The article describes the procedure of removing wmpscfgs.exe virus, a dangerous Trojan agent. The methods described here are simple and correct to the date. It is, however, recommended that users follow and implement these accurately. It will essentially save them from facing problems and eventually looking for online virus removal support options. Wmpscfgs.exe virus is a nasty and hard-to-remove Trojan virus. It can hijack all the processes or applications currently running in your system. Common symptoms of this virus include warning in the Internet Explorer that it is not your default browser, oddly behaving Windows UAC, or Microsoft Security Essentials showing your startup programs as a virus. Don't worry as we are here to help you. The guide mentioned below will help you step-by-step to completely eliminate this beast from your system and make it healthy again.

Instructions: Reboot your computer in Safe Mode. To do so, restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on the keyboard before the Windows logo appears. Continue pressing the key until the Windows shows you the Advanced Boot options. Launch Windows Explorer from the Start menu and then navigate to All Programs> Accessories> and then Windows Explorer. Click on the Tools tab and then select Folder Options. When the Folder Options window opens up, click on the View tab, scroll down and then select the Show hidden files and folders option. Also make sure that the option Hide Extensions for known file types is not checked. Click on the Apply button and then OK to exit the current window. Ads by Google Open Task Manager by right clicking anywhere on the taskbar. Highlight the Processes tab, click to select the box Show processes from all users, select the wmpscfgs.exe process, and then click on the End Process button to stop it from running. For Windows Vista users, go to the directories C:\> Program Files> Internet Explorer as well as C:\> Users> AppData> Local> Temp. Look into both the locations for wmpscfgs.exe and remove the file or folder from there. Click on the Start menu and navigate to Run. When the Run window appears, type ‘regedit' (without quotes and as is) in the box and click on the OK button. If prompted for an admin password, key it in to proceed to the Windows Registry Editor. Before you begin and if you are not sure, take help of a techie friend or an expert to modify the Windows Registry. A wrongly modified registry can leave your computer partially or fully non-operational. You can also take backup of your registry before starting the modifications. Click on the ‘+' sign (to expand it) next to HKEY LOCAL MACHINE and navigate to Software> Microsoft> Windows> CurrentVersion> and Run. Search for the ‘%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\wmpscfgs.exe' entry and delete it. Keep searching for this entry and deleting it until you stop seeing it in search results. Use the Find dialog box to search the entry. Press Ctrl + F keys together on the keyboard to bring up the box. Copy and paste this entry in the box and then click on the Find Next button. It will make searching easier for you. Look for these processes and/or files also and remove them viz. vmwareuser .exe; C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\js.mui; C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\wmpscfgs.exe; C:\Program Files\vmware\vmware tools\vmwareuser.exe; C:\Windows\Tasks\At1.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At2.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At3.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At4.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At5.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At6.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At7.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At8.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At9.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At10.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At11.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At12.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At13.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At14.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At15.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At16.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At17.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At18.job; C:\Windows\Tasks\At19.job; %Temp%\wmpscfgs.exe. Search everywhere in the computer and Registry Editor too for these entries, files etc. and remove them. If you find any of these processes running in Task Manager, then kill the process (see above for the procedure). Double check every process, file, or entry in the Registry Editor so that all the traces of this virus can be removed. This is to ensure that the virus has been removed fully and doesn't come back. This nasty virus has the ability to come back and take over your system after reboot even if a single trace is there. Update your antivirus/anti-spyware program and run a full scan on your system. It will double ensure that there is no virus left in your computer. It is must to update your security software with latest updates on a regularly basis. Download and run a registry cleaner, an automatic tool, from a trusted website. Save the file to desktop and then run. It will clean up all the unnecessary or empty registry keys from the system. Make a backup or create a restore point before running the cleaner. When done, reboot your computer in normal mode. Update your antivirus to download any latest updates if available any.

It is very important to defrag the hard drive on your PC sporadically in order to improve its performance and extend its life. All the latest Windows operating systems come with built-in defrag utilities. The tool is good but can not render satisfactory performance. They fail to defrag all files and can not optimize the placement of files on the hard drive. Due to this reason, computer users feel the importance of third-party disk defraggers. In this article we have talked about some of the best defraggers. Computer support providers also help the PC users to deal with hard drive related issues efficiently.

Why you need disk defraggers? As you work on your PC, file fragmentation occurs. This is inevitable because if any file is read, changed, and re-written, it gets saved in various parts of the hard drive. And later, when you open this file, performance suffers as computer looks for the fragmented parts in all parts of the hard drive.

By defragmenting the hard drive, you can put all of the parts of a fragmented file back together in the same place. And this ultimately enhances the system's performance. It is always recommended to run defrag utilities in Windows Safe mode as if the file is in use it can not be defragmented. It has also been noticed that even in Safe mode, Windows defrag utilities fail to defrag some files. And here comes the third-party defraggers into the picture.

There is no dearth of such software programs. Let's take a look at some of the best in business. If you're in a hurry and want to accomplish defragmentation process quickly, go for Defraggler. A complete defragmentation of the hard disk could take more than an hour. But Defraggler allows the users to select file(s) that you want to defragment.

You can also consider PageDefrag to defrag some important files. This is a free specialty defragger that defragments the pagefile.sys, hyberfile.sys, and the Windows registry files. The application could be set to run every time Windows is rebooted. Another popular name is IObit's SmartDefrag. This is also a placement optimizer and a complete system tune-up and optimization suite. SmartDefrag can run in background and keep your files defragmented.

When it comes to perform file defragmentation and placement comprehensively, you may consider UltimateDefrag. The placement of the file is very important because the rotational speed of the disk is more near the outer edge of the disk platter as compared to near the center. Due to this reason, large and frequently accessed files need to be placed near the outer edge of the disk. And UltimateDefrag does exactly the same. It places every file according to its requirements. This program is free to use for 30 days.

Norton SpeedDisk is another impressive suite of Norton Utilities. This is a paid program and it does the job exceedingly well. The program defrags hard disks, optimizes registry entries, and other things to boost up disk's performance.

