This Season, A Gift for your PC Too. #1: RAM

Want to boost the speed of your computer? Try adding more RAM. It is one of the first upgrades you should try on your computer.

A typical absolute minimum memory to have today is 512 MB. If you do lots of work on your computer - run lots of programs, browse the Internet with lots of tabs open etc, you should try a minimum of 1 GB RAM. If you are an advanced user, run latest software and can afford it, go for 2 GB RAM.

The First constraint is the maximum amount of memory that your motherboard supports. To find out your computer's limits, look up your computer's specifications. If yours is a branded computer like HP, Dell etc, you can easily find the information on their website. You can also contact their customer support for the information.

If you have an assembled computer, or if you are unable to get the information from your computer vendor, you can look up the information from your motherboard manufacturer's website. You can open up your computer and find the motherboard model number printed on the board itself. Then, look up the information on the motherboard manufacturer's website. Also make note of what and how many modules are already installed on the computer and how many slots are available / free.

For example, Intel® Desktop Board D845GRG supports the following memory configuration:

• Two 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMM sockets
• Support for single-sided or double-sided DIMMs (DDR 200 and DDR 266)
• Support for up to 2 GB system memory

For latest Intel motherboards, click here. For legacy / archived Intel motherboards.

The Second constraint is the number of Available Memory Slots on your motherboard. Lets consider an example. Your motherboard has a total of 2 DIMM slots. You have one 256MB memory module already installed. That leaves you with just 1 more slot free.

If you need to upgrade to 512 MB, you can buy One 256 MB module. If you need to increase your system's memory to 1 GB, you have to buy One 1 GB module only. Leaving the old module intact, Your computer will have a net of 1GB + 256 MB: 1,280 MB memory. Or you could add just one 512 MB RAM and get a net of 768 MB RAM.

If your system does not have free DIMM slots, you may have to discard the old modules. (You may be able to readily sell them in the grey market).

HP Pavilion - Code Purple Error

Problem:

On HP Pavilion systems, while doing a full System Restore, during the first boot, Win XP says it has detected changes to the system configuration and will not proceed. It says you to contact HP Customer Care and says Code Purple. You have no option other than rebooting the system.

Cause - My Guess:

Microsoft's OEM licensing requires that the computers have a unique "tattoo" (an Build ID string stored on your BIOS memory) to which your copy of the operating system software is locked to. While creating the Recovery Partition for your system, during the OEM imaging process (process of installing OS and creating your OS copy on your Harddisk), the OS is locked to run only on a computer with your computer's tattoo. This prevents you from installing the software on another system (even from the same vendor with same specification).

You might be facing this error due to so many causes;

1. Your motherboard might have been replaced - either by your or HP Service.
2. Your motherboard is having a corrupt tattoo.
3. May be you are using the wrong Recovery CDs.

I came up on this error while recovering my HP Pavilion whose motherboard was replaced by HP Authorised Service. Wonder why they did not set the correct tattoo on the motherboard then? They knew while replacing the motherboard that I will not be able to recover my system didn't they?

Solution #1:

You can let HP resolve the issue for you. Reports on the net indicate that they will do it promptly for you but it may take a few days. If your system is out of warranty, it is reported that HP may ask for a nominal service fee. (I have no first hand information on this).

I did not use HP Support to resolve the issue. I hit upon the problem at 9'o clock at night and the tech support guys had gone to sleep. Am not the type who waits for them to wake up - so I did my homework.

Solution #2:

If you want a DIY solution, and don't mind taking some effort, you can bypass this tattoo check yourself. Actually, it is very easy to do. I doubt that it is intentionally so!

When the OS first boots, It runs a batch file c:\hp\bin\ConfigCheck\CFGCHK.bat which does this:

c:\hp\bin\hpdmi r > dmiout.txt
python c:\hp\bin\ConfigCheck\run.py
del dmiout.txt
cd ..
rd /s /q c:\hp\bin\ConfigCheck


So, this is the batch file which insists on your computer having a tattoo! It runs c:\hp\bin\hpdmi to get your Bios String Build ID. Then there is the python script that hangs the system and displays the popup message. All you have to do is remove all the lines from the batch file and make it empty. Or do whatever else you want. (Like say Hi to you?)

