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Speed up XP : Do a Boot Defragment

 

A easy method to speed up Windows XP startup times is to make your system do a boot defragment, which will place all the boot files next to all other on your hard disk. Once boot files are nearer all other, your system will begin quicker.

On a lot of systems, boot defragment ought be enabled by default, but it might not be on yours. To make certain that boot defragment is enabled on your system, run the Registry Editor and go to the following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction

Edit the Enable string value to Y if it’s not already set to Y.
Exit the Registry Editor and reboot.
The next time you reboot, your Computer will do a boot defragment.

Command prompt here in Windows XP

This example will add a command prompt here to Windows Explorer. Basically if you right click on a folder you can choose this option and you can get a command prompt at that folders location

Create a file with the extension .reg and run it.

 

REGEDIT4

//  Open Command Window functionality to Windows Explorer

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Command]
@="Open Command &Prompt Here"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Command\command]
@="cmd.exe /k  \"cd %L\""

What To Do When Your Keyboard Fail

Do you think the keyboard is important?Try using your personal without it.Your personal will be nearly useless without the keyboard.And like all other Computer peripherals,the keyboard can and will put you down.

The keyboard is a easy peripheral and when it does go on the blink,you will be much improved off pyrchasing a untried 1 rather than considering repairing it,unless the problem is something easy like a stuck key.

TROUBLESHOOTING BASICS

As we look into problems with the keyboard,remember the check the obvious 1st and as with all problem solving procedures,don’t be tempted to take shortcuts. Follow these procedures to resolve basic keyboard problems.

KEYBOARD WILL NOT RESPOND

1st. Restart the computer. This sometimes will resolve a personal that has froze or locked up during the 1st boot up.

2rd. Look behind the system unit and check to see if the cable is fully inserted into the connector. Check to see if it is in the keyboard connector and not the mouse connector.

Shut the personal off and remove the cable from the system unit.Check to see if any pins or connectors have been bent or broken.

If all pins and connectors are good.Try connecting another keyboard and restart the computer. If the untried keyboard works,replace the old keyboard.

CHECK FOR KEYBOARD ERROR IN WINDOWS

If the untried keyboard ought fail as well,check the resource conflicts if your operating system is Windows 98 or Me.Click on Start,Settings,Control Panel,System, and Device Manager Tab in System Properties.

Windows displays your devices attached to your PC. Click the plus sign and scan the list for the keyboard. If you notice an exclamation point or a red X beside the keyboard,the keyboard has a problem.

Now highlight the keyboard,click the remove button, and click OK in the confirmation window. Close the Device Manager and restart the computer. The operating system will reconfigure the keyboard.

WINDOWS DID NOT FIX THE KEYBOARD

You have restarted the personal and the keyboard still does not work.Its today possible you have a faulty keyboard port.This might prove true if the 2nd keyboard failed to work on your personal as well.

Though it rarely happens,an error message will appear if the keyboard get hot.Stuck keys are also causes of error messages appearing on your monitor at bootup.

POOR KEYBOARD PERFORMANCE

Keeping the keyboard free from dirt and dust,is necessary to good keyboard performance. Liquid spills are basic and can be cleaned with a can of compressed air.

Your settings in Windows might also be the culprit in poor keyboard performance.To check your keyboard performance,click on Start,Settings, Control Panel,and double click keyboard.

On the Speed Tab,you have the option to control the Repeat Delay,Repeat Rate,and the Cursor Blink rate.The Repeat Delay is the delay between the time you press a important and when it responds. The Repeat Rate controls merely how fast the important repeats after it begins repeating.

Windows give you the capability to control features of your keyboard which will boost its performance, allowing you to do your tasks quicker.

While the keyboard is replaced rather than repaired, it is imperative that you learn troubleshooting steps to correct most keyboard problems.You might have problems with the keyboard late at night and you might require to get it working to complete a document you might require for work.Know how to correct problems and help others that might experience keyboard failure.

KVM over IP vs. Remote Access Software

With numerous IT departments operating in down-sized environments as well as under-staffed employees being forced to manage an extraordinary amount of mission-critical server room gear than what they can handle; the capability to remotely monitor and repair personal problems on the go is an important task in today’s modern data center.
Two remote monitoring options available for controlling personal over IP means will grant network administrators to view personal and access problems as they arise. Following we compare and contrast the 2 most common techniques of remote access personal management in the industry today.

