PC Tools Youd Never Think You Need
April 22, 2008
Do you use Windows standard uninstall feature? How do you migrate data from your old PC to the new one? Get some tips on amazing software you never knew existed and find out why the pros have been using them for years.
Ashampoo UnInstaller Suite
The question is, why should this be necessary at all? Why do you need a special program? Why can’t you just delete an application in the same way you can delete a file? The full answer to this question could fill a book. In a nutshell, however, modern Windows applications are very complicated beasts. They include large numbers of files that are often saved in many different places, not just in the application’s own program directory. In addition to this they also have even larger numbers of settings, sometimes hundreds, which they record in Windows’ central database, which is known as the Windows Registry.It gets worse:
Xbox 360: Which Core Bundle is Right for You?
April 21, 2008
Xbox 360: Which Core Bundle is Right for You?
by: Barry Games
If you’ve lived under a rock since May then you’d be surprised to learn that Microsoft has released their second Xbox titled XBOX 360. Upon your emergence it wouldn’t take long for you to figure out that this is no regular system; the XBOX 360 will lead the next generation consoles by including some of the latest wireless and graphic technology to-date. What some of you may not know is the fact Microsoft will release TWO different systems. They were concerned about the price of all the gadgets so they made a second, cheaper system. What’s the difference? This article will explain some of the must knows before buying the XBOX 360.
First off, what do the systems hold that are the same? Both hold a DVD-ROM so you can play DVD’s, CD’s, all XBOX 360 games. You can plug into one of the 3 USB ports to access iPOD’s, video, cameras, MP3 players, etc. pretty much the generic gaming experience will be available on both systems. But now for the fun stuff. Should I shell out the extra $100 for the more expensive system?
5 Minute Guide to Video Editing for Beginners
April 20, 2008
Getting started with video editing is very simple you only need a few items and you can be producing quality movies at home that you will be able to enjoy for many years to come. Maybe even produce a hit Hollywood movie.
The basic items you need are a video capture card, the software to edit, your computer, storage space on your computer and a camcorder, VCR, or you can display your movie on your computer screen.
The process is effortless, all you do is capture the video to you computer using a capture card, then edit your video with video editing software and then download the video that you edited to either tape or burn it to a VCD, CD, or DVD.
Let’s look at your computer first. You will need a minimum of a Pentium II 300 or faster, a minimum of 256 Megs of RAM, but you will get better performance with 512 Megs. You will also desire to have a 30GB drive that is split into 2 separate partitions. This means that you will have a C: and a D:. The C: should be given 10GB and will have all of your software stored there and the D: will be where your audio, video and editing projects are stored. Your graphics card should be a 32 Meg AGP. You can have an 8 or 16 Meg but the quality will not be as good.
A Primer on Digital Cameras… Everything you need to know
April 19, 2008
A Primer on Digital Cameras… Everything you need to know
by: Joe Leech
It wasn’t long ago that digital cameras were essentially for
the rich and the geeks; if you spent just a few bucks you
didn’t get anything worth having, and if you really wanted
something good.. well, you’d better be in the book about the
Rich and Famous.
Technology and costs have changed drastically in the last few
years, and it seems as if today that digital cameras nearly
outnumber all the classic film cameras, and to all but the
classic photography buffs, digital is the way to go.
Even traditional photography studios use digital, often in
combination, with film.
Why? What’s the attraction? Instant availability and the
ability to discard unwanted photos without cost penalty is
one main attraction. The second is the ability to share,
publish, store your pictures.
The purist will still argue that for professional grade
photography and the widest range of effects that film is the
only way to go. If he were shooting today, it is doubtful
that Ansel Adams would be using digital.
Virtual Memory - What is It?
April 19, 2008
I recently got an e-mail asking about virtual memory. The person who sent me the question was getting an error on random occasions from their Windows operating system stating “Your computer is low on virtual memory”. They wanted to know what is virtual memory, and if this error does occur, what can I do to fix it? Here is the answer that I sent out:
“Virtual memory is when your computer uses the hard drive as a memory relay once your real memory has been used up. This usually starts happening when someone has installed new programs or is using multiple large programs at one time. Have you installed something new recently, or changed how many programs you are using at one time? Does it seem to occur when you are using a specific program, or perhaps after running a specific program for a longer than usual period of time?
To check your virtual memory settings, follow these steps:
1. Click on Start
2. Select Control Panel
3. Click on System
NOTE: When you first click on System, it will show you the “General” information tab. This tab will indicate how much RAM (physical memory) your system has installed (usually towards the bottom, should be something like “128 MB of RAM”. Make a note of this number.
