Wednesday, December 31, 2008
counter strike
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Internet firewall
Function
A firewall is a dedicated appliance, or software running on another computer, which inspects network traffic passing through it, and denies or permits passage based on a set of rules.
A firewall's basic task is to regulate some of the flow of traffic between computer networks of different trust levels. Typical examples are the Internet which is a zone with no trust and an internal network which is a zone of higher trust. A zone with an intermediate trust level, situated between the Internet and a trusted internal network, is often referred to as a "perimeter network" or Demilitarized zone (DMZ).
A firewall's function within a network is similar to physical firewalls with fire doors in building construction. In the former case, it is used to prevent network intrusion to the private network. In the latter case, it is intended to contain and delay structural fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Without proper configuration, a firewall can often become worthless. Standard security practices dictate a "default-deny" firewall ruleset, in which the only network connections which are allowed are the ones that have been explicitly allowed. Unfortunately, such a configuration requires detailed understanding of the network applications and endpoints required for the organization's day-to-day operation. Many businesses lack such understanding, and therefore implement a "default-allow" ruleset, in which all traffic is allowed unless it has been specifically blocked. This configuration makes inadvertent network connections and system compromise much more likely.
internet connection is slow
No matter how fast your Internet connection is, there are times when things will slow down to a crawl. This article will help you sort out what kinds of things can go wrong, learn what you can do about them, and discover how to get the most from your Internet connection.
The type of connection you have makes a difference
The type of Internet connection you use is the most important factor in determining your connection speed. The three most common ways to connect to the Internet from home are dial-up, DSL, and cable. If you have a choice, cable is usually the fastest, but both DSL and cable are faster than dial-up.
If you use a dial-up connection, there are a couple of good ways to optimize your Internet speed. First, use the fastest modem you can. The fastest modem you can use will send and receive information at a rate of 56 kilobits per second (Kbps). You won't get a full 56 Kbps speed most of the time, but with a good phone line, you should approach at least 45-50 Kbps.
Second, make sure that your phone line is in good condition. If the telephone wiring in your home or business is old or deteriorating, you might be picking up stray signals or cross talk from other phone lines. These problems will slow your Internet connection because the modem will have to send the same information over and over until it is transmitted without interruption. Check your telephone wires to be sure they are not damaged, frayed, or twisted around power or other telephone cables. If you notice crackling in your phones, you might want to contact your phone provider to have them check the lines inside and outside your home to make sure they are in good condition.
My excursion
I have known others that owned the V-10 and were not impressed with it's ability to tow a 28' travel trailer, so they traded it for a 4X4 Dodge Cummins, and less that a year bought another Excusion.
Well I have been rambling on long enough, all I can say is enjoy the Diesel Excursion, because no matter what the fuel prices are because if ya'll are like me it ain't gonna stop me from driveing my TRUCK!
Modem installation
Installing devices - Modem
Installing A Modem
-Modem installation usually goes smoothly. The hardest part is finding the drivers available on the installation disk. This is usually in the form of a INF. file. This simply gives the system information on your device or modem. If you have a Plug and Play modem you should be in good shape for a installation. When you boot up the computer will find the modem and you're in business.
Installing a External Modem
-Installing a external modem has its advantages over the internal. I have had modem simply lock up on me and not work. When this happens with a internal modem this usually calls for a reboot. With the external you can most times just turn it off and back on to reset it. This can save you a little heartache at times. Not only is the external modem handy but you can travel with it and hook it up to other systems. The internal modem is not so handy for such operations.
-Here are some common steps for installing a a external modem.
1. Turn computer off.
2. Plug modem into a free serial port.
3. Plug modem power in and hook up phone line.
4. Restart system, you should go into a plug and play routine with windows.
5. Your system will recognize your new hardware especially if is is PnP (Plug and Play) device.
6. In most cases you will be brought to a hardware wizard under windows and it will ask for a driver for your device.
7. Make sure you have the installation CD or floppy in the drive.
8. Browse location for what is called a INF. File, this provides information on your device and will help load device.
9. Simply choose location of INF. file and hit ok or next. This should load the driver for device and your in business.
Bamboo tree
Bamboo listen is a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Some of its members are giant bamboo, forming by far the largest members of the grass family. Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world. Their growth rate (up to 1.2 meters/day (1.5-2.0 inches/hr)) is due to a unique rhizome-dependent system, but is highly dependent on local soil and climate conditions.
