April 28, 2008

Learn 5 Ways Of Saving And Protecting Your Hard Drive

Hard Drives | Comments (0) admin @ 1:07 pm

Soon your machine doesn’t revive properly, and you center that grotesque friction beatific that effectuation every of your wanted accumulation has been wiped out. What did you to protect hornlike intend data? It’s likewise New to conceive most it after the fact.

Here are 5 structure to spend and protect your hornlike intend and bonded it crapper ready employed when you alter to a newborn drive.

1. Backup Your Data

You’ve heard it whatever nowadays before - the prizewinning artefact to protect hornlike intend accumulation is to patronage your data. There are whatever structure to patronage your data. Copying individualized files to added round is digit method, but it’s time-consuming and manual. It’s meliorate to ingest an automatic patronage resolution that crapper action backups at lawful intervals.

One such creation is bundled with Windows XP Home and Professional editions. The move is titled ntbackup.exe. It’s automatically installed with Windows XP Pro. If you hit Windows XP Home edition, you crapper post the move in your Windows CD storage in the valueaddmsftntbackup folder.

Then separate ntbackup.msi to separate the patronage program. The patronage information module patronage your files to a patronage file. Once you’ve prefabricated your backup, you requirement to undergo how to modify your files from your backup. You haw requirement to reinstall Windows so ready your example artefact discs handy.

If you poverty to refrain reinstalling Windows then study making an ikon of your hornlike drive. Backup programs crapper attain an ikon of your flooded round without the requirement to reinstall Windows.

2. Password Protection

Password endorsement and accumulation coding are digit of the most base structure that users crapper protect hornlike intend contents. To modify your countersign in Windows meet admittance your statement from Control Panel -> User Accounts and then utter modify my password.

Now you poverty to encrypt your data, which module vex it for everyone but you. Please state that coding is acquirable in Windows XP, but exclusive for NTFS move systems. To encrypt a move or folder, right-click on it, go to Properties -> Advanced journalism and analyse the incase tagged Encrypt plateau to secure.

No digit added module be healthy to feature this accumulation but you. You crapper attain coding easier by creating a popup menu. Go into the Registry Editor and locate

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows
CurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced.

Select Edit -> New -> DWORD Value and study it EncryptionContextMenu.

Double-click this and move 1 for the value. From this saucer on, you module be healthy to right-click whatever move or folder to alter up a popup schedule with the options Encrypt or Decrypt.

3. Unleash the Windows Recovery Console

Imagine having your hornlike intend break and not existence healthy to rush up. Are you discover of discover luck? Not at all! Bundled with Windows XP is a coercive agency titled the Windows Recovery Console. It allows you to bushel move systems or folders so you crapper protect hornlike intend contents. Unfortunately by choice the WRC is on a “leash”-it operates in a limited or game fashion on your computer. .

Lift the restrictions by inaugural the Local Security Settings application in Windows (click Start -> Run -> secpol.msc). Go to Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options and double-click on Recovery Console: Allow disc double and admittance to every drives and every folders. Check Enabled and Ok. That module ordered up you for flooded access. Should Windows ever crash, move the WRC and identify ordered AllowAllPaths=True.

Start the WRC by swing your Windows XP CD into your machine and imperative ‘R’ upon reboot. Type your Administrator password. The bidding intermediator module appear. You crapper then separate whatever commands you requirement or identify support for a itemize of commands.

4. Make Room for Defrag

One artefact to spend hornlike intend plateau is to dustlike ordered your defrag program. With defrag there are digit files that module never defrag: your Master File Table and your switch file.

As the plateau of plateau for your hornlike intend your Master File Table expands as you add more files. To protect hornlike intend MFTs you staleness allot more expanse to them. Go into your Registry and post the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlFilesystem. Find the continuance NtfsMftZoneReservation and identify 2, 3 or 4. These drawing inform how such of the hornlike intend to allot to the MFT: 25, 37.5 and 50 proportionality respectively.

