Internet Security Reviews

Internet Security Suites Software (Why? and What?)
Basically a suites software is used to protect your computer from all possible security threats that could destroy the data on your PC. Now to avoid this, install less number of security programs or go for these security suites softwares. This will remove all the junk, and creepy, crawly bugs waiting to make their way into your data and the electronic system, long before something gets infected badly. A user might look for several Internet security reviews and would separately purchase protecting softwares like, anti-virus, firewall, antispyware, etc. Well, you don't need to look so far, because suites softwares have already done this job. They are available as compact tools, providing everything from A-Z, that a user would require to stop the threats. Take a look at some of the Internet security reviews of suites softwares and preclude the threats instantly.

Latest Internet Security Reviews

• Anti-virus: Anti-virus software has the capability of bringing down a virus that poses a threat to your computer. It is essential and effective. One of the best applications within it includes, advanced heuristics. It is able to spot virus type activity even before a virus program has been recognized.
• Antispyware: As spywares are becoming a serious threat to the computer world, antispyware poses a counterattack to the spyware. Its features are capable of defeating trojans, adware, worms and any other harmful spyware over the Internet.
• Firewall: Firewall, is in obvious terms a wall that helps in keeping away the threats from entering. Firewall is the first contact to the spyware and it should be very strong in itself to disapprove of malicious programs, even before they are detected by the antispyware and anti-virus scanners. Firewalls are known to be, prevention both ways i.e they avoid threats to enter and block information going out. This way you wouldn't compromise on your identity at least.
• Support/Help: There should be enough help and support options provided by the software manufacturers to answer all the queries of the users regarding the protection of the computer. The programs can be made available either on the manufacturers website or can be incorporated within the program.
• Other Security Features: Besides the above three to four pointers, make sure your suite has other security features as well. Parental control softwares can also be made part of this suite.

So now, that you know, from these free internet security reviews, as to what one should exactly look for while purchasing software suites, let us now, move on to know the kinds and names of security products.

Reviews of Internet Security Products
These reviews are of the best rated products that could be found on the internet, consisting of personal firewall, anti-spyware, anti-virus, internet security suites, parental controls, content filters and spam stoppers.

Personal Firewalls Reviews
Firewall is a device that allows or denies network transmissions and blocks unauthorized users and in addition to this protection firewall offers, a proactive security challenge consists of firewalls suites all-in-one. As described before, firewall protects your system from any sort of unwanted intruders. Thus, it is extremely vital to install certain programs that would wipe out all these malicious spywares and give you a clean computer system to use.

Best and Free Firewall Products
Online Armor, Comodo, PC Tools, Outpost, Online Armor, Privatefirewall, Jetico, Lavasoft, ZoneAlarm Pro. Out of which these are some best-free products; Online Armor Free, PC Tools Firewall Plus, Outpost Firewall Free, Comodo, Privatefirewall.

Anti-Spyware Reviews
In case your system has been exposed to some infection due to the unavailability of anti-spyware programs on your PC, don't worry, here are some tools available to help you fight the battle against computer viruses.

Anti-Spyware Products
Best Software - PC Tools Spyware Doctor 2010, Best Software (Budget) - Sunbelt CounterSpy, Best Spyware Protection (security Suite) - Norton Internet Security 2010, Best Free Removal Tool - Lavasoft Ad-Aware.

Wireless Routers Reviews
Wireless routers are routers having built in wireless access points so that a user can have a wireless Internet access anytime. Most of the times, wireless routers aren't so secured like the usual hard wires. Hence here are some programs, made available to you, to strengthen the security for your computer. Also keep in mind some technical names that might be effective to buy a wireless router. These names by themselves would help a user to set a home network wantonly.

Best Router Products - Apple AirPort Extreme, Linksys WRT610N, Linksys WRT400N, Linksys WRT54GL, D-Link DIR-825 Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit Router, D-Link Xtreme N Duo Media Router (DIR- 855), Cisco Valet Plus, D-Link Xtreme N Storage Router (DIR- 685), Linksys by Cisco Dual Band Wireless- N Gigabit Router WRT320N.

Anti-Virus Reviews
As mentioned before, anti-virus is a program used to detect and remove worms, trojans viruses out of the computer system. Also, there are some names of lab-tested softwares, they are highly recommended because they have been tested under critical circumstances and have proven effective in ruling out the viruses spread in the computer. The names given here, will help you deal with the same.

Anti-Virus Products
G Data Antivirus 2010, Best Free Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition, Bets Mainstream Norton Antivirus 2010, Best Mac Intego VirusBarrier X6, Ad-Aware Pro 8.1, Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0, Norton Antivirus 2010, Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition 1.0, Spyware Doctor with Antivirus 2010, VIPRE Antivirus 4.0, Avast Free Antivirus 5.0 (more in Avast antivirus), AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0, Double Anti-Spy Professional, Avira AntiVir Personal 10, IObit Security 360, Trend Micro HouseCall 7.1, McAfee Virus Scan Plus 2010 are some examples.

In recent times, the market is flooded with softwares that are top ranking and perform an effective job in the elimination of viruses out of the computer system. This way, the information and confidential data of the users is in the hands of softwares which are safe to use and ultimately the question never rises whether to not invest in and trust such Antivirus softwares.

Trusted Software Products
Avira AntiVir Personal, AVG 8.5 Free, Alwil Avast Antivirus Home Edition, MS Security Essentials, Comodo Internet Security plus Panda Cloud Antivirus, PC Tools Antivirus Free Edition, PC Tools Threatfire, ClamWin Free Antivirus.

Security Suites Reviews
When considering the subject, Internet Security, users have to see to it that, a complete security package is covered up. Two examples are, Best Norton 2010, Best Budget G Data 2010. A maximum security suite is an anti-spyware program which is rogue. It is mainly advanced through trojans. Once you install the security suite programs, these rogues scan your computer, and instantly give the status, whether it's infected or has high risk threats. But provided you purchase these programs, the removal of spyware is not possible. Many vendors provide best security for the Internet by scanning the computer and cleaning up all the possible threats located in the system. Vendors like A-V Comparatives Crows are known to be the best security vendors online. They offer programs which are used for low-risk threat detection, malware detection, low false positives, proactive detection, low performance impact, successful malware removal, fast scanning and dynamic protection.

These are the 2010 Internet Security Suites which are in rank order.

Security Suite Products
Norton 2010, Kaspersky 2010, AVG 9.0, PC Tools 2010, BitDefender 2010, Avast 5.0, McAfee 2010, Panda 2010, Webroot Essentials, Trend Micro 2010, F-Secure 2010, ZoneAlarm Suite, Eset Smart Security 4

Vendor Products
Symantec (Norton), Kaspersky, ESET, F-Secure, BitDefender

Spam Stoppers Reviews
Spam filters automatically protect the users email accounts, their mail box and e-mails too. It helps in filtering the spams out of the account. Spams are harmful to user's data or information over the Internet. They are able to phish for their confidential information, and can steal their identity or credit details. To stop all these malicious actions, anti-spam programs are introduced.

Spam Filter Products
Best Spam-Filtering Software - ClearMyMail, Best Anti-Spam - Cloudmark Desktop, Best Free Spam Blocker - SpamFighter.

