How To Wipe Disk Drives, And Why

Data security has become a bigger concern as the information age goes into full swing. Computers are becoming more and more commonplace as versatile tools for a wide variety of tasks and uses. This has made digital storage increasingly the data storage format of choice, since digital information is easily accessed and processed by computers.

This has led to a rise in interest in digital information and data storage systems. Apart from developments in hardware technology that allow bigger capacity devices with faster access times, security has also become a prime consideration. Most software and programs nowadays come equipped with varying levels of security options. For instance, it is now possible to protect almost any file with a password such that only those who can provide the correct password would be able to access the information within the file.

However, these software security measures would not stand up to dedicated data extraction efforts, in particular those involving the actual physical hardware. Physically securing the hard drive (or other data storage device) under consideration may not always be possible or practical. Another way of ensuring that important data is not placed at risk is to wipe the disk.

Simply deleting the contents of a hard disk is not enough to ensure that they are not recovered. In fact, there are software utilities that allow the recovery of deleted data. This possibility is because when a file is deleted, it is not actually overwritten or removed from the hard disk. Instead, a marker is just associated with the file to say that it has been deleted, and the space it occupies on the disk is marked available for use. This means that the data in the file remains on the disk for the knowledgeable hacker to extract and view.

Wiping a disk, on the other hand, is a much more thorough process. In a disk wipe, all data to be wiped off is actually overwritten with random data. This eliminates almost entirely the traces that a normal deletion leaves behind, and makes recovery of data practically impossible. (In theory, it would still be possible to reconstruct the data lost after a hard disk wipe, but this would require high-powered microscopes and would proceed much too slowly to be useful!)

Performing a disk wipe is facilitated by the many disk wipe programs available. There are many free options, as well as commercial software options, which may differ in terms of functionality and documentation. The majority of these are available online, which makes it quite easy to browse through and find the most appropriate program for the specific task. Some programs are designed for use on a single personal computer, while others may be designed for use on batches of computers.

Confidential data that needs to be kept from being exposed may best be hidden by using a disk wipe. This simple additional security measure makes the recovery of deleted data nearly impossible. With the many disk wipe programs available, it is easier than ever to perform a disk wipe, even for casual users, making this a real data security option.

A Guide To Window Hardware

A variety of materials are available in window hardware. You have several options in terms of energy efficiency and design. Your personal preference, the climate and the style of your home will help you choose the right material for your house.

Types of Window Hardware

Wood

Wood has been the most common material used in window construction for generations. Wood is the easiest material to work with, either for a professional or a homeowner doing a DIY home improvement project. This material is most often used in custom work and intricately detailed designs. You have a wide range of options for painting and staining to fit every decorating need. This material is also very good in terms of energy efficiency.

The only downside of using wood is the maintenance needed. You will need to re paint or stain often. The peeling not only looks terrible, but will cause the wood to rot, if not maintained properly over the years. With good, regular maintenance, wood windows will last a long time.

Steel

Steel is most often found in older homes and basement windows. It is rarely used in newer homes because it is not very energy efficient. The heat from your home can easily escape through the frame of these windows. In addition, regular maintenance is needed. You must repaint steel regularly, or it will rust. Steel is a very durable material and is still used in hurricane storm shutters.

Aluminium

Aluminium is nearly as durable as steel. However, like steel, it is not very energy efficient and allows significant heat loss. This material does have one benefit over steel. It doesn’t require the frequent maintenance. The color of aluminium is baked on and a variety of colors are available. Repainting is not necessary.

Vinyl

Vinyl is an inexpensive and durable material for windows. In addition, vinyl is fairly energy efficient. In addition, vinyl windows are maintenance free. They don’t need to be painted. Vinyl is colored straight through, so you won’t ever see chips, scratches or peeling. A variety of colors are available to match your home’s decoration.

The biggest problem with vinyl is that it can look cheap. There are vinyl products that are made to look like wood, but the effect isn’t very good. They still have a plastic look.

