How to Perform Computer Surgery

How to Perform Computer Surgery

1. Find the right workspace. Good light, nice air and plenty of room are essential. Working in tight spaces or under your desk will benefit only your local repair shop.
2. Avoid Electrostatic charges. Unplug the computer. Even when powered off, some PCs deliver current to the motherboard, which can send a damaging shock to both you and your PC. Always ground yourself; Electrostatic charges can destroy your device. Use a grounding strap or touch an unpainted, metal portion of the chassis before unplugging the PC and handling hardware components.
3. Remove the cover. Some PCs have covers that pop off easily without tools; others require a small Phillips screwdriver or a six-sided torque driver. Place screws (and any other hardware you remove) in a cup or box.
4. Clear the path. If a rat's nest of cables and power cords hinders your way in to the interior of the case, remove them first. Labeling each cord and connector will save you time during reassembly.
5. Removing or replacing an expansion card. Start by removing the bracket screw that holds the card in the chassis. Handle the card on its edges only; avoid direct contact with any chips or circuitry. Apply even pressure across the length of the card when inserting or removing it, and make sure you don't bend the motherboard.
6. Changing a DIP switch or jumper. If you don't have a manual that locates the switch or jumper on the motherboard and describes how to set it, don't guess. A mistake can fry your motherboard. And be careful with jumper pins they can bend easily.
7. Adding or removing a hard disk drive. Prepare the drive first: Set any jumpers or switches on your hard drive to their proper master or slave settings before sliding the drive into a hard-to-reach drive bay. Sometimes it's helpful to use a small piece of compressed foam or cardboard to line up the drive's screw holes with those in its bay.
8. Check your connections. Just before putting it back the casing cover, recheck all your cables and connections one last time. Power connectors sometimes require a stiff push to seat properly.

Dos and Don’ts in Cleaning a Computer

This time I will share to you some do’s and don’ts in cleaning a computer. Cleaning your computer at regular intervals is extremely important. However, there are things that you should do and should not do in cleaning a computer.

Here are some tips which will help you clean your computer in the cleanest and safest way possible.

1. Cleaning you computer is definitely not a child’s play. Leaving your computer to a child to clean it can bring many irreparable damages to your computer. However, you can still do it in front of him/her to show the proper way of cleaning the computer.
2. Most people tend to clean only the external part or the visible dirt first. The right thing to do is to first clean the hidden dirt. This can be done using a vacuum cleaner. Use vacuum cleaner that have a special nozzle meant for computer cleaning only.
3. Do not spray any liquid or any cleaning solution directly onto your computer parts. Spray first the solution onto a small piece of cotton fabric and wipe the dirt using it. You can use a brush first to have an effective cleaning before using the cloth.
4. Cleaning the outer part of your computer can be safely and easily done using a wet piece of cloth. But delicate parts such as motherboard etc. should not clean with a piece of cloth at all, even if it is a dry. You can use a specific cleaning material such as vacuum nozzles or a compressor in cleaning delicate parts of your computer.
5. Computer are somewhat similar to humans, they can be sensitive and allergic to many things. For example, don’t force your computer to go for passive smoking. Eating and drinking near your computer is not recommended. Maintain a safe distance between your food and drinks with your computer. Also, buy only qualitative computer cleaning products to clean your computer. Not all computers are the same. They also vary on the way they should be clean. So if you are cleaning your computer for the first time, it would be better if you throw a look into the user’s manual. They always provide especially relevant tips on how to use computer cleaning products with caution.
   

How to Increase the Battery Life of your Laptop

One of the biggest advantages of using a laptop is the ability to save energy. Because your laptop has a battery that can last over an hour you can carry wherever you wanted to. But how can you save energy if your laptop remains to your wall outlet because it cannot last longer than an hour? Here are several tips on how to increase the battery life of your Laptop.

1. Darken the screen: Your laptop screen is found to be the most power-hungry component in your laptop. Your laptop screen needs high amount of battery power to maintain its clear and luminous display. To preserve this power you can adjust it’s brightness to a low level. Just good enough to our eyes.
2. Modify the power settings: Windows Vista powered laptop comes with several outstanding power features. It can help you get the most proficient performance when your laptop is plugged and optimize its life when it’s on the move.
3. Turn off Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is among the greatest battery power eater. It weakens your laptop’s battery from perpetually absorbing power from the battery even if you’re not online. If you are using your laptop outside from the wireless network it is more advisable to just turn off your Wi-Fi to save some power. If your laptop doesn’t have a function button to switch on or off your wireless adapter you can just go to control panel, access the Network Connections and disable it from there.
4. Switch off peripheral devices: USB sticks, mouse and webcams are the primary offenders in sucking out your batteries life. Utilizing USB devices also contributes in draining your laptop’s power, disconnecting it when not in use, ejecting your devices as soon as possible and switching off your laptop’s inbuilt webcam can help conserve your laptop’s precious power.
5. Invest in some computer hardware: Usually laptops come with a six cell-battery, but a lot of makers today already provides eight or even 12-cell elective upgrades, which will definitely double your power. If you can afford it then why not invest more, in the long run you will be surprise on how much energy and money you save just by investing on the right piece.
6. Disable features: Windows Vista has got new features, but most of them prove to be needless by an ordinary user or even to some expert users. One good example is the Windows Aero, switching it off not only it will help you save a small amount of power but it will also make your laptop more proficient.

