by Dee-Ann LeBlanc
Are there certain programs that you want to start automatically, the moment you log into your computer? Or programs that do start automatically that you really wish would just go away? There are a number of ways to tell your Mac.
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by David Hakala
It may be a pain to back up your data, but some day you will be glad you did. No one goes a lifetime without a fatal computer crash, and a recent backup copy can save precious financial records, irreplaceable photos, and all your other valuables.
Windows XP includes a program called NTBackup.exe that can make backing up your data easy. If you use Windows XP Professional, it’s already installed. If you use Windows XP Home Edition, you will have to install the backup utility from your Windows installation CD. Here’s how:
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by Gabe Goldberg
You’re probably tired of hearing about keeping your operating system, applications, and assorted safety software programs (anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-rootkit, anti-phishing, anti-vampire, whatever) updated. Not to mention being really tired of actually doing all this work. After all, you bought your computer to use, not to tinker with. And if you support multiple computers, it seems that your work is never done.
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by Tina Gasperson
Microsoft reports that most computers sold after 2002 are USB 2.0 enabled. USB 2.0 is the latest version of USB, also called high-speed USB because it supports devices that use the high-speed specification. Most new USB devices are made using this specification. If you plug one of these into a computer that is not equipped with a high-speed USB port, or one that does have a USB 2.0 port but is missing the proper drivers, you will either get an error message, or the device will work, but at less than its full capability. That would be a waste of your money – so it’s better to make sure your device capability matches your computer capability.
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by David Hakala
Probably the worst sight a computer owner can see is this message on an otherwise black screen:
“No boot device, please insert a bootable media.”
Your hard drive is hosed. Windows won’t start, even as far as the Recovery Console. What is wrong, and what are you going to do?
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by Gabe Goldberg
Anyone who uses email regularly, whether for business or personal communication, gets serious jitters when cut off from it. Fortunately, there are many ways to stay in touch away from home; the biggest problem can be explaining to people you’re visiting or traveling with why you want to.
One reason to stay caught up is that some ISPs impose limits on the amount of email they’ll store for you; if you exceed your quota, subsequent email will be rejected and bounced back to senders. That’s especially bad when it happens to mailing list traffic, since you may be unsubscribed. So, while it’s tedious, it’s sometimes worthwhile to suspend list mailings while you’ll be away.
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by Tina Gasperson
It’s important to keep your important computer files backed up, because almost inevitably your hard drive will fail and all the data on it will be gone forever. In fact, if you can back up your documents, photos, and videos in more than one location, you’ll be doubly safe. Archive CDs and DVDs only last for just so long and can be lost or broken, so having a “backup backup” online might be the solution you need. Fortunately there are many online backup services you can take advantage of. I recommend that you look for a service that has been around for a while and has a good reputation. One such service is Mozy.com.
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by David Hakala
Microsoft Windows Defender is an anti-spyware program included in Windows XP and Vista. Do you need it, and does it do its job well?
First, note that Windows Defender is only an anti-spyware program. Spyware intercepts or takes partial control over the user’s interaction with the computer, without the user’s informed consent. For example, spyware may log all of your keystrokes – including financial site passwords – and send them to an unknown party. That’s bad, but spyware is hardly the only kind of threat. You will still need anti-virus software, most of which also scans for spyware.
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by Stewart Vardaman
Disks get faster and better constantly, yet they are usually the slowest component in your notebook or PC. The simple truth is, memory speed might be measured in nanoseconds (billions), but disk speed is measured in milliseconds (thousands). That difference is like Bill Gates’s net worth to a working stiff like me.
Speeding up the slowest thing in the chain makes everything else faster. Adding a new disk to an old (or even new) laptop makes for a peppier machine. And you can do it yourself!
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by Tina Gasperson
Q: How can we recognize DDR1 and DDR2 RAM? — Alim
The two types of RAM modules are similar in their appearance, but don’t get them mixed up because they are most definitely not interchangeable. If you accidentally purchase the wrong kind of RAM, it won’t even fit into your computer – and you’ll be heading back to the store.
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