How to Get Rid of Desktop Toolbars</h1> <article> <h1>How to Get Rid of Desktop Toolbars</h1> <p>Larry — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:44:00 GMT</p> <p>Desktop toolbars are less prevalent than internet browser toolbars but they can be just as annoying. Some of these are legitimate tools, and some are just an excuse for software manufacturers to collect data about your habits. These can be the result of spyware or adware, or might have been stealthily packaged with another piece of software you installed.<br /><br />How to Hide a Desktop Toolbar in Windows XP and 2000<br /><br />1. Right-click on an empty part of your taskbar as shown below. If you don't get this menu, try right-clicking on different spot.<br /><br />2. Move the mouse cursor over to "Toolbars" and click the name of the toolbar you want to hide.<br /><br />1. Go to the Windows Control Panel by clicking: "Start"->"Settings"->"Control Panel", or "Start"->"Control Panel".<br /><br />2. Double Click "Add / Remove Programs".<br /><br />3. This should open a window that displays a list of all of the currently installed software on your computer. Search this list for the name of the toolbar you wish to uninstall, then select it and click on "Remove" button.<br /><br />What to do if they don't go away<br /><br />If you can't hide the toolbar and you can't figure out how to uninstall it, then it's likely the result of spyware. </p> </article> <article> <h1>Reduce your Laptop costs</h1> <p>Yasmeen — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:40:00 GMT</p> <p>Desktop computers are made to be sturdy, reliable, but they occupy a lot of space, and, plus, you cannot take them with you when on a business trip or a vacation. On the other hand, a laptop does all that and even more. A laptop is light - compared to your desktop computer - , its performances are good and you can use it wherever you want. However, there are situations when the laptop can prove to be not so handy.<br /><br />Battery life is certainly an issue; if you don't have an extra battery or you've no way to charge it back up, you're pretty much out of luck until you find a way. And because of the tiny size of laptop computers, many dishonest people will not think twice about stealing one. So now that we've established the cool factor of laptops, let's go through some tips that'll make your laptop experience even better.<br /><br />Battery Life: More Juice<br /><br />Desktop computers still have several advantages over laptops, one of them being that desktop computers don't run out of battery life after 6 or so hours. Unfortunately, using your laptop long enough will result in a much needed recharging, which becomes an impossibility when you're on the road and there's not an outlet in sight.<br /><br />Your laptop screen is the biggest energy consumer from all the components. So, in order to save some battery juice, just reduce the configuration of the screen as much as you can, and you will be able to enjoy your laptop for a longer period of time than usual.<br /><br />Making Backups<br /><br />Portability is the greatest feature of laptops, but these gadgets are also more fragile than your desk computer at home. A little mistake and your precious laptop crashes on the sidewalk, when you least expect it. Oh, no! What a disaster! Even when nothing seems to have happened on the outside, always check the status of your hard drive, after an episode like this one. While you can buy another hard drive or send the laptop into service, your data, that was stored on that hard drive, is lost forever. Avoid these nuisances by saving it often on USB portable drives or CD-R and DVD.<br /><br />Hire a Watchdog<br /><br />Always take care when connecting to an open wireless network. Install a robust firewall, like ZoneAlarm, and make sure that you set its security settings high to get the best protection. Folder sharing on an open network is just asking for trouble, so make sure you turn this setting and others like it off.<br /><br />Also, there is no better protection than encryption. In order to protect your data, in case your laptop gets stolen by evil doers, use an encrypting tool so you will be the only one able to access the documents on your computer.<br /><br />Fend Off the Heat<br /><br />Laptops can get hot after a few hours of usage and can get very uncomfortable if its sitting on your lap. They sell laptop sleeves that'll keep the heat away from your skin. If anything, get an old shirt and place it under so your skin isn't in direct contact with the escaping heat.<br /><br />Laptops are simply more convenient than desktop computers and nobody can deny it. PC producers are more and more oriented towards making the old style computer more space saving, but, even with the revolution of LCD screens, you still need a sturdy desk to keep all the components in the same place. As for laptops, with the advice we have given you this far, you will get to enjoy them even more. <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Laptop Computer Buyers Guide</h1> <p>Yasmeen — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:39:00 GMT</p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;">When you're considering buying a laptop computer, whether it's your first computer or your twentieth, it's a very important decision to make. Especially with a laptop as once it's bought, you can't upgrade it too much so you have to make sure your decision was sound.<br /><br />Laptops have come a long way in just the last decade. They have grown in capabilities, and are almost as flexible and capable as normal desktop computers that you have gotten used to? Plus they offer a new level of convenience and portability unforseen even a dozen years ago.