For one who is not a computer wizard, it may be noteworthy to mention that drivers are very important components of a computer. A driver is likened to an interpreter between the programs and the device used by a program itself. Only a driver can translate the special commands for every device and accepts commands from a certain program for a specific device. Without the driver, the program does not run.

In other words, device drivers simplify the operating systems or OS particularly for higher level hardware applications like the BIOS which is also referred to as system firmware. The bios contains the codes that control the computer keyboard, display screen, serial communications, disk drives and various miscellaneous functions such as execute or delete.

It is of utmost importance to understand some other rudimentary facts about computer bios. Basically, the PC bios must start up first upon turning the computer on checking hardware with its Power On Self Test or POST. With everything in the system running properly, the BIOS directs the OS into the random access memory or RAM of your computer. The system firmware stores system data like the time, date, and system configuration inside the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor or CMOS.

Most often, the PC firmware system is updated only when it is showing system errors or malfunctioning. However, in the event your bios is experiencing trouble make sure you know how to update drivers specifically for the bios. Take note that incorrect bios updating may cause the locking of the system, hence you cannot boot anymore. Obviously, that becomes a real big issue!

Henceforth, taking proper care of your PC bios is of great importance but not necessarily updating it too often. It is not advisable to abuse updating bios driver for that can lead to the untimely demise of your computer. You only update drivers for computer BIOS when it is apparently required. If you want to avoid any form of damage to the overall computer system, you must have the software that is capable of performing perfectly the needed task.

You may not be a computer literate or a highly technical person but with the assurance of a virtual assistant that can update drivers while you sleep is already a great consolation. It is likewise assured that your computer is always at its optimum performance if drivers are functioning properly. It is of common knowledge that computers in these days have already become a very important tool due to its various uses.

With the right type of software, which is a virtual expert on this area, you can eliminate unwanted worry regarding outdated drivers. Leave the hassle to the expert software that saves you from the risky trial and error troubleshooting. You can check on some helpful assistance from the driver robot, or the driver checker or the driver finder to update drivers for computer bios in particular.

Since all of us use computer monitors on a daily basis it would be advisable to learn and know something about them. In fact, many people do not know anything about them. Most of them do not know what kind of monitors we have. I'll do my best to explain you in short what types we do have and how to select proper monitor.

First of all, we may separate computer monitors into two main categories, those are flat screen and flat panel monitors. Flat screen displays are CTR monitors while flat panels are LCDs and LEDs. Since CRT monitors are not produced anymore, we will not bother spending time learning about them but we should know that they are called CRT as they use cathode ray tube for image reproduction.

LED and LCD monitors are pretty much the same since both of these types use very same technology for image reproduction. Only difference between them is in the backlight that is used. LCDs use cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL) for illuminating liquid crystals while LEDs use white diodes that may be placed on the one edge of the monitor rim or all around monitor rim. We call those Edge LEDs. Also, white diodes may be placed all around panel matrix and we call those monitors Full Array or Direct LED monitors.

LCD computer monitors have many advantages over CRTs and because of their advantages they managed to suppress CRTs from the market. Their usage and implementing started during 1990s but since technology was expensive during that time they were not produced in huge numbers, they are mainly used for producing laptops. During 2000s all mayor manufacturers start producing LCD monitors in bigger amounts and from then until today we may find them on the market.

Main advantage of LCDs over CRTs is size since they are lightweight and more compact. Also, they use much less power energy making them more efficient. There is no image flickering and no voltage hazard during repairing.

Few years ago manufacturers started to produce LED monitors and during that time they were also pretty much expensive. Since most common type, Edge LEDs, have not had significant advantage over LCDs they have not suppressed them from the market. Nowadays, since they are in same price range we may see that people slowly start to change their LCD for LED monitors since they use less power and may produce more vivid colors, better brightness and deeper black levels. In fact, LEDs use about 20-30% less power compared to LCD monitors.

To be honest, LEDs are capable of producing better and sharper image than LCDs but that is different from model to model and from manufacturer to manufacturer. We may see many LCD displays on the market that may produce magnificent colors and black levels with high response time of just 5ms but that bears the price of almost $1000. Because of that, it is best to spend more time when choosing between LCD and LED computer monitor and closely compare one model to another.

USB Flash Drives are one of the most popular electronic products in the world behind mobile phones and as with mobile phones; the price can vary greatly depending on the quality of the USB and also the memory size. The Flash memory chip inside a USB flash drive governs its price and this pricing can fluctuate greatly over time for a number of reasons.

Flash memory is a commodity and the price is governed by the old economic rule of Supply and Demand. Pricing on the whole as with most electronic products is on a steady decline, but every so often there are sudden events that can push pricing up over night. A recent example of this was the devastating earthquake over in Japan, where Toshiba who produce around a third of the world's flash memory were badly affected. Toshiba's factory wasn't actually directly damaged by the Earthquake, but a number of the factories that produce the raw materials such as the silicone wafers (used inside a flash chip) had to stop production causing Toshiba to lower their output which lead to a drop in supply and an increase in price. Over the weekend of the disaster pricing went up by around 30%. This was mainly caused by panic and uncertainty over the supply of Flash memory and it took a couple of months for pricing to return to the levels they were at before the disaster.

There is also one company big enough to have a huge effect on the USB flash price and that is Apple. The iPad, iPod and iPhone all utilise flash memory and every so often Apple places huge bulk orders which can buy up months of stock from the top manufacturers leaving everybody else fighting for the scraps. In 2009 Apple bought up 4 months production of Samsung's flash memory and the fact that Samsung produce around 40% of the worlds flash memory caused another huge price hike. This didn't begin to correct itself until the order was completed.

Pricing on the whole is on a steady decline. The pricing on the lower memory drives seems to have bottomed out now as fewer and fewer manufactures are producing them due to low demand. There is little to no value purchasing anything below a 1GB drive as the current price difference between a 32MB and a 1GB drive (32 x the size) is only now around $1. As technology keeps on improving we should see pricing on the higher memory capacity drives continue to come down until it reaches the same stage as the 1GB seems to have done. There is little to no room for a 1GB to get any cheaper, any further drop in price would lead to the manufacturer losing money and there is no future in that.

