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Computer Consulting 101 PC Troubleshooting Advice

By admin
31
May 2011

While most small businesses really do need to find a good local computer consulting business to take care of their computer problems, there are some computer problems that are simple enough for even a technophobe to handle. At Computer Consulting 101, we’ve found there’s one very simple piece of advice that often doesn’t get communicated to non-technical small business end users: When in doubt, reboot first.

Seriously, while it may sound tremendously simple, end users often overlook it during typical computer panic attacks.

Anytime you’re about to consider an issue a real IT support problem and call your computer consulting vendor, always reboot first.

First, exit out of whatever files and programs that you’re working on. Then, run through a Shutdown and Restart sequence to reboot your computer.

If you suspect your computer problem involves something hardware-related, such as with your network card, modem, mouse, keyboard or sound card, you should even go one step further, before calling your computer consulting experts.

Go to your Start menu. Next, shutdown your PC. Then turn the power off for a minute or so if you’re computer didn’t power itself off on its own. Then finally power your PC back up again and see if the problem resolved itself on its own. Many times a simple reboot is all it takes.

The Bottom Line

While this advice probably sounds very basic, at Computer Consulting 101 we’ve found that a substantial percentage (as many as 10-20% of problems) of trouble calls for IT support become unnecessary after a reboot. And of course, because you probably pay every single time you pick up the phone, why not conserve your IT budget for those projects that can help your company drive more revenue, improve productivity, reduce overhead, and boost your bottom line. Remember, before you call a computer consulting professional, reboot first. so you can conserve your computer consulting budget for those problems that really require expert assistance.

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Computer Consultant Skills: Do You Have to Have 20 Certifications?

By admin
29
May 2011

Computer Consultant Skills: Do You Have to Have 20 Certifications?

I’ve had more than one person tell me, “Well, Im a MCP or Im a CNA and Ive got this one cert but Im working on like 15 more certs and as soon as I get my 19th cert, five years from now, Ill be all set to be a computer consultant.” Thats just a hunk of bologna. Know why?

Small Business Aren’t Using Cutting-Edge Technology

Most small businesses dont care how many certifications you have. Small businesses are usually at least 12-18 months behind the curve from an IT standpoint. Sometimes theyre as much as two years behind the curve. There is no ego-driven CEO or corporate salesperson in small businesses advocating upgrading every 12 months just for the sake of upgrading.

Some Small Business Technology is Outdated

As a computer consultant, what kind of hardware and software and peripherals and infrastructure would you be working with in a typical small business? A lot of their equipment will be just fine and some will need updates and upgrades.

But theres very little stress among small-business technology to keep up with the latest and the greatest bleeding edge. So that removes a lot of the early-adopter stress out of the equation for you, the beginning computer consultant.

Do You Have the Skills to be A Computer Consultant?

Do other people come to you for computer advice? Do people ask you for help with their software and hardware and getting their PDA to talk to Outlook or sync up their wi-fi, etc.? Are they coming to you for help because its part of your job or simply because youve developed a reputation as the kind of guy or gal that knows a little more about PCs and notebooks and software and the Internet and viruses than the average person? Are you already perceived as a good resource person for these kinds of problems? If so, you’ll make a great computer consultant

A Computer Consultant’s Skills Vary

It really doesnt matter how junior or senior your skills are, theres definitely a place for you in helping small businesses with IT problems. Just like theres are entry level and senior staff within a corporate IT department, theres all also different levels you can perform in as a computer consultant.

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Compatible Inkjet – Lexmark Compatible Inkjet Cartridge

By admin
27
May 2011

Once the printer ink runs dry it has to be replaced with another inkjet cartridge. There are many reputed companies like Canon, Epson, Dell, and Lexmark that provide the necessary cartridges to replace the empty cartridges. Replacing inkjet cartridge can add to a very big cost. It could be worse if you have to replace the empty cartridges frequently every month.

Nowadays many buyers are making use of compatible Inkjet Cartridges as they are less expensive and are easily available online. These compatible inkjet cartridges are available from the third party at a much lower price. These cartridges can be replaced by the printer ink of similar brand. Compatible Inkjet Cartridge will help you to make extra-ordinary savings with money back guarantee. As soon as the cartridge gets empty the ink that it contains begins to dry and finally clogs the nozzle. You can refill the cartridge once it reaches its wear out condition. Always remember to refill the cartridge as early as possible.

