Swap Your Operating System From Microsoft Windows to Free Linux

The majority of computer users have Microsoft Windows operating system on their computers. It is true that Microsoft dominates the market... but have you considered other operating systems? This isn't a plug for any particular operating system but if you are considering purchasing a new computer because the old one has slowed to a crawl or you are fed up with virus or malware issues then think about swapping operating systems.

In fact it really isn't. Back in the day when Linux was young you were really super cool if you could figure out how to install the stinkin' thing. Now you can choose a variety of flavors of Linux and the installs are typically easy plug-n-play type installs. Linux has a tendency to be a much smaller install than Windows. I like the Ubuntu Linux... it is FREE and the install is typically trouble free.

If you are used to Windows, you can setup Linux and the "KDE" (K-Desktop) or "Gnome" interfaces which are fairly intuitive if you are used to Windows. As far as applications if you have been using Microsoft Office... install the free OpenOffice.org which is MS Office compatible. If you don't want to "lose" your Windows, you can either create a multi-boot system, allowing you to swap between Windows and Linux, or you can use a virtual machine host like VMWare and run Linux under Windows or vice-versa. If you are experimenting use the free VMWare server do a few installs tweak settings and get comfortable with swapping OS's.

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Android OS Features !!

The Android operating system is based on the free, open-source GNU/Linux operating system. The system itself is a Java VM running on top of the Linux kernel, creating an extensible and highly configurable environment. Developers have taken advantage of this to rapidly expand the features of Android and create a smartphone operating system with a lot packed into its shell.

User Interface

The user interface, or UI, takes mostly touchscreen input. While many Android device manufacturers add a custom software keyboard of their own, the default Android keyboard provides for quick, intuitive text input. When working with text, Android supports multi-touch screens that allow for pinch-to-zoom and multi-finger selection. Since the interface is designed to be universal across the entire system, users experience a single user interface for all interactions with their devices. This reduces Android's learning curve for non-advanced users.

Communication

The latest version of Android, version 2.3, brings native Session Initiation Protocol, or SIP, support to the system, enabling Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. Additionally, the native email client in Android supports Push, enabling up-to-date email. While Google provides Talk, a Google Talk app for chatting with other Gmail users, there is not additional built-in instant messaging protocol support. However, there are a number of third-party apps that provide AIM, ICQ, MSN and other popular chat protocols.

Media

Depending on the smartphone's processor, Android can play and record high-definition video. Both the popular MP4 and H.264 mobile video formats are supported, and other applications provide additional codec support. Android also comes with the ability to play a number of audio formats, including AAC, MP3, FLAC and others. As of Android 2.3, the operating system not only supports a digital camera, but also has native support for two cameras to facilitate video calling.

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How to Reinstall the Operating System on an HP

Reinstalling the operating system on your HP computer is often a last resort to clear out a nasty virus or breathe some life into an aging computer. Reinstalling the system can return the HP to a like-new state, removing the sludge that builds up after years of computing. Luckily the process is fairly simple and streamlined and only requires you have the installation disc provided with your computer.

Instructions

Insert the Windows installation disc into the computer's disc drive. Select "Install Now" on the window that pops up.


Select the option to download any available updates from Microsoft. This ensures you are running the latest version of the operating system.


Enter your Product Key as prompted. This will either be on the disc's packaging or on the computer itself.


Accept the End User License Agreement. Select "Custom" installation. Select your current Windows partition (C: drive) as the installation destination.


Select "Next" to begin the installation. Follow the remaining on-screen instructions. Once installation completes, the computer will restart. Remove the installation disc as the computer reboots. The HP will launch into your newly reinstalled operating system.


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How to Reinstall Video Drivers to Repair Video Problems

Sometimes you have to reinstall your video driver to resume video playback on your computer. Video drivers need to be updated and reinstalled constantly, and it's very important to take meticulous care when dealing with video drivers. Let's go over a comprehensive method for identifying and fixing problems related to video drivers.

So, what are Video Drivers?

First, let's go over what video drivers do. When your hardware manufacturer built the graphics card, it did so with the intention of facilitating use for as many customers as possible. As a result, manufacturers have to cater to people who are using many different operating systems.

Not every operating system works the same. In fact, although the base code for Windows has stayed the same for decades, advanced and future code bases alter the code environment markedly. As a result, manufacturers rely on drivers to translate their hardware's processes to the operating system. Through drivers, the operating system channels the hardware and enables its use.

So, drivers are essentially bits of code that work to create connections between the hardware and the operating system.

Why It's Necessary to Update Drivers

If a driver isn't functioning properly, then your operating system basically won't be able to recognize the hardware you are trying to run. So, your video drivers need to be constantly updated so that your machine can play video.

Whether you're running Windows Media Player, WinDVD, iTunes, or any other video playback software, updated video drivers are constantly working to deliver a consistent refresh rate for smooth video performance.

Why do Drivers become Outdated?

Drivers can become outdated for many reasons. If you upgrade your operating system, it's likely that some of your drivers will become outdated. This is because new operating systems have different protocols for drivers. However, drivers can become outdated for reasons unbeknownst to anyone. Fortunately, Windows does a good job of telling you that a driver isn't working, although sometimes it's difficult to understand why.

You can check the status of all of your drivers by opening the Device Manager, located within Windows 7 Control Panel. Once you've opened Control Panel, click on System and Security. Here, you can open Device Manager. Device Manager will display all of the hardware currently installed on your computer. A yellow exclamation mark next to any piece of hardware indicates problems with that hardware.

Using Windows Update for New Drivers

You can use Windows Update to locate new drivers and install them. It's fairly easy to use this tool to update your drivers. Here's how:

Click "Start."

In the "Start" search box, type in "Windows Update."

The search box will display "Windows Update" as a search result. Click on this search result.

Click "Check for Updates" on the left side of the window.

Click checkboxes next to all of the updates you'd like to install.

Click "OK."

Click "Install Updates."

This process should help you install necessary updates. However, there are some programs that are built to actually fix all of your driver problems at once. Windows Update is known to only fix problems that have already occurred.

Finding Great Programs for Driver Updates

It's a good idea to prevent driver errors before they even happen. This is why it's important to download and install a program that will scan your system for drivers and install any necessary drivers quickly. Many programs out there do this, but only choose a driver update program.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/How-to-Reinstall-Video-Drivers-to-Repair-Video-Problems/3957935/