If you are a consumer buying the odd USB Flash Drive for personal use, you may not notice these price fluctuations and they will have little effect on you, but if you are buying in bulk for promotional or educational use, it will be worth your while to sign up for regular USB price updates so that you can ensure that you are not buying when pricing is at a peak.

James Thomas is the US Sales Manager for USB-Flashdrive.com. If you are looking for custom USB Flash Drives in bulk then visit us on our website.

Everybody knows that if the device drivers are not updated regularly, they may result in some serious consequences, such as freeze, blue screen, computer not responding and even crash. Facing such painful problems, would you like to find an easy and safe way to update your device drivers? Choosing a driver update program is the easiest and fastest way to keep your drivers up to date.

A good update program can fix bugs and repair the outdated and corrupted device drivers. What the key elements that a top update tool should have? What features should you pay close attention to before you select one? I will give you a guide for your reference in this article.

First of all, the best updater should have a massive database. The larger of the size of database, the more hardware devices can be supported to update. At least, the database should contain more than 100,000 unique device drivers from various manufacturers all over the world. Some update software only support some common devices, such as CPU, sound card, display card, mouse, motherboard, etc. An excellent driver updater can not only support the devices like these, but also support some special devices like game controller, wireless mouse and wireless router.

Secondly, the most important feature is that a top update tool should provide perfect scanning. The purpose of the scanning is to detect any outdated, corrupted and unknown drivers on your computer. A good driver update program should detect all the outdated and corrupted devices drivers on your computer. And you can automatically download and install the latest ones to update your window system.

Thirdly, you should notice that whether the update tool offers customer support or not. Top update software should provide professional technical support in case you have difficulty in handling problems with your computer. Before you choose one, you have to take notice of this feature.

At last, you should be aware that the easy-to-use interface is also an important feature for a good update tool. And it is difficult for people to use some programs that require a lot of computer knowledge. For average computer users, the best driver update software should be easy to use and be able to complete the whole processes of driver update with just several clicks.

The 4 key elements I have mentioned are the criteria for you to select the best driver updater. To avoid and repair the troubles that the outdated and corrupted drivers bring about, you should select the best driver update software to keep your computer drivers up to date.

In most of the forums related to PCs and hardware, you will see that a lot of people ask recommendations for good power supply units (PSUs or SMPS). But many of them end up buying substandard and cheap ones just because they can save some money. Even bad is that many of the folks with no hardware knowledge at these forums even recommend useless PSUs. But everyone has to know the simple fact that a PC is powered by a PSU and it decides the ultimate fate of it in the long run.

A power supply unit is an important component of any PC. When you decide on the hardware configuration, you should be in a position to know which one to buy and how many wattage it should carry. But the maximum watts rating printed on the sticker on any PSU can be deceiving and you have to do further research before purchasing it. For example, a 500W PSU can in fact be a 350W part and installing high end components including a power hungry graphic card can lead to burnt hardware. If you are somewhat tuned to the hardware scene, you will already know that manufacturers do not honor warranty for burnt components. Thus purchasing the wrong PSU can lead you into trouble.

So how do you know which PSU is suitable for your configuration? Firstly, you can try some of the online calculators to get a rough idea. But they are just estimates and the real-world power consumption can be different depending on what you are going to do.

Do go cheap

Those cheapo, Chinese made PSUs are simply not recommended for any type of systems. If you are building a PC, never get the no-name PSUs just because you can get it for a bargain deal. They are always overrated and simply don't have any protection against over current, over voltage etc. They are very power inefficient that they waste power unnecessarily. If you look carefully on the sticker, you can clearly see that they over exaggerate the maximum power output. As a thumb rule, you can be sure that they cannot even provide 60% of what they are rated for. For instance, a cheap PSU rated at 500W will simply blow up if you try to pull 350W from it. Just avoid them. You get what you pay for.

Don't be obsessed with official ratings

Most of the manufacturers overrate the maximum wattage. The fact is it's not only the maximum wattage that matters but also the electrical noise (ripple) a PSU produces. Check for online reviews and make your purchasing decisions.

More is not always better

You need not get a power supply that far exceeds the calculated power consumption. That is, if the power supply calculator reports your configuration would consume 350W, you need not get a PSU that can provide 750W. While it won't hurt, you end up wasting money. Secondly, most of the PSUs perform best at 50% to 70% load. Thus getting a good 450 or 500W PSU will make more sense. In this scenario, a 750W PSU won't be as efficient as a 450W PSU.

Always get PSUs from well known brands like Seasonic, Corsair, OCZ, Antec etc. Look for reviews on specific models as different OEMs make different models for a same company. Look for reviews and the OEM. The UL number that is printed on the PSU will be useful in finding the OEM. If a PSU model from company X is excellent, it doesn't necessarily translate to all other models from the same company.

Look for these in a PSU: Efficiency, Active PFC, OCP, OVP, OLP and ripple and you will be good.

When your computer over heats it's dangerous because it can burn out and you'd have to purchase a new one which aren't always cheap. There are a few ways to make sure this doesn't happen and prolong the life of your CPU (Central Processing Unit) and any other internal devices in your computer.

One of the main reasons computers over heat is the lack of air flow, if you're using a laptop and have it on your legs or on arm of the sofa, there is a high chance that the fans of the laptop are on the bottom and aren't getting any fresh air into the laptop because you're covering the vents up. To insure this doesn't happen, place the laptop on to a flat surface or onto a laptop base that has a grill like surface that allows air into the fan to cool the laptop down.

If you have a computer and you notice the temperature of the CPU or motherboard increasing, this maybe because the room it's in is getting warmer and warm air getting sucked in by the fan and not being able to cool down the components efficiently. Adding more fans would increase the air flow moving more hot air out then is coming into the computer there for reducing the temperature.

When checking the temperatures if you notice that the CPU is a lot higher than 40°c-60°c there maybe an issue with the heat sink, this could be incorrect placement of the heat sink or over time the heat sink could have become loose and lose contact with the CPU. In these cases the best solution is to remove the heat sink and clean the CPU and place some new thermal compound on top of the CPU and turn the heat sink around 180 degrees and place back on top of the CPU making sure the thermal compound is spread evenly over the top of the CPU.

