วันอังคารที่ 8 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2551

USB Port, USB Device - What is USB

This is a fairly recent feature of new computers, that simplifies adding peripherals (mice, printers, scanners, etc) to your PC. Most (if not all) new PCs come with USB ports built-in, the amount of USB ports your PC has will depend on the manufacturer and model. If you need more USB ports then you can purchase special devices (internal and external) which will allow you to add more USB devices fairly easily. You can connect USB devices while the PC is switched on, also it isn't necessary to restart the PC and SHOULD automatically prompt the user to load any necessary drivers that came with your device. USB 2.0 is a newer implementation of the USB standard and was jointly developed by Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, NEC and Philips. USB 2.0 provides a higher data transfer rate of up to 480Mbps (Megabits per second).

What To Do When Your Computer Runs Slow?

Do you ever face the problem where you computer starts to become sluggish or slow in its processing? Computers are supposed to be machines and should be able to do what man cannot possible do, maintaining a peak performance everyday. If not, what is the point of having one then? What we need is a machine, a computer that can help us store our data, our plans and work and can churn out whatever we need at the snap of a finger. But as the years go by, it seems as though the snap of the finger now has changed to become two snaps, and with time, more snaps are needed.
What do we do then, when we can no longer have our information that we need instantly? There are a couple of methods or ways that one can implement to improve the speed of their computers.
Upgrading your RAM
Our computer's RAM determines the amount of memory that it has and ultimately the speed it can process at. Upgrading your RAM is as good as saying you want to improve the speed of your computer. However, it is not free of charge and comes with a cost. Given that upgrading your RAM is becoming more and more affordable these days, you may feel that it is a good idea to upgrade yours right now; however remember that it would be useless if you upgraded your RAM only to find that your computer is still slow due to other reasons. Thus think twice and be sure before you purchase a new RAM.
Clear the Registry
Each computer comes with something called the registry that not many people know of. The registry is an important part of your computer as it stores crucial information that has to do with the login users and also which applications are allowed to access the computer. With time, the registry gets clogged with unnecessary garbage and loaded with numerous false entries that only serve to slow the speed of the computer. As such, it is a good practice to regularly clean out your registry. How to get one is simple! Go to the Web and search for one, each will cost about 30 dollars, cheap and effective. A good buy indeed!
De-Fragmentation
Search for de-fragmentation in your computer system through the search function and carry out de-fragmentizing. This may sound too technical for some of us, but it simply means to arrange the data in your computer in a much more organized and efficient fashion as to speed up it's processing. Think of it as messy room compared to a tidy room. It would definitely be easier to walk through the room that is neater than the other. With the same analogy, a neater computer would process better than one that has yet to be sorted out.
There are many other ways to help solve the problem of slow computers, but those mentioned above are cheap and hassle-free. Also, they only take a short amount of time to be completed. But do take note that if all else fails; it is wiser to seek council from a technician who will certainly be able to help you out even more.

About the Author
Logan Albright is an authority on troubleshooting computer problems at http://www.pcaholic.com . Where he helps thousands how to optimize their computers through a proper computer check up. Click Here to speed up your pc for free.

