B - Battery Usage Tips When on The Move

So we are on the move with our Laptops and other portables this season as always and you find that your battery power drains at a ridiculous rate.

Well, here are a few tips to help make that Laptop last longer while you are still on the move.

Lets get started...

1. Turn off Wi-Fi and BlueTooth - Wi-Fi and Buetooth are one of the major battery drainers we have there so its best to turn them off when you dont need them on the go. Most laptops have shortcut keys to instantly disable wireless networking.

2. Don't play computer games, music or DVD movies - I think this is a pretty obvious one. Multimedia activities drain laptop batteries.

3. Disconnect all external device like PC Card modems, Firewire, USB devices and optical drives. Use the notebook touchpad instead of an external mouse.

4. Adjust your screen brightness - Dimming your display saves battery power.

5. Tweak Windows Power Options - Choose a Laptop power scheme that turns off the notebook monitor and hard disk after 10 minutes of inactivity.

6. Decrease or mute the Laptop Speaker Volume.

7. Turn off all scheduled tasks.

8. Turn off Auto-save features in Microsoft Office and other applications.

9. If your PC has a built-in wireless card, turn it off or disable it when not in use.

10. Programs that are run from a CD or DVD can be copied to and run from the hard drive, which typically consumes less power than an optical drive.

I hope this tips help us as we spend more time on the road.

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Encryption : My Journey With TrueCrypt

Like every other human being there are definitely going to be some files you would like to protect from prying eyes or the general access without you giving the permission for it to be accessed. This was the case with my Western Digital "WD" 500gb External hard drive.

This hard drive of mine was full to the brim and contained lots of games and software. It was more than just a backup of my system as it had files and scripts i could not keep on the system as it was also  full... I have just 250gb hard drive on my HP Compaq Presario Cq56 laptop....

To cut the long story short... I had decided to encrypt the 500gb external hard drive using Truecrypt just to protect my important files.

Using TrueCrypt, you are presented with different methods or kinds of encryption.. your choice to make... you could choose to just select a chunk of the drive and encrypt. Doing this you can now copy your important files into the encrypted chunk or you could just encrypt the whole drive and require a password before any file can be accessed on it.

I downloaded the TrueCrypt encryption software from their website www.truecrypt.org and started the full encryption of my 500gb hard drive...

5 hours into encryption and i was already frustrated... The damn thing was just in 7%... i began having a change of mind, but i couldnt stop anymore, not when i had started... about 20 hours later, the encryption was done... And i felt relieved...

Anytime i insert the hard drive into a system it pops up a dialog that the drive is not formatted and asks you to format.. To access the files in the drive, you just close that dialog, run your truecrypt and unlock the drive. Remembering to always lock unmount it before ejecting.

I started using the encrypted hard drive with my other flash drive as the key to the hard drive. Things were going smoothly for a while until a friend who knew nothing about the encrypted drive picked it up and tried to connect it to his system. The format dialog box appeared as usual and he clicked format.... At this moment i walked in but it was already too late..

The filesystem was damaged.

And that spelt the end of my hard drive... i started searching for solutions online to repair the file system and also try to at least recover some of my files..

I went as far as trying testdisk all to no avail....

After a while and series of experiments, my hard drive was no longer detected by my system and that was the end... Thank you truecrypt...

Moral of the story, be careful when enjoying yourself and most importantly... DONT ENCRYPT BLINDLY!!! just like i did....

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Youwave Vs Bluestacks

Youwave and Bluestacks are the top android emulators out there... These emulators allow you to simulate and android environment on your pc. You get to run android apps like you were on your mobile. The Question thus arises... Which do you prefer? Youwave or Bluestacks??

Bluestacks is a free Android emulator while Youwave isn't free... You only get a trial period of a couple days before you get locked out.. so your only choice is to buy it or do like the black hats do.. crack it.

Bluestacks has a wonderful user Interface which beats that of Youwave bt Youwave gives you the real android feeling... Makes you experience the Android side of Life... These and many more are things that differentiate these apps... now up to you.. Which do you prefer and why?

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Xamarin Mono: Develop Android Apps Using C#

Good news for all C# programmers that have been interested in developing applications for the Android platform. The Xamarin Mono for Android allows you to write your code in c# and then convert it to Android, iOS and also Windows App at a go. Write all your code in C# using Visual studio or Xamarin studio whether you are developing for android, iOS or the Windows platform.. Xamarin allows cross-platform development. Easy to Install, Intellisense and awesome APIs make your programming much easier..

