Using Windows Server 2008 as a SUPER workstation OS

Ive been looking for a better OS distro and just discovered you can use server 2008 as a workstation here a post on how to do it .

So here is my story of how I went about setting up Windows Server 2008 to look and fell like its desktop counterpart Windows Vista.

1. Enable Hardware Virtualization

My workstation is a x64 machine with hardware virtualization capabilities. This means I can run Hyper-V on my machine. Even if your machine's hardware supports virtualization it is most likely not going to be enabled by default. You have to enable it via your BIOS setup.

2. Install the latest Graphics and Audio drivers

Being a server OS Windows 2008 carries with it basic graphics and audio drivers. To utilize the full strength of your hardware ensure you install the latest drivers for both graphics and audio hardware. Only with the proper graphics drivers will you be able to enable the "Aero" experience on Windows 2008.

3. Desktop Experience Feature

The Desktop Experience Feature enables a bunch of stuff that is by default present on a desktop OS. Most importantly it includes Themes, Windows Media player and the Aero related features. You will have to enable it form the Server Manager. The "Turn Windows features on or off" / "Add remove windows components" has all been rolled into the Server Manager now.

Server Manager > Features > Desktop Experience

Installing the Desktop Experience feature does not enable them. You have to manually set them up.

4. Themes

To enable Themes you will basically have to enable the Themes Service. Again being a server OS it is not enabled by default.

Services.MSC > Themes

Set the start up type to Automatic

Enabling the Aero Theme.

For this go to Control Panel > Personalization >Theme and select Windows Aero

5. Search

Search is also disabled by default on Windows 2008. Searching is important for me as I use it a lot to find my emails. To enable search you will have to add the File Services Role via Server Manager.

Server Manager > Roles > File Services > Windows Search

Outlook relies on this search service.

6. Disable Shutdown Event Tracker

Since I am using it as a workstation I do not want to keep a track of all the Shutdowns. The Shutdown Event Tracker is the pop up that you get asking you for a shutdown reason. To disable it

Open mmc.msc

Add the Group Policy snap-in

Under Administrative Templates expand System

Set Display Shutdown Event Tracer to Disabled

7. Audio

For audio you need to enable the Windows Audio service. You do this by setting the startup type to Automatic.

Services.msc > Windows Audio

Ensure you have proper drivers for your audio hardware... for me the default driver was not enabling the headphones ... it started working fine after I got the proper driver.

8. SuperFetch

As a workstation, enabling SupertFetch will give you that additional bit of responsiveness. The SuperFetch services is disabled by default and when you try to enable it you will most likely get an error message "The operating system is not presently configured to run this application"

You will have to make two registry changes to enable this service. I basically copied them over from my Vista machine.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters

EnablePrefetcher DWORD 3

EnableSuperfetch DWORD 3

9. Get a codec pack.

For media hungry buffs download a codec pack. This will ensure you can play all media files.

10. Enable Hyper-V

With Hyper-V you can run virtual machines on your workstation. This is useful if you want to run your tests on older OS versions. Enabling Hyper-V is easy

Server Manager > Roles > Hyper-V

Remember you need a Hyper-V enabled Windows 2008 licence and also your hardware has to support virtualization.

Also If you are using an existing VHD it may ask you to re-Activate Windows as it detected hardware changes.

One good thing about Windows Server 2008 is that it no longer asks for the i386 folder like Windows 2003 while you enable features.
11. Processor Scheduling

As pointed out in a comment on my previous post; On Windows Server 2008 background services are given preference over interactive programs. You can change this behavior by

Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Processor Scheduling

Setting this to Programs will make foreground programs more responsive.

12. Visual Effects

One thing you will notice on Windows Server 2008 is that by default you will not see Preview Thumbnails in your Documents / Music / Video folders. This has to be enabled explicitly.

Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Visual Effects

Based on your preference you can tweak these settings.

13. Power Options

Do your bit for a Green World! The Balanced (default) power plan on Windows Server 2008 does not turn off hard disks by default. On Vista hard disks are turned off after 20 mins. You can change this by

Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change plan settings

It does take a bit to kick start the hard disks when you resume work but that's a sacrifice worth making for a greener world :).

14. IE Enhanced Security

IE Enhanced Security Configuration has been moved from Add Remove Windows Components (on Windows 2003) to the Server Manager on Windows Server 2008.

Server Manager > Security Information > Configure IE ESC

You now have a choice to disable it only for Administrators.

And to end with a couple of clarifications

* Why am I recommending Windows Server 2008 over Windows Vista ?

I am not!

* How to get Sidebar / Media center on Windows Server 2008?

My honest opinion would be to look for alternatives.

* Will hardware problems go away moving to Windows Server 2008?

Not likely. One of the biggest complaints against Vista was hardware issues. Without proper drivers from your hardware vendors your ride on Windows Server 2008 is again going to be bumpy. For me all Vista compatible drivers worked fine with Server 2008 and I believe they should work for you as well.

* Will all software work on Windows Server 2008?

Most will but some setups detect Windows Server 2008 as a server OS and may not install. The compatibility mode does not have a Vista option only XP / Windows 2003 and other legacy OS.