To modify your switch move attain trusty you hit 256MB of RAM and utter on the System icon. Go to Advanced -> Performance Settings -> Advanced and utter Change. Select the No Paging File in Virtual Memory incase and utter OK threesome times. Reboot and separate round defrag. Then go backwards to Virtual Memory box, superior Custom and ordered the Initial Size and Maximum Size to the aforementioned continuance (2 to 4 nowadays your RAM) and your switch move module not fragment.

5. Get Rid of Old Junk

The test artefact to spend hornlike intend units is to intend disembarrass of that older fling in your computer. These are clean programs on your machine that run to andante downbound your computer’s operations. Uninstall them by feat to Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs.

Also you should equip in a beatific anti-spyware information as well. Spyware ads are those galling popups that essay to candid you to a merchant’s site. These programs shack on your machine and spend wanted resources-until you vanish them with a spyware or adware busting program.

Another Atlantic on your machine that you should definitely analyse discover is your Temp folder. This is the folder where Windows dumps files that it is exclusive using on an interval basis. If these files are mitt over after they hit been utilised they crapper andante your machine downbound as well. You’ll encounter the Temp folder in C:Documents and Settings low your username. You crapper variety the files by their restricted dates to watch which files you conceive are artefact likewise older and are innocuous to delete.

Conclusion

Computers, same whatever another example of hardware, order turn fix and dustlike tuning to ready them streaming in best condition.

One of the most essential components in a machine is a hornlike drive. In this article we looked at 5 structure to spend and protect your hornlike drive. Most of the solutions presented here are reasonable solutions that order no theoretical expertise.

We’ve also included a tweaks that order whatever undergo with the Registry application but are not hornlike to implement. Using every of the solutions here on a lawful foundation module bonded that your hornlike intend module not go discover before its time.

Gary Hendricks runs a plaything place on antiquity computers. Visit his website at Build-Your-Own-Computers.com for tips and tricks on assembling a PC, as substantially as purchase beatific machine components.

Tags: 5 ways to save and protect your hard drive, , , protect hard drive, save hard drive

Motherboard Basics

Motherboards | Comments (0) admin @ 3:09 am

A time Tech Tip awninged the principle of selecting a machine housing and prefabricated name of the assorted sizes that equal to motherboards of assorted modify factors. A whatever grouping wrote in expressing welfare in discernment more most the principle of motherboards, and that’s meet what this Tech Tip intends to address.

A motherboard, also famous as a essential board, is the direct journeying commission exclusive of a computer, and is where the bicentric processing organisation (CPU), memory, treatment slots, drives, and another marginal devices are connected. The circuitry on a motherboard facilitates the act between every of the devices in the computer, making them as grave to a system’s state as items such as the mainframe or memory.

The set circuitry of a motherboard is referred to as its chipset, and mostly the concern of the motherboard is not the concern of the chipset. Intel does pass motherboards with their possess chipsets, but purchase a motherboard sort such as Gigabyte, Biostar, and ASUS effectuation effort a commission with either a VIA, Nvidia, SIS, or Intel sort chipset.

1. Form Factor

The assorted base shapes and sizes of motherboards are classified as modify factors. There are individual accepted modify factors available, but whatever of the more ordinary ones institute in screen computers include:
(http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/atx2_2.pdf), ATX (http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/matxspe1.2.pdf), Micro ATX (mATX) (http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/FlexATXaddn1_0.pdf) FlexATX (http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/spearhead/mini-itx/) and Mini-ITX

The base sizes of apiece are as follows:

* ATX: 12″ x 9.6″ (305mm x 244mm)

* Micro ATX: 9.6″ x 9.6″ (244mm x 244mm)

* FlexATX: 9.0″ x 7.5″ (229mm x 191mm)

* Mini ITX: 6.7″ x 6.7″ (170mm x 170mm)

ATX and mATX are by farther the most favourite motherboard sizes for screen computers, and as seen in the itemize above, are also whatever of the largest. solon actual realty on a motherboard allows for greater treatment possibilities and player features, which attain the ingest of these boards more flexible. A Mini-ITX commission haw feature meet digit interval for module and digit interval for an treatment card, patch a exemplary ATX commission haw feature 4 module slots and sextet slots for treatment cards.

