Tips For Choosing Between A Laptop And A Notebook

The fact that a notebook is actually a kind of laptop means that talking about choosing between a laptop and a notebook is a little bit misleading. However, when talking about choosing between these two devices, what is actually meant is choosing between a traditional laptop which comes with all the functions and a notebook which is a more simplified type of laptop. The notebook computer is aimed specifically at those people who just need something for going on the Internet with; a laptop offers a lot more than this. When it comes to choosing between the two, the following tips should help.

- Your actual requirements is something that you really need to take into account because there is no need to pay more money for things that you are not going to use. You will save money if you buy a notebook and if you only want to surf the net, then this is probably the better choice for you. However, it would not be a good idea to spend money on a notebook and then realize later that it doesn't do what you want. If you want something for work then you will probably need a more traditional laptop.

- A laptop is the better choice for those who would like to be able to play games or watch DVDs because most notebooks do not provide the user with these functions.

- A notebook battery will usually give you around five hours of web surfing, so this is worth noting.

- And if you are looking for something which is light and portable then a notebook is the obvious choice.

- If you want the cheapest possible deal then you will be better off choosing a notebook, but remember that cheapest is only a good deal if the device does what you want it to.

Tag : computer,computer repair,laptop computer,notebook

Why Cisco Routers Offer the Best Network Solution For Your Business?

Those wondering which routers in the industry are the best will often hear a common single word response: Cisco. Yes, Cisco routers are frequently recommended as the best available systems and are often an automatic go-to for businesses - large or small. Of course, the answer itself raises a question. What is it about Cisco routers that make them such a reliable and popular choice?

Two words can be employed to sum up such a question: quality and reliability. Cisco routers deliver on all their intended functions and do so without fail. No, this is not to infer that they last forever or are not prone to any potential damage. However, they are produced with a high enough level of quality that they will handle a great deal of use without displaying any loss of function.

That alone can be considered a huge positive for a business. It certainly would not be helpful to a business' bottom line to repeatedly replace routers. Yet, this may be the case when the network employs less reliable or durable. Why deal with such problems when Cisco routers would prove to be the much better option?

In addition to the great reliability associated with Cisco routers, the affordable price makes them well worth looking acquiring. Businesses always need to have an eye on the proverbial bottom line. This is not always easy considering the high prices certain computer hardware comes with. For those businesses in need of a top router system, this is the brand to consider. This combination of cost-effectiveness and reliability would certainly prove incredibly difficult to beat.

Do you have to be a tech wizard in order to run Cisco routers? If you did then they would probably never have proven to be as popular as they have become. They understand that user-friendliness is greatly valued by those businesses seeking to purchase networking equipment. This is just one of the reason that they are seen as easy to install and operate. No one needs to feel confused or unsure when it comes time to "push buttons" on the company's router. Cisco has made sure the router system's that bear the company's name are highly easy to use.

Similarly, concerns about configuration may raise their head. Or do they? Depending upon the particular router model a business purchases, configuration may not even be necessary. This would be another great positive since it eliminates the need for any additional and potentially confusing steps to run them. The more steps that are eliminated, the easier the router is to use. The easier the router is to use, the less time your business needs to spend dealing with router problems and issues.

All in all, it would be very difficult to top the great value that Cisco routers bring to the table. Cisco routers are affordable, efficient, east to operate, and come with a low price. When you take all of this into account it's easy to see why they remain such a popular choice with businesses throughout the world.

Tag : computer,computer repair,computer software,computer hardware

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

Password Security And Picking A Secure Password

Picking a password is one of those things that absolutely everyone has to do eventually, though many passwords aren't very secure due to decisions in selection and upkeep. Regardless of whether the password is for a social networking website, an online seller, or simply just your email, all of your passwords must be kept as securely as possible in order to protect your assets and your identity.

Listed below are some methods to help you ensure that your passwords are secure:

* The ideal password size is between ten and fifteen characters long. This is generally short enough for you to remember but long enough to discourage a brute force attack (a common type of a password cracking attempt).

* Avoid passwords that are very easily guessed due to their association with you. Your name and the names of anyone in your family, for example, can be very easy passwords to crack. Additional quickly guessed passwords include names of pets or important dates including anniversaries and birthdays.

* Also avoid using any passwords which are actual words which can be found in the dictionary. There are actually many programs that try to use every word in the dictionary as a password. These kinds of programs also frequently try to add random numbers to a given word (such as turning "kitty" into "kitty2") or to spell words backwards, so those possibilities shouldn't be used as passwords.

