Sunday, October 31, 2010

Top 5 Used Features in Microsoft Excel

We all have been impressed at some point by some magnificent graph created and presented by a colleague during a meeting. Those great charts were probably created in Microsoft Excel; in fact, this program is a must in any office environment. We all use Excel to do all kinds of things like handling sales figures, number calculation, data tracking and even to create those cool looking graphs. To give you a high overview of the capabilities of Microsoft Excel, here are its top five used features:


Data logging and tracking - you can't do this in Word because when you have a lot of information to track you'll find that using Excel can really save you time - and your sanity. You can enter number figures, names, addresses, months, dates, and any information and track it in a workbook.


Number calculation - You can add, multiply, and sales information. You can combine totals from different locations and create new totals. You can select from a large range of mathematical calculations options.


Create lists and group information - you can easily and quickly list series of number or words. You can group lists of information by filtering out pieces that you don't need.


Accounts Payable - Many small businesses use Microsoft Excel to track their expenses and gains instead of using fancy accounts payable programs. Even internal departments within major corporations use excel spreadsheets and workbooks to track their expenses.


Graphs and charts - you can create fantastic looking graphs using all this information that you track, log, group and list. You can see the relationships between different sets of data by portraying the data in a graph or chart.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Payer Player

It's a thought I have more and more frequently lately. Just where will it all end I keep having to ask myself as each new day seems to bring news of some new way to make use of existing technology tools.


And it's not always electronic or Internet-related. I remember being fairly impressed the first time I saw the pet food dish that someone had modified to make the feasting Fidos of the world slow down a little while they dined. This new-fangled idea involved adding slats to make four equal compartments all containing the pet's nourishment. At first I thought it was just a cosmetic touch. But then my girlfriend informed me that it was designed to make her little pooch eat slower. Brilliant. I need one myself.


But now comes the "Payer Player" guys with what could potentially be something as big as, as big as... well as big as Big Shaq, who's the primary sponsor for this novel approach to social networking. Heck, this thing is gonna make Shaq look downright puny!


Just imagine being able to work with your desktop applications and also watch YouTube at the same time. But without having your browser open. Yeah, you heard me. You can watch videos, text, send email, hold video conferences, find and invite friends from all over the web, all without using a browser while you simultaneously review Excel files, type Word documents and compose PowerPoint presentations. I can not substantiate the rumors that a planned update will also make your morning coffee, but that feature alone would make it worth the price.


And you can do all of this without having that ugly old browser covering up your whole desktop. Hey, there are some really smart girls and boys in this world!


And the really good news is that it was just released on August 1, 2009.


One of my business partners told me he became an affiliate and has been averaging three new members per day. Based on my understanding of trends, I predict that this exciting new social networking tool will go viral on a global basis in the time it takes you to read this article; in other words, lickety-split.


The possible uses for both personal and business purposes are essentially unlimited. Aside from the "fun factor" inherent in this new networking platform - it's virtually a do anything go anywhere browser-less web portal - the Payer Player creators, in addition to being savvy enough to hook Big Shaq as their spokesman, also offer financial incentives for both paid and free members of their rather generous affiliate program. Can you say "slam dunk"?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

A Little Bit of Flash Charts in Everybody's Lives

Searching for the right stock to invest in, the best area to shift to, choosing the right air conditioner, buying the right car, and even choosing the right pet food for your dog-we all want to know which brand is the best in our chosen category. Rankings, however, are never easy to find and only the right kind of charting can help you make a correct decision.


While going through a number of ranking systems covering a variety of consumer goods and financial matters, I came across a new and previously unknown variety of charts and tables that adequately and succinctly tells us exactly where to go to find the perfect bet. In a single, easy-to-comprehend table, all required parameters such as genre wise rankings are tabulated. The first word that came to my mind when I saw these charts is, pretty. They are not only extremely useful but they are a visual delight. This implies that the usage of these charts in any media will ensure easy attention and will convince a lot better. The charts can also be played around with to facilitate comprehension.


Most of the charts that I came across are based on an Adobe Flash Platform-the tables have extensive drilldown options and a lot of information can be included in within a mouse hover function. Also, clicking on a word or a number leads us directly to the homepages of the selected university where we can find more detailed information about our preferred courses. Most of these charting software websites provide us with extensive tutorials which help in and guide us into preparing the perfect data representation for our needs. On further investigation it can be found that the functionality of these charts is only complemented by the ease with which they can be created. Utilizing any one of the many charting software available, one can input data in a simple XML configuration, and these charts can be integrated with almost all scripting languages.


Compatible with ASP, ASP.NET, PHP, JSP, ColdFusion, Ruby on Rails, Python or even simple HTML pages, most charting software work with all databases including MS SQL, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, CSV or even legacy data storage.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Safenavweb - If You Need Help Removing Safenavweb Then Look No Further

Computer infected with safenavweb? Be very careful with this program because it can easily corrupt your hard drive. Although it is very dangerous, if you take the proper steps to protect yourself then you can remove safenavweb easily.


Safenavweb is a rogue anti-spyware program that will hijack your browser. A rogue program is one that gives you "false positive" spyware infection warnings while promoting their own spyware removal tool. Downloading this tool will simply infect your compuer further while compromising any confidential information you entered in order to get it.


This spyware program works in a few different ways. One tactic safenavweb uses is to hijack your browser and point you to their own homepage. They may feature products to download and "fix" your supposed spyware problem. Whatever you do, please DO NOT download any of their software. They are simply shell programs that could potentially destroy your computer.


Safenavweb can also work to hijack your desktop (often replacing it with the "biohazard" background) while bombarding you with with pop up ads and other warnings.. Again do not click on any of these pop ups. I would be very careful using your web browser as well because this spyware program will redirect you to different malicious websites.


Removing safenavweb can be done to different ways:


1. You can remove the spyware manually through the Add/Remove function in your control panel. You also need to delete the files associated with safenavweb in your registry.


