Trick And Tips Earn Internet: Computer Tips

How to Make Laptop Battery Last Longer

11:43 PM

If you want to learn how to make your laptop battery last longer then you can do this without spending any money. Many people who want learn how to make their laptop battery last longer are not usually doing anything that is too much on the CPU. That means that the laptop is simply wasting energy being fast when it doesn't really need to. There are features that can be used in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 to balance this but they are not always as dependable as you would think when it comes to making your laptop battery last longer.

If you want get the most out of your laptop battery then you will have to use the laptop BIOS settings to help you. You will need to access this menu as soon as you power up your laptop. That means you will need to figure out which button your laptop responds to before Windows starts up. This button is usually ESC, F1, F2, or DEL. Of course, this button can be different from those, but those are the most common.

In the laptop BIOS settings you can change the settings for the operation of the CPU. Instead of allow the CPU to switch to and from speeds, you can simply force the CPU to be always low. In most cases, that is more than enough to do things other than play video games. This will greatly increase laptop CPU battery performance. The laptop CPU is usually the part of the laptop that drains the most energy so the laptop CPU battery usage is almost always a major part of the laptop battery life. Aside with helping with laptop battery usage, this will also increase the life of the laptop itself since it will also be operating at a much lower temperature than normal.

Another thing that you can do in the laptop BIOS settings is force the screen brightness to be low even when the AC adapter is plugged in. Any type of light that bright is assured to drain a lot of energy regardless if it is on a laptop or not so that is a great way to prolong laptop battery life. You can also disable error beeping, remove unnecessary boot devices, and disable any device that you know that you are going to use anytime soon to prolong laptop life. Individually, those things are minute but they add up when you perform all of them at once. Need more laptop caring tips? Bestprogramminglaptop.com is a good resource to know more about Laptop battery caring tips.

What do you do to ensure long lasting for your laptop battery? Let me know in the comment section.

Computer Tips

What You Should Know Before Taking Your PC to a Computer Repair Shop

6:52 AM

We have all been there. You finally carve out some time to work on that project, to locate and e-mail some files, or just to browse the internet in order to conduct some research into a possible purchase. But you can’t. Your PC simply will not cooperate. It fights you at every turn. You go right, it goes left. You end up chasing your machine around in circles until, finally, you are left just staring at a circling wait icon, a stack of error dialog boxes, or worse even, a blank screen. The next step seems to be crawling under your desk and fighting the dust bunnies to unplug dozens of cables before packing the whole thing up to be taken to an expert. Stop. That might not be necessary. These are the things you need to know before taking your PC to a computer repair shop.

Five Easy Fixes You Can Do at Home Before Paying for Computer Repair

Before you spend time, energy, and money, sending your computer out, try a few easy fixes. These do not require any technical expertise, so don’t worry.

Reboot Your Computer - Hitting Control+Alt+Delete will bring up your start screen and present you with a few options. Select power off. Wait a few minutes and turn the machine back on. Often, rebooting will shut down competing processes and applications causing your issue.
System Updates - If you have not been great about allowing updates to your computer to download, it may be running slower than normal, or not at all. Make sure all system updates are installed before panicking and calling for repair. Find your updates by locating "settings" on your home screen and then selecting "updates". This can take some time, but it is well worth it.
Check Your Internet Connection - Often, slow speeds are caused by unstable or poor wi-fi connections. This is not your PC's fault. Blame your router, modem and ISP (internet service provider) instead. Power down your router and modem for a few minutes and then start them back up. Wait for the blinking light sequences to finish and then check your performance.
Check for Malicious Software (Viruses) - We all know that the internet is swarming with bits of software designed to take over your computer and ruin your life. Did you know that your machine probably has a very capable defense system against this already installed? Locate "settings" on your home screen and then select "security". The pre-installed anti-virus software provided with major operating systems is really quite good. Run a full scan and see what is identified. The software will quarantine anything suspicious and delete the malware upon your request.
Clean Your Machine - Most of us take great care of our keyboard and monitor. Those are the things guests see. But what about inside your case? Computers generate heat. To cool the electronic parts air flow is created through a series of fans and vents. If those vents become clogged your machine will run very hot and begin to work more slowly before eventually just dying altogether. The case can usually be opened by removing two or three screws. Carefully vacuum all of the dust you find. Your machine will breathe more easily and perform better when needed.

