How can I make my Windows 7 machines boot up quickly

The Story,

I have been experiencing slow boot up of my own Windows 7 laptop. I found this article in Cnet forum that explain what I would normally do to solve it. Please read on.

Windows 7 forum: How can I make my Windows 7 machines boot up quickly?

Additional note :

• Be advised that you need to have ample RAM to have any effect on Windows 7 performance. I recommend 4GB RAM and 2GB (minimal) with Dual Core processor.
• If you have lower specification, the configuration will not be very helpful. 

How to create hard disk image with Acronis True Image

The story :

Our mini market division has a point of sales IBM server that is a few years old. After a client POS hard disk failed, we fear that the server may also fails soon. They were purchased together.

I decided to make an image of the hard disk just in case. I will use Acronis True Image Bootable CD to create the image into an external hard disk.

I am using an older version of Acronis, the later versions may look different. I bet the functions are likely the same.

Requirements :
a) Acronis True Image Bootable CD
b) USB external hard disk
c) Server with Bootable CDROM Drive

How I do it :

1. Plug the external hard disk (USB FreeAgent Drive) into the server
2. Turn on the server
3. Insert the Acronis CD before the Windows Server start
4. The server will boot using Acronis (picture below)

5. From the Acronis main window, choose Backup (picture below)

6. It will tell you that Acronis will use a wizard to assist you. Click Next (picture below)

7. Choose the hard disk partition you want to backup to an image and click Next (picture below)

8. Choose the target to create the image (I choose Free Agent external drive D:), type in the name of the image and click Next (picture below)

9. I will have 4 option to choose from. I may password protect the image, increase compression ratio, split the image or change other parameters  (picture below) .

10. I normally just click next to proceed to image creation (picture below) 

11. After clicking Next, the image creation process will start as indicated by the progress bar (picture below)

12. Wait for the process to complete and exit.

13. With the image created, I only backup the POS database into external hard disk daily. If the server hard disk fail, I will use the Acronis CD and image (in the external hard disk) to restore the image into a new hard disk. I will then copy the backed up database into the new server hard disk (overwrite the old database in the image).

You may find out or purchase Acronis True Image here. 

Kenneth's note :

• with Acronis, we can also backup the image direct to thumb driver, secondary hard disk and other partition.
• other software like Norton Ghost can do the job as well.
• there are free hard disk clone software such as Disk Clone but they are hard to use.

How to use virtual desktop - DexPot

The story,

I always need to work with multiple project at once and it's just too messy to put so many things in a single Windows desktop(screen). I have outlook, web browser for gmail, gdoc and Google calender, a few documents and Excel worksheets and GPS fleet management system client.

How nice if I can work at each group of programs on different screens. With virtual desktop, we can do it. We can switch from a few desktops with only one computer screens. We can just press some combination of keys like (alt +1 to alt +4) to switch from each screen.

I normally use 4 virtual desktops for my work. I have emails and Outlook for 1 screen, browser for another screen, projects (excel and other applications) on third screen and others on the forth screen.

I use Dexpot to do it. Dexpot allows up to 20 possible desktops. It has a well organized interface that enables easy switching among desktops with just pressing a few combination of keys.

I now can focus on a single desktop and switch to others when necessary.

Try it and you will like it. Download Dexpot here.

It's free too.

Kenneth's note

• Some may want real multiple monitor instead of multiple virtual desk cause you can look at all the screen all the time. With virtual screen, you can only look at a single screen and preview all the virtual desktop on a split screen (not full screen).  
• Multiple screens are achieve by adding hardware (display cards), not by software.
• There may be some application that won;t work with virtual desktop.
• 
  

Fail - Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green

The Story,

We have 2 unit's of the mentioned model failed in 2 weeks. Both from the same batch and both only one and a half year old. Luckily WD offer 2 year warranty.

However, the Caviar Blue is reliable and works great.

You may want to read this as well. (Beware WD Green Hard Drives)

How to use budget Edifier M3400 2.1 Speaker System for TV or PC.

The Story:

I have been using Edifier M3400 as speaker for my TV. I have a LG 32" LCD TV connected to satellite TV system.

In the beginning (without Edifier M3400), the sound isn't really good. Lack bass and thin sounding (normal for standard TV).

I wanted a budget solution for the problem but don't want a full AV system. I had a 5.1 AV system but it's too clunky and too many cables. (I throw them away after the AV amp malfunctioned).

I wanted something simple and straight forward. I went to the IT hypermarket and tested many budget 2.1 PC speakers and found that Edifier M3400 2.1 Speaker System is a good bargain. It offer clear clean high and mid range with solid deep bass. The wooden satellite speakers looks great beside the LCD TV.

I bought it and plugged it into my TV (RCA out port). Instantly, watching TV become much more enjoyable. Voice become clearer and larger. Sound effect is louder and best of all, there is good bass. I can hear the beat and punch of TV programs that I could not hear from my TV own speakers.

I also connected my Kworld Media Player to the TV. So both satellite TV and  media player are connected to the Edifier M3400 through my TV RCA out (line out) and I can enjoy good sound from both.

Do not compare this to a full AV system though. This is merely a budget (USD 70) solution to improve TV sound while using less space. This solution is good for smaller living room only ( I suggest apartment with less then 1000 sq. ft.). Don't expect this to shake a bungalow :-).

Edifier M3400  is even better on PC as you site closer to the speakers. Good gaming sound too.