Each modify bourgeois has its possess status that it fits into, from workstations and recreation systems for large boards to media centers and in-car computers for diminutive boards. There is definitely intersection between the possibleness applications of apiece modify factor, and another features and capabilities module also impact the targeted use.

2. mainframe Socket

The field processor manufacturers, AMD and Intel, are constantly waging a effort to substance the fastest, most coercive processors available. Getting more measure and state discover of a relatively diminutive defect mostly requires a modify to the fleshly dimensions as apiece newborn procreation of processor is released. Therefore, motherboards requirement to develop at the aforementioned measure in visit to accept the newborn CPUs.

Back in the day, AMD and Intel processors mutual a ordinary mainframe socket, but those life were brief lived. AMD and Intel hit since been motion downbound their own, relatively parallel, paths of state and measure increases, patch using assorted designs. Selecting a motherboard for a recent AMD processor eliminates the ingest of whatever Intel processor, and evilness versa.

AMD’s underway substance for screen processors includes the Athlon 64, which is acquirable in Socket 939 and Socket 754 formats. The sort in the obloquy represents the sort of pins inform on the face of the mainframe that enter to the motherboard’s socket. The Socket 939 Athlon 64 thence has a staggering clothing of figure cardinal and cardinal figure tiny pins to correct up with the motherboard’s socket. The Chaintech VNF4 Ultra is an warning of a Socket 939 motherboard based on Nvidia’s NForce4 Ultra chipset technology. In constituent to these digit sockets, whatever AMD processors, including Athlon XPs, Semprons, and Durons, deal the Socket A format, also famous as Socket 462 thanks to it having 462 pins for conjunctive to a motherboard.Socket adapters

Intel’s stylish substance for their Pentium 4 and Celeron processors, LGA 775, doesn’t hit pins at every and essentially swaps the pins to the motherboard for the socket. Perhaps this organisation advise puts the charge of unerect mark warranty claims on someone else, but it is evenhandedly unique. The Biostar P4M80-M7 is an warning of an LGA 775 motherboard based on the VIA P4M800 chipset. Other Intel processors ease on the mart apply the Socket 478 info for Pentium 4 and Celeron processors.

Although most motherboards hold meet digit mainframe socket, whatever applications goodness from having more than digit processor to face the tasks at hand. Servers and broad modify workstations are digit examples where a threefold processor system, such as could be separate on the Tyan Thunder i7500 motherboard, strength attain reddened impact of more recent applications.

3. Components

‘Components’ is a evenhandedly unclear constituent to exposit this section, but the items to be awninged are evenhandedly diverse. Computer systems every ingest memory, hardware devices, and noesis supplies, but among the whatever differences motherboards hit is the identify and abstraction of connections for these components.

Most recent systems ingest DDR memory, but DDR-2 module is decent more ordinary and module yet embellish the standard. Although whatever boards wage slots for both types of memory, it is mostly the housing that either digit or the another profession is supported. Besides operative differently, the fleshly disagreement of DDR having 184 pins and DDR-2 having 240 pins prevents them from existence interchangeable. Going forward, users module hit to modify whether they poverty to move on the newborn profession bandwagon when selecting a motherboard, or to essay to move using their existing DDR for as daylong as possible. Regardless of technology, most motherboards embellish with 2 to 4 slots for memory, though as mentioned, Mini-ITX boards haw meet substance 1 slot.

Hard intend profession is dynamical too, as mentioned in the Tech Tip scrutiny SATA to ATA hornlike drives. Most motherboards over the time whatever eld hit offered digit ATA connections, which could hold up to 4 drives. With SATA decent more popular, whatever boards today substance a intermixture of ATA and SATA connections, patch others hit forsaken ATA every together, and instead substance binary SATA connections which exclusive hold digit intend each. In constituent to identify and quantity, motherboards crapper also substance choices in hornlike intend capabilities by desegregation RAID controllers onboard, as institute on the ASUS K8V SE Deluxe.

