Windows XP has an alarm to warn you when your battery is low. Best of all, it can be adjusted to suite your needs.
Go to Start/Control Panel/Power Options and look for the "Alarms" tab.
Check the box "Activate low battery alarm when power level reaches..." then adjust the slider. You can keep it around 10%, if you're paranoid keep it higher, or for you daring types, go lower.It's your call.
Next, click the "Alarm Action" button. Here you can choose to have just a display message or an actual sound alarm.
You'll also notice the "Critical battery alarm". This should be at a lower setting than the Low Battery Alarm so you'll know to save your data and get to the nearest wall outlet immediately.
200.19
Contributing Source:
World Start
12-4-08
Sometimes when you install a program or create a data file, the file ends up chopped up into chunks and stored in multiple locations on the disk. This is called fragmentation.
What makes this happen?
When you first install your operating system and programs on your hard disk, they are written to the disk, for the most part, in one contiguous block without any gaps. The exceptions are certain system files that must be stored in specific locations. Over time, as you create and then delete documents or uninstall programs, once-filled locations are left empty and you end up with files dotted all over the disk.
Now, when Windows is writing a file to the disk, it looks for a suitable piece of free space in which to store it. What happens, then, when you copy a 40M database or audio file to the disk and the biggest slice of free space is only 30M? Or say you modify an existing file, appending a whole bunch of data so the file now takes up more space on the disk. To accommodate the files, Windows writes the first part of the file in one section of the disk and then scouts around for other places to store the rest of the file. The end result is that a single file may be stored in several chunks scattered about the disk.
I always run the scan first. Here is why:
When you run scandisk on your computer, you are actually scanning
the hard drive looking for problems or defects. If the scan program
finds a problem, it will try to fix it. If the problem is a broken
or list file, it is usually fixed. If the problem is a bad section
of your hard drive, scandisk will attempt to fix it, but in the
event it cannot be fixed, that section of the drive will be marked
so that the computer will not attempt to put information in that
bad section.
When you run defrag, each bit of data is read by the computer and
then usually moved so that the data is in order. If you have a bad
section, and it has not been marked as non-useable, the computer
will try to write some of your data in that bad section and the
data could be lost.
Running scandisk before defrag will prevent this type of problem.
If you are using Windows XP or Vista, you really don't need to run
defrag because XP and Vista will automatically defragment files when
the computer is idle. Not only does it defragment, but it also arranges
the files so that the ones that are used the most are the easiest
to access.
200.18
Contributing Sources:
Geek Girls
Elizabeth Boston
12-1-08
If you have a noisy fan, you smell something burning or you see smoke or flames shooting out the back of your computer, you may very well have a problem with your power supply. And I assure you, that's a whole lot worse than a dead fan if you don't catch it right away. Keep reading for more on this!
There are many different things that could cause your power supply to go bad. For instance, the fan that runs next to your power supply could get clogged up with dust and dirt and start to run much slower or the fan's bearings could start to wear off. When those things happen, your power supply is at risk of overheating and it will eventually fail. Or, it could have nothing to do with your fan. Perhaps the power supply itself was faulty from the get go and it only took a matter of time before it failed completely.
Even more so, if you're having trouble with your computer shutting down and restarting itself at random times, that could be another indicator that your power supply is going bad. And since your motherboard, CPU, disk drives, etc. all work off of the power supply, it's not a good idea to take a chance on it getting any better. If you do, you'll just have more trouble down the road. Don't worry though, replacing a power supply is rather easy to do and it's fairly cost friendly. So, if your computer is experiencing any of the symptoms I mentioned above, you'll want to check into getting a new power supply. It's a small price to pay for the safety of your computer!
Common power-related symptoms include:
The Internet has grown exponentially in the last fifteen years but search engines have not kept up—until now. Cuil searches more pages on the Web than anyone else—three times as many as Google and ten times as many as Microsoft.
Rather than rely on superficial popularity metrics, Cuil searches for and ranks pages based on their content and relevance. When we find a page with your keywords, we stay on that page and analyze the rest of its content, its concepts, their inter-relationships and the page’s coherency.
Then we offer you helpful choices and suggestions until you find the page you want and that you know is out there. We believe that analyzing the Web rather than our users is a more useful approach, so we don’t collect data about you and your habits, lest we are tempted to peek. With Cuil, your search history is always private.