Fibreglass

Fibreglass is a fairly new material for window construction. It is very durable and energy efficient. When insulated properly, it is one of the best in terms of energy efficiency. There is little heat loss with well insulated fibreglass windows. You will pay for this efficiency. These windows are among the most expensive.

Things to Consider When Choosing Window Hardware

Consider the climate where you live. If you live in a hot climate, you want to keep the heat out and the cold air in your home. Look for windows with a lower U value.

If you live in a colder climate, you want just the opposite: to keep the cold out and heat in. Heat loss is a major problem in cold climates and you’ll want to prevent this both through the frame and the glass. Choose energy efficient material and insulate it well. Consider insulated glass, which adds to the energy efficiency of the window. These products contain two layers of glass with argon gas in between the layers.

When replacing windows, consider the design of your home. You want the windows to match the architectural elements of your home. Make sure the material you choose fits in with the time period of your home. You won’t want wood, Colonial style windows on a modern Contemporary home.

What You Need To Know When Buying Used Hardware

Refurbished network hardware is the latest thing for hip IT managers who consider themselves "in the know". The used equipment is often renovated by various resellers and integrators, reset and error free. They are then sold in the secondary market at up to 90% off of list price. Products are available even in the most sophisticated and obscure models, and often come with a warranty that supersedes even that of the original manufacturer.

How is the hardware refurbished?

Networking products usually pass a grueling inspection, upgrade and update checklist. This includes testing under a variety of conditions to ensure that electronics, connectivity ports, memory configuration, firmware/software and electrical components perform to standards.

What about the warranty of a refurbished hardware appliance?

Most resellers offer a minimum warranty of three months. It varies with the policy of the supplier. Extended warranty up to two years can be availed from some retailers.

What to look out for when buying refurbished?

There is a growing concern in the industry surrounding fake equipment. Anyone who has taken a stroll down Manhattan's Canal Street lately has no doubt become aware of the thriving market for fake Rolexes, Luis Vuitton hand bags and the like. This phenomenon has recently infiltrated the network hardware market. These fakes, often referred to in the industry as, "Chisco" (fake Cisco products originating in China), are popping up more and more. Cisco Systems is the largest provider of Internet telephony equipment in the world, and account for some 80% of all used equipment sales worldwide. This enormous popularity has made them the obvious target for such fake product reproduction.

It helps to have a few tools to protect yourself from fraud. Rule 1 when shopping for used equipment is to be wary of suppliers from China. Historically, most of these fakes have originated somewhere in China. So be careful when dealing with a Chinese supplier. Try to deal with a reputable supplier and develop a relationship. It helps to look for quality business certifications such as "ISO 9001" and others when choosing a reseller.

When using online auctions, feedback is king! Make sure you deal exclusively with resellers who have significant positive feedback from multiple people. Take a quick peek at the actual responses and confirm that they in-fact come from unique sources and not all the same person. People have been known online, to buy large inexpensive quantities from one another to essentially stuff the ballot box and artificially flood the others feedback score.

Who are some of the leading companies in the refurbished hardware market?

I will breakdown this answer into 2 individual categories. The outlet seller and the full service provider.

Full service provider:

These organizations offer a full suite of services for the IT customer. In this model, relationships are formed between the salesperson and customer. The sales cycle can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 year. The customer will usually disclose all relevant information regarding their project or current network configuration. Educated sales people here will assist the customer to make decision about what product or products might best solve their particular business needs. These providers will often offer integration services as well, helping the customer to install the new equipment into their existing set-up. A prime example of this type of sale would be Digital warehouse. DW is a certified NY based full service supplier of refurbished network hardware. Their mission is "reducing the cost of network infrastructure", and that's exactly what they do. With a rigorous reconditioning and testing process coupled with a warranty program that rivals anyone else's in the industry, they allow you to feel safe and secure that you are getting quality second hand hardware at a great price.

Outlet sales:

Online outlet sales have recently emerged as a new trend in the used hardware industry. Direct selling online has become the latest luxury for IT professionals who know what they want or need. Usedcisco's. website is the ideal address for such transactions. They borrowed Michael Dell's direct approach to selling online and moved away from the traditional consultative sales approach. Basically, assuming that many of these products have become commoditized and listed products and pricing directly on their site. For the first time, an end user could go online quickly and source product at a reasonable price, place the order and be finished in record time. Never once having to deal with a salesperson along the way.

