Posts in Windows
Turn Your PC into a TV

Do you have a nice monitor with your desktop or perhaps you are a college student on budget and can't afford a television set? The answer is to purchase a TV tuner. Most TV tuners are USB powered  and support both Windows and Mac OSX, so connectivity should not be an issue. While the set-up varies for each individual device and brand, they are all essentially the same! I found it easiest and most efficient using Windows Media Center (MCE) under Windows 7. I own a Pinnacle PCTV HD 800E. I had given up on it about two years ago as the device only worked with the packaged software from Pinnacle and not MCE. It just happened that one day, I was so amazed by Windows 7, that I gave it a shot and it worked like a charm! The TV tuner at that time was about 80$ on sale, nowadays one can find a decent one for 60$. If you are interested in purchasing one, you should first do the following:

  • Look up reviews for your tuner of interest
  • Possible connections (coaxial,RCA, etc)
  • HD capabilities (most are, future-proof)
  • Does your system meet the recommended requirements?

Wordpress and Windows Work as a Team

Word press will now be easier accessed by Windows Users. They linked up everything like Windows Messenger with Word press. Now you will be able to upload posts from your own personal Windows Live Messenger Account.  Windows was about to make a blogging service online, but they just decided to link themselves up with the most know blogging platform in the world. Wordpress powers 8.5% of the world and is seen by over 250 million people a month.

Web, WindowsJuan ZepedaComment
Avoid System Failure with Speedfan

As the name implies it, Speedfan is a program used to control the speed of  some or even all of your computer's fans. Because I run the program on a laptop, there is only one fan in it! What fans are actually controlled depends on the hardware's capabilities. Moving on, Speedfan is more useful for monitoring system temperature and the hard disks' health.

Why is this important? Manufacturers try to save money by minimizing the system's physical size, cramming as much as possible inside lowering airflow.  Of course, you have control over airflow if you custom-built a desktop PC, but for laptops and store bought computers like Dell and HP, the user has no direct say in the arrangement of the PC components.  Over time, dust can build up and heat issues will begin to appear. There is a direct correlation between over heating the system and premature system failure! The cooler the system runs, the higher chance for long-term use. In my perspective, anything above 50C is uncomfortably hot while working on my laptop.

The blue bars at the bottom are an averaged out indicator of the currently selected hard disk from the drop down menu. Determining when a hard drive is near failure is difficult, but from experience, if the fitness drops three or more bars, the chances are high.  System failure is inevitable, but we can definitely avoid being caught by surprise! Comments and questions are always welcomed!

Create A New User in Windows 7

To make a new account in Windows 7, first you have to be logged in as an administrator. This is a simple process that can be done by anyone. First, locate the control panel on your Start Up Menu and click on it. Then hover over the pop up and find the icon with the name User Accounts and click on it. Then find the sub-link that says Create A New Account. Just follow the steps of making a user name and typing in a password. You have finished making your new account.

Difficulty Level: Easy

WindowsJuan ZepedaComment
Showing File Extensions

First of all, file extensions are letters that allow u to know what type of a file it is. It could be either a document, plain text, music, and etc. There are so many out there, that it is really hard to count them all out. The way to show your file extensions on your Windows 7 computer is, first select Organize on a folder, then click on Folder and Search Options. Then click on the View tab on the pop up. Finally, deselect the box with hide extensions for file known types. Picture from: www.webdevelopersnotes.com

Difficulty Level: Easy

Upgrade Your System with CPU-Z

The only time some us ever look at our computer specs is at the time of purchase. Well what about if it occurred that it is time to upgrade? I would like to introduce this resource friendly program called CPU-Z.

The common upgrades in increasing difficulty order include:

  • RAM
  • Video Card
  • Operating System
  • CPU
  • Overclocking

The program's strength resides in providing all the crucial information required to perform the desired upgrade. For example, it is not uncommon for a computer user to purchase the correct RAM only to realize there are power differences!

