Update or Replace a Computer

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Dick Buchanan

Decision Time – Fix, Update, or Replace Your Computer

Your computer is starting to age and you are wondering what to do about it.  Basically, there are three possibilities:

  • Update the computer hardware and software
  • Upgrade the Operating System to Windows 7
  • Buy a new computer

 Updating Your Current Computer

I use a rule of thumb that the life expectancy of a PC is from 3 to 6 years.  Businesses usually fall in at the lower end and home computers at the upper end of the range.

The components of the computer that are easily updated are:

  • Memory (RAM)
  • Hard drive (storage space)
  • Video Card
  • Monitor
  • Operating System

Each of these upgrades will cost about $100.  Upgrading one or two of these is feasible but doing all of them would add up to $500 or more.  This would be prohibitive since new PCs start around that price.  In that case, your best bet would be to buy a new machine and transfer your data and software.

Upgrading to Windows 7

If your PC is not more than a couple of years old, upgrading to Windows 7 is probably a good idea. However, there are several points to consider.  The new operating system has higher requirements for hardware such as memory (RAM), video adapter, hard disk space, and current external devices like printers and scanners.  Also, older software might not install or run correctly.

If you currently have Vista, this would be an excellent opportunity to inexpensively put any Vista-related problems you may have had behind you.

Microsoft provides an upgrade utility that tells you if your PC can run Windows 7 and what changes you might have to make. You can download the utility at this web site:

                http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=1b544e90-7659-4bd9-9e51-2497c146af15&displaylang=en

For external devices like printers and scanners, it would be wise to check the manufacturer’s web site to see if Windows 7 drivers exist for the equipment.

Windows 7 will directly upgrade from Vista.  If you currently have Windows XP, you will install the new operating system as a fresh installation and not an upgrade.  This means you must install all of your existing software so you will need the original disks to do this.

You can download an Easy Transfer Utility from Microsoft that will transfer your data to an external drive that can then be imported to the new system.  You can download the files at:

32-bit XP – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=734917d8-0663-4c26-89d0-2d00b632ebdb

64-bit XP – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=75649781-1e3d-4000-a6ce-638fe694de02

If the current operating system is older than Windows XP, it is highly unlikely that the PC hardware will support an upgrade to Windows 7.  Buying a new PC is your only option.

Buy the New Computer

If the preceding options don’t work in your case, you’ll just have to break down and get that new computer.  You should still check out whether your existing software and equipment such as the monitor, printer, scanner, etc. will be compatible with the new PC.  That way you can budget the total cost of the replacement and avoid any unexpected added expenses.

Hopefully making some of these changes will put some more fun into your computing experience.

Posted in Computing, General Interest, Hardware, Software | 1 Comment

The Home Network

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Dick Buchanan

Networking at Home

Perhaps you have a single computer at home and want to connect a second or possibly a third.  You want to print from all of them but moving the printer from PC to PC just won’t cut it.  What can you do?  Enter the world of home networking.  This article covers the basic components of a home network and how to connect them.  Be sure to follow the instructions provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the equipment manufacturers for specific instructions on configuring the devices.

Required Equipment

First you need a connection to the Internet which will be in the form of DSL from the phone company, a cable connection from the cable provider, or possibly a satellite connection. All of these methods require a modem that actually makes the connection to their system.

Second, you need a router to allow more than one computer to connect to the Internet.  Two major manufacturers are LinkSys and Netgear.  These companies make a variety of both wired and wireless routers.  In some cases, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can supply a device that acts as both the modem and the router.

You also need network (Ethernet) cables to connect the various components.

Connecting the Pieces

You will connect the modem to the external world in one of the following ways:

  • DSL – a telephone cable going to the phone system
  • Cable – a coaxial cable going to the cable network
  • Satellite – a coaxial cable going to the dish

 An Ethernet cable connects a special port on the router (usually labeled Internet or WAN) to the modem.  Another Ethernet cable connects a port on the router to a network connection on the back of each computer.  The Ethernet cable looks like this:

 

 

The figure below shows the port connections on a typical router. The orange lines connecting to the router represent the Ethernet cables.

 

You must follow the manufacturer’s instructions on when and how to connect the pieces.  They normally provide an installation disc that walks you through the process.

Once you have everything correctly set up, all of the computers can browse the Internet independently from each other.

What About Printing?

Now that all of the computers are networked, what can you do about printing to a common printer?  This depends on the type of printer you are using. 