3 Free Anti-Spam Products
Here are the 3 best ones available in the market - SpamBayes, Mailwasher, SPAMfighter.

Parental Controls and Content Filters
As we know that, in this difficult age, an open internet is really unsafe for parents and children, these are some names of the tools that parents can install and control kids from browsing the unwanted content. Also, it provides Internet safety whilst surfing the net.

Parental Software Products
NetNanny, CyberPatrol, Best Web Based - OnlineFamily.Norton, Best for Macs - Safe Eyes are some of these.

So hope these internet security reviews and products have helped you enough, to decide which product offering what, is good and safe for you to keep from all the Internet threats and risks.
By Fatima Rangwala

READ MORE - Internet Security Reviews

Email Security Tips

In today's world, everything is dependent on computers and internet. We all rely on computers and internet technology to such a extent that we often have to send our most personal information through emails. But emails are not 100% secure and there are many risks involved. We have heard of stories about credit card numbers being stolen, email accounts being hacked and personal data being altered, computer viruses erasing the entire system etc. The best defense against all these is in being aware. Let us take a look at some email security tips, which if followed can minimize the chances of someone hacking your emails accounts.

Email Security Best Practices

Create a Strong Password
One of the first tip to protect your emails account from hackers is to create a strong password and keeping it confidential. Viruses and worms have the capability of guessing weak passwords . Also to memorize them, we often create passwords based on our names, date of births etc. which makes your email account more vulnerable. The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team advises people to use mnemonics, that is, instead of a password like 'michaelsmith' you can create your password as MNIMS which stands for 'my name is michael smith'. Mnemonics generated passwords are stronger and less vulnerable to be hacked. You can read more on commonly used passwords and stay away from them.

Identify Phishing Emails
The college of New Jersey explains that phishing is a scam where a hacker sends out emails that look legitimate and like they're from established nationally recognized companies, to try to steal your information and possibly your email passwords. Mails asking to update your bank accounts, passwords are some of the common examples. These mails are not legitimate, but are made to resemble one by employing social engineering techniques. Now the question is how would you identify phishing emails? A phishing email commonly uses the following words, 'verify your account', 'you have won a lottery', 'if you don't respond within 48 hours, your account will be closed' etc. Whenever you find such emails in your inbox, don't reply immediately and instead verify with the bank/company if they have sent that mail.

Secure your Computer
Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware software. You may think that your computer is protected as you have installed an anti-virus software, but hackers think about how to break your security gate all the time. Once they find a loop-hole in your computer's security, they modify the viruses accordingly. The solution is to update your security software so that you are always one step ahead of them. Apart from this, you should always update your email security settings. For more information, read firewall settings.

Be Cautious While Opening Attachments
One of the most common ways of sending emails is by email attachments. Whenever you open an attachment, check for the URL. Be cautious even if the attachment is being sent by someone you know as many viruses can 'spoof' the return addresses. Also turn off the option of automatically downloading attachments.

Follow the Basic Safety Measures
Try using your email account at secure locations and remember to logout whenever accessing it from a shared computer. Change your passwords frequently and be aware of the latest happenings with regard to viruses, email scams, email security policy etc.

These were some email security tips, for more information, you can read :

• Internet Security
• Internet Safety
• Internet Safety Facts

Along with the innumerable benefits, computers and internet have left us vulnerable to internet crimes. But the good thing is that we can prevent ourselves from being a victim, if we follow the above mentioned email safety tips. We all need to be well informed and guard ourselves against hacking, phishing etc. The hackers thrive on ignorance and casual behavior of people. I hope after reading this article on email security tips, you will surely adopt a cautious approach whenever you use your email. The fight against cyber crime can only be successful if we all are better prepared and responsible.
By Rahul Pandita

READ MORE - Email Security Tips

Computer Maintenance Tips

If you are experiencing some computer slow down and constant crashes let me suggest a few tips that will help to speed up your PC and clean from system parasites and any other harmful malware.

First of all - clean up your system drive (in many cases it is drive C) from all the junk and old files that you have. One reason why your computer might be experiencing speed problems is full drive C. As it is system drive, it always needs some extra space for page files and virtual memory. If you have just few megabytes - I am not surprised that your computer is so slow. You can easily perform your disk clean up by using the Windows tool:

For Windows 7 users:
Select "Start", then "All programs", then click "Accessories" then choose "System tools" and "Disk cleanup". Select the logical disk that you want to clean. In the "Disk Cleanup For" dialog box select the files lists that you want to delete permanently and click OK. The clean up will start and it will take some time to finish, depending on the quantity of file that you have.

For Windows XP users:
Click "Start" menu, select "All programs", and click on the "Accessories" and in the drop down box select "System tools". In another drop down box click on the "Disk clean up".

The "select drive" box option will appear and you will have to select which drive you want to clean up. Press OK and a calculation of potential free space will run for a few second, displaying "Disk Cleanup for (C:)" window. Select the files that you want to delete and click OK. The process will start.

Defragment your hard drive. Defragmenting the hard drive is necessary function, especially after a long usage of your system. As you open and edit your files, the bits and pieces of your files are scattered or fragmented through the system. Next time when you open the files, it is more difficult for the hard drive to locate all the bits of your file, and the response time becomes slower. Defragmenting puts the files’ and folders’ pieces back together on a disk to make a single space for each. The reading and writing of the hard drive becomes much quicker when all the files are in one place and additional space is gained.

Defragmenting in Windows 7:

Select "Start", then "All programs", then click "Accessories" then choose "System tools" and "Disk Defragmenter". In the dialog box "Disk Defragmenter" select the drive to be defragmented and click "Analyze". The analysis will show you whether you should make the disk defragment or not. Click on the "Defragment Disk" button and the process will start. You will be able to monitor the whole process.

Defragmenting in Windows XP:
Click "Start" menu, then "All programs", click the "Accessories" and in the drop down box select "System tools". Click on the "Disk Defragmenter" in another drop down box. The new window will appear, where you will have to choose the drive and click "Analyze" button. The pop up dialog box will show the information, if you need to make defragmenting or not. After that you can click the "Defragment" button.

You could also check your hard disk for errors. To do that you can right click on your drive (C: or D: or any other letter), select "Properties" and "Tools". Press "Check now" in the "Error checking" option.

Scan your system for any spyware, adware or viruses. Spyware process may dramatically slow down the whole system. I suggest installing and updating the newest antispyware or antivirus programs - it can be AVG, Avast or any other antivirus, besides those suggested are free of charge. Additionally you might as well install antispyware program and run updates. It searches more thoroughly for root kits and some of those can bypass antivirus scans. The best antispyware for me is Super Antispyware. Here is more information about the antispyware and computer diagnostics.

By Tomaz Greicion

READ MORE - Computer Maintenance Tips

What is a Router

Are you interested in knowing what is a router? Read this article and all your questions regarding a router will be answered.

The Internet is the ultimate resource for any kind of information today. And a router is an important thing in the concept of Internet connection. It makes your web experience better. Despite it being so much important, many people don't exactly know what is a router for a computer or Internet. So I have made an attempt to explain everything I could, about a router in the following article.