If you don’t want to configure all options to convert Windows Server 2008 to a Workstation manually, sawo now made it possible to use a tool for this. He has done a great job by creating this converter to automate all steps, you can download the converter here winserver2008workstationconverter

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Dual-booting Windows and Linux

The Gnome Partition Editor Live CD is a simple tool that will shrink a (usually "the") Windows partition on your hard drive, then make Linux partitions almost automatically. These four videos step you through the process of downloading GPartEd (the program's nickname) from SourceForge.net, defragmenting Windows, shrinking your Windows partition, and installing the three most commonly-used Linux partitions. As a free bonus, a fifth video will show you how to uninstall Linux and stretch your shrunk-down Windows partitition until it once again takes up your whole hard drive.

All popular Linux distributions now have some sort of simple (usually GUI) disk partitioning utility included. If you're going to devote an entire hard drive to Linux, you might as well go with your chosen distribution's default partition setup. But if you want to boot Windows and Linux on the same computer, you may be better off making your partitions with a specialized partitioning tool. Norton Commander is a pretty good one, although it is neither free of cost nor free in the free software sense. There are plenty of other proprietary partitioners out there, too, but free GPartEd is all we need to handle simple partition resizing.
A couple of notes before we begin:

I talk about Windows hard drive defragmentation. This is something you should do periodically even if you never move to Linux -- although if you do switch to Linux, you'll find that the equivalent Linux utility is much faster than the Windows defragmentation routine.

You can use GPartEd to make multiple Windows (NTFS or FAT) partitions on a hard drive. Or to make partitions for almost any popular operating system that runs on standard X86 PCs, not just Linux. It's a great tool to have around, Linux or no Linux.

I advocate using the ext3 file format. It's a proven journaling file system, compatible with all popular Linux distributions. Indeed, it's the default file system for most of them. Other file systems may be slightly faster or offer other advantages, but Ext3 does its job well enough on desktop PCs that you don't need to think about it at all or even learn how it works. Just use it and be happy.

Downloading from SourceForge.net is another good habit. SourceForge.net (owned by the same company that owns Linux.com) is chock-full of free, open source software for Linux, Windows, and other operating systems. Today's first video will show you how the SourceForge.net download process works, which is great to know even if you decide not to make Linux your primary operating system at this point in your life.
Video #1: Download and burn a GPartEd bootable CD

Your first Linux experiment.


Video #2: Defragmenting Windows -- a necessary step before you resize your Windows partition

Video 2
Click to play Video 2


Video #3: Resizing your NTFS (or FAT) Windows partition

Video 3
Click to play Video 3


Video #4: Making your Linux partitions

Video 4
Click to play Video 4


Bonus Video: Uninstalling Linux -- just in case. A good thing to know. You can use the same process to remove Windows from a hard drive and make it 100% Linux, too.

Video 5
Click to play Video 5


Previous Linux.com training videos:

Your first Linux experiment - This group of three short videos shows you how to download GNU/Linux, make a bootable Linux CD, and how to boot Linux on your computer without going through a tedious installation routine. We used Ubuntu for this demonstration, but the steps shown apply to all live CD Linux distributions.

Installing Ubuntu - Two short videos show you how to install Ubuntu GNU/Linux on your hard drive.

Updating and installing software in Ubuntu - The first video in this pair shows you how to update all the software in your Ubuntu GNU/Linux installation in a single, big gulp. The second video shows you how easy it is to install and remove software with the Synaptic Package Manager.

About the videos: They're in AVI format, encoded with the free XviD codec, compatible with media players for almost all popular desktop PC operating systems. If your computer does not have the XviD codec installed, you can get it here or through your favorite free operating system's software respository. Windows and Mac users can find easy-to-install XviD binaries here.

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Ultra Thin Laptops - 5 Things to Consider Before Buying

Ultra thin laptops have great features and many people are deciding to switch to them. They are also increasing popularity because more and more people are deciding to buy one. They are also getting much cheaper. There used to be a time where computers used to be big and bulky and very expensive, but now all of that has changed! They are getting cheaper and having more features than ever before!

But there is still much confusion between people on what to look for in a ultra thin laptop before buying. The terminology of laptops to many people might just like be gibberish. Trust me, I know how you feel!

First you must decide what you will use the ultra thin laptop for. You need to decide what you are looking for. Once you have that decided than you can manipulate the different features and price.

Are you looking for hardcore computing? Traveling? or a student notebook?

Here are some things to look for in a ultra thin laptop:

· RAM (random access memory)- most come with 2gb but even 1gb is enough

· Processors - Intel is manly the main company as 64 dual processor is recommended for many people

· Hard drive- 100 gb is most common now, but you can obviously upgrade if you need to

· Price- Many are between $500-$600

· Warranty- Always look for a warranty because there usually is no guarantee for them

Here are companies that manufacture them:

· Sony

· Lenovo

· Dell

· Toshiba

· HP

· Acer

· Apple

If you consider these things and so your homework, you will be able to find many laptops in that range for great prices with amazing features!

Shawn Kirby a professional product reviewer who has reviewed over 100 different types of products in the electronics category. He mainly likes to review Ultra Thin Laptops. Click here to view his blog for great information.

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How to Buy a Laptop?