They are of economic and high cultural significance in East Asia and South East Asia where they are used extensively in gardens, as a building material, and as a food source.
There are 91 genera and about 1,000, species of bamboo. They are found in diverse climates, from cold mountains to hot tropical regions. They occur across East Asia, from 50°N latitude in Sakhalin through to Northern Australia, and west to India and the Himalayas.[1] They also occur in sub-Saharan Africa, and in the Americas from the Southeastern United States[2] south to Argentina and Chile, there reaching their furthest south anywhere, at 47°S latitude. Major areas with no native bamboos include Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, Canada, most of Australia, and Antarctica.
Review
James Bond is back, and this time it’s mighty personal. Daniel Craig’s craggy agent picks up exactly where he left off in another bruising thriller that leaves you feeling both drained and exhilarated.
There are hand-to-hand fights that make your eyes water and old-school stunts involving motorbikes, speedboats, jet fighters and expensive cars that give you whiplash just looking at them. Really, nobody does it better than the new 007.
Halo2 on xp
So you've been wanting to play Halo 2, but don't have Vista? Let's face it, Vista basically sucks. So let's use DirectX10 (needed to run Halo2) on Windows XP. That should let us play Halo2 on a non-Vista operating system.
There are instructions within the download, but I've put them here anyway.
(Note: The April 2007 of the DirectX SDK mentioned in the instructions is included in this torrent).
To install:
Copy d3d10.dll, d3dx10.dll, d3dx10.dll, dxgi.dll, and Nucleus.dll to C:\windows\system32\
To get the examples:
1) Follow the instructions on http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/usingpsdk/
2) Download and install the DirectX SDK from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=86cf7fa2-e953-475c-abde-f016e4f7b61a&displaylang=en
To build and run an example:
1) Go to the Microsoft DirectX SDK folder, Samples, C++, Direct3D10, Tutorials, Tutorial12
2) Double-click "Tutorial12_2005.sln"
3) Select "Start Without Debugging" from the Debug menu.
There are a number of known issues with most of the tutorials, but they will all work to some extent. Tutorial 12 is currently the recommended example.
Please direct any feedback to the Falling Leaf Discussion forum on http://www.fallingleafsystems.com/forum/
Directx 10 in xp
Many gamers have been upset that the latest version of Microsoft's DirectX software and drivers, DirectX10, requires Windows Vista in order to run. Microsoft has argued that because DirectX10 was such a massive redesign of the overall driver model, it was not possible to retrofit it to run on Windows XP. One of the arguments supporting this was the fact that DirectX10 required graphics memory to be virtualizable—that is, swappable for system RAM if the on-board video card RAM became full.
However, NVIDIA has had difficulty making virtualization work on their Vista graphics drivers, so Microsoft has now made GPU virtualization optional for DX10. Charlie Demerjian over at the Inquirer is arguing that this means there is no valid technical reason why DirectX10 couldn't be back-ported to Windows XP.
Of course, there was never a reason that implementing DirectX10 on XP was technically impossible, just that Microsoft felt that the engineering and testing effort to retrofit the new driver model to the old operating system was more than the company was willing to expend, particularly as DirectX10 was touted as one of the major benefits of upgrading to Windows Vista. However, the PC gaming market has been slow to embrace Vista and so Microsoft may have to reconsider this decision in the future.
Disney worls
Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited and largest recreational resort in the world, containing four theme parks, two water parks, twenty-three themed hotels, and numerous shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation venues. Owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts segment of The Walt Disney Company, it is located southwest of Orlando, Florida. The property often is abbreviated Walt Disney World, Disney World or WDW.
It opened on October 1, 1971, with the Magic Kingdom theme park, and has since added Epcot (on October 1, 1982), Disney's Hollywood Studios (on May 1, 1989), and Disney's Animal Kingdom (on April 22, 1998).
