Bob's PC Workshop

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks the Internet

2012-01-18T13:04:00.001-05:00

Changing a CMOS Battery in a Dell Inspiron 1526

2011-08-18T03:11:00.001-04:00

Recently I was asked to change out a CMOS battery in a Dell Inspiron 1526. If you don’t know this battery powers the CMOS chip(Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) which powers your systems time, date and basic hardware settings. Common symptoms are your time resetting to some arbitrary date and or receiving some type of CMOS error message.I’ve done quite a few on desktops which are easy to replace but with a laptop it’s usually more complex.

Dell thankfully does show us how to dissemble their laptops on their website. I commend Dell as I they are the only ones (I have yet to find another) that go to this length. Here is the link to this Dell Inspiron 1526. For most other laptops I’ve had to rely on some third party people publishing one. I could get by without them but these can be complex and have lots of tiny screws that easily get lost or forgotten. A guide helps insure that it goes back together correctly.

For this reason I’m just going over quickly with photo’s and some commentary. Dell’s instructions above are very good with only some minor glitch’s which are easy to figure out.

The battery here is a Duracell CR2025 and can be bought at your local drugstore for around $5 (give or take). Another common size is CR2032. It’s a good idea to check first before tearing your computer apart. That information can usually be found on the manufacturer’s website or in your computers documentation.They can last anywhere from five to ten years.

Now the fun begins…..

Here is the processor and RAM(already removed where is says DIMM A & DIMM B). We also see where our WAN card is located.

The hard drive is removed next which is held in place by a couple of screws.

Be gentle when removing keyboard. They are generally attached by a very thin ribbon. The connectors can be a bit tricky so be patient or you’ll be replacing the keyboard also.

Disconnecting some more cables.

Removing the processor cooling fins.

The motherboard is finally out!

Here’s the culprit!

New battery in and put everything back together. It’s not too hard but you need some patience and good size work area. A small container to hold the small screws is a good idea too. Thanks for coming by.

Chain of Fools : Upgrading through every version of windows (HQ)

2011-03-04T11:02:00.000-05:00

Ten years on Ebay: Lessons Learned

2011-03-01T20:34:00.001-05:00

While checking my profile on Ebay I realized that I’ve recently hit the 10 year mark. It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. Even after all this time it’s still has a major online presence and a leader in their category. Personally we(as a family) have bought and sold a variety of items through Ebay through the the years. It has included items such as cars, computers, toys, cell phones, videos, books, car parts and many more items I can remember. Most of the time it’s a good experience but it’s had it’s share of potholes. It thought I’d share what I’ve learned over the years.

Fees

Nothing in life is free as the saying goes. The fees are mainly upon the seller and buyers only pay for the item and shipping. There are insertion fees, photo fees, schedule fees, final value fees and so on. The bottom line is that Ebay is a business and needs to a way to support itself so I don’t have a problem with that. Most of the time it’s only a small fraction of your sale but it’s good to be aware of them and to be able to pay for them. Ebay will shut you off if you don’t pay(trust me on this one) so don’t ignore them if you want to be active on Ebay.

One way to avoid fees is is not to list items that don’t sell well online. Before listing that collectible you swear is worth a lot of money search for it on Ebay first and see what they are going for. Is it a rare item or are there pages of the item? Another thing to look for is to see how much the selling for and if they are selling at all. Some items may be better off donating to a charity or selling at a yard sale.

Paypal

Paypal is the service used to make transactions on Ebay. It is used on the vast majority (if not all) Ebay transactions. You can set it up with your credit or bank card(or account). I find it a safe and easy way to handle transactions on Ebay. I certainly wouldn’t want to give out my credit card or bank account information to complete strangers. Paypal also gives you more options should a transaction hit a problem. Once your setup with them they are the only ones who see your personal information(bank account, credit card and so on). It also makes for quicker transactions as I used to remember sending checks and money orders and waiting weeks for my items before discovering Paypal.

Feedback

This is one of things that help keep buyers and sellers honest(Not always but it helps). Everyone is rated by feedback. You can give anyone a Positive, Negative or Neutral feedback with a quick sentence or two. I have my own personal philosophy of not giving Negative or Neutral feedback as it’s just as easy to get it in return in retaliation. As a buyer though you can give a more detailed rating for the seller should you have a problem. The few times I’ve had some problems I follow the Ebay guidelines to solve them.

Buyer Beware

Before making any purchase be sure of what your getting into. I’ve seen ads that go from looking that a third grader wrote too literary masterpieces as long as a 1000 word essay. I prefer the ones somewhere in between. Look at pictures and read descriptions carefully. Don’t be afraid ask questions also. If your unsure of something and seller doesn’t respond to you in reasonable time steer away from it. If it’s an item like a car or real estate visit them in person or hire some who can. This can be a difficult if the item is across the country. Many scams have occurred this way. The one car I bought on Ebay was local so I was able to inspect in person. Before making a big ticket purchase be sure to check their feedback and go over the item description with a fine tooth comb.

Peanuts aren’t free

So you have some stuff hanging around you want to sell. So you sell it on Ebay and now it you have to ship it. For most items you’ll have to box up and ship. maybe at first you have an extra box lying around with some peanuts in it. If you don’t you’ll soon find out how expensive those little foam peanuts actually cost. Trust me you’ll be surprised. The same thing goes for cardboard boxes and other packing material. Let’s not forget actual shipping costs also. This may not be serious stuff if you only sell something once in awhile but should you try to make it a hobby or side business this will be an issue. Many times if I’m unsure what to charge for shipping I’ll do some research on Ebay to see what other people are charging for shipping and I try to match that the best I can.

Positive Experience

You may get the impression that it’s a headache to use Ebay. For the most part we’ve had a positive experience and if you do some research and know what your getting into it can be fun and rewarding. It may seem intimidating at first but after awhile it’s no big deal. You can make some extra cash selling items or locating hard to find stuff. Good luck!

If you’ve had a positive or negative experience on Ebay please leave a comment below!

Star Wars Episode 3 Review by Red Letter Media

2011-01-03T00:20:00.001-05:00

This is the long awaited Star Wars Episode 3 review by Red Letter Media. I’ve actually found that these reviews are more entertaining than the movies themselves. I found out about Red Letter Media through their reviews of the first two Star Wars prequels(The Phantom Menace and The Clone Wars).

I’m a huge fan of the original Star Wars trilogy and so when I heard George was making the the prequels years ago I was thrilled. Though visually the prequels were well done their seemed to be something missing about them. I thought the next two movies would be better but they really weren’t. I never even bothered to go see the last one in the theatre as I just didn’t care that much.

It really wasn’t until I saw these reviews that I was really able to understand what went wrong with these films. In the original trilogy we actually cared about the characters and what happened to them. The story telling aspect was also a lot stronger. The special effects were used to enhance the story. The film’s had drama, humor, adventure and some romance thrown in. The later films lacked almost all these qualities. The characters were dry and we cared little about them. It had a forced romance , almost no humor and the actual story line seemed like it was made up on the go.

If your a Star Wars fan these reviews are a must see. Though the the way these are presented ma be a bit on the dark side of humor. The criticisms are well thought out and presented in a logical manner. Enjoy!

Geeks guide to Surviving Christmas

2010-12-24T01:54:00.001-05:00

Up on the housetop

2010-12-22T02:52:00.001-05:00

If you’ve been watching TV lately you’ve probably come across catchy tune on a Hyundai commercial. To the non-tech savvy people out there they probably have no idea who this quirky couple is and where did they come from. If your a fan of YouTube and music you probably have a better chance of knowing who they are.

They are Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn who are better known as Pomplamoose on YouTube. This duo has been producing their own brand of music and videos since 2008. They have done covers such as Lady Gaga’s “Telephone”, Michael Jackson’s “Beat it” and many others. The majority is music that they write and produce themselves. This is all without a traditional record label or contract.

This was the video I first discovered them back in the spring of this year. They call their style “VideoSongs” which I’ve found to be unique and refreshing. Jack is multi-instrumentalist and a bit of a spaz and Nataly has a wonderful voice with mesmerizing eyes(yes I have a crush, don’t tell my wife).

I certainly find it fascinating how they’ve done this without a tradition record deal or contract. I wish them the best of luck and will continue to be a big fan of theirs.

Technorati Tags: pomplamoose,hyundai,commercial,christmas,up on the housetop,youtube

Zeitgeist 2010: Year in Review

2010-12-10T12:47:00.000-05:00

Riverside Repair

2010-12-03T03:41:00.001-05:00

My latest project is building a website for my brother’s small engine repair business called Riverside Repair Co. (yes this is a shameless plug for it). I’ve done this amateur webmaster stuff for a few years now to help him out. In the beginning I used Microsoft’s Frontpage 2000. I’m sure website builders are cringing that I used something as horrible as that one. I used it because it had an easy learning curve and was within my budget at the time.

Over the last year or so I tried several other options at a budget web builder but had no luck finding one that I felt comfortable with. Meanwhile my brothers site languished away looking like a bad website example from the Clinton administration. I finally came across a trial of Microsoft’s web builder Expression Web 4 . Though a bit intimidated at first I was able to plug away at the trial copy and found lot’s of web support in learning how to use it. Then I found out that because I was a college student I could download a free legit copy the program. I’m still learning to use it but I’m very happy with it. If your a college student it’s worth checking out.

Be sure and check out the website and tell me what you think. Thanks for coming by!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2010-11-25T03:29:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Pop-ups are not your friends

2010-09-06T13:08:00.001-04:00

Whatever you do don’t click on any pop-ups on your PC while your surfing around. It’s best to just close them out by hitting “X” in the top right corner. This article from PCMECH by David Risley highlights what can happen if you do click on these fake ads. I also had a similar experience with “XP Internet Security 2010” back in March of this year. Which looked like this:

What usually happens is that your machine will become infested with malware that will eventually slow down and make your computer a real pain to use. You should have it cleaned out as quickly as possible. The longer you wait the worse it will get. Worst case scenario is that you’ll have to reinstall your operating system. This is the extreme case and should be avoided if possible.

Here are some recommended software that will aid you in your battle:

Good luck and happy surfing!

Toshiba Satellite L355 keyboard replacement

2010-08-18T14:00:00.001-04:00

Today I got my replacement keyboard for my wife’s Toshiba laptop that my son took a fist to(has been banned indefinitely from computer). I was able to find an inexpensive keyboard on Ebay from Screenaid whose service was very good considering that I had bought two by accident and they simply voided the other purchase.

Replacing a laptop keyboard is not as bad as it might seem. A simple Google search and I found these simple directions to replace the board at Irisvista.com. The directions are easy to follow and the whole procedure took about 15 minutes.

Now on to the other stuff on my tech to do list.

