How To Properly Install A New Motherboard

How To Properly Install A New Motherboard by Otis Cooper -

The motherboard is the most expensive computer component so be sure to treat and handle it with great care.There are a few things you should do to ensure no motherboard damage occur as you prepare for the installation.



Be sure you have a clean,well lit,and level work place.Relax your mind and make this task both fun and educational.You will need such tools as a phillips screwdriver,maybe some needle nose pliers and the manual that came with the board.



Most importantly you must remove any and all electrical static discharge from your body and clothes.Static electricity is a big problem and will quickly damage chips on your new board.



PREPARING FOR THE INSTALLATION



Preparing to work on your system envolves work area,lighting, and much more.One great danger is the chance of electrical static charge.But this will be no problem when this static buildup is properly removes.



Remove this danger by grounding yourself.Touch the metal case of the system unit or better yet,touch a door nobt in your work area to remove all electrical static charge.



Set down and carefully read your user's manual and familiarize yourself with your new motherboard and its layout.Taking this time will boost your motherboard installation performance ike you never thought.



Study your new motherboard and keep the box it came in.Remove it from its protective wrap very carefully and without damaging the wrap.This is done just in case you need to return the motherboard.



You may need to return the motherboard if you made any mistakes in the purchase.Does the holes of your new motherboard line up with the holes in the case?If there are any reason to return the board,you can simply put it back in the box to return.



Make the installation of your new motherboard fun and prepare well.Go to www.ultimatepcrepair.com and click on the photos page to familiarize yourself with all of the components in the cmputer.Follow these procedures as a guildline to install your new motherboard.



REMOVING THE OLD MOTHERBOARD



First Turn on your computer and access your cmos setup. This is done as the computer counts its memory.Press the combination of keys to access your bios.once inside your bios,select "Standard CMOS Setup" and write down all information about your computer's drives.



Make sure you get the density of your floppy drives and the type of hard drive you have. Once you have this, turn off and unplug the computer and remove the case.



Second Study your system unit layout and you may want to take notes as your remove components and connections so that it will be easier when it comes to re-installing these components or connections.



Go about unplugging the wires that are connected to your old motherboard.Remember to label any and all connections to make re-installing them easier later.Here's where its very important to take awhile to study your old and new boards before disconnecting anything.



Third Carefully disconnect all drives and label the connectors if needed.Remove the drives and set them out of the way in a safe place.Place all small screws in a cup or something where them won't get lost.



Carefully grasp the motherboard and give it a gentle tug upwards to be sure on connections,screws,or other devices are not interferring with the board's removal.



Once you are certain there are no obstruction for the board to be removed,lift the board out of the system unit.Look to see if such components as the memory need to be installed onto the new motherboard.



INSTALLING THE NEW MOTHERBOARD



Installing the new motherboard is the reverse order of removing the old motherboard.Be sure you remove all electrical static discharge from you body and clothes.Inspect the new board for damage and to be certain it is the right motherboard for your computer.



Carefully align the new motherboard with the system unit case and secure the board.Be careful not to secure the screws too much.Install the CPU chip if it is not installed on the board from the manufacturer.



Connect the large power connector from the power supply the the motherboard connector.Take care in not forcing the connector which may bend a pin.



Install RAM Memory into their sockets and check to be sure they are puched in completely.Re-connect all other devices such as controllers,expansion cards and finally the drives.



Check the sound,and videos cards for proper installation. Did you install your internal modem,or scanner adapter card? Connect the leads to the On-Off switch as well the hard drive indicator.



After all connections and components are installed,stop and go back to check again,and then,check some more.Replace the system unit cover once you know all is well.



Your system should now be ready to go.The motherboard may come with a cdrom containing device drivers and other software utilities that may be required to be installed.



Now try turning on the computer and if the POST completed without a hitch,you're there.If you experience problems,go back and check all connections and devices.



Ita that easy to install or upgrade not only the motherboard,but nearly every other component in the system unit.Get busy understanding your computer now and save big on future PC repair costs.



Otis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting the knowledge and confidence of every computer user. Use his informative articles and videos to understand all about the PC. Read more in depth articles for pc training and repair at http://www.repairarticles.com



Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

Top Tips For Computer Accessories

Top Tips For Computer Accessories by Steve Wickenden

If you have a desktop computer, you need a lot of things to get the most of your experience. There are a lot of desktop computer accessories that you need in order to hear, see, and do all of the things that computers are now designed to do. In some cases, you may get most of these items with your computer, but if you don’t, you need to know what to get and where to get it. You also have to make sure you know what you are buying is going to work with the computer you have.



When you buy a new computer, make sure you ask what desktop computer accessories will come with your new toy. At the very least, you should get speakers and a printer with it, and if you want to add extras, they may charge you for it. For the most part, however, they want to make a sale, and may throw things in just to get you to buy from them, though this is not always the case. Make sure they tell you all about the desktop computer accessories that they are sending to you, and make sure you ask if they are the most up to date ones you can get.



If you find that you need to buy some desktop computer accessories on your own, you can go through the manufacturer of your computer to make sure the ones you are buying will be compatible. This may also allow you to get a better price than by going through the retail stores. You can also find desktop computer accessories by looking online, but make sure you know what you are looking at as your browse. Some manufacturers make accessories that will only go with their own product lines while other try to make universal items that will go with any computer.



Remember to be careful when you install your desktop computer accessories. Most of them come with software that you need to install in order for the item to work with your computer and it’s software. When you plug something new into your computer, the computer should find and install any software it needs. If it does not, you may have a problem on your hands, and you may have to call the manufacturer of the desktop computer accessories you purchased to ask them for help. If they cannot help you, you may have to call your computer maker’s technical help line.




Steve Wickenden runs his own mail order business as well as running several shopping based websites. His particular speciality is electronics and computers.
Visit his website which is full of Computer Accessories tips.
http://www.discount-computer-equipment.com/Computer-Accessories.html



Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

Consider Having A Custom Computer Built

Consider Having A Custom Computer Built by mdofpc

At some point in time, you are going to be in the market for a new computer. When this time comes, you should definitely check out your options with custom built computers.



