helpful to know the various kinds of battery types and their uses. Gel Battery - A gel battery is also known as a sealed lead acid (SLA) battery, and its distinguishing feature is that it doesn't have to be kept upright in order to work. An SLA battery continues to perform in extreme conditions, such as hot temperatures, or under vibration. SLA batteries are often used in wheelchairs, scooters, and uninterruptible power sources. It's best to keep an SLA battery charged, or to charge it more often than you would other types of batteries. NiMH - NiMH stands for Nickel Metal Hydride and is the battery of choice for many cell phones, camcorders, digital cameras, GPS systems, PDAs, and other personal electronics. NiMH batteries are also used in hybrid cars. An NiMH is a rechargeable battery that is similar to a nickel cadmium (NiCd) battery, but that has double or triple the capacity of a NiCd battery. It's best not to overcharge NiMH batteries. NiCd - NiCd stands for Nickel Cadmium, and is a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in toys, electronic devices, and power tools. Although some people prefer NiMH batteries to NiCd batteries, a NiCd battery provides virtually the same level of voltage throughout its lifetime, and costs less than an NiMH battery. LiION - LiION stands for Lithium Ion, and is one of the newest rechargeable batteries. Although they are more expensive than other types of rechargeable batteries, LiION batteries have more capacity and are often used in wireless phones, camcorders, and notebook computers. The downside of LiION batteries is that the length of their life commences from the date of manufacture, rather than from the number of times the battery is charged and discharged. It's best to regularly charge LiION batteries and store used batteries in the refrigerator. (Allow them to warm to room temperature before using them, though.) Alkaline - Alkaline batteries are not rechargeable with a battery charger, but offer a large current over a long period of time. These batteries are often used in CD players and portable radios. Carbon Zinc - Carbon Zinc batteries are known for their reliability over long periods of time in low-drain situations, such as for garage door openers or clocks. A Carbon Zinc battery is not rechargeable.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Your Guide to Battery Types or Majon's Electronics directory.

The Ticking Time Bomb that is Your PC

Most people who own a computer have it in the back of their mind that they need to backup there important document. What most people are less aware of is why they need to do this. In my experience most would say that it in case your computer gets stolen, a file gets mistakenly deleted, or the PC just breaks down. This is a bit of a broad reason as far as I’m concerned. The biggest reason why I backup is because the average hard disk fails when it is 3-5 years old.

When a hard disk fails it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of its contents are entirely irretrievable. More often than not, it just means that one very small part of the disk (called a sector) has gone “bad”. A bad sector is one that can’t be read because it has simply been worn out. The bit of information that was stored in that sector may or may not be recoverable by a professional data recovery technician.

Let’s take the analogy of a scratch on a CD. It might make a bit of noise or a blip at that particular part of a song, but the rest of all the other songs are still in tact. In a similar way, a bad sector may cause you to lose perhaps one file, but the rest are fine. In Windows XP, you can right-click your hard drive, choose properties, select the Tools tab, click “Check Now...” This will correct any errors on your hard disk.

This might seem like the problem has gone away, but this should be a warning shot to you. It is a signal that your hard drive has become prone to failing, and will become even more and more so as time goes by.

You will need to install a new hard disk which is pretty straight forward on most computers. Then you need to copy all of your data across which is also straight forward using a program called Acronis True Image. Once all your data is copied across you could keep using the drive but I wouldn’t store any important files on it. I use it to store video files captured off my TV tuner – these are not that important to me, so I am willing to take the risk.

Zach Hope is the author of Speed-Up-Windows-XP.com, a site that can teach anybody to speed up Windows [http://www.speed-up-windows-xp.com/speed-up-windows] to invigorate old computers. You can eliminate slow boot troubles [http://www.speed-up-windows-xp.com/slow-boot] today and transform your slow computer [http://www.speed-up-windows-xp.com/slow-computer].

Computer Repair Tips - How to Use Windows ScanDisk

I love ScanDisk. Honestly, I do. As a computer support specialist with over 18+ years of experience, I often had to use this great little utility. It's fairly powerful, works on all versions of Windows and best of all is free since it comes bundled inside Windows.