How To Make My Computer Go Faster

Computers are getting more and more common in this day and age, we have a strong reliance on these "household appliances" that it would be almost improbable to imagine living one day without these luxuries by our sides. However, the ever non-satisfied personality of humans pushes towards greater excellence and not just do we want convenience, but rather, we desire to have convenience in an instant. For example, the traditional way of brewing coffee has now been restricted to 3 in 1 sachets of coffee power or the way to fill our stomachs is either to order take out or drop by any fast food outlet and grab a quick bite.
Nonetheless, we too want our lives to not only be enhanced, but also to be accelerated, to do things fast and quick. It is no wonder that when we face with something trying to slow our hectic lifestyle, we feel uncomfortable and queasy. One of such "things" is especially when our computer begins to slow down in its functions and ability. As mentioned earlier, computers are as good as our daily companion, we do practically most of our work in it and for it to not function at its maximum capacity, it only irritates us as business deals worth millions can be just in that one click away.
In this article we will look into some of the ways by which you can increase the speed of your computer.
1. Upgrade your RAM
If you have reason to believe that your computer has been around for too long and its components are not up to date, you may want to consider upgrading your RAM to give your computer more available memory. Upgrading memory now is becoming much cheaper but you should only do this if you already know that a lack of memory is the cause of your PC speed problems.
2. Deal with your computer's registry
The registry section of our computers is not commonly familiar amongst users however it does play an important role that may be the reason for your computer slowing down. This section contains numerous files named registry keys that instruct your computer how it should run. However, if a computer has been used over a long period of time, there is a high chance whereby some of the files have become corrupted or missing resulting in a slowing down of the computer's performance. How you should handle such a problem is to download the cleaner software immediately. Followed by scanning through your computer to find our whether there are errors in our registry and fix your computer's registry if there are.
Another cause for registry problems is the presence of false entries. Your computer constantly makes and deletes entries from your registry and this causes the formation of false entries. Moreover, spyware and viruses also leave behind lots of false entries even after they have been removed successfully. Thus after running through a virus scan and eradicating them off, you also have to run a registry cleaner to ensure your computer is functioning at maximum capacity.
3. Stop having multiple programs
Some people love to multi-task everything they need to complete at the same time. For example, a person at work may be using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word together with a dozen pages of websites while researching and at the same time is chatting with friends or colleagues through the web messenger. No wonder the computer would be processing so slowly! Each computer has its limits and if you step beyond them, it would cause it to function below its peak potential.

About the Author
Logan Albright is an authority on troubleshooting computer problems at http://www.pcaholic.com . Where he helps thousands how to optimize their computers through a proper computer check up. Click Here to speed up your pc for free.

Computer Features - Choosing the Best System for Your Needs

Computer Features - Choosing the Best System for Your Needs
Choosing the correct features for your computer will prevent much frustration, need for upgrades, and loss of time and money. I have outlined the most important features to think about when choosing your computer and made some suggestions!
Processor:
The processor is the single most important determinant of system performance. The capability of the processor dictates the performance of the entire system. The other devices only allow the processor to reach its full potential.
Processors are distinguished by clock speed measured in GHz (gigahertz) and bandwidth measured in bits.
They are also divided into two groups - single core processors and dual core processors. Dual core processors boost performance by allowing you to run graphic intensive games or run programs simultaneously for example downloading music while running a security program.
Multi media production requires the fastest available option of 2.6 GHz. 1.8 to 2.2 GHz is ideal for digital media files, spreadsheets and presentation software. 1.6 to 1.9 GHz would be suitable for web browsing, email, watching movies, listening to music and organizing photos.
Memory:
The amount of random access memory (RAM) also affects your computers performance.
Greater amounts of RAM allow you to run more programs at once and run them faster. 3 to 4GB RAM is ideal for memory intensive tasks such as gaming, video editing and producing DVDs. 2GB RAM is ideal for working with larger digital media files such as movie and video files, graphic design software files, intensive spreadsheets and running multiple applications simultaneously. 1GB is recommended for a limited amount of activity such as word processing, emailing, web browsing, watching movies, listen to music and organizing photos.
Hard drive:
This is where all the data is stored - programs, drivers, digital photos, music, etc... What is on your current hard drive and what you envision being on your hard drive in the future should be considered. A low to mid sized hard drive which is ideal for documents, spreadsheets and data related to home finances would be approximately 80 to 100GB. If you have a growing media library or plan on installing computer games you should consider a maximum size hard drive. I would recommend buying a hard drive with as much space as you can afford.
Wireless Network Interface:
With this feature you can access the wireless network where ever it is available for example, your office, school campus, coffee shop, etc. Even if you do not see an immediate need for this feature it is highly recommended for future use.
Disc Drive:
DVD/CD-RW combo drive allows you to view DVDs and burn CDs.
Super Multi 8x DVDR/RW with double-layer support allows you view and burn both DVDs and CDs. You can also fit almost twice the amount of data on a DVD.
HD DVD ROM provides high-def playback.
Below is a reference guide used by Ohio University in 2007 as a suggestion for Minimum Personal Computer Features for its students;
Intel Pentium 4 Processor or equivalent, 2 GHz
512 MB Memory
40 GB Hard Drive
64 MB OpenGL - capable graphics video card
Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC)
Wireless Networking Adapter (if applicable)
I hope this information is helpful. I have outlined what I feel to be the most important features to think about when choosing your computer which are the processor, memory, hard drive, wireless network interface and disc drive. Making smart choices now and staying ahead of the curve will prevent much frustration in the future!