It's impossible to cover all the upgrade topics for the sake of keeping the post sweet and simple, but I encourage you to check the program out and make informed purchase decisions when you feel it's time to upgrade! If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Print More for Less

Being the "tech guy" within my circle of friends, I often find myself fixing common printer problems! Usually a simple power cycle does the trick, but what alarms me instead is how often people don't look at their printer settings. Usually, under Windows and maybe Mac/Linux OSes, printers by default are set to print at normal quality. There are actually more options to print using less ink! The actual way to do this slightly varies for each OS aforementioned, but to keep it simple, I will cover it for Windows 7.

  • Go to Control Panel
  • Search for print
  • Under Hardware and Sound click on Devices and Printers
  • Find your printer and right-click to printer preferences
  • Change to desired settings
  • Start saving money!

You might be hesitant to lower the quality but the difference is minimal (my college professors can't tell, don't know or actually care about the environment). As a side bonus, using less ink, allows for faster printing (I like being on time to class)! Skipping the complicated math calculation, I do find getting a longer-lasting printer cartridge and saving money (for food) in the long run! Try it for yourself, feel free to post questions and see if you like it!

Switch that Windows Interface

Do you ever find your Windows UI (user interface) inefficient or has gotten boring over time? Most Linux distributions and the latest Mac OS X can provide you a more refreshing interface. Find a Linux OS too difficult to use? Or maybe a Mac OSX equipped computer is outside your budget? I would like to introduce Switcher by Bao Nguyen. Switcher makes window switching seamless, switch windows using search, and supports multiple monitors!

The program is easy to customize to your enjoyment. It supports both keyboard presses, mouse gestures and screen edge activation. I tinkered with it and got the most satisfaction by minimizing window labels and activating the program by pointing my mouse at the top of the screen.

The program is free (for now)  but does require Windows 7/Vista with Aero enabled. Definitely check it out if you are looking for a change in your interface.

Find a solution to your PC problem with Microsoft Fix It

Did you know about Microsoft Fix it? According to Microsoft, Fix It is a way to ...

....automate solutions to common software problems in an easy, intuitive way that is available when and where you need it. So whether you are looking for a solution in help or support content, or an error report, Fix it provides a way to apply automated fixes, workarounds, or configuration changes so you don’t have to perform a long list of manual steps yourself.

... or in simple words it is a website where you can download solutions to your problem. Yes, I said download. If you are having trouble with your CD/DVD drive not reading CDs/DVDs then you can download software that fixes your problem. You just find that article where it says you're having trouble and click the fit it button.

Give it a try. Here is the main website to Microsoft Fix it. You will be surprised how many problems Microsoft can fix.

What is iTunes Ping?

Ping is a built-in feature that Apple has included in their brand new iTunes 10. Ping lets you follow your favorite artist and friends. It shows you what they are talking about, what they are listing to, and downloading. So go ahead and download the new iTunes 10 so you can ping to your favorite artists and friends.

Difficulty Level: Easy

Apple, Mac, WindowsJuan ZepedaComment
Share your wifi on Windows 7

I believe I hit a jackpot in saving you maybe around $100 and maybe just spending $25. If you have windows 7 and a laptop or a desktop with a wireless network adapter that receive a wired connection you certainly benefit.  Instead of having a router, just use your computer to create a wireless signal.  To start, you must download connectify at connectify.me.  From here use the software and create your hot spot by naming it, putting a password, and sharing that wired internet. It is that easy, plus it is free! Here is a video from connectify.me with more instructions: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPgrAOuiWuk]

Have fun!

Ever Wanted What Ease of Access Is?

In the first place, Ease of Access is a file that contains certain programs that can help people with disabilities. These are programs already installed into your computer. Some of the  included programs are On-Screen Keyboard, Magnifier,and Narrator. These programs are made to help you do things with an ease. The Magnifier makes a screen separate from the main screen that is zoomed in with the amount of percentage of zoom that you would like to have. These programs can be found in your Start-Up Menu, then going to All Programs, then Accessories, then Ease of Access. Want to take an advantage of them, go ahead and give it a try. Ease of Access can be found in Windows Vista and Windows 7. In Windows Xp, it also has it but it's named differently.