So what is it?

ScanDisk is disk-checking and diagnostic tool that you can use to test your hard drive. It can also be used repair problems on magnetic media; hard disk and floppy disks.

Why use ScanDisk?

It's a very easy to use program and even the most non-technical person can learn how to use it. It can quickly fix most common disk errors. And I did mention it's installed as a part of Windows so it is always available. If you can boot into Windows, then you can use the program.

How to use it in Windows 98/98SE/Me:

1)Close all programs.

2)Click on the "Start" button.

3)Go to "Programs"

4)Scroll to "Accessories"

5)Click on "System Tools"

6)Select "ScanDisk"

7)Now locate and select the drive you want to check (C:).

8)Check the "Standard" radio button.

9)Check the "Automatically Fix Errors"

10)Click "OK" to run.

How to use it in Windows 2000/XP/Vista

1)Close all programs before you begin.

2)Click on the "Start" button then "My Computer".

3)Right click on drive you wish to scan and then click on "Properties".

4)Now you click on the "Tools" tab at top of pop-up window.

5)Click on "Check Now" in the "Error Checking" section.

6)Check the "Automatically Fix Errors"

7)Click "OK" to run.

Testing Options in Windows 98/98SE/Me:

Standard: This option basically only checks files and folders for Windows system errors. This is good for routine maintenance checks.

Thorough: This option is not used often due to time constraints. Don't check "Thorough" unless you can let the machine run uninterrupted for several hours (2+ on larger drives) or overnight. I'm not kidding.

Thorough is used for when you are having severe hard drive issues only. When you have to check your drive for possible physical damage, check "Thorough" and then select, click "System and Data Areas"

Testing Options in Windows 2000/XP/Vista:

The "Standard" function in the older version is now the default. Just with click "Automatically Fix Errors"

To use a thorough scan to check for both system and physical errors, you should also check "Scan For and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors."

To run scandisk in Windows 2000/XP/Vista you have to have programs closed down, or you will keep getting a error message, "Disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive..." If this keeps happening then if possible restart your computer and press "F8" after PC the logo but before Windows starts. This will let you into Windows "Safe Mode". You can run ScanDisk now but be warned it will take twice as long but will give you the same results.

ScanDisk Test Results:

After processing you should get a pop-up window with the results of your test. The important to look for is "Bytes in bad sectors". This shows the number of bytes that have been marked bad or basically unusable for storage. It's normal to have a small number of bytes in bad sectors (less than 100,000). But more than this or an increased number over time is sign for keeping your file backups up to date and saving for that bigger, better hard drive.

Sick of computer headaches? Tired of wasting money on that "computer repair guy"? To learn more fast and free fixes for your problem PC, visit http://www.fixcomputerproblemsguide.com

Hard Drive Crashed? - Repair or Rescue Any Hard Drive. From Chancer Reese, your Small Office Tech Diva.

Dell Monitor Repair (Likom L705xxx Model) With No Power Symptom

This DELL 17” Monitor (Made in Malaysia under LIKOM model L705XXX, product no: L7055LP) came in with no power symptom. Normally after opening up the cover I would look at the power supply (primary side) for any burnt and cracked components first. If there are darkened area and burnt components, I would tell myself that this Monitor needs a little more time to repair it. If it is not (component’s intact) I would usually begin to discharge the filter capacitor and start checking the fuse.

Okay, it is confirmed that all the primary side components looks good in this Monitor.

First, discharge the big fat filter capacitor with a resistor (I know that the voltage already drained off but it is a normal procedure for me because what if the start up resistor has an open circuit?) then check the fuse.

If the fuse is okay, experience will tell you that the bridge diodes are also working fine. Place your black probe of your analog meter set to x1 to the center pin (drain) of the power FET and red probe to the other pin one at a time (gate and source). If the pointer of the meter doesn’t kick then 80 % of the Power FET is okay. If you want to 100% confirm if it is good then you have to solder it out and test. If the pointer shows a reading then most probably the power FET has developed a short circuit. The result that I got from this Monitor was the pointer don’t flick.