200-16
Contributing Source:
CUIL.com
12-1-08
Cuil is an old Irish word for knowledge. For knowledge, ask Cuil.
Now, I'm not encouraging anyone to hack into another's computer. But people do lose passwords. It can happen to anyone. And being stuck in a limited account isn't fun. Your computer loses a lot of functionality in that mode.
Also, you'll see that a password is no panacea in Windows. Anybody who knows much at all can break it.
You can reset the Administrator password without knowing the current password. There are methods for both XP and Vista.
Windows XP is easy
Windows XP has a hidden Administrator account. It can be used to troubleshoot the computer's other accounts. That includes changing passwords. To get to it, you'll have to boot your computer in Safe Mode.
First, restart the computer. As it starts, repeatedly press the F8 key. Instead of the familiar Windows screen, you'll see a text-only Advanced Options Menu. Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode. Then press Enter.
Select the Administrator account. By default on most computers, it requires no password. Once logged in, you can change the password of the account you normally use.
To make the change, click Start>>Run. In the box, type "control userpasswords2" (without the quotes) and click OK. Select your normal account name in the list. Click the Reset Password button. You'll be prompted for a new password. You can restart the computer and use the new password on the Administrator account.
200.15
Contributing Source:
Komando
12/1/08
Checks spelling in any Windows application Checks spelling on-the-fly (alerts if the last typed word was misspelled) Checks spelling of text that is copied to the clipboard Allows you to specify applications for which tinySpell is disabled or enabled Optionally beeps on error (beep sound can be easily set to any wav file) new in v1.7 : Optionally displays a spelling tip (see example) Opens replacements list with a simple mouse click or a hot-key Optionally copies the selected replacement word to the clipboard Optionally inserts the selected replacement word into the document Allows you to add words to the dictionary Easy Enable/Disable Uses little system resources 
Here's how it works:
When you log onto a secure server it communicates with your browser for a few seconds. During this communication, it sends your browser encryption information that only it and your browser can read.
Once this encryption is set, it acts like a normal web page, except that all info coming or going is encrypted. This encryption makes it extremely difficult for any third party who would intercept the transaction to decipher it. (All this extra protection is why secure servers seem to run slower than their unsecured counterparts.)
Secure connections only protect the info as its coming and going, not when it's just sitting on the server.
That being said, you probably have a better chance of getting ripped off by a sales clerk copying your credit card number at a department store than getting your information stolen over the internet.
You can tell a secure site by the first part of its web address. If it starts with https:// rather than http:// it's a secure site.
200.13
Contributing Source:
World Start
9/13/08
So here's what you need to know before you delete your Yahoo account:
If you still want to delete proceed as following:
Let's say you have about four different programs running on your PC all at the same time. For instance, maybe you have your e-mail up and running, a Web browser window open, a Word document ready for review and your music player playing your favorite song. With all of that going on, have you ever wondered if there was a quick way to pull each of those programs up as you need them, without the rest of them getting in your way? For example, maybe you're working on your Word document, but you want to bring your music player up to change songs. So, how can you do that quickly and painlessly?
Well, all you have to do is press Alt + Tab together one time. Once you do that, it will bring up a little box that has all of your open programs listed. Then while continuing to hold the Alt key down, just press the Tab key to scroll your way across the programs. Highlight the one you want and then release the Alt key to pull that program up. Want to change programs again? Just repeat the process as many times as you need. It's so simple and it also helps you to keep track of everything you have running on your PC at one time. Pretty cool, huh? Give it a try today
200.11
Contributing Source:
World Start
9-15-08
LuCallBackProxy
Several people have asked me about this process. It is actually part of your Norton Internet Security software. It assists LiveUpdate in retrieving and loading updates for Norton programs.
This is important for keeping security programs up to date. Don’t disable it. If you do, your computer could be open to malware.
lsass.exe
This is a Windows system process. It deals with local security and log-in policies. It’s used to authenticate users trying to sign on to your computer. This is crucial for the security of your PC.
However, Isass.exe is a virus. Wait, don’t they look the same? Yes, and that’s the point. The good process’ name begins with a lowercase L. The bad one begins with an uppercase I. When looking at processes on your PC, the font is usually san-serif. This font can make it difficult to tell the difference. The use of the upper-case I is not coincidental. Isass.exe can disable your security programs, including your firewall. It also opens a backdoor for hackers. This program should be disabled and removed immediately. But be careful not to mix it up with lsass.exe. csrss.exe This is part of the Microsoft Client/Server Runtime Server Subsystem. It handles most of the graphical commands for Windows. You need this file for your PC to run properly. Leave it alone. smss.exe This process is part of Windows. Its real name is Session Manager Subsystem. It controls sessions for your PC. If you end this process, many programs will not function properly. wuauclt.exe This process manages automatic updates for Windows. It runs in the background and continually checks for updates. It uses your Internet connection to do the checking.