Problem is, to edit the batch file you need access to the file and an editor. And your system won't boot up! Starting in safe mode does not work - it insists you to complete setup first.

So you need a bootable CD that lets you do it. You must be able to find many on the Internet but you need one that can read and write the XP NTFS file system on your hard disk. So your MS DOS boot disks are useless. You can use Ultimate Boot Cd, you can also try something from www.allbootdisks.com (I haven't tried them - tell me how it works).

You can also try removing the HDD, adding it to another XP/Linux computer as an additional hard disk and editing the batch file - Tell me if it works.

You need to use a boot disk, go to your system's C: partition, overwrite the edit the c:\hp\bin\ConfigCheck\CFGCHK.bat file and remove all the lines.

If you are using Ultimate Boot CD, you will have to keep in mind that the Linux distros on the disk do not seem to support the NTFS partitions. You will have to use their Avira NTFS4DOS Personal tool under File system Tools menu. On my system, AVIVA crashed when I did a DIR! So I had to overwrite the file from the command line without using the DIR command like this:

ren c:\hp\bin\CFGCHK.bat c:\read.txt
copy con c:\hp\bin\CFGCHK.bat
@ECHO OFF
(Press Ctrl+Z to save file)


The c:\read.txt copy is for you to read later, if you are interested. Now reboot the system and enjoy.

For more info, see this blog post: Code Purple — The Compaq/HP Booby Trap

Preventing your Kids from viewing Porn Sites

You are a parent and want to prevent your kids from viewing sexually explicit materials, sites relating to violence and other such bad stuff on the Internet. You have two options:

1. Develop a meaningful, strong relationship with your kids. You should be their trusted, very good friend. I believe this is the most important way, if not the only way, to protecting your kids from online hazards. It is not something you can do overnight. (You can't download and install a relationship with your kid instantly.)

Teach the kid what's appropriate and acceptable and what is not. Teach them the consequences of the bad stuff. Make sure they are aware of the predators on the net and train them to keep away.

Try being with the kid when they are online - if possible, at all times. Place the computer in a location visible to all members of the family.

If you are trying to prevent your kid from viewing inappropriate sites without providing moral support and vaules to them, you will be playing a loosing game of cat and mouse (or cop and thief) with your kids. How many computers does your kid have access to? At home, his friend's homes, schools, browsing centers (Internet cafe)... And don't forget the cellphones.

2. You can use technology to some extent - which I believe does not provide a great, meaningful solution. It can only be a backup to your parenting approach - a sort of a safety net.

Anyway, One best example I can think of are Norton Internet Security's Parental Control. It is part of Norton Add-on Pack available as an add-on to Norton Internet Security or Norton 360. Another option is CyberPatrol - 14 Days Trial Available, $40 / Year. Check this review also.

These filtering solutions are not very reliable either. They do allow access to some sites with inappropriate content. Some can be circumvented too.

Remember, you can use such tools to prevent your kid from watching inappropriate sites only if you are more computer savvy than your kid - a situation that is nowadays becoming unlikely.

A Virus that Spreads through USB or Removable Disks

Using Pen Drive or USB Flash Drive or Memory Cards etc? Beware of this AHKHeap-A virus. It does some pretty crafty dirty tricks! All you need to do to be infected is to just plug it in!

You will be infected if you insert an infected removable disk on your computer and let it Autoplay, if you double-click the Drive Icon, or double click a folder that you created earlier!

So what should you do? So what happened?

If you had inserted your removable drive on some computer infected with the AHKHeap virus, when you create a directory on the removable drive, say "test", the virus converts the folder into a system, hidden folder. Then, it creates an application with the same name - test.exe. The trick is that the test.exe application that is created has an icon that exactly resembles a folder!