First off, let me develop a bit of credibility. I have been working on the net, and thus computers, for nine years. Between my partner and I, we have over 200 total sites. All of this means I am on a computer roughly 15 hours a day during the week and at least four hours a day on the weekends. I love the work, so it isn’t a problem. Regardless, I have gone through at least 15 computers and developed a feel for what works best.



If you work on the computer frequently, you need one thing more than anything else. You need speed. Most computers are built to minimum levels in one area or another. Like the weak link in a chain, one slow area kills the speed of the computer. So, you need a computer that flies on all fronts. So, who sells them. Sadly, the answer is nobody. Instead, you need to have one built for you.



The best recommendation I can give you is to request MDofPC Custom Computers LLC to build a computer for you. . Avoid the big megamarts or the local overpriced computer store. When you call one of our sales reps, you should tell them the type of work you do, what you want the computer to do and what you don’t care about. If you use the computer for business purposes, you probably need excel. If you don’t, you probably don’t. Also emphasize that you want to the computer to be blinding fast. The computer I am working on now is custom built. The pages load so fast on the web that I can’t actually see them loading. They are just there. This is what you want. Make sure you tell them this clearly.



You are probably skeptical about two things – price and quality. On price, you should expect to pay about the same amount or less than you would for an off the shelf computer. I paid $800 for this one and it is better than anything you can get off the shelf. As to quality, I hate to break the news to you, but name brand computers are made from the same parts your professional will be building. Dell does not make hard drives. IBM does not make video cards. They all are using parts from Intel, Selectron and the basic suppliers. Your computer will be built with the same thing and you won’t have to pay for the “brand name”.



What if you have a problem with the computer? Well, you can call the person that built it. They are like car mechanics. They are always around and they take pride in their work. If there is a problem, they will fix it for free. Now, contrast that with a name brand computer. Let’s say we buy a Dell computer, one of the worst brands on the market. If you have a problem, you call “customer service” This person, of course, is in India, the Philippines or some other location. They are reading a script of solutions to complaints. If your problem isn’t on that script, you are out of luck. Now, which situation sounds better to you?



At the end of the day, name brand computers are a scam. For the same price, you can get a custom built computer that blows away anything off the shelf. Try it just once and you will be amazed how much better buying a computer will end up. Hey, that’s my recommendation after years of using them.


*****!!!!!!! DO NOT TRY AND HIDE SNEAKY LINKS IN THE BODY !!!!!***** href="http://www.submitsuite.com/products/article-submitter.htm">This article was published using Article Submitter



www.mdofpc.com
MDofPC Custom Computers



Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

Consider Having A Custom Computer Built

Consider Having A Custom Computer Built by mdofpc

At some point in time, you are going to be in the market for a new computer. When this time comes, you should definitely check out your options with custom built computers.



First off, let me develop a bit of credibility. I have been working on the net, and thus computers, for nine years. Between my partner and I, we have over 200 total sites. All of this means I am on a computer roughly 15 hours a day during the week and at least four hours a day on the weekends. I love the work, so it isn’t a problem. Regardless, I have gone through at least 15 computers and developed a feel for what works best.



If you work on the computer frequently, you need one thing more than anything else. You need speed. Most computers are built to minimum levels in one area or another. Like the weak link in a chain, one slow area kills the speed of the computer. So, you need a computer that flies on all fronts. So, who sells them. Sadly, the answer is nobody. Instead, you need to have one built for you.



The best recommendation I can give you is to request MDofPC Custom Computers LLC to build a computer for you. . Avoid the big megamarts or the local overpriced computer store. When you call one of our sales reps, you should tell them the type of work you do, what you want the computer to do and what you don’t care about. If you use the computer for business purposes, you probably need excel. If you don’t, you probably don’t. Also emphasize that you want to the computer to be blinding fast. The computer I am working on now is custom built. The pages load so fast on the web that I can’t actually see them loading. They are just there. This is what you want. Make sure you tell them this clearly.



You are probably skeptical about two things – price and quality. On price, you should expect to pay about the same amount or less than you would for an off the shelf computer. I paid $800 for this one and it is better than anything you can get off the shelf. As to quality, I hate to break the news to you, but name brand computers are made from the same parts your professional will be building. Dell does not make hard drives. IBM does not make video cards. They all are using parts from Intel, Selectron and the basic suppliers. Your computer will be built with the same thing and you won’t have to pay for the “brand name”.



What if you have a problem with the computer? Well, you can call the person that built it. They are like car mechanics. They are always around and they take pride in their work. If there is a problem, they will fix it for free. Now, contrast that with a name brand computer. Let’s say we buy a Dell computer, one of the worst brands on the market. If you have a problem, you call “customer service” This person, of course, is in India, the Philippines or some other location. They are reading a script of solutions to complaints. If your problem isn’t on that script, you are out of luck. Now, which situation sounds better to you?



At the end of the day, name brand computers are a scam. For the same price, you can get a custom built computer that blows away anything off the shelf. Try it just once and you will be amazed how much better buying a computer will end up. Hey, that’s my recommendation after years of using them.


*****!!!!!!! DO NOT TRY AND HIDE SNEAKY LINKS IN THE BODY !!!!!***** href="http://www.submitsuite.com/products/article-submitter.htm">This article was published using Article Submitter



www.mdofpc.com
MDofPC Custom Computers



Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

Understanding the Different Types of Computer Memory

Understanding the Different Types of Computer Memory by Grant Eckert

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 20 years or so, you are already aware of the tremendous strides that have been made in computer technology. In a relatively short amount of time computers have gone from being the size of a room, to the size of a hand's palm. While getting smaller and more compact, they have also become more effective and efficient at their functions. That doesn’t mean that owning and operating a computer means you know exactly how each of the components works.