2. You can download a spyware removal tool to do it for you.


I recommend option 2 for a couple of reasons. Unless you are a computer expert it can be difficult to locate and eliminate all of the files associated with safenavweb. You also run the risk of deleting necessary system files which can damage your computer even worse.


If you are not an expert I recommend scanning your computer with what I believe to be the best spyware remover on the internet. I have tested this program in the past and it had no trouble removing safenavweb. It will also protect you against future spyware attacks. Whatever you decide, do not let safenavweb linger on your computer, get rid of it ASAP.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Help! I Cannot Uninstall a Program

In today's age of gigantic, bloated software programs it's more important than ever to safely and cleanly uninstall unwanted programs from your computer. Failure to do so can result in performance problems, registry errors, and instability issues among other problems. Many programs can be easily removed using Add/Remove Programs (or Programs and Features if you are using Windows 7 or Vista) from the Windows Control Panel. However, this option is not always available and you might be left screaming, "Help! I cannot uninstall program." Well, don't fret, the cavalry has arrived.


If you cannot uninstall program because it does not show up on the Add/Remove Programs list, there are other options available. Some applications have their own uninstall program, which can usually be found on the Start menu under Program Files or All Programs. Navigate to the folder for the program you want to remove and look for an uninstall option. If there is no uninstall program listed on the Start menu, you can also check in the actual folder where the program is located, which will usually be in the Program Files folder on your C: drive. Look for a file named uninstall.exe (or something similar like uninst.exe or unins000.exe) and run it.


When no uninstall program is available, you can always try to reinstall the application if you still have the original software. Make sure you install it to the same location as you did the first time and then check if any of the uninstall options discussed above are available.


So what do you do when none of these options are available? Some users resort to simply deleting the program folder itself when they cannot uninstall program any other way. However, this is not a recommended course of action because it only removes the program files from your computer and does not actually uninstall anything. Furthermore, deleting the program folder can lead to registry errors and other problems down the road.


The best option at this point when you still cannot uninstall program is to turn to a third-party uninstaller program such as Perfect Uninstaller. You can use Perfect Uninstaller to remove any program from your computer, even corrupted applications that cannot be uninstalled by conventional means. This program also cleans up all registry entries and leftover drivers installed by your unwanted program. Stubborn and hard to remove programs can also be easily uninstalled, including Adobe, Kapersky Anti-Virus, McAfee Security Suite, and Panda Internet Security. Use of a professional uninstaller, even when you can or cannot uninstall program, can go a long way to keeping your computer running faster, smoother and error-free.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Should You Upgrade To Vista?

I have been using Microsoft Vista almost a year now. My main reason of upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista is that I believe newer operating system should work better with computer hardware and thus, increasing overall system performance.


I did not perform any performance test on my system to compare the performance before and after upgrading. However, I do feel that my system runs smoother when using Microsoft Vista except there are some minor glitches.


I have heard bad comments on Windows Vista and a lot of users were suggesting to use Windows XP instead of Windows Vista. Initially, I was a bit worried but I believe that I should try on new system since it has been on the market for quite sometime. Honestly, I never regretted after the upgrade.


Why Upgrade?


Themes and Usability


First of all, I should say Windows XP is good, maybe better than Windows Vista. Some users say that XP is good because they are used to it and refused to take the risk or avoid the hassle of upgrading. However, I have to be honest that after looking at the XP theme for so many years, it looks boring to me.


You might say that there are Windows Blind and similar programs to completely modify the look of XP but these programs consumes memory and are not realistic. However, I prefer themes that come built-in even though there are not many selections. Hence, upgrading is my choice to have a fresh OS looks while testing out Vista.


SilverLight


Microsoft is quite clever in naming technology. SilverLight aims to light up the web by providing next generation of web experiences. I have installed it but yet to test it out. However, I believe that it works similar to Macromedia Flash and Shockwave on the web.


Burning CDs and DVDs


Windows Vista does not need third party software to burn CDs and DVDs. You can just drag and drop using Windows Explorer and burn the files using a writer.


Drivers


As I mentioned, Vista contains the most updated drivers and my system works better and faster in Vista compared to XP. The installation is faster because all my hardware drivers are detected. In XP, I had to install my sound card driver, graphic card driver, mouse driver and some USB devices drivers.


Directx 10.0 is installed together with Vista Service Pack 1 and to get it on XP; you will have to find some ways to extract it from Vista Service Pack 1. There are guides that you can find by searching the internet. By having Vista,


I do not have to think of ways to get newer drivers or packages because they will normally be included in updates. Well, even the latest XP SP3 does not include Directx 10.0.


I like to play games and I notice some increase in performance when playing Need for Speed: Most Wanted in Vista compared to XP. Thus, I am convinced that my system is better tuned in Vista.


Security


Windows Vista User Account Control


I use a limited user account for my everyday tasks and do not usually log in as administrator. In XP, running software installation through user account is prohibited in limited user account unless you use Run As Administrator command. However, in Vista, the system will prompt for administrator account immediately when you try to install software using a limited user account. This is a lot easier because Run As Administrator command is not available for every executable files in XP.


Windows Defender


Windows Defender is preinstalled and it is a freeware for XP and Vista to protect against spyware, adware and potentially unwanted programs.


Windows Firewall


Vista includes XP original firewall plus an advance firewall feature that offers true firewall protection, including bidirectional filters, meaning that both incoming and outgoing data are scanned.


Parental Controls


As a parent, you will always worrying that your child may misuse the computer and internet. Parental controls allow you to set restricted sites as well as the hours that a particular user account can access. Using XP, you can set them through management console. However, Vista Parental Controls provides easier interface and manageable functions.


BitLocker Drive Encryption


This may not be recommended for normal users unless you have very important data in your hard drive and you would not want anyone to access it if your computer is stolen. On second thought, it is very useful for laptop users. This piece of tool encrypts the whole windows volume which will prevent unauthorized viewing of your hard drive.


