How to Rename the Recycle Bin

To change the name of the Recycle Bin desktop icon, open Regedit and go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

and change the name "Recycle Bin" to whatever you want (don't type any quotes).

How to use Windows Update Properly

If you want to save your files to your hard drive, so after a format you dont have to download them all again, here's How:

- Logon to Windows Update

- Choose Windows Update Catalogue (left hand pane)

- Choose Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems (right hand pane)

- Choose your version and language then Search

- Choose one the following:

- Critical Updates and Service Packs - Service Packs and Recommended Downloads - Multi-Language Features (0)

- Once chosen simply click on what you want to download and then back at the top click Review Download Basket

- You are taken to the next page where at the top you can specify where the downloads are to be saved.

- Click Download now. Each patch will make a directory under the root of the folder you saved them to. Once finished you need to go to where you saved the file (s) to and then simply install all your patches.

Group Policy For Win XP

One of the most full featured Windows XP configuration tools available is hidden right there in your system, but most people don't even know it exists. It's called the Local Group Policy Editor, or gpedit for short. To invoke this editor, select Start and then Run, then type the following:

gpedit.msc

After you hit ENTER, you'll be greeted by gpedit, which lets you modify virtually every feature in Windows XP without having to resort to regedit. Dig around and enjoy

Set Processes Priority

Follow this tip to increase the priority of active processes, this will result in prioritisation of processes using the CPU.

Press CTRL-SHIFT-ESC

1.Go to the second tab called Processes, right click on one of the active processes, you will see the Set Priority option

2.For example, your Run your CDwriter program , set the priority higher, and guess what, no crashed CD’s

New Sound Blaster Driver - Creative

With the loads of problems reported by users with Soundblaster cards on Windows XP Creative has stepped up and offered drivers for at least some models of their Sound Blaster cards, but check your particular model closely. I have downloaded the SB128 drivers and my sound problems have been resolved..! So they do work.

http://www.creative.com/support/winxp/

How to Convert FAT to NTFS file system

To convert a FAT partition to NTFS, perform the following steps.

1. In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type cmd and then click OK.
2. At the command prompt, type CONVERT [driveletter]: /FS:NTFS.
3. Convert.exe will attempt to convert the partition to NTFS.

10 Sins of Windows VISTA

1. Microsoft Vista Is too expensive . With prices starting from £67.98 to £289.99 on Amazon. for 289.99 you could buy a brand new Laptop from Tesco

2. When you finally decide to buy assuming that you have the cash, you will realise that there are too many versions of Vista you might not be able to make up your mind.

3. If you do make up your mind and you take Windows Vista home,install it, well done because now most of your old applications won't work anymore. Dont ask me why.

4. The start menu will so much confuse you, you will wish you stuck toWindows XP.

5. Wait, did you buy your PC before 2006, then i advise that you do a clean installation instead of an upgrade. However, if you have done the latteralready expect major meltdown.

6. But don't worry you will never see the "blue screen of death" again just a really cold freeze up when everything stops working.

7. And by the way, the first thing to stop working wont be Firefox, no it will be Internet explorer 7, i don't understand why it performs worse on Vista than firefox .E ven though vista and internet explorer were made by the same company!

8. It takes longer to boot than XP. Can someone please tell me why?

9. Software and hardware vendors have been rather slow in coming up with drivers for vista, so expect your printer to stop working.

10. The windows search is rubbish sometimes it makes you think that what you are looking for is not there , because its probably searching the wrong directory. The "wow" stops here.

Speed Up Browsing

When you connect to a web site your computer sends information back and forth. Some of this information deals with resolving the site name to an IP address, the stuff that TCP/IP really deals with, not words. This is DNS information and is used so that you will not need to ask for the site location each and every time you visit the site. Although Windows XP and Windows XP have a pretty efficient DNS cache, you can increase its overall performance by increasing its size. You can do this with the registry entries below:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache\Parameters]
"CacheHashTableBucketSize"=dword:00000001
"CacheHashTableSize"=dword:00000180
"MaxCacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000fa00
"MaxSOACacheEntryTtlLimit"=dword:0000012d

Make a new text file and rename it to dnscache.reg. Then copy and paste the above into it and save it. Merge it into the registry.

XP Game Compatibility

You want to know if all your favorite games are still going to run under Windows XP. Remember what happened when we tried to run games on our Windows 2000 machines? Sometimes we were a little disappointed. Windows 2000 was made more for corporate applications than "Quake," but true techno-geeks know they don't have to sacrifice death matches for a robust business environment -- at least not anymore.


Windows XP has shown an impressive track record of game compatibility. We ran a number of standard games, such as "Tiger Woods Golf," "NHL 2001," "Max Payne," and "Unreal" on our Windows XP Professional machine. Some of these games were specifically slated for Windows 95 and 98, and were shown not to work in Windows 2000. The installation in XP was as smooth as silk. The games ran quickly and beautifully -- not a problem in sight (except for my bad chip shot -- Tiger was hanging his head in shame).