One of the least understood aspects of a computer's operating system and function has to do with memory. Many people assume that their computer only has one kind and that it has unlimited space available. When their computer begins to run sluggishly or not at all, many are surprised to learn that the problem is the system's memory and it is easy to fix.



Before you are forced to learn the hard way about your computer's memory, let's discuss some of the different types of memory and their functions. The two most often recognized types of memory are RAM and virtual memory. RAM stands for random access memory. This is the type of memory that is responsible for "remembering" the details and programming of the various types of software on the computer. Each computer system is unique in terms of how much memory it has. The misconception among computer challenged people is that this type of memory is unlimited. It isn't. When RAM memory is full, the compute immediately moves given information to the virtual memory. Since virtual memory is intended to be a temporary storage area, if more RAM isn't added or space freed up, your computer will begin to run more slowly and programs and information may be lost or inaccessible.



Another type of computer memory is ROM or read only memory. This type of memory comes into play whenever you shut down or restart your computer. Any data you have on your system or are working on is immediately saved to this memory. When you start your system the ROM performs a power on self test or POST, to make sure all of your software and programs are working as they should. An important aspect of this test is the built in memory controller. In this way, your computer makes sure there aren't any errors in the memory chips.



From the ROM section of the computer's memory, the basic memory component BIOS does its job. This is where the most basic actions of the computer are controlled. In the computer world, it is known as the input/output system. The BIOS controls information about the various boot sequences on the computer, storage devices, and security features. It also keeps track of the system's plug and play capabilities and other vital, background functions of the computer. From this point the computer's memory stores the essential information of the operating system from the hard drive to the RAM memory and the memory cycle comes full circle.



With a working understanding of a computer's memory system, it's easy to see why it is essential to make sure the system's RAM is never overtaxed. RAM is responsible for making the OS or operating system function. If it doesn’t have enough space to make that happen, the computer runs poorly and you may lose use of vital information. Fortunately, your RAM space can be cleared out or increased with additional random access memory sticks. Both methods are useful for creating additional space.



Computers are much easier to understand when you have some knowledge of their memory systems and how to keep them in good operating order.



About Author:

Grant Eckert is a writer for UpgradeComputerMemory.com. UpgradeComputerMemory.com is a leading provider of Ram Memory | Upgrade Memory | Computer Memory



Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

Want To Know Which Computer Memory Upgrades To Select

Want To Know Which Computer Memory Upgrades To Select? by Rudy Silva

Computer memory upgrades are important upgrade that your computer must have from time to time. Of course, although there is a limit to what you can put, you would still find it beneficial to boost its memory capacity.



Modern computer units have bigger memory capacity. They are more powerful than those that were sold a few decades ago. Moreover, from then till now, there have been different kinds of memories that were used to run a pc.



When you do a pc memory upgrade, it is only going to make your computer perform better. At least, this is the general case because the memory of a computer is among the most important parts that contribute to the speed and efficiency of your machine. The other parts include the hard disk and the processor.



The popularity and importance of this machine in this era has forced people to learn how it works. In this case, they would be able to do minor troubleshooting and parts replacements. By doing so, computer owners can save their pockets from the costly services of technicians.



Now, if you have pc and know a little about how it works, then it’s quite possible for you to encounter problem once you do a computer memory upgrade. This is most especially true if you try to do it yourself.



The problems that you might encounter are:



- Having the wrong kind of memory. There are various kinds of memories in the market which results to various computer memory upgrades. If you do not know what kind of memory your pc uses or laptop uses, then it is impossible for you to do it alone.



- Installing too much memory which could be a cause the computer not to work. Memory capacity depends on the model of your unit. If you buy computer memory that is lower than what is necessary then your machine would not operate well. On the other hand, if you purchase something beyond its capacity, then that could burn the wires and chips that your memory cache has.



- Getting overcharged by opportunist technicians as there are some around. Although there are honest technicians, that still wouldn’t stop others to take advantage of those who do not know much about their machines. Because of this they tend to offer their services at almost impossible amount.



As oppose to this, you could have a cheap memory computer if you only understand enough about your unit. To give you an idea on how to improve your pc’s performance for a breezy price, here are some of the known computer memory upgrades.



- Desktop memory upgrade. This kind of computer upgrade uses different kinds of memories to save information of various significances. It has RAM and ROM. Of these two, RAM or random access memory is the one that usually needs modification because it affects the unit’s performance.



- Laptop memory upgrade is somewhat more critical than that of the desktop simply because of the price. Laptops are generally pricier than most desktop units so if you don’t know how to maintain it, then you’ll be in a real trouble.



- RAM memory upgrade. RAM is important for any kind of computer machines. Without it, your unit would not run. There are different kinds of RAM. There is SDRAM, DDR2, and DDR3 and there are the older versions.



Although few years ago, DDR2 and DDR3 were considered the latest, there are still those that have units running with older kinds of RAM and you could even be one of them. If in case you are, then it is important to consult someone else because you might also need to upgrade the other parts of your computer.



Older computer chip sets do not run with the latest RAMS and this makes computer memory upgrades a little complicated. To be sure that you have the right thing and amount, check the requirement of the memory type that you want to use.



Are you thinking of doing Upgrades computer memory? Do you want to know where to get services for memory upgrades? We at The Upgrade Place specialize in memory upgrades for all types of computers. We are also a supplier for flash memory cards, USB flash drives and laptop batteries. Visit our website at http://www.theupgradeplace.com/ to get more information about our computer products.



Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

Want To Know Which Computer Memory Upgrades To Select

Want To Know Which Computer Memory Upgrades To Select? by Rudy Silva

Computer memory upgrades are important upgrade that your computer must have from time to time. Of course, although there is a limit to what you can put, you would still find it beneficial to boost its memory capacity.



Modern computer units have bigger memory capacity. They are more powerful than those that were sold a few decades ago. Moreover, from then till now, there have been different kinds of memories that were used to run a pc.