Precautions


When I first installed Windows Vista, my CD drive could not operate normally. I had Windows XP in another partition and the CD drive worked perfectly in XP. Thus, you need to be careful on the type of hardware that you are going to use on Vista. I have since changed my CD drive to a DVD writer and upgraded my motherboard and graphic card. In other words, you should not upgrade to Vista if your system is too old.


It is better to have dual booting your system with XP and Vista. When I first got my broadband package, I ran the installation CD on Vista and it could not detect the broadband. Thus, I had to run the installation CD on XP in order for it to configure broadband settings.


Verdict


It is certainly worth upgrading to Vista. You may think that most of the software such as Windows Defender and SilverLight can be installed into Windows XP, however, the point I am making is upgrading to Vista will make your life a lot easier because those programs are preinstalled and do not have to be downloaded separately.


Personally, I witnessed the difference in playing Need for Speed: Most Wanted in XP and Vista. The graphic is smoother and gameplay is faster when using Vista. In addition, I am able to play Need for Speed: Carbon and Need for Speed: ProStreet without any problems.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Microsoft Windows Vista Features of Different Versions

Although Microsoft has made a point of including strong game and multimedia support with all of its post-Windows 3.1 operating systems through the ever-evolving DirectX multimedia libraries, the company didn't fully and completely embrace the idea of full home multimedia until it released the Windows XP-based Windows Media Center Edition in 2003. And now, with Windows Vista, Microsoft is going after virtually every possible computer user in the world, from people in emerging markets (for example, third-world nations) to spoiled consumers, from timid technophobes to business power users. And, most important, Microsoft has now turned its all-seeing eye to dedicated gamers and multimedia enthusiasts.


The company released a number of different Windows Vista editions, each aimed at a different market segment. Windows Vista Starter, which is only available in emerging markets, is a bare bones operating system for the simplest computers. Vista Home Basic is a notch above Starter, intended for homes with a single computer and users who don't need a bevy of fancy features- the kind of people who just want to check their e-mail and do some Web surfing and leave well


enough alone. Home Premium is a more full-bodied consumer edition, with a stronger focus on multimedia and usability. It's one of several editions to feature the new desktop interface, Aero. A pair of Vista products aimed at various-sized companies includes the Business and Enterprise editions, with features that cater to networked businesspeople.


Then there's Ultimate. Windows Vista Ultimate is the edition for the true enthusiast, the person who spends hundreds of dollars on single upgrades just to run the latest games. Ultimate edition caters to people who can't imagine viewing home video without editing it through a PC first. This edition is the one for people who consider the PC not an appliance or a convenience or a luxury, but an essential cornerstone of existence, right up there with food, clothing, and shelter.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

What is the Best Way to Clean Up My Computer Registry

You have been using your computer for quite some time now and you eventually realized that as you keep using your computer, it gradually slows down and its starts up is getting longer to load the settings. At this point, you are wondering what is wrong with your computer. There many reasons why your computer's performance is getting slower; it could be infected by a virus beyond the capacity of your current anti-virus software. Another reason is your registry could be clogged by enormous files of trashes that slow down your system. In this case, you will how to clean up my computer registry?


Cleaning your registry requires the necessary competence and skills to identify unwanted and useless files and delete each one of them. This could be tedious and time consuming as there may be tens and hundreds or thousands of junk files that clogged your registry; affecting its over-all performance. You further run the risk of accidentally deleting important files necessary for some programs or even your operating system to run properly.


However, there is a best solution for this problem on how to clean up my computer registry; and that is to use registry cleaner software which is widely available online. Registry cleaners allow you to clean your registry in just a few minutes without the need to be an expert on computers. It automatically detects junk files and other computer errors and problems in your system. Once they are identified, you can select among its options to clean and eliminate all unwanted files and fix all problems found. When all problems are fixed, your computer's performance is finally optimized.


This offers a convenient way of doing your own regular schedule of scan and fix operation to ensure your computer is always optimized all the time. Some software are available for free, but all they can do is perform a free scan and fix only few problems found. You still end up requiring upgrading with a fee in order to completely eliminate all junk files and fix all problems found. Paid software offers the best solution on your problem on how do I clean up my computer registry; premium products are more powerful in detecting more junk files and fixing even complicated problems.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Causing the Linux Command Prompt to Appear Again When a System Hangs - Linux Commands Quick Tips

If Your System Hangs After Running a Linux Command, Here's How To Cause the Linux Prompt to Appear Again


When you run some commands in "not quite the right way", you may find that you are in a situation where it appears that you can not do anything at the shell prompt. This is usually indicated when the prompt does not appear or when you try to type text, but just keep hearing beeps each time you type. There are several ways that this can happen.


For example, you may have run a command without specifying enough of it to cause it to work correctly. In this case, you may need to specify more options, or the path to a directory or file.


Sometimes you cannot type at the prompt if you have accidentally run a command that runs a program, and you are "in" the program, but are are not using the correct keystrokes to exit out of the program.


To make the Linux command prompt appear again, so that you can run more commands, try pressing "Ctrl+c" to stop the command that you typed in.


Linux Commands Training Tips: If you used the Ctrl key on the left side of the keyboard and were not able to stop the command, try using the Ctrl key on the right side of the keyboard.


Use "Ctrl+c" to try to stop a command first. If this does not work, then try pressing "Ctrl+z", using the Ctrl key on the left and then on the right.


What To Do When Your System Hangs in a Linux Terminal Emulation Window


If you are working in a Linux terminal emulation window and the above steps do not provide a shell prompt (so that you can continue to run commands), then simply close the terminal emulation window. After this, do the steps for your Linux distribution to open a new terminal emulation window.


What To Do When Your System Hangs in a Linux Virtual Terminal


If you are working at a Linux virtual terminal and these steps do not provide a shell prompt, then use Alt+Fx (and replace the x in Fx with a number from 1 to 6 - other than the number of the virtual terminal you are using) to go to another virtual terminal.