PC Blues

2010-08-18T03:10:00.001-04:00

It would seem as if it’s either feast or famine regarding my PC hobby. Here’s a list of what’s been going on here:

My sister get’s upgraded to Verizon Fios and needs help getting connected. That was a simple fix and has been taken care of.
My son takes a fit of anger (because of slow PC) and punches my wife’s keyboard on her laptop(not the slow one just an innocent bystander). This knocks a few keys off and they won’t stay on. Had to order new keyboard from Ebay.
A friend has a dead Dell desktop that needs a new motherboard. Ordered identical board from Ebay and I’m awaiting shipment.
For the climax my “work” PC a HP Pavilion desktop blows a board also. I’ve priced replacements and I’m awaiting approval from the purchasing department(my lovely wife) to order it. This has really got me down. I don’t mind using my wife’s laptop(which I’m using to post this) but I miss my PC.

This is on top of my normal job and usual family duties. Just thought I’d share what’s going on. Thanks for coming by.

How to Build your own PC from TechTV

2010-08-09T18:41:00.001-04:00

This is an interesting and informative video on building your own PC. This is featuring TechTV’s “The Screensavers” hosts Leo Laporte and Patrick Norton. Even though this program is a bit dated the information is still valid on how to build a PC on your own. Yes it can be done. Even though Tech TV isn’t around anymore you can find Leo Laporte at TWIT.TV and Patrick Norton at Tekzilla.

Technorati Tags: build,pc,leo,laporte,patrick,norton,the screensavers,techtv,how to

Using CSS templates to create websites with Expression Web 4

2010-07-27T02:26:00.001-04:00

Here are more tutorials using Expression Web 4. A website template is made from one free CSS template from freecsstemplates.org. This tutorial is done by ExpressionWeb.us and is easy to follow along. I was able to follow along and create a website template. Now I just have to add my own data and graphics. I’m liking Expression Web more and more each day. Here are the videos:

Technorati Tags: expression,web,4,editor,css,template,free

For Students: Expression Studio 4 Ultimate – Free!

2010-07-22T03:44:00.001-04:00

If your a student and like Expression Web by Microsoft your in luck. You can receive a copy of Expression Studio 4 for free. This is through Microsoft’s Dreamspark program which is exclusive for qualifying high schools and colleges. I’m currently an enrolled student and I did qualify for program. I just thought I’d pass this along as it may not be too well known. I’ve been trying this program(Expression Web 4) out through a trial basis at first and I’m growing to like it more and more each day. Microsoft also offers many other programs for free also and you can find discounts for Windows 7 upgrade and Office 2010 so it is worth it if you are or know a student.

Technorati Tags: windows,7,office,2010,expressions,web.studio,4,free,student,discount,college,high school,dreamspark,microsoft.

Microsoft Expression Web 4

2010-07-21T03:13:00.001-04:00

Over the last few weeks I’ve been mulling over what software to use to update my brother’s business website and to possibly use for other projects. I had used Microsoft Frontpage 2000 previously but as you could imagine that it is woefully out of date. I had gotten used to the way Frontpage worked and I had wanted something similar but obviously updated.

I am not a professional web designer (nor do I play one on TV) I needed something relatively inexpensive and relatively simple to use. I also wanted to have up to date features. I had checked out some free web editors but none seemed promising enough to spend a lot of time with. I tried out Serif’s WebPlus X2 which was a few years old but had some good reviews. I came upon a free trial of Microsoft’s Expressions Web 4. Expression’s Web is now what Frontpage used to be in the marketplace). Even after just a short time I’ve tried it I’ve all but left WebPlus behind. I’ve found lots of tutorial’s around the Internet. Here is a series I found really useful for the beginner user(it uses Expression 3 but the interface is very similar).

This series was very helpful in getting me started. This program is looking promising and doesn’t have wallet crunch price(This version is priced around $150). I’m still working with it and I’ll be sharing more in the near future. Thanks for coming by.

Technorati Tags: serif,webplus,frontpage,expressions,web,microsoft,4,editor,design

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

2010-07-04T03:54:00.001-04:00

Apple Apps: iBooks on iPhone 3G

2010-07-02T01:49:00.001-04:00

The iBooks app has been available for the iPad but was recently released for the iPhone and iPod Touch. I was kind of skeptical about book reading on an iPhone sized device. I could see it on the iPad but I thought the size of the phone would be an issue. After downloading and trying it out I’ve been pleasantly surprised by it’s functionality.

Apple was nice enough to start you off with a free book which to try it out with. It’s the ever charming Winnie the Pooh. The pages turn by sliding for finger from right to left as if your actually turning pages in a real book(go in reverse to go back). You do have bookmark feature of course.

You can also dim or brighten the display, which could come in handy for late night reading next to your significant other without waking them. One wierd quirk I found is that the dimmer also affects your wallpaper on the iPhone itself. Why I don’t know but I thought I’d pass that along. Some other features include customizing the font and also a search feature which would search your books, Google or Wikipedia.

Books are purchased through the “Store” button on the main page. I found the interface similar to the App Store. Books range from free to whatever the going price is. I filled up with some free ones to test the app out. I could see using this app to light reading but I’m not sure if it would actually replace a physical book. It’s too small and impersonal. I haven’t tried it on an iPad so it may be different with that due to it’s size. The app is free so I think it’s worth checking out if you like to read books. It can be found through App Store.

Disclaimer: The screenshots above are from a iPhone 3G. You screens may look different on a later iPhone, iPod or iPad.

Retro PC: Windows 2000 Pro

2010-06-30T14:35:00.001-04:00

I used Windows 2000 Pro for a few years and thought it was a solid performer. I thought of it as a stripped down version of Windows XP. If you’ve got slightly older machine(five to ten years)with limited resources it could still used but I wouldn’t use it for a new build. Many modern software applications just doesn’t work on it anymore. The oldest I’d go is for Windows XP.

Here is another video by Rich Menga from PC Mech who shows off Windows 2000 Pro in VirtualBox. He actually gives some tips on software to use and how to set this up. He makes it at least bearable to use Windows 2000 if you want to. These are good tips if your still trying to squeak some life out of an older PC or just like experimenting with older operating systems.

Thanks for coming by.

Using Windows 95 ….today

2010-06-27T13:12:00.001-04:00

Here is a quick video of Rich Menga of PC Mech showing how he’s running Windows 95. You may ask why would anyone do that today. Well Rich did it to play vintage DOS –games. Someone else may do it to use a specific program or just for the adventure(like I did at one time). How is he running Windows 95? He installed a program called VirtualBox which can install operating systems in a virtual environment. Rich gives us some excellent software recommendations that enable you to use(barely) Windows 95 in today's world. I imagine if you had an old PC or laptop running Windows 95 you could use a similar setup.

Here is a quick list of programs Rich is running:

Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2
Web Browser K-Meleon
Instant messenger Miranda
Microsoft Rich Editor to install Miranda
Word processor AbiWord Version 2.4.6

Here is my version of using Windows 95 inside Microsoft’s Virtual PC that I did awhile back. It’s kind of glimpse into PC history.

Technorati Tags: virtual pc,microsoft,virtualbox,windows 95,pcmech,menga,rich

The Weather Channel App

2010-06-23T04:15:00.001-04:00

You’d think an app about the weather would be boring. I don’t consider The Weather Channels app for the iPhone. One cool feature that got me hooked is the radar map. I’m not sure if it was there the whole time or was recently added. You can check out the real time weather radar in the palm of your hand. Here’s a screenshot of the weather over my house as I write this:

You click the triangle button in bottom left hand corner it will play a short loop. Click the “i” and you can get customized maps. I think this would be an awesome tool for those that chase these storms. I find it handy to know when these storms are approaching. Plus you get the normal weather forecasts and warnings. I believe this to be one of those must have iPhone Apps. This was from the free version(Pay version is ad free) of the app and can be found here.

What’s your favorite iPhone App?

Technorati Tags: iphone,the weather channel,app,application,apple

Zuckerberg on the Grill

2010-06-19T11:11:00.001-04:00

Poor Mark Zuckerberg gets grilled about Facebook privacy issues at a recent conference. I think most people are generally concerned about privacy but probably don’t lose a lot of sleep over whether their settings on Facebook are optimized for privacy. It does seem like there is a very vocal minority that pops up every time something is changed on website. This video is just a small snippet of the whole interview. This is the whole video:

I’m one of those that doesn’t lose sleep over this subject. I do follow some common sense guidelines though. I don’t post anything on the site that I don’t expect everyone to see. If your on the edge on whether your post should be private or not I’d error on the side of caution. Send a private message through Facebook or by email and other means. Generally speaking if you post something on a friends wall their friends can see it also. The other tip is not to post anything you’ll regret or be embarrassed. There are numerous stories of people getting fired and such from embarrassing posts. Use common sense.

Mark’s relative rookie at this compared to a video of Steve Job’s being interviewed at the same venue. Steve was grilled also but he never broke a sweat. Poor Mark had to take his “Hoodie” off because he was sweating profusely. Good luck Mark, you’ll get there eventually.

Soluto : Anti frustration software

2010-06-14T14:04:00.001-04:00

Soluto is a software application that analyzes your systems boot up. Then you can tweak your system to speed up your computer. This is an amazing tool in my opinion. One of the most frustrating problems troubleshooting a slow start up is figuring out which application is causing the hang up or which programs you can do without. I haven’t tried it out yet as you have to sign up for the beta and then get approved. Here is a video previewing the software:

Soluto - How to use Soluto Beta from Soluto on Vimeo.

Once I try it out I’ll post a review here. It certainly looks promising.

Source: Geeks are Sexy

PCWorld: How to buy a laptop

2010-05-27T11:51:00.001-04:00

In this video Kara Tsuboio, of PCWorld Magazine, goes over the key points to look for while shopping for a laptop. She covers them all from netbooks to large desktop replacement machines.

Recap: DownloadHelper

2010-05-23T01:56:00.002-04:00

I recently helped my wife’s cousin set this program up on his computer. I’m now his “best” friend. Now he’s busy downloading 80’s metal band videos. I covered this program back in 2008. I still use it to this day.

The basic steps are:

1. Firefox - DownloadHelper is a “plug-in” program you use in your FireFox web browser.

2. Downloader Helper – This program enables you to download your favorite videos off of YouTube and other video sites.

I’ve found it useful to download my favorite video’s, especially music videos. I noticed some videos were taken off because of copyright issues(what party poopers). This enables you save videos quickly and then view them at your own pleasure. Keep in mind these will save videos as a .flv file and you’ll need a player like VLC Player to view them. Good luck and happy surfing.

Picking the right Desktop PC

2010-05-21T02:52:00.001-04:00

Ever wonder what type of PC is right for you? With all the different types of PC’s available it can be confusing. Here’s an excellent video from PCWorld magazine(my favorite PC magazine so I’m a bit biased) that I thought explained things pretty well. The host covers compacts, all-in-ones, and tower desktops and explains the pros and cons of each.