DIY Guide to iPod Battery Replacement
April 18, 2008
DIY Guide to iPod Battery Replacement
by: Will Koh
iPods are a great invention, however many have complained about the lack of playtime and poor battery life. Previously, replacing an iPod battery was next to impossible. So when your battery dies, its time for a new iPod. This of course proved to be extremely expensive. As a result, manufacturers have begun producing aftermarket iPOD batteries for a DIY conscious producer. There are even high capacity batteries that will basically give you more playtime on your iPod in comparison to the original iPod batteries. An even better incentive to replace that dying battery!
I know what you’re thinking, you don’t want to rip apart that shiny iPod of yours! Aftermarket iPod batteries were designed to make the installation as simple as possible (it wasn’t really all that difficult to begin with anyway). Since the batteries installation doesn’t require any soldering, the most difficult part is opening up the physical case. Since the iPod doesn’t contain any screws, the casing must be pried off in order to access the internal battery. I do not recommend using a screwdriver to do this as it will damage the case. A guitar pick has been recommended to do the job, but even better, some batteries come with the non scratch nylon tools required to open your iPod safely.
Flash Your nVidia Video Cards BIOS
April 17, 2008
You will need the following:
1. 1.44MB FDD (floppy)
2. NVFLASH utility copy
3. Compatible BIOS file for your video card. (search the manufactures website for bios details)
4. Required Drivers. (check manufactures website)
Alright now
First Make an nVidia BIOS flash boot disk.
-Bios flash operations for video must be performed in DOS.
-You will need a DOS boot disk, you can obtain one if you do not already ahve one at bootdisk.com, download there dr DOS image file after that run the .exe file that comes with it. Which will create a clean DOS boot disk. (if any problems folow instruction son the website)
-If you need other ways of obtaining a boot disk just post in a related thread.
Now that you have a DOS boot disk, copy the BIOS file you downloaded and the NVFLASH.exe file onto the disk.
Second Make a backup of your nVidia video card BIOS
Make a backup of your current video card BIOS before flashing the bios, incase of problems. (better safe than sorry)
-boot your computer with the boot flash-disk you had created in the first step.
Where Did Those Cell Phones Come From?
April 16, 2008
Where Did Those Cell Phones Come From?
by: D Ruplinger
In 1949 the first car phone service was introduced. It was called “Mobile Telephone Service” (MTS). But the beginning of wireless communication started many years earlier, in 1895, when an Italian physicist named Guglielmo Marconi successfully sent wireless signals a distance of one and one half miles.
In 1896 Marconi was granted the world’s first patent for a wireless telegraphy system. In 1897 he formed The Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company. During that same year he successfully sent wireless signals a distance of twelve miles.
In 1901 Marconi proved the curve of the earth did not affect the successful sending of wireless waves. He proved it by transmitting signals from Cornwall, England to St. John’s, Newfoundland, which was a distance of over two thousand miles.
Marconi, along with other scientists and researchers, continued to work and do research on wireless transmissions. In 1932 the world’s first microwave radiotelephone link was established between the Pope’s summer home in the small Italian town of Caster Gandolfo and Vatican City, a distance of approximately thirty miles.
Choosing The MP3 Player That Suits You
April 15, 2008
Choosing The MP3 Player That Suits You
by: Fabio Marcell
If you’ve been looking around for an mp3 player, chances are you’re very confused with all the different specifications and the vast array of models out there. You’ve read that you can get your entire music collection on to one mp3 player and that’s true - but not every mp3 player. You have also been told that you can throw them around, go jogging with them, climb a mountain with one and all this is true - but again, not every mp3 player will withstand this treatment.
Basically, if you want to get physical with your mp3 player then you need one with no moving parts. In this case, the iPod is not what you want. You would be looking for a machine which saves it’s music to memory. Some of the most popular mp3 players which fall into this category are in the Creative MuVo range.
There are basically three types of mp3 player. Hard drive based, memory based and mp3 CD player based. The hard drive mp3 players allow you to store thousands of tunes whilst the memory based version sacrifices music volume for freedom of movement. You can even get waterproof mp3 players! The mp3 CD players read the mp3 music from a CD which you have pre-burned.
How to Set Up Simple File Sharing WinXP
April 14, 2008
The first step is: Start > My Documents
So you have the My documents folder open.
Second click the tools button, than select folder options.
Now you will see a few tabs, we want the View tab so go ahead and select that one.
Now scroll down the list and double-check that “Use simple file sharing (recommended)” setting was checked.
Click the OK button
Open a new folder in My documents
Next right click on the folder and select Properties. Choose the Sharing Tab Double check that the “make this folder private” option is not checked Click ok and close the properties window and now drag the folder you would liek to share to the “Shared Documents” folder located on the left hand menu.
Now right click on the Shared Files folder and select properties, choose the sharing tab Check the box beisde the dialog “Share this folder on the network” Click Apply Now all computer connected to your workgroup or domian can access the folder, that you wanted to share.
Now for confirmation there should be a little hand holding your folder, you are sharing.
Jason Barrett http://www.computing-forums.com