 All modern printers have a USB connection that can attach directly to a computer.  In this case, you can “share” the printer with the other computers. Just right-click on the icon for the printer, select “Sharing…” from the menu, and name the share. You can use the “Add a printer” wizard to connect the other PCs to the printer.  Note that the computer doing the sharing must be turned on for the others to print.  For detailed instructions, just type the phrase “sharing a printer” in the search box in Windows Help.

Some printers also have an Ethernet connection which allows them to connect directly to the router just like the PCs do.  When you install the printer software on each computer, you will be offered this option.  With this method, no other computer must be running to allow printing.

Sharing Files

You can share files among all of the computers connected to the network.  This means you don’t have to run from PC to PC with a disk to move or look at a file.  You can share a folder the same way you did a USB-type printer described above. Another way is to move a file into the Shared Documents folder on your PC.

Conclusion

Home networking opens a vast array of powerful features that make your computing life much easier and more fun.  If this still seems a little overwhelming, just poke around inside Windows help for a while.  It will be able to guide you through the details. 

In a future article I will delve into the world of “wireless” networking that adds even more flexibility.

Posted in Computing, Hardware, Networking, Wired | Comments Off

Netbook Computers

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Dick Buchanan

Netbooks – The Ins and Outs

As I mentioned in the last article, I use a netbook computer when I visit a customer site to solve problems.  I can connect it to their network to see what is working and what is not. I can browse the Internet to research solutions. I also have access to my e-mail while in the field. In addition, I have reference material stored on it.  So as you can see this works very well for me.

Is a Netbook Right for You?

You can begin by asking yourself some questions.

  • What am I going to do with this device?
  • Is mobility important to me?
  • Do I want something very small and light weight?
  • Do I need a built-in DVD drive?
  • Can I handle the smaller keyboard?
  • Do I like using a touch pad versus a mouse?
  • Do I need a larger screen?
  • Is long battery life important?
  • Do I use programs that need a lot of power?

 As with any piece of equipment, there are pros and cons to evaluate. The questions above hint at some of these so let’s list the important ones.

Pros

  • High mobility – small and very light weight
  • Long battery life
  • Relatively inexpensive
  • Built-in wireless capabilities

 Cons

  • Smaller screen (10 inches)
  • Smaller keyboard (90% of notebook size)
  • Less powerful Central Processing Unit (CPU)
  • Maximum 2 gigabyte RAM capacity
  • No internal DVD drive

 If you just can’t live with one or more of the limitations of a netbook, consider getting a more traditional notebook or laptop computer.

Once you have made your evaluations and decided that a netbook will work for you, look at features before buying a particular model.  If you need a feature, get it now, adding later may not be possible.

Features

  • Number of USB Ports – Some only have two. You will use these for a mouse, printer, or DVD drive. The more the better.
  •  External Video Port – This supports using a larger monitor or attaching a PowerPoint projector. 
  • Built-in Bluetooth – Headsets, external keyboard/mouse, connection to a Smart Phone are some possible uses. 
  • Battery Life – This can range from a couple of hours up to about 14 depending on the model. 
  • Wireless Connection Speed – Some support the G standard (54 Mbps) and others support the newer N (up to 300 Mbps). 
  • Amount of Memory (RAM) – Basic units have only 1GB.  I highly recommend getting the maximum of 2GB.

Workarounds

Maybe the netbook isn’t the perfect choice but it’s close. What can you do to improve things?

  • Screen, keyboard, mouse – When at home, attach an external monitor, a mouse, and full-size keyboard. 
  • Play Movies on a plane – Buy software that will put the movie on your hard drive before the trip. 
  • Running out of USB Ports – Get a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, or headset. At home, get a USB hub to provide more.

Conclusions

I hope that this has helped you to decide whether a netbook is right for you and what to look for when you buy one.  If a netbook doesn’t happen to work out, you can still use this approach to get a more traditional notebook or laptop computer.

In any case, enjoy the freedom that mobile computing can provide.

Posted in General Interest, Hardware, Laptop, Mobility, Netbook | 3 Comments

In the Bag

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Dick Buchanan

What’s in My Bag?

As an avid golfer, it is always interesting to know which clubs the professionals are using. I thought extending that concept to computing might be useful to readers.  In this article I’ll tell what hardware and software I use daily and how I use them together to provide a cohesive system that works for me instead of against me.

At the Office

My desktop PC is a Dell Optiplex 755 with 4GB of memory running Windows XP Service Pack 3. I have two 19-inch widescreen monitors with built-in speakers, and a wireless keyboard and mouse. 

I still use Windows XP because that is what many of my customers are using. I have other PCs in my office running both Vista and Windows 7 that I can use when needed.