When you do a pc memory upgrade, it is only going to make your computer perform better. At least, this is the general case because the memory of a computer is among the most important parts that contribute to the speed and efficiency of your machine. The other parts include the hard disk and the processor.



The popularity and importance of this machine in this era has forced people to learn how it works. In this case, they would be able to do minor troubleshooting and parts replacements. By doing so, computer owners can save their pockets from the costly services of technicians.



Now, if you have pc and know a little about how it works, then it’s quite possible for you to encounter problem once you do a computer memory upgrade. This is most especially true if you try to do it yourself.



The problems that you might encounter are:



- Having the wrong kind of memory. There are various kinds of memories in the market which results to various computer memory upgrades. If you do not know what kind of memory your pc uses or laptop uses, then it is impossible for you to do it alone.



- Installing too much memory which could be a cause the computer not to work. Memory capacity depends on the model of your unit. If you buy computer memory that is lower than what is necessary then your machine would not operate well. On the other hand, if you purchase something beyond its capacity, then that could burn the wires and chips that your memory cache has.



- Getting overcharged by opportunist technicians as there are some around. Although there are honest technicians, that still wouldn’t stop others to take advantage of those who do not know much about their machines. Because of this they tend to offer their services at almost impossible amount.



As oppose to this, you could have a cheap memory computer if you only understand enough about your unit. To give you an idea on how to improve your pc’s performance for a breezy price, here are some of the known computer memory upgrades.



- Desktop memory upgrade. This kind of computer upgrade uses different kinds of memories to save information of various significances. It has RAM and ROM. Of these two, RAM or random access memory is the one that usually needs modification because it affects the unit’s performance.



- Laptop memory upgrade is somewhat more critical than that of the desktop simply because of the price. Laptops are generally pricier than most desktop units so if you don’t know how to maintain it, then you’ll be in a real trouble.



- RAM memory upgrade. RAM is important for any kind of computer machines. Without it, your unit would not run. There are different kinds of RAM. There is SDRAM, DDR2, and DDR3 and there are the older versions.



Although few years ago, DDR2 and DDR3 were considered the latest, there are still those that have units running with older kinds of RAM and you could even be one of them. If in case you are, then it is important to consult someone else because you might also need to upgrade the other parts of your computer.



Older computer chip sets do not run with the latest RAMS and this makes computer memory upgrades a little complicated. To be sure that you have the right thing and amount, check the requirement of the memory type that you want to use.



Are you thinking of doing Upgrades computer memory? Do you want to know where to get services for memory upgrades? We at The Upgrade Place specialize in memory upgrades for all types of computers. We are also a supplier for flash memory cards, USB flash drives and laptop batteries. Visit our website at http://www.theupgradeplace.com/ to get more information about our computer products.



Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

Why Is My Computer Slow

Why Is My Computer Slow? by

Technology advances at an ever increasing pace but quite often purchasing the latest and greatest or the biggest and fastest can be a total waste of money.



Technology geeks (I can say that because I am one myself) go out and buy the latest gadgets at the highest prices because they all have some new fangled function or a re sporting the latest colors or designs when they haven't really used all the functionality of the one they already own.



When it comes to the family Pc however I think the technology giants like Intel, Amd, Hp and Dell for example are all missing the point when it comes to your average consumer.



A majority of computer users do not play games on their computers (they probably have a play station or a Wii), nor do they use massively processor hungry applications like computer aided design packages or finite element (fea) calculation packages.



If we listen to all the advertising blurb that computer vendors and suppliers seem happy to ply us with, we would all believe we need multiple core machines , but reality couldn't be further from the truth.



And if the processor manufacturers were entirely, open they would also tell you that there are still today very few programs that can even take advantage of the multithreaded capability of today's breed of processors.



The truth of the matter is that Pc technology and power is far outreaching the users real needs, lets face it, you probably have more raw processing capability sat in the average home than they had to send man into space in the early days!



One fact that is undeniable though is that when you go and buy your next Pc with all its raw computing power you will probably still need to by something extra to make it work efficiently within a short space of time.



A well rounded and efficient computer or laptop isn't just about the processor speed, granted that does help but only up to a point. A good analogy would be why buy a sports car that is capable of over a hundred and fifty miles and hour when the most you will ever do is 90?



Equally , with your average car a good all round performer will be the sum of all its components , tires, suspension etc. not just the power of the engine. But what good is a 150 mph engine if the tires are only rated for 70mph.



The same applies to your average Pc or laptop but with different components and whilst automotive legislation will ensure that the automobile that you buy will be fit for purpose, computer vendors and system integrators are getting away with selling what many experts would believe is really "barely fit for purpose".



Of course, what we are referring to is the amount of computer memory in your laptop or Pc.



As Pc power increases programs get more complex, and as they get more complex they use more computer memory.



The more programs you install even if only working in the background i.e. anti virus programs, music programs and system utilities the more memory is used and so on.



Simply put the more memory the programs have to access, the faster and more efficiently the Pc will work.



This is all well and good but the problem occurs when your computer runs out of memory and has to start using the hard drive as extended memory instead.



This is magnitudes slower performance wise than the system memory and will not stop your Pc from working but will certainly slow it down, sometimes to the point of almost stopping.



It's a bit like putting a block of wood under your cars gas pedal, it will still accelerate but just not as quickly as it is really capable of.



Computer resellers really should be giving the best advice to there customers at point of sale rather than taking the quick buck on a quick sale especially at the budget end of the market.



After all lets face it, a little additional memory should not cost more than $50 - $100 extra and is a worthy investment if you plan to keep your hardware for more than a year, or have more than a handful of programs you want to load up.



Are computer resellers all to blame though? Expert opinion would say not , the computer manufactures should set a minimum level of memory in new systems given that they are well aware that budget machines memory levels are arguably barely adequate.



The positive side to all this is of course that there is a massive market in after sales computer memory which seems to grow ever stronger because of the need for more memory in a machine.