Before buying a Laptop there are several factors that you should consider. How and where will be using it. What is your primary goal of using it? We must examine everything from performance and storage options to keyboard quality.

What size of a Laptop?

1. From Monster Laptop (Wide Screen)

2. Tiny Laptop (or ultra portable)

What kind of Processor?

This is one of the most important the CPU or Central Processor Unit. It determines how quickly it performs. For speedy operations Core i3 or Core i5, this is for a high end recommendation. For a low end Laptop or less powerful you can choose a low power Atom processor

What kind of Memory?

Another important consideration when purchasing a Laptop is RAM, the more memory the better. Desktop has a lot advantage that Laptop when it comes to the availability of the memory (RAM). When you buy a Laptop with a pre-installed memory 2GB of Ram is average but 3 GB is the better.

What kind of Memory?

Another important consideration when purchasing a Laptop is RAM, the more memory the better. Desktop has a lot advantage that Laptop when it comes to the availability of the memory (RAM). When you buy a Laptop with a pre-installed memory 2GB of Ram is average but 3 GB is the better.

What size of Screen?

Consider also the size of the screen. If you are comfortable with a small screen Laptop (12 inches ) then buy one. Ultra portable Laptop has also a great weight advantage since you can bring it anywhere and can use it anyway you want. The big screen Laptop (18 inches) is also very convenience to use, the only disadvantage is weight. So when buying a Laptop, think of where you plan to use it so you won't have regrets later on.

What kind of Hard Drive?

1. Get large Hard Drive. A 160 GB HD would be fine for an Ultra Portable Laptop. Most especially if you are planning to work for digital photos, data sheets you must look for a large Hard Drive.

2. Ultra portable Laptop - Offer no optical drive (CD/DVD rom) so choose a large Hard Drive

Check the Battery?

1. When buying a Laptop don't forget to check the battery specs.

2. Check the battery specs Battery Life is also very important to consider. How long it last? When buying a Laptop they usually offer you a regular battery, check to see if they have an extended life battery for longer use.

Try out the Keyboard

1. The Keyboard - Notebook Laptop or a 12 inch type is difficult to use compared to a 18 inch type Laptop. It has small average keys.

2. Before buying check to try the Keyboard choose what's best for your fingers or 2 hands.

Check the number and Location of your USB ports - Make sure you have enough ports for your peripherals. So you can connect all your external device and other extensions. Like USB, external hard drive, DVD Rom, and future use.

Make Money Online

Tools and Resources

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Computer Repair Solutions

We are increasingly warming up to computers as we use them to do almost anything these days. Therefore, if a computer was crocked and we did not know what to do to get them running, we would be knee deep in trouble.

Often, you will find that some computer users have the basic genius to sniff out any hardware and software causes of computer failure unlike some. The brightest idea right now is to have a repair book tucked somewhere in your shelf. Have one with simple English though!

The mistake some book writers make is that they write instructions in a coded language that only geeks can crack. Unfortunately, you only realize this when you have a blank screen. Go for simpler language.

When you come across a computer repair book, it will only be relevant if it gives you tips and ways around common PC repair and upgrade. You should be able to troubleshoot basic computer failure issues like missing system files and stuff of that caliber alongside upgrading software and hardware.

If you are a fan of movies games and other entertainment applications, you will agree that there are times you wished your computer could do better in terms of performance. Therefore, a decent computer repair nook will give you all the know-how and tips required to do an upgrade.

The best solutions are those that are not just cosmetic to ensure that you are safe for the moment. You should seek solutions that are more permanent and therefore a book that has a bias towards these will be a good advantage. Other basic tasks will include issues like scanner and printer malfunction.

When you are about to make a purchase decision, you should now focus on reading other reviews and understand the idea behind how practical the book is in soling problems.

Stainless steel tank and stainless steel tables are good combination.

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Here's a Great Trick to Discover Who Owns Any Email - A Reverse Email Lookup

A reverse email address lookup is truly a useful tool that lets you find out information concerning who is the owner of any email address. Lots of individuals are inquiring about this form of tool, so read on to uncover further details concerning the way it is possible to run one yourself. If you employ this searching system properly, it is possible to discover who is the owner of any existing email address that you might have questions about.

There are actually lots of reasons to implement this. I am confident you've had emails sent from an address that you do not recognize, or have wanted to stop unwelcome emails. These are examples of when a reverse email search can make life a lot easier for you.

Obviously you can expect to identify the name of the individual who owns the email, but what other kind of details might you discover with this form of search?

There is seriously such a lot of info that can be located, it really is incredible. Not only are you able to discover someone's name, but frequently you can even uncover their address and more background information. This kind of info could involve the address history, aspects of their business and some background records.

As you are probably aware, email is actually the most widely used sort of communication. Consequently, you will now find specialized providers that develop databases that contain information on many different email addresses. These companies then make it possible for the online community to look through these databases to find information on a specific email.

Regrettably, practically nothing in this world comes for free, though we can all be grateful that the use of this service is very inexpensive. The modest price covers the expenditure the businesses have on their behalf to be able to keep up the databases and increase their info.

You will find various internet sites that may essentially offer you unrestricted searches for a once-only payment. This really is by far the best option to pick because you are able to use it whenever you wish. This can make it a great deal more cost-effective than paying out for each individual search.