Once the heat sink is back in place and securely attached turn on the computer and check the temperature of the CPU to ensure the issue has been fix, if it's not then check to see if the fan on top of the heat sink is correctly working and spinning at the right speed. A new heat sink should only need to be purchased if there is any damage to original, these can be fitted the same way as before.

If the issue still persist then check to see if the temperature gauge is faulty, but in most cases it won't be, check to see if there are any cables you've not noticed that could be blocking the air flow to the heat sink and fan or obstructing the fan and stopping it from spinning.

To help the temperature of a computer you should make sure when fitting internal components that you take into account fair flow, so when fitting hard drives, DVD drives make sure that there are spaces between each one if possible, to make sure that air can flow between them and stop them from over heading. If your drives are getting hot they will increase the ambient air temperature and make it harder to cool down the computer.

Looking at the air flow of a computer is almost as important as building the computer if you don't allow for easy air flow inside the computer the likelihood of it over heating and crashing out is high. You may need to install extra fans to make sure enough cool air is getting into the computer, but also not forgetting to install some extraction fans to that will suck out any hot air from the case.

Normally with most cases there will be a space in the computer case for a fan to be placed on the back which is normally the best place to install an extraction fan and then installing an induction fan to the front of the computer case to blow cool air in, this will force cool air into the bottom of the case then force the hot air out the back of the case in a continual cycle which keeps the computer running at the ideal temperature.

In your case may one or all following Solutions applies:

(1) Unblock any visible air flow blockage

Check if any obstacles to laptop/PC air flows, make sure there's nothing sitting right against any side of the computer (where laptop or PC airflows), and for PC especially the back where you see power cable goes in. Most of the hot air flows out of the back end of the computer case. There should be minimum 3 inches open on either side and in-case of PC the back should be completely open and unobstructed. Weather your computer is under the desk, inside a desk, using on your lap or bed, idea is keep clear computer vents so cool air can flow.

(2) Clean all fans and heat sink on CPU

For PC: Shut your computer off, take it outside (to prevent dirt all over the room), open up the case, and use canned air to remove the dirt from each fan and heat sink.

For Laptop: Use Vacuum cleaner to suck dirt from laptop vents at back, side and underneath of the laptop. Some laptops are pretty straightforward just taking off cover underneath the laptop but most of them you have to take all laptop into bits to access CPU fan. Opening laptop to access CPU fan is bit risky in case you can't put it back. If you are not fully confident then please seek expert help.
(3) Find out any cooling fan in laptop/PC not working and replace.

For PC: Put hand back of the PC near power cable plugged in and feel air blowing out and same for casing fan (if casing has one). If these fans you find working then shut your computer off, open up the case (get torch handy in-case not enough light) and press the power button. Now look into case see fan on CPU working. If any of fans found not working then that will be possible cause and solution will be to replace.

For Laptop: Fan in laptop not supposed to run all the time, it only kicked in or turn off when CPU temperature reaches the certain limits. While computer running check if you can feel air blowing from heat sink vent, if not then wait for the time when laptop get hot. Fan should kicked in before it shut itself off, If not then it is clear something wrong with fan and seek expert help to look further and provide you best solution.
Note: If power supply fan fails then best will be to replace whole power supply. Never try to open power supply yourself unless you now all about electronics and capacitors. This action with no or little knowledge can harm you.

(4) Laptop or PC Cooler

If all above not in your case and you are working in hot environment (extra ordinary room heating) then best will to buy Laptop or PC cooling system. Most cooling systems powered by USB port.

We can help you fix any laptop or PC issues. Contact us about Laptop PC Repairs Oxford today.

Although all laptops share the benefit of portability, they are not all the same. When considering a business laptop, it is important to take a number of important factors into consideration to ensure you get the right laptop that meets your business needs. To assess the best laptop for you, you need to understand all aspects of your business and what your computers are used for. Below is a list of factors to consider when choosing a business laptop that is right for your needs:

Performance: The performance of a laptop is a key consideration. Depending on what you need your laptop to do, you have to consider storage capabilities, memory, and speed. You need to make the specifications of your laptop can meet your performance needs.

Battery Life: Today, more business professionals spend less time in the office and more time on-the-go. For this reason, you should consider batter life. In other words, the length of time that the laptop battery lasts. Different laptop manufacturers offer different battery life with their laptops. Some have a longer life than others. You should decide how much time the laptop will rely on battery life so you get the battery that meets your needs. In general, it often depends on the number of programs you are running as well length of time you will be using the computer without using a power outlet.

Screen Size and Laptop Weight: The screen size is an important factor to consider when buying a laptop. Laptop screen sizes range from 11 inches up to 20 inches. If you plan on using the laptop for presentations or viewing rich media such as movies or Flash files, you will likely need a large screen. A 14" and 15" screen size is commonly chosen. When it comes to weight of a laptop, business professional tend to prefer lightweight laptops. A 2.2-lb laptop is an ideal weight for a business laptop.

Graphics: in terms of graphics, there are certain makes and models that perform better perform. If you will be utilizing a lot of graphics, you will likely require a high end video output on your laptop. In addition, if you are heavily into not just graphics but also image processing or photography and videography, then you will need to have a heavy-running and faster processor. For applications such as video and graphics editing you'll get more value for your money if you select a laptop with a higher RAM. If you are unsure, you should consult with an expert on the subject.

It is normally up to management to decide what their employees need in a laptop computer. Business professionals tend to need a laptop that allows for adaptability, allows them to run a lot of business programs and applications, gives them the ability to provide quality business presentations, engage in high-tech cheap video conferences, and store and manage all of their files efficiently. Knowing what your business needs is an essential factor when buying the laptop that is right for your business needs.

When looking for the best laptops for sale online check out the latest technologies and compare specs to get the right netbook that meets both your personal and business needs.

Examples of hardware devices collectively known as USB devices are mice, keyboards, printers, and USB storage devices. These devices communicate with a computer through the USB ports, and offer convenience to PC users, but there are cases when device related troubles such as unknown USB device problems occur.

Having unknown USB device problems will result in an inability to access the features and functions of a specific device. These problems may be due to defective or loose USB connectors. Issues with device drivers such as missing, corrupted, or outdated drivers are very likely to happen too. Below are the most common options for fixing and preventing these USB device problems.