Lexmark Compatible Inkjet Cartridge

Lexmark Compatible Inkjet Cartridge understands the quality of your printer and gives you best output. It works efficiently with your printer and maintains its quality. This cartridge is especially recommendable for you Lexmark printer model. There are number of online outlets that provide you variety of Lexmark Compatible Inkjet models. Purchasing Lexmark Compatible Inkjet Cartridge online can directly save your hundreds of dollars.

Lexmark Compatible Inkjet Cartridge: Advantage
This product enhances professional quality to the desktop. Cartridge delivery system utilizes comparatively less water and concentrated inks in order to provide more intense colors by sharpening the text. Its ink features comparatively less paper distortion. As it is one of the best competitive brands it is rich in its qualities.

Lexmark Inkjet Cartridges can print on almost anything that includes fabric, film etc and even on large size paper sheets, it just doesnt matter.

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Colocation Facility Cooling System Considerations

By admin
25
May 2011

Most companies know to find a colocation facility that has good Internet service and Internet provider and carrier options. However, cooling systems are often overlooked. Most servers now are made to operate at normal office conditions, which mean that two environmental factors should be met:

  • The temperature should stay between 72° F and 76° F
  • The humidity should be between 45% and 60%, with 45% ideal
  • Cooling units must be on continuously, so servers will not overheat (this precludes standard HVAC units).

If the cooling system goes down, it can cause the equipment to overheat, causing the network to go down and even damaging equipment. Colocation facility cooling systems include three areas: the facility layout, chillers, and computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units.

Facility Layout
Servers generate heat as they run. This is generally blown out the back of the server by fans; cool air is taken in through vents at the front. Server racks and rows should be laid out to manage hot air coming from the servers and conditioned air going to their intakes by designating hot rows, which face the server fans, and cold rows, which face the intakes. Designated hot and cold rows keep air circulating in the best directions to keep servers from overheating.

Facility Design
There are two kinds of building design for colocation facilities: raised floor and solid floor. Raised floor was the preferred structure when servers were towers because the mesh flooring allowed air conditioned air to blow from the bottom directly across their intakes. However, since servers are stacked in racks, cold air must reach the tops of the racks to cool machines. Solid floor facilities are a better option. The facility should take into account the following:

  • Solid floor designs must have mesh front and rear doors for th server cabinets to allow hot air to escape.
  • For raised floor designs, cold air must have enough air pressure to force air to the top of the server cabinets. Ideally, special duct work will be in place to force the airflow upward.
  • For raised floors, server cabinets should not have vents in the doors that would let cool air escape.

Chiller Systems
Chillers pipe water or water/glycol coolants through the CRAC units. Chiller systems include pumps, pipes, and the chillers themselves. The following points should be considered to make sure that the system is adequate to cool the facility:

  • Sufficient capacity
  • Backup units for the pumps and chillers which switch over automatically
  • Regular maintenance

CRAC Units
CRAC units are massive, dedicated air conditioners which manage temperature and humidity. They have many parts and are complicated meaning failures can be common. The CRAC units should be well maintained, but the most important thing is redundancy. Redundancy is determined by the overall capacity of the CRAC units; there should be enough units that even with a failure, the facility will still be adequately cooled. As with chillers, capacity for CRAC units is determined by tons per square foot.

Verify Capacity
Capacity is determined by the ratio of tons per square foot. To determine whether a system has sufficient capacity, divide the total tonnage of the units by the square footage of the building. If there are four 30-ton CRAC units in a 4,000 square foot facility, then the CRAC capacity is .030 tons per square foot (120 tons / 4,000 square feet). The ideal ratio of tons to square feet for the CRAC system is .030 ton/square foot or higher; the ratio should not be below .025 tons/square foot. This same formula is used for chiller systems, with the same ideal ratios.

It is important to look for a colocation facility that has Internet provider options and backup power systems. Equally important is a facility with the right design, chillers, and CRAC units to cool the server room. Keeping equipment from overheating will keep networks up and makes equipment last longer. Like Internet connections, network uptime, and power backups, cooling systems signify a quality colocation facility.

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Choosing the Right Motherboard for you

By admin
23
May 2011

The motherboard is the heart of any computer. It is that big flat board inside the computer that everything is connected to. It performs the role directing information and connecting components. A motherboard is often overlooked when choosing components. This is a scary thought as the motherboard determines system performance as much as every other component.