Definition of a Router

A router is a computer networking device that facilitates the communication between two or more computers or computer networks. The router deciphers data coming to a computer through a network and directs it toward the right computer. It comes in various types depending upon what kind of connection you are using. Note that a router is not the same as the modem.

What is a Router Used For

The router works on the IP level. Every computer has a unique IP address and the router recognizes data requests based on these IP addresses. The router sends and receives IP data in the form of packets. Now these data packets have to go through thousands of routers on their way and every router saves some information about the sender router in a routing table. This is done so that the routers can control the incoming or outgoing packets.

The router connects only from computer to computer and does not have to deal with phone lines. It uses the RJ45 type of connection to connect with the computers. The prime responsibility of a router is to pass on signals from computer to computer so it does not convert any signals. It is also used as a means of security as firewalls are implemented through routers. Also, a router is not mandatory for an Internet connection. But it is mandatory for establishing wireless Internet access. Another important use of routers is for connecting two or more computers to a single Internet connection.

Types of Routers

Understanding the types of routers is an important part in understanding what is a router because choosing the best router for your purpose depends upon that. Actually there are many different types of routers but here I am mentioning only the major types of routers, namely the broadband router and the wireless router.

Broadband Router
There are several things for which the router is used. For example, if you want to use a VOIP service, that is Voice over Internet Protocol, you will require a broadband router. This router will let your Internet service communicate to your phone line thus letting you make calls through the Internet but from phone to phone. If you are thinking of buying a broadband router for VOIP read about router reviews to make an informed decision.

Wireless Router
If you have an Internet connection which you want to use all over the house you will need a wireless router. This way you will be able to use your Internet connection all over the house and you will be able to connect multiple computers to each other or to the Internet connection. But these wireless signals can spread across a long distance and a good hacker can break into your connection so make sure you are using a quality anti-spyware software to secure your data. Also read how does a wireless router work.

Many people tend to confuse a modem with a router but they are completely different devices used for completely different purposes. One important difference between them is that a modem is essential for an Internet connection whereas the router is not. There are other differences between them which you can check out in this article on router vs modem. I hope the above article on what is a router has provided you with some good information.

By Pankaj Chobharkar

READ MORE - What is a Router

Ethernet Hub vs Switch

An Ethernet hub vs switch comparison would precisely explain what is the difference between these two networking devices. That is exactly what you will find in this article.

Have you ever wondered how the vast network of the Internet, connecting billions of computers worldwide, manages to be orderly, without steeping into chaos? It is an achievement of computer networking engineers and scientists who cleverly designed this network to be automated and established protocols for communication between machines, which made this possible. Besides the hardware constructs, what makes disciplined data traffic possible are the networking devices. It is through devices like Ethernet hubs, switches and routers, that unhindered data traffic is made possible. The aim of this article is to present an Ethernet hub vs switch comparison, which underlines the fundamental differences in the working of these devices.

What is the Difference Between Ethernet Hub and Switch?

Before I start explaining what is the difference between hub and switch, I assume that you are familiar with the basics of Ethernet and you have a rough idea about the OSI model, which forms the theoretical foundation on which a computer network is understood and designed. If you have no idea about it, check out the article which has OSI model explained. In the following lines, you will find Ethernet hub compared to switch. This will be followed by a comparison of their features and applications.

Ethernet Hub vs Switch: Basic Differences
Let us define what is meant by an Ethernet hub and a switch before we scrutinize the differences in their functioning. An Ethernet hub connects computers in a network segment together and facilitates data transfer within the network.

When a hub receives a data packet, it transmits the packet to all the devices or computers that are connected to it. Only the computer or device which was supposed to receive the packet, accepts it. The whole hub connected network functions as a half duplex, as any device cannot transmit and receive at the same time.

There is no selectivity in the destination for the data packet in a hub. They are simply broadcasters or repeaters of the data, which they receive. Ethernet hubs are operational at the first layer (physical layer) in the OSI model.

A switch is a more evolved version of a hub. They are mainly operational at the networking layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model. However, switches can function at multiple layers too. Instead of transmitting data packets to every device on network, switches are smarter devices that directly link the nodes that are sharing the data. This means that simultaneous data transfer between multiple nodes is possible. You might also want to check out the router vs switch vs hub vs bridge comparison, to get a much clearer picture about things.

Ethernet Hub vs Switch: Features
Hubs can make a computer network sluggish because of the half duplex transmission and the extra load of data transmitted to multiple devices. More the data traffic between the nodes in a network, slower the transmission becomes. However, a switch carries out data transmission faster as it directly hooks up the nodes that are part of the network.

This makes simultaneous data transfer possible between multiple nodes; achieving high transmission speed and less of lag. Hence switches are used to manage data traffic on networks, which are high in complexity. Among an Ethernet hub and a switch of the same bandwidth, a switch offers faster data transmission. Hubs cost considerably lesser than switches, which are more advanced devices.

After reading through this Ethernet hub vs switch comparison, most of your doubts regarding the functioning of these devices should have been cleared. Both Ethernet hubs and switches make intranetwork traffic possible, but they differ in the sense that both are at different positions in the technological evolution tree. As we saw above, a switch is an improvement over a hub and it reduces data transfer time, while making optimum use of bandwidth. For small networks, a switch is often an overkill and hubs are preferred. However, for large networks, there is no alternative to network switches!

By Gray Pilgrim

READ MORE - Ethernet Hub vs Switch

Laptop Battery Troubleshooting

The use of laptops is widely spread, and one certainly wouldn't be able to work on a business tour or vacation without these portable devices. Their continuous use, leads to several laptop problems, most common being a battery problem. Troubleshooting laptop battery problems can be a manageable task, if you are aware of the necessary steps to be followed. For laptop battery troubleshooting, just read on...

There are many laptop battery problems which can be solved with some simple troubleshooting steps, without even calling the laptop service people. Some troubleshooting methods are printed on the laptop manual itself, so it is necessary to refer to the manual before using the laptop for the first time. There is no average battery life provided by the manufacturers as the battery life depends largely on several factors like the size of the laptop screen, battery capacitance, and the kind of applications that are generally used.

In the case of a new laptop battery not functioning, firstly ensure that it has a full charge. When you get a new laptop from the shop, it generally comes with a discharged battery, and you need to charge it for further use. A new Li-Ion laptop battery is essentially required to be charged for nearly 12 hours before use. If it's an NiMH battery, it would need to be charged at least for 24 hours for proper functioning.

If you've done with a sufficient battery charge and still the laptop is not working, simply ensure, if the battery is decently inserted into the laptop. If the laptop turns off automatically, examine its power management settings, as the laptop may be set to automatically shut down, when the battery power becomes low.

If the laptop battery turns warm after using it for a while, you don't need to worry, as it's not a problem and is normal with all laptops. But if the battery turns hot or too hot, it might be a serious problem. In such a situation, just take the battery out from the laptop and allow it to cool down. If this problem occurs on a regular basis, the battery itself may be at fault and you may need to give it for replacement.

If the battery is not being charged when you connect it to an electric socket using the adapter, check the power source if it is providing sufficient power to charge. You may also try to charge the battery using the same adapter, but on a different power source socket. Interruption in the power supply may also be a problem which leaves the battery without power. Check all the power-related cord connections, such as the connection at the back of the notebook and at the transformer box. There are also possibilities of the adapter being defunct.