Check USB Connectors and Cables

Sometimes, an unknown USB device is a result of a loose connection in the USB port, and to fix this you may try to reconnect your device. Ensure to reconnect its cable tightly and properly into the USB port and after that check if it can already be detected by your computer.

If the USB port connection is not loose, examine the USB cable carefully for any damage or defects. You can also test the USB cable by using it to connect another peripheral to your computer to ensure that it is working properly.

Install the Required Drivers

Windows OS automatically installs drivers for a number of devices, such as mouse, keyboard, and USB hub, upon connecting them to a computer. Other USB devices such as printers, scanners, and mobile phones may require specific device drivers to initiate connection with a computer. Without installing the specific drivers, these devices will be listed as unknown devices in the Device Manager.

To solve unknown USB problems due to missing drivers, you must install the required drivers by using the installation CD. If the installation CD is not available, you can visit the official website of the manufacturer of your device to search and download its drivers.

Re-install the Drivers

An error message stating "USB Device not Recognized" indicates that the USB device plugged into your computer is not recognized. Mostly, this error occurs when your computer is unable to detect the required device driver or the driver has been damaged or corrupted. You can simply reboot your PC and let it re-detect the required device driver for your USB device. If that doesn't work, you can also try the following steps:

Go to your Device Manager
Right-click the Unknown USB Device
Click Properties
Click Driver tab
Click Uninstall
Click OK
Reboot your PC
Check if it already detects the Device
If the above option doesn't fix the problem, try to use the installation CD and re-install the device driver for the USB device manually (same procedure as when you first installed the device).

Use a Reliable Update Tool

You can also use a reliable driver update tool which offers an instant fix for device driver related issues. This option will not only automate the process of downloading the latest drivers for you, but it will also guide you through the installation process as well. This option will save your time and energy from searching for device drivers or updates online, and it will protect you from the dangers of installing wrong and incompatible device drivers.

As a recap, in case a USB device suddenly stops functioning, you must ensure that the USB connector has been plugged tightly and properly into the USB port, and its USB cable is not defective. If the problem is due to missing drivers, you must install the required drivers for the hardware. If the issue is due to a damaged or corrupted device driver, you can update the device driver through the Device Manager or download an updated version online. Lastly, you can also use a reliable driver update tool which offers an instant fix for unknown USB device problems resulting from device driver issues.

Business Information Technology (IT) systems require specific care to remain reliable throughout its use. The volume of data storage demands on hardware continues to grow at a rapid speed. Maintenance is imperative for securing all sensitive business data and hardware performance.

Dust, electrical fields, and extreme temperatures are dangerous to a hardware device, as they interfere with the performance of any hardware utilized for business processes. Heat, extreme cold, and humidity cause components to overheat or acquire moisture. Electrical fields from items such as magnets should be kept away from all devices. Damaged cables prevent hardware from communicating with other devices. Dust gets into the storage mechanism as well as other components, directly affecting the cooling fans ability to keep internal parts at the appropriate temperature.

All of the mentioned elements can be devastating to business systems running important daily processes. Basic IT hardware maintenance entails removing dust from all devices, keeping them in a temperature controlled room, checking connections, and ensuring no items with magnetic fields are near the equipment.

IBM Storage: Equipment Preservation Practice

Caring for IBM storage devices is not difficult if the time is taken to learn appropriate maintenance procedures. Cleaning is required to keep a storage device properly maintained, and basic cleaning of all system parts should always be a priority. Defragmentation applications consolidate data files in one space to improve speed and reliability of data. Windows operating systems provide this tool; however, others are also available to suit varying needs. Disk scanning may also be performed to fix any problems residing on the storage medium.

Every business needs to have a firewall installed to ensure all data is secure and not penetrable from outside sources. Virus applications prevent malicious programs from gaining access to sensitive business data. These applications are tools any business can use to increase the dependability of their most pertinent storage hardware. Many equipment providers also offer their own maintenance contract, leaving all critical servicing to the experts.

IBM storage comes in many forms, including traditional disk, NAS, SAN, and tape storage. Data may be stored on disk, either in a magnetic or optical fashion. This is typically in the form of an external or internal hard drive. It is the most traditional method for saving data from various sources throughout a company.

Network Attached Storage, or NAS, allows data access over a network and operates much like a file server. A Storage Area Network or SAN operates as a dedicated access point for information consolidation. SAN setups make it easier for servers to access devices, such as disk arrays and tape libraries. A business may choose tapes for backups or other data storage processes, as tape drives perform all writing and reading functionality to the storing mechanism, and are a less expensive way to store extremely large amounts of data. Every device requires the same basic IT hardware maintenance.

Additional recommendations may be made by the manufacturer to ensure proper care. If these guidelines are not followed in combination with basic computer maintenance procedures, performance may decrease or the component will quit functioning altogether.



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The USB drive or widely known as memory stick, Thumb drive or Flash drive is a small device which can be connected directly to a computer through a USB port. It is a small storage device which has a variety of storage capacity. Pen drives with many storage capacity levels are available in the market. Most computers regardless of the operating system they run on provide facilities to access these Pen drives when they are connected to the computer. But some of the USB drives needs to install drivers before it will be ready to be used with the computer.

Any file type can be saved on a Thumb drive it is the same way as storing files on your hard-drive the only difference is the capacity and the physical appearance. Thumb dives can be easily disconnected from the computer when they are not used. Whenever its service is needed External drives can be connected to the computer since they are self-powered devices. Since a USB derive is portable it is easy to save some essential files which are on your computer and transfer them to another computer. It is small and light weighted therefore it is easy to use and carry them around.

To use the flash drive first insert it to a USB port of your computer. When the computer detects the flash drive it will show the new drive in the My Computer. It will be shown in the My Computer window as a Removable Disk. Then as in normal windows you can access the files and folders in them and copy and paste the files to other locations in your computer.

You can also send files on your computer to save in the pen drive. When you right click on a file or a folder, it will show a list of options. There is an option called Send To... when you move your mouse over that option it will show you a list of device which are connected to your computer including the Flash drive. When you select that option the folders you selected will be copied to your flash drive.