Maintenance is Important

These are five easy steps you can take before taking your PC to a computer repair shop. Most likely, one of them will fix your problem, saving you money and time. The key is to remember that like a car or any other complicated machine, computers require maintenance to continue to run as quickly as the day they were purchased. Fortunately, this maintenance is free and easy to do.

This was a guest post by Garrett Tate of Don’t Panic IT Solutions - www.dontpanicit.com

Computer Tips

5 Tips to Speed up Your Windows 10 on Old PC

10:18 AM

With an increasing number of Windows users upgrading their OS to Windows 10, it is crucial for them to know how to optimize their operating systems. Many users installed or upgraded Windows 10 on their current aged laptops or desktops, which is likely to affect the performance of running Windows 10. Old computers which come with old drive are able to perform Windows 10, yet you may encounter slow running speed especially when you launch some certain programs which with big cache files.

Purchase new PC would be an acceptable solution, but it isn’t suitable for every Windows user. More attention should be paid to optimizing existing PC. Follow these five tips below to speed up your Windows 10 now.

#1. Clean Windows.old folder

You will find a folder named Windows.old in C drive after upgrading. If you confirm that you will use Windows 10 for ever, then delete this folder. Right click C drive and select Properties. Then click Disk Cleanup.

#2. Close Login password

Windows 10 sets up password for system security, nevertheless it prolong desktop loading time. You can change this setting to save loading time. If your PC could be accessed by others, then think twice.

Press Windows key + R at the same time to open Run box. Type netplwiz and hit Enter. Uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer box, and click Apply. It will ask you to type password in the pop-up window to confirm this operation.

#3. Close IPv6

IPv6 is the abbreviation of Internet Protocol Version 6, which hasn’t been popularized in the world. This protocol started since 2012, but its penetration is less than 30 % after 4 yeas’ development. This is not saying IPv6 is not good enough, but its development is closely linked with state policy. Anyway, to open IPv6 will lengthen the time of connecting network and close it won’t affect the use of network since we still have IPv4.

Go Start -> Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network Connections. Double click Ethernet0, click Properties, and then uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) box.

#4. Close unnecessary Visual Effects

Visual Effects in Windows 10 could improve user experience, but it is not necessary on PC with old drives. Close it to reduce loading time.

Double click This PC on the desktop, and click System properties -> Advanced system settings -> Settings. Uncheck Fade out menu items after clicking box.

#5. Disable Virtual Memory

To disable Virtual Memory in Windows 10 could reduce reading and writing times to hard disk. Besides, local memory has faster data transfer speed than virtual memory. If your hard drive holds enough capacity, just disable this setting.

Follow the steps in Tip #4 to Settings. Click Advanced next to Visual Effects, and click Change. Then uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives box and pitch on No paging file and click Set.

With these 5 tips, you can speed up your Windows 10 on PC with old drives and running Windows 10 at better experience. Many users also deal with Windows 10 slow speed issue using another solution, upgrade HDD with SSD or new hard drive. But you need to choose the right software while clone boot drive to SSD.

Computer Tips

Amazing Tips to Speed up your Slow Mac

6:56 AM

Over the years, the Macs have built the formidable reputation that they never slow down and run forever, never crash. However, the fact is that Macs also slow down and they also crash. However, they crash differently. Virus attacks also happen to Mac.

Free solutions are not better solution for this problem. Upgrading system hardware and adding RAM are always better options. There can be some tips in in order to speed up Mac. These are discussed below:

Deletion of all Unused Programs

Uninstallation of the app on the Mac and the dragging off the files from the application folder are not similar to the same extent. The support files of the application remain on the system and we need the services of the Utility called AppCleaner, which helps to locate these files and then eventually remove them.