Hack
All of the modern meanings seem to be rooted in its widespread use as slang throughout the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), starting in the 1960s. There, the original meaning of "hack" was a quick, elaborate and/or bodged solution students devised for a technical obstacle; it was used with hacker, meaning one who discovers and implements a hack. The word itself comes from the German word meaning "someone who makes furniture with an axe",[1] implying a lack of finesse in a "hack"; it is believed by many in the hacking community that the reason for this is because programs too large to run on the limited computer resources of the time had portions "chopped" or "hacked" out in order to be reduced to a more reasonable size.
Over time, the meaning of the word there was expanded, perhaps through contact with the amateur radio community. It came to mean either a kludge, or the opposite of a kludge, as in a clever or elegant solution to a difficult problem. In the term "hack value" it also acquired a meaning of anything that was simultaneously fun and clever.
The initial hacker community at MIT, particularly those associated with the Tech Model Railroad Club, applied this pre-existing local slang to computer programming, producing the variant which first came into common use outside MIT.
Tajmahal
The Taj Mahal (pronounced /tɑdʒ mə'hɑl/ ---- Hindi: ताज महल; Persian/Urdu: تاج محل) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Ottoman, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage."
While the white domed marble mausoleum is its most familiar component, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Building began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen.[1]. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer of the Taj Mahal.[2]
Devilmaycry
Capcom's notion of what's cool--a concept on which its PlayStation 2 action game Devil May Cry was built--may not find complete synergy with today's gaming audience. In fact, much of Devil May Cry's aesthetic presentation is rooted in stereotypical gothic and cheesy '80s metal imagery. But beneath that overstated surface is one of the most interesting and generally entertaining 3D action games in recent years. Perhaps for the first time in the 3D action genre, Devil May Cry has successfully captured the twitch-based, relentlessly free-flowing gameplay style of so many classic 2D action games.
In Devil May Cry, you assume the persona of Dante, the half-human, half-devil son of a legendary dark knight known as Sparda. A powerful and malevolent ruler of the underworld, whom Sparda vanquished 2,000 years ago, has awakened and, although Dante doesn't quite know it at the game's onset, he--like his father--has been chosen to defeat this evil being. At his aid, at least for portions of the game, is a beautiful woman named Trish, who invites Dante to Mallet Island, a gateway to the netherworld. The game's story, and much of its script for that matter, draws heavily from tired clichés and presents generic plot points. But as Dante descends into the grimy underworld--a great place for blasting a wide variety of demons--it becomes clear that you must accept the game's formulaic story to fully appreciate the fine-tuned gameplay that it veils.
Perhaps Devil May Cry's greatest gift, in gameplay terms, is its highly intuitive control scheme. It is one of those rare games in which simply moving the character around the screen and performing various attacks is innately entertaining. Blasting Dante's dual handguns, which are amusingly named Ebony and Ivory, in rapid succession or double-jumping through some of the game's open areas is simply a lot of fun. Throw in a variety of opponents, including everything from hovering marionettes to ruthlessly persistent, lava-spewing demon spiders, and Devil May Cry becomes one of the most entertaining action games in gameplay terms alone. In practice, the responsive controls mean that the more adept you are with the game's control scheme, the quicker you're able to dispose of the demonic enemies. Once again, like classic 2D action games, Devil May Cry rewards the skillful game player.
Devil May Cry has been cleverly designed, in harmony with the fast-paced gamplay and control scheme, to challenge the player with a steadily increasing learning curve. The gradual unlocking of a variety of weapons and moves, which are secured by bartering mystical red orbs that are collected by disposing of evil souls, means that in general, your strength increases in precise concert with the game's overall difficulty level. Dante is superquick and is able to perform a myriad of attacks, but his enemies are powerful and are generally highly skilled at disposing aspirant demon hunters like our hero. This is another essential success of Devil May Cry, as it keeps you involved in the flow of the game and is constantly challenging without becoming frustratingly so. Devil May Cry will challenge even the most capable game player, while its easy automatic mode, which is unlocked after you finish the first mission, makes the game accessible to players of varying skill levels. In either case, both the intensity and the difficulty build gradually, as the game culminates almost predictably in an epic and multitiered final battle.
