A Hassle-Free Windows Re-Installation Preparation

In our everyday life with computers and laptops, we often run into different types of problems which can make our life miserable. Most of these problems result from corrupt file installations, malicious attacks by virus, Trojan or spyware, improper shutdown, hardware or software conflicts etc. In many cases we are suggested to completely re-install Windows operating system for a remedy. But even after a fresh installation, we may continue to face even more serious problems that are more difficult to solve.

My personal PC experience is full of these hectic re-installations. Over the last 13 years of my life with PC and Windows, I did it time and time again. That is why I believe I can be of some help in giving you useful tips for a hassle-free Windows re-installation.

Before you start the re-installation and hit that 'Setup.exe', follow these steps:

- Remove all your files/documents from (or rename) the 'My Documents' and 'Desktop' folders. You can move them to a different partition for safety.

- Take a look at the hardware/devices in your computer from 'Device Manager' by right clicking 'My Computer', selecting 'Properties' then 'Hardware' tab. It is extremely useful to have a screenshot of the array of the devices saved.

- In case you're worried about hardware drivers, carry out a physical examination of all the hardware, i.e. your motherboard, hard drive, graphics card, CD/DVD drive, chipsets, BIOS etc. Note down their brand names and model numbers in a piece of paper. In case your computer shows hardware conflict arising from lack of proper drivers, you can get them downloaded from the internet.

- Carry out a thorough study of your PC to find out customized settings, configurations, shortcuts, saved files, tweaks, internet bookmarks/favorites etc. and save/note them. A fresh installation would destroy most of these settings/configurations.

- Gather the driver CD/DVDs (or even those old Floppies if you still have a drive) for display, audio, LAN card etc.

- Keep the essential software CDs handy (e.g. MS Office, Acrobat Reader, WinZip, Nero Burning ROM etc).

- Get the CD-keys of all the software nearby (or written, if you have lost the CD cover already from the software installed. Usually they are found in the Help>About menu option).

- It is a good idea to get rid of would-be-junks. So, gradually uninstall all the software that you installed over a period of time. This will trim the hard disk space by removing files which will become invalid after a fresh re-installation. Use the software's inbuilt uninstaller or the Windows' uninstaller in this case.

- I strongly suggest getting a copy of DOS shell program like Norton Commander (NC) installed in a different partition. When everything fails, NC (or a similar program) can bail you out.

Now that you're almost done, get the Windows CD/DVD placed at the disk drive, make sure you turn on the 'boot from CD' option in the BIOS and switch on the PC. Follow the steps prompted by the installation session.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1901786

Apple signs point to iOS 5 release in two weeks

Signs point to the week of Oct. 10, with reports focused on Oct. 12 as the release date for iOS 5. That date fits with Apple's past practice of opening the download gates for its operating system several days before the on-sale launch of the next-generation iPhone, dubbed iPhone 5 by most analysts and pundits.

Earlier this week, Apple issued invitations to an Oct. 4 event tagged with the less-than-cryptic phrase, "Let's talk about iPhone."

If Apple repeats the schedule it used last March for the iPad 2, the new iPhone will go on sale the week following the Oct. 4 introduction, most likely either Thursday, Oct. 13 or Friday, Oct. 14.

citing unnamed sources, have said that Apple has restricted vacation days for its retail store and support employees for the periods Oct. 9-Oct. 12 and Oct. 14-Oct. 15. Apple often blacks out vacation time when it starts pre-selling or selling new products.

The first block of restrictions may be to fully staff Apple's support lines in anticipation of questions arising from the release of iOS 5, perhaps as early as Oct. 10, according to AppleInsider.

But if Apple does put the iPhone 5 on sale Oct. 14 -- the company often favors Fridays -- and sticks to its practice over the last two years, it will make iOS 5 available on Oct. 11 or Oct. 12.

In 2010, Apple started serving the iOS 4 upgrade three days before the iPhone 4 launch; two years ago, the gap between iOS 3's availability and inaugural iPhone 3GS sales was two days.

Apple changed its iOS upgrade schedule after 2008, when it released iPhone OS 2.0 and launched the iPhone 3G simultaneously. The combination brought Apple's servers to their knees as users clamored for the update and new phones were activated in AT&T and Apple retail stores.

Apple introduced iOS 5 in early June at its annual developers conference, where Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president of iOS software, highlighted a handful of new features, including "PC Free," the company's name for wireless activation, synchronization and updating.