Removal of the Startup Items

The programmers are always prioritizing the programs over any of the apps. Therefore, a brilliant idea will be to add the piece of code to the startup items. If there are enough of these programs, the system will be slowed down as a result. We need to remove these with the following steps:

System preferences -> Accounts- > Login items

The app is highlighted and the minus button is clicked, at the bottom of the list. The programs can still be used, but when it is needed.

Getting rid of the unwanted

There are lots of extra built-ins in Mac to speed up Mac. These are in unspoken languages and compatibility files for the old Mac architecture. Monolingual will ensure that all these additional languages are removed and the support for the older hardware. If the user is running the Intel Mac and are not using any older programs, then the support for PowerPC and the ARM can be withdrawn. The OS X install disk is required to get back, any of the required language or architecture, at a later time.

Shutting down of unwanted Apps

Shutting down the unwanted apps will ensure that they consume less memory and less CPU space. Right-click can be used on the programs in the Dock and then Quit chosen. Another option is pressing the Command-Tab for the App Switcher and then Command-Q is used for quitting the unused programs.

The Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder can show all the running processes on the Mac System.

On pressing the CPU button, the “%CPU” column can give a list of all programs by their CPU usage. We can also see the network, memory and the disk, as used by the different processes.

Deep Cleaning

Disk Utility always makes the life of the Mac user easier. Onyx is more robust and detailed. The miscellaneous junk that is accumulated on the Mac can be removed with the help of this Utility. The routine maintenance activity can be done with the help of this Utility. Other activities like verification of the startup disks for correcting the file system errors and finding hidden tweaks are also done by this Utility.

The Widgets

The cool widgets are because of the dashboard in Apple. These small and little apps for the weather forecasting and the stock prices are not only easy but also convenient. More are the number of widgets, running in the background; more resources are given by the OS X. We must take care, that unnecessary widgets are not kept open, particularly when they require upgrade on a constant basis.

Preference Panes

The custom items are being displayed in the preference panes and this consumes CPU resources. The item should be removed, if not needed.

Author Bio:

Donald Kepler loves to write awesome tips & trick for optimizing Mac to improve the speed of Mac OS X performance. Follow him on Google+ and Twitter.

Computer Tips

How To Speed Up Windows 8

9:00 AM

Computers are usually bought in top notch conditions bringing maximum performance to their users when they are new. Most users ignore the fact that their computer is bound to get slower by the day. The majority of computer users disregard proper maintenance as required. Hence, their computers gradually decline in performance. Windows newest Operating System, Windows 8 has slowly grown as it takes up the market share. Step by step procedures have been written down to ensure computer users receive the best from their money over time.

1. Remove programs from startup

When programs are installed, a shortcut is created in the startup. This enables services from the program to be launched once a computer is booted. With time, the computer has many services set to be running on startup. This consumes the primary memory of the computer and exhausts the processor as unused programs are also in operation. The following steps are used to remove unwanted programs from the startup and ensure the computer achieves required speeds in booting and its operations.

Open the task manager.

Click on Startup tab. A list of the programs running at startup is displayed.

Right click on a program and select disable. On the status column, it should now show disabled.

2. Manage computer space

Unwanted files accumulate over time and take up disk space in computers. Once the primary partition holding the operating system is congested, the computers speeds go down tremendously. Removing unwanted files from the recycle bin, caches and cookies formed by browsers and other temporary files can all be done an application incorporated in windows through following the following steps;

Open disk cleanup.

Select drive to work on then select ok.

Select file types to be deleted then ok.

A message appears. Select delete files.

3. Hard disk defragmentation

Data saved in computers is stored in forms of files. These files are kept as data blocks in the computer’s hard disk. The continuous addition and deletion of files leaves huge gaps in between the data blocks created. The computer then gets hard time accessing data in the hard disk. Files that should be concurrent for easy access but are separate are said to be fragmented. To keep data in an organized format, the hard disks need to be regularly defragmented. The following steps are taken in implementing this.