<br /><br />One of the major advantages of a laptop is the ability to run it off of battery power. Which means you can take the laptop from the home office to the kitchen, and to the back patio without missing a beat.<br /><br />The designs are becoming more and more lightweight, so you will not have to worry about carrying something clunky or heavy around. And if you take a quick notice, you will see that the carrying cases that people are now using for their notebook computers tend to be very stylish as well.<br /><br />When you make a choice of the computer you'll be purchasing, you'll need to determine the configuration based upon the uses to which you'll put the computer. If you're using the computer mainly for business uses, then you'll obviously make different choices than if you'll be using the computer mainly around the house.<br /><br />Once you've got a list of your specifications and requirements, it's time to search for the perfect computer for you. Most major manufacturers create quality products, it's just a matter of deciding on the best model that meets your needs.<br /><br />When you go to one of the larger electronic stores, you'll have the opportunity to examine dozens of different models of computers. By putting your hands on the different models, you'll get to see what you like and what you don't like. By thoroughly researching your choices, you'll be much happier with your choice when you make it.<br /><br />By doing your homework, you're much more likely to get the laptop you need. Good luck with your purchase. </span></p> </article> <article> <h1>All You Need to Know About Firewalls</h1> <p>Yasar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:27:00 GMT</p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;">The basic functionality of a firewall is to prevent abuse of the Internet and preventing private networks from being accessed. All messages which leave or enter an Intranet in workplaces pass through a firewall. Messages that do not meet the specified security criteria are blocked. Because of the immense security that firewalls offer in these days of data theft and espionage, most workplaces have firewalls in place.<br /><br /><b>Types of Firewalls</b><br /><br />There are different types of firewalls designed for specific purposes. The three basic types of firewalls are: Software firewalls, Hardware Routers and Wireless Routers. These different types of firewalls in turn use different techniques. The different firewall techniques are: Packet Filter, Application Gateway, Circuit-level Gateway, and Proxy Servers.<br /><br />Packet filters inspect each packet entering or leaving the network. They accept or reject the packet depend on the pre-defined rules. While this type of filter is difficult to configure, it is effective and transparent to users.<br /><br />Application gateways apply security mechanisms to specific applications and despite being effective can result in performance degradation. Circuit-level gateways apply security mechanisms when a connection is established. A proxy server intercepts all messages and effectively hides network addresses.<br /><br />Most types of firewalls use two or more techniques to ensure absolute and all-round security.<br /><br /><b>The Need for a Firewall</b><br /><br />Companies rely a great deal on data for their very existence. Millions of dollars ride on the data that they create, store and share. If any of this valuable data is stolen, hacked or attacked by viruses, then a company?s existence is jeopardised. If a computer is not protected by a firewall when a user connects on to the Internet, hackers can gain access to personal information on the computer.<br /><br />Without a firewall, hackers can install a code on a user?s computer, which destroys files and cause malfunctions. Hackers can spread their network to other computers if they manage to get into one system. Further, firewalls prevent the misuse of the Internet by employees in a work environment. Firewalls screen out malicious and obscene information before it reaches a user?s computer.<br /><br />Industrial espionage is a very real threat in today?s world. Companies cannot afford to be lax about their security. A firewall can prevent data from being stolen or inadvertently passed on. Companies use the different techniques to create a comprehensive firewall system, which provides the maximum possible security.<br /><br /><b>Advantages and Disadvantages of the Different Firewalls</b><br /><br />Software firewalls are typically used for single computers and are compatible with different operating systems. Software firewalls are available by different software companies. Software firewalls do not require additional software or additional computer wiring. It is the best choice for a single computer.<br /><br />The disadvantage of software firewalls is that most software firewalls are expensive. It may require installation and configuration by an expert. Each computer will require a separate copy of the software firewall and cannot be shared.<br /><br />Hardware Routers are ideal for home computers that connect to the Internet. Home networks usually have a wider range of site access and, therefore, need firewalls that keep this in focus. The major advantage of a hardware router is that usually it has at least four network ports to connect multiple computers together. Therefore, hardware routers can offer fire wall protection to multiple computers.