10 things to look out for when buying a Laptop
1. Portable form factor
Ultraportables excel for frequent fliers who need just the essentials while on the road. Screen sizes are small - usually 10 or 12 inches - and their keyboards petite. Also, to make these machines so small, features such as internal optical drives, large and fast hard drives, and extra ports are frequently absent.
Mainstream laptops are like budget desktops: They're good for general tasks but won't win any contests for their performance or features. Though they don't qualify as thin or light, they still offer some portability. With 14-inch or larger screens, a standard selection of ports, and big keyboards, they're suitable for everyday use.
If you want desktop power, you need a desktop replacement. With screen sizes of 15 to 17 inches, travel weights as heavy as six kilos, and average battery life of less than three hours, these behemoths are not for people on the go. They can accommodate a wide range of performance parts, however, and are just right for power users of all kinds.
2. The processor and you
When it comes to processors, go with the fastest you can afford, regardless of the notebook's form factor. You have a lot of options, so here are the basics.
Intel's Pentium M CPU line offers speed while enabling great battery life. These chips, combined with Intel's wireless LAN electronics and either the 915 Express or 855 chipset, make up Intel's Centrino mobile technology. The biggest downside is price -- Pentium Ms are still costly.
AMD's mobile processors are more affordable than Intel's, but they generally lag behind Intel's on our MobileMark tests. AMD's Turion 64 processors may change that, however. AMD says the chips will offer optimisations for high performance, wireless capability, and long battery life.
3. Screen sizes
Wide-screen notebooks, which have an aspect ratio of 16:9, offer larger, sharper, and all-around better images than their 4:3 standard-screen cousins. They're great for allowing you to have two documents or Web pages open side-by-side. A spacious 17-inch wide-screen laptop is a nice luxury if you're not planning on traveling with it.
4. Memory memiors
Having enough memory is vital to system performance, and lots of RAM lets you run more applications simultaneously. Sufficient RAM is also necessary for graphics work, image editing, and video editing, and crucial for 3D gaming. This is especially true in notebooks, because notebook graphics processors frequently have little or no memory of their own and share the main system RAM.
5. Typing and mousing
As notebooks shrink in size, so do their keyboards. If possible, try some simple typing exercises before you buy. Pay particular attention to the spacebar, Shift, Ctrl, and Backspace/Delete keys. Be sure all are in a good location for your hand size and typing style.
Computing today relies a lot on mousing. With a notebook, all you get is a touch pad or pointing stick. Test the notebook's input device for comfort and responsiveness. Some touch pads include extra features, such as a dedicated area for scrolling.
6. Vying for video RAM
If you're not planning on doing much graphics work or playing 3D games, shared memory should be fine. But if you have a choice, aim for a graphics chipset that shares at least 64MB of system memory.
7. A slot for all reasons
Like a PCI slot in a desktop, a PC Card (or PCMCIA) slot in a notebook provides expansion opportunities. Additional USB and FireWire ports, wired and wireless modems, and wireless LAN radios are all available in PC Card form. PC Cards and slots come in three sizes: Type I, II, and III. Type I cards are normally used for memory, Type II for input/output devices, and Type III for mass storage and firewalls.
8. Get connected
Ports, especially USB and FireWire, are necessities, but on notebooks they're usually in short supply. At a minimum, look for two USB ports, and if you have any legacy devices, such as parallel printers, look for those ports, too. If you'd like to use a digital camcorder or iPod with your notebook, make sure the notebook has a FireWire (IEEE 1394) port. Connecting a monitor will require a VGA port. And if you want to output video to a television, find a notebook with an S-Video out.
9. Go wireless
Integrated wireless networking (Wi-Fi) has become an indispensable feature. Most notebooks ship with a choice of 802.11b or 802.11b/g. Capable of data throughput of 11Mbps, 802.11b is fine for ordinary use. Public hotspots typically use 802.11b or 802.11g.
10. Power on the go
Lithium-ion batteries have all but replaced nickel-cadmiums because they're lighter, have a higher energy density, and don't suffer from recharge-inhibiting memory effect.
Also look out for battery capacity (measured in milliamp hours, or mAh), and the number of cells. Typical batteries have a mAh rating between 2,000mAh and 6,000mAh; higher is better. Cells are the actual compartments where power is produced and can range from four to 12; the more the better.
courtesy: www.hp.com
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
HOW TO PREVENT CRASHING OF YOUR HARD DRIVE
How to prevent crashing of your hard drive
The computer has become one of the most important tools in our daily lives. In fact, there are so many people all over the globe who simply can't live without this technology. These people usually work and communicate through their compute that when their personal computer would malfunction, it would seem like the world have caved in on them.