Difficulty Level: Easy

WindowsJuan ZepedaComment
Save Time Accessing Certain Files!!

Are you tired of going into folders just to find something? Well the solution is here. You can customize it by going into the taskbar and start menu properties by going to the search feature on the start-up menu and searching Taskbar and Start Menu. This application can manage how the folders are shown on your menu and what kind of style you want it. You can set your start menu to have folders that you usually use so they can be easily accessible. To do this open up the taskbar and start menu properties. Next go to the Start Menu tab, and click customize. There you can customize the start menu, for example: make certain files as a menu and not as a link, as is set by default.

Difficulty Level: Easy

WindowsJuan ZepedaComment
Tether your cell to your computer

For a while now I have been tethering my Android phone to my computer using PDANet. I have heard other people talk about tethering using PDANet too. PDANet is software that lets you use your cell phone's  internet and use it on your computer. It works on many platforms. Some are Android, iphone, BlackBerry, Windows mobile, and many more. This usually works most of the time. It really depends on your carrier and phone. If you need help connecting your Android phone let me know. Good Luck!

Optimize Your Computer the Easy Way

Do you want to spend the least on optimizing your computer? Well here's a fast and cheap way to do it. This process  is not a time-consuming thing. First, find your way to the control panel by clicking on the start menu and selecting the control panel. Then hover the mouse over the page until you find the icon that says programs and features (windows 7 /Vista) or add or remove programs (windows XP) and then click on it. Then scroll through your list and select the unnecessary programs and then click uninstall. Recommended: Run the PC's defragmenter utility to organize loose files.

Difficulty Level: Easy

WindowsJuan ZepedaComment
Picasa a free photo editing and organizing software

Google has many great services but did you know about Picasa. Picasa lets you organize your pictures, like itunes for music. Also, you can edit pictures like crop, adjust tint, color, and many other tricks. My favorite feature is how it has face tagging. Picasa scan all your pictures and makes an album based on a face. I have my pics all organized. Oh, I almost forgot if you do not have your pictures backed up this is a great opportunity because Google can sync all your pictures to the Picasa web.

Do You Need An Account Lockout in Windows 7?

Well, in the first place, this is an option that can be enabled by the computer owner. It allows the computer to lock it self down if to many times a password has been punctured incorrectly on the log in window. This is a useful thing because it gives hackers a more troublesome time into getting access to your things. This can be enabled by following these steps. Click on Start, then click All Programs, then click Administrative Tools, then click Local Security Policy  After that, a window will pop up. In the left pane of the window, click the tab that says Account Policies. Then click onto the sub tab called Account Lockout Policy. This is the place where you can change how many times a user can try to log in into his/her account.

WindowsJuan ZepedaComment
Duck... duck... DuckCapture!

This tip has nothing to do with playing those duck duck goose games. Sorry about that. It has a cool name though. DuckCaputure is a piece of software that captures your screen. It can be a portion, full screen, or a full-page with scrolling. Yes, it can capture a website multiple pages long.  It auto-scrolls for you! You may not need it right away but in the future you may.

Stop Windows update from restarting your machine

You're in the middle of  a very important paper or just doing something very important. Then, suddenly, you see a box in the lower right hand corner of the screen. It's Windows Update  restarting in 10.. 9.. 8. 7 sec. I find it very annoying when it just wants to restart after Windows has installed updates. Do not get me wrong. Updates ate VERY important. You must do them but Windows does not need to restart automatically.  Today's tip is how to prevent Windows from restarting.

Here are the steps:

  1. Start > Run
  2. Type in: gpedit.msc
  3. Expand Local Computer Policy / Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Windows Update
  4. Double-click 'No auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Updates installations'
  5. Select "Enabled". Then OK. Close the Group Policy configuration program.
  6. Your done. Just Restart one time and set to go!