The CompuNerd

A Few Ordinary Personal Computer Errors, How to Understand Them, and How to Locate Online PC Support

2010-07-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

Computer error messages can appear when you don't expect, they may force the entire PC to suddenly crash, or they might unfortunately mess up your information to the extent that it cannot be understood - a big reason you need offsite backups. Even though errors cannot always be bypassed, it's vital to be aware that personal computer error messages may usually be remedied. The solution is to learn what personal computer errors are, understand what they signify when they pop up, and understand how to minimize their popping up at all. Advice is available through online PC support.

Essentially, personal computer glitches are caused by various items which might or might not have anything to do with the way the PC is utilized. They happen when there is a conflict among instructions. You should know that computers essentially operate by a series of instructions, and this is generally a smooth routine. However, when one command clashes with another instruction - or when one instruction requests a piece of code or information that is not available, the personal computer spits out results which aren't usable: that's an error message. The worst glitch is the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) that pops up on your screen when something has gone terribly wrong.

A common instance of this sort of glitch is if novices try to run software that isn't suitable for their PC. Almost all programs are accompanied by a description of system requirements which specifies what a PC must have in order for the software package to work correctly. To cut down on errors of this type, be sure to check that your PC has the needed parts. A project management program that you are investigating may only run on a certain operating system, like Windows 7 for example. And even though this program might install OK on a Windows XP machine, it may cause a multitude of errors as soon as it's started.

Not enough RAM may cause error messages also. That is why programs usually include minimum memory needs. A software package that needs 14MB of RAM will cause glitches on a PC that only possesses 4MB of RAM available - if it runs at all. The same goes for hard drive space, monitor color depth and resolution. In such instances, issues crop up the moment that a program attempts to connect to the things (hardware, memory, hard disk space, display resolution, etc.) that it cannot locate.

Because some programs share common DLLs, errors could also pop up if these common dynamic link library files aren't current. For example, consider that Program A is already set up on a PC and it is working normally. Then let's say that the computer user finds on the Internet and sets up Program B. Program B uses a dynamic link library file that Program A installed much earlier, but when Program B starts up, errors appear. Those errors are the result of Program B trying to use an obsolete common DLL which was included with Program A. In order to overcome that problem, the user must download a newer version of the shared DLL (which speaking mildly - is not an easy thing to locate or do).

At times, error messages occur when a computer does not have the necessary drivers or when the drivers which are on the PC are the incorrect version. Both errors in these cases can be fixed by checking for updates to the system on a frequent schedule. Microsoft has a section on its servers whcih can automatically update a PC online, and that company provides this free of charge in order to to minimize glitches like this. Remember to keep your personal computer up to date so that in case a program shares a dynamic link library file, it will share the same DLL that has been updated on hundreds of thousands of computers similar to yours.

This article does not even begin to address the whole gamut of PC glitches - but additional ideas concerning ways to get help with a PC issue (including PC error messages) can be found in my essay on "Computer Help" no matter what the issue is. You can also find online PC support to help resolve such error messages.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has accumulated over 30 years of career work in IT with computers. Ever since his teens he has established and run a number of businesses and non-profit organizations. Download his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and see the most efficient techniques to utilize your PC at Online PC Support, or see his Offsite Backups page, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - see you there!

Computer Use by Seniors and Online PC Support Reduces the Sense of Loneliness

2010-07-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

More and more people in the older generation are catching the PC bug and diving into the Internet. The energetic baby boomers have matured and turned into active elderly people looking to get out and explore the universe surrounding them. The WWW and computers together have burst open the doors to many forms of entertainment and fun for these elderly people.

No longer are these people destined to just playing shuffleboard or cards with their nearby friends for their relaxation. Now with the aid of personal computers and the Internet they can play such games and get online PC support over the WWW with folks from anywhere in the world. While learning how to use a personal computer is still one of the greatest challenges to some elderly people, when many of them learn how to use a PC, they cannot comprehend that they had ever worried about it at all.

Many elderly people have voiced apprehension when they start finding out how to use a computer and make contact with others over the WWW. They are quite proud when they not only find out how to use a computer, but can manage to even send text messages and use other PC applications with no outside help whatsoever.

Although some in the older generation might have had a little experience with personal computers in their past employment, many are learning the basics of PC use from the ground up. It is really a challenge at first for many of these people who find it all a bit overwhelming. This feeling soon goes away, though, as they find out the fundamentals very easily and can experience real progress after only a few class sessions.

Computer use among {seniors|elderly people|those in the older generation} has shown to be very beneficial to them in several ways. It gets them to be involved in something once more. Although using a PC is not equivalent to doing exercise for the body, the use of a personal computer is a very fascinating way for them to give a workout to their most important muscle - their brain. By keeping intellectually active, many elderly people discover that they're not lonely any more and there's lots more they can do with the aid of a computer.

Not only are they able to use personal computer applications to assist them to work on some interests they might have, but in addition the WWW can help them to keep in touch with friends who share in the same hobby. Staying in touch with relatives and friends by means of email is an additional good way to help those in the older generation to be connected to the lives of others and the world around them. By staying in close contact, they find more purpose in their old age.