Slow PC Blues

2010-05-15T04:19:00.001-04:00

Ever have your computer just slow down to crawl? This is a common complaint among PC owners. There are several things you can try to alleviate the problem. I believe in trying the simplest things first and then moving from there. Here’s a quick list:

Reboot your computer – This trick works well when you’ve been surfing on the Internet for hours or the PC’s been on for long periods of time. Like us sometimes they just need a quick restart and all is well.
Time to clean up – Next I would recommend using a program called CCleaner which is a personal favorite of mine. It cleans temp files and other unnecessary stuff hanging around your PC slowing it down.
Get organized - After this would be a good time to defrag your computer also which if not done periodically can slow it down. You can use the one built into Windows or use a third party one like Defraggler(made by same people who bring you CCleaner)
Get a check up – If you suspect an infection you can run MalwareBytes free program to find stuff that snuck past your antivirus program(none are 100%).
Run task manager – If a problem still persists you can run your task manager and when your PC starts to slow down see which program is causing you the headache. You can shut it down and decide whether uninstall or reinstall the program. Sometimes programs just get hung up and need a reboot(see first item on list).

Like I said try the simple stuff first. Thanks for coming by.

Source: Spector, Lincoln(PCWorld 2010) Why does my PC sometimes slow to a crawl? PCWorld Magazine May 2010, Page 100

XP dying technology?

2010-05-04T13:18:00.001-04:00

As a daily user of Windows XP I never thought of it as “dying technology”. Yes it has been around for many years though it is now the 3rd Windows OS behind 7 and Vista (like it or not). I like XP very much. It’s dependable and easy to use. It’s not like I don’t like the newer Windows operating systems. I like using my wife’s laptop with Vista on it and we’ve had good luck with it. My employer still uses XP and I don’t see them changing over any time soon.

I suppose it’s like if you had a ten year old car that ran great with no problems. Sure there are newer models with better technology, higher miles per gallon, faster, and more cup holders and so on. Your comfortable with the old model though. You know all the quirks about it you’ve been through a lot together. Do you just toss it aside for a sleeker set of wheels?

This is just some food for thought. Thanks for coming by and I welcome any comments that you may have.

Funny Friday: Appholes!

2010-04-30T13:15:00.001-04:00

This whole matter of Apple’s new iPhone controversy almost takes on a surreal feel. If your not aware of what’s going on here’s a quick summary. An Apple engineer (Grey Powell still employed for now,but probably taking a ton of heat) misplaced his next generation iPhone in a bar. Brian Hogan finds it left behind on a seat. He soon figured out he had the new iPhone prototype in his hand. He did make some attempts to call Apple which didn’t help matters. To make a longs story short he ended up selling to a tech website called Gizmodo. You can catch the rest of the story from Gizmodo.

When this came to light off course Apple wanted there phone back, which apparently Gizmodo complied. This is where it gets surreal. Shortly thereafter Gizmodo had the doors busted in for an investigation into the whole affair. The original finder, Brian Hogan, has got a lawyer and now says he probably should have done more to return it in the first place.

I’ve never sat down and watched his show but I found The Daily Show’s Jon Stewarts commentary on this matter pretty hilarious. He likens Apple to the “Big Brother” they eluded to in there now famous “1984” advertising when the introduced the Macintosh in the 80’s. Enjoy:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Appholes

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

XP Internet Security 2010

2010-03-02T03:01:00.001-05:00

Last week I had an encounter with “XP Internet Security 2010” malware. This is considered to be a “Rogue Security Software”. It is built to deceive users into paying for fake malware removal. It looks very much like the real thing. Here are some screenshots:

Looks real and official doesn’t it? This just pulls up random files in your PC and warns about a malware infection. These are just listed to scare you. Well you are infected with this malware of course.

You’ll also get pop-up warnings in the corner of your taskbar. Of course by this time your probably already suspecting a malware attack as these pop up almost constantly at this point.

Of course they want you to register. They want your money and information. The only course you should take here is the “X” on the top right corner.

At first I did run a scan with my Panda antivirus which showed up nothing. I scanned with Spybot:Search and Destroy which did find some spyware. It did not solve the problem even after two scans. I realized I had to get some extra help. One that came highly recommended was MalwareBytes:

I downloaded the software and ran a full scan. The only downside was that the scan last almost 3 hours. After it rebooted the infection was gone. I was very relieved and happy. The version I got was free but, there is a pay version also. I highly recommend this software if your running into this problem too. It can be found here at Malware Bytes website. For more information you can check out this helpful guide by BleepingComputer.com.

My favorite Apps so far

2010-01-04T01:10:00.001-05:00

I know that iPhone is sort of old news but it’s new to me. I think part of the allure of the iPhone is the sheer number of apps that you can find for this device. Even a couple of weeks later I’m still finding interesting stuff browsing through the Apple App store. I got a car charger and a silicon case for it already. I’ve got a car carrier coming too. Next I believe may be a cassette adapter to play my music. Anyway I just thought I’d share what my favorite items are so far. Most are free though a few I’ve paid for. I’ve discover many free apps are but “lite” versions(or demo) of full scale pay apps. Which is good that you can try something out for free before forking over your cash. This is essentially a way to “test drive” an app to see if you like it. Well here’s an early list of my favorite apps:

Facebook - (Free)

I’m a self admitted Facebook addict so this was a no brainer. It contains the essential features that you use on the site. You can update your status, upload photo’s, check your feed, make comment’s, chat, and so on. Games, quizzes, video’s(containing flash media) and other applications may not show up. It’s actually a very clean version of Facebook without all the added clutter. I like it so far.

Flickr - (Free)

I’m a big fan of Flickr and so this was an early download. Flickr if you don’t know is a site that allows you to upload and share your photo’s along with many other things you can do with your photo’s. This app is handy to upload your photo’s to the web and then you can do what you want with them( like post them to a blog like I’m doing here). It can also be a way to surf through and admire other peoples photography.

Google - (Free)

This one is handy if you’ve got a Gmail account and use there services a lot. There search feature even has a voice search which you can “tell” Google what to search for. It’s a pretty neat feature in it’s own right.

Yahoo! - (Free)

Of course we can’t leave out Yahoo! I’ve had a Yahoo! for over ten years so this was one of my first downloads. Like the Google App you can check your email and other Yahoo! features. You can check news and on your social media and customize it to your taste.

Doodle Jump - ($o.99 USD)

I had to include this fun app to break up all the serious ones here. This one was recommended to me by my sister-in-law. It is strangely simple yet addicting. Your doodle must jump and bounce continually on floating platforms. You move him around by tilting your phone from side to side. It’s silly but fun. It’s a quick game you can play waiting in line somewhere.

These are just the first five of favorites. I do have some other’s I’ll feature in another post. Enjoy and I’ll talk to you later.

Happy New Year’s Day 2010 !

2010-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

I want to wish all my friends, family and guests to this website a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. Usually New Year’s day is a day of parties and resolution’s. For me it is a time to spend with family without much fanfare. This past year has been a challenge but we made it through which we can be thankful. We lived through the challenge of bringing up my new son Sam(in his first year) and my oldest son Josh who still wants the same amount of attention as before. I don’t have any new “resolution’s” to reveal. I’m still continuing along with the goals I’m working on. They include to continue with my quitting smoking with Chantix, to get an “A” in every class I take at New England Tech and not to forget to love and support my family throughout the year.

I actually think New Year’s day should be the day of thanks instead of Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for my wife bearing the brunt of raising two son’s and running a household. Thankful for a job that has been steady and keeps food on the table and a roof over our heads. I’m also thankful to new and old friends and family I’ve met through Facebook. I hope you all have a……..

Happy New Year!

Bob and his iPhone

2009-12-30T20:05:00.001-05:00

I know that I’ve only had the iPhone for a week I just wanted to share some thought’s on it. This was a combination quit smoking and Christmas gift. I had been researching the iPhone and other “smartphone’s” on and off the last few months. At first I thought of the iPhone. Then I thought a Blackberry would be nice. Then I came back to the iPhone. The Android phone came along and that seemed to give the big Apple some serious competition. Despite some of the recent news and negative ads about AT&T’s 3G network problems the iPhone stayed in contention. Most iPhone user’s I encountered loved there phone and wouldn’t part with it.

A few things were the deciding factor:

Cost – Refurbished iPhone’s start at $49.95 & $99.95. An easier price to swallow than some of the competitive “smartphone” prices.

AT&T – We were already with them with our current phone’s. To be honest they’ve been good with coverage and service. We weren’t locked into any contract but to switch over may have caused some hiccups or hassle’s which we didn’t want over the holidays.

Referrals – Those I’ve talked to about the iPhone all love it. Very little was mentioned about coverage or quality of phone calls. I think it(AT&T coverage and quality woes) may be over hyped and may also depend on your location.

Usage – I’m quite a light user when it comes to the cell phone. So the hype of dropped calls or poor call quality wasn’t a huge issue. I suppose if I was in a business or work that was dependant on being on the phone it may be a concern but I’m not either of those so it’s not a huge issue right now. I was looking for something to be able access the Internet, text, and be able to do more than just make a phone call.

I opted for the base refurbish model iPhone 3G 8GB model. The 16GB (also refurbished) model was out of stock and new 16GB and 32 GB prices were a bit much to swallow. Actual activation was kind of slight pain calling AT&T customer service but all went well and I was soon playing around with it. The design is sleek and modern looking. It feels solid and comfortable in your hand. The screen layout is intuitive and quick to navigate. I admit this was the quickest learning curve I’ve encountered on any phone I’ve used. Working with a touch screen has been interesting and fun.

Within a short time I was downloading apps and customizing and discovering my iPhone and what it could do. The day after we traveled to (from Rhode Island)Maine for Christmas eve and day. Along the way I noticed no drop in service or slow down. The only bummer was while at my mother-in-laws she had no 3G coverage though I was still able access the Internet even though it was a bit slower. I’ve downloaded a bunch of “apps” to try out. I'll write more about them in the coming weeks as I further try them out.

I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all a happy new year. Thanks for coming by and I welcome your questions and comments.

Technorati Tags: iphone,at&t.apps,new,3g

How not to fix your computer

2009-12-15T01:25:00.002-05:00

Computer Troubleshooting Books

2009-12-13T20:02:00.001-05:00

There so many books on repairing or troubleshooting computers that it can be confusing to which one to pick. I’ve picked up many books on the subject. Some of which have been helpful and some haven’t. Many get looked at a few times and then to collect dust on my bookshelf. There is two books I do recommend above all else. Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts and The Laptop Repair Workbook both by author Morris Rosenthal. I wish I had picked these up a long time ago. They are thin in comparison to other computer books but, they pack a good punch.

Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts

As the author says to us in his introduction this book is not meant to read from cover to cover. This is meant to be a reference or guide. This book is full of flowcharts meant to guide those repairing or troubleshooting a computer. It does have the premise that you have at least some working knowledge of a computer is and what the different pieces are. It has no pictures to help you along. The flowcharts are easy to follow. Following each flowchart is an explanation of each symbol on that chart.

