Of course, it's one thing to know the theory behind how new technologies can be connected together on a motherboard, but it's another to know where you're going to physically pop your processor, memory and expansion cards. That's handled by the ATX specification, now up to version 2.2. Despite being incredibly dull, it's vitally important and specifies crucial things such as: what size the motherboard can be, where mounting holes are located, power connections, power levels, physical positioning of components, color of connections and so on. Boring maybe, but if vendors decided they'd put these things wherever they liked, it'd be chaos.
Despite being around since 1996, ATX has staved off multiple attempted coups, including BTX, introduced by Intel in 2003 mostly as a result of the soaring power output of the old P4. It offered optimized airflow, a larger heatsink and motherboard area with dedicated low-profile designs. But as the P4 faded, any justification for the increased costs of BTX became extinct as well.
We're seeing ever-increasing drives to lower power consumption and increase efficiency: laptop motherboards use technology that can reduce idle Northbridge power to below 1W, though an entire running desktop system board will suck at least 40W idle, compared to the 10-20W for an entire laptop. The VIA mini-desktop ITX motherboards strike a balance on this front, usually consuming 10-15W in idle and usually less than 20W under full load, but that's hardly ever going to be a realistic choice for the gamer or anyone else that wants to perform other intensive tasks.
Part of the problem is just power regulation, that's pulling the 12v line down to around 1.5v for the processor. Much like PSU efficiency, motherboards have the same problem. Much noise is made about multi-phase voltage regulators: while we're sure they do smooth the voltage in technical terms, they seem to have little real effect. Similarly, new energy regulation modules such as the Gigabyte DES or Asus EPU claim to regulate voltages and perhaps clock speeds more efficiently. These do affect power consumption, perhaps as much as 10w or more at full load.
Despite some shrinkage in the market over the last few years - VIA being sidelined, ULi being bought by NVIDIA and names like ALi and SiS slipping into the background - there's still a lot of choice if you're after a new motherboard. Higher levels of integration mean you get more for your money; budget boards come packed with features while today's high-end boards come bristling with exotic extras, to the point of confusion and pointlessness.
Intel remains the leading chipset supplier: about half the world's motherboards have ‘Intel Inside’. It's also a technology leader, bringing new developments such as PCIe v2, SATA 2 first to boards in new chipsets. It has used the Memory Controller Hub (MCH) as the Northbridge and the I/O Controller Hub (ICH) for the Southbridge ideology since the debut of the P4. ICH9 is the current mainstream Intel Southbridge and supports up to 12 USB 2.0, six SATA, two eSATA and twin Gigabit network ports, plus high-definition audio and six single PCIe lanes. Extra options can supply hardware RAID and Turbo Memory. ICH10 is just becoming available but adds little to the party: you should note there are no PATA channels at all.
Robson technology, now branded Turbo Memory, was supposed to increase drive performance, but real-world results are disappointing. ICHl0 introduced User Pinning so it's possible to permanently store an application in the flash memory. This could have been an interesting development, but it has been somewhat overshadowed by the likes of Asus Express Gate that enable you to boot into a ‘Virtual Appliance Environment’ (VAE) featuring a basic GUI, a browser based on Firefox 2.0 and a Skype VolP client in less than six seconds, courtesy of a compact Linux distribution. This 'instant-on' OS offers many advantages: it's able to run on PCs where the hard disk is absent or malfunctioning, and is less vulnerable to malware as the system is mostly read-only. Already a feature of the Eee Box and nine others, Asus will be extending Express Gate to its whole range in 2009. Intel's high-end option remains the X range; the X48 is the only motherboard to officially support the 1600FSB for both DDR3 and Core 2 Extreme Edition. In reality though, most available X38 motherboards can actually offer this support anyway, as well as the XMP for enhanced memory performance profiles. It also offers two l6-lane PCIe v2 slots for CrossFire support.
A similar situation can be applied to the new P45 that replaces the P35. At least it does introduce PCIe v2 and optionally supports three graphics slots, but as it's positioned as a mainstream chipset, it's hardly required at this point. If your modules support it, Intel XMP memory technology will mean you get the best performance out of them.
NVIDIA has always made a point of offering both Intel and AMD options. Currently, its 790i Ultra SLI with its top-end Intel chipset, boasts: PCIe v2, support on two full 16-lane graphics slots and a third PCIe vl 16-lane slot, DDR3 up to 2000MHz and 1600FSB support. The accompanying MCP Southbridge offers an additional 12 lanes of PCIe, twin Gigabit ports, ten USB ports, high-definition audio, six SATA and two PATA ports and even a PCI bus.
Unlike the Intel chipsets, NVIDIA has opted for DDR3 only, firmly encamping at the high-end. It of course offers the NVIDIA ‘SLI-Ready Memory’ technology for EPP memory support. For people requiring DDR2 support, the 780i still offers triple SLi in a largely similar configuration to the 790i and the 750i with its ‘Vanilla’ PCIe v2 SLi support.
With its AMD range of chipsets NVIDIA's entire range sports integrated graphics - DirectX 10, HDMI and HDCP-compatibility. We guess the lack of a memory controller on the Northbridge helps when things get busy, almost like having a spare room in the house. The 780a is its high-end option and supports three-way SLi - again, via two PCIe v2 and a single v1 16-lane slots. Oddly, the SLi support hangs off the Southbridge, that being its sole job. The usual Southbridge connections are on the Northbridge, offering 12 USB 2, six SATA, two PATA and Gigabit port, plus high-definition audio and three more PCIe v1 lanes.
For mid- and entry-level buyers, the NVIDIA 8300/8200 chipsets are the perfect choice. Identical in everything but graphics speed, these are single chipset solutions, offering the same abilities as the 780a but with only a single 16-lane PCIe v2 slot. This is somewhat balanced via the Hybrid SLi feature that uses the onboard graphics to accelerate graphics or save power. The Hybrid mode only works with the 8400GS and 8500GT cards, which makes sense for low-end options.