Computer memory upgrades are easily obtainable fortunately and something which you can do yourself. You can do an online memory scan to ensure and guarantee that the memory is indeed correct for your system and fit it yourself when it arrives a few days later if ordered on line.



Or you can contact you local computer repair professional who can also perform this inexpensive task if you have already purchased a new Pc or if your existing system is running slowly.



If you are thinking of purchasing new hardware then do yourself a favor and make sure you get a memory upgrade if you are purchasing a budget machine. If the salesperson does not give you the option ask for it. You will be the person that benefits in the long run.



Buying a new computer may not be necessary when all you need is a simple memory upgrade. Memory upgrades are quite often all that is needed to speed up a slow computer and you can even do a memory scan on-line to ensure you are buying the right memory.



Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles

Guide to Buying Hard Drives

Guide to Buying Hard Drives
By: Andrew Gates
Apart from being one of the most essential parts of your computer, hard drive storage is constantly updating, in terms of both capacity of disk space and in physical size. When it comes time to upgrade your disk storage, there are a number of factors for you to take into account. Once you've made basic decisions about size, connectivity, speed and data transfer rate, and whether you want an internal drive or external, you can search through Myshopping.com.au to find the most suitable brand, and model, and compare the prices of different vendors.

Hard Drives

How A Hard Drive Works

Your hard drive has a number of magnetized platters connected to a spindle. The spindle spins the platters at a very fast speed while a series of read/write heads scan over them both looking for and writing information. This information is transferred via a cable system, or through a wireless connection to a hard disk controller, which in most systems is built into the motherboard, or in some systems installed as an add-in card. The information that comes from your hard drive through its controller is then made available to the components of your computer. The effectiveness of your hard drive (its performance) depends on how much of its capacity remains unused, how well organised the data is (known as fragmentation) and its data transfer rate, which in turn is dependent on its connection type and the drive's spin rate.

Internal Hard Drives

Most computers from, the most basic home models up to the most powerful servers, have an internally installed hard drive. Technology today ensures that they are all generally fast, reliable, and offer dependable storage ability. Most modern computers have installation slots and cabling to enable you to install additional hard drive. This allows you to increase your storage capacity without giving up your existing hard drive.

Internal Hard Drives

External Hard Drives

These drives are essentially the same drives as ones installed inside computers, but cased inside a protective, portable case. This is a good solution for people who work remotely and need to transport large amounts of data. If an external hard drive is your choice, make sure your computer is compatible with the interface that the hard drive uses. An add-in card, such as a FireWire card can help to increase your computer's capabilities. You can compare different brands of external hard drives simply at Myshopping.com.au and search on the connection type, or other specifications.

External Hard drives

Laptop Hard Drives

There have been many advances in miniaturization of hardware components for laptop computing, and hard drive technology is not left out of this loop. Laptop hard drives function in exactly the same way as internal hard drives on other computers, only they are designed to provide maximum storage and efficiency in the smallest possible package. For added flexibility, some laptop computers come with removable hard drives that can be easily installed and removed. However, before you buy a hard drive for your portable computer, check that the hard drive's specifications will meet the standards of your computer, as many laptop hard drives are proprietary, and are not compatible with other brands and models.

Laptop Hard Drives

Size

Your hard drive stores your operating system, its programs (games and applications), your working data, and your digital music and movies. Most new computer purchases have a minimum of 80 GB of hard disk space; many have considerably more. Hard drive space is one of those things, once you have it, you'll find ways to fill it soon enough. There is no real rule of thumb, but consider the cost per gigabyte of storage as a way to guide your purchase. If you work with large files, such as music, video and graphics, it pays to have a big storage space for your work. It may pay you to have two hard drives, one that houses all your programs and applications, and another for storing your work and projects.

You may want to compare the price of say a 160GB drive against two separate 80 GB drives. If one drive fails all is not lost. Today's hard drives however, are fairly robust pieces of equipment and providing they are not abuse, will serve you well for a long period of time.

up to 32 GB Hard Drives

32-64 GB Hard Drives

64-100 GB Hard Drives

100 GB and more Hard Drives

Interface

One key distinguishing factor between hard drives is the way in which they connect to your computer. There are a number of basic types of connection schemes used with hard drives. Each connection type has a range of differences in performance.

IDE (INTEGRATED DRIVE ELECTRONICS)

This is by the most common connection methods. Because the hard drive controller is on the drive itself rather than on the motherboard, it helps to keep costs down. There different IDE standards available. Mostly, you will want to purchase the fastest possible standard that your computer can support. Most computers will support a standard that is faster than what the computer currently supports, so you can buy a faster drive, and update your computer at a later time. The different IDE standards, in order from most basic to fastest, are:

ATA (Basic). Supports up to two hard drives and features a 16-bit interface, handling transfer speeds up to 8.3 MB per second.

ATA-2 or EIDE (Enhanced IDE). Supports transfer speeds up to 13.3 MB per second.

ATA-3. A minor upgrade to ATA-2 and offers transfer speeds up to 16.6 MB per second.

Ultra-ATA (Ultra-DMA, ATA-33 or DMA-33). Dramatic speed improvements, with transfer rates up to 33 MB per second.

ATA-66. A version of ATA that doubles transfer rates up to 66 MB per second.

ATA-100. An upgrade to the ATA standard supporting transfer rates up to 100 MB per second.

ATA-133. Found mostly in AMD-based systems (not supported by Intel), with transfer rates up to 133 MB per second.

IDE / EIDE Hard Drives

Serial ATA Hard Drives

Ultra DMA 100 Hard Drives

SCSI (SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEM INTERFACE)

This is the hard drive interface standard used by many high-end PCs, networks and servers, and Apple Macintosh computers, except for the earliest Macs and the newer iMacs. While some systems support SCSI controllers on their motherboards, most feature a SCSI controller add-in card. SCSI drives are usually faster and more reliable, and the SCSI interface supports the connection of many more drives than IDE. While SCSI drives come in many different standards, many of them are not compatible with one another. So it's important be know that your computer supports the drive you plan to install. The different SCSI connections are:

SCSI-1. A basic connection using a 25-pin connector, supporting transfer rates up to 4 MB per second.