Technically, all computer hard drives would eventually fail us. These are just hardware that could weaken with age, constant use, mishandling and worst of all, the intrusion of computer viruses that have the power to wreck havoc on our computer systems. However, the good news is that we can actually prevent our hard drive from crashing down sooner than they should. Of course these ways and means of preventing hard crashes is not foul proof as there are always some factors, which we cannot seem to control at all. However, let us look at the bright side of things.
As for viruses that are often deadly when they latch into our system, one can install effective anti virus software that detects the virus as it try to enter into our system. We can install firewalls to create a barrier and prevent intruders from entering into our systems. If we can keep out the viruses from our hard drives, our files will be safe.
Now, viruses are not the only threats to our hard drives. Overheating could also cause our hard drives to malfunction and damage our files. Although in the past, over heating of the hard drive may not be very noticeable as our computers are still using lower speed, the new models of computers are processing data at very high speed that overheating of the drives in now becoming a threat.
Although our present day computers are equipped with built in fans and cooling system, the speed at which our present day computer process data could raise the temperature in the hard drive to about 70 degrees F. Such temperatures could cause computer crashes as some of the parts of the computer would melt under the heat. The bad news about this situation is that is would be very difficult, in fact it is nearly impossible to recover data in hard drives that crash down due to extreme heat.
To prevent your computer from over heating, you should make sure that the cooling system thereof is functioning properly. Make sure after you use your computer for sometime, you will allow the hard drives to cool off. It would also be a good idea to provide additional ventilation to your computer if you are going to use it for a prolonged period of time in a single setting. You may also get one of those monitoring software tools to alert you in case your computer have reached a critical level of heat.
courtesy: www.ezinearticles.com
The computer has become one of the most important tools in our daily lives. In fact, there are so many people all over the globe who simply can't live without this technology. These people usually work and communicate through their compute that when their personal computer would malfunction, it would seem like the world have caved in on them.
Technically, all computer hard drives would eventually fail us. These are just hardware that could weaken with age, constant use, mishandling and worst of all, the intrusion of computer viruses that have the power to wreck havoc on our computer systems. However, the good news is that we can actually prevent our hard drive from crashing down sooner than they should. Of course these ways and means of preventing hard crashes is not foul proof as there are always some factors, which we cannot seem to control at all. However, let us look at the bright side of things.
As for viruses that are often deadly when they latch into our system, one can install effective anti virus software that detects the virus as it try to enter into our system. We can install firewalls to create a barrier and prevent intruders from entering into our systems. If we can keep out the viruses from our hard drives, our files will be safe.
Now, viruses are not the only threats to our hard drives. Overheating could also cause our hard drives to malfunction and damage our files. Although in the past, over heating of the hard drive may not be very noticeable as our computers are still using lower speed, the new models of computers are processing data at very high speed that overheating of the drives in now becoming a threat.
Although our present day computers are equipped with built in fans and cooling system, the speed at which our present day computer process data could raise the temperature in the hard drive to about 70 degrees F. Such temperatures could cause computer crashes as some of the parts of the computer would melt under the heat. The bad news about this situation is that is would be very difficult, in fact it is nearly impossible to recover data in hard drives that crash down due to extreme heat.
To prevent your computer from over heating, you should make sure that the cooling system thereof is functioning properly. Make sure after you use your computer for sometime, you will allow the hard drives to cool off. It would also be a good idea to provide additional ventilation to your computer if you are going to use it for a prolonged period of time in a single setting. You may also get one of those monitoring software tools to alert you in case your computer have reached a critical level of heat.
courtesy: www.ezinearticles.com
Sunday, April 11, 2010
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST ANTIVIRUS PROGRAM FOR YOUR LAPTOP
How To Choose The Best Antivirus Program For Your Laptop?
The antivirus program industry is crowded, with more products to choose from. How will you know which one will give you the most value for your money? This article will inform you how to focus your search for the best antivirus software.
1. Do Your Research
Firstly, visit websites that compare and review antivirus software (such as AV-Comparatives and Virus Bulletin), and see which product their experts recommend as the best antivirus software. These websites focus on how the program performs, including how thorough its virus search is, and how successful the program is at deleting viruses. Next, check consumer review web sites to see what people like you think of the program. They tend to focus less on speed and more on simplicity and ease of use.