You can also look the email address up by using Google or another web-based search engine. From time to time the email may be published on a site online and in that case, it is easy to usually find information about the owner. This process does not invariably turn up results, but it truly is 100 % free to have a shot at, so you may as well.

So, try a reverse email lookup when you have an email address you're curious about. It's a great tool that lets you really feel like a detective from your laptop or computer!

Reverse email searches give you a simple way to uncover who the owner of any email is.

Click here for an inside look at how it works!

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Why You Need to Run a Defragmentation Process on Your Computer

A file system is an effective method for an operating system to use files kept onto a database at any time in operation and be able to store, organize, retrieve or manipulate data. These files are kept on clusters, small amount of room on a hard disk, about 4 kilobits and given specific tags or meta data for informing an operating system, what kind of data that file is. These files may be kept in a hierarchical or flat, or with structured file syntax. This is dependent on the type of file system

An issue develops over time with general computer use as well as normal function of an operating system, as files are moved or deleted, the system may leave small amount of space, in between other spaces filled with data. So the issue becomes a longer time for the computer to access files, more movement of the read and write heads of the hard drive creating more wear and tear. A file system will also move small bits of these files into those small spaces. This happens often if you are also creating lots of data as well as moving or deleting data.

Most file system and their respective operating systems have an inbuilt process a user may operate to defrag those files. For what is known as running a defrag process, is asking the file system to reallocate files, lined up next to each other, usually into their respective file types and move empty spaced clusters to the end. Running this process may take from several minutes up to several hours depend on the amount of fragmentation. One this process has completed, users will notice a more responsive and quicker operation of their computer.

Take a look at a detailed explanation and more information about this helpful tip right here

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Getting KDE Software for linux distros

As KDE produces Free Software, you can download and install KDE programs in most cases free of charge. On this page can read below about various ways to get KDE software.
Table of content

* General Information
* Trying the KDE Software Compilation
* KDE SC 4.4 (recommended for end users)
* KDE 3.5 (previous major version)
* KDE SC on Windows and Mac OS X

General Information

KDE software consists of a large number of individual applications and a desktop workspace as a shell to run these applications. You can run KDE applications just fine on any desktop environment. KDE applications are built to integrate well with your system's components. By using also KDE workspace, you get even better integration of your applications with the working environment while lowering system resource needs.

KDE workspaces run fine on relatively recent PCs, but they will also work on older machines with more constrained resources.
Trying the KDE Software Compilation
Applications

KDE applications run fine on most Linux, BSD systems. In these cases, the recommended way to install a KDE application is to use your operating system's software management tool to install it. It comes included with most Free operating systems.
The Workspace

Trying out a desktop workspace can seem a daunting task. Installing Linux or BSD requires a commitment that you may not be quite ready to give yet. Try KDE provides a list of resources for alternative methods of trying a KDE desktop and applications, some of them without even needing to have Linux or BSD installed.

Installing one of KDE workspaces on your system is easy if you use the major Linux distributions; it's included in nearly all of them! A partial list can be found here: Distributions Shipping KDE workspaces

There are also several vendors that ship it on CD-ROM. A partial list can be found here: KDE workspaces on CD-ROM

Links to binary packages can be found on the appropriate release pages. If you wonder why favorite distribution is not on the list, read the KDE Package Policy first.

There are instructions available for building the source code. Building from source code is not recommended for normal users as it requires knowledge of software development tools.
KDE SC 4.4

KDE SC 4.4 is the version for the majority of end users that look for the latest stable KDE software release. Please see the KDE 4.4 Info Page for details.
KDE 3 series

KDE 3.5 is the previous version of the KDE desktop and applications. While this release starts to show its age and is not actively developed anymore, it is still available for users. If in doubt, choose the KDE SC 4 version. Please see the KDE 3.5.10 Info Page for details.
Windows and Mac OS X

KDE software on these Operating Systems is in experimental state. Things might, or might not work properly at this point in time.

An installer for KDE applications on Windows is available on windows.kde.org. These are experimental packages. On TechBase you can find detailed installation instructions.

For Apple's OSX, there are technology previews of some applications available on mac.kde.org.

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How to Eliminate AV Security Suite

AV Security Suite is at the moment the most wildly spread rogue antispyware that infects computers not depending on the operating system it runs or any other features. It is distributed via Internet and enters computers through system vulnerabilities. The program easily infiltrates into the systems that have improperly working security tool so make sure to update your antivirus program. The application also often comes through spam emails. Be extremely careful about that as well.

As soon as AV Security Suite infiltrates, it is run after each computer reboot. The program clearly pretends to be an antispyware program. It runs a fake scanner which simulates looking for infections and finally creates a list of potentially detected threats. Once you attempt to remove those files, you will be redirected to the website asking to pay for a program.

What is more, while the program is running, it blocks many of your legitimate programs stating that they are infected. Such warnings also redirect to the website promoting AV Security Suite. The program puts all its efforts to make you pay for AV Security Suite so it even redirects you to its malicious website when you try to visit some other random Internet page. The only way to stop these malicious actions on your machine is removing AV Security Suite.