The final stages, although still quite entertaining, also produce the game's few failings. Without giving away the ending, it's safe to say that the game loses its direction, branching into a variety of different genres, some quite unnecessary. The game's final sequence almost feels forced and artificial, as it strays from the game's general course. Also, despite the drawn-out conclusion, Devil May Cry's difficulty level reaches a plateau near the end and isn't nearly as challenging as it could have been.
Another issue that some may have with Devil May Cry is its fixed camera angles. As surprising as it sounds, Devil May Cry began its life as a Resident Evil game, and although it has grown out of the confined conventions of the survival-horror genre, it has retained the static cameras of Capcom's zombie-infested series. Like in Resident Evil, you'll sometimes find yourself blasting away at unseen enemies who are outside the camera's view. Also, at times--although this is relatively infrequent--you will find yourself battling the analog stick and reorienting your sense of direction after a quick camera switch.
Christmas
Christmas (IPA: /krɪsməs/), also referred to as Christmas Day or Christmastide, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that marks and honors the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.[2][3] The birth of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini system of dating, is thought to have occurred between 7 and 2 BC.[4] December 25 is not thought to be Jesus' actual date of birth, and the date may have been chosen to correspond with either a Roman festival,[5] or with the winter solstice.[6]
Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, church celebrations, and the display of various decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes and holly. Santa Claus (also referred to as Father Christmas, although the two figures have different origins) is a popular mythological figure often associated with bringing gifts at Christmas. Santa is generally believed to be the result of a syncretization between Saint Nicholas and elements from pagan Nordic and Christian mythology, and his modern appearance is believed to have originated in 19th century media.
Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. The holiday is celebrated around the world. Because gift-giving and several other aspects of the holiday involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, Christmas has become a major event for many retailers.
Sachin my dream
In a country like India, it's really difficult to call someone a hardcore cricket fan simply because cricket followers here are ubiquitous. And the success of the inaugural DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) has proved that the appetite for cricket here is never satiated. Indian fans will never be tired of rooting for their favourite teams, and cricketers will continue to rule the hearts of crazy fans.
A conch in one hand, upper body painted in the tricolour and the head shaved in a manner to resemble the Indian map is how Sudhir decks himself up before every match that features Sachin Tendulkar. Known as Sachin's biggest fan Sudhir, who hails from Bihar travels everywhere in India and also to neighbouring countries to watch his favourite star unleash his classy act.
"There is no one in this world like Sachin. He is the best batsman in the world and his legacy is unmatched," he says proudly. The camera beaming live pictures always spots him and he is now an easily recognizable face.
And guess who helps him get in all the time? The master blaster himself!
"Har match ka ticket mujhe Sachin ji dete hai (Sachin gets me tickets for every game). I blow the conch once the practice session gets over to get his attention and he later either calls me or sends it with someone," he explains.
Travelling everywhere might be fun but it hasn't been all that rosy for the die-hard fan. "Sometimes I really struggle to get accommodation. I have slept in the grounds many a times. Recently my mobile phone was stolen in Chennai," he adds. But this has still not dented his confidence.
Talking about his favourite moment he says that after winning an ODI in Goa, Sachin had called him for an official party. "I was extremely thrilled to attend the party. And as the party started to peak, Sachin asked me to dance. I was quite nervous but had to follow his orders. So I danced somehow and later he too chipped in."
Every year Sudhir makes it a point to get lychees of the finest quality for the special batsman and self-delivers it at Sachin's home. He is visibly disappointed with Mumbai Indians not making it to the semis but still comes to the ground as his favourite star has directed him to be neutral and show his love for the game.
WWW
My birthday
My birthday is on july 3rd. As the date approaches each year I begin to feel knots in my stomach. I dread it so much that I imagine I look like I have a black cloud hanging over my head. This, usually, is a very sad day for me since I don't have family to spend it with. I know my parents are watching over me, but somehow it just doesn't feel the same. My friends are dear and we always have fun, so why do I become so sad?
What fairy tale world had I been living in?For the longest time, instead of seeing my glass half-full, I have seen my glass half-empty. I had been allowing outside forces to determine how I felt. I might as well have sold my soul. I only felt good if everything in my life was going perfect and everyone was happy with me. And what fairy tale world had I been living in? Where did I get this idea that everyone's life was so perfect but mine? I have come to understand an outside appearance can be just that, an outside appearance, a facade. How fitting the expression, "The grass is greener on your neighbor's lawn." Guess what? It isn't.