When you have finished working with your flash drive, you should not disconnect it immediately from your computer. It is always better to Safely Remove your flash drive before removing it. You can either right click on the flash drive on My Computer and select the Eject option or click on the icon on the right side of your task bar which indicated your flash drive - when you click on it there will be an option "Safely Remove Hardware" click on that option and remove the USB after it shows the message that the drive has been removed.

If you have problems with flash drive or any other hardware problem, call a remote tech service provider. These techies are available 24 x 7 and will provide you with very useful tips and help to assist you overcome your hardware problems. When it comes to hardware problems it is very necessary to get help from an experienced tech supporter since hardware problems can be critical.

If you are buying a photo printer, there are a lot of factors to think about. They come in different formats so it is important you know what you are looking for before you buy. Hopefully, after reading this buyer's guide you will feel more confident about what type you should buy, or if you should purchase one at all!

Do you only need to print photos?

Or do you want to do more!

It is a common myth that all-in-one printers cannot give you the same quality print as a photo printer would. If you purchase a high end machine then it is more than capable of giving you the high-quality photo you desire. Unless you want a portable printer, then an all-in-one is for you. You can do all your printing from one machine! All-in-one photo printers are usually capable of printing photos, scanning, photocopying and faxing. Do remember though that these types of printers tend to be larger in size.

How much are you willing to spend?

Another factor to consider is your budget! The price of photo printers can range from $20 to over $2000. You need to be aware of the maintenance cost. This means routinely replacing the paper and the ink, which can become quite expensive depending on the printer. Make sure you do your research to see which printers are cheapest to maintain! Furthermore, Some printers only allow you to change all the inks at once, which can become quite costly, especially when they use up a lot of ink. I suggest you buy a printer that allows you to change the ink cartridges separately.

What type of photos are you planning to print?

To be completly honest, the majority of photo printers are not cabable of printing great black and white photos. It is a common customer complaint. A lot of printers, print black and white photos with a visible tint, not something you want for a professional peice. So if you are thinking of buying a photo printer just to print black and white photos you need to make sure you read reviews about the printers capability of doing so. Many printer manufactures now have special technology aimed at improving the black and white prinout.

Sizes and thickness

What are your paper options?

Depending on what outcome you want, you need to know what size paper a printer is capable of printing. Most large professional photo printers can print up to 13 by 19 inches, sometimes bigger. The more compact printers usually only do a standard photo size. If you want a photo printer for commercial purposes you are better of choosing a machine that can do large prints. If you only want to print pharmacy style photos, then a smaller one is for you.

Like the size factor, you need to think about the thickness of media types you want to print on. So if you want to print on cardboard, make sure the printer you are buying can do this! If you only intend on printing on paper then you need not worry about this feature.

Connectivity

What are your options?

Connectivity is important when buying a photo printer depending on how you want to use it. Most printers can print from a computer over a USB connection. This is fine if you only plan to print from your home or office. If you want to print on location, or maybe while you are traveling then you require more than a USB! It is worth you getting a photo printer that can print directly from PictBridge cameras and memory cards.

Quality

Many photo printers have the same or even better quality then paid lab print outs. So the quality of the print is dependent on the resolution of the printer. To put it simply, the higher the resolution the better the print out!

Printing habits

How much do you print?

Before buying a printer find out the maximum prints the printer can do in a month. (This is called the printer's monthly duty cycle). Make sure that this figure is higher than the amount you plan to print. Some manufactures do not display this type of information, so if it is important to you, simply do not buy the printer. Keep in mind that for most wanting to buy a photo printer, this is not that important unless you plan to print a crazy amount.

And then......

Lastly look for any extra features that come with the photo printer. This could be from the environmental friendliness to a water resistant print!

If you want to get the most out of your PC, Laptop or MP3 Player's sound capabilities, you will definitely need a good pair of computer speakers! The aforementioned devices usually don't come with speakers built into them and if they do, they are usually of pretty poor quality! PC speakers are equipped with specially designed amplifiers! These will make sure that your sound will be loud - and as loud as possible!

Connecting those speaker systems to your PC or media devices is also very easy! Most models are equipped with a 3.5mm stereo jack, the same one used by headphones, so you should have no problem figuring out where to connect them! But even if you do, those jacks come in a lime green which is the one used by the speaker ports of all computer sound boards! The latest PC speaker models are also equipped with multi connectors like the very popular RCA jacks. This means that they are fully compatible with your TV set, DVD player or gaming console!

Like all high tech products, computer speakers have taken some huge evolutionary leaps in the past few years! The first great breakthrough was the adoption of wireless technology! This means that you will be able to enjoy the sound from your speaker system in every part of your home, since you will no longer be restrained by wires and cables! Wireless computer speakers use the latest in Bluetooth wireless technology, which means that their signal has a very large range signal and that they can maintain a very stable connection with your media devices, even if thick walls are between them!

There is a very wide variety of wireless PC speaker systems currently available on the market. The 2.1 speakers are the cheapest and simplest wireless models! These systems consist of two speakers and a subwoofer. This set up will definitely be adequate for gamers, but not so much for movie and music lovers.

If you love watching movies with top notch surround sound, then you should be looking for 5.1 and 7.1 wireless computer speaker systems. These consist of five or seven speakers respectively, as well as a very powerful subwoofer! This allows you to spread them out throughout your living room or office and enjoy cinema quality and true surround sound!

USB powered computer speakers are another fantastic product of speaker technology evolution! These speakers can be hooked up to any of your PC's USB ports and get all the power needed for them to work from your computer! This means that you won't have to worry about buying batteries or finding available power outlets! You will also be able to carry them with you anywhere you want and enjoy amazing sound, no matter where you are! Most models are also magnetically shielded, which means that they will unaffected by electronic or magnetic interference caused by other devices in their vicinity! These speakers are ideal for laptop users!

Anthony de Mello used to say that unhappiness has only one cause: "The false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them."

Unhappy traders can be linked to false beliefs as well. And the only way you can identify them is by analyzing reactions and behaviors. One of the most common beliefs that traders have is thinking they can trade on their old computer. These are day traders who believe that having good day trading computer systems has nothing to do with their trading.