About the Author
I have an extensive background in Finance and Fiscal Procedure. I also have a web business where I offer Computer Learning Software for Kids. I am very interested in the product itself as well as the subject matter that it involves. Please visit us at The Software Spot! Thank you, Allison Merlino

DIY Fix Scratched Disk or Professional Fix Scratched Disc?

For most people, the two words, disk and disc, have definitely the same pronunciation and the same meaning, and thus are interchangeable. However, they do have different etymologies and distinct technical meanings. It is an important differentiation because how to fix a scratched disk and how to fix a scratched disc are poles apart.
A disc refers to optical media while a disk refers to magnetic media. Discs include audio CDs, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, or DVD-video disc, while disks include floppy disks, an external hard drive, and even iPod. So before you go about tinkering, be sure you know what it is and what it is not.
There are several recommended ways to fix a scratched disc, in the do-it-yourself tradition. First, you can clean it by using warm water and soap. Second, you can polish it. You can put toothpaste (the baking soda type or the paste type, not the gel type) on a soft; clean cloth. You can even use the humble banana and its peel! Regardless of the polishing agent you use, just remember never to rub in a circular motion. Instead, rub the disc in a radial motion by starting at the disc’s center and then rubbing out to the edge. Third, you can wax the disc. If these three ways fail to fix a scratched disc and the contents are valuable to you, then it is time to contact a professional. However, attempting to fix a scratched disk is more complicated. Mechanical damage is usually present in a scratched disk. The damage is not as easily fixed by a non-technical person especially as repairing it would involve technical expertise and even software programs and hardware. In this case, we recommend that you fix a scratched disk by bringing it to a professional. Indeed, trying to fix a scratched disk is not one for amateurs, novices, and technophobes. When you need professionals to do the job of fixing your discs, contact the Disc Repair Services (www.discrepairservices.com). They can fix a scratched disc quickly and conveniently, even without going to their office. You can send them your scratched/damaged discs in two ways. First, you can visit their website, click on “Repair,” and fill in your details. They will fill send you a postage-paid envelope, you put your discs inside, then you leave them in your mailbox. After a few days, you will get shiny, almost-new discs! Second, if want to mail them the discs without waiting for their envelope, you can send your discs in an envelope together with your name, e-mail address and return postal address to them. Charges are collected in advance, either through credit card, PayPal, or a check. But there is no need to worry â€" they will refund the amount if they cannot fix a scratched disc that they have accepted. However, this is unlikely to happen as 95% of their discs are repaired. You see, they only accept discs that are repairable, but not cracked discs, melted discs, or discs where the foil has peeled off the disc. They like to live up to their promise of quick and easy disc repair services. So basically, you have to nothing to lose when you avail of their services â€" it is quick, easy, hassle-free, and with a money-back guarantee. You really can’t lose with Disc Repair Services.

About the Author
You can take the risk and fix scratched disk by yourself or have a professional like Disc Repair Services fix scratched discfor you.