Some in the older generation even are competent enough with their computer usage that they can get part time work doing simple data entry for businesses. They can also help in instructing others in the older generation about the advantages of learning to use a personal computer and the wonderful world of the Internet. Many in the older generation might have only heard about the millions of websites out there which have such a great amount of info which they are able to easily tap into.

For many seniors it's similar to switching on a light which shows them how much they have been missing all their lives. They become excited about their exploring for information with personal computers and the Internet. The sense of loneliness is lifted right away the very first time they send and receive their initial email messages with somebody they know. Whether that person is across the country or just across the street, the excitement is the same. Right away they learn how to be involved in the world once more and are able to participate in more conversations as their knowledge about personal computers and the WWW increases.

Having the ability to get in touch again with old friends that they have not heard from for ages is a very huge accomplishment for these elderly people. They also can encourage one another to find out more as they experience together many of the same things while learning more about computers and the Internet. This is where online PC support is helpful. Also, many seniors with hearing difficulties find it much easier to email somebody, or open Skype, Facebook or MySpace to connect, instead of trying to talk to the friend on the telephone.

Those in the older generation who are grandparents discover that the WWW is a tremendous way to remain a part of their grandchildren's lives. By sending emails and chatting over everyday events, the family grows closer and stays closer as well. By utilizing the Internet, many elderly people have found people with common interests. Whether these interests are past-times or health concerns they share, the fun of being able to chat with someone and let them chat back to you just about in real-time is very exciting for those people in the older generation.

Best regards,

Bob Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has over 30 years of career work with personal computers. Beginning in his teenage years he has established and run several companies and non-profit entities. Download his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and learn the most efficient ways to use your personal computer at Online PC Support, or see his Offsite Backups page, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - thanks!

Where and How to Find Some Computer Assistance - Online PC Support

2010-07-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Well, there's no denying it - it doesn't matter how new or how well-supported our computers are, we all meet up with PC problems sometime or other. The good news is that you don't have to deal with them alone. There are all sorts of resources on hand to walk us through personal computer problems, but it might require a little skill in knowing how to find them. This story will tell you how to locate online PC support.

1. Product websites. If you are having a problem with a program or with a hardware part, try the website of the software's or hardware's vendor. Most (if not all) vendors set aside a portion of cyberspace and use it to support the products which they manufacture. Microsoft's help desk is an excellent example.

2. Don't forget help files. It is strange, but people often seem to forget that every computer itself and every program installed on a computer includes its own help file. Even the operating system of a PC includes a help file, and it really should be the first place to begin for answers. Help files are put together not just to instruct in the usage of a PC, they're also put together to solve difficulties. Inside a help file, look for a section called, "Troubleshooting" (or something similar) when you need to resolve an issue. This section is reserved for solving problems specific to the software or hardware that you're using.

3. User groups. User groups perhaps is not a good name for this source, but you can access websites that are set up for supporting the owners of a particular software application or piece of hardware. We call them "fan sites" because the maintainers of such sites don't have any affiliation with the vendors that they support! Name them however you will, but their free assistance is immeasurable and without it, we would not have some of the wonderful workarounds and top-notch problem solving resources which we have at present.

4. Usenet newsgroups. An often underutilized resource on the WWW, Usenet newsgroups include scores and scores of discussion groups dedicated to some of the most well-known personal computer systems, operating systems, hardware suppliers, and various software programs. At times, the employees of the suppliers take part, but most of the time, the support in these groups is between users, and this is just as valid because you're working with a group of experienced users.

5. Help Lines. Another source for support which we must not ignore are the help lines of different manufacturers. You can contact these lines by dialing the telephone number connected with the item that you're having trouble with. Calls may be free (1-800 or 1-877 numbers), or it may cost a small fee (1-900).

6. Computer support groups or computer clubs are another source for help. These are groups that meet in libraries, computer stores, or other places, which discuss all kinds of problems dealing with a certain item. Even if you are not experiencing a related computer or software problem, support groups are exciting to take part in, because they may help you make contacts for other areas, for example, job or teaching possibilities.

7. Also, you could even get assistance from the salespersons at a nearby personal computer store. We don't advise that you make this your initial pit stop if you have a problem, but we don't think that you ought to rule out this alternative altogether either. Computer salespersons are employed for a reason - and that is their skills. Frequently these kind folks can help you to solve a problem over the phone and prevent you from needing to buy a costly repair job.

From this you can tell that help is easy to locate - you simply have to know where to look for it. The majority of the contacts within these resources are very friendly and willing to spend time to walk you through a problem at little or no cost. From online discussion groups, to the help files on your own computer, to online PC support, assistance is often just a click away.

Yours truly,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has accumulated over 30 years of career work in software development. Ever since his teenage years he has built and headed several businesses and charitable entities. Get his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and find out the most efficient techniques to utilize your personal computer at Online PC Support, see his Offsite Backups page, or write him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - thank you!

Diagnosing Computers - Getting Online PC Support

2010-07-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Diagnostic programs that are utilized with personal computers can assist you to track down any problem or breakdown that personal computers experience when they are having difficulties. Diagnostics are used to test out the personal computer system, and this includes both the BIOS, RAM, programs, and even the devices plugged into the computer. Many times this can be done over the Internet, using online PC support from an expert.