Of course I can justify why I should feel bad on my birthday. And everybody knows feelings are never good, bad, right or wrong. They just are. And those wrinkles, where do they come from? Though the defining question I find myself confronted with is "Does my behavior serve me?" Is it really working for me? Well, yes, it has in many ways, though none of them give me the inner peace and happiness that I long for.
I have faced, and continue to face, adjustments and challenges. In fact, I have a standing joke with my friends, "All I want, please G‑d, is a boring life." G‑d, I'm tired of all the surgeries and pain, maybe a break is in order? I do at times try to invoke a bit of humor into my circumstances. Like the time I went to see the eye surgeon. I knew I had to have one eye operated on, but then the doctor performs this test, and lo and behold, he tells me both eyes must be operated on. I just looked back at the doctor and smiled. I said, "G‑d must really love me if he wanted both eyes operated on."
Or maybe the time I was sitting in a store waiting for the clerk to return, and out of nowhere, a pole hits me on my head. I ended up with a concussion. Now of course when I called my girlfriend from the hospital, I couldn't help but smile when she said, "Edith you have all the mazel [luck]." Maybe I do just in a different way than others. My rabbi decided to find humor in my injury. Lucky for him – I adore him. He said, "Maybe it knocked some sense into you." I think I understand what the rabbi meant. He was trying to tell me that G‑d will keep knocking on my door, in this case my head, until I truly see my blessings.
I'm onto a new perspective. What is life without a few wrinkles? And I need to stop listening to those commercials about washing that gray away with this-and-that hair color. So the world knows I have lived a little. What's so terrible? And so what if I have some hardships? G‑d forbid, it could always be worse. And when my faith becomes weak, I will remember the twenty-third psalm. "The L-rd is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing…Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…" I will silently recite the words in my mind, as these words are the backbone of strength in life and in death.
If this day has been loaned to me, I will embrace itIf this day has been loaned to me, I will embrace it with all my might. I will acknowledge the precious gift of life G‑d has granted me and ask no questions. I know he shall reveal his purpose in His time, not mine. G‑d's time is the best time.
My girlfriend invited me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday. I wasn't really feeling well, so I cancelled. In the afternoon, I noticed a card under my door. It was from my neighbor, so I went over and thanked her. She is about eighty-years-old and very sweet, but she wasn't feeling well either. We spoke for a few minutes and we agreed she had caught a virus and would feel better soon. In the evening, at about the time I would have been out for dinner, the phone rang. It was this same neighbor. I saw the caller ID and thought to myself, no, I don't want to get "stuck" on the phone for an hour. Sometimes she can be a bit chatty and I was really just looking forward to a quiet evening alone for my birthday.
Something happened, as if G‑d spoke to me and said, "Pick up the phone." So I did and my neighbor said, "Edith, I'm really sick." I told her I'd be right over. I knew instinctively to call 911. It only took me about thirty seconds to get to my neighbor's home. I could see she was really in bad shape. Her clothes and hair were drenched - soaking wet - from sweat. She informed me she had put a nitroglycerin pill under her tongue for chest pain. I made her stay seated and I put her slippers on. And just as I was comforting her, my cell-phone rang. G‑d intervened again and had another fine rabbi return my call. I apologized to the rabbi that I could not take his call at this moment and explained the situation. He gave his blessings for a complete recovery. The ambulance took my friend away, and even though I worried most of the night, I knew she was going to be okay.
I understood why I was supposed to stay at home now. G‑d gave me the most beautiful gift of all on my birthday. My own special mitzvah – the gift of helping another human being in need.
Upgrade pc
Before you upgrade your PC hardware it’s best to search all options and ask for advice. Only after this you can go and buy a new component. It’s also useful to check if you really need an upgrade.
Do not upgrade your very old PC because it would cost a lot of money. It’s cheaper to buy a new computer in such cases because they are easier to upgrade later.
Upgrading the hard drive:
The majority of people do not really need to upgrade their hard disk, unless they use it for playing a lot of music, movies, and games. A 20 GB hard drive is sufficient to keep new office and internet applications, and all your files and data.