The Linux command concepts covered here apply to ALL Linux distros, including Ubuntu, Red Hat, openSUSE, SUSE, Debian, Fedora and Slackware Linux.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Acoustica Spin it Again Review

Spin It Again is a LP (Or Cassettes) To CD Converter from Acoustica. Recently, I have used it to transfer some Vintage Vinyl LPs To CDs for mother's day gift. Since I've used the software to its full extent, I'm very happy to write Spin It Again Review.


The software is designed in a very professional way and since all users may not be familiar with how to convert LPs to CD, the software is built with a HookUp Wizard which guides you about how to make the connections. Making connection is the most important part of the whole process. If you make the connections wrong, you simply can not record.


The Hookup Wizard in Acoustica Spin It Again demonstrates how to make the connections from your turntable to your computer's sound card. Once you are able to make the connections, you can monitor the input from your Vinyl and set the recording levels. This is a great feature which tells you what you'll hear after recording. You can set the recording levels according to your requirements.


Once you are done with recording levels, now its time to do the actual recording from turntable. Start recording by clicking on "Record" button and then play the Vinyl so that you don't skip a section. Once the recording is done, please click on "Stop" button.


There are some very powerful features which are comprised in Spin it Again. You don't need to buy addons and these features are :


1. You can separate the tracks within the software. Most other similar software asks you to buy a add-on or Plug-In for splitting the file into individual tracks.


2. You can clean the pops, hiss, clicks and other similar noise with great ease. This feature is also a part of the basic software. No addons required.


3. The CD burning engine is also included in the software. You can burn an Audio CD which will play on your computer as well as other CD Players.


4. The software allows you to enter the song information before burning the CD. You can lookup online database or enter the information manually.


This software supports loads of features and doesn't require any type of addons. It is built with all the sharp features which are essential for converting your LPs to CDs. You can make the recording on your own with the help of step by step tutorials included in the software itself! I hope, Acoustica Spin It Again Review is helpful to you. Converting LP/Tapes to CDs has never been easier!

Monday, October 18, 2010

How Secure is the Data?

How secure is the data that The Irish company Auditor gathers?


Images copied from the target PC to the scanning machine are encrypted and can only be viewed using the Auditor application. Reports generated by Auditor can be created in anonymous format, which avoids prejudice against any employee under investigation. Even the file owner can be aliased which means the reports can be circulated to a wider audience without prejudicing employees' privacy, human rights and innocence.


Can The Irish company Auditor be run on a standalone PC?


While Auditor has been designed primarily for scanning a company's network of computers, it is still possible to audit a standalone PC. Individual directories on a machine can be selected for scanning, as well as selecting shares across the network.


How are shares selected for scanning?


There are a number of ways to select shares for scanning:


o A list of target machines and network shares can be imported from a .csv file;


o Existing shares on networked machines can be selected from an explorer dialog window;


o Shares can be dynamically created on machines and automatically selected for scanning;


o The software can use Active Directory to help identify the machines to be scanned


What type of images will The Irish company Auditor detect?


Auditor will report any images deemed inappropriate based on a sensitivity level set by the person performing the scan. Three different levels are available: Low, Medium and High. Low will detect and report most inappropriate images whereas high will only report images with a very high probability of being inappropriate.


Can The Irish company Auditor scan Music files?


The Irish company Auditor scans for illicit images; it cannot scan for obscene words and phrases in MP3 or other music files. However, since copyright laws may be breached through reproducing and storing music on corporate computer assets, The Irish company Auditor has the capability to log the presence of any MP3 and other audio files on users' computers or corporate files servers for corporate auditing purposes.


Does The Irish company Auditor provide a reporting facility?


Auditor provides several reports:


o Anonymous Reports to protect employee identity;


o Summary Statistics of scan providing profile of all images on network;


o Detailed listings of all images found on the network;


o Top Ten Abusers Report. These reports can be exported into Word, Adobe Acrobat or


XML file formats.


Can Scans performed on multiple machines be merged into one report?


Several scans can be performed on multiple target machines or network shares. These scans can then be copied to one scanning machine and all reviewed images can be merged to form one report. This report contains details of all scans performed on the network using information integrated


seamlessly into one comprehensive report.


What is the minimum system specification for The Irish company Auditor?


Hardware Requirements


o P4 Desktop PC;


o 256MB RAM;


o 1 GB's free disk space.


Software Requirements


The Irish company Auditor software uses Version 1.1 of the Microsoft DOT NET framework.


Operating System Requirements


o MS Windows? 2000 Professional SP2;


o MS Windows? XP Professional.


Professional Services Requirements


o Secure private room for scanning


o 2 or more PCs with good network speed


o Network access logon to create shares on machines.


Assumptions


o PC's are left on over night;


o PC's are on the same LAN, otherwise The Irish company Auditor must be installed on one or more


PC's connected to each remote LAN.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Flight Sim Planes - Does Flight Pro Sim Have Them All?

Flight sim games are the order of the day and flight pro sim is definitely one of the best simulation packages that are available in the market today. One thing that sets this package apart from all the others in the crowd is the range of aircrafts that you can practice and get a feel of, using this package. With more than 80 different planes on offer, and new ones constantly being added, you can be rest assured that you be able to fly almost every kind of air plane


This simulator also has the capability of modding or modifying these aircrafts and their engines, weaponry and specs to suit your needs and tastes. Right from the first of Wright planes to the most ultramodern fighter aircrafts, flight sim planes are all set to take you by a pleasant surprise.


One of the best features of the system is that you get a totally different feel and difficulty level while working with different planes. Add to this the fact that there are thousands of environments in which you can test your favorite aircraft with real life weather conditions! What else could you simply hope for?


One thing that was missing in many flight simulators was that they focus more on military and combat aircrafts. Flight pro sim on the other hand, comes together and forms a complete package of airplanes, almost every kind you could think of. Apart from high end military fighter jets and helicopters, you get a chance to test your nerves on planes like the 747, the concord and even those few seater small chartered jets. With the flight pro sim the sky is really the limit and you should fasten your seat belts up to enjoy this wonderful package.