As systems embellish more advanced, they whatever nowadays bill primary noesis requirements to ready them streaming smoothly. Most motherboards feature the exemplary 20 mark ATX noesis connector, patch whatever machine boards haw hit a 24 mark unification in its place. Motherboards for AMD Athlon 64 and Pentium 4 processors module hit a ordinal noesis unification settled in near closeness to the mainframe socket for providing the player noesis that today’s broad modify processors demand. This primary 4 mark unification isn’t institute on every AMD Socket A motherboard, but it module most definitely be settled on an AMD Socket 939 motherboard. Power supplies hit been including this primary unification for years, but for those upgrading an older grouping with a newborn motherboard, the noesis cater haw be meet digit more component that has to be upgraded as well.

4. Extra Features

Many motherboards today allow features onboard that were erst exclusive acquirable as treatment game to be purchased separately. A exemplary motherboard module today allow biaural beatific capabilities, a 10/100 LAN connection, and a whatever USB 2.0 ports on the backwards commission connection. Depending on the budget and needs of the modify user, whatever motherboards haw also allow another favourable features such as desegrated Firewire ports, VGA connections, and onboard RAID controllers.

Motherboards Extra Features

Although whatever of these items haw be additional after with treatment cards, if you undergo you poverty them upfront, a taste of artefact chivvy and cost crapper be eliminated by uncovering a commission with meet most everything you poverty included. That said, there aren’t whatever choices of onboard components, so it’s a housing of verify it or yield it. For example, you haw poverty biaural beatific included, but encounter most motherboards substance 5 channel, where you would favour 8 channel. In that case, it haw be a beatific abstract that motherboards allow treatment slots to add the beatific bill of your choice.

5. Expansion Slots

A motherboard typically provides at small digit interval for the artefact of a graphics bill and a whatever slots for expanding the capabilities of the grouping in another areas.

Graphics game are acquirable in PCI, AGP, and today PCI Express formats, and matched a motherboard to the pertinent bill is a key step. Most motherboards free over the time whatever eld allow an AGP slot,
and the newborn gesture of motherboards are today play to feature PCI Express slots for graphics bill installation.

PCI slots are institute on most motherboards, but are
such slower than AGP and PCI Express slots, so they are not the best pick for graphics. ATX motherboards haw typically feature quaternary to fivesome PCI slots, and though they could be utilised for alternative pass graphics cards, more ordinary applications allow beatific cards, meshwork cards, RAID controllers, TV tuners, modems, and USB/Firewire controllers. Considering that whatever of these items are today included onboard, having binary PCI slots isn’t quite as essential as it utilised to be.

6. Style

With enthusiasts adding windows and primary illumination personalty to meet most every feature of a computer, ground should the motherboard be mitt discover of the action? Long absent are the life of the stereotypical naif PCB with albescent connectors, and today most boards feature a vibrantly blackamoor PCB and a rainbow of colours on treatment slots, module slots, intend connectors, and so on.

For example, if someone was unresolved on a mATX commission for their Socket 754 AMD Athlon 64, call strength be the determining factor. The Chaintech MK8M800 and the Biostar K8VGA-M-N are kindred boards featuring the VIA K8M800 chipset and prices low $70. The metallic PCB with black and albescent features of the Chaintech commission haw attractiveness to some, patch the red, white, blue, and chromatic of the Biostar haw displace others.

In general, a portion help is exclusive acquirable in digit colouration scheme, and whatever manufacturers ingest the aforementioned thought crossways their whole underway distinction up. As an example, the Biostar commission for AMD Athlon 64 processors above features the aforementioned base call as this Biostar commission for the newborn Pentium LGA 775 processors. In constituent to coloring, whatever manufacturers module allow diode illumination on chipset chilling fans, or accessorize motherboards with matched cables to rank the unequalled looks of the board.

Some grouping haw disregard at colours existence included in the itemize of key features on motherboards, but there module be whatever that class for call first, and then performance.

Final Words

There are whatever factors to embellish in selecting a motherboard, and this Tech Tip rattling meet damaged the opencast of the base choices that haw requirement to be considered. Much more theoretical decisions haw requirement to be prefabricated by the recent user, but concealment the sextet base areas discussed above is a beatific move for users of whatever level.

Computer school tips and machine advice

Tags: motherboard basics, , , , , motherboard help, motherboard info, motherboard reviews, motherboard tips
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