Open Computer. The hard disks present are displayed.

Right click on any drive and select properties.

Click on Tools tab.

Select Optimize. A list of all active drives is shown.

Select required drive and click on optimize.

4. Computer graphics

Computers with low RAM require their graphics to be allocated minimum space so that other important features can be worked on. The following steps are used in effecting this.

Click on start and type performance information and tools. It will appear under settings.

Click it and select adjust visual effects.

You can then select what you require by clicking on the checkboxes. For critical situations, adjusting for best performance is recommended.

5. Uninstall unused programs

There are many programs that users install by visiting internet sites and making downloads. These programs are installed and consume space in the computer. Computer users are advised to keep only the programs they use and remove unused programs. In order to uninstall a program, a user has to;

Click on control panel.

Ensure the view is set to category view and click on uninstall a program.

Go through installed programs and click uninstall on those unused programs to remove them completely.

6. Cleaning up of the computer

Computers are easily affected by unwanted programs that include Viruses, Worms and Trojans. Getting the right antivirus solution is the best solution. Windows 8 however comes preinstalled with windows defender which can be updated regularly to prevent from attacks from malware programs.

With the above solutions, a computers performance is bound to be at its best. Upgrading of computer components such as the RAM, processor and hard disk can also be considered.

Author Bio:

The Author is a professional writer with grown interests in computer interaction to help novices make the best of their computers. He writes for Essay Jedi.

Computer Tips

How to Safeguard Your USB Drive - 10 Easy Steps!

8:33 AM

USB drives are a fantastic way to share information from computer-to-computer. While many people use email to send documents, USB drives can take just about anything that your computer has and move it to another system with minimal effort. Plus, USB drives can be used to share information without actually putting it in someone’s possession. Doing so can keep sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands. If you have a USB drive, though, there are still extra measures you should take to secure its contents. Continue reading for 10 easy steps that you can take to safeguard your USB drive.

Proper Password Management Protects Your USB Drive

First, let’s make sure that if anyone gets a hold of your USB drive, they won’t be able to use it.

Insert your USB drive into your computer.
Find the USB drive in your computer’s “Devices with Removable Storage” section or similar area.
Right click on it and choose, “Turn on Bitlocker.”
Once you choose this, Wizard will open up, and you’ll see the option to “use a password to unlock the drive.”
Type in the password that you would like to use for your USB drive and click next.
You’ll be asked how you’d like to “back up Recovery Keys.” Simply choose from the menu.
Next, you’ll be asked to confirm whether or not your USB drive is already being used or if it’s brand new.

Encrypt Your USB Drive

Now you’ll want to encrypt the information that is found on your USB drive. This is a further measure that will make sure that your drive is protected from prying eyes, no matter how badly they want your information. After the above 7 steps, Wizard will ask you how much of your drive you’d like to encrypt.

You’ll be given the option to encrypt the entire drive, which is best for those that are already in use, or just the used disc space, which is preferable for a new drive. The former option will take longer.
After you make your choice, the encryption process will start.
When the encryption process is complete, you can remove your USB drive, confident that its contents are now safe.

Going forward, whenever anyone wants to use the USB drive, they’ll be prompted to enter your password first. You can follow the same steps to change the password, as well, if you should so choose.

Keep in mind it’s also important to store your USB drive in a safe place at all times. Even if someone doesn’t have your password, possessing your USB drive can still be damaging, as you no longer have access to the data, either. If the USB drive contains information related to your company, check with human resources or your management. There are often official guidelines specific to securing USB drives that carry company data.

While USB drives are extremely convenient, they can easily expose you to information leaks if not controlled properly. Maintain your USB drive in a secure place at all times, and use the above 10 steps to encrypt the information and protect it with a password.

Source:
http://geekofreak.com/2013/03/encrypt-and-password-protect-your-usb.html

Computer Tips

7 Easy Ways to Restore Your Computer’s Health

7:58 AM

Is your PC under par? Does it take longer to log on and load websites then it used to? Are your programs crashing more often then Evil Knieval used to?