You are recommended to download a legitimate antispyware tool and eliminate infection automatically. If you think you are experienced enough, you may try manual removal of this malicious program. In case you have paid for this fake program, immediately contact your credit card company and dispute the charges.

http://www.2-viruses.com

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Best Spyware Removers

Finding the best spyware removers to detect and remove spyware and adware from your computer is much easier if you consider a few things before you make your purchase. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a spyware protection program.

The best spyware removers should offer you complete protection against spyware, adware, keyloggers, Remote Access Trojans (RATs), and browser hijackers. These are the main spyware infections that expose your confidential information and diminish your PC's performance.

An important consideration for any spyware protection program is automatic updates for your software. There are new spyware programs invented on a regular basis just like viruses and automatic updates cover you against the latest spyware threats.

Another important consideration to look for should be technical support from the manufacturer. A spyware protection program doesn't do you any good if you have a technical issue that you can't solve. Often, just a minor piece of technical advice will solve most software problems and it's important that your software run right. You also may need someone to answer questions that come up.

Customer service is another feature you may consider looking for. It shows the
manufacturer is a trusted source who cares about their reputation and will probably be around awhile.

Spyware is quickly becoming a major threat to Internet security. It is reported that 9 out of 10 computers are currently infected with spyware, adware or both. Most people don't even realize it's there because spyware and adware is programmed to run silently. Microsoft estimates that spyware is responsible for 50% of all PC crashes.

If you don't remove spyware from your computer it will eventually not work at all or your computer files will become infected by spyware programs. Your personal information, passwords and credit card numbers could end up stolen from you without you even knowing it.

Once you remove spyware and adware programs from your computer you'll find it will run faster and your personal information will be much safer. Your security and peace of mind is worth spending a little time to find the best spyware removers possible.

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Maintaining Laptop Computers

If you know how to maintain your laptop computer, it will function properly. Proper maintenance will also prevent you from being harmed in any way while using the device. Here are some steps you can take to keep things running smoothly:

To keep it from overheating and prevent wear-and-tear, laptop computers should always be shut down when they are not in use. Adjusting the power options is also a good safety measure, and you can also set your display and hard drive to turn off at a certain time, or set the laptop in "standby" mode.

Inspect and clear your laptop computers air vents on a weekly basis with a forced-air duster to keep them clean and remove debris. In addition, a fan that fails to work properly can result in overheating problems, so remember to check the manufacturers customer support and warranty details. Note that the fan may be controlled through the computers basic input/output system (BIOS) and this can be verified by going to the manufacturers website.

To avoid being burned, use a laptop cooler or desk with vents or additional fans that allow the air to circulate between you and your computer. Since soft material can block the air flow, run your laptop on a hard surface that will allow cooling.

If your laptop computer is not in use, be sure to unplug any accessories that use power and may cause it to over heat as well, especially if you are packing it into its carrying case.

Thank You so very much for your attention.

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as content remains intact and unchanged and the links remain active.

Tim Weems wrote this article and is the webmaster of a website offering News and Information regarding Cheap Laptops Computers. so be sure to go check it out.

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Getting a Free Apple iPad - Get a Free iPad by Just Testing One!

Everyone is talking about the new iPad that is taking the globe by storm which is beautiful to look at and packed with the latest gadgetry. Believe it or not many people are getting a free apple iPad by becoming testers for this amazing piece of kit.

The truth of the matter is that not many people will get their hands on an iPad due to the price tag being so high, which is totally understandable considering the features these devices have. On top of the price there is also a shortage of units to grace stores due to the immense popularity of the product, especially with it hitting stores globally and the demand being so huge. If you want to get your hands on a free iPad and avoid the stampede then read on to find out more.

They are practically being given away for nothing!

They say if it sounds too good to be true there must be catch, not so when it comes to getting a free apple iPad. You see, many companies not just apple love to give stuff away for free to get valuable feedback which helps them improve future iterations of a particular product, this is where you come in. By becoming an iPad tester apple will gladly send you a unit free of charge in return for feedback and opinion and in return you get to keep the apple iPad totally free.

It's not often companies provide offers like these but since apple have had immense success with their whole product range from iphones to imac laptops they can afford to provide freebies to the masses of consumers out there.

Be careful who you trust!

There are companies and sites out there that are there to scam you for personal credit card details and more. Generally offers whereby you have to refer friends and family are not to be trusted as many of them simply want to lead you on a wild goose chase knowing that you are desperate on getting your hands on one of the year's hottest gadgets. Avoid offers like these like the plague! Any offers that require you to put in credit card details or passwords are clearly out to scam you.

CLICK HERE to get your FREE apple iPAD right now!

Don't miss out on a great opportunity, visit http://freegadgets4u.info

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Where to Find the Best Refurbished Laptops For Sale

If you're looking to save a couple hundred bucks or more on a laptop then refurbished laptops for sale is just the thing you were looking for. Here in this article we will discuss some of the pros and cons of buying refurbished units as well as the best places for you to go to find the highest quality units at the lowest prices.

Pros

1.Some companies that refurbish laptops will give you the same warranty that they give their new units. Apple is a good example of this. Refurbished apple laptops for sale get a one year warranty just like their new laptops do.

2.The units have been swept clean and have had any unwanted or unneeded software removed. They are also completely free of any spyware, adware, or viruses.

