FAQ
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On April 8, 2014 all Windows XP support, including security updates and security related hot fixes will be terminated.
Can my PC run Windows 7?
No matter what version of Windows you have, It's a good idea to check out your PC before you buy Windows 7. It's easy to do. Just download and run the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. It will scan your PC and let you know how your PC, devices, and programs will work with Windows 7. You'll get a report detailing any updates you should make before you upgrade.
Which edition should I get, Home Premium or Professional? 32-bit or 64-bit?
When you're upgrading from Windows Vista, you'll generally want to move to an equivalent edition. So, if you have Windows Vista Home Premium, you'd move to Windows 7 Home Premium. Choose the Windows 7 edition that is best for you.
What is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows?
The 64-bit version of Windows handles large amounts of random access memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit system.
What kind of installation will I need to do?
There are two ways to install Windows 7 on a PC: a custom (or clean)
installation or an upgrade installation. The table below shows the type
of installation you'll need to do based on the version of Windows you
have and the one you want to install. Here's the difference between the
two methods:
A custom installation erases everything on your hard drive. So you'll
need to back up all your files, photos, music, and settings on an
external hard drive or on CDs or DVDs and then transfer them back to
your PC after you install Windows 7. You'll also need to reinstall all
your programs from their original installation disks. If you have
Windows XP, you need to do a custom installation.
With an upgrade installation, Windows 7 will simply replace Windows
Vista without affecting anything else on your PC. You can do an upgrade
installation from many editions of Windows Vista depending on which
edition of Windows 7 you want to install.
Will my other hardware and software work with Windows 7?
Windows 7 was designed to be compatible with PCs, programs, and devices that are compatible with Windows Vista. Many programs designed for Windows XP should run on Windows 7 as well. Visit the Windows 7 Compatibility Center to check compatibility with other parts of your system or new things you might want to add.
What is a Virus?
Computer viruses are small programs or scripts that can negatively affect the health of your computer. These malicious little programs can create files, move files, erase files, consume your computer's memory, and cause your computer not to function correctly. Some viruses can duplicate themselves, attach themselves to programs, and travel across networks. In fact opening an infected e-mail attachment is the most common way to get a virus. For more information, go to Microsoft Security.
What is a Cookie?
Well we all know what a cookie is but do you know what a internet cookie is? Cookies are data sent to your computer by a Web server that records your actions on a certain Web site. It's a lot like a preference file for a typical computer program. When you visit the site after being sent the cookie, the site will load certain pages according to the information stored in the cookie. For example, some sites can remember information like your user name and password, so you don't have to re-enter it each time you visit the site. Cookies are what allow you to have personalized web sites like "My Excite" or "My Yahoo," where you can customize what is displayed on the page. While cookies have many benefits, some people don't like to have their information recorded by Web sites that they visit. For this reason, most Web browsers have an option to accept or deny cookies.
What is the difference between a Static and Dynamic IP Address?
A static IP address is an
address that does not change over time unless changed manually. It is
used when you need the IP address or network location to remain the same
consistently. A good example of this is for a web server. If you go to
google.com you are really going to the IP address of 66.102.7.99. If
this were to change suddenly you would not be able to get to Google
unless you knew the new IP address or until Google updated their DNS
records.
A dynamic IP address is an address that keeps on changing. It is mostly
used when having a consistent IP address is not necessary. An example of
this would be the IP address your ISP (internet service provider)
assigns you when you log on to the internet. You must have an IP address
to surf the web but once you disconnect you loose that address. Then the
next time you sign on you are assigned a new one. This is done using
DHCP.
What is DHCP?
Stands for "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol." A network server uses this protocol to dynamically assign IP addresses to networked computers. The DHCP server waits for a computer to connect to it, then assigns it an IP address from a master list stored on the server. DHCP helps in setting up large networks, since IP addresses don't have to be manually assigned to each computer on the network. Because of the slick automation involved with DHCP, it is the most commonly used networking protocol.