SCSI-2. Uses a 50-pin connector and supports multiple devices with a transfer rate of 4MB per second.

Wide SCSI. These drives have a wider cable and a 68-pin connection that supports 16-bit data transfers.

Fast SCSI. Uses an 8-bit bus but transfers data at 10 MB Per second.

Fast Wide SCSI. Doubles both the bus (16-bit) and the data transfer rate (20 MB per second).

Ultra SCSI or Ultra Wide SCSI. Uses an 8-bit bus and transfers data at 20 MB per second.

SCSI-3. Features a 16-bit bus and transfers data at 40 MB per second.

Ultra2 SCSI. Uses an 8-bit bus and transfer data at a rate of 40 MB per second.

Wide Ultra2 SCSI. Uses a 16-bit bus and supports data transfer rates of 80 MB per second.

SCSI Hard Drives

Ultra320 SCSI Hard Drives

FIREWIRE (IEEE 1394)

The FireWire standard is becoming popular in portable hard drives because it can be connected and removed without having to reboot the computer. It supports data transfer rates of 50 MB per second, which means it is ideal for video, audio and multimedia applications. FireWire requires a dedicated add-in card and the hard drives in use require an external power source, but the interface can support up to 63 devices simultaneously.

FireWire Hard Drives

USB 1.1 (UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS)

Pretty much all computers today include USB ports on their motherboards. (On older model, you can install an add-in card.) USB controllers can be used to connect external hard drives, and can support as many as 127 devices simultaneously either through USB port hubs or linked in a daisy chain fashion. USB controllers do delivery power to devices connected to them, but many hard drives still use an external power source. USB is limited by its data transfer speed, the maximum rate being about at 1.5 MB per second.

USB Hard Drives

USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED USB)

A more recently introduced and far better connection standard that offers backward compatibility and data transfer rates of up to 60 MB per second. USB 1.1 system can use a USB 2.0 device; it will need a USB 2.0 controller card to achieve the higher transfer rates.

USB 2.0 Hard Drives

FIBRE CHANNEL

Fibre Cabling is mainly used for high-bandwidth network servers and workstations, providing very fast data transfer rates (up to 106MB per second), and connection at long cabled distances, although it is expensive and you need to install a special interface card.

Spin rate

Data transfer rate is crucial to how well your computer performs for you. Apart from the connection types above, the performance of your hard drive depends on its spin rate, measured in RPM. Higher RPM generally means faster data transfer rate. The lowest spin speed that is acceptable in computing today is 5400 RPM. The common standard at present is 7200 RPM. But higher speeds are available in SCSI drives, and it is one area of computer system technology that is constantly being developed.

3600 RPM Hard Drives

4200 RPM Hard Drives

5400 RPM Hard Drives

7200 RPM Hard Drives

10000 RPM Hard Drives

15000 RPM Hard Drives

A larger capacity hard drive will not necessarily make your system function any faster unless you are low on available disk space with your existing drive. But a drive with Ultra ATA/100 or ATA/133 and a 7200 RPM spin rate will pretty much guarantee an improved hard drive performance.

Other considerations

CACHE

Cache (pronounces 'cash') is additional temporary memory that acts as a buffer between the system and the drive. Frequently accessed data is stored in the cache for quick access. Cache sizes vary from 512 KB up to 16 MB on some SCSI drives. The larger cache you have on your drive, the faster your drive will transfer data. If you are working with large files, such as video, images and audio files, it pays to have the largest cache you can get (8MB or more).

SEEK TIME

The data on your disk is stored in tracks and sectors and when you instruct your hard drive controller to retrieve some data, it goes looking. The seek time is a measure of how long it takes the hard drive to find a specific track on a disk. Seek times can vary slightly from disk to disk and a drive with a faster seek time will always perform better.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TRANSFER RATES

These two rates tell how fast a drive actually reads the data and passes it along to the system. Internal Transfer Rate refers to the time it takes for a drives heads to read data from the platter and pass it to the drive's cache. The External Transfer Rate (sometimes called the Transfer Rate or the Burst Transfer Rate) is a measure of the time it takes to send the data from the cache all the way to the computer's memory. Naturally faster transfer rates provide better performance.

S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology)

This is a nice built-in feature in some hard drives that can help alert you to a potential hardware problem. Your computer's BIOS must support this in order for the SMART function it to work, however the drive itself will still work in a system without it.

Buying and installing a hard drive has some technical aspects that you need to take into account. Use Myshopping.com.au to compare different hard drive makes and specifications to find the drive that will work best for your needs and computer. You can compare prices and service offers from different vendors.

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Website Security Rules of the Road

In 2004, online consumer spending was at a record $65.1 billion. More and more people are attracted to the ease of online shopping and are spending higher amounts. Unfortunately, the chances of becoming a victim of Internet fraud are also increasing. The Internet National Fraud Center Watch reported that the average loss to fraud victims for just the first six months of 2005 was $2,579. This is compared to the $895 average for all of 2004. Complaints relating to general merchandise purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) accounted for 30% of Internet fraud complaints, and auction purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) topped the list at 44%.