These traders are resisting change or just they are just too comfortable to even think about something new. Unfortunately, technology is constantly evolving. The demand for speed and capacity are at the highest levels. The transfer of data has increased dramatically so having day trading computer systems that can keep up with this demand is vital.

We live in an era where our beliefs are challenged on a daily basis. Media tells us all the time what to believe in. Unfortunately, we are all brain washed on what to have, how to look and how to be in order to be cool and be accepted by society. As a person and as a trader you need to question and challenge those beliefs once in a while. So how do you do that? The best answer should be result oriented. Try them out and see what happens. By measuring the results you should be able to determine if this is something you need or not.

For example, I am telling you that it is important to have good day trading computer systems. By good I mean reliable, so they can keep up with data. Fast, so you don't have to wait for screens to load, convenient, so you don't have to sell your house in order to buy a new computer. All these things that I am telling you can be tested. If you have an old machine and are reluctant to change because you believe it is not necessary, then don't do it and put your theory to the test. Keep the old machine and see what happens when you trading, browsing the internet, chatting, downloading charts...All these tasks at same time.

I hear colleagues all the time complaining about their screens freezing up or having to wait forever for something to download. As traders, this is unacceptable. How about placing an order and getting filled a minute later. How would you feel about that? All of these are facts that can be observed and tested. You will soon realize the truth and if you are open enough to change your beliefs, then you will be able to find a world of possibilities.

Business is all about data. Knowing what your customers want, who is your competitor, what is he doing, analyzing the concerned research and coming up with solutions and better strategies essentially means loads and loads of numbers and data. This also means speed! The data must be accessible within milliseconds. Think of another situation. A student, these days needs lots of music on his computer along with umpteen numbers of photographs, eBooks, academic data, movies etc. Is it possible to store everything in one computer without making the computer extremely slow and prone to "hanging"? Everyone will hate it if the computer is overloaded with data or not segmented properly because it will reduce speed and accuracy drastically. In today`s world, where people rely on speed and accuracy, this might become a big issue!

Hence, the devices of data storage, from memory sticks to hard disks are used extensively in office and at homes. They all are external to the computer and the data can be safely stored. It supplements and adds on to the existing computer memory. They are also called as removable data storing devices because they are external to the computer and need to be attached / connected to access the stored data in the device. The data can in the form of files, folders, music etc.

One of the biggest advantages of the external storage device is its portability. You can just plug it to your computer, PC, laptop etc anywhere in the world, and gain access to the stored data immediately. These days, storage devices are slick and sophisticated. They not just look smart but also require minimal physical space! These interfaces enable high speed connectivity with the click of a button. You connect the device as and when required. Thus, chances of corruption of data, threat of virus etc are greatly reduced. It also acts as a great backup in case of computer crashes. These days, many companies specialize in computer and its paraphernalia and you can get it a cheap price too!

There are some basic drawbacks of using storage devices too. Nothing which is related to computers is spared from the threat of corruption and virus attacks. Although less common in external devices, but still relevant if the storage device is used by multiple people on multiple computers. If data is not segmented and filed properly, chances of repetition and deletion is also there.

As is said, nothing is perfect! Same is the case with storage devices. It has its own pros and cons. But advantages outweigh the disadvantages. These days, every one depends on computers to sift through the extensive data of music, videos, movies, office work, academic data and the like! It is like having an extra shopping bag when you go for your retail therapy. It is not just luxurious but essential!

Solid State Drives are becoming the preferred choice for laptops, netbooks or even system drives in desktop computers. The reason is simple: speed, durability and silence. In comparison to standard hard disks, SSDs are faster, lighter, consume less energy and in theory should live longer. They base on flash memory, known from pendrives and memory cards used in digital cameras. This means there are no moving parts inside, which translates into less noise and longer lifespan. Unfortunately, there is a drawback: each flash memory block can be written a fixed number of times, after which it will die out. Therefore through normal usage, the SSD 'burns out itself' and at some point it will simply stop working. So it's a good idea to limit, the number of unneeded writes, as it will allow your drive to operate longer and your system faster.

Upgrade to Windows 7

Windows 7 is the only OS from Microsoft that supports TRIM commands, which allow the SSD to clean itself from deleted data. Windows does not truly delete files, but only marks them as deleted. When you write a new file, it's simply written 'on top' of previously deleted files. Flash drives require that a particular flash memory block needs to be purged, before it can be written again. TRIM commands take care of that and once you delete a file, the mechanism tells the drive which blocks to clear. Without TRIM, SSD would eventually fill every block and on attempt of writing a new file, it would have to clear it first and write new data. It slows the process down considerably. Of course on older systems it's still possible to perform TRIM by hand, using tools provided by the drive manufacturer, but it takes some time and effort.

Disable disk defragmenter

Both Windows Vista and 7 have built-in disk defragmentation tools, which automatically merges portions of data together, so access and search times on hard disks are faster. SSD can access each block with the same speed, so fragmentation causes no drop in performance. What is more, the process itself is about constant reads and writes so it literally kills your drive... slowly. If by mistake you perform one or two defragmentation passes, nothing drastic will happen. No worries there.

Disable search indexing service

Search index constantly monitors your drive for changes and indexes both files and their content. It decreases search times, but causes unnecessary writes. Disabling the service through 'Administrative Tools' will let your SSD live longer. Just remember, that standard search will function and there is little chance, you notice any decrease in performance. Unfortunately, Windows won't be able, to search inside your files, so the decision is yours.

Disable SuperPrefetch service

Service monitors your working habits and puts files used most frequently on the very beginning of the drive, where operation speeds are higher. SSD can operate with maximum performance on every block, so the service does nothing, but moving data around, which causes unneeded writes. It can be safely disabled via 'Administrative Tools'.

Disable hibernation

Hibernation creates a snapshot of your current system state on hard disk and turns of the computer. When you turn it back on, system will load much faster and everything would be just like you left it. SSDs however, are much faster, so boot times are almost equal to resuming from hibernation, so it's best to disable the feature. It can be done from an elevated command prompt by typing: powercfg -h off.