Now is the time for me to use the dick smith flyback tester to check the smps primary winding. The result that I got was, the led bar don’t lit. Ah ha! That was a clue and this clue tells you that it is either the smps primary winding is shorted or one of the secondary diodes has given way. Of course you can check all the secondary diodes with your normal multimeter first (remember, every electronic repairers have their own procedure methods of troubleshooting) but I prefer this way as I want to confirm also if the smps primary winding is working or not.

Usually smps transformer is very robust thus I didn’t suspect it to pull down the flyback tester reading. I straight away check all the secondary diodes with my analog meter and found one diode shorted (part number U202G). Since I do not have this part number, I use a UF5404 ultra fast recovery diode as a replacement. In fact I use this UF5404 to all 14 to 17” Monitor as a replacement for all part number of secondary diodes. The spec of this diode was 400volt, 3 Amp with 50 nanosecond.

After the replacement of the diode, and placing the flyback tester probes again to the primary winding, the result shows full bar on the LED. Don’t be happy with the result yet because your job still hasn’t done.

Now I moved on to check HOT with the same procedure as checking the power FET. The HOT checked to be okay too. Next, I check the internal capacitance of the flyback transformer to see it is shorted or not or is the capacitance value run. For your information, internal capacitor in flyback transformer gave lots of problems in computer Monitor. I also scanned thru the B+ FET and found it to be good too.

Now is the time to switch on the Monitor, however this round I don’t connect any bulb because it was only a shorted diode in the secondary side. I would only connect a light bulb after repair when there is major short circuit in the primary side such as a blown bridge rectifier, shorted fet and smps primary winding and also burnt components in the board.

The DELL 17” Monitor worked beautifully and after long hours of burn-in test, I declared it okay and ready to send back to my loyal customer. Isn’t it fun to be able to repair a Monitor and at the end you get paid for something you like doing. I just love electronic repair!

Jestine Yong is a electronic repairer and a writer, for more monitor repair information, please visit his electronic repair website now.

Computer Repairs - The Secret to Solving the Easiest and Most Difficult Problems

A computer is a complex device with hardware and software components. Although modern computers are generally pretty reliable, almost everyone will face some sort of computer problem or issue eventually.

How to Handle a Computer Problem

The following discussion applies mostly to Windows based computers

The first step in solving a computer repair issue is to find the cause of the problem. This is known as troubleshooting.

Windows computers provide an event viewer. This is a record of all errors that the system detects. You should review any error reports in your event viewer to see if they identify the problem and suggest a fix. To use the event viewer, click start->run, type eventvwr.msc and enter. Click on system and look for any error reports in the right column. If there is a link in the error report, click on it to get the details. The link will often provide you with a possible solution.

Do the same for application and the other choices on the left hand side until you find something that applies to your problem.

Your operating system also provides help from the start menu. It provides step by step guidance on a great number of problems.

A web search for the symptoms of your problems will come up with a number of sites that provide step by step guidance in determining the exact cause of your problem.

Fixing the Problem

Once you have determined what the solution is, you can decide if you want to tackle it yourself.

If you are handy, many common problems are not difficult to repair such as replacing or adding memory, replacing a DVD drive or replacing a video card.

Software problems can be fixed by downloading patches or running some repair programs.

The Most Serious Problems

The Windows operating system is the heart of your system. Just as in a human being, heart problems affect the entire body in the most serious and total way, similarly operating system problems can make your computer severely sick or totally unusable. If you have a serious virus infection, constant or crippling BSODs (blue screen of death), frequent crashes or extremely slow performance, operating system repair is probably required.

In the case of XP systems, Microsoft has provided for a repair install operation which can bring your computer back to new. The best source for information about how to do the repair is provide by Michael Stevens Tech.

However, this process can be complicated and you may need to be somewhat technical to pull it off. If you don't do it right, you might get your system back but you will lose all your programs and data.

There are paid programs that can automatically fix your computer without losing any of your programs or data. These can be a life saver and they are cheaper than going to a repair outlet.