In the above screenshot, you see a folder named MicrosoftPowerPoint. But actually, its a virus and not a folder! See the Properties page for it below:

Its an EXEcutable file! (Type of file: Application). How come it looks like a folder? Simple. It has its icon set to look exactly like a folder!

When you plug the removable drive to another PC and try to open the folder by double clicking it, the virus exe file runs and infects that computer too. You don't get to see the real folder because it has attributes set a system, hidden.

It even sets the Autoplay.ini file to start the viral executable. So if your Windows stupidly runs the executable as soon as you plug in the removable drive, you are infected. See the Autorun.ini contents:

[Autorun]
open=MicrosoftPowerPoint.exe
shellexecute=MicrosoftPowerPoint.exe
shell\Auto\command=MicrosoftPowerPoint.exe

Another interesting thing is that the virus disables "Show hidden files and folders" option. Go to Explorer, click Tools Menu > Folder Options > View Tab. "Do not show hidden files and folders" option will be checked. Try changing it to "Show hidden files and folders". If your computer was infected, you will not be able to save the changes! You have to re-set the option from the registry. Go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL and set CheckedValue to 1. Now, you can change the setting to show all files and folders.

What can you do to prevent this virus? DO NOT AUTOPLAY removable disks! If you shared your removable disk among computers and if you think there is any chance that those computers infected, do not open folders that are on the removable drives by double clicking them - use the [+] sign on the explorer's folders pane. Better still, use the command prompt if you know how to.

Do not trust drives that belongs to others.

What is the payload of this virus? It stops you from accessing orkut and youtube and displays its signature dialog box that says orkut is banned and reportedly produces strange sounds :) !

The virus does this: it creates a directory c:\heap41a and sets up a key in the registry so that it auto-starts (HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run). Then, it infects each and every removable disk you insert into the computer.

How to remove the virus from your computer?

Read these articles: 1 2

First, you have to kill the viral processes running as svchost under your user name. To do this, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and open Task Manager. There will be svchost processes running under SYSTEM, LOCAL SERVICE or NETWORK SERVICE. Leave them alone. If you find any svchost process under some other username, right click it and select 'End Process Tree'.

Then remove the start-up hooks from the registry. I found them in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run. Its better if you search for "heap41a" in the registry. Remove any viral entries you find.

Then, you have to remove the virus from your hard disk. Use Command Prompt. c:
cd \
dir /a

If you find heap41a directory, you have to delete them. First, you have to un-protect them.
attrib -s -h heap41a
cd heap41a
attrib -s -h *.* /s /d
del *.* /s

You should now be able to delete the heap41a directory. If you are unable to, there are more protected files in it - Remove them using attrib -s -h filename and del filename.

Then, reset the Show Hidden Files Option as said earlier. (Go to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL and set CheckedValue to 1).

Now, you have to clean your Removable Drives. Make sure you don't re-infect your system when you do this. When you insert the disk, make sure Windows does not autoplay any executable. You must not trigger Auto-play on the drive by right-clicking the drive icon. You must not also double-click applications that look like folders.

The best way to clean the removable drive is to Quick-format it. If you need to try to recover some data from it, try this:

Go to the command prompt. Do a dir /a and see if there are any suspicious executables or hidden folders. Delete them all. Repeat them for any sub-directories. Delete autoplay.ini.

My AVG with latest updates (Sep 17 2007) was unable to recognise all of the executable - though it did catch many. For example, it did not recognise the c:\heap41a\svchost.exe! Makes me wonder how much you can trust them!

Prevention is Better than Cure

When it comes to antivirus, its my opinion that it should be better used for prevention of an infection rather than to cure an infected system.

Ideally, you should install the antivirus software as soon as you install the operating system and before most other programs. More importantly, you should install the antivirus before you connect your system to other systems via a LAN or the Internet - before Viruses, worms and Trojans get a chance to infect your system.