Finally you must remember that a decent flight simulator gives you the feeling that you are actually flying. I have found that the only way you can get this real life flying feeling is by all the extra details in the software.


Flight Pro Sim offers real life cockpit controls, sloping runways, thousands of airports and freedom to fly anywhere in the world. this all helps to add to the realism and actually put you in the Pilots Seat.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Why You Should Use a Registry Cleaner For a Computer Clean Up

The computer is a complex machine. Its intricacy calls for a constant computer clean up to maintain peak efficiency. As hardware becomes more and more multifaceted every six months, we are left quite breathless at how far and how fast we have come technologically in the past 10 years.


But one thing remains the same for desktop pc's everywhere. Since Windows had its inception to the XP's and Vista's of today, there has always been one thing in common - the all mighty windows registry. Until we all move onto the .NET framework in the future, the windows registry still represents the most important aspect of the operating system, the brain child - the conductor that ensures programmes and applications all perform in a marvellous and efficient concerto.


The funny thing is that we all literally take it for granted. The registry contains all information that Windows uses to run everything and anything within the OS environment. In laymen terms, it houses a library of instructions that Windows uses to correctly launch applications, access files, calibrate the network and execute important programmes. Even antivirus survivability depends heavily on the health of the registry.


Every time you install anything, change your settings, upgrade your system, mount an application or system programme, your registry tracks it down, organises them into command lines, entries and embedded keys that the OS can then use later to identify where and how they should be used.


Over time, this information becomes mountainous, huge libraries begin to pile up and inevitably, errors start to show up. Just imagine if you buy ten books a day for a year and everyday you placed them in your room, reading a different one, then trying to replace the books where you found them. It would be a complete mess. Multiply this by a million and you have a good idea of the predicament of the registry.


Rundll errors, system errors, programmes that take ages to load, invalid programme messages, crashes, browser errors are just some of the problems this unkempt pile of information can cause. Invalid registry entries left by bad programme loads and uninstalls, malware and spyware, virus attacks on .dll file libraries, empty spaces left by removed registry entries as well as orphaned embedded keys that point to bogus programmes all contribute to a slowed down OS.


Then you know its time for a clean-up. How often do you think your room needs a good clean up? If you did a little everyday, it would be in pristine condition wouldn't it? This is the same for the registry. Pick up a good Registry Cleaner and it will do wonders for your system performance.


System slowdowns, programme crashes, slow start-ups and the annoying ring of error messages can be avoided with the appropriate computer clean up. Why should you use a registry cleaner to clean up your PC? There isn't space in this article for me to articulate how important it is. Scanning takes less than a few minutes and there are loads of good, free and efficient reg cleaners out there. You owe it to your desktop experience to get a registry cleaner.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Why Should You Upgrade Your PC to Windows 7?

Change For The Sake of Change?


For a long time, whenever Microsoft came out with a new version of its Windows operating system (OS) people almost automatically upgraded. Improvements in speed, security, new features etc. made the choice to upgrade a no-brainer. At least that was the case until Vista came along. Vista was a resource hog, slow, unstable and offered little but cosmetic upgrades. Many of those who bought PCs with Vista pre-installed or upgraded from XP or 98 switched back to XP, an antique - by computer industry standards - OS, but still the best (except for Apple fans!). So now that Windows 7 has come out, the question is - is an upgrade useful and beneficial and, perhaps even more importantly, safe?


This Time It's A Real Change


Microsoft seems to have learned its lesson and Windows 7 is not just a new OS that has been introduced because its time for one. It is a serious step forward and a product that will enable Microsoft to salvage its reputation for offering the best in general purpose operating systems for the vast majority of PC users. As in the case of Vista, there are a range of versions beginning from the basic Home and going up to the Ultimate, all designed to cater for different budgets, hardware profiles and user requirements. While anyone going in for an upgrade would be well-advised to examine the options carefully to find the right version for the needs and PC type, an upgrade to Windows 7 does make a lot of sense, whichever version is opted for.


Seven Reasons To Upgrade to Windows 7


Windows 7 is slimmer and faster than Vista. It takes up much less disk space and runs efficiently on PCs with slower processors. Using less processing capacity allows for far better multi-tasking and also means that the OS is far more stable than Vista where the "Blue Screen of Death" - the blank blue screen that meant your system has crashed or frozen - was a common occurrence.


No matter how stable an OS may be, the need for data security remains. Windows 7 offers a far better backup and restore interface allowing users to choose customized backup locations, including network drives and choose which folders and files or folder and file types to back up. The new interface also makes restoring files easier, whether they are from a planned backup or from the System Restore point. Windows 7 also provides top level data encryption and password protection of files. No previous version of Windows has given users the kind of data security now available.


A huge problem with Vista was that it was not compatible with many applications and devices/peripherals that were designed to work with XP. Windows 7 provides for a desktop accessible XP mode, which will allow for the use of these applications and devices. Installing new hardware on your PC also becomes easier because when the hardware is installed, Windows 7 will automatically search the Web for the latest drivers and install them.


Finding data has always been a weak point of Windows. Windows 7 has a Libraries feature, which allows for viewing multiple folders in one meta folder. For example, you can easily look at all documents in the document library, irrespective of whether they are stored in My Documents or in some other folder. The search function is also faster. It has a range of useful features, such as context specific search and the ability to search meta data, such as specific fields in the Properties of a Word document.


No OS is perfect and if you do have problems with Windows 7, some of the higher end versions include a Problem Steps Recorder that allows you to repeat and record the steps/actions that caused the problem or error to occur. This data can then be easily emailed to the Technical Support Department making for an easier understanding of the nature of the problem and faster corrective action. The reduction in the time needed on the phone talking to Tech Support is a huge blessing.


The improved Aero interface, which was introduced in Vista, has been greatly improved to make working with files and folders much easier. Hovering the cursor over a taskbar icon opens a large thumbnail of all open windows of that program. Moving over the icon displays the window in a normal mode and a left click brings it to the front and makes it active. A right click opens a list of recently used files. A new "Snap" option allows for the easy comparison of two documents by just dragging them to opposites sides of the desktop.