If the answers yes to all of these questions, then it’s time to give your computer a new lease of life. But we’re not talking drastic measures like buying a new one, as there are a few fixes you can do yourself (or with the help of an expert) that will restore your computer to its former glory. Here’s how you can perk up your PC.

1. Install tune-up software

The quickest and easiest way to restore your PC to health is to install a free registry cleaner that’ll tune things up. In fact, some programs won’t just return your computer to its regular speed; they’ll even turbo-charge it for you so you’ll have a boost of power when you need it the most.

As well as running at normal speed, your system will crash less and have more disk space available. You’ll probably even notice improvements in battery life too.

2. Back up your computer

Before you carry out any maintenance or make any changes to how your computer works, back it up first. Backing up is when you create a copy of your current system onto an external device or disk, such as an external hard drive or a writable DVD or CD.

As well as backing up before making any changes to your system, it’s wise to regularly make a copy of your files. After all, some of the information on your computer, like family photos, may be impossible to replace if it was deleted. After you’ve backed up, you can then remove any large files that you don’t use regularly (like mp3 files or high-res images), this should help free some disk space and speed up your system.

3. Uninstall programs you no longer use

Another easy way to free up some space on your hard disk is to uninstall programs that are out of date or that you never use. This could include pre-installed software or trial versions of programs you no longer use. If you browse online with Chrome or Firefox you might also consider removing Internet Explorer too.

To check for programs you don’t need, firstly click on the Start button and choose Programs and Features. Google any program names that you don’t recognise. After all, you don’t want to delete anything that’s vital for running the system. Removing the icon from your desktop does not delete the program. You’ll need to uninstall it via the Programs and Features menu you navigated to above.

4. Clean up your hard disk

Deleting large files you’ve backed up and programs you don’t use will provide you with extra space on your hard disk, but you can probably clear even more junk than that. Cached and temporary files, for example, will also be using up valuable chunks of memory.

Fortunately there is a program already installed on your PC that can clear these for you. Disk Cleanup will search your drive for unwanted data and then either remove it, or simply identify it so you can decide whether or not to get rid of it. If you use your computer a lot, it’s a good idea to run Disk Cleanup regularly. Set it as a weekly scheduled task and prevent your computer from slowing down drastically again in the future.

5. Update your software

Older versions of software or operating systems will make your computer run slower as additional security fixes (often called patches) and add-ons reduce computing speed. Updating to newer versions should help to improve the speed of your PC, as well as the security of your set-up too.

If you’re running Office 2003 or Windows XP, then you should definitely consider upgrading to a newer version. From 8th April 2014, these programs will no longer be supported by Microsoft, leaving users more open to risks from hackers than before.

6. Scan you computer for viruses

Viruses and malware (malicious software) may well be to blame if your computer’s running slowly or performing strangely. As well as preventing your computer from working as normal, they could be gathering your information or even planning to steal your identity.

Running anti-virus software will not only identify and get rid of any viruses you’ve managed to pick up; it’ll also help to keep your computer clean in the future. So both your computer and the information on it will be safe from harm.

7. Defrag and check for disk errors

If you’ve done all of the above and your computer’s still not performing as it should, then it may be necessary to defrag the hard drive and then check it for disk errors. Both of these tasks are slightly more complicated however, and you’re only advised to carry them out if you’re a competent PC trouble-shooter. If you’re not, then this is the time to call in the experts.

Image Credit: Boians Cho Joo Young

Computer Tips

Useful Tools for PC Diagnostics

11:33 PM

Computers have gone a long way from being glorified calculators. Most of us these days (including casual users) can't live without our computers, be it a PC, a laptop or even a tablet. And even though many have shifted to mobile forms of computer technologies, some of still remain loyal to our good old desktops.