If you find any kind of notebook battery problems, just remove the battery from the notebook and check for any debris or dirt in or around the connections. The debris or dirt may restrict the notebook to get connected with the power components inside the battery compartments. Moreover, you also need to check if there are revealing signs such as any burn marks in the battery compartment.

Before taking any step to troubleshoot laptop battery, you need to be confirmed about the problem being persistent only in the battery and in no other part. If the above steps don't seem to work, the last option left is to call the laptop service person, and let him know about the problem and what all troubleshooting steps you've taken.

By Stephen Rampur

READ MORE - Laptop Battery Troubleshooting

Keyboard Problems

There are many hardware parts of the computer which can start giving problems. The keyboard is one such computer hardware which can give some problems, such as not being detected at all or some of the individual keys not working. If you face any problem with keyboard, it is suggested that you try out some troubleshooting steps first, before you decide to buy a new one. You will regret if you get a new one before realizing that the actual problem was just due to an improper connection.

Read more on:

• How to Clean a Laptop Keyboard
• How to Clean a Keyboard

Troubleshooting Keyboard Problems

If the computer keyboard is not working at all, you should check its connections to the CPU cabinet. Locate the back of the cabinet where the keyboard is plugged in, remove the plug from the slot, and reinsert it, and then check if it works. If it is still not working, restart the PC and check. You can check the functioning of your keyboard or PS/2 (or USB port) by connecting the keyboard to another desktop computer, or using another keyboard on your system.

If you notice there are some keys on the keyboard that are hard to press or not working, there can be possibilities of dust and debris accumulated in there. You then need to clean the debris off the keyboard by turning it upside down and shaking it or tapping it from above. You can even use a vacuum cleaner for taking the dirt off the keyboard. In order to prevent the keyboard from attracting dust, you can use a ready-made keyboard cover or simply make one at home by using a plastic sheet.

If some character keys on the keyboard do not work even after cleaning the keyboard, you may have to replace those particular keys. This problem may be experienced mostly on frequently used keys. If some kind of liquid falls on the keyboard, immediately disconnect the keyboard from its cabinet port. Turn it upside down and keep it for drying in the same position for a while under the fan or in sunlight. Check the working of the keyboard by connecting it back again only after you are sure that its completely dry.

Some keys on the keyboard might not even function due to the device being in a cold room for a considerable period of time or not used for a while. If you think this can be the reason for the keyboard not functioning, you should use the keyboard for some minutes. Check if it works, after typing few sentences in the notepad application.

If the keyboard still does not work, updating the respective drivers may solve the problem. For updating the drivers on Windows Vista, go via Start->Control Panel->Hardware and Sounds-> Keyboard->Hardware->Properties->General->Change Settings->Driver->Update Driver. Check if the keyboard functions after the drivers have been updated. Driver updation is a good method of getting rid of a keyboard problem. Wrong characters issue can be rectified by changing the settings for the input language and the keyboard layout.

Read more on:

• Keyboard Keys not Working
• Laptop Keyboard Problems
• Keyboard Repair: How to Repair a Keyboard

This was a general guide on troubleshooting keyboard problems. For you to not experience a keyboard problem, typing should be done softly, especially in the case of laptop computers. If your wireless keyboard is having functionality issues, a good troubleshooting step is to make sure that the batteries are not weak. It none of the steps seem to work, the last resort is to get a new one from the market.

By Stephen Rampur

READ MORE - Keyboard Problems

Mouse Troubleshooting

There are numerous reasons for an electronic mouse to malfunction. Most of these causes are minor, and can be fixed easily without any professional help. Mouse troubleshooting tips given below will help you to diagnose and repair mouse problems with ease.

An electronic mouse is one of the most essential component of a desktop PC. This device controls the cursor movements on the screen, thus facilitating swift and rapid selection and input of data. At times, you may come across situations wherein the mouse fails to perform normally. Such malfunctions in the mouse can be attributed to numerous hardware or software problems. Most of these computer mouse problems are minor, and can be corrected with ease, if you are well versed with simple mouse troubleshooting tips and tricks given in this article. Read more on history of computer mouse.

Mouse Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks

Loose Connection: This is the most common problem in case of any mouse, be it a PS/2 mouse, a USB mouse or a wireless mouse (its receiver). If you notice that the cursor is not responding to the mouse movements, check whether the connection between the mouse and the CPU has become loose. In case of a wireless mouse, check the connection of its receiver device, if it is loose, plug it in securely. If the mouse still does not respond, try connecting the receiver to another USB port. If the cursor still does not respond, reboot the PC by restarting it.

Accumulation of Dirt and Other Disturbance: Another common reason for a trackball mouse to malfunction is due to accumulation of fuzz in the trackball unit. If this is the problem you will have to open the chamber, and clean it as well as the trackball. Ideally you should use a clean cloth and alcohol to cleanse the same. Similarly in case of an optical mouse, you will need to clean the screen of the light-emitting diodes thoroughly so that dirt particles do not obstruct the light path that detects the movement of the surface below, which in turn causes the cursor movements on the screen. Also, an optical mouse may not work quite well if the surface below is shiny or transparent. Read more on mouse wheel not working.

Low Batteries: In case of a wireless mouse, the problem may be due to the batteries, interference or range. Instead of concluding that there is a major problem and opting for a mouse repair, the foremost thing you need to do is to check if the batteries are low, and charge or replace them as required. Other wireless mouse problems include any sort of interference in signals and range of the receiver. Interference may occur between the mouse and its receiver due to an object in the path of the signal or due to signals from some other device. You will have to make sure that no such interference exists. Be sure to place the pointing device, i.e. mouse within the specified range of its receiver. Read more on wireless mouse not working.

Virus and Configuration Problems: Virus can also be one of the reasons for the mouse working abnormally i.e. if the cursor jumps across the screen uncontrollably, clicking on its own, etc. There are few viruses that may corrupt the mouse driver files, and cause the mouse to malfunction. Mouse troubleshooting in this context will involve scanning the PC with a good antivirus in order to get rid of the virus. Also, try restoring the system configuration to that time when the mouse was working fine. It is possible that a certain change in the configuration or a certain software installation might have conflicted with the mouse settings and caused the mouse to malfunction.

Problems with the Port or Mouse Driver: To verify whether the trouble is with the mouse or the PC, connect the mouse to a different PC to check. If it functions perfectly on another PC, then there is probably some problem with the port where it was connected or with the mouse driver in the system. Check by connecting the mouse to another port. To check the mouse driver, go to Start > Control Panel > (In classic view) System/ (In category view) Performance and Maintenance (Select System) > Hardware Tab > Device Manager (Click) > Mice and Other Pointing Devices. If you notice a yellow icon, that means the mouse driver has problems. Either upgrade it to latest version (if the current version is not compatible) or uninstall it, install it again and reboot your computer. Read more on mouse not working.

More information on the other components of a computer:

• Desktop Computers
• Computer Keyboards

This was brief information about how to troubleshoot a mouse on your own. If none of the above mouse troubleshooting methods work, and the computer mouse does not work on any another PC, the only option left is to replace the mouse.