3.Refurbished laptops are usually much less-expensive than newer models (sometimes as much as several hundred dollars).

4.Some companies will put a new casing on the laptop making it look just like new!

Cons

1.Laptops that have been refurbished sometimes have a much shorter lifespan than do new units.

2.Some of the refurbished units have undergone major repairs so depending on the level of expertise of the person fixing it, the laptop may not be completely repaired. This is usually not the case for larger manufacturer like Dell and Apple. But that's not to say it doesn't happen.

3.Some refurbished laptops for sale come with no warranty. Check with the supplier before you buy.

Where To Buy?

There are many sites that specialize in selling these types of laptops. Your best bet for a working unit that comes with a decent warranty is to purchase one from a manufacturer's website. The companies that sell their laptops refurbished directly from their site are: Apple, Dell, Toshiba, Sony, HP, and Lenovo.

It's best that you stick with these manufacturer's when purchasing refurbed laptops. Make sure you check with each company as they can sometimes change their warranty. Most of the sites listed above cover their refurbished laptops with the same warranty that they cover their new units. But, once again, it would be in your best interest to check. You don't want to purchase a laptop that quits working only to find out that the warranty has run out!

Click Here to learn how you can find high quality yet Very Cheap Laptops.

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How to Build Your Own Website and What Makes Joomla a Unique Tool For First Time Web Designers?

If you are looking for a user friendly Content Management System in order to build your own websites, the award winning Joomla CMS website making framework is the key to all your web design solutions. With a large number of unique and flexible features as well as a series of easy to follow Joomla tutorials on offer, you can now learn to build websites effectively and with ease. Some of the user-friendly features which make Joomla an ideal tool to build websites include automated templates, easy edit and e-commerce features like shopping cart, document manager, various add-on's and plug -in features as well as a unique tool for workflow management.

When it comes to looking for an easy to follow CMS in order to learn to build websites, the Joomla course is the best available option. One of the most attractive features of this tool is that almost anyone can know how to build websites by following a simple tutorial on Joomla. As the course does not require the learner to be a webmaster this tool has become one of the most favored and user-friendly CMS till date.

Being an open source web manager, the Joomla tool enables first time web designers to build websites, publish data as well as update information without consulting a professional or a web master. While this tool is a great way to build websites, users need to take up a course in Joomla technology in order to understand the multitude of applications that can be utilized for web site designing. There are a large number of online tutorials available on the web which provides users with an easy to follow step wise guideline to understanding and installing Joomla, in order to build websites.

User friendly features of Joomla

• Open source content management - The best aspect of using this system to design a website is that the tool can be down loaded from the internet and even a layperson can learn how to build a website by taking the help of a Joomla tutorial.

• In built search engine - One of the most important features of Joomla is the built in search engine which helps in locating websites efficiently and strong them in the built in file system known as document manager.

• Easy editing features - Another great feature of this tool is that the web designer can edit and update all the data on the site as and when required. The edit format is so simple and efficient that it can be up graded by even a lay person without special skills.

• Advanced features - Along with various customized options, the tool offers advanced features like news flashes, blogs, RSS feeds as well as language internationalization.

• Multiple plug-in options - With more and more features being added to Joomla, the system comes in with hundreds of plug-in options in order to enable increased functionality.

When it comes to looking for a do-it-yourself, user friendly web design tool, Joomla offers the best options in the market with its dynamic content management system and various enhanced features which are extremely convenient for even first time web designers. So go ahead and learn to build websites that contain the latest features by taking up a tutorial on Joomla right away.

Luis Posselt has several years of experience in building websites and provides helpful tips and advice together with a whole Web Design Training for novices and experienced people in how to build websites. For more information and details please visit http://www.buildwebsiteseasily.com/

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Hardware and Software Firewalls

In computer language, firewall refers to a security measure that is set up to authorize who can and cannot access your network or computer. It is necessary in order to keep viruses off of your system. These firewalls can be established as hardware or as software.

The name "firewall" was originally used in reference to a certain type of wall. Firewalls are walls in a building built to prevent a fire from spreading to other areas. This is a parallel to firewalls built to prevent viruses from spreading throughout a network or computer.

A software firewall is something downloaded and installed on each individual computer. It determines what is and is not allowed to enter your computer. Software firewalls are effective, but should not serve as your only security.

You are allowed to change the settings on your software firewall. Because of this, your firewall may be more lenient on what it allows in. However, you may also increase the security on your firewall which can be a benefit for certain circumstances.

A hardware firewall is built into a physical object that protects your whole network. These are very important even if you already have a software firewall. You don't want to leave your software firewall to defend itself against the entire internet. It is especially needed for a network with multiple systems attached or an intranet.

Hardware firewalls can be compared to a locked building while the software firewalls serves as a locked safe. While a safe can protect your money, you don't want to leave your door unlocked. Both protections are needed to ensure your computers remain safe.

The most common form of hardware firewalls are known as router firewalls. Router firewalls are built into wireless routers to protect your personal network. They are fairly easy to set up, but you should learn more about them to make sure they are working properly.

A computer can be a great asset to your life, but will need proper protection if connected to the internet. Firewalls are there to serve as a barrier between your computer and the rest of the world. Both hardware and software firewalls are needed so you can be sure your computer is secure.