The iOS 5 upgrade will be available to owners of the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad and iPad 2, and the 2009 and 2010 editions of the iPod Touch.

Apple is also working on an update for Mac OS X 10.7, aka Lion, which may ship alongside iOS 5, if only because both Lion and iOS will require refreshes to handle the company's new iCloud sync and backup service.

Mac Os X Snow Leopard - The Missing Manual

Book Review: Mac OS X Snow Leopard - The Missing Manual by David Pogue

We yearn to know everything there is to know about the latest softwares and operating systems and the Snow Leopard is one of them, the only problem lies with the fact that the manuals that are supposed to clear our confusion usually just add to it! The technical details in these sort of books are reminders of our maths classes that tease us but never clear our doubts, while the various sophisticated terminology usually drains our brain capacities. The language itself is a barrier as it is written by those geeks who made the software and we normal humans just don't seem to get them.

Weighing in at over 3 pounds and close to 900 pages enter the Mac OS X Snow Leopard: The Missing Manual

This is not a manual of any sort but a definitive guide to everything Snow Leopard. Every time Pogue comes up with a new edition of his Mac OS Missing Manuals, they just keep getting better and better. The language is user friendly and every edition is as helpful as the last. As in the previous editions, you are able to go through every detail and feature of the operating system. The author also informs you of the included applications and even some of the iLife apps. Although screen shots are used in between the book it is done in a rather limited manner so as not to turn the manual into a comic book series.

The special feature of this edition that was missing from the previous one is the inclusion of the intermediate users in his mix. The advanced topics are not only mentioned in the book but a few are also explained in detail and clearly.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard - The Missing Manual by David Pogue is the best snow leopard manual, it covers more than you will ever need to know.

Source: EzineArticles

OS Face-off: Windows 8 vs. Mac OS X Lion

The PC operating system wars have been raging for nearly 3 decades. Ever since IBM picked Microsoft's DOS for its PCs, other OSes have endeavored to push their way into the market. Undoubtedly, Windows continues to rule the roost, but Apple is fast catching up in the OS landscape.

Will Windows 8 roar like a Lion? Or Lion will bite the dust with the arrival of new Windows? Let’s find out who will emerge as the winner in this battle.

Design aspect
Mac OS X Lion and the upcoming Windows 8 share a major design aspect: they both take cues from the respective mobile OS versions. While Mac OS X Lion is heavily influenced from iPad’s iOS platform, Windows 8 takes the cue from Windows Phone 7.

Interface
Multi-Touch gestures in OS X Lion make it feel as though you’re controlling your content more directly than ever before. So when you scroll down on your trackpad or Magic Mouse, your document scrolls down.

Windows 8 too makes a heavy use of touch interfaces. It is being designed for interaction with keyboards (both real and virtual), mouse, joystick, trackpad and touch screen. In addition, gone are the pastels and goofy looking icons of Microsoft. They have been replaced by a high contrast black and white menu with slick, modern looking icons.

Platforms
One striking difference between the two platforms is their compatibility with other devices.

While Mac OS X Lion is specifically targeted at Apple’s computer arm and won’t include iPhone and iPad; Microsoft, on the other hand, is creating one OS for tablets and desktops and may have its ideas for a grand unified OS for all devices. It is reported that next generation of Windows operating system not only work on Intel and AMD but will also run on ARM, making it a desirable choice for tablet makers.

App Store
Apple has already found success in iTunes and the different App Stores for its Macs and ‘i’ range of devices.

Microsoft too has unveiled a prototype App Store for Windows 8. The new marketplace for Windows apps will be prominently featured on the OS Start Screen.

The aforementioned features clearly signal that both Windows 8 and Mac OS X Lion have a lot more in common but there are, of course, important differences between Microsoft and Apple's overall OS strategies.

So which OS will emerge out on top as the dominate presence in the computing world in the years to come? Any guesses!!

OS X Duplicate File Finder

Is there anything worse than a slow Mac? Your once blazing fast computer is now trudging along slowly, struggling to complete tasks. One of the biggest reasons for this issue is duplicate files. An OS X duplicate file finder will make the process of targeting and deleting redundant files simple. You may not realize it, but culprits like font files, music files, email messages, and unnecessary program files can quickly sap your laptop or tower of its speed. Luckily there exists software that zaps the files that you don't need, allowing you to back everything up cleanly, and getting you back to your original speed.