By Abhijit Naik

READ MORE - Mouse Troubleshooting

LCD Monitor Repair - Troubleshooting LCD Monitors

LCD monitor troubleshooting is not as tough as you may imagine it to be. With some simple tips, you can certainly fix the problems you encounter yourself. To know more on LCD monitor repair, read on…

Gone are the days when people used to have ordinary monitors on their desks. They have replaced ordinary monitors with monitors which are incorporated with an advanced technology known as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). But these advanced monitors may also give some problems when used over time. LCD monitor troubleshooting is a step-by-step process wherein you eliminate prospective problem sources. If you are using an LCD monitor, you need to how it works and what all are the troubleshooting methods that can be used if it functions abnormally.

Power Supply

LCD monitor troubleshooting firstly requires some level of patience. If the monitor doesn't work, the primary thing you would need to do is to check if everything is plugged in properly. Ensure that the power cord is decently connected to the power source. Also examine if the cord which connects the monitor to the CPU is properly connected. You may even remove all power and CPU connections and put them back again in their respective sockets. But before doing so, just make sure that you know which cable needs to be connected in which socket. Also make sure that the power is switched off when you are in the process of removing and connecting the cables. In case of a working monitor, if the display is disturbed or there is a change in the picture quality when you touch or move the cable, the cable is at fault and needs to be replaced.

Operating System

There are some LCD issues that are partially related to the operating system, such as a flickering screen. For examining such issues, press the 'on' button on the CPU, and check if you see any problem before the OS boots. If you observe the problem when the PC is booting, the monitor is at fault. But if the problem is not observed until the OS boots, there may be an issue with the drivers, and you need to check the display settings or reinstall the monitor drivers. You also need to check if the problem lies in the video card. Try to use a another LCD monitor with the computer, if it works fine, then there is a possibility of driver issues. If the problems are still persistent with the replacement monitor, the video card is the culprit and needs to be replaced.

Other Problems

Some of the other problems with LCD monitors may include 'dead pixels', which are pixels that only display black or white colors regardless of the displayed image. If a larger part of the screen is covered with such pixels, you can do nothing to resolve the problem other than buying a new monitor. However, this type of problem is rarely found nowadays. If the screen is showing a lower picture quality, you may just need to check the selected resolution. The resolution settings may also be adjusted if the text is not displayed efficiently.

If the monitor doesn't work even after following all LCD monitor repair steps, then the last option would be taking assistance of a computer hardware engineer. If the monitor's condition is really bad, the engineer might even suggest to replace the monitor. For proper functioning of an LCD monitor, it is recommended to keep it covered to prevent dust from entering.

By Stephen Rampur

READ MORE - LCD Monitor Repair - Troubleshooting LCD Monitors

Computer Monitor Problems

"Damn it! The computer is working fine but this monitor is giving problems." This is a common complaint that everybody hears. Many a times, computer monitor problems are easy to solve, seeking the help of a professional will be a waste of money and time. This article will provide you with the most commonly faced computer problems and their solutions.

Computer monitor is like a magic window through which you can access the world. But what if this magic window suddenly breaks down or refuses to work or goes blank. It can be really frustrating when the computer is working fine but due to a problem in the computer monitor you are unable to perform an important work. The monitor is the most important part of the computer and any problem that occurs in the functioning of the monitor, poses a great difficulty before the user. Though computer problems may seem complicated to many, trouble shooting computer monitor problems can be an easy task. Knowing how to solve some of the common computer monitor problems will not only help to save your valuable time but also your hard earned money. In the following paragraphs some of the commonly faced computer monitor problems and solutions are discussed in detail.

Computer Monitor Problems - Monitor Remains Blank

Each one of us might have faced this problem many times. In such cases, first make sure that the monitor has power and the light on the monitor is on. If the light is off then check whether the power cable behind the monitor is not loose and is inserted tightly. You can also try rebooting your computer. Even if this isn't working then try connecting the monitor to a different PC. If its working, then may be you need to replace the faulty cable. Sometimes the problem may have come up as the video card has stopped functioning, so you need to replace it. Computer monitor color problems can also be solved by replacing the video card. If all these things are not helping then there might be major technical problem for which you would have to call a professional for computer repair.

Computer Monitor Problems - Correcting Display Settings

Computer monitor display problems are also common. Sometimes, bizarre patterns or lines are found on the screen. For solving this check for the cord connections. Also, try to adjust the menu options to sort out this problem. If the picture doesn't change then changing the cord might be helpful. Sometimes there will be a blurry appearance on the screen. For solving this firstly try to adjust the display settings. Also try to adjust the resolution or computer display size by using computer display settings. If this doesn't work then check the cables or use new cables altogether to connect the CPU with the monitor. Sometimes, appearance of horizontal lines when you switch on the monitor may indicate that the monitor has broke down and it will be impossible to repair it. Read more on computer display problems.

Computer Monitor Problems - Display is Upside Down

Many a times you may end up viewing a computer screen that is upside down. This can happen due to computer game you might have played. This is a easy problem to solve - Go to Start > Control Panel> Intel Extreme Graphics Applet> Rotation tab. Uncheck the Enable Rotation check box. Click Apply, then OK. This would solve the problem easily.

Computer Monitor Problems - Strange Noises in Monitor

Sometimes, high pitched loud squealing sounds may start coming out of your computer monitor. These sounds may radiate off the internal parts and may cause sounds of high frequency. Most of the times clicking sounds are harmless they occur due to the relays of the monitor opening and closing. This types of sound are common when you switch on or switch off the computer or when display setting is changed. Usually, moving or adjusting the height of the monitor or switching it on and off can solve this problem. But if this problem is continuing and getting worse then take a help of a professional.

Computer Monitor Problems - Cutting Down Screen Glare

The sharp reflection of light or glare from your computer may be reason that you may be facing recurrent headaches due to straining of your eyes. For reducing this glare maintain a proper screen to window angle of around 90 degrees. Make sure your monitor is facing away from the window. If you are sitting with your back towards the window and a bright sunlight is shining through your office windows onto your computer screen then either change the place or make sure you use a anti-glare screen to put on your monitor screen. Read more on LCD monitor repair - troubleshooting LCD monitors.

Most of the above computer monitor problems can be easily solved even if you are not a professional. But in case of complicated problems or persistent problems take the assistance of a computer hardware engineer. If the condition of the monitor is really bad, replacing the monitor will be necessary.

By Gaurav Shimpi

READ MORE - Computer Monitor Problems

Computer Hardware Repair and Maintenance

Numerous and varied technical failures can occur in a computer. Any error can be eliminated with careful and systematic repair. Here are a few computer hardware repair and maintenance tips...

What is computer hardware? The hardware components like monitor, keyboard, CPU (Central Processing Unit), mouse and other I/O (Input-Output) devices, constitute a computer. The working of the monitor, keyboard, mouse and I/O devices depends largely upon the CPU. Due to some minor causes like loose connections or dust saturation, either of them can stop functioning. A few troubleshooting tips can be followed to correct such minor errors.