What is Adware?
Adware is free software that is supported by advertisements. Common adware programs are toolbars that sit on your desktop or work in conjunction with your Web browser. They include features like advanced searching of the Web or your hard drive and better organization of your bookmarks and shortcuts. Adware can also be more advanced programs such as games or utilities. They are free to use, but require you to watch advertisements as long as the programs are open. Since the ads often allow you to click to a Web site, adware typically requires an active Internet connection to run.
Most adware is safe to use, but some can serve as spyware, gathering information about you from your hard drive, the Web sites you visit, or your keystrokes. Spyware programs can then send the information over the Internet to another computer. So be careful what adware you install on your computer. Make sure it is from a reputable company and read the privacy agreement that comes with it.
What is Spyware?
As the name implies, this is software that "spies" on your computer.
Nobody likes to be spied on, and your computer doesn't like it either.
Spyware can capture information like Web browsing habits, e-mail
messages, usernames and passwords, and credit card information. If left
unchecked, the software can transmit this data to another person's
computer over the Internet.
So how does spyware get on your computer? Just like viruses, spyware can
be installed when you open an e-mail attachment containing the malicious
software. It can also be installed when you install another program that
has a spyware installer attached to it. Because of the insidious nature
of spyware, most people don't even know when spyware is on their
computer.
What is Malware?
Short for "malicious software," malware refers to software programs designed to damage or do other unwanted actions on a computer system. Common examples of malware include viruses, worms, trojan horses, and spyware. Viruses, for example, can cause havoc on a computer's hard drive by deleting files or directory information. Spyware can gather data from a user's system without the user knowing it. This can include anything from the Web pages a user visits to personal information, such as credit card numbers.
Malware can be downloaded to your computer through many different ways. The most prevalent way is by being bundled with apparently legitimate software. When the legitimate software is downloaded, the malware attaches itself to the "good" files. Another way malware can be downloaded is through false cookie and cache files that your Internet browser automatically downloads. Malware can also be downloaded and installed from infected attachments sent through email. Just because someone you know sent you an attachment does not mean it was not accidentally infected with malware. Malware also comes from malicious websites, such as Warez and BitTorrent sites, which display many pop-ups and secretly install programs on your computer. Other malware installs in the form of tracking cookies or toolbars using p2p file-sharing programs. Peer-to-peer file sharing sites feature a number of unsafe downloads. For more detailed information please go to the Microsoft Rogue Software page and the Rogue Software page on Wikipedia.
How does rogue security software get on my computer?
Rogue security software designers create legitimate looking pop-up
windows that advertise security update software. These windows might
appear on your screen while you surf the Web. The "updates" or "alerts"
in the pop-up windows call for you to take some sort of action, such as
clicking to install the software, accept recommended updates, or remove
unwanted viruses or spyware. When you click, the rogue security software
downloads to your computer. Rogue security software might also appear in
the list of search results when you are searching for trustworthy
antispyware software, so it is important to protect your computer.
What does rogue security software do?
Rogue security software might report a virus, even though your computer
is actually clean. The software might also fail to report viruses when
your computer is infected. Inversely, sometimes, when you download rogue
security software, it will install a virus or other malicious software
on your computer so that the software has something to detect.
Some rogue security software might also:
Lure you into a fraudulent transaction (for example, upgrading to a
non-existent paid version of a program).
Use social engineering to steal your personal information.
Install malware that can go undetected as it steals your data.
Launch pop-up windows with false or misleading alerts.
Slow your computer or corrupt files.
Disable Windows updates or disable updates to legitimate antivirus
software.
Prevent you from visiting antivirus vendor Web sites.
What is rogue software?
What is a Firewall?
A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to
block unauthorized access while permitting authorized communications. It
is a device or set of devices which is configured to permit or deny
computer applications based upon a set of rules and other criteria.