While many e-commerce Websites are reputable and have taken the necessary safety precautions to protect you, it never hurts to always proceed cautiously. If you are making an online purchase consider these easy steps:

1. Use only one credit card, preferably with a low credit limit, when making online purchases. Avoid using an ATM or debit card.
2. Be wary of unsolicited offers by sellers. The Internet National Fraud Information Center Watch reported that email, as a method of contact by Internet scammers was up 22% in 2004.While the offer may be legitimate, spammers like to use this tactic to side-step reputable sites that provide consumer protection for online purchases.
3. Use only reputable e-commerce websites that list a street address and telephone number in case you need to contact them directly.
4. Read the website’s privacy policy. Some websites may reserve the right to sell/give your information to a third party. Check the document to see if they allow an opportunity to “opt-out” of receiving special offers from third-party vendors or for permission to share your personal information.
5. Check for a lock symbol in the status bar at the bottom of your Web browser window. Also, do not provide your personal information if the website address doesn’t start with “https” (a sign that the site is using a secure server).
6. Choose only verified sellers. Check to see if the vendor is a verified member of a reputable third party such as the Better Business Bureau, VeriSign, or Guardian eCommerce. These third-party sites help to ensure online consumers will be protected when shopping or conducting e-commerce transactions.
7. Check that the delivery date posted is reasonable. If you have not dealt with the vendor on a regular basis, be wary of any Website that states the shipment will be delayed 20 or more days. Delivery dates of 7-10 days are more common.
8. Keep a paper trail of all online transactions. Print out a hard copy of the transaction and keep it in a file for future reference.
9. Be wary of website offers that just sound too good to be true. The Internet is littered with get rich quick scams and false advertising claims. Investigate all claims thoroughly before proceeding.
10. If you do not receive what you paid for, and the vendor will not return your emails or calls, contact your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs for further assistance.

Surfing the Web Anonymously – Questions to Ask

When you surf the web it is possible to learn information about you even when you don't want to advertise who you are. This is true even if your system contains no virus or malware software. Specifically information that is easily available online includes your IP address, your country (and often more location information based on IP address), what computer system you are on, what browser you use, your browser history, and other information. It gets worse. People can get your computer's name and even find out your name if your machine supports programs like finger or identd. Also, cookies can track your habits as you move from machine to machine.

How do people get this basic information about you?

When you visit another web site, information about you can be retrieved. Basically, information is intercepted and used by others to track your Internet activities.

How do you stop this from happening?

First of all, it is possible to serf the web anonymously and thereby stop leaving a trail for others to find. Note that this is not fool-proof, but it makes it much harder for people to know who you are. There are products called anonymous proxy servers that help protect you. The anonymous proxy server replaces your Internet address for its own. This has the effect of hiding your IP address and making it much harder for people to track you.


How do I get an anonymous proxy server?

There are many vendors who sell anonymous proxy servers. There are also free proxy servers available to you. Two such products are ShadowSurf and Guardster. Guardster (http://www.guardster.com/) offers various services for anonymous and secure access to the web, some paid as well as a free service. ShadowSurf (http://www.shadowsurf.com/) ShadowSurf provides anonymous surfing at their site for free. Go to it and you will find a box to enter a URL that you want no one to track. There are many others, but here are two that are frequently used.

Another interesting product, given the recent news about the Google search engine filtering its findings for the Chinese government, is Anonymizer (http://www.anonymizer.com). This company, among others, recently (Feb 1st, 2006) pressed that it "is developing a new anti-censorship solution that will enable Chinese citizens to safely access the entire Internet filter-free" (http://www.anonymizer.com/consumer/media/press_releases/02012006.html).

Does an anonymous proxy server make you 100% safe?

No. Still, you are much better off if you use such technology.

What other things should I be concerned about when trying to keep my private information private?

Three other items come to mind when trying to keep your information private. First, you can use an encrypted connection to hide your surfing. This article does not go into detail on this, but search the web and you will find a lot of information on this. Secondly, delete cookies after each session. Third, you can configure your browser to remove JavaScript, Java, and active content. This actually leads to limitations, so you need to think about the cost/benefit of this course of action.


Anything else?

Wishing you happy and safe surfing

Protection You Can Afford

There are numerous ways you can lose the information on your computer. Your child decides to play Chopin on your keyboard, a power surge, lightening, a virus, or even simple equipment failure. Therefore, backing up the contents of your hard drive is an absolute MUST. By regularly making backup copies of your files and storing them in a separate location, you can typically get some, if not all, of your information back in the event your computer crashes.

While a regular backup to floppy, CD, or zip drive will save your files, wouldn’t it be great if you could create an exact copy (a drive image) of your hard disk? That means backups of all your files, programs, and user settings. This would definitely save you time when it came to reloading. Acronis may be able to help.

Acronis True Image 9.0 is a robust disk-imaging utility software that copies the entire contents of your hard drive including data and operating system files, personalized settings, and more, onto another disk or disk partition. Its layout is easy to use and navigate. It also includes wizards which can walk you through both backing up and restoring your computer. Highlighted features include:

• Secure Zone — allows you to save data to a special hidden partition located on your hard drive which would eliminate the need to purchase an extra hard drive.
• PC Cloning — you can upgrade to a new system disk without needing to reinstall the operating system and applications, or configure user settings.
• Acronis Snap Restore - lightening-speed restore of your PC from an image. You can start working in seconds while your system is still being restored.

Acronis provides a free test-drive of its product and a 30-day money back guarantee. When you are ready to purchase, you can either download for $49.99, or if you so desire, order a boxed version for $59.99. With Acronis True Image Home 9.0, you can rest easy that your family pictures, personal documents, tax returns, resumes, and other important information will not be lost forever.

Spyware Beware

Spyware and Adware are not only an ever increasing nuisance for computer users everywhere, but also a booming industry. According to Webroot Software, Inc., the distribution of online advertisements through spyware and adware has become a $2 billion industry.

The aggressive advertising and spying tactics demonstrated by some of these programs, require an equally aggressive response from a seasoned eradicator. Sunbelt Software is such a company. A leader in Anti-Spyware, Anti-Spam, Network Security and System Management tools, they gave consistently remained on the cutting-edge of anti-spyware programming since 1994.

One of their more notable software applications is CounterSpy 1.5. CounterSpy is designed to detect and remove spyware that is already in your computer system. Additionally, it provides real-time protection while preventing browser hijacking and changes to your computer’s Registry.

