Is your computer slowing down or getting sluggish on you? Does it seem to not have that snappiness that it had when it was new? That seems to be one of the major complaints that I hear all the time. Now there is a call everyday it seems where someone is getting popups related to XP Antivirus 2009 or XP Antivirus 360 and if you click on any part of the window except for the red X in the right corner, you will get loaded up with some pretty evasive spyware that is not trivial to remove. In most cases, you have to have a professional to remove it. If you do see this Antivirus 2009, It will say you have 146 viruses and you must scan now. DON’T DO IT. If you start it, I recommend immediately powering off the computer. If you want to try some of the maintenance on your own, Here ‘s a list of spyware software that I recommend for the average user to use so click the links to get the software:

Spybot Search and Destroy

Ad-Aware

MalwareBytes

If you need more help, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Technorati Tags: antivirus, malware, spybot, spyware, virus

I received a machine the other day that had malware on it that got past the AVG Antivirus suite. I decided to go to 2 tools that removed the problems. The first is to go to Malwarebytes.org and download that scanner. Just look in the center of the page for the download link….

Also, I ran the Clamwin Antivirus Scanner and was able to remove a virus that was affecting this machine. The scanner runs very fast and in low memory also.

Check it out at Clamwin.com

I wrote about this in Early August but am bringing it back up. The dreaded subject of disk defragmentation.

If you are diligent about keeping your machine running optimally, as I try to be, check out this screensaver which, when it runs, it defrags your hard drive. Don’t be alarmed by all the comments you will get on it, but it will surely get someone’s attention. Us this if you are constantly forgetting about defragging your drive.
http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/
Take the screensaver program and copy it over the system32 directory and then right click on your desktop > select screensaver and pick the JKDefrag screensaver and you’re done.

Technorati Tags: defragment

Since I recently had to replace a keyboard on a laptop, and couldn’t find any resources on replacing it for this model, I thought I’d go ahead and do a run-through for anyone else who may need this.

Okay, to start with, you’ll need:

• Replacement keyboard (Part# 431414-001)
• Phillips Head Screwdriver
• Flat Head Screwdriver (for prying off cover)

Step 1: Remove RAM cover and Battery

Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the RAM cover, and set it aside. Then remove the battery as well.

Step 2: Remove Necessary Screws

There are a total of eight screws that you’ll need to remove to get to the keyboard: Five black screws, and three smaller silver screws.

You’ll see a keyboard icon next to the three lower screws:

 And these are what you should end up with after removing the screws.

Step 3: Remove Keyboard Shield

 Next, we’ll have to remove the shield that holds the keyboard in place. You can do this using the Flathead screwdriver, fingernails, or a coin.

You’ll pop them up like the image above on both sides.

Once you get the cover up, be careful not to damage the flex cables beneath it.

Step 4: Remove Keyboard

Now that you have the shield loose, you can now remove the keyboard. There is another flex cable connecting the keyboard, so don’t pull too far up on the keyboard just yet.

Carefully work the cable out of its slot by pulling back towards the screen.

Now you’ve got the keyboard removed, and you’re ready to reinstall the new one. Almost there!

Step 5: Install the New Keyboard

First, carefully insert the new cable into the slot. Be careful not to damage it, the cables are fragile.

Update: “The connector slot has a lever the pins are connected to the white box and the black lever at the bottom of the white box can be pulled towards the screen. This will loosen the keyboard cable. If you press that black lever back it will fix the cable.” Thanks, alex for the tip!

Now, place the keyboard back down inside the case.

Now we’ll replace the shield. Push backwards toward the screen to make sure the back latches set in place correctly, then pop the sides back down into the case until you feel them lock.

Step 6: Close It All Back Up

Now that you’ve got the keyboard back on, flip it back over onto its back, and reinstall all eight screws.

Don’t forget, the three small screws go here, under the battery.

Now, we’ll put the RAM cover back on…

…and put the battery back in.

And that’s it! As long as you’ve got the cable plugged in correctly, it should work with no problems.

I found this over at:

http://kcoppock.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/howto-replace-keyboard-on-laptop-computer-hp-dv6105

Technorati Tags: dv6000, howto, hp, keyboard, laptop, replace

I referring back to this site from time to time to use some of thos windows commands from the command line. If you start to use these, you will notice that they can be so much faster. This was taken from site Mymindleaks.com

Courtesy: Yi Shiang

A Comprehensive list of most useful Windows Run Commands before you.

For quick windows commands Read on How to use Shell Operator

Make use of it and hack the features of Windows XP for better and productive use.