Choosing the right motherboard does not have to be a problem, even though there is a lot to consider. We will start off with the larger parts and move onto the things that are less essential.

Firstly is the socket type. The socket is where the processor (CPU) connects to the motherboard. There is no compatiblility between sockets, so it has to be the right one. The socket connection needs to match the connection of the processor you have or the one you intend to buy for the computer.
Most older Intel Pentium 4s utilize socket 478. Newer ones use socket 775. AMD chips utilised socket A for a long time, but now the AMD Athlon 64 series and Semprons use socket 939. Just check with someone as to what yours or your intended one will have.

Your choice of chip will have a lot to do with your needs, but choosing one with an up to date socket type will ensure slightly longer motherboard life as you can upgrade the chip for a while.

DDR is the RAM of choice for most systems, but some newer systems, which includes all Pentiums with socket 775 use DDR2. These two kinds are not interchangable and have a different number of pins. Both DDR and DDR2 come in different speed ratings measured in MHz. DDR has a usual 400MHz denoted as DDR400 or PC3200, while DDR2 can go a little higher and comes in slightly faster speeds. Just make it match what the board needs.

A motherboard must be chosen carefully, to both match all the other components and fit in the case you choose. A little bit of research before you buy will save a lot of hassle later on.

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Choosing the Right Case for you

By admin
21
May 2011

One of the most important components of your PC is the PC case. Choosing a good PC case is an important step in building your computer, since it determines several things. It determines the number of PC components you can have, as well as how what temperature your PC operates at. And it also determines how good your PC looks.

There are different factors to consider when choosing a PC case. The first is how much space your PC case is going to take up. If you dont have space to spare on your already busy desk, it would be best to look at a case that is relatively small.

The second factor is internal space. This is very important as it determines which/how many components you can put in your PC. Theres no use buying a smaller case then not being able to put your shiny new video card with 3 fans in it. You may want to add several DVD or CD burners also but to do this extra space will be required. One thing to watch out for is overheating. If you put several components that generate heat, into a crowded case you will run into problems with overheating.

The third would be motherboard support. It may sound like something simple, but make sure your motherboard will physically fit into the case. I know of many people that have found this out the hard way.

The fourth thing to take into consideration is cooling. If you are planning on over-clocking your computer, or jam-packing it with components, you will need ample cooling to avoid damage to your components. Ample cooling means more fans in more places. If you are planning to do any of the above, you will need to choose a case that will support the installation of multiple fans.

As you now know choosing a case is not as simple as it seems. There are several factors that can greatly impact the performance of your system.

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Choosing A Laptop: Windows Laptop Or Macintosh Powerbook

By admin
19
May 2011

At present the Windows Laptop and the MacIntosh Powerbook are the most preferred plaptops for people around the world. A Windows laptop has the Windows operating system installed on it while the MacIntosh Powerbook manufactured by Apple Inc. uses its own operating system. The Windows operating system is the most widely used operating system in the world. The Linux operating system, which is a open source operating system, is widely gaining popularity as it can be freely distributed. In addition, the Linux operating system is not the hackers paradise Windows is.

Let us compare the Windows Laptop and the MacIntosh Powerbook so that you can decide which one you would prefer.

The Windows Laptop comes in a variety of choices ranging from high-end, mid-range and ultralight laptops. A high-end laptop is preferred by those people who would like to replace their desktop machines. These machines usually have a large screen, fast processor and the maximum storage capacity. However laptops in this category weigh about 7 to 8 pounds and also include internal media devices such as CD-ROM and diskette drives. There may be a few USB ports so that you can attach external devices such as printers and digital cameras as well. A mid-range model is suitable for those consumers who would not like to shell out a fortune for their laptop. A mid-range model weighs a few pounds less than a high-range model and has a smaller screen. A mid-range model may be a little slower than a high-range model in terms of processor speeds and the options of internal media are more limited than in the high-range model. Ultralight models have the smallest display of all three and also the processor speeds are the slowest. The expansion capabilities and internal media are limited and the media devices are usually on the external side. The main advantages of ultralight models is they are easier to carry around because of their light weight and battery life is longer.