Best of luck in solving your repair issue.

David Freitag

The Computer Doc

To find out all about computer repairs and service and the best way to get your computer fixed see computer repairs

If your Windows XP system needs serious help, see repair windows XP

Why Bother to Wipe Hard Disk Drives

When you delete a file from your hard disk, it may seem as if it is gone forever. In truth, however, this is not the case. The seemingly permanent process of file deletion actually leaves the file data still on the hard disk. When a file is deleted, it is simply marked 'deleted', and the space that it occupies on the disk is accordingly marked 'ready for use'. Hence, it may be overwritten when more disk space is required, but this is by no means certain, unless the entire hard disk is filled with data.

Now, the actual data that make up the file is still on the hard disk, even after deletion. This makes it available for recovery, usually done using specially designed data recovery programs. MSDOS, in fact, has a built-in UNDELETE command which may recover recently deleted files.

The reason why file deletion is not as thorough as it can be is a simple one; resource management. Actually overwriting every bit of every file that is to be deleted will use more resources than would be practical, for everyday use. And in fact, this simple file deletion is usually sufficient for the basic user's needs.

However, security considerations might necessitate the complete erasure of a given hard disk or collection of hard disks. When reassigning hard disks, for instance, or switching computers around, confidential data might need to be deleted. To lessen the possibility that this data is recovered, a hard disk wipe may be performed.

When a hard disk wipe is performed, the entire area of the hard disk is actually overwritten with random data. This means that the data that used to be on the hard disk becomes much harder (practically impossible) to recover after such a process. Almost no traces of the previous data that used to be on the disk is left, making a hard disk wipe a secure improvement upon ordinary file deletion.

The metadata or information on the data that used to be on the hard disk is also wiped clean, since the entire space of the hard disk is overwritten. The randomness of this data used to overwrite depends on the algorithm used to generate it. Some hard disk wipe programs give users the choice to select the algorithm they want the program to use. However this is not as necessary for hard disk wipe programs as it is for file shredder programs, which wipe individual files. This is because when it is the entire hard disk that is wiped, the degree of randomness of the overwriting data is not anymore as important.

Performing a hard disk wipe is often as easy as clicking a few buttons in a specially designed hard disk wipe program. Some programs are set to run automatically when a CD containing the program is placed into the computer containing the hard disk to be wiped. This makes it easier to perform batch wipes on many computers at once, and makes the hard disk wipe a feasible security solution for multiple hard disks.

If you are interested in wipe hard disk, check this web-site to learn more about wipe hard disk.

Three Types of Computer Hard Drive Failures

The hard drive is the most crucial part of the computer since all the data is stored in this device. Failure of a hard disk can lead to information loss and this can be fatal for people or companies that store important data in the computer hard disk. Drives crash or fail to work for 5 reasons and this article is going to elaborate on these 3 reasons for computer hard drive failure.

The first and most common reason for computer drive failure is windows not booting. In order to solve this problem, the hard disk will need to be removed, backed up on another system and a new computer hard drive will have to be installed. The technician will add the information from the old hard drive on to the new one if he is asked to do so. If you have adequate technical knowledge then data recovery software can help you recover most of the data on your hard drive.

The second reason for drive failure is viruses or hackers. Since no physical damage has occurred, a simple data recovery can be performed since the data is still present on the drive. Spy ware, mal ware and viruses will have to be removed before the recovery can begin.

The third reason for computer drive failure is a mechanical fault like an electric surge or the physical damage to the drive. This is the most serious type of hard disk failure and if the hard disk has been completely damaged then all the information will be lost. In the case of partial damage or partial over writing of files, a professional data recovery system will be able to get most of the data back but the extent of damage will determine the amount of data that can be restored.

Article written by Jeff Frasco. Visit Computerknowledgeforyou.com for information about computers. The website offers knowledge about Computer Components, Hardware Tips, a Tutorial on How to build Your Own Computer and a shopping section where you can compare prices on Computers and Components. You can compare prices before you buy computer memory, components, accessories, modems and alot more.

