Let's set a record.... (976)
ArtHistorianMankato, Minnesota USA2 Threads 278 Posts
am too brain dead for the hard stuff today lol------ This thread is Archived ------
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Cool Computers
In the first of what I hope will be a weekly column I am going to discuss hard disk health. Your hard disk is the core of your PC and therefore any problems with it will effect the whole system. Looking after your hard disk is the easiest and cheapest way to keep your computer running and stop people like me from taking your hard won cash.
What is a hard disk?
A hard disk is a small metal box inside the system unit, that’s the big box on or under the desk. Inside is a number of aluminium disks call platters on which data is stored. Tinny read/write heads are suspended a fraction of a millimetre above and below each platter and moved back and forth across the disk. Data is written in circles called tracks and each track is broken in to sectors.
Enough of the science what can you do to keep it healthy?
First you need to keep the data in order. This is done by ‘de-fragmenting’. Fragmentation occurs because Windows and its fore runner DOS, remember DOS, where insanely stupid. When data is removed from the disk a bit of empty space is created. The next time data is placed on the disk DOS, Windows still contains the remnants of DOS, looks for the first bit of empty space and tries to put the file there. If the file is to big then DOS breaks the file and places all that will fit in the space. It then looks for the next bit of space and dose the same. In this way a file can be broken in to hundreds of bits. The problem with this is that the heads must be moved back and forth first reading where each bit is and then reading the corresponding bit. You can imagine the work involved in reading a file broken in to a hundred bits.
How and how often?
The easiest way is with the use of the ‘right click menu’. Open the start menu and select ‘My Computer’, right hand side near the top. In the new window place the mouse pointer over the hard disk and click the right mouse button. The hard disk will be labelled something like ‘Local disk (C:).’ A menu opens and bottom item is ‘Properties’ please select it. Yet another window opens. Along the top we have tabs select ‘tools’ then in the middle of the window click the button marked ‘Defragment Now’. Guess what, another window at the bottom is a button marked ‘Defragment’ clicking this starts the Defragment process.
How often depends on how you use your computer. Once a month will do for most users. Once a week for power users and gamers.
Yes but what else?
On the Tools tab of the Properties window, the one you got by right clicking the hard disk in My Computer, there was also a button marked ‘Check Now’. Clicking this will allow you to check the hard disk for errors. Yes clicking on it opens another window this has two check boxes in the upper half and to buttons in the lower half. Clicking on a check box puts a tick in it and clicking again removes the tick. If you tick ‘scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors’ then click start the computer will happily check the disk.
Both of these activities can take a long time but you can continue to use the computer while they are being done.
Next week I will discus viruses, Trojans and worms what they are and how to protect yourself from them. In the mean time I am available for your questions and problems on 913888863. till next week happy problem free computing to you.
Tip of the week: Backup Backup Backup. I have seen grown men cry because they have lost irreplaceable data.
Fun fact: Computer problems are called bugs because the first computer fault was caused by a butterfly that shorted out one of the first ‘thermo tube’ computers.
In the first of what I hope will be a weekly column I am going to discuss hard disk health. Your hard disk is the core of your PC and therefore any problems with it will effect the whole system. Looking after your hard disk is the easiest and cheapest way to keep your computer running and stop people like me from taking your hard won cash.
What is a hard disk?
A hard disk is a small metal box inside the system unit, that’s the big box on or under the desk. Inside is a number of aluminium disks call platters on which data is stored. Tinny read/write heads are suspended a fraction of a millimetre above and below each platter and moved back and forth across the disk. Data is written in circles called tracks and each track is broken in to sectors.
Enough of the science what can you do to keep it healthy?
First you need to keep the data in order. This is done by ‘de-fragmenting’. Fragmentation occurs because Windows and its fore runner DOS, remember DOS, where insanely stupid. When data is removed from the disk a bit of empty space is created. The next time data is placed on the disk DOS, Windows still contains the remnants of DOS, looks for the first bit of empty space and tries to put the file there. If the file is to big then DOS breaks the file and places all that will fit in the space. It then looks for the next bit of space and dose the same. In this way a file can be broken in to hundreds of bits. The problem with this is that the heads must be moved back and forth first reading where each bit is and then reading the corresponding bit. You can imagine the work involved in reading a file broken in to a hundred bits.
How and how often?