Some examples of the subjects included:

Power Supply Failure
Video Failure
Motherboard, RAM, CPU failure

The Laptop Repair Workbook

This book covers laptops and is very similar than the previous book. It only makes sense to have a laptop troubleshooting book. Laptops by there very nature have there own unique problems and can be more difficult to diagnose. This one is split into two parts. The first half of the book is a guide which gives a good overview of troubleshooting laptops. The second half we have the flowcharts with explanations following them. Some of the contents include:

Laptop Basics
Laptop Upgrades
Troubleshooting power problems
Laptop Video Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Laptop Overheating

Taking your computer to the local PC repair shop can be expensive. At the very least you’ll be more knowledgeable and less likely to be taken advantage of. If you solve the problem yourself you’ve already covered the cost of these books. If your a computer enthusiast or even an A+ Certified Tech I believe you’d find these books an essential part of your toolbox. They are written in a way that isn’t overwhelmingly technical nor condescending to the newcomer. Like I said before I wished I had gotten these books a long time ago and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

What’s in your PC?

2009-12-06T03:34:00.001-05:00

Ever wonder what’s inside your computer? Even if you open up your computer it may not tell you much. Sure you may be able to tell the what the components are(Example: Hard drive, CD/DVD Drive, Power Supply, etc..). Even if your lucky to find some manufacturing brand names you need a microscope and a decoder to decipher the markings. I find system information software a valuable tool.

Speccy is system information software from Piriform who are the developers of CCleaner(system cleaner), Recuva(data recovery), and Defraggler(defragmentor). They have a reputation of producing some well made products.

Speccy can be downloaded from the Piriform website. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll see when you use it:

It will give you a an overview of what’s inside your PC. If you click on any of these it will give you more in depth details. Like this….

For a program still in beta it works pretty well and I encountered no problems while using it. It’s a small program of about 1.1 MB so it’s a quick download depending on your connection. It’s not super in depth as far as information but, I believe it’ll serve well for casual and more experienced users alike wanting a quick snapshot of what’s inside. Being still in beta there may be more features to come. I hope they keep it simple and quick. Best of all it’s got a great price..free.

Dissecting a hard drive

2009-12-01T13:23:00.001-05:00

I just recently pulled apart an old hard drive that I had lying around. I just thought I’d share what I found and post it here. I’ve had the urge to pull one apart for awhile but never got around to it. This particular drive was a 4.3 GB Quantum Fireball. I don’t even remember what computer this one came out of. It was perfect for the task.

First task was to unscrew the six screws on the top of the drive.

Part of what attracted me to take this apart was that it had Phillips head screws holding the cover on. Many have the TORX head screws which are more difficult to remove if you don’t have the right tool. But wait….

There were two TORX head screws hiding under the “Warranty void if seal is broken” sticker

. Since the warranty period is long past I plowed on. I was able to get a tool to remove the screws.

Then I took a screw driver to pry apart the cover.

We now see the inside of the drive which hasn’t been open since the factory.

It almost reminds me of an old record player.

This is the circuit board that is beneath the drive.

A close up of the actuator arm. You can see where there was space to add more platters. The platters have a mirror like finish. I just thought share this with others that may be curious as to what’s inside there hard drive. Have a great day!

Technorati Tags: hard drive,dissected,disassemble,inside

Recovering data from older hard drives

2009-11-29T03:22:00.001-05:00

I had a friend tell me had saved many of his hard drives from older PC’s he had and wondered if he could hook them up and look and recover his old data. There are a number of ways to to this. I suggested to him that he could use a hard drive enclosure or a some type of hard drive docking station. Most of which connect to your PC by USB port. They can be commonly found at places like NewEgg.com and Cyberguys.com and other geeky shopping places online. One thing to be careful of is the type of interface your drive has. Today the vast majority of drives have what is called Serial(aka: SATA) interface. If you’ve got a drive from an older machine chances are you have an IDE(or Parallel). Be careful when ordering to be sure which type you have. One will not fit into the other so there’s no danger hurting anything. Just the aggravation of having to get the right one. Good luck!

3 out of 10 laptops fail within 10 years

2009-11-24T03:03:00.001-05:00

According to a study by SquareTrade (a warranty company) 31% of laptops fail within the first three years of ownership. This isn’t too surprising given that laptops by there nature take a lot of use and abuse. It also shows that the popular netbooks are 20%(a projected amount) more likely to fail than there more expensive counterparts. ASUS and Toshiba have the best rates at about 16 % failure rate. Premium laptops tended to fair better. This may be due to that if someone pays good money for a big ticket item they’ll take care of it better. I thought this would be a good comparison if your looking to buy a laptop this coming Christmas season.

Source: Christopher Null: The Working Guy

GH: World Tour: Hotel California Expert Guitar, 100%, 355k (FC)

2009-11-21T04:08:00.001-05:00

I recently got this game for my birthday. It' very addicting. This is one of my favorite tunes on it so far. I'm only on "medium" level though. I do hope to get this one on "Expert" someday.

Are you computer literate?

2009-11-16T00:37:00.001-05:00

I’m not asking whether your a computer geek or nerd. Kind of like you don’t need to know how fuel injection works on a car in order to drive one. Some people still in 2009 have a fear or apathy towards computers. As sort of a computer geek myself I find this incredible. I’ve taken college classes where people would (and still do) turn in papers hand written. Many times they cite they don’t have a computer or have one but don’t have the time to figure out how to use it. I’ve heard of some universities providing laptops for there students. It is practically an essential piece of college life .

Computers are used in almost every business (and homes) today in some shape or form. They are quick and efficient for communication and information. Of course the primary means of sharing this stuff is by the Internet. Almost every business big or small has a website these days.

Being computer savvy has many benefits:

You can use your computer more wisely and be an educated consumer.
The ability to use a computer is almost essential in most careers and jobs.
When your computer literate you’ll be less intimidated by technical jargon and be able to take advantage of new technologies.

One of my goals in writing this blog is to help others overcome this fear or apathy. I was a computer newbie at one time also. I remember when I used to think when my PC told me I performed an “illegal” function I thought for a moment that the authorities were going to start busting down my door(or something like that). I’m not kidding. It’s a lot like taking care of a car. You don’t need to be an expert mechanic and be able to tear apart and build a car. You just need to know how to care for it and use it wisely and safely.

Illegal downloaders spend more music

2009-11-03T13:25:00.001-05:00

I have never understood the heavy handed tactics of the RIAA and others in cracking down on those who download illegal stuff. A recent study I found through Tech-Ex says that those that download illegally spend more on music (legally) than those that don’t. In other words they are biting the hand that feeds them.

Many of those who do download the stuff are more than likely music fans already and probably do spend more money on music in the first place than those. Instead they chose to take the “Us versus Them” mentality which turns off your strongest consumer base.

It also puzzled me why Youtube would crack down on video’s that use music. We’ve probably all come across those videos that the audio track has been removed. I think many people discover or re-discover music they like through video sites like YouTube and the like. I know I’ve spent many nights re-discovering music from my youth. You can find old music videos, interviews and other archive video from a particular artist that say ten years ago you’d never be able to see. It’s like a video archive that’s just waiting to be tapped. I don’t think the music industry in general can quite grasp what a gold mine they actually have.

PC Troubleshooting 101 : Check the obvious first

2009-10-30T13:41:00.001-04:00

A friend wanted me to look at his PC because it wasn’t working correctly. He wasn’t too specific. It would shutdown at random and wouldn’t start all the time. He gave it to me to take a look at it at home. I didn’t have time to check it out when he gave it to me. He said he heard a noise like something was loose inside. So when I brought it home and looked inside here’s what I discovered:

First we meet our patient, a Gateway PC about 4-5 years old with a Pentium 4.

Maybe you can spot the problem?

A little closer. What’s missing? The video card of course.

I wish all PC repairs were this easy. I’m not finished though. I reinstalled the video card and I thought I was home free. Upon restarting the PC would power up for a second or two and shutdown. I checked the power supply and that was good. I reseated the memory and that checked out OK. Checked the hard drive by unplugging it it had no effect. I was a bit stumped by this one. A bit defeated sort of started to fear the worst that the motherboard had bit the big one. I priced out motherboards and such so I could have as much information as possible when I talked to the owner. I left it at that for the day.

I came back about a day later thinking about how to go about this problem. I hadn’t talked to the owner yet so my options were still open. Just for the heck of it I turned the PC upright and I’m not sure if I adjusted the video card or not. I turned it on again expecting more of the same. To my surprise the PC continued to boot up. I was in shock and elated at the same time. Sure enough it booted to Windows XP and worked normally. I restarted it a few more times to be sure it wasn’t a fluke. So far to this point it still starts(as of writing this).

Of course I made the mistake of assuming I had seated the video card correctly. I ate a piece of humble pie and felt a little stupid. It’s a lesson in not overlooking the obvious things in troubleshooting a PC problem(or any problem for that matter). I still have the issue of preventing this from happening again. The PC is missing the plastic hold down piece for expansion cards. It won’t take much for the card to fall out again. Of course it can’t be a normal PC and just require a screw to hold down the card. A proprietary piece hardware is required. Meaning I’d have to find the exact same model(or very similar) Gateway PC to fix it. Unless I get lucky in finding one I’ll have to fabricate something. If anyone has any ideas let me know.

Well thanks for coming by and have a great day!

Technorati Tags: pc,computers,repair,troubleshoot,gateway

A Day at the Office

2009-10-30T03:09:00.001-04:00

Who say's all office work is boring?

【Dale Carnegie】 How to analyze and solve worry problems

2009-10-29T13:55:00.001-04:00

I've just finished reading this book and I thought it was great. Here's a short video I found that summed up some good points about it. I'll be writing more about this in the future.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

2009-10-26T03:09:00.001-04:00

With Windows 7 just released you may be wondering if you’d like to upgrade your current PC. You may consider using the official Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Tool from Microsoft. Though I don’t really think I’ll be upgrading soon I downloaded it and gave it a shot. Here I’ll give you a look at what to expect. This is on Windows XP system, if you have Vista it may look a bit different. First you’ll have to download it from here and install it.

After you install it click “Start Check” button in the corner.

The program will start checking your system for compatibility to Windows 7. They weren’t kidding either when it says “This will take a few minutes”. Though I didn’t exactly time it I believe it took at least 10 to 15 minutes to complete. I’m not sure if it was because of my system or that’s the nature of the program. Maybe someone else can tell us of there experience with this.

In the end you’ll receive a report that looks like this telling you if your system and software is compatible. Just from a quick look at this I’d have to upgrade my graphics card at least. Also I’d have to”perform a custom installation” of Windows 7. This short for clean complete installation of Windows 7 from since it cannot upgrade directly from XP. I didn’t click on the links because I was running short on time when I did this. I imagine the links bring you to pages on the web to assist you.

Good luck and I hope this would help you out. Please chime in and tell us of your experience with this and Windows 7 in general. I may run this on my wife’s laptop which has Vista and see what it comes up with. Thanks for coming by!

Technorati Tags: windows 7,advisor tool,software,windows XP,7.xp,microsoft,download,how to

Bob’s Favorite Free Utility Software

2009-10-20T13:28:00.002-04:00

This is a list of my favorite utility software that I use to keep my machines running. Like your own body if you don’t take care of them they begin to slow down. These are all free to use but, be aware there may be pay versions you may want to use. I’ve tried many out over the years and some of these have stood the test of time while some I’ve only begun using recently.