What is the difference between refurbished hardware and used hardware?

Refurbished hardware are renovated, reset and fully tested. The term "used hardware" is often used synonymously with refurbished hardwarein this industry. However; on occasion, particularly in online auctions, the term "used", may also mean that it has not been tested or reconditioned in any way. Under such circumstances it is preferential to inquire about the specifics before purchasing under the title "used".

Are there any other price advantages associated with refurbished hardware?

Absolutely! You can expect to save anywhere form 30 - 90% off list price when buying used. Traditionally people would shy away from used equipment because of the inherent risk that it presented. However, with current competition in the secondary market resellers have raised their quality standards. They now provide guarantee's that outlast the original warranty given when the unit was new.

What does all this mean to you?

This means that most of the risk formerly associated with buying hardware used has been eliminated. With a little bit of knowledge and a touch of common sense you can now enjoy massive discounts on IT equipment, stress free! Making "reconditioned", the new way to go for hip IT professionals everywhere.

10 quick and easy ways to speed up your computer!

people are interested in making the most of their hardware. So here are 10 simple tips on how to make your Windows XP computer run faster without having to purchase additional hardware.

1. Defrag Disk to Speed Up Access to Data

One of the factors that slow the performance of the computer is disk fragmentation. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. To speed up the response time, you should monthly run Disk Defragmenter, a Windows utility that defrags and consolidates fragmented files for quicker computer response.

* Follow Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter
* Click the drives you want to defrag and click Analyze
* Click Defragment


2. Detect and Repair Disk Errors

Over time, your hard disk develops bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing difficult or even impossible. To detect and repair disk errors, Windows has a built-in tool called the Error Checking utility. It’ll search the hard disk for bad sectors and system errors and repair them for faster performance.

* Follow Start > My Computer
* In My Computer right-click the hard disk you want to scan and click Properties
* Click the Tools tab
* Click Check Now
* Select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box
* Click Start


3. Disable Indexing Services

Indexing Services is a little application that uses a lot of CPU. By indexing and updating lists of all the files on the computer, it helps you to do a search for something faster as it scans the index list. But if you know where your files are, you can disable this system service. It won’t do any harm to you machine, whether you search often or not very often.

* Go to Start
* Click Settings
* Click Control Panel
* Double-click Add/Remove Programs
* Click the Add/Remove Window Components
* Uncheck the Indexing services
* Click Next


4. Optimize Display Settings

Windows XP is a looker. But it costs you system resources that are used to display all the visual items and effects. Windows looks fine if you disable most of the settings and leave the following:

* Show shadows under menus
* Show shadows under mouse pointer
* Show translucent selection rectangle
* Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
* Use visual styles on windows and buttons


6. Disable Performance Counters

Windows XP has a performance monitor utility which monitors several areas of your PC’s performance. These utilities take up system resources so disabling is a good idea.

* Download and install the Extensible Performance Counter List (http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/exctrlst-o.asp)
* Then select each counter in turn in the ‘Extensible performance counters’ window and clear the ‘performance counters enabled’ checkbox at the bottom button below


7. Optimize Your Pagefile

You can optimize your pagefile. Setting a fixed size to your pagefile saves the operating system from the need to resize the pagefile.

* Right click on My Computer and select Properties
* Select the Advanced tab
* Under Performance choose the Settings button
* Select the Advanced tab again and under Virtual Memory select Change

* Highlight the drive containing your page file and make the initial Size of the file the same as the Maximum Size of the file.


8. Remove Fonts for Speed

Fonts, especially TrueType fonts, use quite a bit of system resources. For optimal performance, trim your fonts down to just those that you need to use on a daily basis and fonts that applications may require.

* Open Control Panel
* Open Fonts folder
* Move fonts you don’t need to a temporary directory (e.g. C:\FONTBKUP?) just in case you need or want to bring a few of them back. The more fonts you uninstall, the more system resources you will gain.