The most ordinary sorts of problems will occur when your computer is down to very low memory, and this could either be a small amount of RAM, or low hard drive space. Such situations are quite common, and generally result in your personal computer running quite slow. This may be fixed very simply, usually all you need to do is delete some software and data that you do not use or need any longer, and then defragment your hard drive. Other times it may be a virus, and that is when you should have offsite backups installed beforehand.

Nearly all kinds of PC diagnostic software can find and resolve just about every issue that you may be having. It normally starts off with a BIOS checkup, and goes on from there. Computer diagnostic programs can pin down a lot from examining the BIOS, from the common settings to those which could cause a major impact on both the personal computer's boot up time and its ongoing work.

No matter what, you almost never should adjust or tamper with the BIOS settings, as this can lead to profound problems. If you do intend to adjust or mess with your personal computer's BIOS, you should always make a copy of it first, just in case something goes wrong. The BIOS settings can be quite complicated, although they are the source of a lot to do with your personal computer's smooth operation. If you have never looked into the BIOS before, you really mustn't be adjusting or messing with things inside of it.

Depending on the diagnostics software that you are utilizing, there are many different variations available. At present, a couple of the most popular are Norton Systemworks and PC Doctor. Both of these programs offer full diagnostics, good for repairing just about any software-related computer issue you might think of.

When you run the program, you'll be able to choose the diagnostic routine which you need to use. Some offer you a complete system scan, which will scan your entire computer and then show any issues that your computer is having. After showing any problems, the software will normally provide you an option to continue and fix it. If the issue is nothing serious, the diagnostic software can normally repair it.

The more difficult problems, for example hardware failures or hard disk crashes, are a completely different thing. They will require a technician who is very experienced, and who can restore the hardware. Diagnostic software packages can indicate a hardware issue to you, although usually they are unable to fix it.

There are several other PC diagnostic software packages that you launch when rebooting the PC, which will check all sorts of things, from the BIOS to the operating system to the programs. Such diagnostic tools are great, and some are free, although programs such as Norton and PC Doctor are usually superior. They provide far more options, including defragment, inspecting for bad sectors on your hard drive, cleaning cache, and the choice to erase your temporary Internet files. These options are great to have, especially if you are not the techie type.

For more reasons than one, diagnosing your personal computer via remote PC repair is the ideal method to find and prevent issues with your computer: you don't need to pack it up and take it anywhere, and you actually watch and learn while the specialist checks out and repairs it over the Internet.

And several companies offer you offsite backup services, which is the easiest way to back up your information. You are able to back up your data at a certain set time, or simply go ahead and have the software back up your information automatically. These services are very easy to use, especially if you are completely new to PCs.

For everything they provide you, offsite backups and personal computer diagnostic software are the best ways to prevent issues before they occur and resolve them when they do.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has more than 30 years of professional work with computers. Beginning in his teens he has established and run a number of profitable firms and non-profit organizations. You can get his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and see the most effective ways to work with your computer at Online PC Support, see his Offsite Backups page, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - see you there!

How to Deal With Data Loss - Information Backup and Retrieval

2010-07-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Data loss is a matter that could well be very traumatic. Whether it is a company with vital files and information, or one person with irreplaceable pictures and videos, losing data might become a very traumatic and upsetting disaster. If you have never lived through hard disk burn-out or losing data in the past, you will find out that it can indeed be a calamity in which you experience wondering what to do. Your first choice in advance is offsite backups, because in case of disaster or man-made errors any onsite backups might also be lost.

No matter what occurs, you mustn't stress out or let the situation get the best of you. Although PCs are wonderful things to use, and hard disks usually work quite well for storing data, they are both mechanical, and are bound to wear out after a certain period of time. It doesn't matter how sophisticated hard disks become, they will never become able to totally avoid crashes or failure.

In most cases, your drive may be recovered, which is certainly tremendous news. When your hard disk first burns out or you notice that some of your data has disappeared, you should take it to a local specialist right away. The specialist will be able to inspect your hard disk, determine and then inform you what the problem is. The evaluation procedure could require anywhere from one day to a few weeks, so you need to always prepare yourself for anything.

Once the hard drive has been inspected, the specialist should tell you of the choices that exist and go over pricing for you. At this point, you may determine whether you should replace the hard drive and restore your information from a backup, or accept the specialist's offer. Keep in mind that his proposal can be very costly, but at this point it may very well be the only alternative available for recovering your data... if you did not make backups.

The wisest way to avoid data recovery altogether is to make a backup of your files and keep backing up regularly. Businesses and individuals who make a living with computers must always backup things at least daily. This way, when your hard disk happens to burn out or you accidentally erase some of your information, you'll have the backup archives in a safe place. Then, when you bring your hard drive to a specialist to be restored, you'll have the information to keep on working. Also, at this juncture you can decide if you want to have the hard drive recovered, or just scrap it and buy a new one - as you'll have all your data backed up and ready to use.

In case of information loss or hard disk crash, you should always keep cool and know that there are options out there to help you recover your files. If you have been backing up your data, you won't have to worry near as much. From having the foresight to create offsite backups of your information in advance, to using data recovery experts - you will have the choices you need to maintain your sanity and recover your lost information.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has more than 30 years of career work with computers. Ever since his teens he has set up and run several profitable firms and non-profit organizations. You can get his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and see the most up-to-date techniques to backup your valuable information at offsite backups, see his homepage, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - thanks!