CCleaner – This is one of my favorite utility software applications. It has stood the test of time and is quite useful. It cleans out temp files, cookies and other items that clog up your PC. It also has a registry cleaner, startup program editor, and add/remove programs. It’s interface is intuitive and is a snap to use.
Spybot Search and Destroy – This is another application that has been around for quite awhile. This cleans out malware that can slow down your PC. If you suspect your infected with spyware this is the tool turn to first.
Belarc Advisor – If you need a quick snapshot of what’s running inside the computer this is a handy little application. It will give you information on both hardware and software running in your machine. It’s not the most in-depth tool of it’s kind but, gives you a quick look into the machine without installing a huge program with information you don’t always need.
Auslogics Disk Defrag – As you use your PC it leaves around little bits and bytes around your machine. If not reorganized(defragged) occasionally it will make your drive work harder(and slower) and possibly shorten it’s lifespan. If you want something else to use to defrag your machine besides the built-in Windows version this is a good choice. It’s hard to tell if it’s quicker than Microsoft’s but, I think it does a good job. It has a friendly interface and even give’s you a percentage of how much you’ve improved your machine.
Panda Cloud Antivirus – This is may current choice of antivirus software. I’ve only started using this recently after it was suggested by someone. I’ve also used Avast! and AVG(Free versions) which are also very good choices if your on a budget.

These are my current favorite utility software applications. All are free for personal use. Read user agreements if you intend to use for commercial or business applications. If you have any suggestions of stuff I may have missed or comment about your experience with the above feel free to let me know. Thanks and have a great day!

Technorati Tags: utility,software,applications,free,ccleaner,auslogics,panda cloud antivirus,spybot,search and destroy,belarc advisor

Windows 7 Launch Party

2009-09-26T04:10:00.001-04:00

I first heard of this(thanks Geeks are Sexy!) I kind of silly to tell you the truth. Though I imagine the people at Microsoft wished you wouldn’t. If you don’t know Windows newest operating system called simply enough “Windows 7” is due to be launched on Oct. 22, 2009. I have not tried it personally but, from the hype it’s suppose to be much better than Vista. I’ve only had some experience with Vista on my wife’s laptop which hasn’t caused any problems so far.

To get back to the idea of a launch party for an operating system? Maybe it’s just me but, I’ve never heard of one (at least in my small social circle). Though many in Redmond, Washington may be excited about the launch Does anyone else get really excited about a software launch besides those launching it? The video does seem a bit on the silly side. I suppose if your in need of a reason to throw a party and your friends are on the geeky side it may work. If you need to get your geek on go for it!

Technorati Tags: windows 7,microsoft,launch,party,video

Is a MAC really a PC?

2009-09-20T22:55:00.001-04:00

David Risley over at PCMECH brought up an excellent point. The MAC despite all of the marketing hype by Apple a MAC is really a PC. I have to agree with him on this argument. Let’s see what makes up a personal computer:

Hard Drive
Processor
Memory(aka: RAM)
Motherboard(aka:system board)
Operating system software
Input devices(aka: keyboard and mouse)
Video display(aka: monitor)
Optical drives
Internet capability
Designed for personal home use

Now one can argue the finer points of architecture designed into Apple machines and how the are different from Windows or Linux machines. This is no different than saying a certain auto part is only designed and built for a Porsche. That’s fine but, it’s still an automobile just like a Ford.

Please don’t get me wrong I believe Apple machines are well built and are priced accordingly. If you’d like one and can afford one by all means go for it. I do disagree with the perception that a computer made by Apple is not a PC(Personal Computer).

Technorati Tags: mac,mac vs pc,david risley,apple,PC

Paypal Phishing Example

2009-08-12T12:22:00.001-04:00

Let’s see if you can figure out which is the fraud in the screenshot:

If you haven’t guessed it by now it is the first one. It is a little hard to tell just by a screenshot. The one thing that definitely gives it away is your address bar. In the second screenshot you’ll see your address begin with http://www.paypal.com the first one begins with some weird looking address that looks nothing like something from. Other than the spacing of the website it looks like a pretty good copy of the Paypal login screen. Another difference is that one of the blue tabs running across the top are different. The fraud has “Developers” and the real one has “Shopping”.

The another difference you can’t see is that on the fraud page none of the links are clickable except for “Log In” button. If you run your arrow over them nothing happens. Of course you can enter information for your username and password which of course is what the bad guys want.

This is the original email this fraud was found through:

If you look at one obvious thing at the top is that the email address is from a Yahoo.com account. Unless budget cuts at Paypal have forced employees to conduct business through web based email accounts this is a dead giveaway. Second of all Paypal clearly states that it will never email you to login. If you click on anywhere on the page it brings you to the fraud page I first showed you up top. If you get this email delete it immediately. If you suspect something is awry with your account login through the normal procedure which is to go through http://www.paypal.com and login as you normally would.

Technorati Tags: paypal,phishing,fake,fraud,example

Assessing the value of Facebook

2009-08-10T15:36:00.001-04:00

My morning routine involves coffee, Internet, email and Facebook. My use of of the popular social networking site has increased tenfold in the last six months or so. I sometimes check on the hour to see if I've had any updates or to add one of my own. At first when I signed up for an account I had only a few friends and I didn't really check on it too much. As more of my friends started using it my use has increased also.

It has also become something you exchange along with you email and phone number when exchanging contact info. Though it has it's silly side with quizzes, games and other nonsense it does have the feel of a more mature site. Just how does this Internet phenomenon add value to your life, either in a personal or business sense?

Personally I find it a great way to keep in touch with family and friends in a non-intrusive way. In today's world our time constantly being filled up with everyday life event's like family, work, business or personal issue's. We don't always have time to chat with our friends or family. Coordinating people's schedule to chat on the phone or meet up for lunch can be a major challenge to some. Email's can be lost in shuffle between spam mail or lost in a inbox with hundreds of other messages that we'll get to tomorrow. With a simple status report on our Facebook wall or by adding some photo's we can keep others up to date with what were doing. You can keep in touch with those that live far away and have minimal contact with in real life.

I think this a great way for families that only seem to gather for weddings, funerals or holidays to stay in contact during the in between time. Photo's can be shared along with birthday messages. I've been able to keep up with my cousins who live long distances away and find out how they are doing. I find out family news long before I would have through the tradition grapevine of family gatherings and other traditional social events of the past.

Another benefit is to find old school friends to see how they have changed. Though this can be a double edge sword sometimes. Not everyone probably wants to be in touch with their third grade tormentor. The good thing is that "friending" someone is strictly voluntary so you can weed out the undesirables. The benefits I think outweigh the negative though. It's nice to see how old friends are doing. I've made new friends along the way too that I perhaps didn't forge a relationship in real life. You may even find old flames on Facebook that you

may be looking for.

Another valuable thing is that you can learn a lot about people just by what they post(or don't post). The numerous silly games and quizzes can give you insight into people that maybe you've missed in real life. You can (depending on how much information they reveal in there privacy settings) find out tidbits of info about friends or family that you may have known only a little about.

It can be a way to keep business contacts informed and to maintain professional relationships. A word of caution though, businesses and upper management can use this information for or against to you. You may want to think twice about becoming friends with a superior or someone else that may find some of your personal habits or postings disagreeable. If you call in "sick" refrain from posting picture's from the beach you went to the same day or you may have more time on the beach than you like.

Many businesses, celebrities, musicians, politicians, causes and many more well known entities also maintain a Facebook accounts. This can be a personal way to market there items without being overly commercialized. I keep up with Slash (formerly of Guns'N Roses) does every day along with what former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has to say.

Overall I find it very beneficial being on Facebook. It is a way to maintain contact with friends and family in a non-intrusive manner. You can find old friends you went school with or rekindle an old flame of yours that perhaps got away the first time. You may even learn more about your friends and create stronger relationships with them. Celebrities, groups, businesses may stay in touch with their fans that has a more personal touch and less commercialized or faked message than mainstream media outlets. Facebook has an excellent balance of friendliness, fun and maturity that I find very appealing and addicting.

Originally published on Helium.com

Technorati Tags: social networking,facebook

Google Voice

2009-08-04T14:21:00.001-04:00

Here is a program that’s causing all the fuss with Apple/iPhone/FCC. I didn’t know much about it. I can see how this can have many applications to business(big and small) and personal use. Check out the video which explains more:

Currently you need an invitation to use the service, though it is soon to be open to U.S. Service members which scores points with me. I sent my request in for an invite so I’ll see what happens. Click here to see official website to sign up for an invite if you don’t already have one. See what iPhone users are missing out on.

Technorati Tags: google,voice,military,video

Use caution bringing computer in for repair

2009-08-01T02:58:00.001-04:00

This report found through PCMECH shows computer tech’s rifling through personal customer files. To make matters worse many of them over charged or exaggerated the repairs needed. In one case they charged for a repair that was never done. This isn’t the first type of report like this that I’ve seen.

Use caution should you have to bring it to a technician. If possible back up your data and remove it. and do a good cleaning with something like CCleaner to clean out history and passwords. If possible encrypt private files.

People that do this are unethical and possibly breaking the law. They also give your honest technicians a bad reputation. When I’ve repaired or troubleshoot someone's PC I do my best to do work without going into personal files or data. 99% of the time it isn’t necessary nor none of my business to go through personal stuff. Good luck and be careful.

Technorati Tags: pc,computer,repair,dishonest,shoddy,unethical,shop

Meta-iPod: iTunes tune up

2009-07-30T14:06:00.001-04:00

I followed up on yesterdays post on iTunes updating and organizing your music. I’ve found over time your music can accumulate duplicate tracks, missing album artwork, messed up names and so on. I downloaded and tried out meta-iPod: the iTunes cleaner. It works pretty well and I thought I’d share may experience here.

First you’ll want to start up iTunes then start up Meta-iPod. This is the current version 1.61.

To start analyzing you click on the great big green Start! button.

The program will start analyzing your data.

Individual buttons will become colorized as they become available. The red numbers below indicate the number of tracks affected. You then select one to work on. I didn’t try every feature but, I’ll touch upon a few.

Fix Duplicate Tracks: As the name implies you can eliminate duplicate tracks with this feature. You can auto-select the choices or manually click the ones you want to clean up. After you made choices click on “Delete checked tracks” and say good bye to clutter.

Fix No Album Art Tracks: One of my pet peeves about iTunes is that they miss a lot of album art especially from ripped CD’s. This feature let’s you add album art from multiple sources so chances are you’ll find what your looking for.

When you double click on a selection it will search for artwork from multiple locations on the web. I’ve found this can be a bit slow depending on your Internet connection and hardware. Also I seem to get a small glitch like the one below:

I haven’t investigated this problem yet. I clicked on “Continue'” and I was to proceed without much of a problem.

Continuing on, when you scroll down and find artwork that matches your selection you double click it and it will be added to all selections from the same album. When you click on “OK” it will update iTunes.

Despite the minor glitch in the artwork selection I liked this software very much and I do recommend it.