9. Use a Flash Memory to Boost Performance

To improve performance, you need to install additional RAM memory. It’ll let you boot your OS much quicker and run many applications and access data quicker. There is no easiest and more technically elegant way to do it than use eBoostr (http://www.eboostr.com).

eBoostr is a little program that lets you improve a performance of any computer, powered by Windows XP in much the same way as Vista’s ReadyBoost. With eBoostr, if you have a flash drive, such as a USB flash thumb drive or an SD card, you can use it to make your computer run better. Simply plug in a flash drive through a USB socket and Windows XP will use eBoostr to utilize the flash memory to improve performance.

The product shows the best results for frequently used applications and data, which becomes a great feature for people who are using office programs, graphics applications or developer tools. It’ll surely attract a special attention of laptop owners as laptop upgrade is usually more complicated and laptop hard drives are by definition slower than those of desktops.


10. Perform a Boot Defragment

There's a simple way to speed up XP startup: make your system do a boot defragment, which will put all the boot files next to one another on your hard disk. When boot files are in close proximity to one another, your system will start faster.

On most systems, boot defragment should be enabled by default, but it might not be on yours, or it might have been changed inadvertently. To make sure that boot defragment is enabled:


* Run the Registry Editor
* Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
* Set the Enable string value to Y if it is not already set to Y.
* Exit the Registry
* Reboot

Visit my website and download my free "time
limited" report on further ways on how to speed up your computer.

Using External Hard Drives

This drive is usually internal; however, different requirements arising out of evolution of computer systems, new threats and changing environment have lead to the invention of external hard drives. They are popularly used as an extra memory in addition to the internal hard drives.

The reasons for their invention and immense popularity are many. A ready internet access exposes computers to various security hazards like Trojan horses, viruses and spyware. It is extremely important to guard the data against these threats. At times it is not possible to do that with the help of firewalls and anti virus system also.

Also, a lot of times, a computer has multiple users putting any sensitive information in the computer at great risk of corruption and loss. Apart from this, there is an increasing demand for storage space due to multimedia uses like MP3, Videos, photo files and so on. All these take up a lot of space on the hard drive. External hard drives were invented keeping these requirements in mind.

An external hard drive consists of a hard drive and its own casing or enclosure. It sits outside the main computer tower in this enclosure. The enclosure is slightly bigger than the hard drive, and at times contains a cooling fan. This portable encasement allows the user to store information on a hard drive that is not inside the computer.

The external hard drive is connected to the computer through a high-speed interface cable, usually with a plug and play interface. The interface cable allows the external hard drive to communicate with the computer to transfer the data back and forth. The most common types of interfaces are USB and Fire Wire.

A portable or external hard drive is quite a useful and has various advantages:

1. Safety from Internet Threats: It allows the user to back up or store important information which can be compromised by online or offline activities away from the main internal hard drive. Sensitive documents, large music files, DVD images, movies, and even backup of the contents on main internal hard drive, can be kept safely on an external hard drive.

2. Portability: It is portable and operates on a plug and play basis. Any computer with USB or Fire Wire capability can recognize the external hard drive as a storage device. The drive can be accessed like a normal internal hard drive. It is easy to transfer huge files from one location to other or between your desktop and laptop. All it needs is to plug in the interface cable to quickly reconstruct a working environment.

3. Security: If there are multiple users of your computer system, external hard drive can keep all your important and sensitive documents safe. You only need to can plug in the external drive and make all your data and programs available. When finished, simply unplug the drive and take it with you or keep it in another secure location.

4. Segregation of Information: You can buy several hard drives and swap them in and out of the same enclosure, using one for multimedia storage, one for imaging, one for backup, one for work, and so on.

5. Data Recovery: They are ideal medium for recoverig the data from a broken or damaged computer or internal hard drive when a separate hard drive is required to store the recovered data.

6. Strong Casing: The outer casing on the external hard drives as compared to their non existence in other portable media gives them better protection from damage, age, weathering, and corruption, than CDs, DVDs, and Flash Drives.