Tips How to Stop Error 0xA While Or After Installing Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP is a popular operating system for personal computers, media centers, notebook computers and workstations. You can install Windows XP as a clean operating system copy or by upgrading from an existing version of Windows like Windows 98 SE. You should always maintain an updated data backup when you upgrade your operating system or opt for a clean reinstall. By using an up-to-date backup, you can restore all lost data post events like Windows XP upgrade failure, partition deletion, accidental/erroneous disk format operation, power failure and more. If you lose data and no valid data backup is available, you can use commercial data recovery software for complete recovery.

Consider a situation, you try to install Windows XP and it fails with an error message as:

"STOP: 0x0000000A (parameter1, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4)
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
*** Address x has base at x - filename"

Where, parameter1, parameter2, parameter3 and parameter4 refer to incorrectly referenced address, required IRQL, type of access, and address of instruction referencing memory in parameter1 respectively. You may also get this error message after installing Windows XP. It is specific to Windows XP Professional and Home Edition.

Cause

It occurs when system attempts to touch pageable memory at too high a process IRQL (Interrupt Request Level). It happens in kernel mode due to these reasons:

• Driver utilizes an incorrect memory address
• Incompatible device driver or software
• Hardware issues

Solution

If you encounter the above error while installing Windows XP, you need to follow these steps:

• Make sure that installed hardware components are compatible with Windows XP
• Specify HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) during installation startup using F5 during the startup of installation
• Try to turn off some features in CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) settings
• Verify RAM
• Try removing adapters and disconnecting hardware devices
• Update drivers
• Go for a clean installation of Windows XP and restore data from backup

If this problem arises after installing Windows XP, use these methods:

• If you have recently installed any third-party hardware or software, try removing or disabling them
• Restore system to Last Known Good Configuration
• Try to repair Windows XP installation
• If Safe Mode is working, use Rollback Driver feature
• If Safe Mode is working, use Windows XP System Restore
• Try renaming problematic software or driver
• Restore Windows using Recovery Console
• Reformat the hard disk and use recent data backup to restore the data.

If after reformatting the hard disk, you discover that backup is not up-to-date or is unable to deliver expected results, you need to choose efficient hard drive recovery utilities to recover all lost data. These hard disk recovery tools are designed to safely scan your drive and recover lost files.

Phoenix Windows data recovery software is the finest data recovery tools. It is equipped with advanced features like RAW Recovery, Drive Imaging, E-Mail Recovery and more. The software supports FAT16, FAT32, vFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file systems based Windows partitions

K Madhav is a data recovery expert and doing research on data recovery software and hard drive recovery.

Troubleshooting Computer Problems - How Hardware Failures Can Put Your Small Business at Risk

I can say that in my 18+ years of computing, one of the most frightening things about PCs are hardware failures. Nothing can take the bottom out your stomach as fast as the worrisome "click...click...click" sound of a dying hard drive. Or worst the "dead and ominous silence" coming from a lifeless power supply unit.

Despite all the advertising about how fast and reliable computers can be; the dirty little secret of the computer industry is that hardware failures are both common and expected. It is not a question of "if" your computer system will have a fatal "crash-n-burn" but of "when".

As a small businessperson, whether you are just starting out or a hardened vet of the "store wars", you simply can't afford to have your company crippled due to a hardware meltdown. Every hour you are down due to a computer failure is a lost hour of productivity.

Common Hardware Failures

That is why you should take the time to learn and understand how to prevent or reduce the most common hardware problems. In my experience, the following things cause the bulk of the hardware failures:

1. Under-powered, dead or failing Power Supply Units


2. Over-heating issues (dust bunnies in the equipment and under-ventilated computer boxes)


3. Corrupted or improper device drivers (which is really a software issue)


4. Power surges, lightening strikes, brown-outs and other electrical problems


5. Outdated BIOS (another software issue) or bad motherboard (a definite hardware issue) or an old, overworked hard drive.