Some less-sophisticated programs may not run as smoothly, and we found that some older applications, such as the Atari 2600 Classic Game Collection, did not appreciate the Windows XP environment. In this case you can use the Application Compatibility Wizard, found in the accessories menu. XP includes integrated compatibility layers to mimic older versions of Windows, so if your program does not work in Windows XP, the compatibility wizard will walk you through the process of getting even your favorite DOS games up and running. In this case, we ran the Atari Classic Game Collection in the Windows 95 environment, at 256 colors and 640x480 screen resolution. Then we set XP to always run our Atari application in this environment, and everything was smooth sailing after that.

One final tip about compatibility: Don't run the compatibility wizard if your program appears to be running well in the normal environment, as the wizard will give you an error message. In general, XP has great program compatibility, so you can upgrade your operating system without giving up all your old favorites.

Group policy for Windows XP

One of the most full featured Windows XP configuration tools available is hidden right there in your system, but most people don't even know it exists. It's called the Local Group Policy Editor, or gpedit for short. To invoke this editor, select Start and then Run, then type the following:

gpedit.msc

After you hit ENTER, you'll be greeted by gpedit, which lets you modify virtually every feature in Windows XP without having to resort to regedit. Dig around and enjoy

Slow Shutdown

 Some people have noticed that they are experiencing a really slow shutdown after installing Windows XP Home or Professional. Although this can be caused a number of ways, the most clear cut one so far is happening on systems with an NVidia card installed with the latest set of drivers. A service called NVIDIA Driver Helper Service is loading up on start up and for whatever reason doesn't shut itself down properly. The service isn't needed and can also increase the amount of memory available to your system. Here is how to disable it.

1: Go into your Control Panel
2: Select Administrative Tools and then click on Services
3: Right click on the file "NVIDIA Driver Helper Service" and then select STOP.
4: To stop this loading up every time you boot up your PC Right click it again and select properties - then where the option "Startup Type" is shown - make sure it is set at Manual.

Make your Folders Private

•Open My Computer
•Double-click the drive where Windows is installed (usually drive (C:), unless you have more than one drive on your computer).
•If the contents of the drive are hidden, under System Tasks, click Show the contents of this drive.
•Double-click the Documents and Settings folder.
•Double-click your user folder.
•Right-click any folder in your user profile, and then click Properties.
•On the Sharing tab, select the Make this folder private so that only I have access to it check box.


Note

•To open My Computer, click Start, and then click My Computer.
•This option is only available for folders included in your user profile. Folders in your user profile include My Documents and its subfolders, Desktop, Start Menu, Cookies, and Favorites. If you do not make these folders private, they are available to everyone who uses your computer.
•When you make a folder private, all of its subfolders are private as well. For example, when you make My Documents private, you also make My Music and My Pictures private. When you share a folder, you also share all of its subfolders unless you make them private.
•You cannot make your folders private if your drive is not formatted as NTFS For information about converting your drive to NTFS

NTFS vs. FAT

To NTFS or not to NTFS—that is the question. But unlike the deeper questions of life, this one isn't really all that hard to answer. For most users running Windows XP, NTFS is the obvious choice. It's more powerful and offers security advantages not found in the other file systems. But let's go over the differences among the files systems so we're all clear about the choice. There are essentially three different file systems available in Windows XP: FAT16, short for File Allocation Table, FAT32, and NTFS, short for NT File System.


FAT16
The FAT16 file system was introduced way back with MS–DOS in 1981, and it's showing its age. It was designed originally to handle files on a floppy drive, and has had minor modifications over the years so it can handle hard disks, and even file names longer than the original limitation of 8.3 characters, but it's still the lowest common denominator. The biggest advantage of FAT16 is that it is compatible across a wide variety of operating systems, including Windows 95/98/Me, OS/2, Linux, and some versions of UNIX. The biggest problem of FAT16 is that it has a fixed maximum number of clusters per partition, so as hard disks get bigger and bigger, the size of each cluster has to get larger. In a 2–GB partition, each cluster is 32 kilobytes, meaning that even the smallest file on the partition will take up 32 KB of space. FAT16 also doesn't support compression, encryption, or advanced security using access control lists.

FAT32
The FAT32 file system, originally introduced in Windows 95 Service Pack 2, is really just an extension of the original FAT16 file system that provides for a much larger number of clusters per partition. As such, it greatly improves the overall disk utilization when compared to a FAT16 file system. However, FAT32 shares all of the other limitations of FAT16, and adds an important additional limitation—many operating systems that can recognize FAT16 will not work with FAT32—most notably Windows NT, but also Linux and UNIX as well. Now this isn't a problem if you're running FAT32 on a Windows XP computer and sharing your drive out to other computers on your network—they don't need to know (and generally don't really care) what your underlying file system is.

