That Damn PC: Hardware, Software, Virus, Malware, PC Troubleshooting,

September 6th, 2006

Turn on, plug in and drop out: of wireless security hassles

Netgear Wall-Plug XE104 delivers powerline web connectivity!
Wireless connections are such a hassle these days, especially with new security alerts arriving with alarming headlines about wireless vulnerabilities. Wireless is so convenient that it’s tempting to throw caution to the wind and just do it. Well, now you don’t have to go wireless; you can achieve […]

By Mary Ford -- 6 comments

April 30th, 2006

Setting NumLock, CapsLock and ScrollLock

An annoying thing, I’m sure you’d agree, is having different computers behave differently. As a technician, I boot multiple computers a day and I’ll be damned if everyone of them boots with NumLock off and the next one with it on.
Here’s a trick I learned long ago thanks to this article on Annoyances.org.

Run […]

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April 29th, 2006

Show Desktop Icon

Ever wonder how to create the “Show Desktop” shortcut that was conveniently in the taskbar in Windows 2000 but somehow disappeared in Windows XP? The easy solution is to use the Windows-D shortcut key. If you need the visual cue of an icon, try this tip from a reader:
1. Click Start , click […]

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March 31st, 2006

Virtual Memory

Virtual Memory is an essential part of the efficient operation of an operating system. Windows calls this virtual memory, or “paging file”. VM is a space of the hard drive that is specifically set aside to be a holding area where data can be stashed temporarily while it’s waiting to be processed. […]

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March 28th, 2006

Enabling ClearType on Windows XP

ClearType is a Microsoft technology that is designed to smooth screen fonts on computers, particularly those with LCD monitors including laptops. However, it provides noticeable improvement on CRT monitors as well.
In order to enable ClearType, open you Control Panel and double-click on the Display applet. The Display Properties dialog box will open. Under […]

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March 18th, 2006

Ditch All-in-One Security Products; How to Protect Your Computer Better

There are a number of products out there that consumer electronic dealers will promote by playing on "it’s all included" heart strings. The two famous ones are Symantec SystemWorks (often bundled with Norton Personal Firewall) and McAfee Internet Security Suite (often bundled with McAfee Personal Firewall Plus). While these may be "okay" products, […]

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