Finally, what about AMD? It's still pushing its high-end 700 chipset, and has rebranded the ageing Xpress 3200 and Xpress 1600 ranges to the 580X and 480X to eliminate any confusion from their Intel-compatible counterparts. The high-end 790FX (launched at the end of 2007) is still something of a power-house. It supports two physical CPU sockets -rare in real-life - along with 42 PCIe v2 lanes enabling four-way CrossFire fun via two full 16-lane and two 8-lane slots. Oh, and twin Gigabit ports - yes, it's a fairly feature-heavy Northbridge, alright. Odd, then, that it was typically paired with the comparatively weak SB600 Southbridge, offering only four SATA ports, an extra four PCIe v1 lanes, RAID, two PATA channels and 10 USB 2.0 ports. Happily, this is being superseded by the SB700/750, with six SATA ports, eSATA support, 14 USB ports and support for hybrid flash drives.
For more mid-range systems, AMD's 790X supports two physical CrossFire slots and the new 780G. This last chipset is of interest as it comes with integrated graphics and offers similar features to the NVIDIA 8300/8200 chipsets. The Hybrid CrossFire works alongside a HD2400 or HD3450 graphics card for about 50 per cent increases in 3D speed. Those will remain on the market for a good while. New high-end options such as the Intel X58 and the AMD 800 series are on the way with new sockets and better memory support, but not until the beginning of 2009.
Modern Motherboard Technology Explained
How Can I Be Sure My Old IT Equipment is Disposed of Securely and Properly?
With the rapidly improving and expanding technology of today, people tend to replace their personal computers on a regular basis in order to keep up with the latest advancements. It's extremely important to dispose of old IT equipment securely and properly not only to protect your sensitive information, but to protect the precious environment as well.
In early 2007 the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations came into effect in an attempt to minimise the millions of tonnes of electronic waste, or e-waste as it's often called, that is disposed of each year in just the UK alone. You can read about those laws at the Environment Agency's website.
All computer equipment contains hazardous materials and keeping e-waste out of landfills should be high on the list of priorities of government officials and private citizens everywhere.
Mercury, lead, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, not to mention glass and plastic, all of which have a negative impact on the environment, are just some of what's found lurking inside our computers, monitors, hard drives, circuit boards, printers, scanners, fax machines, and telephones.
Many areas now have recyclers who will take old IT equipment as well as organisations who specialise in disposing of computers and other hardware in an environmentally responsible way. Other places like not-for-profit organisations will dismantle the computers and salvage whatever parts possible or perhaps make repairs and then resell the equipment. Before donating a computer, make it a point to call in advance, especially if the equipment is obsolete or in disrepair, to see if there's a need first.
You can find a list of computer recyclers and refurbishers in the UK through a website called ‘Waste Online’
Before using an e-waste disposal service check to see that the company complies with the WEEE regulations and file your written proof that your IT equipment was indeed disposed of securely and properly. And, if you're donating to a charitable organisation, see that the appropriate security measures will be taken with your equipment to prevent unauthorised access, now a legal requirement thanks to the Data Protection Act of 1998.
Also, some computer manufacturers now offer recycling programs at low or no cost and information about these services, if available, can be found on their respective websites. Some computer makers offer credits toward the purchase of new equipment while others provide the service free of charge.
Erasing the Hard Drive Before Getting Rid of Your Computer
Most of us have done banking or ordered something online using our bank accounts or credit cards and many of us keep track of our finances with files saved on our home computers. Be aware that reformatting the computer's hard drive is not enough to ensure that all of your data will really be removed from the machine.
There are software programs available designed specifically for this purpose and there's always the alternative of physically destroying the computer's hard drive making it unreadable, which of course, won't be an option if you're donating the computer to an organisation for some purpose.
However you ultimately decide to dispose of your useless IT equipment it is imperative to be absolutely certain that none of your information will wind up in the hands of a criminal.
Discover Ways To Extend Your Computer's Capabilities
Once your computer knowledge and confidence grows, you will be eager to expand your personal computer's capabilities. A wide range of devices is available that will make working with your computer even more interesting and enjoyable. Here are some extras that can be collected over time:
- Modems. One very important aspect of modems is never try to buy a used one. Because, how are you going to know if its actually going to work, and it could be also missing alot of instructions for installation and might not have the driver software CD that comes with it. A new modem will be more money, but the money you save getting a used modem is not worth the trouble when trying to install right or may wear out much sooner than a new one. Basically, there are two main types of modems. Internal modems are installed inside the system unit in one of the spare slots at the back. External modems sit outside your computer, on your desk, and plug into one of the serial ports at the back of the system unit. Once you have a model, you can connect to the internet, send emails, and send and receive faxes, using your computer as a fax machine.
- Scanners. The basic operation of the scanner is to read the image of the object placed on the scanner pane of optical reading feature which converts the analog code into digitized code. A scanner will transform your paper images and photo prints into graphic files that you can then edit and use on your PC. Flatbed scanners, in which you lay your images face down and a light-sensitive device passes undernealth, are the most versatile and affordable type of scanner. Buy a scanner with a resolution capability of atleast 300dpi.
- Digital Cameras. Digital cameras look similar to ordinary cameras, but take photographs without using any film. The picture is stored as a graphic file that you can transfer directly to your computer through a connection cord. Good quality cameras are quite expensive, but it's worth remembering that you won't need to buy film and get it developed, and you don't need a scanner. Care should be taken while transferring the files from your camera to your computers. Improper transferring may lead to short circuiting of your digital camera. Never try to disconnect your device while transferring files from your digital cameras to the computers.
- Joysticks. If you're a fan of computer games, a joystick is essential. Many home PCs come with their own joystick, but you can also buy joystick with extra feature buttons and better grips. They plug into a port in your system unit. The best joysticks are those that also provide feedback. It's also possible to buy steering wheels and pedals for driving games. If you have the opportunity, you should try to use the joystick in-store before purchasing it. If the joystick is uncomfortable or you are having to use too much force when maneuvering it in different directions, you should probably pass on that model of joystick because it may cause unnecessary wrist strain and leave you unable to have the fast reaction time that new computer age games require.
- Video Cameras. If you mount a small video camera on the top of your computer, you can conduct video conferences. These small cameras are also used for the WebCam sites on the internet. Bear in mind that video conferencing require a powerful PC, and without special high-speed phone lines, the picture can be jerky and the sound can stutter. Looking for the best video cameras often is successfully done with a few simple steps. Know your options in the marketplace and know what features will be important to you. Make sure you have a set price range. Take a look at the reviews as well as talking to people who have purchased and understand how to use a video camera.