6. Other parts: bad RAM, video cards, sound cards, network & modem cards

Not All Acts of Nature

Now some of these failures are "acts of nature" or the power company and you will have little control over them. But most of the above failures occur due to:

• A. Improperly installed parts (someone put in the wrong thing or used a "lemon" part)


• B. Improperly configured parts (bad or corrupt device drivers again)


• C. Damaged or defective parts (broken or dead components)


• D. Poor maintenance (ya didn't do your housekeeping)

A) Improperly installed parts can happen at the factory level, at the local repair shop or from parts coming loose just from the unit being banged around while moving. Sometimes you just get a lemon or an underpowered part that just plain won't work right in your PC. Your best bet is to determine the bad part and to have it replaced.

B) An improperly configured component happens when a device driver goes bad or becomes corrupt. The only thing you can do in this case is to download the latest driver software from the vendor and reinstall it. This is why you need to know where your computer came from or at least where the parts came from. Most reputable vendors keep device drivers available on their websites.

C) Truly dead parts must be replaced with similar or superior quality components. You can easily learn how to do this yourself or take it to your local computer repair place.

D) Good maintenance consists of cleaning out the computer case with canned "air" every six months or so; occasionally wiping down keyboards, mice and monitors with the correct cleaners; making sure the box is setup in a moderately dust-free environment and using the proper size surge-protector to prevent unnecessary power fluctuations.

Action Plan:
Here's what you need to do today:

• Download and run, Belarc Advisor (www.belarc.com/free_download.html). This free little utility will build a detailed profile of all the software and most importantly all the hardware devices installed (by brand/model if known) inside your machine.


• Using the info, you just collected, locate and download all your hardware device drivers. They should be on the Recovery/Restore CDs that came with your machine. If your CDs are lost or misplaced, go online to the computer's manufacturer (Dell, HP, etc.) and download your drivers from their support site.


• Make backup copies to all the device drivers and information you got from the Belarc Advisor.

Just remember that for hardware repair, you really only need to know how to do two things: reinstall something or replace something.

Sick of computer headaches? To learn more fast fixes for your problem PC, visit http://www.fixcomputerproblemsguide.com

From Chancer Reese - Your Small Business Tech-Diva.

How to Protect the Data on Your Laptop

Every year, hundreds of thousands of laptop computers is being stolen. Every passing day we hear a story of a missing laptop with sensitive data on it.

What can average user do to protect the data on his or her laptop?

To begin with, you can buy a lock. Locking cables are used to secure your laptop to a motionless object. A good number of locking cables cost from $20 to $70. You can find more advanced and therefore costly models that come with an audible alarm.

You should register your laptop. If you fill out your laptop’s warranty card, the producer will have a record of ownership. You can also register your notebook with property protection programs.

Your next option is to lock down boot-up. You can set your laptop to ask for a password before loading the operating system. Select a password made up of letters, numbers and symbols.

Seagate hard drives protect data using encryption technology. It makes information useless to anyone who does not have the code. The technology can also erase data on the drive instantly.

Absolute Software of Vancouver, B.C. offers a service called CompuTrace LoJack for Laptops. Stolen laptops, using installed software, quietly report their location to Absolute Software the first time they are connected to the Internet. The company contacts local police cops to coordinate recovery. The service costs $50 a year.

Inspice Trace is a package that offers remote data destruction. It erases irrecoverably the contents of the drive in the event it is stolen. The Inspice Trace software also tracks the location of a stolen laptop.

You should also consider biometric security devices such as fingerprint scanners. They allow only authorized users to use the laptop.

Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Laptop Computers Center. To read about lightweight laptop computers as well as best multimedia laptop visit his site right now.

The Function of Toshiba Laptop Drivers

Toshiba laptop drivers are installed by the manufacturer at the time the laptop is built. Unlike regular a desk top PC, if the hard disk of a laptop gets reformatted or erased, all basic drivers will need to be re installed and the laptop will need to be re programmed. This means you must either install the drivers with a back-up disk or you will have to downloading them and install them along with a new Operating System from the manufacturer's website.

Sometimes device drivers don't work as well as they are meant too. Not all drivers are compatible with all software's. Manufacturers are always improving device drivers just like programmers improve software to try to make them function more smoothly and to rectify possible conflicts. An updated driver can generally prevent erratic behavior in your Operating System.