To find out more or get started... Click here

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Viral Penetration: Virus Attack

Hello guys, recently virus attacks have been on the rise. More and more Laptops and computers are getting infected as the days roll by. The most fierce and common virus in this area is the "Password, sexy Virus". This virus corrupts all the files in any external memory storage plugged into the computer or laptop and turns most of the files into applications and hides the real files.

INFECTION
To View the files hidden by this virus, Go to Folder options > View > Select the Show hidden files and folder radio button. Scroll down and uncheck the "Hide protected Operating system files". Thats it.

PRECAUTION
The best way to avoid these viruses is to install USB Disk security, avoid opening any sort of applications from an external drive and most importantly, be careful about what you plug into your system.

REMOVAL
Removal is pretty tough... I removed mine using a linux operating system, Ubuntu.. I will soon post a tutorial on how to do that.The best way to get rid of this virus is to take it to a qualified personnel. To help fix it.

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Symbols Creation With Keyboard

Hey guys, create awesome and exciting symbols with your keyboard combinations.

How to make symbols with keyboard. Must READ it and SHARE it .
Try Your Symbols In the COMMENT BoX :)

NOTE: You need to have a keyboard that has numlock or a numerical section. See ya guys

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Operation Don't Crash: Driver Pack 2012 On Windows 8

The night before was a night to write about... earlier in the day, a friend of mine had experienced a minor but rather disturbing problem with his laptop. The Laptop which was running windows 8 had Bluetooth driver issues which he attempted to fix using DriverPack 2012.. Unknowingly, one thing led to another and his system was turned off abnormally. On turning it back on, the system failed to start, moving straight onto automatic repair. Unfortunately, while trying to start Advanced options, his password was required. As he usually makes use of the pin, he had forgotten his password so he started guessing.. I must admit i started making fun of him and left him to face his predicament.

Finally at night, On my laptop, also running Windows 8, i was planning on rounding up my code for the NACOSS(Nigerian Association of Computer Science Students) 2013 Unilorin exhibition, but before that i tried using DriverPack to fix my sound card missing driver issue and i was prompted to restart. Problem was... It wasnt coming back on..

I thought of all the code i had been writing for the exhibition and felt i had to do something urgently... I ran Automatic repair for about half an hour but it couldnt be repaired. It was the same problem my friend was having and i made fun of him.. i felt like i was being punished.

Like a bell struck at midnight, an idea popped in my head and i thought of System restore, i opened it through advanced options and i found a restore point just before installing driver pack. My system restored and my problem was solved.. Except for the fact that by the time it was fixed, i was already feeling sleepy... End of the night. I dunno if the driver pack isn't compatible with Windows 8.

The Exhibition however was a cool one, i exhibited a previous project, Unilorites which had undergone a major upgrade and i am happy to say it was good enough to win the exhibition. I won and was awarded NACOSS programmer of the year... A title to behold :-)

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LockDir: Protect Your Files

Every now and then, there is always a need for one to protect his or her files... There are quite a number of software out there available to do this but only a few people know about them...

One of the recommended ones include LockDir. I have been using Lockdir for a while now, probably over a year and i havent really detected any bug of any sorts or unwanted acts from its side.. All you need to do is just password your files and they are very much secured.





How To Use?

1. Copy LockDir to the directory you would like to secure
2. Run LockDir and select the kind of security you want
3. Type in your password, and watch as the magic happens... hehehehe...

Your files are now secured

Features : -

• Three Methods: Lock,Scramble and Encrypt Folder. Depending on the security level you need.
• On the Fly Protection: Using the Strong protection technology that can effectively lock/encrypt all your files.
• Strong Encryption: A strong industry standard 256-bit BLOWFISH Encryption is used to encrypt your files.
• Portability: Folders can be protected on portable devices like USB flash disk and removable hard disk.
• Drive Firewall: Allows you to protect your data from virus and other bad software.
• Security: Protected files are totally hidden and locked, undeletable, unmovable and totally inaccessible.

Click here to download LockDir

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Incredible Logos Created With Ease

Every institution, company, organization or cause needs a logo... its one of the required tools for
branding.... A logo passes a great deal of message about the products and services one has to render.
Creating a logo, however is an herculean task which has been made easy thanks to sothink logo maker...

This application is a great tool for creating logos.. both for professionals and beginners... Classy and quality
templates have been embedded in this application which can not only make creating logos easier but also
give you ideas to express yourself with...