Though overall there are more advantages than disadvantages of using external hard drives they are not completely fool proof:

1. Corruption: External drives are subject to data loss risks that are similar though lesser in proportion as internal hard drives: viruses, worms, data corruption, etc. due to their direst access to the computer they bypass anti virus installation and firewalls.

2. Failure prone: They are notoriously failure prone due to human mishandling (scratched, cracked, bent, misplaced). External drives are easily damaged, lost or stolen due to their portability and small size.

3. Storage: Where can one store external hard drives -- a safety deposit box, a glove compartment, a purse? Its proper storage should be in a climate-controlled environment. They are vulnerable to degradation by the environment (oxygen, heat, sunlight, humidity, liquids, and dust).

Weighing the pros and cons against the specific requirement can help one decide whether to use an external hard drive or not.

Useful Tips for Buying Used Computers

In this modern era, high tech devices that are very expensive like the computers can be replaced with cheaper ones. Such cheap computers mostly come in the form of used computers. Used computers can be found in abundance in the used computer warehouses in various places, even in the local area of the prospective buyer’s residence. However there is no guarantee of quality when buying a used computer. The buyer has to take his own personal risk in doing so. But, if the buyer is ready to spend some money in upgrading the level of the used computer and also some time checking the quality of the used computer before purchase, it will save him from loss. Used computers can save a lot of money for the buyer when compared to buying a new computer. There are many who cannot afford to buy a new computer like the students who do not have any source of income but definitely require computers. For such people, used computers come as a boon.

Also, used computers need not always be second hand computers. They can also be recertified or refurbished computers. Refurbished or recertified computers are those, which are checked for any faults, if any corrected and sold with a warranty ensuring the working condition of the computer to be perfect. Hence, such computers are considered to be the safest form of buying a used computer. Refurbished computers can be bought from many of the online stores at very less prices. Quality computer manufacturers also sell such kind of recertified or refurbished computers. However, certain measures need to be taken while buying such kind of computers.

The prime aspect to be considered while purchasing a used or refurbished computer is to look for a good branded one. There are various companies who sell used computers or refurbished computers. The main reasons for opting for a branded one is that it comes with a warranty and also the buyer can be sure that the parts used are of good quality.

While buying used or refurbished computers related software documents, licenses and paperwork have to be got from the seller as this will avoid stolen computers being passed off as used computers to the buyer. If possible working for some time on the used computer will determine its efficiency. Most of the reputed dealers would allow the purchaser to use the computer for a shorter period to check the quality before purchase.

While checking for the efficiency of the used computer, it is good to check if the booting process is smooth, as most of the problems occur during booting and also to check all the sound drivers, video, graphics, monitor, mouse, keyboard etc. CD drives and hard disks also need to be checked. Another aspect is the support system offered for the used computer whether technical or non-technical, support staff capabilities and the number of support staff which determine the quality of service offered. If the purchaser is not satisfied, he can very well think of another choice.

Desktop PCs

The only knowledge you will have when you are out to buy a desktop will be the type of desk top you wish to acquire. In the desktop market however you will find wide range of configurations, different shapes and sizes and fast changing specifications of features.

The following guide has been prepared to ensure that you are able to arrive at the right specification of the desired features. Links are provided with each feature to arrive at variety of models available with that feature.

Find by features

Processor- CPUs are the main feature which decides what you can do, how much you can do and how fast you can do with your system. Processor specification states the brand, the processor type and the processor speed. The common understanding till some time ago was that higher the processor speed better will be the performance. Not so any longer. The major processor manufacturers Intel and AMD have revolutionized the processor market with dual core and quad core processors all in a single piece of silicon.