The Advantages of NTFS
The NTFS file system, introduced with first version of Windows NT, is a completely different file system from FAT. It provides for greatly increased security, file–by–file compression, quotas, and even encryption. It is the default file system for new installations of Windows XP, and if you're doing an upgrade from a previous version of Windows, you'll be asked if you want to convert your existing file systems to NTFS. Don't worry. If you've already upgraded to Windows XP and didn't do the conversion then, it's not a problem. You can convert FAT16 or FAT32 volumes to NTFS at any point. Just remember that you can't easily go back to FAT or FAT32 (without reformatting the drive or partition), not that I think you'll want to.

The NTFS file system is generally not compatible with other operating systems installed on the same computer, nor is it available when you've booted a computer from a floppy disk. For this reason, many system administrators, myself included, used to recommend that users format at least a small partition at the beginning of their main hard disk as FAT. This partition provided a place to store emergency recovery tools or special drivers needed for reinstallation, and was a mechanism for digging yourself out of the hole you'd just dug into. But with the enhanced recovery abilities built into Windows XP (more on that in a future column), I don't think it's necessary or desirable to create that initial FAT partition.

When to Use FAT or FAT32
If you're running more than one operating system on a single computer (see Dual booting in Guides), you will definitely need to format some of your volumes as FAT. Any programs or data that need to be accessed by more than one operating system on that computer should be stored on a FAT16 or possibly FAT32 volume. But keep in mind that you have no security for data on a FAT16 or FAT32 volume—any one with access to the computer can read, change, or even delete any file that is stored on a FAT16 or FAT32 partition. In many cases, this is even possible over a network. So do not store sensitive files on drives or partitions formatted with FAT file systems.

Speed up XP Start Menu

Windows XP default speed of the Start Menu is very slow. You can fix that by editing a Registry Key. Here's how:

1. Go to Start> Run, then type in: regedit Press [Enter] on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \ Desktop \ MenuShowDelay
3. By default, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value (like 0) to speed it up. Note: If your still experiencing a slow speed of the Start Menu, even after using the above tip, then you might try the following:
4. Navigate to Display Properties> Appearance> Advanced
   Turn off the option titled Show menu shadow .
5. You will get much better overall performance

Create a Shortcut to Lock Your Computer

Leaving your computer in a hurry but you don’t want to log off? You can double-click a shortcut on your desktop to quickly lock the keyboard and display without using CTRL+ALT+DEL or a screensaver.

To create a shortcut on your desktop to lock your computer:

• Right-click the desktop.
  
• Point to New, and then click Shortcut.

The Create Shortcut Wizard opens. In the text box, type the following:

• rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
• Click Next.
• Enter a name for the shortcut. You can call it "Lock Workstation" or choose any name you like.
• Click Finish.
  

You can also change the shortcut's icon (my personal favorite is the padlock icon in shell32.dll).
To change the icon:

• Right click the shortcut and then select Properties.
  
• Click the Shortcut tab, and then click the Change Icon button.

In the Look for icons in this file text box, type:

• Shell32.dll.
  
• Click OK.
  
• Select one of the icons from the list and then click OK
  
• You could also give it a shortcut keystroke such CTRL+ALT+L. This would save you only one keystroke from the normal command, but it could be more convenient.
  

System Information Tool in XP

In Windows XP, you'll find a very handy tool called, the System Information Tool. The main purpose of this tool is to help in troubleshooting computer issues. As an example, if you are having a problem with an optical drive, you can use this tool to identify the status of the driver for this drive.

While the troubleshooting aspect of this tool is used by the more advanced users, this tool is handy for all users who wish to find out information about what is installed on your Windows application at a glance.

Here's how to start the System Information Tool:

Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> System Information.

OR - Go to Start>> Run. Type in: msinfo32.exe [Enter] or click OK.

The categories of information you can expect to find in this tool are:

• Installed Components
• Hardware Resources
• Installed Applications
• Software Environment
• Internet Explorer

Win XP Configuaration Utility(MSCONFIG.EXE)

The Windows XP utility Msconfig (Microsoft Configuration) is useful for configuring various OS elements:

1. Startup type (e.g., which drivers are loaded, whether system.ini/win.ini are parsed)
2. Which parts of system.ini are used
3. Which parts of win.ini are used
4. Which commands run at start-up
5. Which services start
6. boot.ini options

With the boot.ini option, you can check the current entries, specify additional options, and configure the timeout.