2. Must-Have Features
Secondly, before you buy any antivirus software, make sure it has an auto updater and a scheduler. Updaters allow the antivirus program to automatically download updates themselves with the latest virus detection definitions from the web. Schedulers allow you to make the antivirus software to execute at a time (like 56:00 AM) and a frequency (like once a month) of your choosing. Together, these characteristics allow you to "set it and forget it." In other words, they constantly, automatically protect your computer without you having to remember to do anything.
3. Try It Out
Thirdly, once you have found an antivirus software that is good, download and install the free trial software (don't worry, you can always uninstall it later if you don't like it). Evaluate it. Is it simple and easy to use, or complex and confusing? Is it stable, or does it cause problems with the rest of your notebook? Does it run fast and silent in the background, so that you forget it's even there? Or is it so slow and sucks up so much processing power that it slows down the rest of your netbook?
The best antivirus software is expensive, but worth every penny to protect your computer. Finding an antivirus program you are comfortable with and that works well on your PC is not a decision to take lightly. Be an informed consumer, do your research, and take it for a test drive before laying out your money.
courtesy: www.bigarticledirectory.com
The antivirus program industry is crowded, with more products to choose from. How will you know which one will give you the most value for your money? This article will inform you how to focus your search for the best antivirus software.
1. Do Your Research
Firstly, visit websites that compare and review antivirus software (such as AV-Comparatives and Virus Bulletin), and see which product their experts recommend as the best antivirus software. These websites focus on how the program performs, including how thorough its virus search is, and how successful the program is at deleting viruses. Next, check consumer review web sites to see what people like you think of the program. They tend to focus less on speed and more on simplicity and ease of use.
2. Must-Have Features
Secondly, before you buy any antivirus software, make sure it has an auto updater and a scheduler. Updaters allow the antivirus program to automatically download updates themselves with the latest virus detection definitions from the web. Schedulers allow you to make the antivirus software to execute at a time (like 56:00 AM) and a frequency (like once a month) of your choosing. Together, these characteristics allow you to "set it and forget it." In other words, they constantly, automatically protect your computer without you having to remember to do anything.
3. Try It Out
Thirdly, once you have found an antivirus software that is good, download and install the free trial software (don't worry, you can always uninstall it later if you don't like it). Evaluate it. Is it simple and easy to use, or complex and confusing? Is it stable, or does it cause problems with the rest of your notebook? Does it run fast and silent in the background, so that you forget it's even there? Or is it so slow and sucks up so much processing power that it slows down the rest of your netbook?
The best antivirus software is expensive, but worth every penny to protect your computer. Finding an antivirus program you are comfortable with and that works well on your PC is not a decision to take lightly. Be an informed consumer, do your research, and take it for a test drive before laying out your money.
courtesy: www.bigarticledirectory.com
5 WAYS TO SPEED UP YOUR LAPTOP
5 WAYS TO SPEED UP YOUR LAPTOP
By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows 7, Vista, and XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to more efficiently maintain your computer and safeguard your privacy when you're online.
1. Free up disk space
The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:
#Remove temporary Internet files.
#Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
#Empty the Recycle Bin.
#Remove Windows temporary files such as error reports.
#Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.
#Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
#Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.
2. Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.
Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.
When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal—there are other times you should run it too, such as when:
#You add a large number of files.
#Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
#You install new programs or a new version of Windows.
3. Detect and repair disk errors
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.
If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.
Run the Error Checking utility:
1.
Close all open files.
2.
Click Start, and then click My Computer.
3.
In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
4.
In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
5.
Click the Check Now button.
6.
In the Check Disk dialog box (called Error-checking in Windows 7), select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
Check Disk Local Disk dialog box, with the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box selected.
Example of Check Disk Local Disk dialog box
7.
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.
4. Protect your computer against spyware
Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using the PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare. This scan is a free service and will help check for and remove viruses.
5. Learn all about ReadyBoost
If you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory.
courtesy: www.microsoft.com
By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows 7, Vista, and XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to more efficiently maintain your computer and safeguard your privacy when you're online.
1. Free up disk space
The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:
#Remove temporary Internet files.
#Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
#Empty the Recycle Bin.
#Remove Windows temporary files such as error reports.
#Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.
#Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
#Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.
2. Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.
Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.
When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal—there are other times you should run it too, such as when:
#You add a large number of files.
#Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
#You install new programs or a new version of Windows.
3. Detect and repair disk errors
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.
If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.
Run the Error Checking utility:
1.
Close all open files.
2.
Click Start, and then click My Computer.
3.
In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
4.
In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
5.
Click the Check Now button.
6.
In the Check Disk dialog box (called Error-checking in Windows 7), select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
Check Disk Local Disk dialog box, with the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box selected.