Someone who administers 200 computers told me that AVG Antivirus is useless and they were being let down. On discussion with him, I found out that they tried to install antivirus software after a computer was suspected to be infected. Most systems were not updated with security and critical updates and had vulnerabilities dating back to 2002! And none had firewalls turned on. Every single system was used routinely with administrative accounts.

No wonder he feels that antivirus solutions inadequate. I advised him to follow a minimum security procedure: Windows Updates, Early Antivirus installation, giving non-admin accounts for day to day usage, firewall configuration etc. Security is a habit, it seems. Lets see if things improve.

del.icio.us

Have you visited del.icio.us? Its a social bookmarking website.

A social bookmarking website lets you save your bookmarks online. You can access them easily from anywhere on the Internet- from home, work, a library, or on a friend's computer.

It lets you share your bookmarks with others on the Internet - with your friends, co-workers, fans etc. It also lets you to save private, non-shared bookmarks, if you want.

It also lets you discover sites that others have found good. You can easily see which websites others have bookmarked for a topic. For example, if you are looking for sites regarding CNC programming, simply search for the tag 'CNC' in bookmarks of people world-over. You will be getting sites that others have found good for information on CNC.

Rather than organise your bookmarks in folders, del.icio.us uses a concept of tags that you will get used to quickly and will find very beneficial. "Tags are one-word descriptors that you can assign to your bookmarks on del.icio.us. They're a little bit like keywords..." For more information on tags, visit their help page on tags.

For more information on how saving bookmarks to del.icio.us works, you can visit their help page on saving bookmarks.

There are numerous social bookmarking sites to choose from.
BTW, did you notice that del.icio.us is simply the word delicious with two dots in between?

Website Design Tools

Designing a website? Here is a list of must-know online tools for optimising your site: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/08/10/10-designers-checkpoints-to-be-aware-of/

HijackThis

HijackThis is a must have tool for advanced users. TrendMicro's website says:

"HijackThis™ is a free utility which quickly scans your Windows computer to find settings that may have been changed by spyware, malware or other unwanted programs. HijackThis creates a report, or log file, with the results of the scan.

IMPORTANT: HijackThis does not determine what is good or bad. Do not make any changes to your computer settings unless you are an expert computer user. ... Not an expert? Just save the HijackThis report and let a friend with more troubleshooting experience take a look."

So HijackThis lists all installed browser add-ons, buttons, startup items, search engine settings etc. If you find something that is causing problems, you can easily remove them using the tool itself.

Here is what a typical log will look like:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.0
....
Running processes:
E:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
E:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
E:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
E:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
E:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\FRONTPG.EXE
E:\Documents and Settings\Sootah\Desktop\HijackThis1980.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.google.com/ie
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.google.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.theregister.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - e:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - E:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll


You must be an advanced user to realise which is a virus or spyware or crapware and which is not. You may end up with a crashed system if you don't know what you are doing. Once you are very certain that a program is unwanted, go ahead and remove them with HijackThis and get rid of it.

If you do not understand fully what to do, but are having a problem with your PC which you suspect is due to a virus/spyware, you can visit so many forums that help you see what is wrong.

Download HijackThis from Merijn, Download.com.

For detailed information on how to analyse the HijackThis Logs, visit about.com's article.

Hardware, Software, Malware

What is Malware? Here is what Wikipedia says:

"Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a mix of the words "malicious" and "software". The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code."

The variety of hostlile, intrusive or annoying software includes: worms, viruses, trojan horses, spyware, bad adware etc.

How can you prevent your computer from being damaged by malware?

1. You MUST have an Anti-Virus tool
2. The Anti-Virus must cover your E-mail and Chat too
3. Have a firewall turned on
4. Use McAfee SiteAdvisor to keep you out of bad sites on the net
5. Use a non-administrator account for email and browsing.
6. Do Not Download from unpopular/unfamiliar sites. If you are looking for freeware or shareware versions of popular programs, stick to tucows.com, downloads.zdnet.com and download.com.