- Microphones. They are available for common computer usage like recording a narration. Many computers come with a microphone in the accessories that come with it. Your accessory microphone may be alright to begin with but it probably will not be professional quality but should be ok because it all depends on what your needs are. But it is now possible to use a microphone in conjunction with speech-recognition software. This means that you don't have to type in anything you just have to say it. Unless you spend a long time teaching it to recognize your voice, it may give poor results.
Your added devices can also be bought to make the most of existing on-screen entertainments. The new generation of joysticks for instance, really take game playing to a new dimension. Like I mentioned earlier, you can have all these over time but you don't need to buy everything on the same shopping trip.
Asus Drivers Update - Easy Motherboard Fixes
By: Logan Albright
When you are talking about the motherboard, what you are looking at is the core of the computer, and this is not the computing core of the computer, but the platform of which any computer is built. In fact, one would be safe to say that the motherboard is the genesis and the omega of the computer, without it , nothing can function and when you are looking at the range of motherboard markers out there in the world today, what you have a small list of trusted brands out there and one of them of course is Asus. Today we will talk to you about some of the more common motherboard problems, Asus Driver updates and some easy fixes that you can do on your own.
For one thing you need to know that the motherboard is really one huge landscape of hardware, and that everything that is done on the computer (in relation to hardware) is being monitored and mothered by the motherboard and that is why it is called the motherboard. One thing you need to know about this is that when you are considering the motherboard as a piece of engineering brilliance, don’t, because in the end of the day, there are so many things that can actually go wrong with it.
One of them is the driver issues, which happens whenever you there is a freak power surge or something goes wrong in the motherboard environment. Remember that you are actually playing around with a live electric middleman and you need to be able to know that the drivers which are installed in the bios might go a little awry when you are experiencing some sort of a glitch in the system. So what you need to do is to actually just reinstall the drivers and there are two easy ways that you can do this.
One is of course via the OS and what you need to do is to simply either reinstall the drivers that have been provided to you or download fresh and new ones off the website on the internet. I always recommend that you download new ones, because then you would be able to benefit from the added features and improvements that the design team takes into play. Another thing you need to know is that you might also want to flash the bios and install a new set of core drivers into the motherboard itself, and this is also done through the computer and is quite simple to do. Every mother board manufacturer would also leave you a set of instruction on how you can achieve this.
These are some of the ways that you can take advantage of the Asus Driver update and get your mother board back in working order. In other words, the steps you need to take to ensure that everything is in working order are pretty simple ones, and it can really help you to achieve some serious results and performance boosts at the end of the day.
Corrupt CD Rom Drivers - 3 Troubleshooting Tips
By: Logan Albright
Buying a new CD ROM and finding out that it has corrupt drivers can be a real bummer, but do not fret; the solution can be found easily, as easy as logging onto the internet. Do not go rushing back to the store when you have a perfectly viable solution on the internet.
One solution you might want to consider is to obviously find new ones. The drivers that you have in your possession are probably corrupt or damaged. Normally when you get a CD ROM, you do not really need drivers for the simple models, but for the cutting edge selections that are on the market, you might need drivers for Windows or any other OS to be able to capitalise on their more advanced features. The problem with this is that having been mass produced to such a large scale, there would definitely be faults on the manufacturing side and one of these can come directly from the drivers itself. If they supplied you with a CD with the drivers (for a CD ROM you have not installed), then you might have a problem where the drivers might have been installed incorrectly, and are corrupted, so all you need to do is to contact the manufacturer and get a fresh set of drivers from them.
The other solution would be of course to download the necessary drivers from the internet, and this usually involves finding the manufacturers’ website and clicking on the technical support link. They usually will have the latest drivers there for you to download and a highlight of the previous problems of the older ones. Sometimes, it is not the case of the missing driver, but the case where there is an issue of incompatibility with your system and the drivers that you are trying to install. Sometimes this happens when the drivers are tested with older systems that have not been updated and since operating systems like Windows tend to update themselves regularly, you always need to have on hand the latest set of drivers on you. Downloading them from the internet is the easiest solution here.
What if the problem persists even after you replace the drivers? Well, before you panic and think that the problem might be with the CD ROM itself, you need to look through the help forums and technical help you can get online; there are plenty of people like you out there on the internet that might have the same problem as you. So you do not need to worry unnecessarily.
In some instances, it could be a problem with your motherboard’s onboard audio system, or even some other devices on your computer conflicting with your CD ROM. More than likely you will be able to find a solution to your problem posted by a tech guru or an expert on the subject and he or she will either post the solution or give you the necessary links you need to know to fix your problem.
If you ever encounter problems with corrupt CD ROM drivers, try the abovementioned solutions. What better way to resolve them than with hassle-free ways that do not require you to send the CD ROM back to the retailer which you may have purchased it from?
Troubleshooting USB 2.0 Driver Problems the Easy Way
By: Logan Albright
The USB or Universal Serial Bus is an invention that was made to take over the aged printer port data cable solution, which had dominated the PC market for a very long time. While we were satisfied with transfer rates, when compared to today’s technology, seemed a bit dismal, innovations like the USB and the Fire Wire port have revolutionised offline data transfer and the computer’s plug and play potential.
Previously, there was no easy way we could install any new piece of hardware, and all of our solutions seemed to be only internet and hard wired to the motherboard, and this is because there was no viable consumer method to connect hardware easily to the computer from an external source.
One of the issues of course was power; and the only power source was the PSU unit inside the PC casing, and power units (till this day) are not designed with external output sources where you can plug in your devices. All power would be routed to the motherboard in the form of expandable slots like the AGP (which only came later), the PCI (which was the most common place to install new hardware) and of course the RAM slots, where you could place in more memory.
Of late, the options for expansion have of course been changed drastically, no longer with simple IDE solutions inside the motherboard. Now, you have high speeds like SATA, which tripled the potential speed of SATA based hard drives, obliterating the use of IDE cables and clunky power unit dongles. The AGP was done away with and the PCI was upgraded to the PCI express, which seemed to be the all in one solution for installing new hardware like modems, sound cards, graphics cards, independent multimedia solutions for the computer.
One of the most beneficial technological moves the computing world did was the introduction of the USB port, which allowed the user to install any piece of hardware that was USB enabled; which of course now covers anything from external hard disks, printers, scanners, sound devices, DVD roms etc - the list is endless.