Example of Check Disk Local Disk dialog box
7.
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.
4. Protect your computer against spyware
Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using the PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare. This scan is a free service and will help check for and remove viruses.
5. Learn all about ReadyBoost
If you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory.
courtesy: www.microsoft.com
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
FORMATTING THE HARD DRIVE OF YOUR LAPTOP
FORMATTING THE HARD DRIVE OF YOUR LAPTOP.
You have tried to remove a computer virus or worm from your laptop but you still are not
satisfied with the performance, a total format of your hard drive which will get rid of the
virus is necessary though this action will make you loose all data relevant or not on your
hard drive. The first thing you have to do then is to back up the data you have and then you
save your laptop from the attack of aliens.
PREPARATIONS BEFORE FORMATTING
1.Make sure you have the discs for any applications or third party hardware you use since
you will need to re-install your programs and drivers after re-installing Windows.
2.Think of anything that you have on the computer that you wouldn't want to lose and
remember that each user on the computer has his or her own My Documents folder, Desktop
items and Favorites/Bookmarks.
3.Save everything to a CD, DVD or a hard drive that you won't be formatting.
4.Get ready for formatting.
NOW FORMATTING
1.Right-Click on the "My Computer" icon either on your desktop or in the Start Menu and
select "Manage."
2.A new window titled "Computer Management" comes up. Select "Storage" from the left hand
side by clicking it once, then select "Disk Management(local)" from the right side by
double-clicking it.
3.Now in the lower part of the main frame (right side) of the window you should see a nice
visual of all your hard drives. Each line is a different drive. Each box on a line
(with a colored bar at the top and a size displayed in MB or GB) is a partition on the
drive. Partitions are separations of space on a drive. Unless you are doing something
specific that requires multiple partitions, you only want one partition per drive.
4.First you must delete any existing partitions on the drive you are going to format. Do
this by right-clicking on the partition's box and selecting "Delete Partition..." Since
you already know that you will be deleting everything on the drive, and have already
backed everything up, you can safely say yes to any warning the computer presents you with.
5.If there are multiple partitions make sure you have saved everything off them since
they might each have different drive letters (i.e. "D:" or "F:"). Then repeat the above
step for each of them. If you only want to format one partition that is OK and you can
continue to the next step without deleting the other partitions.
6.The box for the drive to be formatted should now have a black bar at the top of it and
should say "Unallocated" under its size (see picture). Right click on it and select
"New Partition..." The New Partition Wizard comes up.
7.In the New Partition Wizard click next. On the next page make sure "Primary Partition"
is selected and click next. Now make the size equal to the maximum
(it should already be set to it), and click next again. On the next page the computer
will automatically choose the first available drive letter for the new drive. However,
if you like you can choose another drive letter from the drop-down menu, and then
click next.
8.Finally the New Partition Wizard asks if you would like to format the new partition
and if so what format. Choose "NTFS" as it is faster and more secure. Leave the
"Allocation unit size" as "Default." In the "Volume label" field enter whatever
name you want the drive to have. Simple is better. Avoid using spaces.
Lastly, if the drive is brand new and has never been used before check
the "Perform a quick format" box. If the drive has been used before leave
this box unchecked. Leave the "Enable file and folder compression" box unchecked
and click next. Then on the next page click finish.
9.The wizard will now spend a little while formatting the drive. On old or large
drives this may take a while. Do not close the "Computer Management" window
until it finishes. You will know it is done when the word under the size of
the drive changes from "Formatting" to "Healthy" and the name and drive letter
you chose for the new drive show up. After it is finished you can proceed to
use your newly formatted drive.
Thank you for learning about LAPTOPS from LAPTOPLEMANA, the laptop experts.
To make complete or touch on all the aspects of this topic I will be writing
on formatting from an installation disk. We at laptoplemana are trying to make any
owner of a laptop be on top of using his brain machine.
courtesy: www.wikihow.com
All ABOUT COMPUTER VIRUSES
ALL ABOUT COMPUTER VIRUSES
In this article, i will try to dwell on computer viruses; one of the problems that will
make you regret you purchased a laptop computer. Though it is very complex dealing with
viruses, they are not as difficult to prevent or curb as they are made to look like. I know
some people have decided not to buy a PC because of the trouble those around them go through in
trying to stay on top of their computer viruses. Fortunately, you are here at LAPTOPLEMANA to
learn and arm yourself against computer viruses.
WHAT THEN IS A COMPUTER VIRUS?