As technologies develop and computers become much more reliable with each passing generation, we get the sense that we don't need to put so much energy and effort into the hardware and software maintenance of our beloved machines. Even though that's true to some degree, it's still a good idea to have diagnostics tools at your disposal at all times so you can always know what's going on inside your box. Sometimes things break down unexpectedly and you want to be prepared for such dire occasions. If you don't want to leave anything to chance, then I have some suggestions.

SIW

SIW gives you an incredibly detailed description of what's going on inside your computer. You can check your timings, how well your memory is running, what applications are loading at start-up and how long it takes for them launch the .dll files at autorun and much more. If you want to know exactly what's going on inside your PC, then this is the perfect program for you. It's very intuitive and easy to use, so even if you're not the biggest enthusiast, you should have no problem taking a sneak peak behind the curtains of your computer.

Hiren's BootCD

If you have to use LiveCD to resolve a situation, you know that you have a serious problem. Hiren's BootCD can help you with that, though, because it's an excellent tool with lots of functions and different diagnostics. One of the things that might scare newer users is the text-based interface, but you shouldn't worry about it because it's really easy to use, even though it's DOS-based. It's a Swiss-army knife of diagnostics so if you can't find the solutions using Hiren's BootCD then it might be a time to throw in the towel, cough up the big bucks and get a new one.

A note: Even though it's a great tool, Hiren's BootCD is compiled using older versions of paid software so the legal status isn't exactly clear. That's not to say that you will be arrested for using it, but you should be warned that the software doesn't use free-ware alone.

Ubuntu Live CD

When we talk about diagnostics, we rarely think about a Linux Live CD but it is rather effective when the situation demands it. Ubuntu's user-friendly interface will help you tackle many challenges in the terms of computer malfunction. You can save some of your data if the situation is really bad; you can test your memory; check for viruses and other useful tasks along the way. The best part is that your data will not be in any danger while you're using the Live CD. You can even check the operating system out and see if you like it.

UBCD4Win

Well, let's be fair – Linux isn't for everyone. If you're a long-term Windows user, you probably won't feel comfortable using Ubuntu. This is where UBCD4Win comes in. It's Windows based, doesn't require you to know your way around DOS and enables you to perform a wide plethora of diagnostics without a hitch.

Those are your main go-to diagnostic tools you can use. Each of them has its merits and downside but they are all convenient and will all do a great job in helping you solve your problems.
Image Credit: cooldesign

Author Bio:
As a technician at http://www.citycleaners.org.uk/deep-cleaning-london.html, Rose has a lot of experience with technologies and gadgets.

Computer Tips

How To Increase The Internet Speed in PC

11:35 PM

Are you slaving yourself to that PC in exchange of a completed coursework? Or are you catching after an oncoming deadline? The more urgent the nature of work, the higher your expectations is for that internet connection.

And when it fails to deliver, there’s no telling how worse it could be.

The slow net scenario

Now, at an era largely characterised by instant gratification, the sight of a loading icon – the circling arrow or the bar of green – could inspire automatic groans. Nobody wants them, unless this slow net thing is epidemic in your neighbourhood.

What are the causes of this slow internet connection? About.com’s “Internet for Beginners” has identified at least thirteen (13) causes.

Poor hardware

Incorrect router configuration

Leeching internet users

Un-upgraded NIC

Spyware/malware infection

Downloads

ISP’s routing signals

Outdated DNS

Full browser memory cache

Devices disrupt signals

Old PC

Open windows

Unattended dialog box

Take keen note these 13 represents the different possibilities. These may or may not necessarily disrupt bandwidth connection; it is up to you (dear user) to carefully weigh these things. The key to verifying it is by careful observation and simple logic (ie, is the connection faster with a new DNS, or not?).

Faster than energy bunnies

There are many ways of increasing your internet connection's speed. The best way to do it is to start with diagnosis. See through those aforementioned causes and learn which among those are causing your internet speed to drop.

Through a determined cause, you are able to appropriate a targeted solution. For instance, if the problem is caused by poor hardware, then you can purchase a newer and better model. If it’s about the incorrect router configuration, try to correct it or tap your friendly IT expert to do the works.