Faults occurring in the CPU are most hazardous, as it has a very complicated structure. CPU is an assembly of the motherboard, hard disk drive (HDD), random access memory (RAM), compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) drive and the floppy drive. Unless you are well-acquainted with the CPU hardware, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint exactly where the fault has occurred. If any one of these components fail to perform, there are a few repair tips that can be followed. In order to view the circuitry inside the CPU, its casing has to be removed.

Motherboard
The entire functioning of the computer depends on this component. The processor chip-set, that performs all the logical operations of the PC, is embedded in the motherboard. Ribbon cables, power supply, CPU and RAM are the things to be checked first on the motherboard. Check if any of the ribbon cables or the power supply cord is loose. Check if the RAM chip has been misplaced from its slot. The CPU (chip-set embedded in the board) will not show any marks on the outside if it is blown. The only way to check whether the CPU is working or not, is to test it by mounting it on the motherboard of another PC. The motherboard has a real-time clock, ROM BIOS, CMOS RAM, RAM sockets, CPU sockets or slots, cache RAM slots, keyboard controller, interrupts, internal connectors and external connectors mounted on it. Do not tamper with these components, unless you know each and every one of it well. Do not touch the motherboard without turning off the power.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Also known as hard drive, it is the long-term storage device of the system. If the hard drive cannot be detected for booting, check the jumper setting. The jumper setting can change the mode of the hard disk from master to slave or vice-versa. Make sure the Windows version being used for partitioning is consistent. Check that each drive has been assigned a drive-type. Make sure the pin numbers of the plug are attached to the corresponding pin numbers of the socket. Do not force the plug into the socket with extra force, the pins may bend. If the plug is not fitting perfectly in the socket, try inserting it again by flipping it over. Do not attempt to open the hard drive without enough knowledge of its components.

Random Access Memory (RAM)
It is the temporary memory of the PC. The data in the RAM is erased when the computer is shut down. Check if the RAM is misplaced from its slot. While replacing the RAM in its slot, check the small niche at the center of the chip (the niche indicates how the RAM is supposed to be placed in the slot and may not be at the exact mid position of the chip-strip). Do not forget to secure the side clips that hold the chip in place. If you are unable to secure them, it means that the chip is not placed correctly in the slot.

Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) Drive
Data stored on external storage device like compact disk (CD) is read by inserting the CD in the CD drive. If the CD drive is not functioning, check if the CD is scratched. If the CD works fine in another PC, check if the power cable of the former drive is loose. Check if the plug and socket pin numbers match. If the tray of the drive is not opening, right click on CD-ROM icon and select eject option. If the tray does not open, insert a straight thin metal pin into the edge and try to pull it open. Do not apply too much of force while doing so. Avoid connecting the CD-ROM drive on the same controller cable as the primary hard drive, this will slow down its performance.

Floppy Drive
If the floppy disk is not opening, try opening it in the floppy drive of another PC. If the disk does not open, then it is probably corrupt. If the disk is stuck in the drive, hold down the eject button for sometime or right click on floppy drive icon and select eject option. If the disk is still stuck, wiggle it up and down till it can be ejected or use tweezers to pull it out. Do not apply too much of force while doing so.

In order to avoid any kind of faults, following maintenance tips can be followed:

• Do not let dust saturate on the motherboard. Clean it with a vacuum cleaner or a hand broom once in 2-3 months.
• Hard drive mostly does not need any external cleaning, though by performing de-fragmentation and disk clean, it can be prevented from crashing.
• In the case of CD-ROM, do not pull the tray forcibly. Make use of the insert/eject button rather than pulling and pushing the tray.
• Clean the tray once in a while. Do not keep any heavy object on the tray. Avoid running scratched or damaged CDs in the CD-ROM.
• If the CPU fan is making too much noise, unmount it and oil the bearings.
• Do not attempt to start the PC if the fan is not in a working condition.
• If the fault persists, contact professional services. Also make a note of what exactly is happening when you start the PC. It makes the diagnosis a lot easier for the professional.

CPU is the brain of the computer. Proper maintenance of the CPU, as well as all other components enhances the computer performance.

By Aishwarya Nirmal

READ MORE - Computer Hardware Repair and Maintenance

Sound Card Installation

The sound card is a vital component of a computer, and you can learn how to install sound card all by yourself. This is a very simple task, and here's how you must go about doing it...

If you know how to install sound card on your computer you will be able to listen to all sorts of audio files. Music files, videos, movies and audio enhanced presentations are just some of the files that you can enjoy if you have an active sound card on your machine. Most computers that are available in the market today already have a sound card on them, but sometimes you may need to carry out sound card installation for yourself.

Laptop computers do not give you the option to open them up at will, and doing so nullifies the warranty. So laptops will always have the best sound card possible installed in them when you buy them. On the other hand, desktop computers can be opened any time you wish. If you know how to install sound card, all you need to do is open up the machine and go ahead and install it. Installing a sound card is as easy as it gets, and it only takes a few minutes.

How to Install Sound Card
First of all you need to be clear about why you are setting out on installation of sound card. If you are facing sound card problems, try some other solutions before you set out to replace it. But if your computer does not have a sound card at all, then you surely need to install it to enjoy all your multimedia features on the computer.

Go to a computer repair store and purchase a new sound card before you begin. Do some research before you carry out this purchase, and buy a sound card that belongs to a well reputed and reliable company. This will cost a few more dollars, but it will ultimately be worth it. If you carry out sound card installation with an inferior quality sound card, it will wear out faster and cause more problems in the future. Keeping all this in mind, let's now see how to install sound card.

• To begin with, you must go through the user manual that you received with your computer and read all that you can about opening up the computer and also about the sound card. The more you know about these, the better it will be for you.
• Now you must ensure that the drivers that come with the sound card are installed on your computer. When you purchase the sound card you will receive a CD containing the drivers along with it. Install these on your machine before you go ahead and physically install sound card. Alternately, you can even download these drivers from the website of the sound card manufacturer.
• Now switch off your computer completely, and turn off all power switches. Remove the side of the computer by unscrewing all the visible screws.
• Locate the old sound card, and unplug everything that is connected to it. Do not blindly pull out the sound card, you must carefully note all the cables that are attached to it and then release them one by one before you actually pull out the old sound card.
• Now insert the new sound card into the same slot in the same manner, and proceed to reconnect all the wires and cables that were attached to the old one, including those of the speakers if they were attached to the old sound card.
• Now close the side of the computer and switch on the machine.

You have now successfully managed to install sound card, and if you have done all this right, it will work instantly. Try playing an audio file to check if the sound card is functioning properly. In case it is not, it could either be a hardware problem or a software one. Installing the drivers properly is an integral part of sound card installation, and if this is not done properly, the sound card will not work.

Also see the following:

• Sound Card not Working
• Computer Problems and Solutions

One of the easiest things about computers is learning how to install sound card. Anyone with basic knowledge about computers can do this successfully, and it does not require any technical know how or experience.

By Rahul Thadani

READ MORE - Sound Card Installation

Microsoft Security Essentials Review

After pulling the plug on Windows Live One Care, Redmond has now officially released Microsoft Security Essentials, which is a free antivirus tool developed exclusively for the Windows platform. In this article, I present a Microsoft security essentials review for all those of you who are curious about this new antivirus program.