A computer virus is a small software program that spreads from one computer to another
computer and that interferes with computer operation. A computer virus may corrupt or
delete data on a computer, or even delete everything on the hard disk.
Computer viruses are most easily spread by attachments in e-mail messages or by instant
messaging messages. Therefore, you must never open an e-mail attachment unless you know
who sent the message or unless you are expecting the e-mail attachment from someone you trust.
because computer viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, or audio and video files.
Computer viruses also spread by using downloads on the Internet and this is the commonest
way to catch a virus.
What confirms your suspicion of a virus?
The points that follow are some common computer virus symptoms. Again these symptoms may be caused by
hardware or software problems that have nothing to do with a computer virus.
* The computer runs slower than usual.
* The computer stops responding, or it locks up frequently.
* The computer crashes, and then it restarts every few minutes.
* The computer restarts on its own. Additionally, the computer does not run as usual.
* Applications on the computer do not work correctly.
* Disks or disk drives are inaccessible.
* You cannot print items correctly.
* You see unusual error messages.
* You see distorted menus and dialog boxes.
* There is a double extension on an attachment that you recently opened, such as a .jpg, .vbs, .gif, or .exe. extension.
* An anti-virus program is disabled for no reason. Additionally, the anti-virus program
cannot be restarted.
* An anti-virus program cannot be installed on the computer, or the anti-virus program
will not run.
* New icons appear on the desktop that you did not put there, or the icons are not
associated with any recently installed programs.
* Strange sounds or music plays from the speakers unexpectedly.
* A program disappears from the computer even though you did not intentionally remove
the program.
How to remove a computer virus.
Without computer virus removal tools it may be difficult to remove a computer virus.
Fortunately, by updating the computer and by using anti-virus tools, you can help permanently
remove unwanted software. Follow these steps to remove a computer virus.
# Install the latest updates from Microsoft Update on the computer.
# Update the anti-virus software on the computer. Then, perform a thorough scan of the
computer by using the anti-virus software.
# Download, install, and then run the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool to remove
existing viruses on the computer. To download the Malicious Software Removal Tool,
visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
Thank you for learning about LAPTOPS from us at LAPTOPLEMANA the laptop masters.
In this article, i will try to dwell on computer viruses; one of the problems that will
make you regret you purchased a laptop computer. Though it is very complex dealing with
viruses, they are not as difficult to prevent or curb as they are made to look like. I know
some people have decided not to buy a PC because of the trouble those around them go through in
trying to stay on top of their computer viruses. Fortunately, you are here at LAPTOPLEMANA to
learn and arm yourself against computer viruses.
WHAT THEN IS A COMPUTER VIRUS?
A computer virus is a small software program that spreads from one computer to another
computer and that interferes with computer operation. A computer virus may corrupt or
delete data on a computer, or even delete everything on the hard disk.
Computer viruses are most easily spread by attachments in e-mail messages or by instant
messaging messages. Therefore, you must never open an e-mail attachment unless you know
who sent the message or unless you are expecting the e-mail attachment from someone you trust.
because computer viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, or audio and video files.
Computer viruses also spread by using downloads on the Internet and this is the commonest
way to catch a virus.
What confirms your suspicion of a virus?
The points that follow are some common computer virus symptoms. Again these symptoms may be caused by
hardware or software problems that have nothing to do with a computer virus.
* The computer runs slower than usual.
* The computer stops responding, or it locks up frequently.
* The computer crashes, and then it restarts every few minutes.
* The computer restarts on its own. Additionally, the computer does not run as usual.
* Applications on the computer do not work correctly.
* Disks or disk drives are inaccessible.
* You cannot print items correctly.
* You see unusual error messages.
* You see distorted menus and dialog boxes.
* There is a double extension on an attachment that you recently opened, such as a .jpg, .vbs, .gif, or .exe. extension.
* An anti-virus program is disabled for no reason. Additionally, the anti-virus program
cannot be restarted.
* An anti-virus program cannot be installed on the computer, or the anti-virus program
will not run.
* New icons appear on the desktop that you did not put there, or the icons are not
associated with any recently installed programs.
* Strange sounds or music plays from the speakers unexpectedly.
* A program disappears from the computer even though you did not intentionally remove
the program.
How to remove a computer virus.
Without computer virus removal tools it may be difficult to remove a computer virus.
Fortunately, by updating the computer and by using anti-virus tools, you can help permanently
remove unwanted software. Follow these steps to remove a computer virus.
# Install the latest updates from Microsoft Update on the computer.
# Update the anti-virus software on the computer. Then, perform a thorough scan of the
computer by using the anti-virus software.