200.10
Contributing Source:
Kim Komando
9/15/08
First of all, let me explain a little about what XP Antivirus 2008 really is. It's basically one of the latest scams to hit the Web. It's a fake antivirus program, but it looks so real and it has fooled a lot of computer users. It usually starts showing up after you've downloaded a video (or something similar) that supposedly has a virus attached to it. You are then urged to install XP Antivirus 2008 to get rid of the malware. That is, after you pay for it, of course. Once you shell out your money and install it, it starts popping up false virus alerts and fake scans. It also takes up a lot of your system memory and makes your computer almost impossible to operate.
Luckily, there's a rather simple way to remove XP Antivirus 2008 from your computer. The directions are pretty lengthy to do manually. but the following Removal Tool can be download for free.
This is a very persistent Virus and will literally take control of your computer right before your very eyes. The Scam is designed to collect your Credit Card information when you download their supposedly "Fix" Software. You get no software and remain with an Out of Control PC.
Download the Removal Tool from:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/malware-removal/remove-internet-antivirus
200.09
Contributing Source:
Malware Bytes.com
8/19/08
Are you constantly frustrated with MS Excel, because it keeps removing that leading zero from your inventory number?
Yeah, me too!
The problem is Excel automatically sees the data as a number and since the leading zeros have no value in numbers, it gets rid of them.
It's convenient when you're actually dealing with numbers, but a pain when it's a part number or an ID number.
A quick and easy way to get Excel to leave your zeros alone is to change the cell format to text.
There are a few ways to make the change, so let's go over a couple of them now.
One way to handle the situation is to first highlight the cell(s) to change.
In older versions of Excel, you need to go to the Format menu, Cells choice.
In Excel 2007, click on the arrow in the bottom right hand corner of the Number section under the Home tab on the ribbon.
Under the General tab (
Now, I'd like to wrap up with one last thought. If you only have a few cells to change, you could just type an apostrophe before entering the data (for example, instead of typing 0123 in the cell, type '0123).
When you hit the Enter key, the change is made instantly for that cell only. Once again, your zero is safe and sound!
Number tab in Excel 2007), choose Text from the Categories list and then click OK.
200.07
Contributing Source
World Start
8/19/08
First of all, you'll want to turn your computer off and unplug your keyboard.
1.) Turn your keyboard over and try to shake out any particles you can.
2.) It's suggested to get a can of compressed air and spray it over the keys to remove any extra debris that may be lying in between the cracks. Compressed air is available at any computer or photo store.
3.) Take a slightly damp cloth and run it over the keys to remove any fingerprints and any other dirt that might be settling in on your keys.
4.) Take your vacuum's dusting brush attachment and set it on a low mode. Just run it over the keyboard to make sure all remaining particles of dust, dirt, food, etc. are removed.
Now, if you need to do a more serious cleaning because you have sticky keys or your keyboard is just so filthy, you can't stand it, take caution and follow the rest of the steps below.
Make sure you keep track of where the keys are placed on your keyboard so that you're able to put them back on in the right order. You may want to draw yourself a picture of some sort to keep track of them.
Now, using a small screwdriver, carefully remove all of the smaller keys. You're not going to want to take off the larger keys like the space bar, Shift, Enter or Tab, because those are extremely difficult to get back on.
Go back to using your compressed air to get all of the left over dirt that may be refusing to come out. If you have any stains underneath the keys, use the damp cloth like before to get rid of those. Once you have it all clean like you want it, put the keys back in their place. Each of them should snap right back on, but be careful. Also, test each key as you go, just to make sure they're working. When you're all finished, plug your keyboard back in and try out all of the keys to make sure everything is back to normal and working properly.
200.05
Contributing Source
World Start
8/18/08
As you've probably figured out, the Windows Vista default setting is set to show the Welcome Center screen every time you start up your computer. While the Welcome Center is mildly interesting the first time you see it, you'll more than likely get tired of it rather quickly.