Since I can remote into a customer’s PC via the Internet to solve problems, I put their screen on one of my monitors while I have the other to run the rest of my software such as e-mail, Internet browsing, and the QuickBooks accounting package.

The built-in speakers and wireless keyboard and mouse provide a less cluttered desktop for me.

Since Byte Savvy is a Microsoft partner, I use Microsoft Office Small Business Edition as my productivity software for creating documents, spreadsheets, PowerPoint Presentations, and database applications for internal company use. 

Outlook, Exchange Server and my Motorola Droid are the mainstay of my communication system.  This means that I am never out of touch with the office for e-mail and appointments.

A couple of months ago I started following the “Getting Things Done” productivity system (www.davidco.com) designed by David Allen.  I use the Internet-based “Remember the Milk” software system (http://www.rememberthemilk.com) to keep track of all my tasks.  Since this software also communicates directly with my Droid phone, I can stay on top of everything wherever I go.  Another helpful book in this area was Getting Organized in the Google Era by Douglas Merrill which helped me refine the system to handle the vast amount of information we are subjected to daily.

In the Field

A good deal of my work is done on the customer’s site where I troubleshoot system problems.  My solution here was to purchase an ASUS 1005HA netbook computer.  I selected this model because it had all the features that I needed:

  • Small and light weight
  • Long battery life (10 hours)
  • Supported an external PowerPoint Projector
  • N-speed wireless capability
  • Bluetooth connectivity

This light-weight companion goes easily with me in my travels for note taking, holding technical reference information, and providing Internet search capabilities with the aid of a mobile AirCard.   As an added benefit, it is great to take along while attending technical conferences.

Communicating on the Go

The last component in my arsenal is the Droid phone that I have been using the last couple of months. This powerful device brings all the pieces together. It helps to keep me on top of my e-mail, tasks, appointments, driving directions, and much, much more.  I will talk about the Droid in detail in a future article.  For now let me just say that Droid Really Does!

In Conclusion

So there you have it.  These are the tools that I use every day to stay in control and get things done for my customers.  In future articles, I will go into greater detail on several of these topics in the hope that you can gain something from my experiences.  By all means, please add comments about what does and doesn’t work for you.

While this didn’t help your golf game any, I hope that it gave you some hints to improve your computing.

Posted in Computing, General Interest, Hardware, Mobility, Netbook, Productivity, Smart Phone, Software | Comments Off

Computer Threats

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Dick Buchanan

Computer Threats and What to Do About Them

An estimated 30,000 new threats to your computer appear every day, but this article will help you understand the four major types of threats and what you can do to protect your computer and data.

Categories of Threats

Threats fall into four major categories:

  • Viruses and Trojans
  • Malicious Software
  • Spyware and Adware
  • Rootkits

Virus, Trojan, and Worm are terms that you have probably heard of.  Maybe you have heard of Spyware or Malicious Software. You probably haven’t heard of Rootkits.  Here are some definitions for you.

Viruses
A virus is a program that infects another program by adding computer code that goes to work when the infected program is running.  This basic action of infection gives us the widely used term of virus.

Trojans
A Trojan is a program performs unauthorized actions on computers such as deleting files or stealing confidential information.  A Trojan is not a virus in the traditional sense because it does not infect other programs. Trojans disguise themselves as regular software such as toolbars, antivirus programs, or weather reporting programs. Once in place on a computer, they can bring in other unwanted software.  Trojans can cause damage far exceeding that done by traditional viruses.

Worms
Worms exploit operating system vulnerabilities to spread themselves.  The worm got its name from the way it can crawl from computer to computer using networks and e-mail. This is particularly dangerous in an office environment where many computers can be rapidly infected. Worms are known for their high-speed manner of spreading.

Malicious Software
In the last several years a new category emerged which is defined more for its malicious intent. This type can take the form of a virus, worm, or a Trojan that is intent on doing damage to the computer or gathering unauthorized information such as credit card numbers, confidential data, and bank account numbers.  Probably the worst type is known as a key-logger that actually captures your key strokes so that even your passwords are vulnerable.

Spyware and Adware
Spyware and Adware are software that collect information about users without their knowledge. They can monitor your web browsing activity and report that activity to advertisers.  For example, this type of software could detect that you are visiting Amazon, Borders, and Barnes & Noble sites. They could sell this information to the “xyz” bookseller who could then try to approach you.  Spyware could also redirect to sites of its choosing, change settings on your computer, and perform many other unwanted activities.