Hardware, Software, Crapware

What's Crapware? Software that you don't need but is installed on your PC and taking up valuable resources.Get rid of them with the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel.
And watch http://www.cnettv.com/9710-1_53-28721.html for a nice video.

Online Dictionary

Need to refer something on a dictionary fast? Try www.Dictionary.com

Windows Update

Microsoft regularly releases updates to its software. They handle issues ranging from critical security issues or bug fixes to minor improvements. Generally, it is best to keep your PC up to date with security patches and critical updates. Visit WindowsUpdate.Microsoft.com or just update.microsoft.com to keep your PC upto date with the latest patches.

There are updates to cover the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office (if you have it), hardware drivers and any server software component that you may have (SQL Server, IIS etc).

Keeping your PC up to date with the patches and upgrades means that you are a little safer on the web, you computer's chances of crashing are lower and the overall performance can improve.

The website will detect the software you have on your PC and determine which components require updation. It will ask you which updates are to be installed on your PC, download them and install them one by one. You may have to reboot your PC after the installation.

Remember that for some updates, Microsoft will require you to run a Windows Genuine Advantage tool to "Validate your copy of Windows". Its purpose is to detect counterfiet or pirated operating systems. If you have a original copy of windows with your system, you need not worry about this. But if you do not have a proper licenced version, the WGA tool will detect it and nag you down to "Get Genuine" which is to buy original software. Another reason to go for genuine software :) with your new PC. For details, see this FAQ.

You can also check out non-microsoft offerings like http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/

Minimise Online Risks - Don't Use an Administrator Account

If you are using the Administrator account or an account with administrator privillages for routine work like internet browsing, email etc, then you are asking for trouble.

If a worm or a virus manages to get past your antivirus software (you have antivirus, don't you?), then the worm or virus will have all the previllages that your administrator account has - that's total control. It can install itself wherever it pleases, do whatever it wants and the total system will be at its mercy. System wide malfunction will occur. Removing the virus will be very dificult.

On the other hand, if you are using a non-administrator, limited account, the maximum rights that the virus can get is limited to your limited account's previllages. Atleast it wont be able to modify system files, install iteself everywhere etc. The infection will not be system wide and it will be relatively easier to recover from too.

To findout what your previllages you currently have, go to the Control Panel > User Accounts. If you are using an account that's labeled 'Computer Administrator', you better use another account which is a Limited account for Internet and email. If needed, create a new user with Limited privileges just for Internet and email.

Use the latest version of FireFox or Internet Explorer 7 to increase security. Go to Windows Update website to keep your software up-to-date.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows has a keyboard shortcuts to quickly do things that you want to do. For a good list of keyboard shortcuts, see these pages:

http://www.seoconsultants.com/windows/key/

IE Tips: Easy Way to Scroll Through Web Pages

An easy way to scroll through web pages is with the spacebar.

Pressing the Spacebar key will scroll down a page.
Pressign Shift+Spacebar key will scroll up a page.

Yes, yes, Page Up and Page Down keys too do the same thing, but isn't it a lot easier to hit the Spacebar key than search the Page Up and Page Down keys?

See http://www.onecomputerguy.com/ie_tips.htm for more!

McAfee Site Advisor - A Must Have Tool

McAfee has come out with an excellent tool to protect users from harmful websites: McAfee Site Advisor

McAfee's software robots have visited millions of websites on the Internet and have listed out sites that contain harmful content like viruses, worms, spyware, exploits etc and also sites that are known to be online scam, contain annoying popups etc. The Site Advisor software will make use of this knowledge database and advice you appropriately when you visit those websites. It will warn you about harmful sites even before you click on the harmful link!

How is it different from an Antivirus or firewall? "McAfee SiteAdvisor warns you before you interact with a dangerous Web site. Traditional security products focus on trying to clean up problems after they occur." Remember that McAfee Site Advisor is not a substitute for antivirus software and firewall software - You need them too. Site Advisor complements them in preventing malware and also covers risks that are not usually covered by antivirus and firewall.