Other notable features include:
• Detection and Removal of Tracking Cookies – while it is true that applications like Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta are free, they do not include the ability to detect and remove tracking cookies like CounterSpy does.
• History Cleaner - erases any traceable trails left on your computer as you surf the Internet.
• Secure File Eraser - a powerful deletion tool that can completely eliminate all files you want removed from your computer including images, music, movies and applications.
• PC Explorer - allows you a look into files and areas that are normally inconvenient to access, such as your startup programs, browser helper objects, and ActiveX programs that are being downloaded or used.
• Support for Older Operating Systems – includes Windows 98SE, Windows ME, and Windows NT.

Recommended by PC World, ConsumerSearch, and Dell, CounterSpy holds one of the highest effective ratings for spyware removal. It also received high marks from TopTenReviews (2006) for ease of use, customization/installation, and help/support. For only $19.95 per machine, users can receive a one year subscription with updates, upgrades, and technical support from real live humans. CounterSpy definitely provides ease of use and affordability for just about any computer user from the novice to the expert.

Computer Viruses that Come a Callin

Every day new computer viruses are created to annoy us and to wreck havoc on our computer systems. Below are ten viruses currently cited as being the most prevalent in terms of being seen the most or in their ability to potentially cause damage. New viruses are created daily. This is by no means an all inclusive list. The best thing you can do is to remain vigilant, keep your anti-virus software updated, and stay aware of the current computer virus threats.

Virus: Trojan.Lodear
A Trojan horse that attempts to download remote files. It will inject a .dll file into the EXPLORER.EXE process causing system instability.

Virus: W32.Beagle.CO@mm
A mass-mailing worm that lowers security settings. It can delete security-related registry sub keys and may block access to security-related websites.

Virus: Backdoor.Zagaban
A Trojan horse that allows the compromised computer to be used as a covert proxy and which may degrade network performance.

Virus: W32/Netsky-P
A mass-mailing worm which spreads by emailing itself to addresses produced from files on the local drives.

Virus: W32/Mytob-GH
A mass-mailing worm and IRC backdoor Trojan for the Windows platform. Messages sent by this worm will have the subject chosen randomly from a list including titles such as: Notice of account limitation, Email Account Suspension, Security measures, Members Support, Important Notification.

Virus: W32/Mytob-EX
A mass-mailing worm and IRC backdoor Trojan similar in nature to W32-Mytob-GH. W32/Mytob-EX runs continuously in the background, providing a backdoor server which allows a remote intruder to gain access and control over the computer via IRC channels. This virus spreads by sending itself to email attachments harvested from your email addresses.

Virus: W32/Mytob-AS, Mytob-BE, Mytob-C, and Mytob-ER
This family of worm variations possesses similar characteristics in terms of what they can do. They are mass-mailing worms with backdoor functionality that can be controlled through the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network. Additionally, they can spread through email and through various operating system vulnerabilities such as the LSASS (MS04-011).

Virus: Zafi-D
A mass mailing worm and a peer-to-peer worm which copies itself to the Windows system folder with the filename Norton Update.exe. It can then create a number of files in the Windows system folder with filenames consisting of 8 random characters and a DLL extension. W32/Zafi-D copies itself to folders with names containing share, upload, or music as ICQ 2005a new!.exe or winamp 5.7 new!.exe. W32/Zafi-D will also display a fake error message box with the caption "CRC: 04F6Bh" and the text "Error in packed file!".

Virus: W32/Netsky-D
A mass-mailing worm with IRC backdoor functionality which can also infect computers vulnerable to the LSASS (MS04-011) exploit.

Virus: W32/Zafi-B
A peer-to-peer (P2P) and email worm that will copy itself to the Windows system folder as a randomly named EXE file. This worm will test for the presence of an internet connection by attempting to connect to www.google.com or www.microsoft.com. A bilingual, worm with an attached Hungarian political text message box which translates to “We demand that the government accommodates the homeless, tightens up the penal code and VOTES FOR THE DEATH PENALTY to cut down the increasing crime. Jun. 2004, Pécs (SNAF Team)”

Securing Your Computer System

Today, more and more people are using their computers for everything from communication to online banking and investing to shopping. As we do these things on a more regular basis, we open ourselves up to potential hackers, attackers and crackers. While some may be looking to phish your personal information and identity for resale, others simply just want to use your computer as a platform from which to attack other unknowing targets. Below are a few easy, cost-effective steps you can take to make your computer more secure.

1. Always make backups of important information and store in a safe place separate from your computer.
2. Update and patch your operating system, web browser and software frequently. If you have a Windows operating system, start by going to www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and running the update wizard. This program will help you find the latest patches for your Windows computer. Also go to www.officeupdate.microsoft.com to locate possible patches for your Office programs.
3. Install a firewall. Without a good firewall, viruses, worms, Trojans, malware and adware can all easily access your computer from the Internet. Consideration should be given to the benefits and differences between hardware and software based firewall programs.
4. Review your browser and email settings for optimum security. Why should you do this? Active-X and JavaScript are often used by hackers to plant malicious programs into your computers. While cookies are relatively harmless in terms of security concerns, they do still track your movements on the Internet to build a profile of you. At a minimum set your security setting for the “internet zone” to High, and your “trusted sites zone” to Medium Low.
5. Install antivirus software and set for automatic updates so that you receive the most current versions.
6. Do not open unknown email attachments. It is simply not enough that you may recognize the address from which it originates because many viruses can spread from a familiar address.
7. Do not run programs from unknown origins. Also, do not send these types of programs to friends and coworkers because they contain funny or amusing stories or jokes. They may contain a Trojans horse waiting to infect a computer.
8. Disable hidden filename extensions. By default, the Windows operating system is set to “hide file extensions for known file types”. Disable this option so that file extensions display in Windows. Some file extensions will, by default, continue to remain hidden, but you are more likely to see any unusual file extensions that do not belong.
9. Turn off your computer and disconnect from the network when not using the computer. A hacker can not attack your computer when you are disconnected from the network or the computer is off.
10. Consider making a boot disk on a floppy disk in case your computer is damaged or compromised by a malicious program. Obviously, you need to take this step before you experience a hostile breach of your system.

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