Prime Electronics is an Earth-friendly business that focuses on recycling consumer electronics and replacement parts, including Directv Tivo Remotes, Avaya Phones, Cisco Modules, and Wireless Networking Equipment.

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Using a Registry Cleaner to Speed Up Windows 7

Windows 7 might be the latest & most advanced version of Windows to be released, but it's still very much prone to running slow. This problem has affected Windows computers for many years, and there's always been the same problems at the heart of the issue. Fortunately, Windows 7 has fixed a lot of the older problems that slowed computers down, which means that you could use a "registry cleaner" to make your system potentially run a lot faster.

Although there's a lot of hype surrounding these programs, the fact is that registry tools are not actually designed to fix specific problems on your computer. Instead, they have been created to look through a part of your system called the "registry" and fix any of the damaged files & settings inside it. It happens that the process of cleaning out damaged registry files could speed up your PC and stop various errors from showing. This means that if you want to try and speed up Windows 7, it's recommended that you use a registry cleaner that is able to repair the largest number of errors on your PC, without causing any more damage.

Registry errors are all situated inside the "registry database" of your computer. This is a central storage facility which keeps such important details as your desktop wallpaper, latest emails and even your Internet bookmarks. Since Windows '98, the registry has provided Windows with a central location to store all of its settings & options... but unfortunately, it's also been one of the biggest causes of problems for the Windows system over the years. The problem is that each time you use your PC, 100's of registry settings are being opened to help your system recall many of the settings it needs to run; but unfortunately, many of these settings will either become damaged or corrupted, leading your computer to take longer to read the files it needs to run, slowing it down.

Corrupt or damaged files inside the registry are one of the biggest reasons why Windows 7 runs slow, meaning that if you're looking to get your computer to run faster, it's highly recommended that you are able to fix them - and that can be done with a 'registry cleaner'. Registry cleaners work by scanning through the registry database of your PC and fixing the various errors inside, allowing your computer to run as smoothly as possible. To use one of these tools on Windows 7, you first need to download one onto your PC and then let it clean through the various errors that are on it. After it's done that, you should restart your computer and it should run noticeably faster.

You can make Windows 7 run faster by using a 'registry cleaner' to repair any of the errors inside your system. You can Click Here to make Windows 7 run faster.

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How to Get Rid of Cleanup Antivirus and Protect Your PC From Malicious Software

Do the words "cleanup antivirus" sound like something that you would want on your PC to protect your private information and keep your system running at peak performance. I am sure it does. The problem with that is that this malware does not do exactly what the name implies. Instead it's specially designed malware with one thing in mind, to get you to purchase a copy of the program. To make things worse even if you buy it is still does nothing and lets other malware onto your computer. This is why you need to get rid of cleanup antivirus from your PC.

When the malware first gets on to your computer and installs it's self, it will first go through and create fake viruses on your PC. These are created so that when a fake scan is performed that they can be found and reported back to you saying that they are hazards to your PC's health. Some of the file names include:

DBOLE.sys
grid.exe
pal.drv
pal.tmp
tjd.tmp

These are generally the most common files associated with this malware when it installs. The reality is though that none of these files will actually harm your PC in any way, shape or form. They are just there as a scare tactic. And if you try to manually remove the files they will simply come back because the cleanup antivirus is always running in the background and will prevent you removing then.

One thing that can cause you to take a second look is the error messages you will start to receive. They will look very authentic and many times look almost just like the windows warning messages. You will also get messages that say:

Cleanup antivirus has detected a internal threat to your computer. If you allow this problem to persist you may open up your computer to external attacks as well as putting your personal information in jeopardy. Please purchase and activate your copy today for total protection.

All of these things are meant to make you question the level of security of your computer. To make matters worse when you attempt to use popular search engines you will instead be redirected to their personal search engine that tells you that your computer is infected.

Whatever you do, please do not go and purchase a copy of cleanup antivirus. Instead take steps to get rid of cleanup antivirus from your computer.

Cleanup antivirus is very difficult to remove manually for one reason. The software constantly changes file names. Some files even install and are named similar to windows system files and if you delete the wrong ones windows will no longer run.

What can you do to get rid of cleanup antivirus?

The easiest way to get rid of this fake antivirus software from your computer is to download and run a system scanner. This is far better than running a simple registry scanner and will scan your registry and the rest of your computer to help you get rid of cleanup antivirus and other malware that it has installed without you knowing.

Once you have downloaded a system scanner the next step is to run it. This will discover and remove any registry entries and any files on your system that have been installed by this and other malware. Then it will scan for other files and system errors. Once it has finished you will be able to get rid of cleanup antivirus for good. Run a system scan now and protect your computer.

Here is the #1 solution to Get Rid of Cleanup Antivirus just click here now

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Slow Computer Fix - Fast Solutions For a Slow Running Computer to Save You Money

A slow computer frustrates a PC user especially when something needs to be done in a rush. From time to time you will experience a freeze up, hang up until you lose patience. Computers tend to slow down in time. There are some reasons why your PC gets slow. Fortunately, there are ways to bring your PC's speed just like when you first use it and get a slow computer fix.

Lack of RAM.