You can even convert your PC into a design studio with USB attachments. With USB 2.0, it is an upgrade with better power management and of course, higher transfer speeds for data, which opened up the market to new mobile phones, PDAs etc. When using the USB 2.0, you might be encountering driver problems, especially when you are installing one fresh from the counter and not incorporated into the motherboard.
Usually, there are very easy ways you can do this and it either is actually a simple task of downloading fresh drivers from the internet or, if you have Windows, allow it to override the manual driver installation and install it based on its own database. Many of your USB 2.0 driver problems will be done away with easily. So there you have it; a brief explanation on the USB, its functions and how to do away with those pesky driver installation problems that people always encounter.
Common DVD Drivers Problems and Easy Fixes
By: Logan Albright
It is always a good feeling when you throw away your old CD ROM drive in favour of a brand spanking new DVD player for your computer. Now not only do you have a much larger capacity drive, you are also able to enjoy all the new DVD games, DVD movies and much more content which has been squeezed into its 4 plus gigabyte storage capability. If you are purchasing a good drive, you will be able to take advantage of DVD-RAM discs and also dual layer DVDs, which give twice the capacity of the normal, single layered drive options. There are many manufacturers to choose from and in the market, very little separates them in price and performance.
You will find that a DVD drive is quite affordable compared to the prices a few years ago. The general advice is to stick with an internal drive, as external drives are not only more expensive, but they tend to give more problems due to the fact that they are not specifically designed to survive the external environment. But the choice is of course yours, especially when you have a PC tower with no more free drive bays to load your DVD drive or you need a backup drive to run different content at the same time or to perform DVD to DVD or CD backup and burn.
In any case, whichever you do choose, you might not always have a smooth sailing installation as other people might have. Installation of a DVD drive is actually quite simple; all that would be required of you is plugging in the data cable (IDE or SATA) and the power dongle to the PSU core of your PC.
Once that is done, your computer should automatically detect the drive and the indicator light should come on. For basic drives there is really no problem, but for more advanced solutions, you might be requested to install a driver for Windows to support other functions that it might have. This is especially true of faster DVD writers and multi function DVD drives that have remote and infrared capability. The common problems often include things like the driver device not being signed by Windows, or Windows cannot detect the driver or the file cannot be installed. The problem might even extent to the fact that the DVD cannot function and the hardware profile might give you that yellow exclamation mark, which would signal the fact that the driver for the DVD is in conflict with a port or another device.
These are just some of the more common problems and usually there is a single, universal solution to alleviate all of this and get your DVD up and running. The universal solution is quite elementary: Go to the website of the manufacturer, select your model and download the latest drivers. If the problem goes beyond that, contact either the manufacturer or look up Windows technical help forums on their website; there usually is a solution posted for you to get things in order. These are some of the common DVD driver problems and easy fixes to solve them.
Resolving ATI Drivers Installation Problems
By: Logan Albright
ATI is a company that is well known for providing entry-level graphics solutions to many PCs sold all over the world and they are also quite renowned for working with motherboard manufacturers to produce some of the best motherboards out there. But of course, we all know that within the graphics industry, ATI is one of the leading brands out there, jostling for top position with NVIDIA, who arguably holds a larger market share of the consumer graphics solution. Both of these brands are well known for producing cutting edge solutions tailor made for the hard core gamer and sometimes these boards are also generations ahead of even the latest games, which make their longevity even more tantamount.
While most technological computing equipment fall prey to the evolving hyperbole which makes them last 6 months (if you are lucky) before the next better thing comes out, graphics cards have a slightly better half life in the PC casing and ATI is a great choice. However, if you have purchased an ATI graphics card, then you might be one of the few hundred thousand gamers all over the world who might have encountered some driver installation problems when tinkering around with the initial installation.
Do not worry, this is sometimes completely normal and all you need to do is read this article. While it will not resolve major issues like manufacturing errors or corrupt memory modules, some of the simple software problems and driver conflicts can be resolved by you right at home. One of the common problems of driver installation problems is that the end user, in the rush to plug in their new graphics card, has forgotten to follow procedure.
This means they would have to uninstall the old card, shut down the computer, restart to ensure that all trailing device driver and hardware profiles are no longer there, then shut down the computer again. By bypassing this process, many people have problems where the computer either refuses to recognise the new hardware or they are in a position where they list your new card under your previous card’s name, which can be quite pain.
Also, remember to update the drivers by visiting ATI’s website and downloading the latest drivers, because the ones in the box may have been sitting there for months and you might end up with conflicts and problems that already have been resolved by the new drivers.
Lastly, you must download the latest DirectX drivers that Microsoft has posted (especially if you running Windows!) because they are made to optimally use your card’s drivers to their fullest potential. You have to understand that glitches in the game and crashes are down to installation problems where new DirectX drivers are not installed.
If you follow these simple steps, you will have no problem in getting your brand new, cutting edge card in working order and you will be immersed in another world within a few moments. You do not need to lug your card back to the computer store, all it takes is just some tinkering around and everything will be in good order.
Troubleshooting the Top 3 Common HP Drivers Problems
By: Logan Albright
There is a lot of tradition and reliability when one mentions the HP brand, and this is applicable to all the products within the market name. When one thinks of HP, printers, scanners and a whole slew of office equipment will dominate thinking; a company which has successfully branded itself as an all in one solution for office and even personal needs. Many people out there own HP equipment and the one thing they will say to you is that these machines are generally reliable, but with all aspects of technology and the random environments that they categorized, there are often many hiccups that can appear along the way.
While HP has a very strong and competent technical support team, their presence is not always there and sometimes getting to them can prove to be quite difficult, as they have a whole host of customers to deal with. And lugging the piece of machinery down to the local repair man or dealer is also something that can be quite an inconvenience at times.
So you need to be able to solve these problems, or at least some of the simpler problems from the comforts of your home, and the most common ones that occur and are completely solvable at home are software issues and driver problems. One common problem is an outdated driver, which normally comes with the product that you buy. Driver files are often updated every few months and sometimes every few weeks, so you need to make sure you have the latest drivers.
This is done because of changes to the Operating System, like Windows and HP has to adapt and change the drivers to fit the new environment if certain trouble arises from the new shell. Another common problem of course is conflicts that the driver has with other programmes or shared system files within the Windows environment.