Technorati Tags: itunes,meta-ipod,tune up,apple,ipod,music

How to update and organize your iTunes

2009-07-29T14:15:00.001-04:00

Like many people I use iTunes to organize my music. To be honest I did not know of many of these tricks and tips from PC World. I’ll be checking some of these out.

Technorati Tags: itunes,manage,organize,pc world,music,update

Linux vs. Apple

2009-07-27T13:03:00.001-04:00

I’ve seen plenty of debate of Apple versus Windows over the years. I’ve even seen some heated discussions on Linux taking on Microsoft. Rarely have I seen debate on Linux going up against Apple. I ran across this article by Matt Asay of CNET News. The original article I sense is not about picking on Linux but, trying to learn from the way Apple does business.

For the record I believe that Apple is different from Linux(and Microsoft) is that they design and build their computers from top to bottom. That includes design, operating system and so on. I believe they do it very well and are able to produce quality products that people love. They do put the customer first in this respect. Are they perfect? No they aren’t but they have been very successful. Will they ever topple Windows based computers? I highly doubt it.

Windows and Linux are operating systems. They do not build or design the computers that the software runs on. In many ways they are at a disadvantage to Apple. Windows and Linux cannot possibly test their software on every type of PC produced. Apple is able to focus and test their software on hardware they designed. Of course it’s going to run well. When you buy an Apple computer you get the whole package. The hardware and software is designed to work together. Now Windows and Linux has to work with a multitude of computer manufacturers.

What Apple also does well is that they focus on the end user. Most people want a product that is easy to use, practical, built well and stylish. Apple does bore people with the technical aspects of their products. They tend to focus on what the product is able to do. They also give there products easy to remember names like iMac, iPod, iPhone, MacBook, Safari, OS X, Mac Pro and so on. They also make there users feel as if they are part of a group that is exclusive.

Part of what keeps Linux from really exploding is in part due to it’s image. It’s looked at like something developed by geeks. This is not a new revelation by any means. They have come a long way from the beginning and have been improving. The sheer number different Linux distributions is daunting. This I believe is an obstacle to mainstream acceptance. When you by a Mac you know your going to get OS X. Buy a Windows PC you’ll get Vista. With Linux just picking out one can be time consuming and confusing. When you go looking around for Linux you get a huge variety of names like Puppy Linux, PCLinuxOS, Ubuntu, Mandriva, Debian, RedHat, Mint, OpenSUSE, BackTrack,FreeBSD, Fedora, Slackware, Gentoo, CentOS, Sabayon, DamnSmallLinux, Mepis and the list goes on. Then when you start looking more into it your hit with unfamiliar terms like Gnome, Kde, Xfce, GUI, kernel, Terminals, mount, unmount to name a few. The Linux community should get behind one or two distributions and focus resources on them. Too many distributions is confusing to the consumer at large. You ask a hundred Linux enthusiasts what there favorite operating system is your likely to get close to a hundred different answers.

If Linux is to be seriously considered a major contender for the desktop user(mainstream) it needs to make the end user there focus. Most consumers want something to plug in and use right away. Not something they need to spend hours upon hours figuring out or getting used. Don’t get me wrong here I do like Linux(I use Xubuntu). It’s fairly easy to use but, I’ve taken the time to learn about it. I have a friend who constantly tries out different ones. That’s his style but, I wonder why not just pick one and run with it.

Mafia Wars Etiquette: Energy Packs

2009-07-27T02:39:00.003-04:00

Energy in Mafia Wars(on Facebook) allows you to do jobs to earn money and experience. It can be frustrating when you use them all up. Energy points are refreshed at a rate of 1 every 5 minutes. Fortunately your associates can send you energy packs as gifts. This will refill your energy plus give you an extra 25%.

You can only be sent one energy pack once every 23 hours. Once you start building your Mafia you’ll probably start receiving energy boosts like clock work every day(23 hours). It is I believe a common courtesy when receiving an Energy Pack to also pass it along to your group.To do this click on the “Use energy pack” button to receive your energy.

Next you’ll be asked “Send energy to your mafia”. Click on that button.

A pop-up will appear and you can now click “Send Energy Pack”. This will send an energy pack to everyone in your mafia. Think of this as “Paying it forward”.

Another tip is that before accepting your energy pack go and use what energy you have on hand and then go and receive your energy pack. This will maximize your energy you receive. Have a great “Mafia Monday”!

Technorati Tags: facebook,mafia wars,energy pack,etiquette

Recycle your PC Today!

2009-07-25T09:21:00.001-04:00

Technorati Tags: recycle,recycling,computers,computer,pc,free geek,providence,rhode island,new england tech,warwick

Social Networking: Mafia Wars on Facebook

2009-07-24T03:30:00.001-04:00

Now you can join the mafia without the unhealthy benefits. Facebook is loaded with games(or time suckers as I call them). Mafia Wars by Zynga is a popular game you can play that let’s you join and build your own mob. You first create your character and then you start building your “family” through your Facebook friends.

You can move up in your mob by doing jobs and fights. You can purchase weapons, property, vehicles and more. Win special loot on certain jobs or fights. I have been amazed on how addicting this game is.

One quick suggestion. To add to your mob requires you to add people to your friends list. I’d advise to go through you friends first. If your going to add strangers to your list I’d suggest creating a friends list on Facebook and editing your privacy settings to restrict access to your personal information. You can’t be too careful these days.

This game is free but, you can purchase extra “Godfather” points if you want to go that route. They’ve got to support themselves somehow. Zynga does do a good job on this game with a polished look a very intuitive layout. If you’ve got time to kill it’s fun and addictive.

Technorati Tags: facebook,mafia wars,game,zynga

Social Networking: Opt-out of FaceBook ads

2009-07-22T14:08:00.002-04:00

By default your FaceBook account allows your profile and picture to be used in advertising by friends or businesses. Though many times this could be a harmless thing if advertising for something like candy or a cause. If your face were to be used for a dating service your significant other or spouse might be a bit peeved.

This is the way to opt out of this option.

1. Go to Settings

2. On your settings page go to Privacy and click on the “manage” link.

3. Click on “News Feed and Wall”. On the next page click on the “Facebook Ads” tab.

4. Click on the small arrow next to “Only my friends” and you’ll see a drop down and here you can choose “No one”. After you made your choice click “Save changes” and your done.

This should help save you from any embarrassing moments and protect your privacy too. Have a great day!

Technorati Tags: social networking,facebook,opt out,ad,advertising,privacy,how to

Computer Hardware Guide

2009-07-20T13:53:00.001-04:00

Every wonder what all those connectors and slots are. Hardware has gone through many phases and hardware changes it’s hard to keep up. Here is a handy reference guide I found at “Geeks are Sexy” . It even includes hardware from Apple computers. The poster also shows how hardware has changed in the short history of PC’s which is kind cool too. It can be viewed in your browser or perhaps printed out for a handy poster or flyer. Click on picture to got to original source.

Technorati Tags: hardware,guide,computers,computer,pc

Free Geek and New England Tech Recycling Day

2009-07-18T04:18:00.002-04:00

One week from today Free Geek Providence and New England Tech are teaming up to recycle your old computer* equipment. It helps you clean up the environment by keeping old computers from going to the landfill. It also helps you reclaim your closet or basement from old electronics. HOT 106.3 FM and Pawtucket Red Sox mascot will be joining the event.

The event is to be held at New England Tech, Saturday July 25, 2009.

New England Tech

2500 Post Road,Warwick, RI

9am to 1pm

*a $10 fee is applied to CRT type monitors

Laptop Hunters saga

2009-07-17T04:14:00.002-04:00

I have to admit I’m a bit behind on the latest round of MAC versus PC(Windows). I find much of it silly and funny. I do know many MAC users can be very defensive about their choice of computers. I once posted a short post about their Safari browser and was soon barraged by hate mail/comments from MAC users. Maybe this post will also incite some of them too.

I’m not to sure what makes MAC users so rabid. I’m a PC but, I don’t hate Apple owners. To be honest they make high quality computers but, along with that goes the high price. It’s like comparing Porsche to Ford. One builds high performance sports cars which are pricey but other markets to the masses with vehicles ranging from trucks to small cars. Both will get you from point A to B.

The ad points out a simple thing which points to one thing I don’t understand. Why pay for high priced computer when something of a lower price will do what you want it to. Is it the image? I agree in many circles as video and graphical artist and such prefer MAC’s and that’s fine. Does everyone need that capability? No.

Most people just need a computer to surf the Internet, check email, play games, and some small office/school stuff. All the stuff a relatively inexpensive Windows based computer will do. Well I just thought I’d add some fuel to the fire of the debate.

Technorati Tags: apple,mac,versus,vs,pc,microsoft,laptop,hunters,windows

Music: Amazon

2009-07-16T13:40:00.001-04:00

Since it’s become unprofitable due to draconian measures taken by RIAA to stop illegal mp3(music) downloading where can you buy music? Well iTunes generally has cornered the market due to it’s popularity of the iPhone and iPod. iTunes generally gets all the press and glory. Music is available through other legitimate sources.

Amazon which built it’s empire selling books also sells mp3 music. Though I have used iTunes I actually prefer using Amazon for searching for music to download. Originally started using Amazon due iTunes having DRM(Digital Rights Management ) encoded in the music. Which meant you had limited rights to play your music on so many devices. Which to was like if you bought a CD of music you could only play it on players made by a certain company. Apple has since changed this and has loosened it’s grip. The other reason is mp3 format versus AAC format. Technically speaking AAC format is the better format, The mp3 format I believe offers more freedom to be used with many more devices. Plus I think I have a bit of rebelliousness towards iTunes and Apples grip in this market so I wanted to try something different.

Amazon offers a wide variety of music and is well organized in a way that is easy to search through. I’ve rarely searched for something and not found it on Amazon. Prices for albums are generally $9.99 but they frequently have special for albums for $4.99 or less which can have some gems if you search through. Individual songs are anywhere from $.69, $.99 or $1.29. Amazon does have a download helper which is a small download and automatically downloads your purchase and will integrate with iTunes or other media players. It’s fast and easy and you can be listening to your purchase in minutes(depending on your download speed).

This is just my personal preference. If you have an iPod or iPhone I’m sure you’ll go with iTunes. Otherwise Amazon music is a very good choice in my opinion. What is your choice for music download purchases?

Social Networking: Facebook Etiquette

2009-07-15T13:46:00.002-04:00

On many social networking sites it seems as if anything goes. Part of Facebook’s appeal I believe that it is a bit more mature or refined than most. Here are a few etiquette tips to help keep your friends and not to annoy them. It may also help your experience on Facebook less of a headache and keep it fun and informative like it should be.