Procedures for Backing Up and Retrieving Your Data

2010-07-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

No matter what your position is, where you work, or what brand of computer you use - your PC's data is in danger all the time. With malware, power failures, lightning, natural disasters, burglary, fire, human mistakes and malicious people around, the dangers are always real. To be on the safe side, you will have to back up your information and continue backing up on a regular basis. The first choice is offsite backups, because in case of disaster or human causes any local backups could also be lost. In the event of your hard drive failing and you don't have a backup, you will need data recovery - which is the only alternative available.

Before you travel down that long path of information retrieval, here are a few items to remember. If you're are working at your PC and an application begins to behave funny, you must shut down the computer right away. You may also hear a few strange sounds as well, which may be an additional sign that your hard drive is working excessively. When you shut down your personal computer immediately at this point, you may keep information loss from occurring. In case, however, you don't shut down your PC, but allow the failing hard drive to keep running, it's just a question of how long before the hard drive completely destroys itself - which will eventually cause your loss of data.

When this happens and you lose all of your information, you should never try to fix the hard drive yourself unless you know exactly what to do. At this stage, professional information recovery services are not just a luxury - they're something you must have. The procedure for information retrieval is time consuming, and requires both special tools and a spotless work space. Trying to repair a hard disk by yourself is quite challenging, and could result in making things much worse if you don't know precisely what you are doing.

Although there are applications available for data recovery, you shouldn't use them unless you know precisely what to do. Since most hard drive errors are very intricate, software might do more damage than good. Even though companies may claim that their program will repair the problem and retrieve your information, you should always use caution and just avoid using do-it-yourself data retrieval software.

To be on the safe side with your hard drive and retrieve the information which was lost, you usually should go to a reputable local information retrieval service. That way, you can know that your hard disk is in good care and it will be repaired correctly. Professional recovery services can repair almost any hard disk crash, and retrieve any type of data. In occurs, you must be ready to purchase a replacement hard disk - and consider yourself lucky that you had the foresight to make offsite backups of your information beforehand.

Best regards,

Bob Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has accumulated more than 30 years of professional work in IT. Beginning in his teens he has established and run many profitable firms and non-profit organizations. Download his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and learn the modern techniques to save your irreplaceable files at offsite backups, see his homepage, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - thank you!

Low-Cost and Efficient Programs - Introducing You to Shareware

2010-07-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

Go to any software dealer these days and you'll find what appears to be row after row of software on sale. Certainly attractive purchases, but you may encounter a few problems when purchasing programs off the shelves. Off-the shelf software - otherwise known as "commercial software" - could be expensive, incompatible and out of date when compared to what's downloadable over the Internet.

Happily, there is an alternative to commercial software, and although it isn't new, it's one of the most under-exploited opportunities in the software industry. We're looking at shareware - programs that you can try before you buy. And you can get it on the Internet, very much like getting online PC support.

Shareware has a long history and was rather well-liked in the days where BBSes - bulletin board systems - reigned over the Internet-based computer industry. It hasn't gone anywhere, but its competition withcommercial software is tough - so fierce that shareware seems to be pushed to the sidelines among novice PC users. This is unfortunate, since shareware has quite a few plusses over commercial software.

One of these advantages is its price. On average, shareware is generally much less expensive than commercial software. But do not misinterpret the price. With shareware, inexpensive doesn't equal low-quality, because there are plenty of cases that prove shareware often outshines the quality of commercial software time and time again. What kind of savings are we talking about? You can buy a quality word processing, spreadsheet or database program, or a computer utility program anywhere from only $10 to about a hundred. This is practically unheard of in stores like Best Buy, Office Max or Egghead, yet the programs offered in this price range rival even Microsoft's Office suite.

One other advantage which shareware possesses in comparison with commercial programs is its compatibility. We are not saying that shareware is compatible with all operating systems. What we're implying is that because we can try out shareware before paying for it, we can determine first whether the software is completely compatible with our computers. In other words, we can find out if the software performs the way we want it to, but should someone try to do this with commercial software, they'll be in for a big shock. Commercial programs policy does not even permit returns, let alone using a friend's programs to try them.

The final plus that shareware has compared to commercial software (but certainly not the least) is its being up-to-date. Plain and simple, shareware is the best bet if you need to stay up-to-date with the latest edition of a given program. Sure, computer stores do their best to maintain their stock up-to-date, but if you are able to download the most recent edition 5.7062 of a shareware program compared to buying a commercial 3.0 version from the local computer shop, there's simply no comparison.

brings us to the following topic. Just where does one acquire shareware? Shareware can be found just about everywhere on the Web and it is really difficult not to locate it. The most well-liked places to get shareware is at 1000s of download websites, however, the firms (and even individual programmers) producing shareware are more and more often offering shareware from their proprietary websites. A quick search at Google or Bing for a given kind of program will produce all kinds of answers that point you toward things that you can try out before you buy.