How to Replace and Add memory to a Laptop

Adding memory to your laptop is a very simple process and it takes about 5 minutes. This method is so easy that even a person without knowledgeable in computers could do it. I am going to show you my simple steps on how you can replace/add laptop memory. No longer do you and your friends have to pay extra money to get a Computer Technician to do something you can do in 5 minutes. Begin by checking your system's user manual to identify the types of RAM for your laptop’s motherboard supports. (See How to Choose the Right Kind of Memory for your Computer)

Now let’s begin:

My First Steps:
Discharge your self to avoid any electro static charges in your body. Get a Philips screwdriver - yes, that really is all you need. I suggest that you make sure your screwdriver is not magnetized. If you insist on using a magnetized screwdriver for picking up screws make sure it only touches the screws.

My Second Steps:
Make sure you completely shut down your laptop, not in stand by, not in hibernate, etc. Remove battery as well.

My Third Steps:
Locate the memory cover located on the bottom of the laptop. The memory cover will be a square area with one or more screws to attach a cover to the bottom of your laptop. There are usually several compartments located on the bottom of laptop, some labeled and some not. Generally the cover for memory is square and 3 or 4 inches long/wide. Simply unscrew that panel and you should see the memory. Laptops generally have two slots for memory chips.

My Fourth Steps:
If both memory slots are full you may need to remove one or both memory chips to put in your new memory depending on how much memory you purchased and the size. To remove the memory from the computer you will need to locate the release levers generally located on each side of memory. You will need to gently pull the lever away from the side of the memory to release it. Once the levers are release you will be able to gently pull the memory out of the socket.

My Last Steps:
Now add the new memory to your laptop. Slide the new memory into the socket where the old memory was removed. You will need to be careful during this process as the memory only fits one way. Never force the memory into the slot. Once you have the memory in the socket you will need to gently press down toward the bottom of the laptop in order to secure the holding levers around the sides of the new memory. Now attach the memory compartment cover and start your laptop.

How to Choose the Right Kind of Memory for your Computer

Adding RAM to your PC usually delivers the most bang for your upgrade, but only if you buy the right kind of memory module for your computer. There are more types of PC RAM: Do you want SDRAM? Why not enjoy a DDR SDRAM? Before you buy begin by checking your system's user manual to identify the types of RAM your PC's motherboard supports. If you don't have the manual, visit the manufacturer's Web site and search for downloadable manuals or other tools that might help you find the information you need.

Before you buy, consider this the following:

Maximum module size: Find out the maximum size of memory module that your PC supports. Don't buy a module larger than what your motherboard's memory slots can each accommodate.

RAM and connector types: Determine which of the four types of RAM your system uses: DRAM, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, or RDRAM. All four types are mounted on one of three module types: SIMM, DIMM, or RIMM. Most machines support only one type of RAM and have one type of module or connector, so mixing types isn't an option. The few motherboards that do accept two types of RAM allow only a single type to be used at any one time.

Memory speed: SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, and RDRAM are rated to match or exceed the PC's front side bus speed, which is the speed at which data moves between the CPU and RAM. If your system comes with PC66 SDRAM, you can use PC100 SDRAM to replace it and get the faster speed, as long as your PC's front side bus supports the higher rate. But if you mix RAM of different speeds, all RAM will operate at the speed of the slowest chip.

Memory banks: On some PCs, the memory slot closest to the CPU--usually called bank 0--must be filled before the motherboard's other memory slots. On other systems, bank 0 must have the largest RAM module (if you are using modules of different sizes). There's no fixed rule, so check your PC's documentation.

Nonparity or ECC: If your system supports error-correcting code (ECC) and has more than 512MB of RAM, buying ECC memory may be worth the added cost. Large amounts of RAM are more likely to experience occasional, random errors (which may be caused by cosmic rays, among other sources). However, unless your current RAM is ECC, forget it; you can use nonparity and ECC modules together, but error correction will be disabled. To determine your type of memory, count the number of chips on the memory module. If the number is divisible by three, you have ECC or parity memory.

Column address strobe: The lower the CAS rating--or the CL rating--is, the better. SDRAM comes in CL2 or CL3 types, and DDR SDRAM comes in CL2 or CL2.5. Unless your motherboard requires a specific CAS or CL rating, get the lower (faster) rated module. Cost differences should be negligible. Again, if you mix modules of different speeds, they'll all operate at the slowest module's speed.

How to Hide File and Folder in Windows

Other method by protecting your data in your computer is by hiding it. Though, this quite simple but still can help hiding your data from other user. So here are some tips that will help you hide and protect your files and folders.

File
Body of stored data or information in an electronic format. Almost all information stored on computers is in the form of files. Files reside on mass storage devices such as hard drives, CD-ROMs, magnetic tape, and floppy disks. When the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer needs data from a file, or needs to write data to a file, it temporarily stores the file in its main memory, or Random Access Memory (RAM), while it works on the data.

Folder

A graphical user interface (GUI), a container for programs and files, symbolized on the screen by a graphical image (icon) of a file folder. A folder is equivalent to a directory in that it can hold both files and additional folders and, like a directory, is a means of organizing programs and documents on a disk.

To hide a file or folder

1. Open My Documents.
2. If the file or folder you want to hide is not located in My Documents or its subfolders, go to other drive and search for that particular file or folder.
3. If you can’t find it, use Search. To open Search, click Start, and then click Search.
4. Right-click the file or folder, and then click Properties.
5. On the General tab, select the Hidden check box.