Technorati Tags: windows command line cmds xp

Clean, Defrag and Boost Your RAM With SnakeOil Memory Optimizer

You seen these ads all over the place and recently, one of my customers asked me about a particular Memory Optimizer application. Just take a look at the comments on this as referenced by Windows expert Mark Russinovich:

Just take a quick look at any download site, and you’ll find hundreds of products that claim to “optimize RAM to make your computer run faster”. Give me a break! Almost all of these products do the same things: they call a Windows API function that forces applications to write out their memory to the pagefile, or they allocate and then deallocate a ton of memory quickly so that Windows will be forced to page everything else.

Both of the techniques make it appear that you’ve suddenly freed up memory, when in reality all you’ve done is trade in your blazing fast RAM for a much slower hard drive. Once you have to switch back to an application that has been moved to the pagefile, it’ll be so slow you’ll be likely to go all Office Space on your machine.

Windows expert Mark Russinovich agrees:

At best, RAM optimizers have no effect, and at worst, they seriously degrade performance.

Technorati Tags: memory boost booster optimize defrag

Lenovo has a great commercial in which two business looking men are sitting next to each other, one using a Lenovo and the other another unknown brand. The user with the unknown brand asks the Lenovo user how he recovers from a problem, and the Lenovo user shows a one button recovery system. The non- Lenovo user is ask what he has, and a troll looking character appears with a fruit basket apologizing for the lost files he has suffered.

So I was wondering? What is the one button feature that Lenovo is talking about so I took a look at their site. Lenovo explains the system as:

This one-button rescue solution includes a set of self recovery tools to help users diagnose, get help and recover from a virus or other software crash, even if the primary operating system will not boot. It helps with everything from complete software failure to occasions when you need only to restore a corrupted or deleted file. And administration tools can even be configured to help deploy critical updates to corrupted systems in your organization quickly and with confidence.

• Helps users stay productive even if the primary operating system will not boot
• Offers do-it-yourself recovery and support options
• Antidote Delivery Manager is a feature of Rescue and Recovery that can be customised to deploy critical updates (such as patches for worms or viruses) to PCs across your organisation and includes a point-and-click wizard for easy creation of antidote scripts
• System Rejuvenation lets you restore to any backup while keeping all of your data and system personality settings
• Rescues and restores your files, folders, or backups
• Is compatible with a broad range of external storage devices to help you back up your data off-line
• Links via the Internet to the Lenovo and other support sites
• Is easy to customise and deploy in the enterprise
• Integration with other ThinkVantage Technologies to allow migration from backup files including chip-encrypted backups, combining our great technologies to create an even more robust environment

The system sounds good on paper, but I was wondering if anyone has tried it? If you are a Lenovo who has experienced  a crash, did the one button recovery work? Were there any problems with the recovery process?

Let us know.

Comments welcome.

Source.

Read more…

Technorati Tags: Computer Fixes

Yesterday I did an article about Carbonite and an alleged email that was sent from the company to a blogger. [See article here.] After posting the original article I received a comment from David Friend, the CEO of Carbonite who took issue with the article. He states that the email purporting to be from Carbonite is bogus. He stated that:

Carbonite has NEVER cancelled a customer account for ANY reason, let alone abusing the unlimited backup space.

The “email” cited above is bogus. No such email has ever been sent by Carbonite.

The Terms of Service cited above have not been used for nearly a year and is not what is on our web site. See the Terms of Use link at the bottom of our web site home page, or go to http://carbonite.com/terms/. You will find a similar Policy in the TOS for every online backup company.

Termination and Fair Use Policy

YOUR USE OF CARBONITE PRODUCTS IS SUBJECT TO CARBONITE�S �TERMINATION AND FAIR USE POLICY.� THIS POLICY IS INTENDED TO ALLOW CARBONITE TO DENY SERVICE TO ABUSERS. USERS WHO ARE DEEMED TO BE �ABUSERS�, IN CARBONITE�S SOLE DISCRETION, MAY BE NOTIFIED PRIOR TO SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THEIR ACCOUNTS, HOWEVER, CARBONITE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE OR SUSPEND SUCH ACCOUNTS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE IN THE EVENT OF A POLICY VIOLATION. ANY FAILURE BY CARBONITE TO ENFORCE THIS POLICY WILL NOT PRECLUDE US FROM ENFORCING IT AT ANYTIME IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER FOR PAST OR CURRENT VIOLATIONS.

So there you have it. A possible bogus email that a blogger used to further his own agenda or a comment from the CEO that they have never cancelled a service.

Since I have not tried the Carbonite service, I will leave it to you, the reader, to interrupt the facts as presented.

Comments welcome.

Read more…

Technorati Tags: carbonite online backup

developments, like neighborhoods and retreats etc, fixes architectural drawings, keeps up with clients and takes directions from the CEO. Sets up servers. Makes the graphics for the company. And keeps the projects organized.
I really would like to know what to call my job any ideas?

Network Administrator
Project Manager
IT Project Coordinator

Not sure what else to say, don't you have a job title? Or are you doing contract work? Hope this helps, it sounds like a job the network administrators or network IT departments perform.