# Download, install, and then run the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool to remove
existing viruses on the computer. To download the Malicious Software Removal Tool,
visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
Thank you for learning about LAPTOPS from us at LAPTOPLEMANA the laptop masters.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
15-Ways of Taking Good Care of Your Laptop Computer ( Part 2 )
15-Ways of Taking Good Care of Your Laptop Computer ( Part 2 )
From the last article comes the next part of taking good care of your laptop.
7
Don't roll your chair over the computer cord. Many laptop users are culprits of this. Stick the cord onto your desk with tape or a special computer cord tie which can be easily undone when you've finished using the laptop. Always try to keep most of the cord away from the floor or your legs; sometimes you can be so engrossed in what you're doing that you move your legs and forget the cord is there.
8
Plug in accessory devices into their proper slots. Always look at the symbols on the laptop carefully before inserting devices. Jamming a phone line into an Ethernet port or vice versa could damage the sockets, making it impossible to use them again. It is very important to observe this step. Nowadays these accessories come at a high cost.
9
Handle any removable drives with care. Floppy drives or CD drives that have been removed from your laptop can easily get crushed, dropped or pressed if you are careless. Put them straight into a bag or a storage box/case for safe keeping if you are not putting them back into the laptop.
10
Insert drives into their slots carefully and at the correct angle. Pushing the wrong drive into a socket, or at an angle, or even upside down can jam it.
11
Check to see if labels are affixed securely before inserting media into your laptop computer. Media such as CD's,DVD s or floppy disks should not have any loose label parts that might jam inside the laptop drive. Never insert undersized CD's, as these can damage the disk player permanently.
12
Don't expose your laptop to rapid temperature fluctuations. When bringing your laptop indoors during winter or cold seasons, don't turn it on immediately. Instead, let it warm to room temperature first. This will avoid any potential for damage to the disk drive from condensation forming inside the machine.
13
Have the unit cleaned once a year to remove internal dust. Get this done by a computer professional. If dust accumulates, the system cannot cool itself correctly. Heat can destroy the motherboard.
14
Use a properly-sized laptop case. Whatever you use to carry your laptop around in, be it a case, a bag or something you have made yourself, make sure that it is large enough to contain the laptop. This will avoid scratching, squeezing or even potentially dropping it. A bag greatly reduces the risk of damage due to dropping or bumping.
15
Use and store in a well circulated area. When your using your laptop, do so in a place that has a constant air-circulation. Lots of people ruin their laptop by using it in an enclosed area and thus making the laptop overheat. It also helps if you store in a well circulated area.
This article ends the post on taking very good care of your laptop computer. Check out the next post for another interesting topic.
courtesy: www.wikihow.com
From the last article comes the next part of taking good care of your laptop.
7
Don't roll your chair over the computer cord. Many laptop users are culprits of this. Stick the cord onto your desk with tape or a special computer cord tie which can be easily undone when you've finished using the laptop. Always try to keep most of the cord away from the floor or your legs; sometimes you can be so engrossed in what you're doing that you move your legs and forget the cord is there.
8
Plug in accessory devices into their proper slots. Always look at the symbols on the laptop carefully before inserting devices. Jamming a phone line into an Ethernet port or vice versa could damage the sockets, making it impossible to use them again. It is very important to observe this step. Nowadays these accessories come at a high cost.
9
Handle any removable drives with care. Floppy drives or CD drives that have been removed from your laptop can easily get crushed, dropped or pressed if you are careless. Put them straight into a bag or a storage box/case for safe keeping if you are not putting them back into the laptop.
10
Insert drives into their slots carefully and at the correct angle. Pushing the wrong drive into a socket, or at an angle, or even upside down can jam it.
11
Check to see if labels are affixed securely before inserting media into your laptop computer. Media such as CD's,DVD s or floppy disks should not have any loose label parts that might jam inside the laptop drive. Never insert undersized CD's, as these can damage the disk player permanently.
12
Don't expose your laptop to rapid temperature fluctuations. When bringing your laptop indoors during winter or cold seasons, don't turn it on immediately. Instead, let it warm to room temperature first. This will avoid any potential for damage to the disk drive from condensation forming inside the machine.
13
Have the unit cleaned once a year to remove internal dust. Get this done by a computer professional. If dust accumulates, the system cannot cool itself correctly. Heat can destroy the motherboard.
14
Use a properly-sized laptop case. Whatever you use to carry your laptop around in, be it a case, a bag or something you have made yourself, make sure that it is large enough to contain the laptop. This will avoid scratching, squeezing or even potentially dropping it. A bag greatly reduces the risk of damage due to dropping or bumping.