Or if the culprit of the internet snail-pace is your leeching neighbours (most likely the case for Wi-Fi connections), strengthen your connection’s password and utilise other security features. Infections, on the other hand, could be fixed through stringent scanning software.

Obviously, the nature of addressing your internet connection speed has something to do with the basics: consistent upgrades and investment in clearing ups. All of these serve to speed up that connection, probably faster than the proverbial energy bunnies.

Tech buddies

Apart from those, don’t skimp on tech savvy relationships. Try to foster a friendly (and not hostile) bond with that tech – the ones from the hardware distributor, the internet connection provider, the tech support team, and so on.

They’re your key to the better world of lightning speed connection. And though you might approach them for professional service, they would be willing to extend support if you’re consistently nice to them.

Awakened consciousness

Lastly, to increase the speed of your internet connection, try not to do things that could disrupt it. Avoid these disruptive things if it can be helped. And if the PC or any other device is shared among the members of the family, encourage them to perform the same measures.
Image Credit: ddpavumba

Author Bio:

Manuella Theissen works as a tech support for a widely recognised hardware brand. If not busy with clients, or writing stuff, Manuella can be observed at the local community service office, as she does code-writing tutorials for free.

Computer Tips

How Dirty is Your Keyboard

9:31 AM

I have been working in an office for the better part of ten years now; and one thing that I know for sure is that if my keyboard could talk, the stories it would tell will scare even the most die-hard Stephen King fan. I am not a very social person you see, and the one thing I really like to do is to get lunch and eat it right here, on my desk. Now that may be convenient for me, but as you may have already guessed, most of the food falls directly on my keyboard, behind the desk and on my chair. I must have eaten at least 90% of my meals this way, imagine all the food residue lying everywhere. If you are like me, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Just turn your own keyboard upside down and start shaking it like a toaster. Right off the bat, you will see remnants of your last 5 meals, plus some older ones. I know that this concept might not be appealing to you, but trust me when I say that if you make a much deeper analysis using some modern forensic equipment, you can even trace the first meal you ever had in front of that computer. But here is where the fun part begins. If you zoom even further, using a microscope for example, the horrors you are going to see will make you want to burn your keyboard and the rest of your office equipment.

Why is the Keyboard Dirty

For one, you keyboard doesn't have any protective coating. Like a typewriter, it is just a set of buttons hooked to a printer (graphic interface). The crevices between the keys are more than enough to permit whatever you are eating to fall inside your keyboard. This is not a matter of being 'hygienic' or anything like that, because even if you are very, very careful not to drop anything between the keys, you keyboard would still be dirty. I don't know how this happens, but your keyboard is basically one big magnet for everything nasty and unpleasant.

One more thing people neglect is their own greasy hands. I know how this sounds, but hear me out. Our hands and fingers secrete oils, and guess where those oils end up on? The keys of our keyboards, of course. If you look very carefully, you can actually make out which button your are using the most, just by the amount of greasy fingerprints on each one. Finger grease is the perfect medium on which bacteria thrive and reproduce.

Cleaning the keyboard

Now that we have established that your keyboard is very, very dirty, it is time to talk about some cleaning issues (yes, you will have to clean it now that you know how dirty it is). If it was up to me I would just buy a new keyboard every three months or so, but because most people can't do that, let us talk about actually cleaning our keyboard. The procedure itself is simplicity itself (in theory). You remove all the keys, you shake well, then put the keys back in their original order. I have done this several times now, (half the time ending in complete and total disaster).

Author Bio:

Rose Finchley works as a manager of http://www.cleancarpetlondon.com/. She loves to write and give advices about cleaning.

Computer Tips

How to Resolve Connectivity Issues in Windows 8

10:15 AM

Sometimes it isn't always clear what is wrong with your computer when you can't connect to the internet, and Windows can be a little less than helpful by offering to search the internet to find a solution (who wouldn't want to know what genius added that option to the connectivity troubleshooting page?). However, in most cases a little bit of understanding as to what your computer is actually trying to tell you can help you to solve the problem; or at the very least identify the problem so that you know who needs to solve it.