The easiest way is with the use of the ‘right click menu’. Open the start menu and select ‘My Computer’, right hand side near the top. In the new window place the mouse pointer over the hard disk and click the right mouse button. The hard disk will be labelled something like ‘Local disk (C:).’ A menu opens and bottom item is ‘Properties’ please select it. Yet another window opens. Along the top we have tabs select ‘tools’ then in the middle of the window click the button marked ‘Defragment Now’. Guess what, another window at the bottom is a button marked ‘Defragment’ clicking this starts the Defragment process.
How often depends on how you use your computer. Once a month will do for most users. Once a week for power users and gamers.
Yes but what else?
On the Tools tab of the Properties window, the one you got by right clicking the hard disk in My Computer, there was also a button marked ‘Check Now’. Clicking this will allow you to check the hard disk for errors. Yes clicking on it opens another window this has two check boxes in the upper half and to buttons in the lower half. Clicking on a check box puts a tick in it and clicking again removes the tick. If you tick ‘scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors’ then click start the computer will happily check the disk.
Both of these activities can take a long time but you can continue to use the computer while they are being done.
Next week I will discus viruses, Trojans and worms what they are and how to protect yourself from them. In the mean time I am available for your questions and problems on 913888863. till next week happy problem free computing to you.
Tip of the week: Backup Backup Backup. I have seen grown men cry because they have lost irreplaceable data.
Fun fact: Computer problems are called bugs because the first computer fault was caused by a butterfly that shorted out one of the first ‘thermo tube’ computers.
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how is everyone
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Thanks for helping Art
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Who was 'CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST'........before he was a ghost?
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I'm good girl...How are you?
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Computer Networks.
Two words that strike fear in to the hearts of those bosses that must pay to get them fixed. There is no getting away from the fact that networks get hideously complex after you connect twenty or so computers together. If they have been built properly and documented well then they can be a pleasure to fix. I have yet to be called to a well constructed fully documented network.
What is a computer network?
A computer network is just like a human network. At it’s simplest it just a group of computers talking to each other. Networks this simple exist in homes and small offices. A main computer for the family to share, a computer in the den for daddies ‘work’ and laptop for the teenage son who no longer wishes to share. A printer attached to the main computer and the internet both shared by all. Sounds simple enough. Well setting up this kind of network should be.
How?
Windows and its Fabulous ‘Network Setup Wizard’ will do most of the hard work for you. First buy an internet package that is designed to be shared, Think wireless. Buying the right package solves most of the internet sharing problems. Then set up the main computer and install the printer, stuff the disk in, plug the printer in and follow the on screen prompts. You will need at least one computer set up to set up the internet. The internet package comes with a big sheet of paper with pictures on it called the quick start guide. Do not fell ashamed to enlist help from your twelve year old, it was brains like hers that designed this system in the first place. Once all this is done you are ready to start the actual networking. On the main computer open the start menu go to All Programs then Accessories then Communications finally click Network Setup Wizard, I hope you haven’t let that twelve year old run off. Answer the wizards questions and he will make all the network settings for you finally he will offer to make you a network settings disk. This disk carries all the network settings all the other computers will need. Stuff this disk in to each in turn and that lovely wizard will sort it all out. The final step is to tell that teenager he is not getting his laptop back till he cleans his room.
Is wireless networking safe?
A wireless network is never going to be as safe as a wired network but there is plenty you can do. By far the best solution is MAC address access control.
What have rain coats got to do with computers?
A MAC or Media Access Control address is a unique number that is hard wired in to every network device. Every wireless computer has one and it can not be changed. Your wireless router or wireless modem can hold a list of the MAC addresses of the computers you want to connect to your network and by extension your internet connection. It will then deny access to anyone else thus securing your network and preventing others surfing the net from your account.
Two words that strike fear in to the hearts of those bosses that must pay to get them fixed. There is no getting away from the fact that networks get hideously complex after you connect twenty or so computers together. If they have been built properly and documented well then they can be a pleasure to fix. I have yet to be called to a well constructed fully documented network.
What is a computer network?
A computer network is just like a human network. At it’s simplest it just a group of computers talking to each other. Networks this simple exist in homes and small offices. A main computer for the family to share, a computer in the den for daddies ‘work’ and laptop for the teenage son who no longer wishes to share. A printer attached to the main computer and the internet both shared by all. Sounds simple enough. Well setting up this kind of network should be.