Here's a preview....

With different categories and thousands of shapes to import... here's a great tool

Click here to download Sothink Logo maker

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How to Take Good Care of Your Laptop

1.Keep liquids away from your laptop. As tempting as it might be to drink coffee, soda, water or any other liquid near your laptop, accidents can happen all too easily. Spilled liquids may damage the internal components or cause electrical injury to the laptop. Short circuits can corrupt data or even permanently destroy parts. The solution is very simple: Keep your drinks away from your computer. Even if you're careful, someone else might bump into your desk or you. Or you can use a cup with a cover on it, so even if it does spill, the liquid doesn't go any where!

2. Having an available antivirus software would help. Even if you know what you download, it may contain a virus that can lead to a circuit error in your system hardware or slowness in the software.

3. Protect the LCD display monitor. When you shut your laptop, make sure there are no small items, such as a pencil or small ear-phones, on the keyboard. These can damage the display screen when shut; the screen will scratch if the item is rough. Close the lid gently and holding from the middle. Closing the lid using only one side causes pressure on that hinge, and over time can cause it to bend and snap.

4.Plug in accessory devices into their proper slots. Always look at the symbols on the laptop carefully before inserting devices. Jamming a phone line into an Ethernet port or vice versa could damage the sockets, making it impossible to use them again. It is very important to observe this step.

5. Handle any removable drives with care. Floppy drives or CD drives that have been removed from your laptop can easily get crushed, dropped or pressed if you are careless. Put them straight into a bag or a storage box/case for safe keeping if you are not putting them back into the laptop.

6.Don't leave your laptop in a car. Not only do the insides of cars experience large temperature swings that could damage a laptop, but a laptop (or laptop bag) is an inviting target for a smash and grab thief.

7. Avoid placing heavy materials, such as books, on top of your laptop and keyboard. This can push the LCD screen into the keyboard, and will eventually damage it. Also, the CD-ROM insert will also be squished and, eventually, will break.

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Elegant Style With Windows Blue

The Windows 8 Blue, soon to be called Windows 8.1 this coming summer is going to be the latest release from the stables of the giant, Microsoft. This new operating system is not the next operating system as previously announced to be due in 2014, i suppose that would be called Windows 9. The Windows Blue is more or less an upgrade to the current Windows 8... more than just a service pack, it brings about new features and more.. Let me leave you to watch a video i came across on youtube...

What do you guys think?

#AtoZChallenge

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Make Windows 7 Genuine using Command Prompt

How many of you using Genuine windows 7 ?
we all know that everyone can't buy a genuine windows 7, because cost is too high.
Lots of Windows 7 users have experienced the error message that "Windows 7 is not genuine". 
This error message comes if you use pirated or OEM versions of Windows 7.
If windows 7 is not genuine, even you can't change the background wallpaper or any other display related option on your PC.

So now i'm going to show you a easy way to make your windows 7 genuine using command prompt.

How to make Windows 7 genuine using Command Prompt

Press Windows key + R
Now "run" box will appear , in "run" box type CMD 
Click on OK
Note : Run CMD as Administrator 

Now command prompt will appear

In command prompt type SLMGR -REARM
Hit Enter.

Wait 5-10 seconds

Now a message will appear as shown in image below.

Done !!!
Now your Windows 7 is genuine .. :D

Restart your PC once. Hereafter you won't see the warning message that "Windows 7 is not genuine" 

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How To Hide a Local Drive using Command Prompt

In this tutorial I'll show you an easiest way to hide local drive without using software. This will save your both money and time.
There are 3 methods available to hide a local drive without using any software

1. Hide a drive through gpedit
2. Hide a drive through regedit
3. Hide a drive using command prompt

Today we are covering command prompt way of doing it. So lets see how to do.

How to Hide a Local Drive using command prompt?

1. Click on Start - Run

2. In Run box type cmd and hit Enter. Now Command Prompt window will appear.

3. In command prompt, type diskpart and hit Enter.

4. Then type list volume and hit Enter.

Now it will display the list of all your computer drives details.

5. Then type the Drive Letter which you want to hide.
If you want to hide volume E, type select volume E and hit Enter.

Now follow mentioned massage will appear to you.
Volume 4 is the selected volume

6. After that, type remove letter E and hit an Enter. 

That's all, you have done. Now restart your computer once. When you start your PC again, you want be able to see the particular drive in My Computer.