Keep in mind, though, that because shareware is not commercial programs, you may not get to use a full features of the program in the way you could if you bought the program out of a box. Shareware might or might not be limited - meaning that some features may not be available to you until the program is purchased. These limits are often small and do not interfere with the way its paid-for version functions. They are really incorporated simply as a method to prompt you to buy. Remember that shareware is not open source software. You must not attempt to use shareware like a commercial program without paying for it.

Just about the only point that is comparable between shareware and commercial software is the manner in which they can be bought. With a credit card, you could be the next licensee of another application in just a few minutes. Even without a credit card, you will be able to actually get online PC support, yes, over the WWW!

Best regards,

Robert Hosken

"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

Dr. Robert Hosken, the author, has accumulated over 30 years of professional work with computers. Ever since his teens he has set up and run a number of companies and charitable organizations. Download his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and find out the most effective ways to utilize your personal computer at online PC support, see his homepage, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - thanks!

Beginner's Program Terms - Knowing What You're Dealing With Helps the Computer Specialist

2010-06-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

Receiving help with your computer's programs can be quicker if you know the correct terminology to say. One of the greatest difficulties that new PC users experience with a technician is not knowing how to properly describe the difficulty that they're experiencing. And it's not fair to expect a tech support person to automatically understand what a "thing-a-ma-jingy" or "gizmo" is. With the correct terms, the computer specialist may even offer you online PC support.

The appearance of your personal computer screen is called the "GUI" (sounds like "gooey") that stands for "graphical user interface" The following list defines the correct names for common parts of the computer screen appearance so that if you encounter difficulty, you can effectively describe the problem that you're having, which lets a technician easily resolve it.

User interface - means the entire visual design of programs. It can consist of squares, boxes, words, images, and buttons. If you are experiencing insufficient memory, as an example, you may see a black rectangle across the user interface of your software.

Title bar - means is the top-most part of a program that might display its own name, or it might describe the contents displayed in another portion of the interface. If a program is incorrectly coded, you may see a wrong definition in this part of its interface.

Menu bar - this portion of a program displays menu items and menu options. Some of the most common items on the menu bar grant access to File commands, Open commands, Save commands, and Close options. An example of an error in this part of the interface might be if a command was missing or grayed out (lighter shaded).

Toolbar - this portion across the top of the program shows small icons which indicate tools. If you click an icon it will bring up a tool or process a command which may also exist on a program's menu bar. Problems in this portion of an interface are not very common, but if you find yourself clicking an icon repeatedly with no results, you can properly define the problem by referring to the particular icon on the toolbar.

Minimize, Maximize, and Exit buttons - these three buttons are found on the right-most upper corner of a program's interface, and they let you minimize a program's screen, maximize it or restore it to its previous position, or completely terminate the program.

Scroll bar - this handy item allows users to scroll data up and down the PC screen.

Status bar - this portion of a program is located on the lowest portion of its interface, and it frequently shows small messages which tell the status of a task. If written incorrectly, an application might show the wrong message in this area.

Input box - an input box is usually a small rectangle which allow the user to enter information into a simple box in a program, webpage or browser window. If you find that you aren't able to type data into one of these, you could more easily resolve the issue with a technician by referring to it as an input box, rather than an "area," a "white rectangle," or a "blank to write something."

Context menu - similar to a menu bar, a context menu displays when the user right-clicks on an item. It displays commands similar to what you see on the File menu or Help menu.

Button - this useful item runs a task when a user clicks it with a mouse. Issues happen if the text on a button is grayed out or when it does not appear to be pressed into the interface when clicked.

Check box - a check box is a tiny box that permits the user to select one or more choices among many. When clicked, a small "x" appears inside the box.

Radio Button - a radio button is similar to the check box, but allows a user to indicate only one choice among several. Problems with radio buttons and check boxes occur when a user makes one choice, but the program reacts as if the user made many choices (or none at all).

When describing a problem to a computer specialist, be sure to say whether the problem occurs with a check box or a radio box. Personal computer novices mistakenly mix up the names of both of these controls. So master the right terminology, then the computer specialist will be able to actually give you online PC support, yes, even over the WWW!

Sincerely,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has accumulated more than 30 years of professional experience in software development. Beginning in his teens he has established and run a number of profitable firms and charitable entities. You can get his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and learn the most effective ways to use your computer at online PC support, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - thanks!

Automating Jobs Using Batch Files - Ideas That Apply to Today's Personal Computers As Well!

2010-06-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

If you are acquainted with MS-DOS at all, you will remember that it is a command-line-driven OS that carries out tasks issued at the C:> prompt. The only means to get an early PC-DOS PC to perform anything was to type a command at this prompt; and if you might imagine, it was a rather clumsy way to use a PC. But that's how big mainframe computers worked, and it was just carried over to early PCs.

As an example, load up Microsoft's simple editing program, you had to type the drive letter that the program was on, the directory (they called a folder a "directory" back then) where the program was installed, and then the program name. So if Microsoft Edit was in a folder named "Programs" you would launch the program by entering "C:>programs/edit.com". Only then could the program load up for use.

This example is just a short command, but simply imagine if you had a program that was deeply nested within several levels of directories. You would be typing a command as wide as your personal computer's screen, or what's worse, long enough that the entire command would begin to wrap around on the next line! Now imagine that you had to type such long commands each time that you wanted to launch a program. Yikes!

