How to remove Babylon Search in Internet Explorer

The Story,

My office PC Internet Explorer suddenly gets infected by Babylon Search. It changed my default Google search to Babylon's own.

This is a Malware as I never installed the program myself. Here's a few ways to remove it :-

• Computer newbies forum: Unwanted search site
• How do I remove the Babylon search engine from my browser?

Speed up Firefox

The Story,

My Firefox browser is getting slower and freezes sometimes. Do you have the same problem?

Here's a DIY remedy for you.

A quick-and-dirty way to speed up Firefox (a lot)

Can surge protectors really protect your PC?

The Story,

I am reading this Cnet forum about surge protection "PC hardware forum: Do surge protectors merely give us a false sense of security?"

People doesn't believe that surge protection works.

I can tell you this, if not for lightning surge protectors, all our computers in our construction site would be blown by now.

During bad weather season, our site (the tower and tower cranes) get hits almost every week and the surge will follow the current all the way into the site office.

We may have many equipment burned but those computers protected by the reliable Belkin Surgemaster always survives the hit (most of the time).

Even our CCTV system is protected by Surgemaster and other lightning protectors.

I can tell you that surge protectors won't work 100% of the time as we are dealing with nature (Thor). But better be protector then sorry later.

How to change PC power supply

The story,

Since I have showed you how so check for power supply failure, I should also show you how to change it.

Here's how to do it

1. Turn off AC power to the PC and remove the power cord from the PC power supply.
2. Open the CPU casing
3. Disconnect the connections from the power supply to the motherboard, hard disk, DVD-ROM and any other power connection (Picture 1)
4. Open the 4 screws of the power supply from the back of the CPU (Picture 2)
5. Take out the power supply
6. Attach a new power supply and screw it to the CPU casing (the 4 screws)
7. Connect all the wire connection to the Motherboard, hard disk, DVD-ROM and others.
8. Double check if all the connections are tight and no wires are blocking the CPU fan from spinning
9. Close the CPU casing and plug in the power cord.
10. Turn on the PC and check if it works. If not, check the connections again.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Stop those nasty pop ups! How to remove Malware?

The story,

While I was searching Internet for printer drivers on my friends laptop, the adult friend finder window popped up automatically.

This is a malware that creeps in while you surf Internet. These pop ups are very annoying. It is worst when naked pictures start to pop up all the time.

You will need a good Malware scanner beside your Antivirus to remove it.

I would recommend Malwarebytes, Spy Sweeper, AVG Internet Security and Ad-Aware.

The following is a link to another Malware removal article for your reference.

Why You Need a Second Opinion Malware Scanner

How do I know PC power supply failure?

The story,

The power distribution in many industrial areal aren't so consistent. Therefore we frequently have dead PC power supply.

So if we cannot turn on the PC, how do we know if it is the power supply failure and not the motherboard?

Here's a simple solution,

1. Open the PC casing, and look for a small LED green light (mostly beside the power connection to the motherboard. 
2. This is a power standby indicator that signal there is power into the motherboard.
3. If there is green light when AC power from wall socket is turned on, this signal that the power supply is OK and vice versa (picture below).
4. If there is no light, change a new power supply.
5. If after change the power supply also no light, then it's the motherboard problem.

Additional note :

• Don't attempt the repair the power supply unless you are a trained electrical technician. The power supply is so cheap that it's not worth to repair even you are a technician or engineer.
• There are still charges in the capacitor that might kill you even it's not plugged in. Don't pass these hazardous things to children or anyone else. Stay safe.
• To keep your power supply healthy and lasting, I suggest you use a AVR (automatic voltage regulator  or UPS (uninterruptible power supply) regulate the AC input power.