Both hardware and software based remote personal management answers offers users valuable remote IP access when needed; however, all solution holds their own when comparisons are drawn between these one-of-a-kind solutions. Although, they all share 1 main feature – hardware based KVM over IP devices and Remote Desktop client based software do as though you are sitting directly in front of the target system, manageable from anywhere in the world with an world wide web connection.

A closer look behind the hardware component of KVM over IP and the software driven Remote Desktop makes them appear as 2 very similar remote access methods. In order to truly comprehend the important features as well as the crucial limitations of the 2 remote IP management products, here is a swift break-down of all individual solution.

KVM over IP Remote Access Management

KVM over IP is a hardware based solution which lets users to gain both in-band and out-of-band access to all the servers either connected to your KVM switch or directly connected to a single computer.

Late night trips to the data center to reboot 1 server have become a thing of the past because of this easy yet robust hardware component. KVM via IP front-end devices such as the Raritan Dominion KX101 will connect directly to a personal or a KVM switch and permits remote users to gain secure BIOS-level access to manage mission-critical servers. Remote IP management with products such as the Raritan Dominion KX or the
Avocent DS Series is conducted through a standard world wide web browser session. Front-end IP products work their magic by allowing remote users to gain full Keyboard, Video Monitor, Mouse access of the attached computer(s) from any location with world wide web connectivity.

Raritan's client software is automatically downloaded from the KX101; eliminating the require to install "client" software on all user desktop. Furthermore, Raritan’s client software supports most major Web browsers including; World wide web Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape and Safari (Macintosh). 
Using the Raritan example once more, up to eight users can remotely access the same server for teamed troubleshooting approach.

Remote Access Software

Remote Access Software programs takes advantage of easily loading software on the local personal or, in some cases, both local and remote computers, and lets users to view and take remote keyboard, mouse and video monitor to view and access servers in the data center from any location with world wide web capabilities.

Types of remote management software include VNC and PCanywhere. The Computer based PCanywhere can only be used on windows based personal systems. VNC on the other hand can be used in most operating system environments across the board.

Although most Remote Access software is easy to load and is free in most cases, you must install the remote management software on each machine in the data center that needs remote connectivity. Also, the bottom line regarding Remote Access Software is the fact that such a heavy concentrate is put on having the remote operating systems up and running at the application level for the remote session to work properly.
If the operating system crashes on the remote personal during remote connectivity at any time, users will be forced to take substitute ways to activate the remote computer. This will result in needing to physically reboot the remote server from a cold begin in most cases.

Using a platform independent software approach, VNC or Virtual Network Computing, for example, needs users to load software both client and server computers. In addition, the local and remote personal do not require to be running the same operating system.

Choosing the Right Motherboard for you

The motherboard is the heart of any computer. It is that huge flat board inside the personal that everything is connected to. It performs the role directing information and connecting components. A motherboard is often overlooked when choosing components. This is a scary thinking as the motherboard determines system performance as much as each other component.

Choosing the right motherboard does not have to be a problem, even though there is a lot to consider. We will begin off with the more massive parts and move onto the things that are less essential.

Firstly is the socket type. The socket is where the processor (CPU) connects to the motherboard. There is no compatiblility between sockets, so it has to be the right one. The socket connection needs to match the connection of the processor you have or the 1 you intend to purchase for the computer.
Most older Intel Pentium 4s utilize socket 478. Newer ones use socket 775. AMD chips utilised socket A for a long time, but today the AMD Athlon 64 series and Semprons use socket 939. Just check with someone as to what yours or your intended 1 will have.

Your choice of chip will have a lot to do with your needs, but choosing 1 with an up to date socket type will ensure slightly longer motherboard life as you can upgrade the chip for a while.

DDR is the RAM of choice for most systems, but some newer systems, which includes all Pentiums with socket 775 use DDR2. These 2 kinds are not interchangable and have a different number of pins. Both DDR and DDR2 come in different speed ratings measured in MHz. DDR has a usual 400MHz denoted as DDR400 or PC3200, while DDR2 can go a tiny higher and comes in slightly faster speeds. Just make it match what the board needs.

A motherboard must be chosen carefully, to both match all the other components and fit in the case you choose. A tiny bit of research before you purchase will save a lot of hassle afterwards on.