Single core chips like AMD Sempron, and Intel Celeron D don’t cost much and are configured in low priced desktops because of their low performance and low speed. They still run the show the reason being most software is designed for execution on a single thread (one stream of data) or processor core.


http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorType=AMD+Sempron
http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorType=Intel+Celeron+D

The AMD Athlon 64 isn’t fast but it satisfies all computing requirements. The price too has come down with the launch of newer processors. http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorType=AMD+Athlon+64

Dual processor is two processor cores on a single piece of silicon. The advantage of having multiple processors is ability to handle more than one thread. When multiple applications are running at a time, the multiple processors are parallel processing and this increases the speed of performance. Customers intending to multi task, 3D gaming with desktops must insist on dual core processor type.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 - http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorType=AMD+Athlon+64+X2

The Intel Core 2 Duo processors are fast and power efficient and can run the most intense applications. It is configured in low end systems as well as in gaming PCs.
http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorType=Intel+Core+2+Duo
http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorType=Intel+Core+Duo

Processor speed is another specification of the processor that needs attention before purchase, as this feature too determines what use you can put your desktop to. The processor executes instructions received from RAM. So if the desktop is intended for complicated calculations and drawings for graphic images and games a faster processor will be required.

1.5 to 2 GHz- Processor speed in this range would suffice the needs of students or small offices. http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorSpeed=1.5-to-2

2.2 to 2.7 GHZ- http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorSpeed=2.2-to-2.7

2.8 to 3.4 GHz- Processors with 3 GHz and higher speeds like Pentium 4 and equivalent AMD processors are ideal for desktop multimedia and Gaming PCs. http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorSpeed=2.8-to-3.4

Memory- The next in the feature list of all desktops is the Memory. The specifications state the space and type. Space mentioned in MBs or GBs. There should be enough memory to run all the software you intend to use, so check out the requirements of the intended software before you decide on space specification of RAM. Larger the memory, faster the processor will operate as it permits larger amount of data to be transferred.

1 GB of RAM gives good performance and is the minimum requirement to run Windows Vista. 2 GB is the minimum requirement for multimedia.

128 to 256 MB- http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?installedRAM=128-to-256

512 to 1024 MB- Home users and Home office would require 512 MB or more http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?installedRAM=512-to-1024

The two types of memory are DDR SDRAM and DDR2 SDRAM. The DDR2 version is faster of the two. These memory types are categorized according to features like bandwidth and clock speed. Memory can be upgraded by Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM).

Hard drive- Definitely you would want to store all the data you work with and create, the Operating Systems used and all your applications.

20 to 40 GB- A 40 GB hard drive provides enough storage for home, family and office applications but not for the demanding gaming and multi media applications. http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?hardDriveCapacity=20-to-40

80 to 160 GB- For gaming and digital music hard drive requirement can be within this range.http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?hardDriveCapacity=80-to-160

250 to 320 GB- if you are dabbling with huge amounts of data like digital images and multi media files check for models in the range of 200 to 350 GB. http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?hardDriveCapacity=250-to-320


Higher GB up to 500GB storage drives too is available.

Desktops come with hard drives of 3.5inch size. Hard drives have an in built motor that spins in speed range of 5,400 to 15,000 revolutions per minute; most models have speed of 7200rpm. The advantage associated with higher speeds is faster access and storing of more data.

Size and Shape- Desktops come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The small form factor cases have a number of features for basic functioning however upgrading with expansion cards is not possible. The all-in-one model has both display and computer enclosed in a single box, hence ideal for space constraint situations.
The disadvantage is the computer may get obsolete before the display. The Mid tower case and Full-tower case are more popular these days because of their sleek look. Lot of interior space and slots are available for expansion and up-gradation with hard drives and optical drives. There are plenty of ports for connecting peripherals like printers and digital cameras.