This is only one of the reasons that batch files became so well-liked. Batch files are small text-based documents with a *.bat extension which consist of a string of these instructions, each on its own line. When executed, they would perform each instruction so the user wouldn't have to enter each and every one of them. Go to our offsite backups link below to learn how to use batch files with the "PersonalBackup" program to retain a month's worth of versions of your weekly (full) and daily (partial) backups.

After Windows was developed, the need for entering instructions was basically eradicated, because of using the point-and-click (mouse) interface. However, this did not stop the batch program fever which started with PC-DOS - and in a few small groups, batch programs are still as popular these days as they were 25 years ago.

Even though you may be using Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7, batch programs can save you tons of time by automating the launch of multiple programs and performing various tasks at one click of a button. They don't need any extensive training in programming and they don't have to be encrypted with a weird, expensive compiler. Batch programs are simple text files, and you can write one for your personal use with Windows Notepad.

You can build a batch program that loads up your most-used websites at once, for example, or you can build a batch file that fills your screen with your most important applications for the day. To do so only requires a little knowledge about the locations of these applications.

Let's assume that each day we need to load up the Yahoo web browser, then run Microsoft Word, and then start up the calculator that is included with Windows. Instead of doing this by hand, we could write a batch file to do it automatically.

First, we would start up Notepad and type in these lines:

START "http://www.yahoo.com"
START "c:/program files/microsoft office/office/winword.exe"
START "c:/windows/calc.exe"

We would then save these data in a file named "mytasks.bat" onto our Desktop for ease of access. Each time we double-clicked on this file, the Yahoo website would start up, Microsoft Word would launch, and the simple calculator would appear.

Because we would like these programs to load every day, we could make a shortcut to this batch program and then move the shortcut into our computer's Startup folder. That way, these three programs would load each time we switch on the computer. If you want these programs to load minimized, you can enter the following into a batch program instead:

START "http://www.yahoo.com" /m
START "c:/program files/microsoft office/office/winword.exe" /m
START "c:/windows/calc.exe" /m

This will run all three programs as before, but the "/m" characters would minimize them so that they don't fill up your Desktop.

Other people have discovered much more creative and productive ways to use batch files, however, the important point is that you are aware that they are a tool you can use to save several seconds or minutes in carrying out important jobs. Also, see our offsite backups link about automating your backups with the free "PersonalBackup" application.

We have progressed a long way from MS-DOS, but batch programs remain a valuable tool for automation that everyone can use with no extensive programming skills whatsoever.

Best regards,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has accumulated more than 30 years of professional work in software development. Ever since his teenage years he has established and run several businesses and non-profit organizations. Get his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and learn the most up-to-date ways to save your irreplaceable data at offsite backups, or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - see you there!

How You Can Save Your Information on Your Laptop Using Online Data Backups or Data DVDs

2010-06-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

Taking a look at previous statistics regarding the files lost in regards to laptop computers, you could be shocked. Even if this information might be astounding, most of us still do not make the effort to save the information on our portable PCs. Similar to the way you can with desktop computers, you also can create a backup of the information on your laptops as well. You may utilize online data backups to back up your information remotely, or use some different means to ensure that you backup all of your information. Backing up your information is a vital step you should really check out, most importantly if you keep business information on your portable PC.

To put it in simple terms, nothing in the computing sphere is foolproof. Hard drives might fail, your notebook might get stolen, or it might even be dropped and become useless. To ensure that you are never deprived of your precious files, you ought to always create a recent backup of your information. Please be aware of the fact that more than a million portable PCs have been stolen in the past years in the U.S. alone. Every time a laptop is stolen, the probability is that it will never be found again. If the information was not backed up, then you will not only be left with no notebook - but most significantly - no backed up files either which could be restored on a replacement computer.

One of the easiest methods to go about preserving your data and files is to use online data backups. Another method is to copy them on a data DVD and/or a USB stick. Data DVDs can hold up to 4,700 MB (Megabytes) of data, which means a lot of files. A recommended size for a USB stick is at least 4 GB. To back up your files this way, all you need is a DVD-RW burner or USB port in your portable PC, which the majority of the newer models are equipped with.

The main disadvantage with portable PCs is that they don't have nearly as much disk space and are not as secure as a desktop computer. It's harder to lock them to your desk and they are more prone for you to drop, steal or lose. Desktop computers also generally are a lot more powerful, thus they can also do tasks (including backups) in a fraction of the time. The laptop computer was built for convenience, for use on-the-go, which is a significant reason why people often do not really consider backing up their data. When this notion finally comes to mind, it's often too late to do anything about it: "the cat is out of the bag".

As mentioned above, the easiest and quickest way to backup the information on your notebook is to make use of online data backups. Depending on your connection to the Internet, it can take anywhere from several hours the first time to several minutes each time thereafter, but it can run automatically in the background while you're doing other things. Some online data backups also let you backup on a data DVD and/or a USB drive. Although it may take you a little bit of time, you will have the assurance in knowing that your information is there if something should happen.

Whether it is for business or your personal use, you can never go wrong backing up your files. If you use a data DVD and/or a USB drive, you must always run a complete backup of your files at least once a week, and even every day for new and changed data if you have a lot of important information that you add to or update on your notebook frequently. Online data backups will do all this automatically.

