HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOUR HARD DISK IS ABOUT TO CRASH

The drive is the store house of programs that runs the computer.

However, there are times, this device fails you when you least expect .The worst of all is the imminent loss of data.

                            

As in vehicles, a good and careful user can spot the signs of a troubled hard drive and take a proactive actions.

Below are signs or symptoms to look out for when your hard drive is about to pack up or give up the ghost

     (i.)            Frequent but irregular crashes, especially while booting up Windows®

    (ii.)            Frequent and cryptic error messages while performing typical activities like moving files

  (iii.)            Folder and file names that have been scrambled and changed

  (iv.)            Disappearing files and folders

   (v.)            Really long wait times to access folders and files

  (vi.)            Hard disk is silent for a long period after you request data by opening a file or folder

(vii.)            Garbled output from open files or printing

(viii.)            Hard drive grinds away constantly because of noisy bearings

Sound can be an excellent indicator of disk trouble! If you previously didn’t hear a peep from your hard drive, but now you d. If it seems much louder than usual or makes occasional clicks or grinding sounds, check it ASAP and get ready to backup your data and replace the drive.

If your drive is making regular clicking or grinding sounds, chances are you have a mechanical failure within the drive. Turn off your computer as soon as possible as continued use may damage the platters (data storage area) and make your data unrecoverable. The longer the drive is powered on, the more damage you may be doing to your data. You should then make a note of what happened and contact a computer technician immediately.

COMPUTER ILLEGAL OPERATIONS

Today’s article may be serialiszed,so it is advisable  there be constant follow up on the part of readers and Users of information.
People Users are guilty of performing illegal operations in their computer; these constitute an abuse and have the long term effects on affecting your personal computers
These illegal and can be caused by various factors. The following are some of the more commonly known reasons performing illegal operations.

1.  Third-party programs causing memory conflicts or other conflicts with the program or programs attempting to be run.
2. Data not being read properly from source. Running a program or game with a dirty CD can cause the CD to be read improperly causing Illegal Operations. Floppy diskettes, which may contain errors can cause illegal operations.
3. Installing a program or game on a hard drive that has errors or is highly fragmented.
4. Corrupt files.
5. Memory managers.
6. Bad, incorrect or not the latest video drivers.
7. Computer Virus.
8. Added hardware
9. Error in program coding
10. Corruption or problem within Windows.
11. Bad Memory, invalid bits or physically bad memory.

The solutions to the above will come in my next  article

COMPUTER II

HOW TO IMPROVE THE SPEED OF YOUR COMPUTER

In this jet or information age,one of the things that frustrate a computer user is slowness of ones personal computer.This article has been well researched out to provide tips on how to boost the speed of your laptop or personal stand-alone computer,in order words speed up your computer.

1 Free up disk The Disk Cleanup tool helps you to free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete and lets you choose to delete some, all, or none of the identified files.

2.Remove spyware, and help protect your computer from viruses

Spyware gathers personal information without asking for permission. From the websites you visit to user names and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to compromising your privacy, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. Fortunately, there are a couple of easy ways to combat spyware.
3.DOWNLOAD MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS for free to help guard your system from viruses, spyware, adware, and other malicious software Microsoft Security Essentials acts as a spyware removal tool and includes automatic updates to help keep your system protected from emerging threats.
4.The MICROSOFT WINDOWS MALICIOUS SOFTWARE REMOVAL TOOL, also free, checks computers running Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, windows me, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software, including Folstart, Phorpiex, Weelsof, Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom. It helps remove any detected infection or malware.

5. Free up disk space

The Disk Cleanup tool helps you to free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer or thereby speed up the computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete and lets you choose to delete some, all, or none of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:

ü Remove temporary Internet files.

ü Delete downloaded program files, such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets.

ü Empty the Recycle Bin.

ü Remove Windows temporary files, such as error reports.

ü Delete optional Windows components that you don't use.

ü Delete installed programs that you no longer use.

ü Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.

ü Delete system files (Windows 8).

6.MAKE SURE YOUR HARDWARE IS SUFFICIENT

ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO WITH software to optimize the function of your computer, making sure you have the proper hardware to support Windows is critical.

7. CLEAN YOUR DESKTOP

Is your Windows Desktop dotted with files? Have you noticed that your computer has been running slower and slower? Do you see the hard drive light often flashing while you wait for the computer to respond to an action? There are steps you can take to fix it. Read this article.

8. SCAN YOUR WINDOWS SYSTEM FOR ERRORS

An operating system is a collection of files that perform different functions. It is possible, over time, that one or more of these system files has changed or become corrupted. If this happens, the speed of your system may decrease. By using a utility called “System File Checking”, it will inspect these files and correct any problem it finds.