Drivers like any other software files are self-installing, also called self-executable. Self-executable files are launched by clicking on the file or icon which will install the program. The program normally checks the system first to make sure the new driver is appropriate for the installed hardware. Installation takes seconds or even less but usually a system reboot is required in order to start using the new driver.

One way to check device drivers on a Toshiba laptop that uses Windows as its operating system is to enter the Device Manager.From the Device Manager window point your cursor to a hardware device then right-click on it. Click on Properties, and then click on the Driver tab. It is here that you can see the device driver's name and version number.

To update or upgrade a driver, open the driver properties in the Device Manager and click on "Update Driver". If the driver that is already installed is up to date and the most recent one available, a message will be displayed on your screen indicating that it is up to date. It is imperative to make sure your drivers stay up to date.

One should use the utmost care when updating drivers because if you happen to install the wrong drivers, it then becomes possible for your computers operating system to go berserk. Installing the wrong drivers can cause you to experience one error message after another and in some extreme cases even cause your computer to reboot over and over and even prevent some programs from opening.

In order keep your Operating System up to date which will prevent many common security vulnerabilities, you can turn on the "Automatic Updates". You can also help keep you laptop running smoothly, by checking the Toshiba website to see if any upgraded drivers are available for your model notebook.

So in order to insure that your Toshiba laptop drivers are current and up to date remember to make sure that the hardware drivers that you download also include your hardware device. That way you're guaranteed not to have any problems with them. Also keep in mind that before your new drivers can take affect, you must first reboot your system.

We have access to the worlds largest driver database. To learn more about updating all your drivers at once. Visit us at http://www.onestopdrivers.com/.

External Hard Drive Data Recovery - Not So Different

Internal hard drives. External hard drives. Floppies. CDs. DVDs. They are all great for storing data--until they fail. Nothing is certain in life, and there is no certainty that the means by which you have been storing your important data will not become damaged and require data recovery. You may even be the cause of your lost data, by doing some accidental deleting.

If the data which you are trying to retrieve is stored on an external hard drive, however, the recovery process and can range from simple to highly complicated. But external hard drive data recovery, for the most part, is similar to that used for retrieving lost files no matter where they were originally stored.

Doing Your Own External Hard Drive Data Recovery

If your external hard drive is part of a company network, you will have to attach it to a monitoring system so you can track the progress of t the external hard drive data recovery. Any idle desktop computer or workstation will suffice; you just need to make sure someone is watch dogging the process and can intervene if any glitches occur in the retrieval effort. The last thing you want to have happen is for the external hard drive data recovery process to appear to have finished, and then find that it is still malfunctioning and requires a do-over.

Once the external hard drive data recovery process retrieval is finished, the recovered data will need to be tested for functionality. Begin by checking the operational system files, because without them you will not get far. If they check out, you can go ahead and test the informational files like your business invoices, tax records, spread sheets and databases.

If your general business files are in order, you can branch out and see if the external hard drive data recovery has restored the files with which your company’s different departments work. If all those files are up and running, you can rest assured that the external hard drive recovery went as planned, and you can remove the hard drive from the monitoring station and put it back where it normally belongs.

You can accomplish this by checking various operational and data files that are saved on the external drive. Start out with the operations system first, then move on to some of the larger and more important files, such as your invoicing system. From there you can get into other files that are used fairly often by various persons and departments in your company. Once you are assured that the data is intact, accessible, and working properly, you will know that the recovery was successful and you can return the external drive to its usual station.

When Your Effort Fails

If, however, your efforts at an in-house external had drive data recovery fail, the next step is to take or ship the hard drive to a data recovery specialist. The specialist will examine and evaluate the damage your external hard dive and let you know how much it will cost to perform an external hard drive data recovery, and what you can realistically expect to recover. If your company’s management approves the expense, the specialist will proceed with the recovery attempt and return as much of your data as possible.

You can also find more info on Data Recovery After Formatting and Data Recovery Freeware. Pcdatarecoveryhelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Data Recovery.