15
Use and store in a well circulated area. When your using your laptop, do so in a place that has a constant air-circulation. Lots of people ruin their laptop by using it in an enclosed area and thus making the laptop overheat. It also helps if you store in a well circulated area.
This article ends the post on taking very good care of your laptop computer. Check out the next post for another interesting topic.
courtesy: www.wikihow.com
15-Ways of Taking Good Care of Your Laptop Computer ( Part 1 )
15-Ways of Taking Good Care of Your Laptop Computer (Part1)
It is very important to take good care of your laptop to keep it in good shape; prevention is always better than cure. There are a number of easy and simple things you can do to keep your laptop in great and better shape; following these easy steps will help to ensure that it lasts longer and will need less maintenance.Many of the steps will also maintain your laptops speed.
1
Keep liquids away from your laptop. As tempting as it might be to drink tea, porridge, water, a bottle of a soft mineral or any other liquid near your laptop, accidents can happen all too easily. Spilled liquids may damage the internal components or cause electrical injury to the laptop. Short circuits can corrupt data or even permanently destroy parts. The solution is very simple: Keep your drinks away from your computer. Even if you're careful, someone else might bump into your desk or you. Or you can use a cup with a cover on it, so even if it does spill, the liquid doesn't go any where and remember accidents never inform you.
2
Keep food away from your laptop. Don't eat over your laptop. The crumbs can go down between the keys in the keyboard and provide an invitation to small bugs. The crumbs can also irritate the circuitry. Worse, it makes the laptop look dirty if there are crumbs and food stains on it. You do not want to portray yourself as an unclean person.
3
Always have clean hands when using your laptop. Clean hands make it easier to use your laptop touch pad and there will be less risk of leaving dirt and other stains on the computer. In addition, if you clean your hands before use, you will help reduce wear and tear on the coating of the laptop caused by contact with sweat and small particles that can act upon the laptop's exterior underneath your wrists and fingers.Remember a worn out laptop does not look pleasant.
4
Protect the LCD display monitor. When you shut your laptop, make sure there are no small items, such as a pencil or small ear-phones, on the keyboard. These can damage the display screen when shut; the screen will scratch if the item is rough. Close the lid gently and holding from the middle. Closing the lid using only one side causes pressure on that hinge, and over time can cause it to bend and snap. You do not want to have a laptop with a loose screen.
5
Hold and lift the computer by its base, not by its LCD display (the screen). If you lift it by the screen part alone, you could damage the display or the hinges attaching it to the base. The display is also easily scratched or damaged by direct pressure – avoid placing pressure on it.
6
Don't pull on the power cord. Tugging your power cord out from the power socket rather than putting your hand directly on the plug in the socket.
courtesy: www.wikihow.com
It is very important to take good care of your laptop to keep it in good shape; prevention is always better than cure. There are a number of easy and simple things you can do to keep your laptop in great and better shape; following these easy steps will help to ensure that it lasts longer and will need less maintenance.Many of the steps will also maintain your laptops speed.
1
Keep liquids away from your laptop. As tempting as it might be to drink tea, porridge, water, a bottle of a soft mineral or any other liquid near your laptop, accidents can happen all too easily. Spilled liquids may damage the internal components or cause electrical injury to the laptop. Short circuits can corrupt data or even permanently destroy parts. The solution is very simple: Keep your drinks away from your computer. Even if you're careful, someone else might bump into your desk or you. Or you can use a cup with a cover on it, so even if it does spill, the liquid doesn't go any where and remember accidents never inform you.
2
Keep food away from your laptop. Don't eat over your laptop. The crumbs can go down between the keys in the keyboard and provide an invitation to small bugs. The crumbs can also irritate the circuitry. Worse, it makes the laptop look dirty if there are crumbs and food stains on it. You do not want to portray yourself as an unclean person.
3
Always have clean hands when using your laptop. Clean hands make it easier to use your laptop touch pad and there will be less risk of leaving dirt and other stains on the computer. In addition, if you clean your hands before use, you will help reduce wear and tear on the coating of the laptop caused by contact with sweat and small particles that can act upon the laptop's exterior underneath your wrists and fingers.Remember a worn out laptop does not look pleasant.
4
Protect the LCD display monitor. When you shut your laptop, make sure there are no small items, such as a pencil or small ear-phones, on the keyboard. These can damage the display screen when shut; the screen will scratch if the item is rough. Close the lid gently and holding from the middle. Closing the lid using only one side causes pressure on that hinge, and over time can cause it to bend and snap. You do not want to have a laptop with a loose screen.