Microsoft has finally unveiled its premier antivirus program, earlier codenamed Morro as 'Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE)'. It is designed to be a complete antivirus solution for Windows platform to act as a bulwark against all the species of malicious programs including viruses, adware, malware, scareware, worms, trojans, rootkits, keyloggers, rogue security software programs. This antivirus program can be freely downloaded and installed on genuine Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 copies only. The intention of this article is to present a Microsoft Security Essentials review for those who are still skeptical about using this program.

What a user with an installed version of Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 would want to know is whether he can rely on this software as the standalone antivirus software program on his laptop or desktop computer. This review is aimed at helping you decide in that matter. Microsoft's free antivirus program endeavor has been welcomed by many as one of the best free computer security solutions today.

Microsoft Security Essentials Review and Performance

Microsoft Security Essentials have been in the market long enough now for a thorough review to be made, considering the feedback that users and experts have provided. It is the default free antivirus for Windows 7. Here are the main features of MSE for your perusal.

System Requirements
One essential condition for Microsoft Security Essentials to work on your PC is that you have a genuine Windows XP (service Pack 3 or 2), Windows XP (Service Pack 1, 2 or Gold) or Windows 7 installed. For Windows XP, you need at least a 500 MHz processor with RAM greater than 256 MB. For Windows 7, you need at least 1 GHz processor with at least 1 GB RAM. Other than that it needs 140 MB of free hard drive memory space and VGA display of 800 x 600 at least.

Installation
Download and installation of Microsoft security Essentials was quite fast considering the size of the setup file is short. During installation, it runs a check for a genuine Windows license. Once that test is passed, installation happens fast. It automatically starts downloading security updates and runs a security scan after that. Booting time stays unaffected after installing MSE and it makes minimal usage of system resources while not affecting performance speed.

Scanning
MSE offers three virus scanning options for your computer, which includes a quick, full and custom scan. Quick scans only check the most vulnerable parts of your system and takes an average of 5 to 10 minutes to execute. A full scan takes longer depending on the density and total number of files on your hard drive.

A custom scan lets you select any folder or drive for scanning. Compared to other free antivirus software programs, MSE is a slow scanner of the hard drive but it's thorough. It provides you with an option for excluding certain file locations, file formats and processes from getting scanned. This can shorten your scanning time. It can also create a system restore point before every scan. Information about every potential threat detected is made available in the history section.

You can schedule a custom scan daily and also select the type of scan. The settings section also provide you with a facility to choose the default action for low, medium and high level security threats. It offers real time protection which alerts you about threats on the go. The malware and anti virus updates happen automatically and almost three times a day at times. The dynamic signature service contacts Microsoft servers for information regarding unidentified threats that are not part of its updated database.

Security Features
Now moving on to the main point of this Microsoft Security Essentials review, let us discuss its security features and performance. MSE is on par with the best in the business when it comes to detecting malware. In real time scanning mode, it detects most malware programs before they can get activated on your system. The antivirus and anti spyware engines along with the rootkit protection are some of the other useful tools. What is lacking is email scanners, web protection and a firewall. However, considering that this is a free software, the features offered are truly reasonable.

User Friendly Interface
One of the prime features of this program is its very user friendly interface with a minimum number of tabs. It offers easy handling and stays in the background with minimal resource usage. It has made a mark to be one of the top 5 best free antivirus software programs.

Being a user of this new antivirus program for quite some time now, I am qualified to present a Microsoft Security Essentials review from personal experience. It has all the makings of one of the best free antivirus programs today with back up and support from none other than Microsoft itself. Microsoft Security Essentials is a lightweight and efficient antivirus program that provides you with the 'bare essentials' of computer security. To conclude, MSE is highly recommended as a free antivirus program that will safeguard your computer.

By Gray Pilgrim

READ MORE - Microsoft Security Essentials Review

Windows 7 – Future of Operating System

Windows 7, the latest operating system by Microsoft is similar to Microsoft Vista but not the same .

Windows 7, the upcoming and latest version of Microsoft Windows is the successor of the famous Windows Vista Operating system. It is an incremental upgrade to the Windows line of operating system that aims at being compatible with all the hardware and software applications with which its predecessor is compatible. Some interesting features of Windows 7 include a touch screen functionality, a completely new task-bar, larger thumbnail previews, Internet Explorer 8, a home networking system that is known as HomeGroup and of course enhanced performance. This operating system was initially slated for a January 2010 release, which has now been postponed for the holiday season of 2009.

Looking at the features and functionalities, the Windows 7 appears to be similar to Windows Vista, however it is not so. With the Windows 7, you will be able to defragment multiple hard drives at the same time, create a sandboxed user account for children so that they are unable to mess with the Windows and programme settings. In fact with this operating system, you can encrypt the USB flash drives to protect the data and files. Also, a number of tools have been provided for fine-tuning the display settings for crisp colors and clear text.

System Requirements

Microsoft is reported to claim that the recommended specifications for a system to have Windows 7 is same as that for Windows Vista Premium version. A bets version of the upgrade advisor can be used to scan the computer and check if it is compatible with the new Windows 7 operating system. The system requirements include a processor clocked at 1GHz, 1GB of RAM and 16 GB of available disk space.

Security Functionalities of Windows 7

Today every person has loads of important files and data stored on their laptops or desktops. In case someone else who is less experienced with computers uses your system, then there are chances of mess-ups happening. In case of Windows 7, the changes made by a guest account is completely reversed, as in the files saved by them are deleted and the changes made to the system's settings are also annulled. This can be done by enabling the PC Safeguard option in the guest account. The guest account which has this function disabled will be able to make changes entitled by the administrator to the guest user. You can even lock or control your applications by using AppLocker. It restricts the users to just the applications specified by you, providing you with more control. Windows Security Centre application has been replaced by another application known as Action Centre. This Action Centre alerts you about the maintenance of the computer, issues with back-ups and also some kind of potential security problems.

User Account Management

With the Windows 7 operating system installed on your computer fewer warnings and alerts are supplied as well as more useful User Account Control tweaks are offered. For safeguarding the USB flash drive, you can activate BitLocker feature provided by this operating system. Windows 7 has included all the troubleshooting applications into one single "Find and Fix Problems" applet, which is situated in the Control Panel. This applet checks for all kinds of incorrect settings and repairs it.

Trouble-Shooting Assistance

If an application is acting weird and not functioning properly in the Windows 7 operating system, then the user just needs to start the "Problem Steps Recorder" application and hit the record tab. It will make note of the step by step process for completing the task. Windows 7 is offering a Resource Monitor in place of Task Manager that displays full detail of the number of processes currently running in the system along with particulars about the how they are utilising the RAM, CPU, network and hard drive. Additionally the Windows 7 operating system has introduced many new shortcut keys for user friendly operation.

Verdict

Overall, the Windows 7 operating system can create a productive and efficient work environment, provide better security and data protection whilst offering easy to use user friendly functionalities.

Visit our site Broadband UK which offers a very detailed Broadband Comparison of various leading Broadband providers in UK

By john shelton

READ MORE - Windows 7 – Future of Operating System

Different Types of Operating Systems

Operating systems that create a link between users and the applications form the core of computer systems. It dissociates the programs and the hardware and simplifies resource management. Let us look at the different types of operating systems.