There are three primary issues that could be causing your problems; your internet service provider, your connection hardware (hub, modem, router, Ethernet cable etc.) or your computer itself. Identifying where the problem is located is the first step, so try a little self-diagnosis first. This is particularly import with Windows 8, as many have experienced problems with the connectivity on this operating system and sometimes it is just a case of the software having a hiccup.

Step One

Start by clicking the wireless icon one desktop mode, this will bring up the side panel with all of your available internet connections. But the computer into airplane mode and leave for a few minutes, then turn off airplane mode and try connecting again. You may find that it takes a few minutes to establish the connection this time, but it might suddenly work.

This can be a problem with your ISP as much as your computer and is worth mentioning to them. Some Virgin Media packages for example have connectivity issues dealing with Windows 8 and recent operating Apple operating systems (such as iOS7).

Step Two

If it still isn't working try connecting to your internet through an Ethernet cable rather than using wireless internet. If you are able to connect and use the internet when hardwired there may be a problem with your modem or with the wireless adaptor within your computer. Most internet service providers will be happy enough to come out and replace your wireless modem, after testing with a replacement you should know whether it is the fault of the modem or the computer. If it is your computer you may need to have the wireless adaptor replaced.

Step Three

Try connecting to a different internet connection. Ask a neighbour if you can try connecting to their internet briefly to test your connection. If your problem connecting is on a laptop you can try connecting it at a friend’s house. This should give you a very clear indication as to whether your device is at fault or your internet connection. If your computer does connect to another wireless connection without a problem then it is most certainly your internet (which was mostly likely to be the case if Ethernet didn't work).

Resolution for Internet Fault

It is possible that the connection between your internet modem and phone socket is the problem, perhaps a new filter is needed or there is damage. However this is unlikely to happen suddenly for no apparent reason. The only way you can be sure of resolving the problem is to call your internet service provider for technical support. Either there is a fault with their service, which they can sometimes resolve remotely (perhaps your internet service was accidentally cancelled or otherwise altered in a way that caused a problem) or they will send a technician out to identify the cause of this problem.

Resolution for Computer / Laptop Problem

If the problem was with your wireless adaptor then you should be sure to have it replaced. However, if you were unable to connect to the internet using Ethernet both at home and at another location where the internet connection is known to be working then the fault could be something more serious with your device. Start by ensuring it is not in airplane mode, then run an anti-virus scan. Some viruses can have terrible impacts on your computer, including the disabling of your internet access; however this is nothing an up to date anti-virus can't deal with.

If you can't find a software problem and running the trouble shooting window hasn't helped you identify a problem then it is possible that you have just been incredibly unlucky and managed to damage your Ethernet port and wireless adaptor at the same time (did you perhaps drop the device onto concrete recently? Either way it is best to take it to the manufacturer and explain the problem – they should be able to help.

Note for laptop users – Some laptops have a switch on the side or bottom somewhere that will turn off the internet access. Look for this and or check the manual to identify whether or not your laptop has one and check it is turned on before taking it back to the manufacturer to report it as faulty.

Other issues

Fortunately, although Windows 8 can be a little prone to a few connectivity issues, it is very easy to use and the problems are fairly simple to resolve. Though these fixes will probably only work if you were not experiencing connectivity issues prior to needing resolutions for them. In other words; if you're having connectivity issues from the off there is a good chance you actually just set your internet connection up incorrectly, check your usernames and passwords are all correct and go through the manual while setting everything up. They all come with step by step instructions so it shouldn't be too difficult to find what you did wrong and fix it.

If your wireless internet is running slowly and/or dropping out frequently you may be too far from your wireless modem. Try moving the device and modem closer together or purchasing a wireless extender.

Image Credit: rajcreationzs

Author Bio:

Kate Critchlow is a writer passionate about technology, both new and old loving and writing about everything from web development to dial-up.

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