by David Hakala
“Virtual PC” is both a Microsoft product name and a generic computing term. The “PC” part refers specifically to Intel x86 hardware platforms, which are the basis of most familiar PCs (Personal Computers). A “virtual machine” is not necessarily an Intel x86-based machine.
A virtual PC allows one to run multiple operating systems on one x86 hardware platform simultaneously. Microsoft Virtual PC is Microsoft’s software for enabling the running of various Microsoft operating systems in a virtual PC environment. You can have multiple copies of one operating system, or copies of several different operating systems running simultaneously. You can switch from one virtual PC to another with a click of a mouse key.
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by Tina Gasperson
Windows XP comes with a built-in firewall, which is a great tool for protecting your system from unauthorized access by malicious programs that you may stumble upon while you’re online. Sometimes, however, you’ll want to turn the firewall off in order to install a desirable program or to allow a remote technician access to your computer for technical support. After that, of course, it’s important to re-enable the firewall so that your computer is less vulnerable to attack.
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by David Hakala
Sometimes you have to prepare a brand new hard drive for use. At other times, you may have to reformat a badly messed-up hard drive; that is, wipe it clean and start over with a fresh installation of Windows and all your applications and data. Either need calls for formatting the hard drive. It’s simple, but it takes a bit of time and you have to be careful to preserve irreplaceable data.
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by David Strom
One of the more useful utilities that come with the Mac OS is the aptly named Disk Utility. You can use it to create ISO images to quickly copy CDs and DVDs, as well as convert ISO formats to ordinary collections of files.
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by Tina Gasperson
If you’re online, you will need to install Java because so many interactive applications use Java encoding, which makes it possible for the applications to run on any kind of computer.
You’ll know if you don’t have Java installed, or if you have the wrong version installed, because the site or application you’re trying to access will tell you that you need to install the latest version of Java. It used to be a bit tricky to find and install Java, but that’s no longer the case. Now, it’s as easy as clicking a few buttons and you’re done.
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by David Hakala
One day you may decide you need a bigger hard drive; a second hard drive so you can keep your data separate from your operating system; or a replacement for a drive that died. Then you will need to perform the following minor surgery on your computer.
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by Gabe Goldberg
After you start most software installation and update processes, perhaps after accepting whatever terms and conditions the vendor imposes, you see buttons with labels such as “Express (Recommended)” and “Custom.”
If you wouldn’t let an amateur handyman work on your house without detailed instructions, or let a car salesman pick your automotive options and accessories, you should learn advantages of the “Custom” choice.
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by Tina Gasperson
If there’s one constant with Windows computers and the Internet, it’s that one must always remain vigilant. The Internet is a dangerous place for computers because some people with too much time on their hands are always looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in your system, whether those weaknesses come from your computer itself, or from operator error. One way you can stay on top of the nasties is to keep an eye on running processes to make sure nothing malicious is there.
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by David Hakala
Microsoft Windows needs to be kept up to date to close newly discovered security vulnerabilities and patch bugs that can degrade performance or crash your computer completely. There are several ways to get Microsoft’s frequently released Windows update packages, including one that works with Web browsers other than Internet Explorer.
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