You can easily change the setting though by unchecking the Run option under the Startup button, located at the bottom of the Welcome Center screen.
1.) To do that, go to Start, Control Panel.
2.) Select Welcome Center.
Now, similarly, the Vista Sidebar is also shown by default. While some users will find the Sidebar and its widgets very useful, you may want to use that space on your desktop for something else. If that's the case, you can turn the Sidebar off. Here's how:
1.) Go to Start, Control Panel.
2.) Right click on the Windows Sidebar icon in the system tray.
3.) Choose Properties.
4.) Uncheck the "Start Sidebar When Windows Starts" checkbox.
5.) Click OK.
200.04
Contributing Source:
Microsoft
7/16/08
SPAMfighter has partnered up with Microsoft to build the strongest, safest, and most effective anti spam tool on the market. If you use Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Mail and you want to get rid of spam, just install SPAMfighter. And if you use it at home, it's 100% free.
Whenever new mail arrives, it will automatically be tested by SPAMfighter, and if it's spam, it will be moved to your spam folder.
The more software and hardware you install and uninstall, the more full your Registry gets. A great deal of software doesn't clean up after itself, and leaves behind old and obsolete Registry entries, or upon install creates invalid ones. There will be pointers to missing DLLs, listings of no-longer-valid file extensions, invalid paths, invalid ActiveX Controls, and much more. The more your Registry fills with this junk, the slower your PC gets and the more often you'll have system crashes.
Eusing Free Registry Cleaner helps to fix the problem in a simple, two-step process. Tell it to scan your Registry, and it goes through and identifies common problems and junk.
Then tell it to repair the Registry, and it tidies things up. Because changing the Registry can have serious impact on your system, the program lets you first look at the problems it finds, and tell it to only fix some of them. If you get into trouble, the program also lets you revert to the previous version of the Registry.
Total Cost: FREE - Download from PC World:
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64953-order,1-page,1/description.html200.01
Contributing Source:
Eusing Software
7/16/08
Cartridges are tested and must pass our quality inspection, or we will be unable to refill it. If your cartridge does not pass our inspection, it will not be returned, you will be contacted by our service people who will explain the problem and options that you have. We do not guarantee that your cartridge will be returned. Ever effort is made to do so, but to provide the timely service it is not possible at all times.
- Your credit card will not be charged until the cartridge(s) are returned.
100.17
Contributing Source:
Master Inkjets.com
4/25/08
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Are you nostalgic for Windows 3.1? How about WordStar 7.0? You may not miss these programs. But someone somewhere does!
And I'll bet there are old programs that you would still like to use. Unfortunately, tracking down old versions of software can be difficult.
Every year, countless programs become obsolete. They're replaced by shinier, newer versions of themselves.
Sometimes, a program is updated because of security concerns. Other times, the manufacturer just wants to add new features to boost revenue.
And, these new versions aren't always better. They may be missing your favorite feature. Or, they may be more complicated to use.
In that case, you can revert back to the old version of the program. Need help finding old software? Then visit Vetusware.
Vetusware claims to be the largest collection of free abandonware downloads. You won't believe some of the programs you'll find on this site.
Vetusware is a must for free software junkies!
Cost: Free
Link: www.vetusware.com
100.16
Contributing Source:
Vetusware.com
4/25/08
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Yes, there are a few places online that allow you to send a free fax, no strings attached. You don't need a fax machine, you don't need fax software, you don't have to give anyone your credit card number. My favorite is FaxZero, which lets you send a fax to any fax machine in the United States (including Puerto Rico) or Canada for free. All you need is a computer on the Internet and a valid e-mail address. Faxzero is web-based, so you can access it with a PC, Mac or Linux based computer.
Here's how it works... First visit FaxZero.com and fill out the fax form. Enter your e-mail address and carefully type the Confirmation Code. (This prevents malicious users and automated bots from abusing the system.) Then type the text of your fax (for a quick text-based fax) or attach a file. You can send plain text, PDF, Microsoft Word (DOC), or an Excel spreadsheet (XLS) file. Ready to send? Whack the Send Free Fax Now button!
A confirmation message will then be sent to your e-mail address. Your fax won't be transmitted until you click the link in that message. You'll receive an e-mail confirming that the fax was either delivered, or that it failed for some reason.
Limit 2 Faxes per day (3 pages each). FREE.
Additional Faxes available with a subscription at .12 cents/page.
100.15
Contributing Source:
FaxZero.com
4/22/08