Rootkits
A rootkit is a collection of malicious programs that can be used by hackers to collect information, remotely run the computer, and perform many other unauthorized activities.  They can mask malicious programs to prevent detection by anti-virus programs.  Rootkits modify the operating system files on the computer and alter basic functions to hide the rootkit’s presence thereby making it difficult for anti-virus programs to remove the threat.  You should seek professional help in removing these threats.

Five Symptoms of Infection

  1. Your computer starts running very slowly because unwanted programs running in the background use up the computer’s resources.
  2. Since the “bad guys” creating these programs are not necessarily adept programmers, you may see error messages for their programs reported by the operating system.
  3. If the programs you have installed for protection cannot get their updates, get turned off without your knowledge, or produce error messages, the computer is probably infected.
  4. While browsing the Internet, you may see pop-up windows or be taken to web sites not of your choosing.  You may not be able to connect to the internet at all nor receive e-mail.
  5. Finally, if you see messages telling that your computer is “infected” but are not coming from software that you installed, you have an infection. These programs are trying to get money from you, get your credit card information, or both.  Do not respond to them and get help in removing them immediately.

What Can I Do to Protect My Computer?

Most computer users know that a good anti-virus program is a necessity and not a luxury anymore.  While many products offer an all-in-one solution, my experience has shown it is better to use multiple products each aimed at one particular type of threat.

My recommendations and why:

AVG Anti-virus is a top quality product with a smaller impact on the daily operation of your computer.  They offer a free version for consumers and a low-cost paid version that offers more in-depth protection.  This software primarily targets viruses, Trojans, and worms.  For these reasons, Byte Savvy has chosen to partner with AVG in this area.

 If you have another favorite anti-virus program, by all means use it instead.

Note: Do not install more than one anti-virus program as they will conflict with each other.

Spybot Search and Destroy is a free anti-spyware program that will scan and remove spyware and adware threats.  It has an optional resident function called Tea Timer that I do not normally install. This feature monitors changes to the computer’s registry and can be annoying with the amount of information it provides. This could also possibly interfere with the operation of anti-virus software.  You should have the program check for updates every time you run it.

MalwareBytes is a free program that targets malicious software.  You should have the program obtain the latest updates every time you run it.  The paid version ($25 for a lifetime license) allows the program to be scheduled for scans.

Your anti-virus software can be scheduled to run when you are not normally using the computer. I recommend daily scanning.

Spybot and MalwareBytes should be run manually about every week or two.  Performance will be degraded while the scans are running so plan accordingly. By running these programs manually, you will know that they are working properly and you will actually see the results.

What Best Practices Can I Follow?

  • Run the protective software regularly.
  • Install all the latest Windows Security updates.
  • Avoid installing toolbars unless you really need them.
  • Be cautious of clicking on web site ads.
  • Avoid free sharing sites for music and videos.
  • Only open e-mail attachments that you are expecting to receive.
  • Be wary of messages labeled “Sent from a Friend.”

Posted in Computer Threats, Software | Comments Off

Can’t Connect to the Internet

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Dick Buchanan

“Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage” Now What?

Everything was fine yesterday but today seems to be a different story. No matter which web site you try to get to, you get the same error message. You also can’t send or receive e-mail.

 This article will detail some steps that you can take to get back to surfing.  The approach you take will depend on the configuration of your Internet connection, so we’ll look at that first.

 Connection Scenarios

 You may have a telephone-based DSL connection. You will have a box called a modem that actually connects to your provider.

 You may be using a system that connects through your cable provider. In this case you will have a cable modem with a coaxial cable connection to your provider.

 In addition, there is usually another box called a router that allows one or more computers to use the Internet connection. The router will also be connected to the modem with a network cable (Ethernet). The router connects to computers with a cable (Ethernet), wirelessly, or possibly both ways.

 And in some cases, your PC might connect directly to the modem with no router involved.

 Universal Steps

 Regardless of how things are configured, try this procedure first.

1.  Turn off your PC completely.

2.  Unplug both the modem and the router from the power source.

3.  Check to make sure that all the wires are firmly connected between the computer and the router and the router and the modem.

4.  Also check the phone line or the coax cable connection to the modem.

5.  Wait about 30 to 60 seconds.

6.  Turn the modem back on and wait for about a minute.

7.  Turn on the router (if you have one) and wait another minute to allow it to make a connection. 

8.  Lastly, turn on your PC and see if you can now get on the Internet.

 In many cases this fresh start is all that you need to get back to normal.

 If you still can’t connect, the next steps will depend on how you are connecting – wired or wirelessly. Laptop computers can pose their own special problems. If you are trying to use a wired connection, make certain that your AC power adapter is connected. Many laptops turn off the wired network connection to conserve battery power. Certain laptops have a physical power switch that turns the wireless radio on and off. This can also be done with a combination of function keys. Unfortunately, there are too many variables to discuss here.  Consult your user manual for details.