1. Start Msconfig (Start, Run, msconfig.exe).
2. Select the BOOT.INI tab.
3. The dialog box displays the current OSs.
4. Click Check All Boot Paths to go through all the entries and ensure that they relate to a true installation.
5. If you select an actual installation, you can then set the various boot options, such as basevideo and SOS.
6. Once finished, click OK.

Formatting and Installing XP(Easiest Way)

There are several ways to format in XP:

1 During install
2. Using Diskmanagement under administrative tools
3. Using the recovery console
4. Using start run cmd then the format command.
5. Right click on the drive in explorer and select format.
6. Using a Win98 boot disk
Note: WinXP will not let you mess with the boot partition or system partition since both contain items required to boot and run winXP. Thus, you should use the install process to format system and boot drive.Here is the easiest way to perform a "Clean Install" of XP:

Using Windows XP CD:

1. Insert your XP CD in the drive while running your current installation of XP.

2. You will be given some options here.

You can select:

• Clean Install
• New Installation
• Advanced

...and others I believe. But since this tutorial teaches a Clean Installation of XP, select "Clean Install".

3. Put a checkmark in the box to "designate where you want to install XP" (or some such dialog). Typically, you will choose to install XP on your C: drive.

4. Next, you will need to select the file system you wish to use. I recommend selecting NTFS as it is more sucure than the FAT32 system.

5. Setup will then format the partition you chose and then you can install XP clean on that partition. Be sure that if you have more than one partition, you select the correct one.

6. Install your Windows XP Operating System.

Using Windows 98 Boot Disk:

Get yourself a Windows 98 boot-diskette with fdisk. Delete all partitions and THEN boot from the CD. If XP's setup finds formatted partitions, it proceeds without user intervention. If it doesn't find any, setup will prompt you for partitioning and formatting.

Using Floppy Drive:

If you are not able to boot from your CD-ROM, try changing the boot order in your BIOS so that your CD-ROM boots first.

Create Screen Saver Without using Software in XP

For a great way to put your digital photos to work, try creating a slide show presentation for use as a screen saver.

* Right–click an empty spot on your desktop, and then click Properties.
* Click the Screen Saver tab.
* In the Screen saver list, click My Pictures Slideshow.
* Click Settings to make any adjustments, such as how often the pictures should change, what size they should be, and whether you’ll use transition effects between pictures, and then click OK.

Now your screen saver is a random display of the pictures taken from your My Pictures folder.

Detect and Repairing Disk Errors

In previous versions of Windows, you would find a built in utility called ScanDisk. This utility exists in Windows XP but is called the Error Checking utility. So, in addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

To run the Error Checking utility:

Important: Be sure to close all files before running the Error Checking Utility. Any unsaved data will be lost.

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

Source: Microsoft

System Information Tool

In Windows XP, you'll find a very handy tool called, the System Information Tool. The main purpose of this tool is to help in troubleshooting computer issues. As an example, if you are having a problem with an optical drive, you can use this tool to identify the status of the driver for this drive.

While the troubleshooting aspect of this tool is used by the more advanced users, this tool is handy for all users who wish to find out information about what is installed on your Windows application at a glance. Here's how to start the System Information Tool:

1. Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> System Information.[OR]Go to Start>> Run.
2. Type in: msinfo32.exe [Enter] or click OK.

The categories of information you can expect to find in this tool are:

• 
  Installed Components
• 
  Hardware Resources
• 
  Installed Applications
• 
  Software Environment
• 
  Internet Explorer

Updating XP`s Device Driver

Many people are of the opinion that if it isn't broke then don't fix it. However, there are other people that believe that updating your hardware with fresh drivers taps its full potential and makes for a smoother running device. In any case, it is easy to locate and update a device driver using Device Manager, here's how:

1. 
   Go to Start and right-click on My Computer.
2. 
   Select Properties from the resulting menu.
3. 
   Click the Hardware tab.
4. 
   Click the Device Manager button.
5. 
   Select the device you want to update by hitting the plus sign next to the hardware category. The specific device will now be shown.
6. 
   Right click on the device and select Update Driver

This will invoke the Hardware Update Wizard. Follow the onscreen instructions or visit the manufactures web site to locate an updated driver.If the new driver fails, you can easily reinstall the old driver. Here's how:

1. 
   Open the Device Manager (steps 1-4 above).
2. 
   Expose the desired device, right click it and then select Properties.
3. 
   Choose the Driver tab.
4. 
   Select the Roll Back Driver button .

Windows XP console utilities

Listed below are many of the Windows XP console utilities that you can run from the command line.

1. 
   Computer Management - compmgmt.msc
2. 
   Disk Managment - diskmgmt.msc
3. 
   Device Manager - devmgmt.msc
4. 
   Disk Defrag - dfrg.msc
5. 
   Event Viewer - eventvwr.msc
6. 
   Shared Folders - fsmgmt.msc
7. 
   Group Policies - gpedit.msc
8. 
   Local Users and Groups - lusrmgr.msc
9. 
   Performance Monitor - perfmon.msc
10. 
    Resultant Set of Policies - rsop.msc
11. 
    Local Security Settings - secpol.msc
12. 
    Services - services.msc
13. 
    Component Services - comexp.msc

by,
Yogesh Agarwal.