<br /><br />The main disadvantage of hardware routers is that they require wiring which can appear messy. Wireless routers are the perfect foil for users of a wireless network. The most significant advantage of a wireless router is that it can be connected to computers, portable computers, PDAs and printers, without wiring. Laptops are able to utilize the advantage of wireless routers to its full potential.<br /><br /><b>Conclusion</b><br /><br />To be aware of security threats over the Internet and not use precautions that are easily available is being foolhardy. By spending a small amount of money and installing a firewall, a user can use the Internet without fear of potential problems. In fact, installing a firewall should be the first step towards enjoying safe online surfing. In a work context, there are very few corporations who do not fully appreciate the advantage of a firewall.<br /><br />Users do not need to completely understand the functioning of a firewall. All they have to do is explain their computer use and have a professional decide the best firewall to install. On a larger level, corporations invest a great deal in installing the latest and best firewall to ensure optimum security. A firewall can be viewed as a guardian angel in a virtual world, where anything is possible</span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Top Causes of Catastrophic Data Loss</h1> <p>Yasmeen — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:17:00 GMT</p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Internet and electronic data rule our lives, as do various other technological devices such as hard drives, USB drives, and flash memory. People these days are creating data at a very fast pace. While storing data electronically has surely made our lives simpler, it has also posed a huge risk to the security of our valuable data. Data loss incidents are very common and 99% of the companies have already faced one or more severe data loss incidents. <br /><br /><b>Data Loss: The Reality of Our Times</b><br /><br />Data loss can happen to anyone at any point in time. Our computers and other data storage devices are not as reliable as we would like them to be. Just as any other piece of electronic equipment, they can fail at any time, taking away our precious data with them. Data can suddenly become inaccessible and this can lead to business downtime, loss of time and money, and loss of business reputation. While you can do your bit to protect your data by backing up your data regularly, you cannot prevent data loss incidents entirely. <br /><br /><b>Top Causes of Data Loss</b><br /><br />There are primarily three reasons for data loss for an average computer user. We have discussed these causes in detail below: <br /><br /><b>Hardware Errors </b><br /><br />Hardware errors can be very serious in nature because they are likely to damage the hard disk of your computer. According to recent studies, hardware errors are responsible for as many as 44% of the data loss incidents. In addition, research has also proved that since the users are increasingly storing large amounts of data on their hard drives, the possibility of a hard drive crash has increased significantly. Hardware errors can occur due to any problem with the hard disk or some internal component of the computer such as circuit board or controller board. We will discuss the various types of hardware errors in detail in the following section.<br /><br />Mechanical failures can cause problems with the read and write head of the hard disk. Hard disks are extremely fragile and have a complicated internal working mechanism. Any disruption in the normal working mechanism can lead to read/ write head failure. Problems can also arise in the motor of the hard disk because of mechanical failures. Head crashes are the most common form of mechanical failure. A head crash occurs when the read and write head of the hard disk touches the platters of the hard disk. Power surges or physical shocks to the hard disk can also cause damage to the hard disk leading to data loss. <br /><br />Electrical failures also result in hardware errors because these types of failures affect the controller board of the hard disk. The most common reason for electrical failures is power surges or spikes. Power fluctuations harm the controller board of the hard disk thereby making it inaccessible to the BIOS of the system. This results in data loss. <br /><br /><b>Logical Errors</b><br /><br />Logical errors can cause data loss. However, when a logical error occurs, there is nothing physically wrong with the hard disk or any other hardware component. Logical errors can occur due to various reasons. <br /><br />There are times when the software embedded in the system fails to respond to certain complex commands because of a conflict between the software and the hardware. When such a software error occurs, the computer or the program crashes before the user can save any data. Logical errors can also occur due to corrupted file system structure. A corrupted file system structure can lead to data loss. <br /><br /><b>Operating System Failure</b><br /><br />Operating system failure is one of the most common reasons for data loss for an average computer user. Virus attacks are very common these days and these virus attacks are the most common cause of operating system failures. Sometimes, critical operating system components get deleted. This too can cause data loss. If the operating system is located on the same drive that has encountered a hard disk failure, the operating system will not boot. In such cases, the system will not be able to locate the operating system. <br /><br /><b>How to Prevent Data Loss?