RAM is one of the causes why your computer slows down. Insufficient RAM will mean poor computing performance. RAM handles all the tasks your computer processes. The more application you run at the same time the harder the RAM works.

Today, most computers come with at least 1GB of RAM or even bigger. However, operating systems such as Vista eat too much of your RAM so you if you have 1GB of RAM running Vista you might want to consider an additional 1GB more. Here's a tip on how much RAM you need to help your computer with its tasks. The easiest way to do this without spending money is to stop all unnecessary programs and tasks. Finding out what you can and cannot stop is difficult. The easiest way to do this is to download and run a system scanner and optimizer that will do this for you.

Malicious programs.

You might be familiar with computer viruses, adware, spyware and other malicious programs. These are called malware programs and if your computer happens to have these the result could be a slow down or even worse, windows corruption and theft of credit card and personal datA. These programs can be acquired through downloading files from distrusted sites or from a USB stick.

To prevent your computer from being infected by such malicious programs you have to install antivirus programs. There are also anti-spyware and anti adware programs. It is also advised to update these programs regularly for there are thousands of new malicious programs being made daily. These days this is not enough. New malware programs can turn off your antivirus and even remove it. Find system software that will scan your computer for malware and remove it fast and give you a slow computer fix.

The registry.

Many users do not have any idea about how the windows registry works. It is an essential part of your windows system. It is like a database housing records of your whole computer system. Everything you do with your computer the registry has something to do with it. Your hardware and all software programs installed are recorded in the registry. When this registry gets corrupted your computer will begin to slow down. Fortunately, there are many windows system and registry cleaners that you can download from the internet. However, it is advised that you only download programs from a trusted source to do this for you.

Downloading and running a combined system and registry scanner can provide you with a slow computer fix and protect your computer. If your PC is running slow scan it now. You never know what is hiding on your hard drive.

Here is the solution for a Slow Computer Fix this will make your PC faster, just click here now

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Why Your Computer is Running Slow and How to Fix it Quickly

It is really boring and annoying if you find your computer is no longer as good as when you first used it. When your computer show signs that it took time before your windows can be booted, then your PC is suffering from "Computer running slow syndrome".

There are several reasons why your computer is running so slow. Maybe you have loaded your computer with pictures, files, music, documents and programs on it and later on delete it. That is the very reason why your computer got cluttered and messed up thus causing your computer to slow down. You need to clean it once a month by running scan disk and then defragment your hard drive. This is one way of keeping your hard drive in its finest condition and will keep your computer running smoothly. The scan disk utility and defragmenter can be found under the system tools in folder which is inside accessories.

Another reason is your computer may have virus. You will know that your computer is infected with virus if it does respond properly in spite of clicking on certain commands but nothing happened. There are several indications when your pc got infected. When your computer exhibits bi-polar behaviour (one minute it's on and the next minute it is off for no reason at all). In order to be safe from virus, run your updated version of antivirus software. You can update your antivirus online before running your antivirus software.

Start up programs may also be a reason why your computer does not start at once. These programs usually start with your system and run in the background so you have to disable the program that you do not use. You can do this manually by deleting programs from the startup folder or with the help of a system health check program that will do it for you.

The registry can also cause your computer to slow down. You can download a registry scanner tool program. You can find them online and they are very simple to install and use.

If you have done everything and still your computer run slow then you might have too many programs running on your computer. Find how much memory your computer has in the system tools and at the system information and make sure you do not have too many programs running at once.

To have your computer run at its optimum capacity, you have to keep it clean, run your system tools and do viruses scan regularly. If you are scratching your head wondering how you can do all this the best solution is this. Download and run a system scanner. This will scan your registry and your computer for errors and problems and fix them for you in minutes saving you hundreds of dollars in repair bills.

Here is the best solution for a Computer running slow this will make your computer run faster, just click here

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How to install back pre 4 final to usb disk

INSTALLING BACKTRACK PRE FINAL 4
in this tutorial ill be showing you how to install back track 4 on a usb disk

FIRST OF ALL YOU WILL NEED TO DOWNLOAD BACKTRACK AT
http://www.backtrack-linux.org/download.php?fname=bt4f

TOOLS NEEDED FOR THIS INSTALLS

1. A USB thumbdrive - minimum capacity 8GB
2. A Backtrack 3 CDROM, Backtrack 4 DVD or an additional USB thumbdrive (minimum 2GB) - Used to partition the thumbdrive.
3. Optional: UNetbootin - A tool to transfer an iso image to a USB drive.

AFTER YOU GET THE TOOLS WE NEED LETS GET DOWN TO SOME BUSINESS
RUN UNETBOOTIN TO CREATE THE THUMB DRIVE. BELOW IN A SCREENSHOT OF USING UNETBOOTING TO INSTALL BACKTRACK





using unetbootin select disk image and browse to already downloaded version of back track.
next insert your usb disk, in this tutorial am using a 4gig flash. but i think you can use a two gig flash.

next figure your drive and then select all drives with care and choose your drive.
then click ok.
the proceedure is prety self explanatary from then on.
next to make it bootable navigate you usb drive and locate boot.bat, double click in it. it should be bootable now.
restart your system and then set your computer to boot from usb device.
happy hacking.

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