‘Hardware’
We live in an area that has begun to use Green Bins for household waste. Our regular garbage is picked up every other week and the only weekly garbage collection is our green plastic bins, to be filled with leftover food products and other organic waste.
When the program first started, I was sure we could never change our ways, but before long, depositing bones and leftover food in the bin became automatic.
Why am I telling you this? Because using the computer will also become easy for you the more you try. Sure, the learning curve is steeper than remembering which container to use for which type of garbage, but the
idea is the same. Every time you perform a function or solve a problem on your computer, it will be easier than the time before.
This week, I read a book written by Bill Gates in 1996 titled ‘The Road Ahead’. Gates said, “Computers frighten almost everyone (everyone but children), before they learn to use them. When people spend more time with computers, they understand them better.
You can start by playing computer games or doing other simple things. Once you start using them, I think you’ll like them.”
With the Internet, we can keep in touch with old friends and make new ones; have virtual experiences of flying an airplane, driving a car, even dissecting a toad. Pilots and doctors practice their work without worrying about accidents. Every school can have a wonderful library thanks to the Internet.
Gates saw then how much our world would change because of computers. Banking and shopping online, distance learning, the ability to telecommute and work from home – all of these grew as software became better and more powerful.
Gates talked about his own futuristic house. Anyone in the house wore an electronic pin that told the house who and where you were. When it got dark, the pin would turn on lights nearby and turn them off when you went away. Music
would play near you and the phone ring nearby only if the call was for you. A home control console activated choices of lighting, music, and temperature. That was in 1996, so who knows what his home is like now!
The book ended with a cartoon showing a mutt using a computer and saying “On the Internet, nobody know’s you’re a dog.” How true – on the Internet, we are all on equal ground.
Author : Carol Bremner. www.creativehomecomputing.com
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Let’s discuss about a situation when your computer doesn’t start at all- which mean it’s dead. Commonly while facing such situation we assume that the system is not getting sufficient power connection, for neither LED light on the front panel of the cabinet is on nor the SMPS fan is rotating. As computer support suggest, you must understand here a basic difference between no power and no boot situation. So before getting started with the troubleshooting measure, make sure you have diagnosed the error properly to get a confirmed resolution. Following are the common problems for which computer systems refuse to get started.
Due to faulty or detective cable your system might get interrupted.
Damaged ATX connector or the power cable not connected to the ATX connector can restrict a system from getting switched on.
Loose power cable or the cables not connected and many more.
Besides, many people complain that their computer freezes on startup which actually can cause due to various critical reasons. Recent computer architectures involve a complex host of hardware and software combination that often result in critical system error and functional fault. Even such issues are very common, they leave a person really perplexed and confused up to a large extant. Computer support professionals offer interactive steps to deal no booting issues the easiest way.
Users need to check if the main power cord is properly attached to the wall. Here the tech support or computer support technicians mention, if anyone is using a spike buster or an UPS, then he/she must remove it and connect the power socket directly with the wall pointer.
After that, as per technical guidance you need to check if the main power cord is firmly attached. Tech support technicians help users to check if the 110/220 V switch which or the voltage Toggle Switch, as it is termed technically, from the power supply is in the correct position. Here you must remember if the Line voltage in your workplace or home is using 110V then you need to set the voltage toggle switch to the same and if your line voltage is 220V then you must set the voltage toggle switch to the same. Specialized tech support experts help you work on this part with added care and concern so that you don’t cause further trouble.
Now you should check if the reset switch on the front panel from your SMPS is not stuck. Computer support experts help you check that by pressing it; if you can’t move it that means that it is stuck and you need to release it using tools. You need to remove all external cables from your computer as per tech support instruction, including all the essential peripherals like keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, digital camera etc, and all other added external devices you may have attached to your PC like USB drives. So performing this step the only cables that will remain attached to your PC will be the power cord and the video monitor cable.
This way you can check the connectivity and work accordingly.
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The ability to easily move data from PC to PC with minimal inconvenience is just another benefit computers have brought to the current business world.
Over the past few years, the different options to save and move data have multiplied dramatically. Usually the floppy disk (with it’s 1.2 MB limitation), ZIP drives, CD-R’s & CD-RW’s, and even tape backups are the common ways to move data on non-networked PC’s.
The latest innovation, the USB Removable Flash Memory (Thumb Drive, Key Drive, Flash Drive, USB Drive, Micro Drive) brings a whole new meaning to easy transport of data. These USB compliant devices are small enough to fit on a key ring or carry in your shirt pocket.
As a way to protect sensitive information, the security of one of these drives can’t be beat. It’s in your pocket!
Their size belies a huge data storage volume; the current sizes start at 16MB and go up to 4GB. The pricing on these devices is steadily falling, making the purchase of one of these handy drives almost a must have item.
Check out the accessories at your local computer store or go online to get the best deal.
For very little cost you can now conveniently move data between PC’s just as easily as accessing the data on your internal hard drive.
Author : Mike Burstein. Visit http://www.SOHOWiz.com for the latest FREE business tips.
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To Wire or Not to Wire
Wireless networks are en vogue, but your installation won’t be successful unless you chose the right type of network and set it up properly. Wired networks require that each computer be connected via a wire to a central location, called a switch or hub. This often involves installing cables through walls and ceilings and can present a challenge for anyone.
If the computers in your home or office are all within 500 feet of each other, a wireless network might be for you. A wireless network has no cables. It can connect computers on different floors of a building or even across the street. Aside from the obvious benefit of not having wires, wireless networks are more convenient since the setup, configuration, and reconfiguration can often be done within minutes, without extensive planning.
Wireless networks, however, are not as fast as wired networks. If you play computer games or want to view streaming video or other high-speed multimedia, a wireless network might not have enough capacity. But, if you just want to check e-mail and view web pages, a wireless network is a good choice. To install a wireless network, you need a Wireless Access Point and a wireless network card for each computer. You will need to buy a wireless network card for each desktop computer, although most newer laptops come equipped with one.
Security is not a large concern in a wired network, since someone would have to physically connect to a wired network to break in. In wireless networks, a car parked outside with a laptop could easily connect to your network if you don’t have proper security in place. To prevent this from happening, encrypt your wireless network connections, or set a password to access the network, or do both.
Do It Yourself or Call a Professional?
If you decide to use a wired network, consider whether you will install it yourself or hire a professional. If you have a small number of computers that are all situated very close to one another, you may be able to buy pre-assembled network cables and connect them yourself. If you need to wire multiple floors and lay wire through ceilings and walls, you need a professional installation. If you go this route, it is best to begin with a floor plan of your office or home, determine what your current needs are, and consider how the network design can be adapted to future needs. A professional installer should be familiar with EIA/TIA standards, local wiring and electrical codes, and making custom cables. Network cabling professionals are often judged by the neatness of their work, because sloppy cabling is more apt to deteriorate over time, harder to manage, and poses more of a fire risk.
Having a wireless network or a wired network is not mutually exclusive. Many small offices have a wired network in addition to one or more wireless networks, depending on their needs. Wireless networks are continuing to get faster, more secure, and less expensive. Wired networks will continue to coexist with wireless networks, often in the same homes and offices.
Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive educational background in computer information systems, Deryck currently manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support directly to small businesses as he has since 2000. His areas of expertise include networking, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh systems and he is the author of The Guide to Technology for Small Business.
For more information on Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com
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