I receive many questions about the mysterious Disk Defragmenter utility. People want to know why it’s necessary, and how it works. It is common knowledge that running the disk defragmenter will make the computer faster. But aside from that fact, defragmentation seems like a foreign word to the non-geek. Today we will dig deeper into the process of hard disk defragmentation, and hopefully answer some common questions about this alien concept. Read the rest of this entry »

What Does RSS Stand For?
RSS is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication

What Is RSS Used For?
RSS is used to “feed” or “channel” out information from a publisher (A Website) to a subscriber (A regular visitor to that website). Frequently updated websites such as blogs, news headlines, weather forecasting, etc. typically utilize RSS to broadcast their content to any subscriber that is listening. Confused? Read the next paragraph

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10. Technology Is Changing So Rapidly
Very true. Computers and the internet are constantly evolving every hour. So how do we find the courage to jump on board now after we’ve missed so much? Well, the trick is taking baby steps. Start within your comfort zone, and slowly learn new things. Regardless of your starting skill level, you can always build upon your knowledge. Read the rest of this entry »

By the time a power surge reaches your house, its already too late. Lightning strikes can be devastating and unforgiving when it comes to electronic devices. Power surges, voltage drops, intermittent service - these scenarios can wreak havok on computers. Did you know that even the slightest bit of static electricity can damage a computer’s motherboard? For this reason, computer technicians have to be very careful when handling computer parts; even the static electricity on your clothes can damage a circuit board! A computer’s case is designed to protect the “meat and potatoes” from getting damaged by static electricity, and physical trauma. However, it is no match for a voltage surge that comes right in through the power cord! Read the rest of this entry »

As the World Wide Web evolves, it seems like free services available online are never ending. Particularly handy is the use of online dictionaries, which are available freely on the web. Don’t know how to spell a word? Not too sure what a word means, and curious about its definition? Save yourself the hassle of flipping through the pages of your dictionary book; just jump on your computer instead! Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a question that I hear ALL the time. Some people turn their computers off in between every use. Others leave them going 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So whats the scoop? Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s an unfortunate trend in the world of computers: As hardware gets faster, software gets slower. This relationship is not proportionally equal either. As fast as new desktop hardware is today, it cannot compensate for the slow, ill-designed software systems that will run the show. Bloated Software aka Bloatware is more prominent today than ever before. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve all been there before. The computer freezes for one reason or another, and its very frustrating. Why the computer freezes is another topic all on its own; it can happen for a variety of reasons. Nontheless, here is a quick strategy that you can use to avoid the dreaded “hard reboot” (physically switching the computer off, and back on again). Instead of pulling the plug, first try the Windows Task Manager. Read the rest of this entry »