9. SCAN FOR VIRUSES, SPYWARE AND ADWARE

Every Windows computer is vulnerable to viruses. Viruses are nasty little programs that cause both major and minor problems for users.
Spyware and Adware are programs created by companies to find out more information about customers, so they can better market products to them. Usually these programs are not created for malicious purposes. Spyware and Adware can load into computer memory and slow it down.
Periodically scanning and removal of Viruses, Spyware and Adware is a great way to improve computer performance.

10 UNINSTALL UNUSED PROGRAMS

Over time, you may have accumulated programs on your computer that you do not use. When a program is installed, it creates connections between the program and the operating system. Even if you don’t use these programs, they can slow down your system. If you have the original program’s installation disk or file, removing programs will free up space on your computer and may speed up your system's performance.

10. ADJUST VISUAL EFFECTS FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE

Windows provides a number of interesting visual effects including animated windows and fading menus. If you do not have enough operating memory (see above number 1), these effects can slow down your computer. Adjusting or reducing visual effects can make a difference.
To speed up Vista computers in particular you can disable features and function that are not used. For more information, read "How to Speed Up Windows Vista."

11. DON’T AUTOMATICALLY START PROGRAMS

Programs use operating memory (RAM, also called system resources). Unless you always use these programs, you can keep them from loading at Windows startup and speed both the booting of your computer and its performance.

12.. DEFRAGMENT YOUR HARD DRIVE

The more information and programs you have on your computer, the more it is likely that Windows has placed parts of the same file in different locations on your hard drive. It may do this for hundreds of files and programs, depending on how much space is available. Defragmenting the hard drive places all information for each file in one place. The result can be a faster computer experience.
Important Note: Before you even try this, backup all your work onto a different computer, hard drive, CD or disk. Also, you should only do this if you have a reliable source of power for your computer. Doing this when there is a brown out or power problem in the neighborhood, is not a good idea. If a computer turns off while it is defragmenting a drive, it will create more problems than not defragmenting it in the first place.

13 REINSTALL THE OPERATING SYSTEM AND PROGRAMS

If you have done all the above steps and your computer does not become more responsive, you might consider reinstalling the operating system and programs. This is a scorched earth option - basically you backup all your data and user settings, wipe your hard drive clean and re-install the operating system with your original disks. Next, install all your favorite programs and restore all your data and user settings.
The nice thing about doing this is that you essentially have a new computer, free of years worth of software and registry changes, additions and errors that can turn a fast rabbit of a Windows computer into a slow turtle. The bad thing about this choice is that it takes time and planning to do it correctly. If your PC is 3 to 4 years old and continues to run slower than it did when you purchased it, this might be the only action that will make to run faster

 

HOW TO REVIVE A DEAD PHONE BATTERY

I have seen people wondering if it possible to revive a dead phone battery. I have  had serious issues with dead batteries especially as a consultant that works in a company that deals on ICT related issues and counsel clients on how best to use  computer like phones and computers. I researched out these articles for people to try and test the claims made, so that we can save ourselves unnecessary frustrations and resources.

When you talk of having dead batteries around, and wishing they could come up alive again, I have been there. You need patience to work out the following instructions contained in this article.

As you read, am embarking testing these claims or would have verified these claims. There is no harm in trying. Collectively we shall shout “EUREKA” I have discovered the secret.

Do these

1. Get your cell phone battery on charge,  though it appears to be dead. Insert the plug from the charger into the correct socket on the phone and turn on the charger. The display on the phone indicates it's charging.

2. Remove the plug from the phone when the display indicates the battery is fully charged. It probably takes only a few minutes to charge because your battery needs to be reset.

3. Take off the back from your phone and remove the battery. Wait a couple of minutes and put your battery back into the phone and replace the back.

4. Turn on your phone. Open as many applications on your phone as possible. Turn up the sound, play music or games. The idea is to use as much power from the battery as quickly as possible. Leave the applications running until the phone turns off automatically because of lack of battery power. This may happen quickly or take a while, depending on how bad your phone battery is.

5. Remove the battery cover and battery as before. Wait a couple of minutes then replace the battery and cover. Turn on your phone; surprisingly, it powers up. Open phone applications as before and let it run until the phone turns off. It doesn't take long, when you have a battery that appears dead.

6. Repeat the complete procedure, as monotonous as it is, until your phone won't power up. The procedure is reactivating the battery by breaking down crystals inside the battery, increasing the surface area. Because the battery hasn't been regularly discharged, the crystals have expanded and merged, and this results in an inability to retain a charge.

7. Remove the battery from the phone a final time then reinsert it. Put the plug from the charger into the phone charging socket and turn it on.

8. Let the phone charge. Be prepared to wait a while now, because your battery is revived and can hold a greater charge, similar to when you first purchased it.

9. Remove the charger and remove the plug from the phone. Turn on your phone and use as normal.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR LAPTOP BATTERY LAST LONGER

In this article I present lengthy tips on how to keep your laptop battery healthy and in the long run save costs and frustrations.Please read on.