* The strongest passwords are usually alphanumeric combinations (sequences of numbers and letters) that are not composed of actual words but instead are made of syllables that you can easily remember mixed with numbers. Using a mixture of capital and lowercase letters will also help ensure a secure password. Ideally, this combination is also pronounceable, rather than a random string of letters and numbers, as the pronounceable password will likely be easier for you to remember. For example, a password such as "vgie38hA" is very secure but not very memorable, while "Soe6bam" can be repeated to yourself out loud and therefore remembered much more easily.

* Passwords which contain obvious sequences may take a bit longer to crack, however they're by no means secure. "123456" or "abcdefg" are easily recognizable patterns that will almost certainly be attempted by absolutely everyone trying to guess your password, as are patterns based on keyboard layout like "qwerty" or "zaq1xsw2" (analyze the left side of your keyboard for the latter example).

* Use a different password for every occasion. Choosing to use exactly the same password for everything is regrettably common and very unsafe. Once the password is known to work for one use, it will be tried for all other applications. Using a different password every time prevents the loss of all security in the case that one password is compromised.

* Change your passwords frequently. The longer you keep the exact same password, the greater the chance that it can be compromised. Altering your passwords every six months or so helps to ensure that your passwords are secure even if they have already been discovered and simply never used.

* You may need to write your password down in the event you can't remember it. If this would be the case, don't leave the written copy of your password anywhere that's immediately obvious such as your desk or your wallet. One option is to lock it up somewhere (such as a filing cabinet, lock-box, or other secure container) for that you have the one key. Another possible method is to write the password down on the edge of a page in a favorite book - avoid writing it down on a bookmark placed in a book, however, are these are easy for you to lose and for an intruder to find.

* Never give your password to anyone. The best password is one that you, and only you, know. No one else needs to know you password - not your spouse, your family members, your buddies, or your co-workers. Your system administrator doesn't need to know your password, since that person really should be able to reset your password in case of emergency anyway.

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

Cleaning Your Computer's Registry For Improved Performance

Cleaning your Computer's Registry for Improved Performance

Ron Cripps

This has been written to give the average computer user the information needed to optimize and maintain there computer registry. Your windows registry is an essential part of your computer so it needs to be looked after I hope this helps.

Invalid registry keys are the major cause of computer errors, crashes and slow downs. Invalid registry keys are usually want is left behind from a program that has been uninstalled from your computer. You need to repair these registry entries to ensure a smooth running computer as leaving them can lead to many problems.

Computer Systems such as Windows XP and Windows Vista possess a Registry Editor tool that you can use to view the registry files, and if you like you can conduct a few registry edits, but remember always backup the registry before making any changes. With that in mind, this mechanism is not equipped with options that you can use to perform a thorough system scan or repair of the registry. For that you will require a registry cleaning tool to do the work for you such as regcure, registry fix, registry smart, there are many options available to you and most of these programs have a free trial download.

Windows XP and Windows Vista have very notable characteristics when it comes to programs. If you are attempting to clean and maintain your own computer registry please be aware that this can be extremely dangerous to the unwary user. Your Registry files are extremely important for the trouble free operation of your windows system. In saying this if you happen to delete the wrong entry you could possibly slow or worse still crash your system.

Installing new software or hardware on your Windows Xp or Vista computer system is more complex than you are lead to believe. Every function of the install or un-install is logged in the computer registry. Overtime the registry can become full of obsolete files and this happens whether you have followed the correct un-install or install directions it is unfortunately unavoidable.

An unmaintained registry is likely to cause problems and crashes if left unchecked. It is vital that you clean your registry of any obsolete or cross linked files to ensure system stability and reliability.

Removing and installing programs can cause corrupt entries in your computers registry. This can in effect degrade the overall running of your computer which could lead to your computer failing to start altogether. If you have not done so already it would be a good idea to consider cleaning your computer registry to stop any further or future problems developing.

It is vital for you to maintain your computer registry, it is not a difficult procedure as long as you are extremely careful when removing any entries. Once you have removed a registry entry it is permanent and can not be undone. If you happen to delete a registry file that is needed it could stop your computer from running, so make a backup of all your files before attempting anything like this.

If you are confident enough to edit your registry then here is how you can access it by clicking on the Start then Run and typing in Regedit.Open the Registry Editor and click on the My Computer icon in the left-hand panel. Click Edit and Find. Type in the word that has some reference to the program you are searching for to be certain is removed from your registry.

There is another way to increase your system performance with having to use the Registry editor. You can access a program called MSCONFIG by going to start then to run and typing in "msconfig" this will open a new window on your desktop where you can click the startup tab to view all programs that have loaded during startup. Remember all of these programs are using up valuable resources on your PC. You can if you know what you are doing uncheck these programs to improve system performance.