And finally, for laptop users, Windows 7 offers longer battery life. Not only does the OS reduce power usage during normal operations, it increases the power savings that can be achieved in the low power Sleep and Hibernate modes.


Upgrading to Windows 7 will give all those who are suffering with Vista or are still stuck with XP a chance to feel a real change in terms of increased performance, stability and ease of use. This is one upgrade that does make a lot of sense.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Clean Sweep Computer - Use Registry Cleaners to Clean Sweep Your Computer

Most computer users are complaining that their computer is running slow, is crashing often, and prompts them with error messages. They all claim that all of these are happening because their computer is getting old and needs to be replaced or be upgraded. Most of time, this is not the solution, because all of these errors are caused by a corrupted registry database, the solution to these problems is a simple registry clean-up. The registry is an important database that stores all the instructions and commands that are necessary to keep a program running. A computer won't function if the registry does not exist. Every program that is installed in your system has its own set of registry and if one is missing, invalid, or is corrupted, error messages while using a particular program might appear. Errors in the registry will pile up as time goes by and this will result to a computer slowdown.


To fix all these problems and have a clean sweep computer, you can use a registry cleaning tool to clean out all the unnecessary files in your system. Registry cleaners are designed to deal with the errors in your registry; they scan, determine, and remove invalid entries from your computer's registry. Registry cleaners typically offer a back-up feature that will allow you to back-up your registry files, and will let you restore the previous settings of your computer anytime. If all the corrupted files were removed from your system, your computer will be working better without errors.


Registry cleaning is a delicate task, so it is important that the registry cleaner that you are going to use has good reviews and is top-rated, this will ensure that the program will really give you a clean sweep computer. Always purchase a registry cleaner from a well-known, reputable company. There are free programs available but it is not advisable since most of them can cause further damage, instead of giving you a clean sweep computer.


While choosing a program, search for review articles to help you with your research. You can also ask a computer professional for program recommendation. Cleaning your registry is an easy task and if done regularly and successfully, you can save a massive amount of time and money, while having a clean sweep computer.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

How to Remove Security Central in Seconds - Quickly Conduct a Security Central Removal

The coders of rogue programs are using a new approach in order to fool people to part with their money. They look and act as trial versions of real anti malware programs. Security central is one such program which is usually downloaded by people believing that it is a genuine anti-spyware program. They then ask how to remove security central? This program also gets installed without the permission of the user with the help of malware which when executed silently downloads and installs this rogue program in the background and after that launches it.


Once this fake anti virus is launched, it will display information about various types of infections that it has supposedly detected in your PC. Security central will not, though, permit you to remove the infections it has detected. It will recommend you to purchase the program in order to remove the infections. There is no need for you to purchase this program since there are no infections at all. This bogus program is just trying to scare you into purchasing this rogue anti virus software. Before thinking of how to remove security central you should check out the general indications of fake anti virus infection infections.


Once this program has infected your PC, it will not permit you to run other anti malware programs till terminated. It will cause nag screen to pop up suggesting that malicious activities have been detected on your PC and that you should purchase this fake anti virus to get rid of them. This rogue also changes your browser settings plus displays commercial ads. If you click the `get full time protection now' button you will be led to a page from where this sham program can be purchased. Ignore that message and follow the tips provided below to get rid of this rogue. No need to get worried about how to remove security central.


First of all kill the following processes: security central.exe & systemdb.exe Once this has been done remove all traces of this program from the windows registry and files & folders in other parts of windows. The files are easy to detect since they generally begin with the name 'security central.'


The above mentioned tasks are only recommended for those who are familiar with editing the windows registry and also know how to kill processes. Others are requested to download special programs manufactured by anti spyware companies for free. Ensure that you download the program from reputed sites only such as the link that is provided at the bottom of this article.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

A Few Tips to Help You Become a Successful SAP Developer

Who wouldn't like to become a successful SAP developer? It's a fantastic job to have that is not only intellectually rewarding but financially rewarding as well. However; bear in mind that you must have a certain level of intelligence and education before you even consider taking the necessary steps to becoming a SAP developer.


Know SAP Products


SAP employs a huge number of consultants that work in conjunction with SAP developers. This is because SAP is a consulting firm that in turn developers and sells the products that the consultants recommend. Of course this would also means that your knowledge of SAP products must be complete.


More Stuff to Know


Also, because SAP consultants serve a wide range of business genres, ranging from all areas of the chemical and petrochemical industries, as well as other industries including all types of manufacturing and wholesaling industries, it does help if you possess some level of expertise in some type of business or industry.


No Place for Wimps


However; you have to bear in mind that SAP developers and consultants work in world filled with ambitious type A personalities, so the stress level can be very high at times. What this means is that if you are not entirely up to the challenge then you may want to reconsider other career options.


Willing to Think Out of the Box


However; the pay and benefits for a good qualified SAP developer are among the best that you will find anywhere, so if you like good money then you will like being a SAP developer. So, if the bad economy has gotten you down, don't fret because there are still plenty of god job opportunities out there for people who are willing to think out of the box such as SAP developers do.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Welcome to the Linux Generation

With our economy having its, well, ups and downs lately, you might be thinking "Is now really a good time to think about purchasing a new computer?" Meanwhile, software applications that once needed robust hardware to run are now moving on to the Internet. The result is an upturn in the purchase of netbooks and low powered "Internet Appliances", most of which cost less than a really nice new shirt (well, not really, but you get the idea).


With the onslaught of relatively inexpensive PCs coming from every major manufacturer and aimed at the new "cloud" generation, many are running one flavor or another of Linux. Why? Because Linux can be a rock-stable, slim Operating System, making it a perfect choice for these "slimmed-down" machines. In short, Linux may be THE answer for lower-end hardware based computers.


When it comes to the rest of the computing world, generally you only see Windows Vista or Mac OS X - but when it comes to netbooks, low requirement PC's, and many other digital devices (routers, cell phones, televisions, PDA's and more), Linux is making some big headway. In short, Linux is an almost perfect fit for with lower CPU and power requirements.