The MacIntosh or Mac are a line of laptops manufactured by Apple Inc. MacIntosh systems are usually targeted towards the home, education and the highly professional services market. The MacIntosh Powerbook is the first MacIntosh laptop powered by the Intel Core Duo processor. It has a 17 inch wide screen, but also is available in a 15 inch wide screen. The MacIntosh Powerbook is available in three configurations, the 15.4-inch model at 2.0 GHz (US$1999) and 2.16 GHz ($2499) and a 17-inch model at 2.16 GHz $2799). All three models come with the Intel Core Duo Processor and an 80GB or a 100GB or a 120 GB hard drive. USB ports a FireWire 400 port, a ExpressCard/34 expansion slot, DVI and VGA connectivity (VGA via included adaptor), optical S-P/DIF and analog sound output and inputs, gigabit Ethernet are also added in all the three configurations.

The machines run on the Mac OS 10.4 operating system which is the system developed by Apple Inc. The Powerbook also has a magnetic power connector known as Magsafe and it can detach easily when yanked to prevent the laptop from being pulled off the surface. The keyboard is backlit so that the keys are easily visible and there is also a scrolling trackpad that comes standard across the line. Extra accessories include an external USB modem as there is no internal modem available now and a TV output adaptor.
We have mentioned the basic features of the Windows Laptop and MacIntosh Powerbook. Both types of laptops are good in their own way. Weigh your needs and choose wisely.

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Checking To See If You Have Wireless Capability

By admin
17
May 2011

Do you know if your new computer already has wireless capability? Many new computers have the built-in software and connections in order for you to set up a wireless network. These wireless networking devices are so inexpensive that the manufacturers of the computers include them as part of the package and can be found on the system specification list.

Like most people, however, you may not even know how much memory your computer has, let alone whether it arrived already wireless-enabled. This is especially true if you don’t know what wireless networking is. It’s easy to ignore this detail in the specifications that come with the computer and to fail to take the time to set it up and get it working. Lets look at some things to look for if you want to check your computer’s wireless capabilities.

Intel Centrino

If you own a laptop that comes with something called ‘Intel Centrino mobile technology’, this is what youre looking for! Unfortunately, manufacturers of computers are not good at explaining what this technology is or does. Quite simply, it means that your laptop has wireless networking built right in; you dont need to do a thing! Intel Centrino is a term used in marketing that stands for a combination of the Intel Pentium M processor and Intel’s Pro/Wireless card.

Your computer should have an ‘Intel Centrino’ sticker on it somewhere if it is enabled with Intel Centrino. If you dont see this type of sticker, you can also check the name of your processor by right-clicking the My Computer icon in the Start Menu (or on your desktop) and clicking on Properties from the menu. Look at the wording following the word Computer in this section. It should tell you if it has the wireless feature.

Intel Centrino technology has the capability of increasing the life of your computers battery and allows computers to be smaller in size. If you didn’t buy an Intel Centrino laptop but your laptop has a free card slot, adding wireless capabilities will be no problem.

Desktop Computers

Desktop computers come with wireless capabilities, too. If you’re not sure whether or not your desktop computer has a wireless connection, turn it around and look at the back of the computer. If a wireless connection is present, you can generally see a small aerial antenna sticking out of the back of the computer near the bottom of the computer.

If you dont see anything there, it’s still possible that you have a wireless device in the computer, especially if the computer is relatively new. Unless youre a computer expert, dont open the back of your computer to determine if it has wireless capabilities. Instead, you should probably try and figure it out using Windows.

Checking in Windows

You can easily check your computers wireless capabilities by going into Windows’ Device Manager. You must first right-click My Computer and choose Manage from that menu. Now click on Device Manager.

In device manager, you will be able to see a list of the different devices you have or would be able to have on your computer. Look under ‘Network Adapters’. Anything that uses the words ’10/100′ or ‘Ethernet’ is a normal network connection and isnt related to wireless connectivity. Anything else may be a wireless device.

If you think you have a wireless device but note that it has a yellow warning sign next to its name in the Device Manager, click its name to find out what is wrong with the device. Windows should be able to let you know why the device is not working. The computer may also suggest that you go into its troubleshooter program. Try doing that before trying anything else.

The problem could be a driver problem. In that case, insert the drivers CD that came with your computer. If you cant find the drivers CD, you can always find the drivers online. In order to do this, you should look on the website of the computer’s manufacturer. From there, you can try searching for the particular name of the wireless device in Device Manager.