This is quite common as we often use equipment and machinery from all sorts of manufacturers and sometimes the design of the drivers, their DLL structure and system files that they share commonly across the board might not be optimal and can conflict with each other. One way to solve this of course is to consult the internet and more than likely, HP itself will have technical forums that will allow you to view common problems and solve them on your own.
They might also release software patches, either for the HP hardware or direct you to the other vendor’s website, where an update driver to resolve this issue might have been posted. The last common problem is driver compatibility with some operating systems, which would mean that some of the features cannot be utilised. Of the top of the list are features like duplex printing, framed printing, which cannot be used for HP printers when they are attached to a LINUX or MAC system. There may be software workarounds for this, or you can simply install Windows as a backup OS on your system.
Printer Driver Downloads - Your Best Troubleshooting Solution
By: Logan Albright
Printers are our friends, for students to the working individual, there is nothing like the convenience of being able to print from the comfort of where we are. They make our digital works come alive with colour and text, and for some, it is an essential part of their lives. You would be surprised to know that there are more than 100,000,000 pieces of paper being printed and discarded every month worldwide, and that is a staggering amount of trees.
Of course, they have come out with the new wood free paper and other technology, but the amount of trees that are being cut is quite mammoth in the first place. Well this also gives you an idea of how many printers there are in the world today, and when it comes to this, you need to understand that the amount of mistakes being made on a daily basis when it comes to printer drivers is also something that has run into the hundreds of thousands.
Knowing this, what you need to know about this is that there are solutions out there that you can use to your advantage when thinking about the printer driver. The driver is the biggest cause of many of the problems that are being reported about printers and this is because of the sheer range of machines out there that the printers have to connect with and with this, they connections and communication between driver and computer will often come into many problems.
So what you need to do is to be able to keep a list of updated printer drivers, because this is how the industry of quality control works. What you need to know is that you as a human being, a computer user is someone who is actually a test bed for much of the hardware out there. Now, beta testing aside, the real test is when the hardware is being released to many of the systems out there and this is really where most of the engineers get their work cut out for them. Because they cannot test their hardware and engineered drivers against all possible software and hardware combinations in the world, what happens is that they leave it up to the world to tell them of the mistakes.
When this happens, they will then look at the reports and then look at the architecture of the drivers once again. Once they are able to do this, what happens is that they will then make the changes and this is when the version history of the driver comes in. So you need to be on top of the game when it comes to the printer driver downloads industry, and it is these quality checks that would be able to give you the advantage necessary. Sometimes what you can do is to subscribe to their online download and support sites, and you would be then notified of much of the changes made.
These are just some of the troubleshooting tips you can take into consideration when you encounter problems with your printer. Most of the time it is down to the drivers, and your best bet is to download a driver update from the manufacturer or a reliable third party source.
Troubleshooting Lexmark Drivers Problems - What to Do When You Printer Acts Up
By: Logan Albright
The printer is something that is quite important to people who are working from home, or when they need to do something and print it out. The technology of the printer is something that has come a long way, and back in the day, it was actually quite hard for anyone to print something from their home. Printers back then were quite big and clunky and they were quite expensive to bring over to your home and this meant that people were depending on the print shops to get something done, or if they needed some printing, they would be doing it in the comfort of their own office.
Not only was this much easier, but much cheaper as well. Now, however, the technology of the printer has come a long way and companies like Lexmark have brought their printers into many homes all over the world. But of course the picture is not always perfect and sometimes technology allows the odd error or two.
One common problem that people do face when it comes to printers is that sometimes the printer acts up and you see the common exclamation point error notice when you do try to print something. The all dependable printer suddenly becomes dead and the lights blink for no reason what so ever. So why is there a problem in the first place and what can you do to alleviate this problem. Well, for one thing, what you need to understand is that there are many ways for you to approach this problem, and this can range from hardware to software.
Hardware problems are pretty easy to spot and a problem with the mechanism of the printer is something that you most likely would not be able to fix on your own. Unless you would like the problem to increase and most likely electrify yourself, then I would advise that you send back the printer to the merchant who sold it to you in the first place. Now, if the problem is a software problem, then you would be looking at the drivers of the printer. One way you can address the issue easily is to do a simple reinstall of the product, and this requires that you remove its hardware signature from the computer, restart then do a clean install with the drivers given to you.
Now, there is a second part to this problem, and the problem could be because of the fact that the drivers are outdated and they have come into conflict with other softwares or even drivers newly installed. When this happens, what you need to do is to actually update these drivers on your own, and this can be easily achieved with a simple visit to the product’s website and downloading the drivers which would be the most updated ones. These are some of the things you can do when your printer acts up and these are proven methods to fix the issue, right in the comforts of your own home.
Computer Software King is Microsoft !
By: Rajesh Chouhan
Software was all complicated when it initially stormed the market. Only computer nerds were associated with it, but a lot of things have changed today. Thanks to Microsoft, they have made everything very simple for users. Software has also evolved a great deal when it comes to daily usage.
A lot of things in the software field happened only because of Microsoft. For more details go to www.software-index-website.com Even though there have been many competitors in the field, they have ruled the roost. They have been least perturbed by the entry of other software corporations when it comes to software. Every day they are constantly working towards giving the world better software to use.
They made the whole world understand what software was all about. This is the greatest invention of the world till date, as it has made life very easy for everyone. From running businesses to shopping and other facilities, software has made everything possible. And Microsoft is responsible for all this.
They have made the world a smaller place, though there have been inputs from many other corporations. However one drawback that most users have with software is that it keeps changing often. This has also lead to piracy of software in a big way. Not much effort is being taken about this, as it seems pointless.
Software was all complicated when it initially stormed the market. Only computer nerds were associated with it, but a lot of things have changed today. Thanks to Microsoft, they have made everything very simple for users. Software has also evolved a great deal when it comes to daily usage.
The piracy industry is so vast that Microsoft is unable to keep a check on what is going on entirely. The software ranges from simple to complicated applications. However they serve the industries of the world in a big way. Software is also expensive, and this is one way that the company made money.
Software has revolutionized the ways of the world in many ways, and this has made life very easy for many millions of people around the world. A lot of intelligence is however required when it comes to development of software. For more details go to www.scripts-to-sell.com Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is known to have begun and grown the strength of the software he provides to the world, purely on merit.