You will need to download and install separate plugins for Internet Explorer and for FireFox. The software integrates seamlessly with the browser. It even shows which sites are bad and which are good in your search results!

A MUST HAVE tool for anyone who surfs the Internet. It costs nothing and it will save a lot of trouble for you. Visit SiteAdvisor homepage.

CRT Monitor Flickery? Check Refresh Rate

Tears running down your eyes when you see your CRT monitor? Check the Monitor Refresh Rate.

CRTs draw the image you see on the screen line by line. A rate of 60Hz means the screen is redrawn 60 times per second. That's fast, you may say. Its actually not fast enough. You can still see the flicker if you see the monitor with your 'peripheral vision' - if you see the monitor without looking at it directly and stare at some thing like the monitor's base.

To check your monitor's refresh rate, right-click on desktop, select 'Properties...' to get the Display properties dialog box. In the 'Settings' tab, click on 'Advanced' button. Select the 'Monitor' tab there.

The Monitor's current refresh rate is displayed.

If its set to 60 Hz, you can notice the flicker very easily. I would recommend a minimum of 75 Hz or a higher setting, if your hardware supports it.

If there are no other options listed other than 60Hz, or if no other settings work, it means that either your hardware does not support the higher settings or that you have not installed the proper drivers for your video card or monitor. To see if you have any devices with incorrect or missing drivers, you can use the Device Manager (Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager)

Please note that the Refresh Rate Setting is not relevant with an LCD monitor - they display images on the screen with a very different method.

Sore Eyes? How to set your CRT monitor's Brightness and Contrast Levels

Have a CRT monitor? Consider fine-tuning your monitor's brightness and contrast settings to minimise eye strain.

Its best to set your monitor's brightness and contrast settings with black and white text displayed on the screen. The best and fastest way to do it is with the Command Prompt.

Click on Start > Run..., type cmd and press enter. Maximise the window. (You can also use this!)

First, temporarily reduce the contrast of your monitor to its minimum setting. Now, adjust the brightness setting on your monitor so that the black is black enough. Set it so that black looks like pitch black and increasing brightness any more will cause it to become grey. If you set too much brightness, the black area on the monitor will look grey.

Now, to set the contrast setting. You have to set enough contrast so that white is white enough. If you set too much contrast, white text may seem to "bloom" and will not be crisp enough. If you set it too less, white will not be white enough and will look as off-white. Set it to the minimum required setting in which white looks white enough.

You are done! Also remember to check your monitor's refresh rate. It should be above 70 Hz or you will experience eye fatigue.

You can also use this excellent test page from monitorsetup.com to tune and calibrate your monitor. Read their single page documentation to save time and effort.

Want more detailed information? You must see this page.

Remember to clean your monitor regularly with a damp cloth or tissue. Dirt and Finger prints lead to eye strain.

"Please Don't Steal Music"

When I bought my iPod, it had a plastic sheet that said "Please don't Steal music". Does it mean those who buy iPod end up stealing music? Microsoft's CEO things so and says iPod users are music thieves. I doubt if things will be different with their Zune too.

I believe that people pirate music not just due to the cost but also due to the fact that it is much convenient to pirate music than to buy it.

Consider this: An MP3 CD with some 14 movies/albums or a hundred songs is available at throw away prices - Rs. 40 in India.

To not pirate music and buy original audio CDs, the user has to buy each movie/album separately at triple the price. So the pirated CDs are at least 40 times cheaper than original audio titles. And 14 times more convenient!

Pirated music is becoming more easier to get nowadays and with the penetration of broadband, its becoming more and more easy to download the songs you want instantly .

So should you buy original music? I suggest you visit this MIPI page. Music that we hear, is the hard labour of a group of people - the people who write it, create a tune, sing it, play it etc. Music is their live hood. It would be too selfish and wrong on our part to enjoy their music without paying for their services. Isn't it wrong to consult a doctor and not pay his fees?