For those pinching pennies (and who isn't these days?), a Linux-based PC may be the best of all worlds. Using Linux, one can resurrect a thought-to-be-obsolete desktop or laptop with an up to date, safe, and easy to use operating system. One example - our office currently houses six PC's being used for various tasks by our staff, all running Linux. They are all Dell GX150 PC's with Pentium 3 CPU's running at 933Mhz, with 256MB of ram and 20GB hard drive space each, as well as one "server" - a 2.4Ghz Compaq with 512MB of ram and two 500GB hard drives (running Linux, of course, and this is our NAS, print server, firewall/router, and more). Our entire network cost about $800. That's less than a lot of new workstation PC's.


The beauty of this OS is its stability, as any Linux user can attest to. Linux is stable. Like rock-solid stable. Linux machines don't crash, they boot quickly, and are far more reliable computers than their XP and Vista counterparts. However, there are still a few folks out there who are going to go with the XP option for familiarity's sake. Linux is new to most people, and people generally don't like having to learn something new unless they have to. Most don't realize all the software they're accustomed to can (generally) be replaced by a Linux alternative, and for far less cash outlay. They don't understand that the savings in computer repairs stemming from Windows' vulnerabilities to virus's and malware. They haven't been told about the huge increase in security Linux provides compared to Windows.


All that being said, the move to Linux computing is becoming more noticeable now than ever before. Without the economic crisis to factor in to people's spending decisions, people probably wouldn't have considered the Linux option as strongly as they're doing today. When every dollar saved counts, the decision to go Linux may be more about cost savings than anything else, but that might be what it takes to get people to try the OS computer geeks have been raving about for years. Give Linux a shot, and you might be surprised.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

How to Spot a Good Registry Cleaner Review

It must have been stressing to figure out what registry cleaner to use so this article is going to give you tips and tricks on spotting what a good registry cleaner review should be like. You can't just go around and randomly pick a software program for your computer without even researching about it. Getting products without reading reviews from professionals and even comments from users is risky and you are exposing your computer to harm. A good product review also means you are getting a product that has been used by several people and that these testimonies are real. As much as possible, avoid reading reviews from the manufacturer itself.


Check the Contents of the Review


A sample of a good registry cleaner review can be found in websites offering registry cleaners. As you can see, reviews have the complete description, convenience ratings, support functions, and the product's safety and its summary. These kinds of things should be enough to answer your questions about the product but of course, it doesn't limit you from exploring more sites that offer just about the same function. Keep in mind that the review should be unbiased and it should not sound like it is promoting its own product. The review should give you a fair opinion of how satisfactory a product is and it should also provide facts.


Check the Rating Scale of the Review


Many reviews basically describe the product as bad or good. When reading reviews, there should be a standard scale of rating and the rating should be justified based on the functionality of the product. Rating scales should give you a clear idea how the product matches against others. Generally speaking, the product review rating should be no more than a scale of 5. If the rating scale reaches to 10, it would be more difficult for users and even potential buyers to make a decision.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Cycle Time in Manufacturing - Improving the Speed of Sales to Shipping

From the moment a purchase order is made by a customer, the clock starts ticking for the producer of the product they desire. For the customer, there is an expectation of delivery based upon criteria such as the importance of the need and a prior history of delivery time. On the other hand, for the manufacturer there is another expectation of delivery based upon completely different criteria such as the lead time given by the customer, materials inventory, and present/future work loads. Herein lies the friction that is often encountered between manufacturers and their clients when it comes to the concept of cycle time--the time it takes for a job to move from the sales order taken to a product shipped out the door. That is to say, in a world of shortened lead times and unforgiving expectations of on-time delivery and production perfection, how does a manufacturer reduce order-to-delivery cycle times while also maintaining quality?


Just take a look around job shops or make-to-order manufacturers that have not streamlined their production processes and you'll see one of the reasons why, for them, on-time deliveries, much less quick ones, are rare. What you'll see is that much of the order-to-delivery cycle time in non-streamlined operations is stretched out by waiting. Indeed, shop floors are often filled with personnel waiting for set-ups or break-downs to be finished, waiting for bottlenecks to be cleared, waiting for design alterations, and/or waiting for production problems to be fixed. The result is poor cycle time: low throughput, poor finished piece quality, too much inventory, and an abundance of non-value added activity. The critical results, though, are missed delivery dates and dissatisfied customers.


To overcome waiting in the manufacturing environment and to compress cycle time, streamlining through enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a best and necessary solution. According to the AberdeenGroup's 2007 study of ERP in globalization, "Companies that automate and streamline workflows...produced 66% more improvement in reducing total time from order to delivery". For example, in an ERP operation, just-in-time purchasing will automatically buy to the job and interface with sales and inventory to ensure on-hand material when it is needed. Furthermore, ERP scheduling systems use real-time data to anticipate bottle-necks before they occur. In short, the better the on-time delivery, the more satisfied your customers and the more orders they place. And, the more orders your customers place, the more utilized is your capacity to produce and profit.


Cycle time is one of those overlooked areas in the manufacturing process where even minor improvements in compression along the system flow result in exponential savings of production and on-time delivery down the line. To reduce cycle time is merely to undertake a process of self-examination to find where savings of production time can best be made--in short, streamlined. For the customer, this means on-time delivery. For the manufacturer, this means a satisfied customer.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Little Known Tips to Help Your Computer Run Faster With a Register Cleaner

These days the internet is full of, viruses, malware, junk mail, and additional files your computer does not need. It is very easy for your computer to get cluttered up, thus causing a decrease in performance. Crashing, .dll errors, and freezing are all signs that show your computer is having trouble deciding which files are necessary to make it work properly.


The general consensus is that when this happens, the only option is to purchase a new computer, instead of cleaning up your current one. Since we are in a recession, buying a new PC may not be an option for everyone. The good news is, there is a way to restore your computer to it's peak performance without buying a new computer.