An operating system is a software component of a computer system that is responsible for the management of various activities of the computer and the sharing of computer resources. It hosts the several applications that run on a computer and handles the operations of computer hardware. Users and application programs access the services offered by the operating systems, by means of system calls and application programming interfaces. Users interact with operating systems through Command Line Interfaces (CLIs) or Graphical User Interfaces known as GUIs. In short, operating system enables user interaction with computer systems by acting as an interface between users or application programs and the computer hardware. Here is an overview of the different types of operating systems.

Real-time Operating System: It is a multitasking operating system that aims at executing real-time applications. Real-time operating systems often use specialized scheduling algorithms so that they can achieve a deterministic nature of behavior. The main object of real-time operating systems is their quick and predictable response to events. They either have an event-driven or a time-sharing design. An event-driven system switches between tasks based of their priorities while time-sharing operating systems switch tasks based on clock interrupts.

Multi-user and Single-user Operating Systems: The operating systems of this type allow a multiple users to access a computer system concurrently. Time-sharing system can be classified as multi-user systems as they enable a multiple user access to a computer through the sharing of time. Single-user operating systems, as opposed to a multi-user operating system, are usable by a single user at a time. Being able to have multiple accounts on a Windows operating system does not make it a multi-user system. Rather, only the network administrator is the real user. But for a Unix-like operating system, it is possible for two users to login at a time and this capability of the OS makes it a multi-user operating system.

Multi-tasking and Single-tasking Operating Systems: When a single program is allowed to run at a time, the system is grouped under a single-tasking system, while in case the operating system allows the execution of multiple tasks at one time, it is classified as a multi-tasking operating system. Multi-tasking can be of two types namely, pre-emptive or co-operative. In pre-emptive multitasking, the operating system slices the CPU time and dedicates one slot to each of the programs. Unix-like operating systems such as Solaris and Linux support pre-emptive multitasking. Cooperative multitasking is achieved by relying on each process to give time to the other processes in a defined manner. MS Windows prior to Windows 95 used to support cooperative multitasking.

Distributed Operating System: An operating system that manages a group of independent computers and makes them appear to be a single computer is known as a distributed operating system. The development of networked computers that could be linked and communicate with each other, gave rise to distributed computing. Distributed computations are carried out on more than one machine. When computers in a group work in cooperation, they make a distributed system.

Embedded System: The operating systems designed for being used in embedded computer systems are known as embedded operating systems. They are designed to operate on small machines like PDAs with less autonomy. They are able to operate with a limited number of resources. They are very compact and extremely efficient by design. Windows CE, FreeBSD and Minix 3 are some examples of embedded operating systems.

The operating systems thus contribute to the simplification of the human interaction with the computer hardware. They are responsible for linking application programs with the hardware, thus achieving an easy user access to the computers.

By Manali Oak

READ MORE - Different Types of Operating Systems

Why to Create a Recovery Disk?

Which are the main advantages to create a boot restore disk? Save your time by preparing an image of your operating system for emergency situations.

A Restore Disk is no doubt among the necessary tools that you simply will need to have if you a poses computer. If you buy a computer from your store it comes pre-installed with an Operating System, usually Windows. It comes accompanied which includes a Boot Disk which enables you to recover your original Windows OS in case of a failure.

Operating Systems like Windows become very slow in time. Just the usage of this system like {net surfing|internet browsing|, can damage your registries by allowing to certain websites to install specific content, plug-ins and software. If they are not present you can’t do your job, so that you don’t possess a choice. There are so much of software programs these days that you must install on a newly installed Windows to benefit from it, no speaking of device drivers, windows updates and patches, that a full installation of Windows up to date can take a long time, a minimum a couple of hours. To not mention specific settings and profile information used everyday.

That’s why you should have a back-up solution, a sort of back-up of the Operating System. This can save you lot of your time needed by a fresh install of Windows|This will save your efforts and energy of a new Windows installation}. You can have all your data and all your settings back in several minutes updated at the time when you decided to create a copy of the Windows partition. You don’t need special computer skills for this procedure. Another benefit is that it can be realized on all Windows distributions (95, 96, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, NT).

There are special accessories for this operation like Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image. They may be both simple, fast, effective and no cost. What they do ? They create a copy of your desired partition, in our case C:\ partition (if we presume the Windows installation is on C:\). This is an image file with all the files contained on that system partition: windows file system, profile files, device drivers and installed software. All files are copied on that ghost image. So, a recommendation prior to make this recovery disk would be to proper install Windows with all its drivers, service packs if it’s the case, network configuration, software that you simply use and personal user configuration. Just before you make a clone of the Operating System I advise you to make use of the computer for a while, until you possess the full installation and configuration you need day by day. At that time just install Norton Ghost or Acronis. Follow the steps (they have help menu) for creating a boot floppy disk or CD/DVD. Boot from them and do the copy of your Windows partition to an image to a different disk partition. Reboot Windows from hard disk and save that image in a DVDor somewhere safe.

In time when your Windows OS will have errors, it will be slow, having problems on boot or even just fail to boot, you simply boot with the floppy/CD Norton Ghost created disk and you choose to restore your previously created image for the OS which contains the Windows operating system itself.

Create Recovery Disk
Make recovery disk

By Brandon Seagal

READ MORE - Why to Create a Recovery Disk?

Linux vs. Windows

Operating system or OS is system software that manages and controls the computer resources and gives users with an interface used to access these resources. OS can be found for almost every device that is made with ICs like PC, Internet Servers, portable music players, cell phones, digital cameras and video games. There are five most popular computer operating systems including Windows, Linux, UNIX, Mac and Novell. Among these Windows and Linux are the most widely used and most popular operating systems.

But both these operating systems, Windows and Linux, are completely different in technology, interface and reliability. The main differences between Windows and Linux are as follows:

1. Linux is an open source operating system whereas Windows is a closed source operating system. You can reproduce and copy the Linux codes at very low cost but not of windows.

2. Windows is very costly as compared to Linux. Linux is completely free operating system. But both these operating systems are very expensive to maintain.

3. Linux is more reliable operating system as compared to Windows. Windows creates several hidden problems that can lead to system failure. Time pressure for development of the publicized closed source product to fulfill a sales target is also a thought to play a big role in the number of errors.

Reliability is the major problem with windows operating system. It causes hidden errors that can lead to system failure and ultimately can cause data loss.

Data loss is one of the biggest problems for computer users where he/she losses all of the important data stored on computer that can lead their business to destroy. In these situations, it becomes very important to recover these data.

You can recover your lost data with the help of software. Data recovery software can be different for different operating systems. For Windows operating system, these software are known as windows data recovery software. These are the hard drive data recovery software that can help you in recovering all of your lost data from computer hard drive no matter what is the reason of data loss.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is robust and powerful data recovery software that you can use in all possible cases of data loss from windows computer. This data recovery software uses advanced scanning algorithms to search and locate the lost data and recover them in the original format. This software also works as Partition recovery software and can recover the lost or missing windows hard drive partitions based on FAT and NTFS file system.

Stellar Phoenix Windows data recovery software is compatible with all file versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 98, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista.

By Andrew Watson

READ MORE - Linux vs. Windows