A few ideas below should give you some reasons why your computer may not be booting up:

The hard drive is gone bad. If you are getting an error "No boot disk", it's possible that the hard drive is gone bad or there is a corruption in the OS.
Your power supply may not be supplying enough power for your PC to fully boot up.
Your computer can possibly be overheated, causing the computer to turn off every time it turns on.
If you cannot even get power from your computer, your motherboard could have gone bad or your power supply could be faulty.
If you are getting a blue screen of death (BSOD), try googling the error code (which is usually at the bottom starting with 0x). Hopefully you have another computer to google this error code on. If you don't, try taking components out of your computer one by one. If this BSOD is AFTER you past the Windows Logo, it's likely you have an infection on your PC. Try booting in Safe Mode.
A lot of times people experience this issue, and it's not always caused by a virus or bad hardware. I've seen in the past where people have simply ran updates to a program and this resulted in their computer being unbootable. I've also seen where Windows Updates have caused black error messages upon reboot, preventing the user from going any further than their manufacturer logo.

In the event you feel you have malware (trojan, virus, etc), you should always have your data backed up. Try booting into Safe Mode and seeing if you can get through there. Usually, if you're infected with malware, you won't run into the issues you normally run into while you're in Safe Mode, however, you are more limited to what you can do on the computer. Safe Mode is what I'd recommend running malware scans in. I say that because since malware has very low chances of running in Safe Mode, it'd be a very great idea to run a full scan and detect any and all infections.

Majority of the time, you can boot using a boot CD to get into your PC if you can't get to it through your operating system (OS). Boot CDs normally give you much more troubleshooting features than you would have just booting into Safe Mode or any other modes in your OS. Boot CDs allow you to boot to another OS (stored on the CD) and gives you the capability of browsing your internal hard drive. This is a very common procedure I perform when I run into clients who have viruses, can't boot their PC, and they need files off of their hard drive. I'd normally boot into the Boot CD and just extract their data from the internal hard drive and drag it to my backup external hard drive. Keep in mind that whenever.

The power jack socket is located inside the laptop and conducts power from it to the electronics of the laptop to charge the battery and power the laptop. When a fault develops it is often difficult to be sure of the cause, this article will indicate some of the things to check to arrive at a conclusion.

You may notice any of the following that may be caused by a faulty power jack located inside the laptop:-

1. Laptop completely dead no power lights etc. This can be caused by no power getting to the laptop or almost any other fault affecting the power up sequence of the laptop. If you have another laptop of the same model and make you could try swapping the battery with a fully charged battery. If the laptop then powers up then the fault is probably with the power jack or charger. Alternatively, sometimes gently wiggling it will cause the charge lights etc of the laptop to briefly illuminate. This would again indicate a failed power jack.

2. Laptop comes on then cuts out after a short period. Again several faults could cause the laptop to quickly cut out; however, a faulty power jack would commonly cause this. When the power jack contact make a poor electrical connection, heat is often generated causing the connection to terminate.

3. Laptop comes on but battery will not charge. Often when the power jack fails this is caused by one or more solder pads cracking; this can result in a high resistance electrical path. This will in effect limit the maximum current that can be delivered to the laptop, so the laptop may come on but there is not enough power left to charge the battery.

4. Laptop works until or unless the power connector is wiggled. Very much like the last fault except the solder pads make and break connection when it is wriggled.

5. Battery charges when laptop is turned off, but not when it is turned on. This is very much like fault 3 as not enough electrical power can be delivered to both the laptop and battery.

6. Smell of burning or hot power connector when plug removed from the laptop. When one or more solder pads connected between the power jack motherboard fracture a high resistance electrical contact may be produced. When current flows heat will be generated possibly resulting in component or motherboard burning. This is perhaps the most destructive failure as it often completely destroys the motherboard due to the considerable heat generated. The repair will either be impossible or corrected by using a nutted power connector that uses flying leads to bypass the burnt motherboard.

7. Light on laptop power supply dim or flashing when connected to laptop and normal when not connected. Most laptop power supplies have a safety feature where they will dim or flash the power light to indicate that there is an overload condition inside the laptop. This will often occur when the laptop motherboard is starting to smolder as the motherboard, which should be an insulator, turns into a conductor due to carbon production.

8. Sometimes it is obvious when the power jack becomes completely detached inside the laptop.

Repair of the power jack should only be carried out by a competent laptop repair company as it is very easy to completely destroy the motherboard and laptop if great care is taken when removing and re-soldering the new connector.

Today as the technology is changing and the work pattern on a computer is also changing so it is very important to upgrade your PC's memory. Different types of work are done on a computer and different capacities of memories are used. A Random Access Memory (RAM) is a convenient way to boost your system performance.

Adding the PC with more RAM enhances the performance in terms of speed of the computer. The process of installation is also easy. If someone is an average user of using a single computer for normal use then 128MB to 256MB of RAM is okay. But for other usages like designing, gaming and some sort of multimedia work and other high end applications it should be enhanced. If it is like a business offering technical services such as IT support the speedy performance of the servers are expected. There are multiple benefits a user gets after upgrading the RAM.

A good benefit is multitasking which is possible if the system has a good capacity RAM. Like if you have opened many programs at the same time and you have to switch between them then it is easy. Another is you get faster web surfing, a user is doing internet surfing work and if the RAM is not upgraded then it will become difficult to open the websites quickly and to send emails fast. Video streaming is another thing which becomes fast.

Up gradation of the memory is also beneficial for server management. There are many types of server support services are provided but for this the speed of the servers should be good. If we talk about multimedia work, video editing can be made faster also with this. The video files are usually large then a user should have a big hard drive for storing files, a quick processor and most importantly a RAM with at least 256MB or more is better.

RAM up gradation is better for gaming purpose also; it supports colors with high resolutions and 3D effects too. If multimedia presentations are made then it requires speed as graphics with Flash and ROM covers a big space, in this case memory with 256MB or more gives best results.

Memory upgrades are also necessary for networking purposes. Servers and other PC's are mostly up graded for best performance. In the end the most important factor is to check and ensure whether the memory upgrade is compatible with the computer or not because it depends on what speed memory operates and can have different slots.