Firewalls can be implemented in either hardware or software, or a
combination of both. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent
unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks connected to
the Internet, especially intranets. All messages entering or leaving the
intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and
blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria.
What is a Bios?
Stands for "Basic Input/Output System." Most people don't need to ever
mess with the BIOS on a computer, but it can be helpful to know what it
is. The BIOS is a program pre-installed on Windows-based computers (not
on Macs) that the computer uses to start up. The CPU accesses the BIOS
even before the operating system is loaded. The BIOS then checks all
your hardware connections and locates all your devices. If everything is
OK, the BIOS loads the operating system into the computer's memory and
finishes the boot-up process.
Since the BIOS manages the hard drives, it can't reside on one, and
since it is available before the computer boots up, it can't live in the
RAM. So where can this amazing, yet elusive BIOS be found? It is
actually located in the ROM (Read-Only Memory) of the computer. More
specifically, it resides in an erasable programmable read-only memory
(EPROM) chip. So, as soon as you turn your computer on, the CPU accesses
the EPROM and gives control to the BIOS.
The BIOS also is used after the computer has booted up. It acts as an
intermediary between the CPU and the I/O (input/output) devices. Because
of the BIOS, your programs and your operating system don't have to know
exact details (like hardware addresses) about the I/O devices attached
to your PC. When device details change, only the BIOS needs to be
updated. You can make these changes by entering the BIOS when your
system starts up. To access the BIOS, hold down the key as soon as your
computer begins to start up.
What is a Registry?
This is a database used by Microsoft Windows to store configuration information about the software installed on a computer. This information includes things like the desktop background, program settings, and file extension associations. When you install a program, it will usually write some data to the computer's registry. If you want to manually edit the registry for some reason, you can use the "regedit.exe" program, which comes with the Windows operating system. However, you should not edit the registry if you don't know what you're doing because it could disable your computer.
Is Defragmenting my hard drive a good idea and how often should I do it?
Defragmenting your hard disk
is a great way to boost the performance of your computer. Though the
term "defragment" sounds a little abrasive, it is actually a simple and
helpful process. After all, a defragmented hard disk is a happy hard
disk.
Adding and deleting files from your hard disk is a common task.
Unfortunately, this process is not always done very efficiently. For
example, when you delete a bunch of little files and add a new large
file, the file may get broken up into multiple sections on the hard
disk. The computer will still read the newly added file as a single
valid file, but the drive will have to scan multiple parts of the disk
to read it. Because hard disk seek time is one of the most significant
bottlenecks in a computer's performance, this can drag down your
computer's speed quite a bit. If you have a ton of "fragmented" files on
your hard disk, you might hear extra grinding, sputtering, and other
weird noises coming from your computer.
You computer does not like having fragmented files any more than you do.
This is why defragmenting your hard disk is such a good idea. When you
start to hear extra grinding sounds, or your computer doesn't open files
as quickly as it did before, it's time to defragment. With Windows, you
can use the pre-installed Intel defragment program to defragment your
hard disk.
What is SEO?
Stands for "Search Engine Optimization." Just about every Webmaster wants
his or her site to appear in the top listings of all the major search
engines. Say, for example, that Bob runs an online soccer store. He
wants his site to show up in the top few listings when someone searches
for "soccer shoes." Then he gets more leads from search engines, which
means more traffic, more sales, and more revenue. The problem is that
there are thousands of other soccer sites, whose Webmasters are hoping
for the same thing. That's where search engine optimization, or SEO,
comes in.
SEO involves a number of adjustments to the HTML of individual Web pages
to achieve a high search engine ranking. First, the title of the page
must include relevant information about the page. In the previous
example, Bob's home page might have the title, "Bob's Soccer Store --
Soccer Shoes and Equipment." The title is the most important part of SEO,
since it tells the search engine exactly what the page is about. Within
Bob's home page, it would be helpful to repeat the words "soccer" and
"soccer shoes" a few times, since search engines also scan the text of
the pages they index.