I would definitely urge you to buy original audio CDs all the time. Or, at least once in a while. May be you could buy originals of the titles you like the most or hear often.

Buy Music. Support your favorite Artists!

If Original music is convenient to buy and doesn't cost too much, people will end up paying for music more often than not.

What is keeping your PC busy?

Ever wanted to do something urgently but your PC seems to be too busy with mysterious things? Want to know what's keeping your PC obsessed? Task Manager to the rescue!



"Task Manager provides information about programs and processes running on your computer. It also displays the most commonly used performance measures for processes."



Depending on your Windows version, you can press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring up Task Manager directly or through another screen.

You can also use Start > Run... taskmgr to start Task Manager but Ctrl+Alt+Del will work even if the Start menu is not responding.

The Process tab of the Task Manager is what we are currently interested in. It displays all the processes running on the computer, who is running it and how much of the system resources each is using. The CPU column indicates what percentage of the CPU is kept busy by the processes. The Mem Usage column indicates what amount of memory is currently allocated to each process.


To find out which processes are taking considerable amount of CPU, click on the CPU header.

The list is now sorted in the order of CPU utilisation. Clicking it again switches between ascending order and descending order. If you are an ordinary order, the System Idle Process will have the largest percentage of CPU time - it means that your CPU is idle for that percentage of time.

To find out how much memory the processes are utilising, you have to click on the Mem Usage header. The list becomes sorted using the Mem Usage numbers now. You can switch between ascending and descending order by clicking on it again.


You can use this utility to figure out what application is keeping the CPU busy or taking up too much memory. You can decide to close unwanted applications or uninstall them too.

Free Antivirus for You

Does your system have an anti-virus software installed? If your answer is no, you defenity are looking for trouble. YOU NEED ONE.

Here is a list of antivirus software for you to choose from.

In my own experience, I have found Norton Antivirus to be very effective and comprehensive. It seems to stop a virus even before the virus sees your network cable! But you have to pay the price for it: Firstly, it would cost around Rs. 1500 per year. Secondly and most importantly, I have found it to be too demanding on the computer's resources. I have noticed performance degradation on most computers with Norton Antivirus installed. What ever does it do with my Dual Core 3Ghz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 7200RPM SATA HDD?

I find Grisoft's AVG offering to be pretty neat. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is totally free of cost and includes regular updates from the Internet. I have found it to be satisfactorily effective in fighting against viruses. The free version does not include spy-ware protection or a firewall. But if you know what you are doing with your computer and on the Internet, you will find that AVG is a no-fuss, effective and keep-it-simple thing to have. The plus points are: 1. Its light on resources, 2. It doesn't cost anything.

You can also buy feature-rich versions of AVG Anti-virus if you need them.

Overall, a simple, must-have, no-fuss antivirus. Best when used along with some firewall.

PC Slow? Try Disk Clean-up

Do you have a Windows XP or Vista desktop or laptop thats too slow? Try Disk Clean-up!

The Disk Clean-up utility can be found in All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup. This utility removes unwanted files that were taking up space on your hard disk. The utility asks you to select which drive you want it to clean up. Clean up all drives one by one.

It will take some time to analyse your disk - so take a break and play solitaire or mine sweeper :).

In the next screen, the utility asks you to select which categories do you want it to clean up. Make sure you select Temporary Internet files, the Recycle Bin etc. In short, keep every thing selected. The only things you may want to NOT remove are the Office Setup files. They contain files required by MS Office when it needs to reconfigure itself. You can remove it if you have the original setup disks readily or if you need disk space badly. Else, its better to leave them on disk.

Also, you may not want to "Compress Old files" unless you are short of disk space. Selecting compression saves disk space at the cost of processing power, so the trade-off is yours to choose.

Remember to clean up all the drives in your system's hard disk.

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Hi and welcome to my blog. I plan to add technology related tips in my blog. If you are a computer user and want to know tips and tricks, my experience with products etc, check my blog!