How to get back Hidden Drive again in My Computer.

Do the procedure which i have mentioned in step 1,2,3,4 and 5 again.

Click Start --> Run --> cmd -->

Then type diskpart - list volume - select volume E

After that type assign letter E and hit Enter.

That's all !! You have got back the hidden local drive. Once again restart your PC, now you will be able to see hidden local drive in My Computer.

Note: Your PC doesn't lost any data by doing this trick .

Source:Tech Glitz

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Get VLC Media Player 2.0.5

VLC Media Player supports to play videos files, it's a free program wished by most of the PC users. Recently, VideoLan has released the latest version of VLC Media Player VLC 2.0.5.

This new version is released with number of stunning new features like frame by frame advancement, on-the-fly trans-coding, granular speed controls and much more new feature added in this new version. And also VLC 2.0.5 version consist customize tool-bars, customize skins. Even it's supports playback for broken and zipped files. When compared with other video player programs, VLC has the ability to play videos in any formats. VLC 2.0.5 fully supports with Microsoft's Windows 8, Windows 7, XP and Mac, Linux.

Download for 32 bit Windows

Download for 64-bit windows

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Use Your Gmail Offline - Without Internet

Gmail offline allows us to read, respond to, and search without network access. So even if you are offline, you can open your web browser, go to Gmail.com and get to your mail just like you are used to.


Click here to Install offline Gmail

How to start Offline Gmail

• After installing, open a new tab in Chrome.
• In the new tab panel you will see a Gmail Offline Icon
• Click on the Icon, and then Offline Gmail will load.
• Now you can keep reading mails and also any new messages you compose will be sent out the next time you connect to internet.

Note: This is only available in Google Chrome.

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Fix desktop.ini Auto Open in Notepad on Boot Up in Windows 8

Some windows 8 users, like me may have noticed that a Notepad window will automatically open upon every system startup or reboot. The Notepad will open desktop.ini with the following text:

[.ShellClassInfo]

LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21787

Obviously, it’s a ‘bug’ that a desktop.ini file been mistakenly been placed or created on a location where it should not. To fix the desktop.ini auto open on Windows 8 is pretty easy, just by removing and deleting the desktop.ini from the Startup folder, which Windows operating system loads on every boot up.

1. Open Windows Explorer, then click on View ->  Options.
2. Go to View tab.
3. Under “Files and folders” tree, select Show hidden files, folders and drives.
4. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files in order to be able to view the hidden desktop.ini file.
5. Click OK when done.
6. Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder, or alternatively, just type shell:common startup in Start Search and hit Enter.
7. Delete desktop.ini file inside the folder.
8. Navigate to C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder, or alternatively, just type shell:startup in Start Search and hit Enter.
9. Delete desktop.ini file inside the folder.
10. The bug has been fixed, and no Notepad window with desktop.ini will appear on reboot or startup anymore.

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Finally! Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet Going On Sale

Some seven months after it was announced, the Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro is finally hitting stores on Feb. 9. The made-by-Microsoft tablet with the full version of Windows will be available at Microsoft retail stores, on the Microsoft Store online, at Best Buy and Staples. The 64-GB model is $899, while the 128-GB model is $999. Both ship with the Surface Pen input device. If you want a Type Cover or Touch Cover — the snap-in keyboard — you’ll need to buy it separately.

The Pro is bigger, heavier and faster than its little brother, the Surface RT. Moreover, while the RT can only run Microsoft Store applications and a stripped-down version of Windows, the Pro runs a full version of Windows 8 Pro capable of running both new Store apps as well as desktop programs and legacy Windows applications. The Surface Pro clocks in at 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53 inches and weighs slightly less than two pounds. It has a 1920 x 1080 pixel, 10.6-inch display, and an Intel Core i5 Processor. It has front- and rear-facing 720P cameras, a microSDXC card slot, Wi-Fi support for 802.11a/b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0.

Microsoft also announced that the 64-GB Surface Windows RT will be available as a standalone version without a Touch Cover for $599 starting Feb. 9.

Although quite a number of people go against calling this a tablet, as it dones quite a number of features and characteristics.... Since its actually sort of a pre-modified Laptop... They say call it "Hybrid".. Lol

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Installing Windows 7 From a Flash Drive(works for 8 as well)

First:-You need convert your flash drive's filesystem to NTFS.
Requirements:

*USB Flash Drive (Minimum 4GB)

*Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation files.