Will you be my friend? Develop a criteria for accepting friends. Some like to include everyone and others are more selective. Keep in mind that the more “friends” you invite the more activity you’ll encounter on your wall. More quizzes, event invitations, updates about bathroom habits, application invitations, games, chat sessions and so on. Some are fun but they can be annoying to some. I wouldn’t friend someone just out of the blue if you don’t know them. Depending on your privacy settings you could be letting a perfect stranger view your personal information. It’s advisable to think about organizing your friends or contacts and adjusting your personal settings to what they can view about you.
I just dropped a big one in the ….. Most people don’t want constant updates. Especially ones from the bathroom. Updating your status every two minutes can be annoying to some and may show how little life you have. Depending on your friends will decide your level of class or taste you display. Keep in mind also your boss,parents,clergy members, or spouse may be on your list getting updates of your latest antics. Use common sense.
Which 2009 song are you? Quizzes are all over the place. Many applications also do this.Almost ask you to share with 10 friends or more. Be a bit choosy in who you pick for this. Sending too many can be very annoying to some. If your friends will be interested then go ahead but, try not to send every quiz to everyone on your list indiscriminately. They can also be on the NSFW( Not Safe For Work) category. Most applications or quizzes will give you an option to skip this step somewhere on the bottom of screen if you wish to opt out.
Facebook Chat. Just because someone shows up in your chat window means they are willing to strike up a conversation. You can adjust your settings to limit who see’s you online. Be considerate that some may be busy or away from the computer. Send a greeting or ask if they are busy first. Don’t be offended if they don’t respond.

These tips are intended to keep your experience on Facebook positive and fun. Use common sense when using Facebook and don’t annoy others. Yes there is a certain amount of fun and silly stuff that goes on but, try and keep it in moderation and consider who else is viewing your updates. Though I don’t see it as much keep the “Poking” to minimum. Your significant other may not be too pleased.

Source: Print - PC World, August 2009, Page 99

Office 2010: The Movie

2009-07-10T13:10:00.001-04:00

“Word.”

This is a hilarious video promo for the new Microsoft Office 2010. We see the grave of Clippy(1997-2004) the annoying office helper. A rogue font has been released over the Internet and Clippy’s old partner must get over his loss to help fight this new threat.

Microsoft has struggled to get people to switch from previous Office versions to the newer Office 2007 version. 2007 featured the newer “ribbon” interface. I do have this version and it does take a little getting used to. I took a computer class last fall which used Office 2003. I had to figure out how to do 2003 stuff on 2007 with the new interface. I loved the “Word” hand sign. Enjoy the video.

Technorati Tags: microsoft,office,2003,2007,2010,the movie,word,parody,video,humor

Source: Tech-Ex

Recycling your PC

2009-07-08T13:56:00.002-04:00

Free Geek Providence and New England Tech are teaming up to recycle your old computer equipment. It helps you clean up the environment by keeping old computers from going to the landfill. It also helps you reclaim your closet or basement from old electronics.

The event is to be held at New England Tech, Saturday July 25, 2009.

New England Tech

2500 Post Road,Warwick, RI

9am to 1pm

Blogger vs. Wordpress

2009-07-07T14:23:00.001-04:00

Over the last six month’s or so I moved my PC blogging over to YourPCNeeds.info using Wordpress. To be honest it took some work to get the bugs out but, I was able to get it to run. Maybe like yourself you’ve read countless blogs saying Wordpress or others like it are the way to go for serious blogging. This may be true for the serious blogger. I don’t feel it may be right for those starting out on a budget with limited time. To set up Wordpress takes time to figure out and to maintain. Admittedly you’ve have a lot more flexibility and ownership of your site dealing with design and content.

What Blogger does offer a simplicity in design and speed to get you off the ground with only a small learning curve. I believe when your first starting out the last thing you need to do is dealing with Wordpress themes, themes dealing with php., plugins, updates, using ftp. Many of these things do take time to master. Sure it may be simple to many but for someone starting out I believe you can get caught up into dealing with trivial issues when you could be creating content you need. A blog is nothing without content.

Case in point: Recently I wanted to add some polls to find out what readers wanted. I tried on my Wordpress blog to add plugins to add them. I spent well over an hour dealing with it and in the end the polls still did not appear on my blog. Frustrated I came over to this blog and I had a poll up and running in about 5 minutes. I also started another poll on another blog I have. Pardon the cliche but time is money. I don’t mind spending some time and effort for something thats worth it. Blogger I grant you doesn’t have the fanciest designs or themes but they do offer something that will get you up and running. Also if you want your own domain you can get one through Google Apps(GoDaddy) for $10 that is super simple to setup. I have already done it for another blog mine and I’ll be doing it here soon. OK that’s the end of my rant. Have a great day!

Please help me help you

2009-07-07T04:45:00.001-04:00

I’ve posted a poll here to find out what my visitors are most interested in reading about. This is to help me focus my efforts to better help you and others that come hear. This blog and my other tech blog at yourpcneeds.info has at times, admittedly lacked focus and attention to those most important: my visitors. This is your chance to have a voice in the content here. Thank you for taking the time to fill out the poll and I highly encourage any constructive comments you may have to make this blog better serve you and others. Have a great day!

Love your Geek

2009-02-13T18:44:00.001-05:00

Best Girlfriend Ever : 1
Originally uploaded by JOHNNIE W@LKER

Do you love your Geek?

Personal Computing Today - How To Buy A PC

2009-02-10T01:11:00.001-05:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Personal Computing Today - How To Buy A PC

View more presentations from Mark Leeuwenburgh. (tags: desktop laptop)

Moving blog

2009-01-23T14:01:00.001-05:00

I’m moving my computer related blogging to my new blog at Your PC Needs. I’ll keep the older stuff here as it would be a pain to move all this stuff. I tried it once and the formatting would be messed up and it would look more sloppy than it already is(LOL). Thanks for coming by I hope you visit my new blog.

Free Geek Box

2009-01-19T15:41:00.002-05:00

Free Geek of Providence is starting to distribute Free Geek Boxes in order to the public. First you might say what is Free Geek Providence? They do a better job of describing themselves. Here’s an description from there website:

Free Geek Providence is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to addressing the digital divide by providing computer training, redistributing computer technology and providing volunteer opportunities to our community while maintaining relationships with responsible recycling partners.

For a small donation you can receive a Free Geek Box. What will it have in it? From what info I gathered from the website it’ll usually have a Pentium III,256 MB RAM, network card and some other options available at an extra cost(minimal). For an operating system they loaded with Xubuntu (Linux based) which is free. For more detailed information you can check them out the Free Geek Providence website.

Technorati Tags: free geek,providence

Dell Latitude disassembly – LCD cover

2009-01-13T01:26:00.001-05:00

I was asked by a friend to replace a lid cover to his Dell Latitude D600 notebook. In my previous post I I covered removing the keyboard and hinge cover. This was the first step in removing the lid cover. His was a bit scratched and the hinges were in poor shape just barely hanging on. Also the locking latch was not lined up correctly so it wasn’t staying shut. The tools you’ll need are the same as before. A small Phillips and flathead screwdriver are essential.

Here we have the left hand hinge which looks in pretty sorry state. It was very loose and there was space between the hinge in the case. This wasn’t going to last much longer.

Here’s our Dell with the keyboard and hinge cover removed.

First thing I did was disconnect the LCD display connector from the board.

It has a small ground strap and a wire connected to the LCD.

First I unscrewed the ground strap and then disconnected it. It has small handle to aid in pull.

Now I move on to the hinges. The left hand side has two screws and the other has one.

After the screws are removed it should lift right out of place.

Now I’m removing the frame around LCD display. In this case I’m just replacing the lid cover. This would a good reference if your replacing the actual LCD screen too. There are 4 screws along the top edge and 2 in the bottom corner.

After the screws are removed you can then begin gently prying the lid cover apart. I used a small flathead screwdriver. B gently when using this as you could damage the the plastic casing. They do make plastic tools to do this which I do have on order.

I now have the frame off.

Remove the screws holding the LCD display in place.

Lift and remove display. It’s that simple. To assemble just go in reverse order. Here I’m replacing the lid so I just lifted it out the old one and into the new one. I reassembled it. It was easier than I thought it would be. This took me about 30 minute or so. After I put it together and rebooted. It worked great. Thanks for coming by

Parts: Parts-People.com

Source: Dell Latitude D600 Service manual

Technorati Tags: dell,latitude,d600,lcd,display,remove,replace,lid cover,how to

Dell Latitude D600 keyboard removal

2009-01-11T14:36:00.002-05:00

Keyboards on laptops take a lot of abuse. Not only from constant use from spills, dirt, pet hair(and human) and keys popping off. Keyboard replacement is a common repair. On a PC it’s easy to replace. Go to your local computer store. Pick up a new one and come home and plug it in. On a laptop it’s not as simple but still easy if your a littler mechanically inclined. Here is how I took apart a Dell Latitude D600 keyboard. They are not all the same but I thing it would be a good example. All that you may need is a small Phillips screwdriver, small flat head screwdriver and a delicate touch.

First in this case you’ll have to remove the center plastic cover just above the keyboard. You lie the screen flat. In this case Dell provide a small notch on one side. Insert your small screwdriver there and gently start prying it apart. If you using a normal steel screwdriver use care as you can easily gouge break the plastic. There are plastic ones available I’ve found on Ebay.

This piece was held in by plastic hooks and snaps in place. Gently pull and pry the piece out. This piece was getting replaced anyway but still I tried to be careful not to damage anything else.

This Dell had two Phillips screws along the top edge holding the keyboard in place. I removed those.

I lift up along the back edge of the board. It was held in place along the bottom by some small hooks . Gently wiggling it out I see that a small ribbon is till attached to the base unit.

There is a small pull lever that aids in pulling this out. Gently pull this out and your home free.

This is the keyboard from underneath. You can then replace the board with a newer one. It took me about fifteen minutes to this task. To reassemble you just go in reverse order. It’s not as hard as you might think. As a word of caution. Like any other work you do in a computer be careful of ESD(Electro Static Discharge). You can use a wrist strap or touch any bare metal on the unit or elsewhere around your work area to rid yourself of static. Well good luck and hope this might help someone in the future. Next up will be replacing the lid cover to this same Dell Latitude D600 so stay tuned. Have a great day.

Sources: Dell Latitude Service Manual

Technorati Tags: dell,latitude,d600,keyboard,replace,remove,laptop,notebook,how to

Dell Latitude gets a boost

2009-01-10T02:58:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine asked me to upgrade his memory in his laptop. The patient is a Dell Latitude D600. It had been running with 512mb of RAM with Windows XP Professional. He decided it was time for a boost. I thought I’d show here just how easy it is to upgrade your memory in your laptop.

First step was purchasing the RAM. A common question for computer is what kind of RAM (or memory) do I get. With all the different types of RAM out there and not to mention the technical jargon it can be confusing. I don’t even understand many of them either. My favorite place to purchase RAM is Crucial.com. If you you go to there website they have a memory configurator which helps you out. They have a manual method which you look up your make, model of your machine. They also can scan your computer which takes any guess work out of the equation.

The parts and tools needed:

RAM – Crucial Part # CT12864x335, 1GB 200-PIN SODIMM 128MX64 DDR PC2700
Small Phillips head screwdriver

Obviously you need the Dell Latitude D600 too. The first thing you’ll have to do is locate where the memory goes. Well you flip over the Dell and it’s located in one of the secret compartments. Dell was nice enough to mark the door with a “M” just to side of it. It’s the 2” x 3” door just off center. It’s just located beneath the COA sticker in the picture . Located on the bottom is a small screw. Now is when you’ll get to use your Phillips screwdriver.