The registry is critical for your Windows operating system. Regular registry maintenance helps you avoid PC errors and also enables you to ensure optimal PC performance. Always use the windows uninstall option all the program uninstall options to remove programs you no longer need Do Not Just the delete the Icon and the Program Folder as this will leave behind many files that will over time slow your computer through an overloaded computer registry

Useful Tips To Customize Your Mouse

The usage of computers has made life simpler for most of us. The key components of the computer system include the CPU, the monitor, keyboard and the mouse. Mouse is essential for navigating through the screen with relative ease than using the arrow keys in the keyboard.

People who are new to computers or in the learning stages might encounter some difficulties handling the mouse and moving the cursor across the navigation pane in the monitor. In some cases, such people even try to change or adapt their style of working to the requirements and standard working of the mouse. Most computers are ideally suited for a person using his right hand for working and the mouse is ideally placed on his or her right hand side. What will the choice be for a person using left hand predominantly for working than the right hand?

If you happen to be one such person, you will be delighted to know that you can customize the functions of the mouse to suit your working. You can easily customize the workings of the mouse to suit left hand operations. You can even change the display icon for the mouse, alter the size of the cursor navigating through the screen, and also control or adjust the speed of the mouse cursor.

The majority of the computers come pre-loaded with the Windows operating system. All you need to do is go to the control panel from the start menu of your desktop PC, click on the mouse icon, select the properties and do the required changes, such as the setting the speed of the mouse, altering the left and right button controls and also the cursor size and display icon. In this way, you can make it pleasurable to work in the desktop computer.

Files, Folders and Defrag - Help Organise Your PCFiles, Folders and Defrag - Help Organise Your PC

What is a file?

A file on your computer is much like a file that you would keep in your filing cabinet. Each file has a unique name and is kept in a specific location. Each computer file has a three character extension which is separated from the file name by a period. The extension is often hidden however there is an option in Windows to display this if you wish. The extension relates to a specific program. This tells the computer which program to open it with. For example, a file extension xls or xlsx relates to Microsoft Excel.

Some file extensions, such as.mp3 can be opened in a variety of programs.

What is a Folder?

A folder usually contains a collection of files similar to a folder in a filling cabinet. You can have folders within a folder. These are known as subfolders. You may sometimes hear folders referred to as directories.

What is a Path?

A path relates to the exact location of the folder leading to the files. For example, the location of the files for a program installation on a Windows PC is commonly c:program files.

File names can be whatever you like however there are some characters which cannot be used. e.g. *! % etc.. If you store files in the manner which you would in a manual filling system then you should be easily able to locate the one you are looking for.

Any file can have a shortcut, which is like a bridge to the original file and can be placed in any location on the computer. The Desktop is a where you are likely to find several shortcuts.

Keeping Your Desktop Tidy

It is good practice to keep you desktop tidy and uncluttered. Remove all unused shortcuts and create folders for scattered files. In Windows there is a desktop clean up wizard to help with this process.

To access this right click on the desktop, choose properties, then select the tab, desktop. Then click the button customise desktop button. There will be an option to clean the desktop. You could of course just delete any unwanted shortcuts or icons.

Performing a Defrag on a hard disk for a Windows based computer is a useful way to help speed up access to files and folders on your computer.

What is Defraging (Defrag)?

If you were to index a filing cabinet, you would probably organise it alphabetically with labels on the individual files to enable you to find them easily. If someone moved around the draws on the filing cabinet and switched the labels on your files to

a random order, beside being a tad annoying to say the least, it would take a great deal longer to find a particular file. Now a computer saves files wherever it finds space. This can be almost anywhere on the hard drive. So when the computer accesses a file it may have to look across the entire hard drive to find it, so over time this process will take longer. What a defrag does is to group together files of similar types thereby increasing the speed of access to them. So carrying out a defrag on a regular basis can help optimise the time your computer takes to access files and folders. Windows 7 and Windows Vista have an option to schedule a defrag at regular intervals.

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

How To Remove Svchost.exe

What Is Svchost.exe?

The full name of "svchost.exe " is "Gerneric Host Process for Win32 Services". Svchost.exe is a vital process for Windows operating system. it is a process that is used to load DLL files and programs that run on your computer.

It is likely that you get multiple schost.exe files loaded because one program needs to be grouped from other Windows services. Therefore, it is normal to see more than one svchost.exe process in the Task Manager.

Thought svshost.exe is a Windows system file, there might be some viruses that will infect the svchost.exe file in your computer. You have to know that the original location for svchost.exe is C:\Windows\Ssytem. If svchost.exe is found in places other than its normal location, you have to pay close attention because it is probably a virus and learn how to remove svchost.exe to ensure the stability and security of your system.
If you want to make sure that your system is under a stable and secure condition, you could run a quick exe error scan for your PC.