5
Hold and lift the computer by its base, not by its LCD display (the screen). If you lift it by the screen part alone, you could damage the display or the hinges attaching it to the base. The display is also easily scratched or damaged by direct pressure – avoid placing pressure on it.
6
Don't pull on the power cord. Tugging your power cord out from the power socket rather than putting your hand directly on the plug in the socket.
courtesy: www.wikihow.com
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The Importance/Relevance of a Laptop
Somewhere about twenty years ago, the relevance of a laptop will be very difficult to speak for. But today thanks to modern science and technology, this brain-machine has become part and parcel of our everyday endeavour. One can no more deny the fact that computers and precisely laptops have helped to make our 21st century a much more happier and effective one.
Today, I want to spend some time trying to outline some major if not all of the uses of a laptop.
The laptop as a computer is used for communication. Nowadays, one does not spend much money and waste time on trains or buses trying to convey a message which could have been easily sent through the e-mail in a twinkling of an eye. It has become even easier and faster to send e-mails through the laptop since it is more mobile than the desktop. So for instance, if you had a desktop at home or at the office and you needed to send an e-mail you need not run back to these places if you are far away from the computer’s reach instead with a laptop which is normally carried along with you wherever you go, all you need is a quiet and private place to send the message. You can also make calls, organize conferences and chat with friends with a laptop. But you need an internet connection to do all this.
The laptop is used for research purposes. Modern scholars, engineers and scientists with the help of laptops have come out with Nobel Prize winning discoveries which they would not have achieved without the limitless help their laptops gave them. Mathematical simulations and cut-to-suit software have made this possible. Students all over the world pursuing academic successes have laptops as their allies as they undertake research courses.
Again, the laptop is used as a source of entertainment. Many a people like me who find it difficult visiting places like film shows, theatres etc find happiness and comfort in our laptops watching movies or listening to music which otherwise we would have missed out without the computer. It is the laptop which helps us put sounds and stuff on our treasured mp3s, iPods, high-tech phones and other gadgets.
What I have tried to do is just look at the very major uses of laptops in our contemporary world. There are several other uses of this machine and you are the right person to tell me about the next use of a laptop.
Check out the next article as i try to outline some 15-steps of taking good care of your laptop.
Somewhere about twenty years ago, the relevance of a laptop will be very difficult to speak for. But today thanks to modern science and technology, this brain-machine has become part and parcel of our everyday endeavour. One can no more deny the fact that computers and precisely laptops have helped to make our 21st century a much more happier and effective one.
Today, I want to spend some time trying to outline some major if not all of the uses of a laptop.
The laptop as a computer is used for communication. Nowadays, one does not spend much money and waste time on trains or buses trying to convey a message which could have been easily sent through the e-mail in a twinkling of an eye. It has become even easier and faster to send e-mails through the laptop since it is more mobile than the desktop. So for instance, if you had a desktop at home or at the office and you needed to send an e-mail you need not run back to these places if you are far away from the computer’s reach instead with a laptop which is normally carried along with you wherever you go, all you need is a quiet and private place to send the message. You can also make calls, organize conferences and chat with friends with a laptop. But you need an internet connection to do all this.
The laptop is used for research purposes. Modern scholars, engineers and scientists with the help of laptops have come out with Nobel Prize winning discoveries which they would not have achieved without the limitless help their laptops gave them. Mathematical simulations and cut-to-suit software have made this possible. Students all over the world pursuing academic successes have laptops as their allies as they undertake research courses.
Again, the laptop is used as a source of entertainment. Many a people like me who find it difficult visiting places like film shows, theatres etc find happiness and comfort in our laptops watching movies or listening to music which otherwise we would have missed out without the computer. It is the laptop which helps us put sounds and stuff on our treasured mp3s, iPods, high-tech phones and other gadgets.
What I have tried to do is just look at the very major uses of laptops in our contemporary world. There are several other uses of this machine and you are the right person to tell me about the next use of a laptop.
Check out the next article as i try to outline some 15-steps of taking good care of your laptop.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Introductory Address
Hello my dear friends.
Today marks the birth of my blog and my vision is to make this home an entertaining, educative , exciting and a family-like kind of place.Over here you will find information on how to maintain, maximize the use of your laptop and tit-bits about laptops on almost every aspect such as how to purchase or sell a laptop.
For my next post i will start with the importance of a laptop in other words, how useful a laptop can be. Visit again to read about this informative article. Thank you for visiting LAPTOPLEMANA.
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