5 useful Windows XP tricks

You know that feeling you get when your friends or family see you do something on your computer that they've never seen before?
If you haven't had this opportunity, here's where you start.

If you have, then you know that you're feeling like the world's coolest power-user when this happens. Knowledge is power! Here are five Windows XP tips that will get you/keep you schoolin' your friends and family.


Save time with quick computer shortcuts

Use single-click everywhere

Customize your Start menu

Create a keyboard shortcut to open a folder

Don't just maximize your windows—go full screen

When you need a really big window, don't just maximize it: go full screen! To view a window full screen, hold down the Ctrl key and double-click the window's title bar—or when the window is active, press the F11 key at the top of your keyboard—to get the biggest window possible.

Add the Links toolbar to My Computer

You know what would make a great toolbar? One where you could put your favorite applications and documents so that you could open them from any window at any time. Guess what? You can and here's how: click Start, then My Computer. Now right-click the toolbar and then click Links. You now have the Links toolbar on your windows, just like in Internet Explorer. Note: Make sure that Lock the Toolbars is not checked. Click on it to deselect it if it is.

The really cool thing about the Links toolbar is that it's completely customizable. Try this: Navigate to your favorite application and drag and drop its icon to the Links toolbar. You just created a shortcut. Do this again and again for as many applications as you want to appear on the toolbar.

Arrange windows on your desktop

You can display any two windows side by side on the desktop by first clicking a window's button on the Taskbar. Next, press and hold the Ctrl key and right-click the second window that you want to open, then click Tile Vertically. This works great when you want to view two Microsoft Word or Microsoft Internet Explorer windows at the same time.

Organize your files into groups

Organize your files by grouping them. Try this: Open a folder containing several different subfolders and file types. Right-click any empty space on the window's contents pane, click Arrange Icons By, and then click Show in Groups. To arrange the window's contents, right-click again in any empty space on the window's contents pane, point to Arrange Icons By, and click Name, Size, Type, or Modified.

Make your own icons

It's shockingly easy to create your own icons in Windows XP. Let's do it: Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Paint. On the Image menu, click Attributes. Type 32 for both the Width and Height of the document, and make sure that Pixels is selected under Units. Click OK to create a new 32x32-pixel document: the size of an icon.

Now add type, color, or do whatever you'd like to your image. I like to shrink photos (headshots work best) to 32x32 and simply paste them into my Paint document. When you're finished, open the File menu and click Save As. Use the dialog box to choose where you want to save your file, then give it a name followed by ".ico" (without the quotes), and click Save. (The extension ".ico" tells Windows that it's an icon file.) You just created an icon! Now you can change any shortcut or folder to your own icon—just browse to it on your hard drive.

Hidden Programs in Microsoft Windows XP X version

1- Private Character Editor This program is for designing icons and Characters(Alphapet)

Click :start
Then :run
type :EUDCEDIT
..................................................

2- iExpress This Program is for conerting your files to EXCUTABLE files

Click : start
Then : run
type : iexpress
..................................................
3-Disk Cleanup This program used for cleaning hard disk to offer space

Click : start
Then : run
type : cleanmgr
..................................................

4-Dr Watson This program Is for repairing problems in Windows

Click : start
Then : run
type : drwtsn32
..................................................

5-Windows Media Player 5.1Opens the old media player

Click : start
Then : run
type : mplay32
..................................................

Program

CODE__________

Character Map = charmap

DirectX diagnosis = dxdiag

Object Packager = packager

System Monitor = perfmon

Program Manager = progman

Remote Access phone book = rasphone

Registry Editor = regedt32

File siganture verification tool = sigverif

Volume Contro = sndvol32

System Configuration Editor = sysedit

Syskey = syskey

Microsoft Telnet Client = telnet

Quick Guide on Buying Personal Computers

Are you planning to buy your first PC or you would like to purchase a new one? There are hundreds of brands and models available online and on traditional PC stores which makes choosing a computer an overwhelming task. Computers are definitely an investment so be careful on choosing because you don't want to spend your money to end up with something unreliable or those loaded with features that you wouldn't need anyway. Below are quick tips and guides on buying a Personal computer;

1. What is your alloted budget? You could dream of having the most high end personal computer but will your fund tally with it's price tag? Set a range for the amount that you are willing to spend, keep in mind that you will be buying an investment so don't be too frugal but at the same time do not overspend.

2. Decide whether you need a desktop or a laptop. Will you need it for computer works that can be done at home or do you need a portable laptop which you can bring at the office, school or almost everywhere.