Once you open the door you’ll see your two banks of memory cards. Gently pull the two tabs alongside the memory bank.

Lift up and pull it out.

Insert your new new memory chip. Don’t worry they are notched so it only goes back in one way. Reassemble in reverse order. After all is put back together I rebooted the computer to make sure everything went well. It now has a healthy 1.25 Gb’s of RAM. This only took about 15 minutes to do. Next up will be removing the keyboard so stay tuned. Thanks for coming by!

Sources:

Technorati Tags: memory,RAM,upgrade,dell,latitude,d600,crucial,laptops,notebook,how to

PC shuts off randomly

2009-01-07T12:48:00.001-05:00

For a few weeks now my computer had been just shutting of randomly. I would lose video but fans and hard drive would still be running. At first I thought it was a quirk. Unfortunately it didn’t get any better. When it did happen I’d have to manually shut off PC (unplugging it). Wiggle wires inside and and usually would boot back up fine. At first I thought it may be the video card being overheated. Then the other thought that it was a power supply problem. Either overloaded or something else. It happened today and I finally got off my butt changed out the power supply. When I pulled all the plugs out I noticed that the 4-pin plug were singed black . Obviously I found my problem. I had pulled and reseated this one before and I had never noticed the discoloration. So my lesson for today is do a thorough check when reseating stuff. Don’t get impatient like I did and not examine a little closer. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

Hardware Specs:

HP Pavilion A705W
250 watt power supply(old)
450 watt power supply(new)

Technorati Tags: power supply unit,psu,burned connectors,video shuts off,random,power,lose,video,hp,pavilion,a705w

PC World Previews Windows 7

2009-01-05T13:05:00.003-05:00

Denny Arar shows some of changes in Windows 7 which Microsoft is promoting the leaner meaner aspects of the upcoming operating system. I haven’t personally used Vista much so I can’t comment too much about the complaints about it. It’ll be interesting to see how Microsoft responds to the criticisms of Vista.

Technorati Tags: windows,7,pc,world,video,denny arar

History: 40 years computer mouse

2009-01-03T12:37:00.001-05:00

The mouse is almost as old as I am. Ughh! Anyway I found this story of the history of the mouse interesting in this article by SolarLife at NowPublic . What made it more interesting is that Rod Holt has commented on the story. You might say who is Rod Holt. He was Chief Engineer and Vice President of Engineering of Apple during the Apple II era. An actual tech celebrity! Anyway what makes this particularly amazing is the stunning photograph’s they used in the story(like the one to the right). Yep that’s my mouse from my Macintosh Classic. Ok it a shameless act of self promotion but what the heck. Well have a great weekend and I’ll talk to you later.

Technorati Tags: history,mouse,40,apple,macintosh,classic,rod holt,apple II,computer

Learning Linux

2009-01-02T14:20:00.002-05:00

In my upcoming adventures with Free Geek Providence I’ll be encountering the operating system installation of a Linux based Xubuntu. To be honest I’ve only touched upon Linux as far as usability and real world testing.

I have tried some of the more popular ones like Ubuntu, Kubuntu. Xubuntu, Puppy Linux and Backtrack. Some have more of a learning curve than others. For someone used to a windows environment it can be intimidating. Terms such as KDE, Gnome, terminal server, command line, can be baffling to the new person(as they are to me to be honest). My goal is to try and weed through the jargon and understand Linux better.

I’ll be back with more about Learning Linux.

Technorati Tags: linux,ubuntu,xubuntu,kubuntu,free geek,providence,puppy linux,learning

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T13:10:00.001-05:00

I’d just like to wish everyone a happy New Year! 2009 will certainly bring new challenges ahead for me and for all of us. I wish all of you the best.

NewBCamp 2009

2008-12-31T15:00:00.001-05:00

The NewBCamp conference (or unconference) 2009 is a one day event that brings people together to learn about technology. It will be held Feb. 8, 2009 at:

Pepsi Forum
8 Abbott Place Park
Johnson & Wales University
Providence, RI 02903

Subjects to be covered this year are:

Social Media/Web Development
Graphic Design/Art
Hardware/Assembling
Software/Security

Admission is $10 you sign up here. You pay ahead of time or pay at the door. I’ve already signed up and I can’t wait to get involved. It’ll be exciting to learn new things and to meet new people.

This event is hosted by:

Free Geek of Providence – Helping the needy get nerdy

SofT ICE – School of Technology Industry Career Explorers Techie students from Johnson and Wales University

Technorati Tags: newbcamp,2009,johnson and wales,soft ice,free geek,providence,technology,unconference

What to do with old cell phones

2008-12-30T14:34:00.001-05:00

Be honest you have a few old ones in a junk drawer somewhere around your place. I know we do. I don’t think there is enough awareness about how to recycle your old cell phones. Like computers they do contain precious metals like gold and silver that can be extracted.

Free Geek of Providence is making the call out for your old cell phones as a fundraiser. It is to benefit Free Geek of Providence and also to benefit our environment by recycling responsibly. Starting January 1 they will setting up collection points. You can check out more info here at the Free Geek Website or drop off here:

Malachi's Fair Trade Coffee Shop
134 Ives Street
Providence, RI 02906

Technorati Tags: recycle,recycling,cell,phones,rhode island,providence,cellphones,free geek,free,geek

Gold struck in old computers

2008-12-30T12:07:00.001-05:00

So you think that old PC collecting dust in your basement or closet is worthless. You might think again after seeing this video. I wouldn’t advise anyone trying this stuff at home.

Source: Free Geek Providence

Technorati Tags: gold,old computers,recycling,pc,old,computers,recycle,parts,computer,free geek

How to build a PC to be continued

2008-12-29T13:12:00.001-05:00

I was looking through some of my old posts and realized I had begun a series on building a PC. For whatever reason I didn’t get back to it. I am going to continue on with the series very shortly. For now I’d like to bring us up to date to where we are. These are where we left off:

The next in the series I will cover the motherboard. This is probably the most important piece you’ll put in your PC. It effects many other choices along the line so it makes sense to cover this first. Thanks for coming by and stay tuned….

Technorati Tags: how to,build,pc,computer,motherboard,system board

A new focus for the new year

2008-12-28T02:53:00.001-05:00

I’ve decided for the new year I’m going to have a new focus on the year 2009 and beyond. Recently I’ve been reading more and more about recycling and reusing computer and electronic waste. I’ve also signed up to get involved with the local chapter of Free Geek in Providence. I also think it goes along more with my blog title and overall theme.

What my goal here is to share what I learn about computer recycling and ways to get more out of your old hardware.Some of the subjects I hope to cover are:

Recycling your computers and electronics responsibly.
Free and low-cost software (freeware,Linux, etc..)
More performance out of your existing hardware.
How-to’s for building, maintaining and using your PC.

It won’t be limited to these but they will be the focus. Like I said my goal is to share what I learn and help others get more out of there computers. If you have any suggestions for subjects or have any questions feel free to ask.

Technorati Tags: recycle,computers,electronics,pc,laptops,free geek,linux,recycling,providence,rhode island,ri

Puppy Linux in Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

2008-12-25T17:09:00.002-05:00

Here I do a couple of videos installing and using Puppy Linux in Microsoft’s Virtual PC 2007. At first I kind run into a snag but I worked out a few bugs and learned more about using the virtual software. It was fun doing it and I’m still learning about it. I hope your all having a great holiday!

Technorati Tags: linux,virtual pc,microsoft,puppy

Have a Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-25T00:26:00.001-05:00

Please come home for Christmas - Eagles

What is Free Geek?

2008-12-24T22:53:00.000-05:00

Technorati Tags: freegeek,free,geek,computer,recycle,electronic,recycling,providence,rhode island,ri,donate,reuse,linux,pc,personal computer

You may have noticed in some of my past posts mentioning “Free Geek” . I’ll attempt explain a little further. In a short and simple explanation they “Help the needy get nerdy” . Here is the official mission statement from Free Geek of Providence "Free Geek Providence is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to addressing the digital divide by providing computer training, redistributing computer technology and providing volunteer opportunities to our community while maintaining relationships with responsible recycling partners."

They are a non-profit group that helps those who perhaps can’t either afford or uninitiated get acquainted with computers. The goal is to provide both training in both building and using a PC. They use free Linux operating system that is both free and relatively simple to use. On top of that they can walk away with a PC they build themselves or earn by volunteering for the group for certain amount of time.

They do this using donated equipment. Computer stuff that is donated is gone through and tested. If obsolete is it is sent to a local responsible recycler rather than just sent over seas or dumped in the local landfill. Here is a video of what can happen to your old stuff from 60 Minutes. If it is reusable it is used for building units either for the volunteers(to earn) or for sale in a thrift store or online.

This is just a small snippet of what they do for the community. If your in the Rhode Island area and are interested in donating unused computer equipment click here to see more. The Free Geek that started it all can be seen here. Thanks for coming by and have a geeky day. What do you do with your old computer stuff?

Christmas Lights

2008-12-24T02:30:00.001-05:00

This video has been around for a few years now but I still love it. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Mac vs PC - Transformers Edition

2008-12-23T12:40:00.002-05:00

This takes the MAC vs. PC debate to the next level.

Source: Geeks are Sexy

Free Geek A Learning Experience

2008-12-21T18:58:00.002-05:00

More about Free Geek

Ubuntu Guide from PC World

2008-12-18T14:21:00.005-05:00

Here is an excellent guide from PC World on how to install the latest release of Ubuntu Linux. It can still be a little intimidating for the uninitiated to install a Linux software. They have made it a bit simpler. A guide is nice to have.

SpeedGeeking: Oso on FreeGeek

2008-12-17T09:18:00.001-05:00

A word from the founder of FreeGeek

Welcome to Free Geek

2008-12-16T14:28:00.002-05:00

I just volunteered for this. I can't wait to start. Here is the website for Free Geek Providence which is just starting up. They don't even have a actual location yet. They are looking for donations and volunteers. I'm looking forward to helping out.

Powerpoint - Fly in

2008-12-14T22:33:00.001-05:00

This is about using Powerpoint animations. This one in particular is called "Fly in". If you have any suggestions for how to clips using this and other programs please let me know. I'm open to suggestions.

Windows 95 in Virtual PC

2008-12-14T03:24:00.002-05:00

This is me using Microsoft Virtual PC Version 6. This is actually a pretty cool program which I installed Windows 95. The video is pretty self explanatory. Enjoy and see a glimpse into the past.

Befriend a geek this holiday season

2008-12-14T02:57:00.002-05:00

As a sat watching this I wondered is that how I look like in my basement typing away on the PC late at night. How sad. I am a geek.

Befriend a Geek from White October on Vimeo.

Windows History

2008-12-14T01:20:00.002-05:00

This is a screencast of a presentation I did for my computer class. I actually did a shorter version for the actual class so this is more of a "directors cut" version. It was an interesting project. I have been using Windows since the "95" version but knew very little of the earlier versions.