There you go, I'm enjoying Movies, Discovery and History channel now with clean sound and good bass.

p.s. Edifier M3400 may be phased out in many places. I bet Edifier P3080 can do the job as well ;-)

Here's my setup.

Additional note :

• The M3400 doesn't have wireless remote control. You need to use volume control of your satellite TV decoder or TV to control the volume via their wireless remote control.
• If your TV or satellite TV decoder can't control volume of Line out / RCA output, you may want to choose Lotitech Z Cinema (picture below) with wireless remote instead. Else, you have to manually control volume on the speaker.
• Your wife or girlfriend  will appreciate this as they like simple TV set up. Easy for them to enjoy their favourite TV show. They care less about what AV or hi fi system you have, especially it need 4 remote controls to operate.

To connect TV to PC speaker, you need add an RCA to 3.5mm jack (connector) as below:-

Changing your network configuration every day?

The story :

I am stuck with changing network TCP/TP settings of my laptop from office to home. We have different network settings for every floor too.

I found this software called Network Setting Manager (NetSetMan) which I can have 6 network presets that can be easily activated wherever I go.

I can set multiple TCP/IP address, gateway and DNS so I can swap any 6 presets anytime. No need manually change network settings. You can have TCP/IP of 192.168.0.1 changed to 10.10.2.1 with a single click.

This is a must have for network support staffs.

Download NetSetMan here.

My list of 5 best free antivirus.

The story :

Everyone had experience with virus before. But not everyone wish to pay for it.

Fear not, here's my list of 5 best antivirus.

1. Comodo Anti-Virus Software : Full protection. Antivirus, Firewall + Proactive Security for free. What more can I say.
2. AVG Antivirus Free : Simple and effective antivirus. Works great. 1 year free license.Too bad no firewall.
3. Avira Antivirus Free : Easy to install and works great. Have to renew yearly. No firewall though.
4. Avast Antivirus Home Edition : Good antivirus but the user interface tad too troublesome.
5. Bitdefender 2011 Free Eiditon : Solid and trust worthy antivirus.

Here another list from about.com for your reference.

9 Best Free Antivirus Programs

PC storage full? Need cloud storage?

The Story :

I have been hearing cloud services every time I read tech news. It seems to be the next big thing after the iPad.

One should try cloud storage since you can backup your data into a safe place and also retrieve them from anywhere.

For this, I wish to share the following article with you.

(The six best personal cloud storage choices for your stuff)

Sharing 3G USB Modem Broadband Internet

The story :

My friend Liew has 3 PC and wish to have Internet sharing using Celcom 3G USB modem. She already has local area network connection for the 3 PC using a switch and CAT5 cable.

What I did :

Setting up the host PC :

1. Install the USB modem and driver on the host PC
2. Make sure the host PC can connect to Internet with the USB modem
3. Open 'Network properties' of the USB Modem
4. Go to 'Sharing' column 
5. Choose 'Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection'
6. Choose the type of network you are using to connect the PC. I choose 'Local Area Connection'.
7. Choose 'Establish a dial-up connection whenever a computer on my network attempts to access the Internet'. (picture above)
8. Open Local Area Connection, choose Networking - TCPIP (Version 4)
9. Change the IP address of the host computer to 192.168.0.1, subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. Also key in the DNS of your Internet service provider. 
10. Click OK when done. 
11. Host PC all done. (Refer to picture below)
12. Do not change the USB port where you connect the USB modem or else the settings might not work next time.

Setting up the client PC

1. Go to Network Connection -  choose Local Area Connection
2. Choose TCP/IP (Version 4)
3. Key in TCP/IP of the PC - 192.168.1.25 (192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254)
4. Subnet mask - 255.255.255.0 , Gateway - 192.168.0.1 , Primary DNS - your ISP DNS, Secondary DNS : 192.168.0.1
5. Click OK. (refer to picture below)
6. You can use the same setting for other client PC but change the IP address from 192.168.0.25 to 192.168.0.26 etc.
7. Restart all the PC
8. The next time any PC open a browser, your host PC will connect to Internet and all the client PCs will be able to surf the Internet.

Additional notes :

• I would prefer you subscribe to wireless 3G service where the provide wifi router instead of USB modem to make life easier for you. You may bypass having setup wired network for sharing to work.
• USB Modem sharing can be done using wireless network as long as you have all you PC (host and client) connected.
• If you have a DHCP server in your network, you may need to set the DHCP server to use the host PC IP address as Internet Gateway.

How do I improve the Wi-Fi reception?

Check this forum.

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7589_102-559651/how-do-i-improve-the-wi-fi-reception-on-a-laptop/?tag=nl.e497

Intel B960 Processor, good or bad?

The story,

I was looking at Dell PC catalogue sourcing for a basic PC for our new staffs and came across Intel B960 CPU. The price for such system was quite a bargain.

I was afraid that it may provide slow Celeron like performance. After talking to some of my friends and checking the Internet, I was convinced that it will perform like a Intel Core i3-330M processor.

I bought the B960 system and tested it upon delivery. I found it good enough for general office use. No performance issue.

If you are looking for a desktop for paper work, B960 is OK. Don't buy this if you are using it for graphic design or games,  get an core i5 or i7 instead.

Check out below comparison :-
http://compare-processors.com/intel-core-i3-330m-vs-pentium-b960/3836/

Should you buy new or upgrade existing computer?

Hi,

Checkout this forum if you are thinking to buy new PC or upgrade. Cheers.

what should i do upgrade my computer or buy a new one