Most people think they are careful with their computer and how they use it. It makes them wonder how it is possible that their registry got corrupt in the first place. Well, the answer is quite simple; every piece of software you install comes with a large amount of information that is stored in your registry. The more you install, the more cluttered it gets, thus the decrease in performance. Another thing that doesn't help your computers cause is that most times when you uninstall a program, you don't really remove all of the information from your computer, thus more clutter.


Thankfully there is a solution, a registry cleaner. The way a registry cleaner works is by finding, removing, or repairing data in your computer that is corrupt. The best registry cleaner will increase performance in all areas of your computer, especially while using the internet.


One thing to remember is that all registry cleaners are not the same quality. You must resist the urge to get a free registry cleaner. While most free registry cleaners promise you the world, the truth is that they will often do more harm to your computer than help. Usually if it looks too good to be true, it is.


In short, having the best registry cleaner will allow you to be able to protect your computer from problems before they happen.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

A Quality System that Collaborates With Technology

"I have always thought that the best way to find out what is right and what is not right, what should be done and what should not be done, is not to give a sermon, but to talk and discuss, and out of discussion sometimes a little bit of truth comes out."


---Nehru, Jawaharlal Indian statesman (1889-1964)


Purposeful discussion with the purpose of eventual action has long been viewed by the wisest of the wise as a process that results in better products or ideas than would have originally been conceived by one person.


This combined "effort of the minds" is often referred to as collaboration.


Technology as a Catalyst for Collaboration


Technology is the great advocate of collaboration since technology shrinks communication gaps and speeds essential communication.


Technology and Collaboration


For life science and high tech companies managing a quality system is one of the most essential, if not the most essential, aspect of product development and since the essence of managing a quality system lies in communication (i.e. documentation and training people to adhere to that documentation) collaboration capabilities should be one of the main features that a life science or high tech company implements within a quality system. A quality system with collaboration isn't enough however. The ever developing element of technology must be included for better and faster collaboration.


Collaborative Technology for Quality Systems


The benefits of investing in collaborative technology for quality systems are many.


Listed below are just a few:


Benefit #1 of Collaborative Technology for a Quality System: Not just for People


Concepts of collaboration don't just connect people. With technology, processes can also "collaborate" automatically. Take for example the many processes that make up a quality system:


o Deviations Identification


o Nonconformance Identification


o Customer Complaints Management


o CAPA (Corrective and Preventative Action)


o Internal Audits


o Equipment Calibration


o Change Control


o Employee Training


Many of these processes are currently handled sufficiently by life science and high tech companies but when information is transferred from one process to another, information has a tendency to get lost (communication gaps), delayed or even misinterpreted. With the right collaborative technology however, communication gaps shrink by automating process-to-process transitions (i.e. a customer complaint to a CAPA) and by allowing people to collaborate and confer as to whether process information is accurate. Misinterpreted information will also be less likely to occur if life science and high tech professionals search for a quality system that allows for the appropriate personnel to track process-to-process audit trails and approve those procedures when necessary.


Benefit #2: Documentation


The lifeblood of quality and compliance are the documents that control quality and compliance. In fact, it is often by documents that the FDA or any other regulatory organization will judge whether or not a life science company is adhering to a sound quality system. Life science and high tech professionals can search for an electronic quality system that will allow for the integration of document control. Document control systems (with collaborative features) can allow experts to collaborate together without meeting in the same physical location. A document control system can also provide version control, safety features, a centralized archive, web-based technology, reporting features and perhaps even additional features determined by a client's URS (user requirement specifications) and by the software company's ability to provide customized configuration.


Benefit #3: Saves People Time


Most importantly, the right quality system (with collaborative features) will save company employees time by providing document control, process connection features and the right kinds of services.


Conclusion


With collaboration catalyzed by technology, a life science company can more effectively manage a quality system.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Data Conversion Software - Solutions For A Complex World

All that talk about how the world has become a global village does not really give light to the massive requirements that goes to maintaining and expanding that global village.


So what is the world's global village consisted of? In one word: data. Lots and lots of data. Data in this case can be in different formats. If you've ever used the computer as much as the computer programmers have, you will know that there are many, many types of data files. You can identify them by their different file extensions. The most common file extensions are for those data created in MS office: .doc, .xls, .ppt, .dbs.


But there are certainly other types of data. Companies all over the world store their most important data safely on their computers as to run their businesses. However, each year technology changes and upgrades and more types of data are created. (The depth of an organization actually rests in keeping software and hardware updated.)


What this means is that from old computers, a company's data has to be transferred to new computers and, more often than not, to new systems.


Data Transfer


Transferring data from old to new machines is not as easy as it sounds. More often, in the process of moving data, especially if it was stored in an obsolete machine, the extracted information are often not accurate. Some loss of data might happen, that is, specifically if the data on the old machine did not go through a data conversion software.


Data conversion is defined as the process of importing and exporting data from one computer to another. In most cases, data conversion includes recording and transformation of data, especially if you're moving data from one application to another. Out on the Internet there are around 700 data conversion tools and between them, there are versions for MS Windows, Unix, Linux, Novell and other operating systems.


Majority of data conversion software aim at converting data form old operating systems and transferring them to new operating systems with nary, if at all, loss of data.


Good Conversion: A Good Software


A good data conversion software allows you to convert data and migrate that data from an old machine to a new machine without taking up too much of your technological resources. If the statement sounds a tad convoluted, here a few questions to help you spot a data conversion software.


- Will you be able to deploy new applications at a fast rate whilst dedicating few of your resources to converting data and migrating that data to a new machine?


- Does your data conversion software combine user-friendly data conversion tools with over a hundred data and application connectors, flat files, relational databases, web data, XML, legacy data, among others?


- What are my company's needs? Do we need to transfer data one-time only or is it going to be a daily and continuous effort of transferring database records?


Answer these questions and it will be easier for you to find the data conversion that's right for you.


Copyright (c) 2008 Bryant Anderson