A medium sized hard drive would be around 40 GB and the maximum would be around 60 – 80 GB.
Before upgrading your hard disk it’s best to do a complete disk checkup including disk scan, defragmentation, etc. If you happen to be an average user and need more storage you can add an additional drive to the existing one. Before an upgrade, be sure to back up your files.
Upgrading the RAM:
RAM or Random Access Memory is the short-term memory of the PC. It keeps data that is being worked on now and may or may not be transferred to the hard drive that represents the long-term memory of the computer.
Current processors can perform an enormous number of operations per second. The hard drive, on the other hand, is significantly slower to handle so much information. This is where a high-speed RAM memory comes in. RAM needs a power supply to keep data. Once the power is turned off the data is lost.
Almost all PCs have 64 MB RAM and often 128 MB. If you want to run newer applications on your PC then you must upgrade to 128/256 MB RAM.
A lot of people who upgrade from 98 to Win 2000 discover that their computers lock up very often. This is because they don't have enough RAM.
CPU upgrade:
If you choose this upgrade, you will have faster execution of instructions but it leaves the RAM and hard drive capacity unchanged.
This sis the most cost effective upgrade and can increase the efficiency of your computer considerably. Seek a professional help before you take a decision.
Motherboard:
Upgrading motherboard is not such a good proposition unless you replace the CPU and the RAM as well to achieve greater performance levels. You upgrade the motherboard either because the current one doesn’t support a faster CPU or the CPU requires a different socket. It could be very expensive. Think about buying a new PC.
Ports:
Ports are sockets at the back of your computer where you plug in external devices. Older PCs work on “parallel” ports. If you need to work a lot on peripherals such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, CD burners, and scanners then you need to upgrade to USB and Firewire ports if you are not using them already.
Both tend to be cheaper than the “parallel” and SCSI devices they replace. Always make sure that there are no compatibility problems with other devices in your PC when you plan to upgrade any hardware on your machine.
Increasing computer speed in 5 ways
If you're a computer expert, you'll probably already know about these tips (hopefully this will provide you with a little reminder). If you're not an expert, don't worry - these tips are simple, and don't require a lot of computer experience.
While an old computer will never operate at the same speed as a newer (and bigger & faster) computer, you can help your computer stay as "young & healthy" as possible.
1) Disk Cleanup
Performing a disk cleanup regularly is a good idea. Whenever you "surf the internet", open attachments, delete files, your computer saves a record of your activity. Many of these files are harmless, and individually are very small. But if you spend a lot of time on your computer, before long you'll take up enough space to slow your computer down a bit.
Disk Cleanup is a Windows utility that helps keep unused and unwanted files from taking up extra storage space on your computer. You can think of it as "spring cleaning” for your computer.
Basically, it removes files that may have once been useful or used but now are just taking up extra room that could be used for more useful programs and files.
To perform a disc cleanup, click on the Start button on the bottom left of your computer screen, then Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disc Cleanup. A small box will pop up, allowing you to select the files to delete (most files are OK to delete, but if you are unsure, it is best to not select the file). Then click OK, and the unused files will be removed.
If you've never done a disk cleanup on your computer, now is a good time to get started. Then, depending on how much you use your computer, you can perform a disk cleanup every few weeks to keep your computer running smoothly!
2) Defragmenting Your Computer
Another way to improve the performance of your computer is to defragment your hard drive. What is defragmenting, and why do you need to do it? Here's a simple explanation:
Basically, defragmenting is putting files back where they belong. With the files in the proper order, your computer will run more efficiently.
You don't need to hire a computer expert to defragment your computer. It's simple to do. You just need to plan ahead, because if you have a lot of "stuff" on your computer, it could take a while.
And it's best not to use your computer while defragmenting.
Not sure how to defragment your computer? You can either click on your computer's help file (Click the "Start" button on the bottom left of your computer screen, then Help), or click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Defragment - for most computers).
Keep in mind that the actual wording is slightly different depending on the operating system you use (Windows 95, 98, XP, etc) so you might need to refer to your computer's help file.
Periodically defragmenting your computer will keep it running smoothly!