3. Determine the features that you want in your computer. Will you need something with basic specs or do you need a customized PC that can cater to your gaming or multimedia needs. Do you want a PC with built-in web cam or would you want to buy it separately.

4. Have a short list of PC manufacturers that you want and trust your money on. You can research online for reviews and testimonials about PC lines.

5. Choose the Operating System(OS) for your computer. Most PCs are Windows-based because of the popularity of Microsoft's OS & most software are compatible with their OS. On the other hand their main rival is Mac, who boasts their speed and performance. It is highly
recommended for multimedia creation which involves graphics or video editing. But the main disadvantage is most popular softwares do not support Mac's OS.

6. If possible, select the software that will be included and make sure that those that will be installed are the applications that really need because often times you would pay for additional costs for installed software that you don't even use.

7. Check out the technical support offered by the company. It will be handy to have a reliable and accessible sales support if your computer breaks down .

Before buying a PC and after reading these quick tips, you can browse online for product reviews, price comparison and more! As mentioned earlier, personal computers are investments so it won't hurt to research a thing or two before deciding what PC to buy.

3 Ways to protect your Data Privacy

After you delete a "sensitive" file, do you rest assured that nobody will ever be able to access that file? Well, think again... because you are not completely safe until you really remove that file!

What happens is that when you delete a file, this operation is translated as:

a) mark the disk space occupied by that file as available, so that other files can use it;
b) mark the file as gone from the directory it was in, so it won't be listed anymore;
c) leave the actual contents of the file on the disk, so it can be recovered;

...and this is happening in many operating systems, like Windows XP (NTFS), Mac OS X (HFS Plus) or GNU/Linux (with a kernel version greater than 2.4).

The last operation is the one causing problems in some cases, although it has its benefits. But it's not that bad, because, along with new bytes getting written to the disk, that disk space marked as available will be used by other files eventually. So, the content of the deleted file is replaced, making it unrecoverable by software means (I've specified software means, because on older hard disks it's possible to recover a deleted file through physical means and with the right equipment, even if new information has been written on that disk).

If you don't want to wait for that, there are some alternatives:

1. File shredding (preferably on the whole partition rather than individual files - disk free space wiping);
2. Store the file using strong encryption at all times, in which case there won't be any useful data to recover (if the encryption key is secure enough);
3. Destroy the media (incinerate, use acid, degauss the platters);

These last two are very effective alternatives to protect data privacy, though they are much more that an average user needs. And since using file shredder software is sufficient enough to ensure that the data can't be recovered, I think that's the best alternative to use.

File shredding (also called file wiping) signifies secure deletion of a computer file, so that it can not be restored by any means, and it can be done using specialized software - usually called File Shredder.

Tip 1: Although your computer is telling you that there is a certain amount of free space on your disk, it doesn't necessarily mean that and it's always a good thing to do a free disk space wipe - some people say that it's even better to do it three times in a row!

Tip 2: Before you decide to buy such software, search the Internet for reviews on the most popular file shredders.
Hope it helps!

Computer Repair Tuneup Part 1

Some people find it difficult to believe that they can have a smooth running computer, in fact they might think there is no way that they could ever achieve this on their own. Extremely intelligent people will look at the PC like it is a stranger amongst them, whether it is at home or in their office.

All anyone wants is a fast, smooth PC and probably the quickets way to achieve this is to just call up a computer repair professional. Although this will also be the most expensive upfront the time that is saved in productivity will more than make up for the initial tune up costs.

One thing is certain, there are many parts to a computer, both hardware and software. Each and every one of these items can adversely affect the performance of your computer. Just one of these items is the RAM, which all by itself can really impact the speed and performance of your comptuer.

RAM stands for "Random Access Memory" and is a specific type of memory used in computing that allows access on a random basis. You can find RAM in other devices besides computers but it is mainly used in computers and also in printers.

If you look at the windows XP box that came with your computer you will see that the minimum system requirements is 64 MEG's or RAM which I can tell you right now is WAY too low to run this operating system smoothly. You will definitely need more!

Prior to the Service Pack 2 upgrade that Microsoft sent out for Windows XP users most computers shipped with 256 MEG's of RAM and this was sufficent. However, after Service Pack 2 is installed, any machine with only 256 Megs of RAM will run very slow.

After reading this it should be apparent that a RAM upgrade is all you need! This is a fairly easy upgrade for the individual to use but if you do not want to open up your case you could just as easily have a computer pro take care of it for you. At this point it would be prudent to have at least 512 MEG's of RAM in your system.

As your getting started, just remember this isn't brain surgery, it may seem difficult but once you do it, you can tell everyone and be proud. Your rewards will be huge, the increased performance will be significant and you can happily use your computer without having to worry about it going sluggish on you.