How?
Windows and its Fabulous ‘Network Setup Wizard’ will do most of the hard work for you. First buy an internet package that is designed to be shared, Think wireless. Buying the right package solves most of the internet sharing problems. Then set up the main computer and install the printer, stuff the disk in, plug the printer in and follow the on screen prompts. You will need at least one computer set up to set up the internet. The internet package comes with a big sheet of paper with pictures on it called the quick start guide. Do not fell ashamed to enlist help from your twelve year old, it was brains like hers that designed this system in the first place. Once all this is done you are ready to start the actual networking. On the main computer open the start menu go to All Programs then Accessories then Communications finally click Network Setup Wizard, I hope you haven’t let that twelve year old run off. Answer the wizards questions and he will make all the network settings for you finally he will offer to make you a network settings disk. This disk carries all the network settings all the other computers will need. Stuff this disk in to each in turn and that lovely wizard will sort it all out. The final step is to tell that teenager he is not getting his laptop back till he cleans his room.
Is wireless networking safe?
A wireless network is never going to be as safe as a wired network but there is plenty you can do. By far the best solution is MAC address access control.
What have rain coats got to do with computers?
A MAC or Media Access Control address is a unique number that is hard wired in to every network device. Every wireless computer has one and it can not be changed. Your wireless router or wireless modem can hold a list of the MAC addresses of the computers you want to connect to your network and by extension your internet connection. It will then deny access to anyone else thus securing your network and preventing others surfing the net from your account.
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come everyone lets go
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Hey Aries
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Part 2
I heard the internet is full of dirty pictures and bad men?
Two simple facts.
If someone finds ‘dirty pictures’ on the internet then he or she almost certainly went looking for them. There is a great deal of this on the internet but a child surfing for school work or childish fun will not stumble across it.
Where is no such thing as a safe chat room. If your child, boy or girl, insists on visiting a chat room Supervise them. Teach them chat room safety and make shore they follow the rules. Those who must not be named are out there and they are very good at what they do. Teach your child the rules and they will be safe. Please note the rules apply to adults too.
• Never give out personal details, i.e. phone number, address etc. in a chat room, public or private.
• Never go to a private chat room with someone you have not been chatting to for some time.
• If you are to meet arrange a very public place and take an adult. Never go a chat buddies house till your parents have been.
• If the chat starts to get personal or adult then stop chatting and inform a moderator*.
• Just because he/she says they are ten and there picture is of a ten year old dose not mean they are.
But fear not the vast majority of children in chat rooms are in fact children.
*A moderator is an adult paid by the chat room host to monitor the chats and kick out those who are undesirable.
Tip of the week.
Close windows you no longer need. This frees up memory and other resources for the programs you are using.
Next time. I will go a little deeper in to networks and I’ll chat about memory.
As always questions to coolcomputers@hotmail.com
Marry Christmas to you all.
I heard the internet is full of dirty pictures and bad men?
Two simple facts.
If someone finds ‘dirty pictures’ on the internet then he or she almost certainly went looking for them. There is a great deal of this on the internet but a child surfing for school work or childish fun will not stumble across it.
Where is no such thing as a safe chat room. If your child, boy or girl, insists on visiting a chat room Supervise them. Teach them chat room safety and make shore they follow the rules. Those who must not be named are out there and they are very good at what they do. Teach your child the rules and they will be safe. Please note the rules apply to adults too.
• Never give out personal details, i.e. phone number, address etc. in a chat room, public or private.
• Never go to a private chat room with someone you have not been chatting to for some time.
• If you are to meet arrange a very public place and take an adult. Never go a chat buddies house till your parents have been.
• If the chat starts to get personal or adult then stop chatting and inform a moderator*.
• Just because he/she says they are ten and there picture is of a ten year old dose not mean they are.
But fear not the vast majority of children in chat rooms are in fact children.
*A moderator is an adult paid by the chat room host to monitor the chats and kick out those who are undesirable.
Tip of the week.
Close windows you no longer need. This frees up memory and other resources for the programs you are using.
Next time. I will go a little deeper in to networks and I’ll chat about memory.
As always questions to coolcomputers@hotmail.com
Marry Christmas to you all.
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puts some music on and get into the mood... 
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I will pretent to be Bubbles..
SIZE of the page Matters!!
SIZE of the page Matters!!
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