Find by Type
Budget desktops- The budget desktops appeal to the home and student customers. Desktops within $400 come with features that serve the everyday requirement of word processing, spreadsheets, letterbox and web surfing. The processors from AMDs like the Sempron or the lower end processors of Athlon series and Intel’s Pentium 4 fit into this kind of budget. Lenovo ThinkCentre A60 (9631D4U) PC Desktop
IBM ThinkCentre S50 Refurbished Intel Desktop Computer - Intel P4 2.6GHz, 512MB DDR, 40GB HDD, DVD-R (J156-4384)

If you intend to use for gaming, raise the budget say within 500 to 600$ and you can have 3 GHz processor, 512MB Memory, a thin TFT screen and 120 GB hard drive. You can even upgrade the model. Upgrading the RAM is possible with a small amount. Check these models:
http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?Price=434.5-to-665.5

Business Desktops- Business desktops need to come with a certain amount of quality, only that much that you need and that too at a competitive price. Security features, warranty details and availability of onsite service must be given priority. Desktops configured with power saving features of dual core processors by both AMD and Intel will give good value for money. You can consider these models:
Dell XPS 700 (XPS700-6366PB1) PC Desktop
Lenovo 3000 J115 PC Desktop

Gaming Desktops- You need speed to conquer your gaming opponent and Intel Core2Duo can be ideal or still better the AMD Athlon 64 X2s processors. The AMD’s dual cores stand better chance because most gaming applications are not designed to take advantage of the multi threading capabilities of Intel processors. You can also opt for the high speed hard drives. Check out the models at:
http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorType=Intel+Core+2+Duo
http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?processorType=AMD+Athlon+64+X2

Media Center and Digital Entertainment Desktops- You will need these types of desktops for storing and sharing music, photos, editing videos, creating movie DVDs and music CDs. For such peak performance the features required are fastest processors, biggest hard drives and brightest displays. And if you have deep pockets check out the models at
Dell XPS 700 (XPS700-2KX3WB1) PC Desktop
Hewlett Packard Compaq dc7600 (EH798UC) PC Desktop


Find by Price
230 to 400 $- In such a low range you will be surprised and satisfied to get desktops that have powerful processors and graphic cards. They have enough features to support general business tasks and office computing chores.
http://www.reviewgist.com/reviews?search=desktop&Price=250-to-400

400 to 600 $- Ideally suited for office computing, networking, home or small office users. These inexpensive desktops offer great features and performance for the money spent.
http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?Price=407.3-to-616

600 to 1600 $ - Sturdy structure, lot of options for upgrading and can fast adapt to changing business needs and good multi-media control buttons.
http://www.reviewgist.com/desktop-reviews?Price=620.2-to-1600

The basics of overclocking your CPU

In this article I'm going to explain the basics of overclocking your CPU and what you need to look out for.

I understand how difficult is to overclock especially the CPU. Overclocking the CPU is riddled with jargon so if you don't understand the nerdy terms you could be really be putting your PC in danger.

This is because your effectively speeding your CPU beyond the manufacturers specifications. And although you'll get a ton of performance from your PC and your games will play smoother, your CPU is under more stress due the extra heat that the CPU will generate.

So what are the terms you look out for when you go into your Bios? Well first of all you want to find your FSB. FSB stands for Font Side Bus and this is where the majority of you will be overclocking your CPU from. There is another way of overclocking your CPU but this option is only available to the top of the range CPU and these ones can cost of excess of �1000! This way of overclocking is by using the Multiplier.

But to me opting for a $1000 CPU tends to defeat the point overclocking. Anyway, once you've found your FSB option, there should be a 3 digit number next to it. All you do is simply move the number up another ten points and no more.

The reason why you move it no more than that is you don't want to damage your PC. So take little steps when overclocking your CPU. Once you done that, save and quit from bios and head into Windows.

You now want to run at benchmark, I would recommend on using 3DMark 05 or 06. There is others but these are the ones I personally use. Now simply run the benchmark and you should notice that you have a higher score than what you did before you overclocked your CPU! And that is the basics of overclocking!!!

Data Recovery For Laptop Hard Drives

If you compare the hard drive of a desktop with the hard drive of a laptop, the only difference you will notice is the size. Their technologies are the same, but this size variation makes the laptop hard drive more difficult. Still, there are companies that have the required equipment for such fine data recovery procedures.

Because laptops provide the ability to work anywhere they are now preferred over the usual desktop work stations. This leads to a lot of important data being stored on their hard drives. While their hard drives are no weaker than the drives the old work stations had, they are however highly susceptible to damage. That's when you will need to call in a laptop data recovery specialist.