Daily tasks can be handled with the help of software, from accounts to appointments. The whole aspect of the facility is very interesting. This will provide a great opportunity for people to make their lives systematic. People should contribute back by buying original software and killing piracy.
Software is also a very important part of many industries in various ways. All of this, thanks to Microsoft.
They have made the world a smaller place, though there have been inputs from many other corporations. However one drawback that most users have with software is that it keeps changing often. This has also lead to piracy of software in a big way. Not much effort is being taken about this, as it seems pointless.
Microsoft Dynamics Navision Services is Extremely Helpful to Connect an Entire Business
>From financial management to customer service and be it supply regulation or online business, Microsoft Dynamics Navision services brings together matchless functionalities and latest features which include capturing, organizing, sharing and regulate the flow of information across your organization.
Microsoft Dynamics Navision services have been accepted by more than 57,000 companies in their processes which include financial, Sales and Marketing, Business Intelligence etc. It enables one to manage all aspects of the business under a single roof.
It resembles Microsoft Outlook which makes it very user-friendly. It helps users to use their existing prowess with applications with an easy-to-use setup. Integration with Word and Excel has never been as easier as with Microsoft Dynamics Navision services and that helps users to generate documents and reports and also work with them simultaneously. Navision services provided by several offshore Microsoft Dynamics Navision service providers also provide superior integration functionalities for other applications.
Benefits:
• You can use Microsoft Dynamics Navision services and would not have to change much of your existing system. You can choose different application areas for financial management, client relationship management, sales, marketing, purchasing, service management, manufacturing and online business. You can customize Microsoft Dynamics NAV features with the help of offshore Microsoft Navision services to point out the area which you want your business to connect.
• Offshore Microsoft Dynamics Navision service providers can tailor the software to meet the company’s exact needs depending on proven methodologies and tools. Business processes are mapped out and then the client’s competitive strengths are assessed.
• All the processes within Microsoft Dynamics Navision services are set with real-time right from the time a transaction has been created and sent. One can filter the results and zero in the details as and when necessary. One can always rely on the accuracy of the data that is displayed.
• All business information right from the customer, the product, inventory details, and sales is integrated within Navision for making better decisions. Which accounts need attention and which can withstand delay is for you to decide and set. One can even target sales and devise marketing campaigns depending on the sales figures, client interaction records and other relevant information which stands testimony that the campaign will have some impact.
• With Microsoft Dynamics Navision services, information is transparent and visible to all authorized users within the organization be it the back office, the warehouse or the retail centre. One can act at a real time basis by allowing changes to be reflected quickly across the system and notified to relevant users promptly.
How To Zip A File
By: John May
Files have always grown bigger and bigger and they will continue to grow bigger in future as well. However, your storage media cannot grow with the same rate as that of the file growth rate. Even if you have lots of free space available, it would be pointless to waste it by storing files of enormous size. So how do you optimize on saving space then? Well the answer is simple! Just Zip your files!
Zipping a file means compressing a file so that it occupies less space on your storage media such as hard drive or DVD. This will not only save you on disk space but also help you organize your data in a much more efficient way and make your computer work faster! Zipping files is often what people do when they want to send large files by emails or upload large files to there website where there is not a lot of room to upload a whole big file.
So, back to the question how to Zip a file? You can do this is in 3 simple easy steps which are shown below and show you the best way to unzip a file.
1. Step One
Go to the file that you want to be zipped/compressed. In case of two or more files, add them in one folder and rename the folder to whatever you want it to be called.
2. Step Two
Right click on the file or folder depending on what you choose as per step one followed by ‘Send to’ and then selecting ‘Compressed Zip Folder’. This feature is in built into Windows XP and the higher versions so you will not have to download any programs although the program built into Windows has limited tool that you can use. Now you have to go and right click the file and then click zip file. You now should have a zipped file but if you are not using windows you will have to download and install a program such as winzip which allows you to zip programs in a flash. If you are going to use winzip you have to right click the file and choose send to and then you will need to find winzip in the list now you can go into winzip and click zip files it will now zip the files for you and they will be ready to be unzipped.
3. Step Three
The zipped file that you would get after compression would be a .zip file and a copy of your contents. You can either choose to delete your original files/folder or just let it remain, as per your convenience. The zipped file won’t need those original files anymore now. Also, the outcome would be only one zip file no matter how many files you zip. When you unzip the file, you would get all your files as they were before zipping. Now all you have to do is upload it to what ever your going to be using to carry the files and you have now finished zipping the file.
AS400 Operations Navigator to the Rescue
By: John Andersen
There is a large misconception running about the user community these days that the AS/400 and iSeries platform are old antiquated machine as scarce as the dinosaurs and just as hard to use with its crummy looking text only interface commonly known as the green screen. This is a major sticking point for business looking to buy an AS/400 and especially for some system administrators that have been groomed on a Windows based environment with point and click ease of use and a built in wizard to do just about everything.
But there is really good news for those people who absolutely hate the old fashioned green-screens that the AS/400 and iSeries platform is known for… there has been a tool available to make maintenance and administration tasks easier. That cool graphical user interface tool is called Operations Navigator, it comes along with your regular licenses so it doesn’t cost any additional money and it has been available now for many years.
That’s right I said that the operations navigator utility is a GUI you can use with your AS/400 and iSeries systems. With it you can maintain users, catalogue system patches and program temporary fixes, watch jobs, administer printer output queues and more. You want to run an SQL query to delete some data sets or run a quick and dirty report and export the results into Excel? Operations navigator has you covered. Want to copy files from your computer over to the integrated file system on the AS/400? Operations navigator can do that too.
If you are into keeping a watchful eye on the health and performance data of your system, once configured, operations navigator will spit out great looking charts and graphs of important performance metrics. Did you know that you can also download your reports as text or pdf files from your AS/400 or iSeries with operations navigator, this very feature alone can replace you dependency for expensive third party software packages you may currently be using.
One of the greatest features not otherwise available until operations navigator came around is the ability to diagnose SQL statements and present them in a graphical diagram with each of the steps the system used to execute it in very thorough detail. There is also a whole feature set available that will collect performance data on your programs and files and record how often temporary indexes are built, you then simply go back and review this data after running a collection and it will recommend indexes to build that will improve the performance of your reports and queries dramatically.