Yours truly,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has accumulated more than 30 years of professional work in software development. Beginning in his teens he has set up and run many companies and charitable organizations. Download his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and learn the most up-to-date techniques to save your irreplaceable data at Online Data Backups or write him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - see you there!

Adding Peripherals to PCs: What's In the Box is a Really Just a Starter Kit, So Seek Advice From an Expert

2010-06-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

Recently, a personal computer expert spent nearly three hours trying to explain to one of the company's clients that brand new computers just don't come furnished with all the stuff which most folks need in a PC. He attempted to explain to the client that a fully useful personal computer is one that is accessorized with personally selected peripherals and programs - and that the basic personal computer purchased at the company doesn't come with these items. Sadly, all of his convincing was unsuccessful. The client was sure that he wouldn't ever need more than what came with his boxed product and that the business was just trying to "squeeze" more money from him.

As computer specialists, it is our job and mission to be certain that our customers are 100% satisfied when they walk out of our business. However, this job is unnecessarily made harder when customers don't make the effort to learn about personal computer accessories and become familiar with the shortcomings of store-bought personal computers. Also, nowadays you can look on the Internet for unbiased, excellent online PC support. My hope is that by the time you're done perusing this piece, you'll understand the lesson they were trying to explain to their client: "what's in the box is a actually just a starter kit."

The basic desktop computer package comes with a CPU block, a keyboard, mouse, and perhaps a speaker set. This might be okay for some, but most people require more than that, especially in today's "wired" culture. Today's users require complete multimedia capabilities, a broad selection of graphics programs, and ports for the many portable devices we now enjoy. These add-ons don't come with "what's in the box," and the only method to get these things is to add them on.

To illustrate the significance of accessorizing, we like to use the "plain dough" analogy. Consider that a brand new PC is like a lump of plain dough - it is waiting to be flavored and baked into something tasty. If we would like to use this lump of dough to make a delectable batch of chocolate chip cookies, we'd need to "accessorize" this dough with chocolate chips and some brown sugar. If, however, we would like to make the dough into in a warm loaf of sesame seed bread, we would need to "accessorize" the dough with yeast and some sesame seeds.

Like "plain dough," the brand new personal computer isn't very useful by itself. It needs accessorizing.

Depending on what's needed, accessorizing does not have to be expensive. In fact, you could get away with shelling out just a small amount for extra programs and peripherals if these accessories are for kids. It is when these add-ons are required for your job or when they're neccessary to produce quality works for any other purpose that they might become rather costly. And this cost refers to mikes, digital cameras, PDAs, scanners, webcams, and more.

No matter what the cost, it's important to know that add-ons can be necessities, and that the most opportune time to get them is at the time you aquire a new computer. Waiting too long to add these on, you can cause more difficulties than needed because while you're waiting, equipment makers continuously invent new technologies - devices that your old PC might not be able to handle in the future. When finally you are ready to accessorize, the new devices that are available are too advanced for your PC and they just won't work. This is a typical issue experienced by those who want to install peripherals designed for Windows Vista or Windows 7 on a Windows XP computer.

Likewise, just as the deciding issue for buying a new car should not be to match the size of tires with a set of old tires in your garage, you should not get an already-obsolete last year's computer on a clear-out sale so it will work with your five-year-old printer or external hard disk. The same principle holds true for your software: if it is time to upgrade, bite the bullet and do it. Take the time to consult with a qualified PC expert before spending your hard-earned greenbacks on something you will regret in the future. It's usually wise to get advice from a specialist, and these days you can locate top-notch online PC support on the Internet!

Sincerely,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has over 30 years of career experience in software development. Starting in his teenage years he has set up and headed a number of businesses and non-profit entities. You can get his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and find out the most up-to-date techniques to protect your valuable data on your PC. Go to online PC support, or email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - thanks!

How You Can Adequately Backup Your Data: Use DVDs, Another Hard Disk or Offsite Backups

2010-06-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

The files on your computer can be extremely important to you, especially if you are among those of us who make a living on a personal computer. Over the past several years, the PC has become a part of all of us, making our daily lives a great deal easier. For this reason, it is easy to conclude that if we lost the data on our personal computer, it could totally destroy a majority of our personal identity. Losing information can be a great thought, at the very least. Although PCs usually store your data reliably, these devices are known to break down every once in a while. Three of the main ways to backup your data are DVD backups, complete hard drive backups and offsite backups.

Even though the personal computer has become much more reliable in the last few years, it is virtually impossible to prevent PCs from losing files. You do not need to take this lying down though, because you must indeed fight back. The best method to ensure that you don't lose your valuable files is to back up and keep backing up. You must back up the information on your PC at least weekly, plus a backup once per day for new or changed data being the recommended way to go.

Formerly, and even for some today, the DVD disk is the usual medium used to preserve the data on your PC. Even though they store a relatively limited amount of information, DVDs are easy to obtain, easy to use, and almost every PC has a DVD drive. So decide which folders - usually 'My Documents' and perhaps your folders for Email, Music, Photos and downloaded software - then burn them directly to a data DVD or compress them to a zip file and copy that archive to the DVD. If you utilize DVD/RW disks, you can add more data to them each time you create a backup. If you do not use the RW (re-writable) media, then you will not be able to come back at a later time and add more information to the DVD.