6 WAYS TO IMPROVE COMPUTER PERFORMANCE

Have you ever been on your computer and suddenly it froze, crashed or came to a slow crawl? And you had to restart, lost your work, lost time and felt so enraged that if you had an ax...STOP! Don’t kill the computer. Here are 6 ways to improve computer performance.
1. INCREASE VIRTUAL MEMORY: Virtual memory is the space your computer uses when it's short of RAM (Random Access Memory), which is the memory used when running programs like Office Suites. Resetting the virtual memory usage on your computer, also referred to as pagination, is great way to improve computer peformance. To access and reset the Virtual Memory: On the Start menu,click My Computer. The My Computer window is displayed. Click View System Information. The Systems Properties dialog box is displayed. In the Systems Properties dialog box click the Advanced tab. Under Performance, click Settings. The Performance Options dialog box is displayed. In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Find the Virtual memory area. Click Change. The Virtual Memory dialog box is displayed. There you can make changes to the custom pagination. DO NOT exceed the limit given in the properties box of your windows system.
2. STORING FILES ON THE MAIN DRIVE: Do not store lots of data on the main drive, which is where you install your windows operating system. Storing software like games, finance programs and other software on another drive of your computer is another way to improve computer performance.
3. RESETTING START UP MENU: The speed with which your computer boots depends on the amount of programs that are set to be started automatically at booting. Removing unnecessary and unwanted programs from the start up process can greatly speed up a computer at the start up level.
4. TURN OFF SYSTEM RESTORE: Having the System Restore option on takes a lot of space from the hard drive. Freeing up a lot of physical memory by turning off system restore can significantly improve computer performance. To access and turn off System Restore: Click START, then click ACCESSORIES, then click SYSTEM TOOLS, then click SYSTEM RESTORE. Once there you can edit settings and then turn off the system restore option.
5. CLEANING INTERNET CACHE AND COOKIES: Temporary Internet files affect browser speed. Regularly cleaning the cache and cookies will make your browser and computer perform at a faster speed. To Clean Internet Cache and Cookies: click Tools from your browser toolbar and click on Internet Options to delete and clear cache and cookies. This should be done on a regular basis to ensure ongoing improvement of computer performance and browser speed.
6. DEFRAGMENTING THE DISK: Regularly defragmenting the drive will improve computer performance. This tool can be accessed from the Start Menu then Accessories then System Tools.
WHAT ABOUT SOFTWARE THAT CLAIMS TO IMPROVE COMPUTER PERFORMANCE?: There is software out there that claims to optimize computer speed and improve performance, but these softwares are often costly and do not provide an all-in-one tool necessary to speed up computers to the max. And so you wind up buying several software programs, which ironically take up more space on your computer, in an attempt to fix multiple problems and improve computer performance. Not really the best solution.
There are many more elaborate tools to improve computer performance and maximize computer speed without constant attention. To learn all the important tools for optimal computer performance and speed, without any software, as well as, procedures to automatically set convenient weekly or monthly maintenance, all presented in step-by-step video guides visit: FAST PC SECRETS

About the Author
JR Lang is a Computer Applications Specialist and does private consultation for clients with small office networks.

Are You Aware Of RDRAM Problems ?

Analogies work well when you are trying to explain a technical process. It makes the information and the technical terms easier to remember if you compare it to something someone would normally use.
You can think of Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory, or RDRAM, in terms of a Post-It note. You write down important information that you stick some place you will see it and be able to access it easier. If you filed it away in a drawer, then you would waste valuable time searching for the information. Memory modules and RAM work the same way.
RDRAM is not just for desktop memory or notebook memory. It is also used in older models of video game systems such as the Playstation 2 and the Nintendo 64.
The new Playstation 3 has forgone the older system in favor of the XDR DRAM that has speeds up to 3.2 GHz. It is, however, still used in video cards such as Creative Graphics Blaster MA3xx series.
This form of storage is no longer a feasible option for most inexpensive personal computers for a variety of reasons. High latency, heat output, cost and complexity have caused manufacturers to phase this storage module out of the market. The crucial memory is not justified for the price that you will pay and another downfall is that it runs much slower than the newer models.
This was fine for 1996 and is still fine if you have a high end computer but if you are like most computer users, then you do not need this form of Random Access Memory. The manufacturers had a great idea but the attempt failed due to the sheer size and cost of the module.
If your computer requires faster memory, then you'll want to choose something other than the RDRAM. You may want to consider DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory). The DDR SDRAM is a great option considering the cost and size when compared to its predecessor.
You may not want to get into something this complicated. If that is the case, then you may want to leave upgrades to trained professionals who can quickly upgrade your desktop memory at a low cost. It will save you time, money and headaches!

About the Author
Enrich your knowledge further about the rdram from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our discount computer memory blog where a free gift awaits you.