Unfortunately, it could turn out that you don’t have a wireless device after all. Thats too bad. On the bright side, it is much better to learn that now than it would be to buy wireless equipment and then realize you couldnt run it on your computer. In any event, even if you did find a wireless device in one of your computers, you may decide that you need even more wireless capability. Fortunately, wireless technology is getting cheaper all the time!

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Spyware

By admin
16
May 2011

Spyware is very dangerous! Spyware can steal your important data. If your computer has been infected by spyware, all your stored data can be accessed by another person. Let’s imagine..what if your stored data such as credit card data, online banking transaction, as well as your online account data leaked to other people? It’s a nightmare if your important data stolen and leaked. Unfortunately, anti-virus sometimes can not protect you from spyware and other malicious software. You need to equip your computer with Anti-Spyware. I recommend you to use XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0. I have used XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 and I have proved that this tool is realy awesome! For me, XoftSpySE is the must-have anti-spyware, ever!

Easy to install and use! Unlike another anti-spyware programs, XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 combines speed and power to defeat spyware. XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 thoroughly scans your PC, including registry, files, folders and running processes. This anti-spyware removes wide variety of spyware, adware, pop-up generators, keyloggers, Trojans, hijackers and malicious code. If you don’t have so much time to scan, you can use advanced scheduling options, so you can automatically run any scan type you need, at any time you need. You can disable unwanted programs from launching at start-up by using XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0.

I work more than 10 hrs a day connected with Internet. Browser Helper Object Editor from XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 blasts away unwanted add-ons that clutter my Internet browser. Don’t worry about updates! Frequent updates from the ever-growing spyware database ensures you are protected against emerging threats. This program works well with my Toshiba Laptop with OS Windows® 7 32-bit 1 GB Memory (RAM) 3.2 GHz Processor Speed. After I installed XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0, I need no worry. Internet surfing and online banking has no risk at all. So, I highly recommend you to use XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 to protect your computer.

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Cheap Laptops: How to Buy the Right One

By admin
15
May 2011

Cheap and inexpensive laptops are available plenty in number in the market. While buying laptops, price factor alone should not limit the purchase. Cheap laptops are made available to the consumer to suit the budget as well as specific requirements. The person buying a laptop should be very clear regarding the required features, options and then conduct a search to match his needs. The place of purchasing cheap laptops is also important. There are various sources from which a person can buy cheap laptops. Out of all the sources, Internet is considered to be the best place to purchase laptops. A same laptop model can be sold at different prices in different websites. The purchaser can easily select the one with a lesser price easily. Also it is better to avoid impulse purchase as far as laptops are concerned, since it is impossible for a lay man to comprehend the hi-tech lingo associated with laptop computers like the flat panel TFT, WiFi connectivity, wireless and many more features.

Features to be considered before buying cheap laptops:

Processor of the laptop: A processor is very important to run applications and to perform on-screen tasks. The processor should not be less than 1.4 GHz as it may affect the quick performance of the laptop. For day today operation using word processing, e-mail, spread sheets etc the above processor speed is enough. When Pentium processors are bought they assure a longer battery life and at the same time they are quick.

Screen size of the cheap laptops should not be less than 12.1 inches. The screen size of laptops is measured diagonally. The larger the screen size, the higher the resolution, making it easy for viewing more information all at once.

Laptops should have a good battery life as they are carried with the operator for presentations, or for calculations whenever and wherever they are required. A laptop with a good battery life should be able to perform jobs ranging from 3 to 7 hours of non stop work without any electrical charge required in between. Lithium ion rechargeable batteries are an ideal choice.

The hard drive capacity is very important to store large amount of data on to the laptops. A cheap laptop can be chosen with a hard drive capacity ranging from 20 GB to 40 GB depending on the persons usage.

The keyboards of laptops are different from those of the desktop computers. The keys on the keypad are relatively smaller and are packed closely with each other. Hence, it is very important to see if it can be handled comfortably before purchasing a cheap laptop.

Touchpad or pointing stick inbuilt with a laptop can be more very useful than a mouse connected via USB port. Two USB ports are more than enough for a cheap laptop; in case more ports are required the user can use an external USB hub.

The ideal weight of the laptops should be between 4 10 pounds, never go for a more weighing laptop even if it comes for a very cheap amount. In order to reduce the weight of the laptops, external CD drives can be used. For communications a built in Ethernet port is more ideal than the serial ports or infrared ports.

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