3) Removing Spyware & Adware
If you've ever had spyware or adware on your computer, you know how frustrating it can be - strange things happening, your homepage changing, inappropriate popups, unfamiliar icons... What exactly is spyware or adware?
Simply, files that are often downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge (or at least without you knowing what they really are).
Unfortunately, many of these programs "sneak" their way onto your computer, so avoiding them entirely is difficult, especially if you spend a lot of time on your computer, surfing the Internet and downloading new programs and files.
Fortunately, there are ways to remove these unwanted files from your computer.
Here are 2 adware/spyware removal programs that are simple to use (and both are free):
Ad-Aware
Spybot
Why does adware/spyware continue to be such a problem? Because most of these programs make money for the people creating and spreading them, unfortunately. So, all we can do is try to avoid them as much as possible, and to remove them when they do find their way onto our computers.
If you do find spyware on your computer, don't panic. In many cases, you just have some extra "junk" on your computer. But keeping spywaer and adware off of your computer will help it run more quickly and efficiently.
4) Uninstalling Old & Unused Programs
While uninstalling old, unused programs will help speed up your computer, removing the wrong files can cause you some big problems. So, please proceed carefully. And if you are not comfortable, please ask for help from someone you know who is more knowledgeable.
Most programs that you download simply have an "uninstall" feature that comes with them. If you're like me and you download a lot of free programs or free trials, after a while your computer begins to slow down. That means it's time for me to remove some of the old programs I don't use any more (and most I only used once just to see how they work).
To uninstall unused programs from your computer, first click on the Start button on the bottom left, then Programs, then click on the name of the program and Uninstall. If there is no uninstall option, then click on the Start button on the bottom left, then Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.
Again, if you are unsure whether or not to remove a program, it is best to leave it.
If you follow these instructions, you should find your computer working faster right away.
5) Get A High Speed Internet Connection
If you spend a lot of time on the internet, a high speed internet connection is a must. It is more expensive, but for most people the savings in time and effort is worth the added expense.
There are several advantages of having a high speed internet connection - faster surfing, web pages open more quickly, files download faster, and if you send or receive large files, like pictures or video, trying to open these files with a slower dialup connection is extremely frustrating!
If you're already spending $20 a month or more for your dialup connection (through your phone line) then you'll find DSL to be comparable in price, and a lot faster.
A cable internet connection might cost a little more, but it is usually the fastest type of internet connection you can get from home.
High speed wireless connections are available for those who travel a lot. And high speed satellite internet is available in areas where other options are not (check your options first, as this is the most expensive high speed connection).
That's all the tips for increasing your computer speed and helping your computer run more efficiently. We hope you found these tips helpful!
Graphics card
A video card, also known as a graphics accelerator card, display adapter, or graphics card, is a hardware component whose function is to generate and output images to a display. It operates on similar principles as a sound card or other peripheral devices.
The term is usually used to refer to a separate, dedicated expansion card that is plugged into a slot on the computer's motherboard, as opposed to a graphics controller integrated into the motherboard chipset. An integrated graphics controller may be referred to as an "integrated graphics processor" (IGP).
Some video cards offer added functions, such as video capture, TV tuner adapter, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 decoding, FireWire, mouse, light pen, and joystick connectors, or even the ability to connect multiple monitors.
A common misconception regarding video cards is that they are strictly used for video games. Video cards instead have a much broader range of capability. Being specialized for video, output video cards improve what a computer monitor displays. As well, they play a very important role for graphic designers and 3D animators, who tend to require optimum displays for their work as well as faster rendering in order to efficiently tone up their work.
Video cards are not used exclusively in IBM type PCs; they have been used in devices such as Commodore Amiga (connected by the slots Zorro II and Zorro III), Apple II, Apple Macintosh, Atari Mega ST/TT (attached to the MegaBus or VME interface), Spectravideo SVI-328, MSX, and in video game consoles.
Safety browsing
As we all know, a system containing many elements is expected to be more vulnerable, since each element can contain (or be a part of) a security hole, just as a house that has many windows is potentially less secure. With time, web pages become more and more interactive. At first there was JavaScript, a language that made it possible for web pages to think, to validate information, to create cookies and pop-up windows. Then came downloadable ActiveX components that have even more control over pages and computers. then browsing becomes more secure.