Follow the below steps to create bootable Windows 7/Windows 8 USB drive using which you can install Windows 7 or Windows 8 easily.

Procedure:

1. Plug-in your USB flash drive to USB port and move all the contents from USB drive to a safe location on your system.

2. Open Command Prompt with admin rights. Use any of the below methods to open Command Prompt with admin rights.

*Type cmd in Start menu search box and hit Ctrl+ Shift+ Enter.

Or

*Go to Start menu > All programs > Accessories, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

3. You need to know about the USB drive a little bit. Type in the following commands in the command prompt:

First type DISKPART and hit enter to see the below message.

Next type LIST DISK command and note down the Disk number (ex: Disk 1) of your USB flash drive. In the below screenshot my Flash Drive Disk no is Disk 1.

4. Next type all the below commands one by one. Here I assume that your disk drive no is “Disk 1”.If you have Disk 2 as your USB flash drive then use Disk 2.Refer the above step to confirm it.

So below are the commands you need to type and execute one by one:

SELECT DISK 1

CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

SELECT PARTITION 1

ACTIVE

FORMAT FS=NTFS

(Format process may take few seconds)

ASSIGN

EXIT

Don’t close the command prompt as we need to execute one more command at the next step. Just minimize it.

Note:What we just did was to convert your Flash drive's Filesystem to NTFS.

Next step is to make your flash drive a bootable drive.
Insert your Windows7/Windows 8 DVD into the optical drive and check the drive letter of the DVD drive. In this guide I will assume that your DVD drive letter is “D” and USB drive letter is “H” (open my computer to verify that.).

6. Maximize the minimized Command Prompt in the 4th step.Type  the following command now:

D: CD BOOT and hit enter.Where “D” is your DVD drive letter.If your DVD drive letter is "E",then type 

E: CD BOOT and hit enter.

7. Type another command given below to update the USB drive with BOOTMGR compatible code.

BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 H: 

Where “H” is your USB drive letter(Confirm from "my computer"). Once you enter the above command you will see the below message.

8. Copy your Windows 7 or Windows 8 DVD contents to the USB flash drive.

9. Your USB drive is ready to boot and install Windows 7 or Windows 8. Only thing you need to do is to change the boot priority at the BIOS to USB from the HDD or CD ROM drive.

To do this when you switch on your system,press the function key with the attribute SETUP (in my system,its F12),go to boot configuration/priority and change first boot device to 

USB DRIVE/REMOVABLE DISK.

Note: If you are not able to boot after following this guide, it means you haven’t set the BIOS priority to USB. If you got any problem in following this guide feel free to ask questions by leaving comment.

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Touch screen Transforms into a Physical Keyboard

For tablet- and smartphone-owners who love their touchscreens but occasionally yearn for the feel of a physical keyboard, Fremont, Calif.-based company Tactus has unveiled new technology that unites both features on one gadget.
It developed a tactile user interface for touchscreen devices: transparent physical buttons that emerge from a tablet or smartphone's surface on demand. To see the technology in action, watch the video above.
"With the buttons enabled, users can push and type or rest their fingers as they would with any physical button or keyboard," Tactus explains on its website. "When the buttons are disabled, they recede into the screen, becoming invisible and leaving a smooth, seamless flat touchscreen with maximum viewing area."
This "Tactile Layer" technology integrates with a touchscreen device by replacing its cover glass.
While current smartphones include the option of haptic feedback, which causes on-screen keys to vibrate upon touch, Tactus says it's not the same as physical buttons.
Would you use this technology on your smartphone or tablet?TO view the video click here

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Burn Disc Images (ISO) Using Command Prompt In Windows 8/7

Some of us might have encountered files ending with the extension .iso.This simply means it's a disc image file and needs to be burnt to a disc or (you extract the files in them using Win-image or Winrar).
 You can burn a disc image from the command prompt interface by passing the proper parameters.
To start burning a CD or DVD ISO file immediately from command prompt, simply type in:
isoburn /q drive:\file.iso
For example:  isoburn /q  c:\en_windows_7_ultimate_x64_dvd_X15-65922.iso (Note for command prompt)
Ensure the disc you want to write to has enough or more storage size than the size of the file you want to burn. 
 Alternatively,Windows 7 and 8 includes a free image burning utility called the Windows Disc Image Burner that allows you to quickly write CD and DVD images.

As shown in the image, you can pass only the ISO file location and click the Burn button within the utility.

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