Eventually you may find yourself having to perform some tasks in the command line environment, but as time moves on more and more of features are being built natively into operations navigator with each new release slowly removing the dependency on the green-screen. Who knows though, you may even become a convert like some of us old 400 folks and start to use the command line interface instead of the GUI. Nonetheless oprations navigator has such a rich set of tools and its ease of use make it an excellent tool to administering your AS/400 and iSeries systems so it is definitely here to stay.
AS400 Commands in a Nutshell
By: John Andersen
The AS/400 and iSeries systems are essentially command driven operating systems. There are definite advantages to a command line driven environment but nowadays with the widespread popularity of GUIs people seem to recoil when talking about anything command driven. The good news is that the native command set available on the AS/400 and iSeries platform is really simple to learn and before long you will be a pro.
Since commands are so essential to doing anything and working with the system let’s review some of the basics when it comes to AS/400 and iSeries commands. As I mentioned commands are the heart of the system and while there are other options available for administration like operations navigator it is still important to have a good grasp of the OS/400 command line interface.
First most commands are simply three letter abbreviations of common words, there are some rare exceptions so this isn’t a hard and fast rule. For example the word work is abbreviated to the three letters wrk, and the word active is shortened to just act. If you put these two words together along with the word job, you get the command wrkactjob which displays all of the currently active and running jobs on the entire system at that time. And by the way you will use the wkractjob command frequently so you may want to write that down.
A useful feature of the operating system is that commands can be prompted
and all of the additional parameters displayed along with the extended help text information. To activate, after typing in a command on the command line just press the F4 key and up will pop all the parameters for the command, you can usually use the F4 key again in each of the parameter fields to display a list of values available for those parameters. Help text for the parameters is as simple as pressing the F1 key on the keyboard. To close out of the command prompt screen and return back to the command line simply press the F12 key.
Wild cards can make you life incredibly easy and trying to track down commands faster. If you are unsure of a command simply key in the portion you do know along with the asterisk (*) symbol tagged on the end and press the enter key. The operating system will then search the entire system for any and all commands that match the wildcard and return the results onto the screen where you can easily browse through and pick the one you wanted to use.
When you first log onto the AS/400 you will notice that it is menu driven but behind the scenes these menus are nothing more than, you guessed it, commands. If you navigate around the menu system you will see that there are some menus that will help you track down commands faster. In addition you can access the “Verb Commands” menu by typing in the command go verb. On this menu all of the commands available to you have been grouped together by their action such as work, copy and delete.
5 Simple AS/400 Data Download Techniques
By: John Andersen
One of the most common questions I get is how do I get the data from my AS/400 or iSeries onto my computer or Excel spreadsheet program so I can manipulate it using PC programs and spreadsheets. Now back in the old days this used to be a daunting task, but now in modern times with database tools and ODBC drivers that come bundled with your system downloading any data you need over to a PC can be done in a snap.
The first tool for making your data transfer life easier is the Excel Add-in that is included with your Client Access software licenses, and most systems come with Client Access. The Excel add-in tool allows you to query, sort, order and more data requests to your system using SQL like syntax and dump those results directly into your beloved Excel spreadsheet without any hassle. If you have Excel downloads you routinely use you can even save the configuration for later use.
Along the same lines as the Excel add-in is the Data Transfer portion of the 5250 emulator program included with Client Access. This program functions identically to the AS/400 Excel Add-in except that it returns the query results to a plain text data file instead of a spreadsheet.
Now if you are building an MS Access database program or coding another Windows based program that can’t use a download but will need access to your AS/400 data in real time there is an available ODBC driver that comes with your Client Access licenses, or if you are using Java you can use JDBC.
An older set of commands available from within the AS/400 allow you to copy entire physical files and tables over to the Integrated File System where you can then access and download the file using Operations Navigator or through a network share. To use this method you simply issue the one of the commands Copy to PC Document- CPYTOPCD or Copy to Import File with the command CPYTOIMPF. For either of these commands you simply specify the IFS path and file name in the stream file parameter field. It should be noted that both of these options copy the physical file over verbatim, you can’t use constraints.
Getting network shares working takes a little effort and configuration but once complete the AS/400 acts just like another file server on your Windows network so you can retrieve files. So after using the Copy to PC Document or Copy to Import File programs you simply download the file to your PC like you would from another Windows file server.
Finally you may need to copy over your printable reports and spool files to a computer and fortunately Operations Navigator has you covered as well. Simply open up operations navigator, click on basic operations then click on printer output to display a list of spool files you can download to your computer. To download you can simply click and drag the file to your desktop and it will automatically be converted to a plain text document or if you right click on the document there is an option to convert it to an Adobe pdf document.
A Pen Drive Guide To Beginners
By: Roberto Sedycias
The pen drive is a convenient USB flash memory device. The device is primarily used to transfer data files, audio and video from one computer to another very quickly. It derived its name from its constitution. The device, most of the times looks like a small pen which will easily fit in your pocket. It is indeed a charismatic invention of science. The device has made our work easier. It is sometimes referred to as jump drives as well.
Pen drive is an improvement on the floppy drives and the compact discs which were used for transferring files, copying data and reloading files on different drives. They are outfitted with a huge memory capacity. Even one with the lowest capacity has plenty of space to store a huge amount of data.
All common types of files can be transferred to a pen drive which can subsequently be transferred to any type of hard drive. From word documents, photographs, spreadsheets, music tracks to movie clips one can copy all kinds of files on a pen drive and then transfer it to some other drive. And the best part is that it requires only a few second to transfer the files and get your work done.
Now comes the most important question. How to use a pen drive? The process of using one is very easy indeed. They have a USB connector at one end. The connector is plunged into the USB port of either a desktop or a laptop and then activated. The screen shows an icon which gives you the indication that your it is active. Once it is active you can drag and drop or copy files very easily. The procedure is as easy as attaching a file to an e mail. Pen drives work fast and transfers huge files within a few seconds. it is a new device and manufacturers across the globe are making them.
Pen drives are configured at different levels as a result of which they can be used in all types of systems. Be it a PC or a laptop, it is compatible for all kinds of operating system. As long as your computer is having a USB port, transferring data through it is very easy. With the increase in demand, they are now manufactured with added facilities. And they are available with variable storage capacity.