How to Fix Svchost.exe Errors?

If you are getting the following error message during startup, the solutions telling you how to remove svchost.exe are presented below.

Error message:
0se03c3a68
Solutions:

If you are using Windows Me or Windows XP, you can turn off the System Restore.
For Windows Me:

1.Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > double click System
2.Go to the Performance tab > select File System
3.Left click Troubleshooting tab
4.Select "Disable System Restore "
5.Click OK

For Windows XP:
1.Log on to the system as Administrator
2.Go to Start > right click on My Computer > select Properties
3.Select "Turn Off System Restore"
4.Left click Apply and click Yes
5.Click OK

Restart your computer under the Safe Mode.
1.Start up your computer
2.After the first beep, press F8
3.Select the first option

Access the command prompt.
1.Go to Start > Run > type CMD > Click OK
2.Type the directory path of the folder of the Windows system files
Type the following information in the command prompt.
"attrib -h -r -s scvhost.exe", press Enter
"attrib -h -r -s blastclnnn.exe", press Enter
"attrib -h -r -s autorun.inf", press Enter
Type the following in the command prompt to delete the files.
"del scvhost.exe", press Enter
"del blastclnnn.exe", press Enter
"del autorun.inf", press Enter
Type "cd\" to return to the main Windows directory.
Type "attrib -h -r -s autorun.inf" in the command prompt, press Enter
Type "del wutorun.inf' and press Enter
Type "regedit" and press Enter
Locate the following entry.
HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Locate the following key.
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WInlogon
Locate the following key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>Services>
Delete the following subkeys: RpcPatch, RpcTftpd
Type Exit and press Enter
Reboot your computer

By: Nikki Ramelow

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

How to Setup Your Own Wi-Fi Network

Wi-Fi is the acronym of Wireless Fidelity and is also the well-liked name for 802.11 based technology. Some years ago, the flexibility of networking was the luxury reserve and was threaded behind the walls, to set up the Ethernet network connection. But now over the past few years, there a number of packages for home networking are available and relatively easy to use. One can use the pre-existing wirings to set up wireless network.

You can include three things, based on three established standards of the networking.

1. HomePNA 2.0 - It is Home Phoneline Networking Alliance that can cater on the phone line system of home.
2. HomePlug - It uses the existing power lines
3. 802.11b (Wi-Fi) standard - it gives the facility to go wireless.

Wireless network is useful for sharing the Internet access, printers and files. Before setting up the wireless network, Vista users are recommended to install the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows XP service Pack 2 for XP users. Service Pack makes things much easier and protects you against internet intruders, the hackers and worms.

Here Step by Step guide is given for set up

Important - Before going for setting up your own Wi-Fi network, you must read the documentation first for the router, Broadband modem and any other device that will be used.

Step 1 - Choose wireless equipment

First step for setting up a network is to make sure for the equipment you need. Always choose the equipments, according to the three different said wireless technologies. So before going to purchase the devices, just take a look at the list of required equipments.

List

- A Computer System
- A Broadband internet connection
- A wireless router
- A wireless network adaptor

Step 2 - Purchase your router

Three top wireless networking standards of the routers can be used for the maximum compatibility. These standards are: 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g. So before purchasing, you make sure that the router, what you are going to use is compatible with the three wireless network standards. Like a cordless phone base station, router converts the internet signals into a wireless broadcast.

Step 3 - Purchase a Wireless Network Adaptor

The adaptor connects your computer system to the wireless router. For the desktop computer, you should buy a USB wireless network adaptor but for laptops, you may buy a PC card based network adaptor. Every computer requires a separate network adaptor. Some times Windows may prompt you to inser the CD, which comes with the adaptor. Today the top adaptors are available from Netgear, Linksys, D-Link, Buffallo and Microsoft.

Step 4 - Physical Setup of Wi-Fi network

One can connect a router to the existing home network with the simple process. The chain "Internet - Broadband Modem - PC" then becomes "Internet - Broadband Modem - Router - PC". First you locate the cable or DSL modem then connect the router to the modem. This time modem should be the connected to the internet.

After this whole setup, your computer will connect wirelessly to the router and router will communicate through the modem to internet.

Step 5 - Get the Digital setup and security for the network

After getting hooked altogether, one must try to check the network by opening a web on the internet. The security process must include the encryption of the data. To ensure the security by encryption you should create an encryption key which is a series of the letters and numbers like the password.

Problems and their solution

The only problem with this setup is that we have to turn on the computer, which is connected to the internet to share the connection with the other computers. The use of the gateway with the built-in router, is a good solution of this problem. This is a hardware device which handles the internet traffic like a switchboard. Now this device is commonly referred as the router.

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