</b><br /><br />The best way to prevent data loss due to hardware failures is to make sure that you use a surge protector at all times. <br /><br />Desktops should never be moved from one place to another while they are still powered on. <br /><br />Laptops are extremely fragile and should never be dropped or mishandled in any way because this can have a direct impact on the hard disk. <br /><br />Make sure you use good anti-virus software to protect your data from malicious virus attacks.</span></p> </article> <article> <h1>How to Screen Capture</h1> <p>Yasmeen — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:11:00 GMT</p> <div class="ForumPostContentText"> <p>Why do you need to record the computer?</p> <p><br />"What??s wrong with my computer/this tool??? When you have problems of trying new applications or system, and have no idea of how to describe what happened on your computer, you may need a tool to mirror your operations, and then send it to a Computer Expert for help. It need to show exactly what you have done and how can this happen, so the technical staff can understand you clearly and give you the quick solution within minutes. Here's how to get an efficient and quick response.</p> <p>Hold down your "Shift Key" and press "Print Screen" on your keyboard. This will take a snapshot of anything that is on your desktop screen.</p> <p> Open a Word Document or email and Enter "Ctrl" "V" or Right click and click on "Paste"</p> <p> You now can share a screen shot with one of your friends or your Computer Expert.</p></div> </article> <article> <h1>Find Lost Microsoft Word Files</h1> <p>Yasmeen — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:08:00 GMT</p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">When you restart Word after it has crashed, it automatically opens any recovered files. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">If for some reason the recovery file doesn’t open, try this: </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">1. Open <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Word</span></strong>.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">2. Click <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">File, Open</span></strong>. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">3. In the folder list, open the folder where recovered files are stored. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">In general, this is usually <em><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">C:\documents and settings\<your username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Word</span></em>.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">You can also change the save interval for automatic file recovery. This tells Word to automatically backup your file every five or ten minutes based on the time interval you enter. </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">To automatically save your documents: </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">1. In Word, on the <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Tools</span></strong> menu, click <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Options</span></strong>, and then the <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Save </span></strong>tab. </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">2. Select the <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Save AutoRecover info every</span></strong> checkbox. </span></p> <p>3. Select the number of minutes you wish to have the document save automatically.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Find Lost Microsoft Word Files</h1> <p>Yasmeen — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:00:00 GMT</p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">When you restart Word after it has crashed, it automatically opens any recovered files. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">If for some reason the recovery file doesn’t open, try this:</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">1. Open <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Word</span></strong>.</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">2. Click <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">File, Open</span></strong>. </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">3. In the folder list, open the folder where recovered files are stored. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">In general, this is usually <em><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">C:\documents and settings\<your username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Word</span></em>.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">You can also change the save interval for automatic file recovery. This tells Word to automatically backup your file every five or ten minutes based on the time interval you enter.</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">To automatically save your documents: </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">1. In Word, on the <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Tools</span></strong> menu, click <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Options</span></strong>, and then the <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Save </span></strong>tab. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:8.5pt;COLOR:#303030;FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN;">2. Select the <strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY:Verdana;">Save AutoRecover info every</span></strong> checkbox. </span></p> </article> </main></body></html>