Pen drives are very useful for network administrators for keeping backups of every work. They can easily store configuration information in it and load them when needed to other drives. You can store lots of information in it which will be of use during emergency. They are portable and very easy to move. Thus they are very popular with software and hardware professionals.
Pen drives are now available with modern appendages like LCD screen and audio input jack. A high end model may have drives with sound output as well. USB pen drives may also offer MP3 playback features. Some also have built-in rechargeable battery.
There is no need of installing the drive before using a USB pen drive. It carries application which can run on the host without installation. Nothing is as hassle free as a USB pendrive.
As we all are aware of the fact that the modern world is very fast and everything needs to be done within a fraction of a second. A pen drive is a modern day gadget which not only makes your work easier but also save you from the hassle of carrying big documents and remembering weird configurations.
Troubleshooting USB 2.0 Driver Problems the Easy Way
By: Logan Albright
The USB or Universal Serial Bus is an invention that was made to take over the aged printer port data cable solution, which had dominated the PC market for a very long time. While we were satisfied with transfer rates, when compared to today’s technology, seemed a bit dismal, innovations like the USB and the Fire Wire port have revolutionised offline data transfer and the computer’s plug and play potential.
Previously, there was no easy way we could install any new piece of hardware, and all of our solutions seemed to be only internet and hard wired to the motherboard, and this is because there was no viable consumer method to connect hardware easily to the computer from an external source.
One of the issues of course was power; and the only power source was the PSU unit inside the PC casing, and power units (till this day) are not designed with external output sources where you can plug in your devices. All power would be routed to the motherboard in the form of expandable slots like the AGP (which only came later), the PCI (which was the most common place to install new hardware) and of course the RAM slots, where you could place in more memory.
Of late, the options for expansion have of course been changed drastically, no longer with simple IDE solutions inside the motherboard. Now, you have high speeds like SATA, which tripled the potential speed of SATA based hard drives, obliterating the use of IDE cables and clunky power unit dongles. The AGP was done away with and the PCI was upgraded to the PCI express, which seemed to be the all in one solution for installing new hardware like modems, sound cards, graphics cards, independent multimedia solutions for the computer.
One of the most beneficial technological moves the computing world did was the introduction of the USB port, which allowed the user to install any piece of hardware that was USB enabled; which of course now covers anything from external hard disks, printers, scanners, sound devices, DVD roms etc - the list is endless.
You can even convert your PC into a design studio with USB attachments. With USB 2.0, it is an upgrade with better power management and of course, higher transfer speeds for data, which opened up the market to new mobile phones, PDAs etc. When using the USB 2.0, you might be encountering driver problems, especially when you are installing one fresh from the counter and not incorporated into the motherboard.
Usually, there are very easy ways you can do this and it either is actually a simple task of downloading fresh drivers from the internet or, if you have Windows, allow it to override the manual driver installation and install it based on its own database. Many of your USB 2.0 driver problems will be done away with easily. So there you have it; a brief explanation on the USB, its functions and how to do away with those pesky driver installation problems that people always encounter.
Discover Ways To Extend Your Computer's Capabilities
Once your computer knowledge and confidence grows, you will be eager to expand your personal computer's capabilities. A wide range of devices is available that will make working with your computer even more interesting and enjoyable. Here are some extras that can be collected over time:
- Modems. One very important aspect of modems is never try to buy a used one. Because, how are you going to know if its actually going to work, and it could be also missing alot of instructions for installation and might not have the driver software CD that comes with it. A new modem will be more money, but the money you save getting a used modem is not worth the trouble when trying to install right or may wear out much sooner than a new one. Basically, there are two main types of modems. Internal modems are installed inside the system unit in one of the spare slots at the back. External modems sit outside your computer, on your desk, and plug into one of the serial ports at the back of the system unit. Once you have a model, you can connect to the internet, send emails, and send and receive faxes, using your computer as a fax machine.
- Scanners. The basic operation of the scanner is to read the image of the object placed on the scanner pane of optical reading feature which converts the analog code into digitized code. A scanner will transform your paper images and photo prints into graphic files that you can then edit and use on your PC. Flatbed scanners, in which you lay your images face down and a light-sensitive device passes undernealth, are the most versatile and affordable type of scanner. Buy a scanner with a resolution capability of atleast 300dpi.
- Digital Cameras. Digital cameras look similar to ordinary cameras, but take photographs without using any film. The picture is stored as a graphic file that you can transfer directly to your computer through a connection cord. Good quality cameras are quite expensive, but it's worth remembering that you won't need to buy film and get it developed, and you don't need a scanner. Care should be taken while transferring the files from your camera to your computers. Improper transferring may lead to short circuiting of your digital camera. Never try to disconnect your device while transferring files from your digital cameras to the computers.
- Joysticks. If you're a fan of computer games, a joystick is essential. Many home PCs come with their own joystick, but you can also buy joystick with extra feature buttons and better grips. They plug into a port in your system unit. The best joysticks are those that also provide feedback. It's also possible to buy steering wheels and pedals for driving games. If you have the opportunity, you should try to use the joystick in-store before purchasing it. If the joystick is uncomfortable or you are having to use too much force when maneuvering it in different directions, you should probably pass on that model of joystick because it may cause unnecessary wrist strain and leave you unable to have the fast reaction time that new computer age games require.
- Video Cameras. If you mount a small video camera on the top of your computer, you can conduct video conferences. These small cameras are also used for the WebCam sites on the internet. Bear in mind that video conferencing require a powerful PC, and without special high-speed phone lines, the picture can be jerky and the sound can stutter. Looking for the best video cameras often is successfully done with a few simple steps. Know your options in the marketplace and know what features will be important to you. Make sure you have a set price range. Take a look at the reviews as well as talking to people who have purchased and understand how to use a video camera.
- Microphones. They are available for common computer usage like recording a narration. Many computers come with a microphone in the accessories that come with it. Your accessory microphone may be alright to begin with but it probably will not be professional quality but should be ok because it all depends on what your needs are. But it is now possible to use a microphone in conjunction with speech-recognition software. This means that you don't have to type in anything you just have to say it. Unless you spend a long time teaching it to recognize your voice, it may give poor results.
Your added devices can also be bought to make the most of existing on-screen entertainments. The new generation of joysticks for instance, really take game playing to a new dimension. Like I mentioned earlier, you can have all these over time but you don't need to buy everything on the same shopping trip.