Now, Let’s Begin

 When your computer starts, it communicates with the router so it can get a unique address on the network. This is similar to the street address of your home. All information sent to and from your computer will use this address.

Our first task is to ensure that this is working properly.

 1.  On your keyboard,

Hold down the Windows  key and strike the  key.

2.  In the text box that opens, type:

 cmd

 3.  A window called a DOS Window like the one below will open:

4.  In that window, type:

 ipconfig

 You will see a screen like the one below:

  

5. Your IP Address should look something like 192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x where x is a number between 2 and 255. If you are using Vista or Windows 7 you will probably have to scroll up to see the numbers. This means everything is OK so far.

6.  If your address looks something like 169.254.x.x the router did not give you an address and you should probably seek professional help. Either the router or a card in your computer might need to be replaced.

7.  The Default Gateway address listed in the window is the unique address of your router. We will now see if we can communicate with it.

8.  In the DOS window using the actual address for your Default Gateway (in my case that is 192.168.0.1) , type:

  ping 192.168.0.1

Your screen should look something like this:

9.  If instead you see Request timed out, you are not communicating with the router and you should probably seek professional help.

10.  Now, in the DOS window, type:

  ping google.com

 Your screen should look something like this:

11.  If instead you see Request timed out, you are not communicating with the Internet and you should contact your service provider.

12.  At this point we have verified that we are communicating with the Internet at a low level, so now we direct our attention to the browser.

13.  In the DOS window type:

  exit

 The window will close.

 14. We now need to look at Internet Options which you can reach through the Control Panel or from the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. You should see a window like this:

15.  Click on the Communications tab and then the LAN button.

16. The following screen will appear:

17. See if the Use a proxy server” box is checked. If so, uncheck it, click OK twice and see if you can now connect.

18. If you can connect, consider this a temporary fix. This is an indication that some unwanted software is running on your PC which caused the box to be checked. 

When you still can’t connect, it time to call in someone for help to fix the problem.

It would be a good idea to print out a copy of this to have on hand when trouble strikes.

 Come back next week and I’ll cover Computer Threats and what you can do about them. See you then!

Posted in Computing, General Interest, Hardware, Laptop, Networking, Wired, Wireless | Comments Off

Getting Started

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Dick Buchanan

Welcome to Nibbles & Bits

This new blog that will provide practical insight into issues about your Windows computer. It will also cover topics including hardware from desktops to Droids, the software that runs on them, and new trends in computing that can help you increase your productivity or enjoy computing more.

 OK, What Are Nibbles and Bits?

 The basic unit of information that computers understand is the Byte. Eight bits comprise a single byte and a nibble is four bits or half a byte.

 In this blog, I will give you bits of information and in some cases, slightly longer nibbles to pique your interest.  For more in-depth coverage, I’ll provide some links to get you started in the right direction.

 New material will be posted every Wednesday. Over time, the frequency will probably increase as the number of topics and discussions grow.

 What’s My Style?

Back in the Middle Ages (the 1950s and 60s) when I was in school, I had difficulty with English teachers. They would make writing assignments that required writing two pages about something.

 For me, there were two major problems:

1. My handwriting was very small and it took a lot of it to fill up one page, let alone two.

2. I wrote very concisely – it took very few words to get a point across.

In order to fill up the two pages, I would start to repeat myself, throw in unneeded words and phrases, and ramble a bit.  For all this effort, I could only earn B+ grades. 

Years later I was introduced to Technical Writing and found that it fit me to a “T.”  That writing style is what I hope to bring to this blog. Short and to the point.

Future Posts

  • Computer Threats and What to Do About Them
  • Safety on the Internet
  • Basic Troubleshooting You Can Do
  • Should I Fix My Old Computer or Buy a New One?
  • Netbooks – the Pros and Cons
  • What’s in My Bag – the Equipment and Software that I Use Daily
  • SmartPhones – Welcome to the World of the Droid, Blackberry, and Pocket PC
  • “Getting Things Done” Methods to Become More Productive
  • Where Does Remember the Milk Fit In?
  • New Accessories for the Mobile User
  • New Software Products
  • Networking at the Office
  • Networking at Home
  • Is Wireless Good or Bad for Me?

 Your Turn

And now a request of you. Please comment on what you read here and also let me know of topics that you would like covered here.

Please feel free to share your experiences about what we discuss.  The more the merrier.

Posted in General Interest | Comments Off