Upgrade your computer Power Supply

The power supply to a computer is often the most underappreciated component of a computer and can well be a key to better, faster and smoother computer speeds of your computer.
But who ever thinks of that silver box tucked away in the back of your computer?
Most people simply have the power supply that came installed in their computer. If it ever overheats and breaks down, stopping their computer from starting dead cold, that is the only time most computer users ever think of, replace or upgrade their computer.

Imagine if you had an erratic source of electricity to your home that was sparkly, erratic or underpowered. In the same way if the power supply is an inexpensive one it may be erratic in its power output. You may well have upgraded your computer - added drives , added a second cd/dvd reader or burner, a new powerful video card , or a number of external USB devices - whether they be mice, keyboards , external drives powered by the USB port alone , and never thought that you were taxing your limited amperage power supply. All of this extra power usage by these new components that you have added to your computer without thinking of the consequences on your already stretched power supply can both dampen your computer performance and shorten the life of your power supply.

How is computer power supplies rated? Computer power supplies are usually rated by amperage. However this is a peak amperage measurement. This can be of a most optimistic rating. Late in the day - a couple of technicians overseas snap one or two of the better examples of their factories workmanship onto a load meter. They snap on the power briefly and note - did you see that - 500 watts. I'm sure I saw 500 watts says technician number 2 and even 3 and they mark the test results down. And if the numbers do not jive absolutely it can always be blamed on batch consistency or even a different group of products. For after all isn't it a test of average load of a number of transformers.

Everything in life as they say comes down to practical logistics.

Most of the mass market computer that you will find in big box stores etc is mass produced. This has advantages of low cost and easy repair at the factory. The product has been set up and tested. If there is a problem with the computer it can be easily fixed, in, most cases with a simple swap of components at the factory. The computer model and its common problems and fixes are well known. The flip side is that the components have been carefully sought out, extensively tested and component quality shaved down to the bone.

As a result you do not have a lot of leeway with power supply to any upgrades or simple USB hardware additions to your computer system. Thus it is a wise idea to replace your power supply.

How can you judge which power supplies are better than others. First of all you can do a rough judgment by weight. The better power supplies will have a lot more copper metal in their transformer and will be much heavier. Inexpensive power supplies are very lightweight. You will notice the heavier weight of better power supplies immediately.

Next the better power supplies will have higher wattage. 200 - 300 watts may be fine for older Pentium 2s and 3s; newer computers may well need a minimum of 350 - 400 watts or more. It is not only power in watts but the consistency that matters. The better power supplies will be marked with consistent power output levels on their markings. As well they may be marked as having dual or more channels, What this means is that there are two or more entirely separate power supply channels, Thus there will be one distinct channel of power for the motherboard and another for the peripherals. When a DVD drive comes on it the power supply to the motherboard will not diminish even for a second.
Your computer speed will be smooooooooth.

The last thing to note is either the amount of plug outputs and the amount fans built into the power supply. The better power supplies will have the luxury of providing lots of extra plugs - both for convenience, and the expandability their power supply offers.

As well there may be extra fans to properly cool the better, more powerful power supplies. Even though there may be extra fans, the power supply over may be incredibly quiet due to the higher quality ball bearing based gearings and advanced sophisticated heat sensing power switching controls.

The ac power supply of your computer may well be the most unappreciated taken for granted component of your computer. A better power supply can be one of the keys to increasing the speed and consistent performance of your computer especially as you upgrade your computer adds new components. Might be a good idea to invest in a new. High quality computer power supply.

Project Payday -Free Membership

I have talked about Project Payday in the past and have encouraged my readers to avoid paying for the eBook as you could get a lot of the info by just going to the forums I listed instead. Now you don't have to parse all the info as Project Payday can now be had without buying the book.
The folks at Project Payday are now offering the whole package - Training Guide, Videos, Mentoring, Free Offers and other resources in exchange for you filling out a free offer on their site.

You only have to fill out 1 offer and while most of the offers will cost a buck or two, you will be rebated the cost by Project Payday.

If you don't want to wait for the rebate you can fill out one offer that is completely free and get your Project Payday membership instantly. The offer is for Work at Home Manifesto and you will still get a rebate of 2 dollars for filling out the form. Essentially this form is nothing more than adding your name and email to the Work at Home Manifesto mailing list.

The program has been updated since I first bought the program and is now a very comprehensive guide for anyone interested in making money with IFW's or freebie sites.
For those of you who are not familiar with this method of making money online you can read about it on several of my previous posts. I will say this though - this is one of the few legitimate ways of making money online and the system has skyrocketed over the past year. It is easy to do - costs you nothing - and it works. How many programs have you found that can say that. Moreover a complete internet novice can make money with it just as easily as a seasoned vet.