If your hard disk is nearly at capacity, you'll notice a definite impact on you system speed. You might have music files that you downloaded more than once, repeated holiday photos, and more. What you need is a way to quickly scan through your files using a byte-to-byte analyzation method. The best software will compare all of the attributes like size, bit rate, author, date, and more, which will give you the clearest way to delete what you don't need, and back up what you want to keep.

Apple users have a few options when it comes to finding and deleting duplicate files on an OS X system. The software that I have used for the past year has a very intuitive, easy-to-use interface, and carries out the most common tasks with ease. It doesn't need to be difficult - you want to find the files you don't need, and get rid of them, to allow your mac to get back to speed.

When I helped my daughter clean her laptop, I found a definite improvement in speed after using a duplicate file cleaner. We freed up space on her hard disk, and enjoyed the fast system speeds that were back again.

Source: EzineArticles

How to Re-Install Windows XP

There are many reasons why you would want to re-install Windows XP. Some people do not like the Windows Vista operating system, or are concerned about compatibility issues with other computers running Windows XP on the same network. Others may have been running Windows XP previously, but need to re-install the operating system due to a crash.

Instructions

1. Be sure that you have the original CDs that contain the Windows XP operating system. The disks should also include a product key somewhere, which you will need to complete the installation. The product key is sometimes found on a sticker on the disk sleeve or inside the manual booklet.

2. Check to see if you have Internet Explorer 7 installed on your computer. If you do, uninstall it before attempting to re-install Windows XP. You cannot re-install the Windows XP operating system if you have Internet Explorer 7 installed on your computer.

3. Re-boot your computer. When it starts up, insert your Windows XP installation CD into the CD drive.

4. Select "Upgrade" in the welcome window that appears next, and then click "Next."

5. Review the License Agreement. If you agree, check the box that states that you accept the agreement, and click "Next."

6. Input the product key from the back of your disk sleeve or the inside of your operating system manual. Take care to input the product key correctly.

7. Select from several options about how and where you want Windows XP to be installed on your computer, and click "Next." Windows XP will then complete the installation process.

8. Re-install other software that was removed during the installation process, and transfer your personal files from your removable media back to your machine.

Source: Ehow

Slick-looking, less bloated operating system

MICROSOFT HAS promised a completely new experience with Windows 8, with the operating system “reimagined” from the chipset up. The company was keen for conference attendees to get hands-on experience with the operating system, handing out Samsung tablets running Windows 8.

The machines were described as “developer preview” tablets and there is no guarantee that they will become widely available, but it gave a good idea of exactly what the operating system can do.

The first thing you notice about Windows 8 is how quickly it starts up. Microsoft demonstrated the same speed on a variety of different machines at the preview day on Monday, so it’s safe to say that the operating system will be a faster boot across the board.

The second most striking thing is the absence of the traditional desktop. Interaction with the operating system starts with the lock screen, which can be personalised for users to include, everything from the background image to gesture-based unlock codes.

With the expanse of desktop now relegated to an app, just like any other, the traditional pop-up Start menu has also been binned.

To access your applications, you now have a series of tiles, similar to Windows Phone 7. Like the phone operating system too, tiles are dynamic, which means you get information without having to open up your applications.

The preview tablet was a Samsung 11.6in tablet with a dock that provides users with ethernet, USB and HDMI, as well as a way to charge the device. It was also supplied with a keyboard, to demonstrate just how easy it is to use traditional inputs on the new operating system.

The Metro-style user interface seen on the tablet isn’t just for mobile devices. This is how Windows will look, in all its tiled glory, on every device.

If you have a touch-enabled device, you can use gestures such as swiping left to right to flick back through open applications. With a mouse, the scroll wheel does that job instead. You choose which you’d rather use, but the basics of the system remain the same regardless.

On the touch interface, you get to choose your style of input too, whether it’s a regular qwerty keyboard, a split keyboard or handwriting recognition. Unlike some handwriting recognition apps, the Windows 8 version is pretty accurate.

The Metro-style apps are more immersive than what you’re used to from Windows too, with Microsoft taking away the chrome to give apps even more screen space.

As on a PC, you can multi-task easily and flipping back through your apps is done with yet another touch gesture – swiping from left to right.

A new capability called “contracts” means that apps will be able to share content, or be used as a conduit for sharing, without the developer having to allow such sharing for each individual service or app. For the most part, this was effortless, although there were a few hiccups in testing.

Will it, as Windows claims, change everything? It’s too early to say yet, but the end result is a slick-looking operating system that is also a little less bloated than the previous versions of Windows. That can only be a positive thing.

Source : irishtimes.com