PC Advice

ACRONIS TRUE IMAGE HOME V11 (WIN 2000,XP,VISTA) There are numerous ways you can lose the information on your computer. Your child decides to play Chopin on your keyboard, a power surge, lightening, a virus, or even simple equipment failure. Therefore, backing up the contents of your hard drive is an absolute MUST. By regularly making backup copies of your files and storing them in a separate location, you can typically get some, if not all, of your information back in the event your...Read Full Story

Another thought crossed my mind as I'm considering picking up a used PC and that is how used is it. After you get past the general specs that are acceptable for the used PC you are looking to buy wouldn't it be nice to know what shape the system is in. Well the best idea I have been able to come up with so far is using anyone of a number of tools that check the S.M.A.R.T stats on the Hard Drive. In particular S.M.A.R.T. tracks the power on hours for a hard drive. So far HDDlife which has a...Read Full Story

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly.  While most people would not think of skipping preventative maintenance on their automobiles, they do not apply the same care to the machine that holds their business and banking data, pictures, music, and important communications. The majority of this article was first published in segments by Microsoft demonstrating how to use their tools available in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and...Read Full Story

Part 1 of 4: Number Systems This miniseries discusses usage of RAM (Random Access Memory) in IBM compatible Personal Computers (PCs), ranging from the first hardware system to PCs running current versions of MS Windows. This discussion deliberately is shallow, for relatively small size, but libraries and internet searches can flesh out the topics (probably to millions of pages). ... more at http://softwareprogs.com/wordpress/29/pc-ram-extenders-part-1-of-4-number-systems Part 2 of 4: Memory...Read Full Story

Once in a very long while, even a technologically-challenged individual like me comes across a piece of information that brings a smug smile to his lips; and an I-told-you-so hovering on his lips.   I’m talking about those infernal machines, computers, of course – those awesome marvels that can make even a human genius look like a moron, when it comes to number crunching and processing information. Turns out, those behemoth brains have a problem with names – and not just exotic names either...Read Full Story