Finally, there are META tags. These HTML tags can really distinguish
your site from the rest of the pile. The META tags that most search
engines read are the description and keywords tags. Within the
description tags, you should type a brief description of the Web page.
It should be similar but more detailed than the title. Within the
keywords tags, you should list 5-20 words that relate to the content of
the page. Using META tags can significantly boost your search engine
ranking.
So what happens when a bunch of sites all have similar titles, content,
and META tags? Well, most search engines choose to list the most popular
sites first. But then how do you get into the most popular sites? The
best way is to submit your site to Web directories (not just search
engines) and get other sites to link to yours. It can be a long climb to
the top, but your perseverance will pay off.
Can a neighbor use my wireless connection without me knowing?
If your neighbors are experienced Wi-Fi hackers, you might not be able to tell at all. If they’re just stealing your Internet connection, you may be able to tell from the logs on your router. You could look for logs such as current LAN clients, connection or status log, or connected MAC addresses. To find out who’s on your wireless network, you’ll need to start by taking inventory of all the devices that are meant to be connected. Find out their MAC IDs and their IP addresses (if they’re static). To find out the MAC ID/IP address on a PC, click the Start menu and choose Run. Type cmd and click OK. In the screen that opens, type “ipconfig /all” (without the quotes) and hit Enter. The MAC address will be shown as the “physical address.” Once you know the MAC addresses of each of the PCs on your network, you will recognize any addresses that don’t belong under the screen that shows the MAC addresses of current connections.
Likewise you may be able to see how many IP addresses have been assigned by the DHCP server. If you check the IP addresses of each of your PCs, you can see if other IP addresses have been served. To find out your IP address from the Start menu, click Run. Then type in cmd and click OK. In the screen that comes up, type ipconfig which will display the IP address for that computer. Bear in mind, however, that if the PC is set to auto detect settings, then the PC’s IP address will change the next time the computer is rebooted or switched on. Sometimes previously served numbers have not yet expired, so you may think someone is connected when they are not.
If you do find someone using your connection, they may well not be doing so maliciously or even knowingly. Sometimes people can’t tell which is their own connection and they may honestly believe that they are using their Wi-Fi router rather than yours. The best way to deal with this is to set up your own security.
The optimal solution is to set up a strong password using WPA and change it regularly. Once your network is functioning, you can switch off the SSID broadcast (which prevents it from advertising the name of your network) so it would effectively disappear from the list of available networks.
What is IDE and SATA?
IDE (Integrated Device Electronics) was one of the most widely-used hard drive interfaces on the market. The fancy name refers to how the technology integrates the electronics controller into the drive itself. While the original IDE standard could only support hard drives containing up to 540 MB of data, the new standard, EIDE (Enhanced-IDE), supports hard drives with over 250 GB of data. It also allows for data transfer rates that are over twice as fast as the original IDE.
Serial ATA (SATA) (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) is a computer
bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices
such as hard disk drives and optical drives. Serial ATA was designed to
replace the older ATA (AT Attachment) standard (also known as EIDE). It
is able to use the same low level commands, but serial ATA host-adapters
and devices communicate via a high-speed serial cable over two pairs of
conductors. In contrast, the parallel ATA (the re-designation for the
legacy ATA specifications) used 16 data conductors each operating at a
much lower speed.
SATA offers several compelling advantages over the older parallel ATA (PATA)
interface: reduced cable-bulk and cost (reduced from 80 wires to seven),
faster and more efficient data transfer, and hot swapping.
The SATA host adapter is integrated into almost all modern consumer
laptop computers and desktop motherboards. As of 2009[update], SATA has
replaced parallel ATA in most shipping consumer PCs. PATA remains in
industrial and embedded applications dependent on CompactFlash storage
although the new CFast storage standard will be based on SATA.
If you have any other questions, please email us at: support@pcpieceofmind.com