The best way to choose a data recovery specialist is to allow the required time frame to make the research and correct choice. To do this, you will need to recognize the symptoms of probable hard drive problems. When choosing a recovery specialist, by checking multiple companies and comparing their price statements you can avoid those that will try to use your need for help right away. The data recovery company should have sterilized facilities for full recovery procedures.

The most common signs that a damaged hard drive provides are ticking and clicking noises when access is required to stored data. These are mechanical damage symptoms. There are also logical errors that can cripple the booting process of the computer or that will disable the reading of certain files that are stored in damaged sectors

If the problem of the drive shows signs that the issue might be of mechanical nature, drive not spinning or you can hear noises when reading, the help of a data recovery specialist in imperative. The drive might have a critical failure and attempting to recover the drive yourself will probably make it worse.

If the drive has logical errors or you deleted a file by mistake, there is enough software on the market to help you but there is the possibility that you misuse it so the help of a data recovery specialist is still recommended.

All in all, if you have problems with your laptop hard drive you can attempt to fix the problem yourself, as long as it is not a mechanical one. If you need a data recovery specialist, make sure the research is done prior to sending the media

How To Correct A Continually Rebooting Computer

When you sit down at your computer desk and press the power switch on your desktop, the last thing you want to experience is a continually rebooting computer.

There are a variety of causes that contribute to this problem, from something as simple as a stuck power button to a much more serious problem as your power supply slowly failing. Other causes for this problem may be overheating PC components, or viruses affecting your system.

Now, if you’re like the rest of us, having a computer that reboots constantly is not our idea of a productive day. So how do you diagnose this problem and where do you start to to make corrections. Here are some common but often overlooked causes and solutions that will get your system running again.

First take a look at the power button and see if its stuck in the socket. If so, you may be able to simple tap the front of the case to release the button. In some cases, you may have to remove the system unit cover to get the button to return to the out position.

If you cannot stop the computer from rebooting by pressing the power button and releasing it, turn off the power switch in the back of the computer next to the power supply. If your power supply do not have a power switch, you will have to unplug the system from the wall outlet.

This must be done as soon as possible so that the constant rebooting will not damage components such as the hard drive. Constant rebooting also have the danger of power surges that can further damage larger components such as the motherboard.

Second you check your computer’s software by checking to be sure no virus or malware have not effected your hard drive. Virus and malware are small software that is downloaded along with other files that is designed to cause mischief.

To remove any viruses and malware, use a anti-virus program that will search your hard drive and remove these file quickly. These files can cause such damage as wiping your hard drive of all data or hijacking your web browser so you have no control over your online surfing.

If you find no malware on your computer, take a look at your BIOS to see if it has become unstable or has been changed. BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System and is a small program designed to check all components for proper operation when the computer is turned on.

If your BIOS has been changed or if you’re not sure if its been changed, try to reset the BIOS settings to the default settings after you access the BIOS as the computer reboots.Once inside the BIOS, you should have the option to load your default settings, save the change, and reboot the computer.

However, there are times when a continually rebooting computer will not allow you to access the BIOS. You can then reset the BIOS by removing the system unit cover and locating the jumper on a three pin header.

You must consult your computer or motherboard manual to properly perform this procedure and it should be done as a last resort. Before making any changes to your BIOS, you should backup your BIOS if your computer reboots at long intervals.

After checking your computer’s software for its rebooting problem, you must check to be sure hardware is not at fault. This problem may exist because one of your memory modules are unseated from its socket . Memory modules are long, narrow sticks that attach to the motherboard.

Remove any static electricity from yourself, remove the system unit cover and check these memory modules to be sure they are secure. Check the connections to the hard drive and the connections leading from the power supply.

Power supply connectors should be checked if you’ve done work inside your computer recently. Power Supplies are known to slowly fail and lead to rebooting problems. There is no way to check an ailing power supply and this should be considered the problem as a last resort.

Following these steps will help you correct any computer that continually reboots itself. If no virus or malware is found, carefully and thoroughly check all connections. And if the problem still exist, the most likely cause would be the Power Supply.