1. Let the battery discharge completely the first time you use it. When you get a new laptop or just a new battery, plug the computer in and charge the battery fully. Unplug the laptop and run it on battery power until the computer warns you that it's about to run out. This calibrates the battery--essentially "teaching" it how much charge it can hold.
2.Avoid frequent charging and discharging. A typical lithium-ion laptop battery has a life of about 300 to 500 charge "cycles," according to researcher Isidor Buchmann of BatteryUniversity.com. Unplugging the computer, running it on battery power for a time and then plugging it back in constitutes one cycle. This does not mean running the battery all the way down each time--Buchmann advises that partial discharges are preferable to full ones in everyday use--but it does mean that it's better to run the laptop unplugged for an hour than to do so for 10 minutes, then plug it in for 5 minutes, then unplug it for 15 minutes, plug it back in for 10, and so on.
3.Allow the battery to fully discharge about once every 30 cycles. This will help recalibrate the battery.
Allow about a 50 percent charge on the battery if you plan to store the laptop for more than six months. Apple Inc. says that long-term storage of a fully discharged battery may render it unable to recharge at all, whereas storing a fully charged battery for an extended period can reduce its capacity.
5.Do not  overheat. There is a direct correlation between the temperature at which a battery operates and the degradation of its charging capacity. PC Magazine advises laptop users to avoid operating the computer on soft surfaces that trap heat, such as blankets, upholstery or--somewhat ironically--your lap. Use a lap desk or cooling pad when you have the computer on your lap. If you usually use the computer on a desk, make sure the surface of the desk is free of dust.

6.Turn off Wi-Fi and BlueTooth - Most laptops have shortcut keys to instantly disable wireless networking.

7. Don't play computer games, music or DVD movies - Multimedia activities drain laptop batteries.

8. Disconnect all external device like PC Card modems, Firewire, USB devices and optical drives. Use the notebook touchpad instead of an external mouse.

9. Adjust your screen brightness - Dimming your display saves battery power.

10. Tweak Windows Power Options - Choose a Laptop power scheme that turns off the notebook monitor and hard disk after 10 minutes of inactivity.

11. Decrease or mute the Laptop Speaker Volume.

12.. Turn off all scheduled tasks.

13. Turn off Auto-save features in Microsoft Office and other applications.

14. If your PC has a built-in wireless card, turn it off or disable it when not in use.

15. Programs that are run from a CD or DVD can be copied to and run from the hard drive, which typically consumes less power than an optical drive.

17.. If you do not use your laptop for extended periods of time (a week or more), remove the battery pack from the laptop.

18. Do not expose the battery to high heat or freezing temperatures. Do not leave your battery in your car in the summer. Hot batteries discharge very quickly, and cold ones can't create as much power.

19. Make sure to plug your laptop charger adapter into a UPS and not directly into a power outlet or surge protector.

20. If you have a nickel-metal hydride battery, completely drain and recharge the battery once a month to maximize its capacity to hold a charge.

21. Fully charge new battery packs before use. New pack needs to be fully charged and discharged (cycled) a few times before it can condition to full capacity.
22.. Leaving a battery in a laptop while using an electrical outlet for long periods of time will keep the battery in a constant state of charging up and that will reduce the life cycle of the battery.

Battery-saving sleep modes: should  be used, Stand By or Hibernate

Standby mode
Use standby modes to save power when you will be away from the computer for a short time while working - your monitor and hard disks turn off, all applications and open files are stored in RAM. When you want to use the computer again, it comes out of standby quickly, and your desktop is restored exactly as you left it.

Hibernation Mode
Use hibernation to save power when you will be away from the computer for an extended time while working - your computer shuts down to save power but first saves everything in memory on your hard disk. When you restart the computer, your desktop is restored

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HOW TO REDUCE YOUR BROWSING COSTS

I have jokingly told people my second home is the internet, the reason being that am in partnership with Google, to promote some categories of adverts. I must as matter of necessity be on the net at least once a week. It cost a fortune to be on the net 24/7.But there are people who are unnecessarily dashing gms   operators money. This article may assist you to stop putting holes in your pocket.

I know my Nigerian internet friends who are versed on how to surf the net knows how to convert credit to browsing data. But there are some people who need to be educated to on how convert t credit to data size and browse for longer hours

Each phone networks has its own economic data tariffs

For the purpose of simplicity I will give the codes and data sizes of the lowest rate, which can make an individual browse or surf the net for 24   hours

NETWORK	AMOUNT(N)	TEXT	TO	DATA SIZE	DURATION
MTN	100	104	131	10MB	24 HOUR
ZAIN	100	*141*712*11#		10MB
ETISALAT	100	Go   to etisalat corner  on your set, select data service, choose the data plan that suits your budget
GLO	100	51	127

N/B: BEFORE APPLYING THESE YOU MUST HAVE RECHARGE YOUR SIM    TO GET ADEQUATE CREDIT TABLE HELPS YOU TO  CONVERT THAT CREDIT TO DATA   SIZE FOR BROWSING