Now that you can get Project Payday for free I highly recommend that you give it a shot. You won't get rich with this but everyone can make a decent income with it. $100 -$200 a day is the norm.

Note: This still only works for Americans and in a limited fashion for Canadians. Sorry but the system is funded largely by American corporations and they are only interested in the North American market at present. If anyone knows of a similar program in other parts of the world please let me know and I will check it out.

Here is the link for those interested...

Free Project Payday Membership

Good luck,
Yogesh Agarwal

Watch TV on your Computer

Are you fed up with the monthly cost of satellite or cable Tv and the dreaded nuisance of installation and extra hardware? Are you fed up of your signal disappearing or problems with cable Tv guide connections? Then satellite Tv on your PC can change all that for you.

Over the years, Satellite Tv or cable Tv just seems to have gotten more and more expensive. Not only do you have that awful monthly prescription to deal with, but also if you want to move house it can be a big nuisance to get your Tv installed again - as a result of needing a dish or a professional to get you back in touch with it. Despite the fact that you get a lot of channels and it is a nice luxury, it doesn't come without these headaches, or so many people think!

While surfing the internet, I came across a much cheaper and hassle-free way to continue my Tv addiction. It requires no extra hardware - no satellite dish or boxes, no monthly subscription and a lot more channels than your average satellite Tv provider offers, for only a ONE-OFF payment. So not only can you save yourself the nuisance of calling someone out to re-install your dish if you move, but you will also save yourself a LOT of money.

You can get satellite Tv directly on your PC. All you have to do is install some software in order to view the Tv channels - which even a novice can easily install - and then enjoy!

My personal experience with this service is wonderful. You really get more than what you pay for. I always felt with cable Tv that they were ripping me off, just so I could have extra channels to watch movies or sports. But with Pc Satellite Tv, not only was it easy to install and set-up, I got tonnes and tonnes of channels - much more than cable Tv ever gave me.

You can also get channels from all around the world, so anyone learning a new language can tune into something language-oriented to aid in building their language skills. And if you want to entertain your children, there are plenty of children's channels to choose from. It really is worth it. You only pay a small one-off payment and get so much. I am really glad that I decided to purchase. I haven't been disappointed.

If you are interested in this, you can find out more here: Pc Satellite Tv

Top Ten Tips to Protect Your Personal Information and Identity

Every time you go online, you enter a world of potential danger for your computer. Without the proper protection and knowledge, your computer may become susceptible to identity theft, spam, spyware, phishing scams, and Trojan horses. By simply using software like Instant Messaging, you can often communicate personal information to would-be criminals. By not having online protection, you risk having this personal information and possibly your identity stolen. As a result, there are several different ways to protect your computer against hackers.

Follow these top ten tips to protect yourself and your computer:

1. Use multi-faceted security software to protect your computer: McAfee can protect your computer from viruses, spyware, adware, hackers, unwanted emails, phishing scams, and identity theft. Look for comprehensive, multi-faceted PC security software that protects you.

2. Using firewalls every time you access the Internet can protect your computer: A firewall helps keep your computer safe by adding a security layer between your PC and the Internet. It also stops hackers from stealing your identity, destroying files, or using your computer to attack other computers.

3. Only use a PC that you know is secure: Unsecured computers are easy prey for hackers. If you need to send important personal information online, make sure the PC is secured. Some computers only have the bare minimum while others, like those with McAfee Total Protection™.

4. Phishing: Be aware of the threats to your computer. Phishing scams pretend to be a trusted online source - such as a bank or other financial institution - and ask that you send in your password. As a result, many people, thinking that the website is completely legitimate, give up there personal information quite easily. Always, verify web addresses before submitting your personal information.

5. Make sure your wireless network is secure. Online hackers can easily access your personal information from miles away to steal your information and use your wireless network for their own communication. Always use extra security when dealing with wireless Internet.

6. Never install unwanted programs onto your computer, it may contain spyware or adware on your PC. Although many of these programs appear harmless, many of the free online sites are designed to install malware and track your personal information. Always be careful when installing any program from any site.

7. Chain Mail is dangerous and full of viruses, never open them: Only download or read e-mails from those sources you identify as trustworthy. Unless you are completely sure about the content of the e-mail, never download anything.

8. Monitor credit, and report and irregularities: Always check your credit history. You may not know it, but you could have become a victim of identity theft and not even known it. Visit the Gateway support site for the latest tips to keeping your computer safety or the Federal Trade Commission's site to keep abreast of the latest trends in identify theft.

9. Keep track of your children's online activities: Limit your child's online time and install parental controls to ensure that your child does not enter any websites that may be susceptible to hacking or online theft. This software also protects against online predators.

10. Always back-up critical data to you're a CD or Thumbdrive: Keep important files on CD to prevent the loss of critical files. Use software backup tools if available, and store the backup disks in case of an emergency.