If you plan to make use of disks, you will need a DVD drive, which you can buy for a great price nowadays. The DVDs are cheap also, which only makes this method of backing your information up so much better. Copying files directly to disks is the form of backup which most people are using these days, although a recommended way of backing up your information is to backup the entire hard disk. Those people who are looking to take things to the next level should look into backing up the entire hard drive. Making an exact copy of the entire hard disk is in fact one of the prime and safest techniques to backup your personal computer. When you do a backup of your whole hard drive, it will copy all of your files, so if a disaster happens you will be sure to have your files.

Running a full backup of your whole hard drive is tremendous, however, it can take a long time. Even worse, it is recommended that you run a complete backup at least weekly. To look at it another way, however, if the information on your computer is vitally important, you'll find it more than worth the effort and time required to back up your things. You'll need an extra hard drive that's at least as large as your primary hard disk.

The latest way you can back up your data and programs is to make use of offsite backups. Several companies offer offsite backup services, and you may learn about them at the link below. Similar to using DVDs, when setting up one of these offsite backup services you must tell them what folders to backup, then you just let the service make the first full backup of those folders which often may take several hours. From then on, it's entirely automated: the backup service looks for new and updated files, and transmits them to its offsite backup servers.

An important issue to decide is if your offsite backups store previous versions of data. The term for this is "versioning." That way, when you have to restore one or several files that in some way got corrupted, just go online - often you may use your web browser - and copy an earlier version to your personal computer. Using offsite backups means that you need not worry about the theft or destruction of your backup media - DVDs or extra hard drive - along with your personal computer.

Whether it's for business or for personal reasons, you cannot go wrong if you back up your files. You should always strive to back things up properly, including the registration keys for any software you purchased, as this will guarantee that your programs along with your files will always be available when you need to restore them. You can most likely find copies of installation programs on the Internet or by asking your friends, but you'll need your own registration keys to install those programs legally.

So if you accidentally delete some files, or your personal computer gets stolen, lost, or damaged in a fire or flood, or your hard disk happens to burn out and you lose everything on it, you will be sure to have your backup files to go back to. This by itself can save you a lot of worry, time, effort, and quite probably even money - just for the fact that your files are all but a simple copy away to restore, either from DVDs, an extra hard drive or offsite backups.

Yours truly,

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has accumulated over 30 years of career experience with computers. Beginning in his teens he has started and run several businesses and charitable entities. Download his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and see the modern methods to save your valuable data at offsite backups or contact him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net - see you there!

Backing Up Your Computer On Read-Write DVDs and Read-Only DVDs or Using Offsite Backup Services

2010-06-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

With the computer era upon us, PCs are far more crucial at present than in the past. Almost every task is done by use of the computer at present, from paying bills to earning one's income. Thus, the data that you have saved on your PC is extremely critical.

Among the files found on your personal computer, you may have precious pictures and keepsakes that you couldn't imagine being gone forever. Notwithstanding how advanced computers get, they will continue to crash, or you will cause other disasters that can cause a loss of data. For that reason, archiving your data is quite critical. You should think about using either A DVD disk or offsite backup services.

While there are many ways that you may go about backing up your files, a DVD disk is by far the cheapest and has become a very popular technique. In another article we'll consider offsite backup software. But like other backup techniques, a DVD disk does have its weaknesses, but it has more pros to offer people than cons.

Among the most important advantages about DVD disk backups is the advantage that your information will be stored on DVDs. The common DVD-R data disc might hold up to 4,700 megabytes of data, which is a lot of material. You might store digital images, word processing files, software, and virtually anything you may think of to a DVD - including entire folders that are full of software and data.

When you use DVD-RW media, which are also known as re-writable discs, you'll be able to continue adding data until the disc is full. You might also re-write over existing information on these media as well, which makes them ideal for those who frequently modify documents which they have to hold onto.

If you are using the plain DVD-R data disks, you won't be allowed to add more information to them after the initial time. Once you have added the data to your disk, that's all you can add. This is a an excellent alternative if you want to preserve the data as-is, and be certain without the shadow of a doubt that it is going to be kept safe for whenever it is needed.

With the cost of DVD burners and DVD disks being so cheap today, anyone may buy them. They don't cost nearly as much as they did some years ago, which is the reason they're preferred for backing up your data. If you own a recent model PC, probably a DVD burner was built in it. If you have an older computer, you might buy a DVD burner and some discs for little or nothing.

An important factor about backing up your information with DVDs is the fact that they have more capacity than CDs, they are easier to access than cloud backups, and they will last almost a lifetime (if cared for in the right way). If you have critical material that needs to be backed up, you might be confident that a DVD disk is a reliable method to store your files. But if you'd like to do it the easy way, think about offsite backup services.

Robert Hosken
"Dr. Bob the CompuNerd"

The author, Dr. Robert Hosken, has accumulated more than 30 years of professional work in IT. Starting in his teenage years he has started and run a number of businesses and charitable entities. Download his free e-Book "How To Maintain Your Computer" and email him at Robert@CompuNerds.Net or find out the most up-to-date methods to backup your valuable information at offsite backup services - thanks!