5 Hidden dangers of Facebook

Over the last few years, Facebook's growth has been phenomenal. The world's no. 1 social networking site also sometime back beat Google to become the most visited Web site in the US for an entire week at a stretch. However, the site has also lately being receiving lot of flak for its privacy policies.

An expert in online privacy drew attention to the five dangers of sharing information on social networking site Facebook. Joan Goodchild, senior editor of CSO (Chief Security Officer) Online, said that marketing efforts by the company often results in a compromise on account holders' privacy. 

Goodchild noted five risks of using Facebook.

They are:

1. According to Facebook policy last updated on April 2010, "When you connect with an application or website it will have access to General Information about you. The term General Information includes your and your friends' names, profile pictures, gender, user IDs, connections, and any content shared using the Everyone privacy setting. ... The default privacy setting for certain types of information you post on Facebook is set to "everyone." ... Because it takes two to connect, your privacy settings only control who can see the connection on your profile page. If you are uncomfortable with the connection being publicly available, you should consider removing (or not making) the connection."

2. In March, private e-mail according to a Gawker report, private email addresses that many Facebook users wanted to keep hidden were revealed publicly on a multitude of Facebook profiles. The glitch was later resolved by Facebook.

3. Recently, a Facebook event invitation was reportedly sent to some over 2,300 friends of Jim Breyer, Accel Partners venture capitalist who sits on Facebook's board of directors, asking "Would you like a Facebook phone number?" However, the message was actually a scam and the users who entered their passwords in response to the message in turn sent the whole thing to their friends lists too.
"This was a phishing scam and Jim's account appears to have been compromised," read a statement from Facebook as provided to venture industry news site PEHub.

4. On May 6th, the popular social network patched a major security bug that allowed users to snoop on their friends' private chats, and view their pending friend requests. The exploit forced Facebook to temporarily disable chat.

5. Earlier this week, 15 privacy and consumer protection organizations filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, alleging that the site manipulates privacy settings to make users' personal information available for commercial use. 

Features of 5G Technology

• 5G technology offer high resolution for crazy cell phone user and bi-directional large bandwidth shaping.
• The advanced billing interfaces of 5G technology makes it more attractive and effective.
• 5G technology also providing subscriber supervision tools for fast action.
• The high quality services of 5G technology based on Policy to avoid error.
• 5G technology is providing large broadcasting of data in Gigabit which supporting almost 65,000 connections.
• 5G technology offer transporter class gateway with unparalleled consistency.
• The traffic statistics by 5G technology makes it more accurate.
• Through remote management offered by 5G technology a user can get better and fast solution.
• The remote diagnostics also a great feature of 5G technology.
• The 5G technology is providing up to 25 Mbps connectivity speed.
• The 5G technology also support virtual private network.
• The new 5G technology will take all delivery service out of business prospect
• The uploading and downloading speed of 5G technology touching the peak.
• The 5G technology network offering enhanced and available connectivity just about the world

A new revolution of 5G technology is about to begin because 5G technology going to give tough completion to normal computer and laptops whose marketplace value will be effected. There are lots of improvements from 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G to 5G in the world of telecommunications. The new coming 5G technology is available in the market in affordable rates, high peak future and much reliability than its preceding technologies.

5G Technology

5G Technology stands for 5th Generation Mobile technology. 5G mobile technology has changed the means to use cell phones within very high bandwidth. User never experienced ever before such a high value technology. Nowadays mobile users have much awareness of the cell phone (mobile) technology. The 5G technologies include all type of advanced features which makes 5G mobile technology most powerful and in huge demand in near future.

The gigantic array of innovative technology being built into new cell phones is stunning. 5G technology which is on hand held phone offering more power and features than at least 1000 lunar modules. A user can also hook their 5G technology cell phone with their Laptop to get broadband internet access. 5G technology including camera, MP3 recording, video player, large phone memory, dialing speed, audio player and much more you never imagine. For children rocking fun Bluetooth technology and Piconets has become in market.

5G technology going to be a new mobile revolution in mobile market. Through 5G technology now you can use worldwide cellular phones and this technology also strike the china mobile market and a user being proficient to get access to Germany phone as a local phone. With the coming out of cell phone alike to PDA now your whole office in your finger tips or in your phone. 5G technology has extraordinary data capabilities and has ability to tie together unrestricted call volumes and infinite data broadcast within latest mobile operating system. 5G technology has a bright future because it can handle best technologies and offer priceless handset to their customers. May be in coming days 5G technology takes over the world market. 5G Technologies have an extraordinary capability to support Software and Consultancy. The Router and switch technology used in 5G network providing high connectivity. The 5G technology distributes internet access to nodes within the building and can be deployed with union of wired or wireless network connections. The current trend of 5G technology has a glowing future.

10 useful accessories for your desk

 

 

 

 

USB Hub & Mug Warmer
For many people, office doesn’t start without a cup of morning coffee. This USB powered mug warmer has a metal heating plate protected by insulation material — it can keep your coffee warm while you take your time to enjoy it. The heating plate works great for ceramic, glass and metal mugs. There is also a status light to indicate that the warmer is ready to be used. The additional USB ports can be used to connect other devices. 699 from www.ebay.in


USB Display
This little monitor is completely powered off USB – just one cable is needed for both the video signal and
power. The 7-inch 800 x 480 pixel panel is touchscreen enabled too – you can move certain items onto it to
clear space from your primary display. The best part is that since the display connects via USB, your regular
VGA/HDMI out is unused and can be used to output to another device simultaneously. The display is compatible
with both PC and Mac (the touchscreen functionality is only compatible with Intel-powered Macs and needs an dditional driver). $229.99 from www.thinkgeek.com


USB Cooler 
This tiny refrigerator-shaped USB accessory can actually keep a canned beverage chilled. A cool blue LED lights p when the door is opened, just like the light inside an actual fridge. Practically, it can’t cool a hot can, ut it can keep an already chilled can colder for a longer time (as compared to if it was left in the open). he flamboyant red colour also adds a little zing to your desk. $19.99 from www.thinkgeek.com


Phantom Keystroker 
Quite an effective and hard-to-catch office prank, this. The Phantom Keystroker looks like a simple USB flash rive but it actually mimics a keyboard and mouse when connected to a computer. All you have to do is plug it nto a (hidden) USB port and it randomly inserts letters while typing or moves the mouse pointer around. The nfuriated victim will never find out. $12.99 from www.thinkgeek.com


USB Foldable keyboard
If your netbook’s keyboard proves too small for you or you just prefer to carry your own keyboard around, this lexible USB keyboard is ideal. Since the keys and base material are made of silicon, it is completely silent. ven though it has the full 104 keys, you can roll it up into a small package. The added advantage is that the keys are completely waterproof and dustproof. $23.99 from www.thinkgeek.com


USB paper schredder
A lot of information about you can be accumulated by anyone who goes through your trash. That’s why any
personally identifiable or sensitive information (bank statements, credit card alerts, PIN numbers) should be
completely destroyed using a paper shredder. This little USB (or battery) powered shredder is small enough to it quietly under your desk. 2,022 from www.ebay.in


USB Vaccum Cleaner 
A full-size vacuum cleaner would be overkill for use on your keyboard or smaller computer peripherals. That’s hy you’ll need this dainty little handheld USB vacuum cleaner with a reusable dust bag. A couple of small ttachments (tube and brush) are included so that you can get all the muck out of the keyboard crevices and ther hard-to-reach places like speaker grills. It also has a small LED to light the way for more effective
cleaning. 150 from www.ebay.in


ASUS CrossLink Cable
Connecting two computers directly without a network is a pain. Thanks to Asus’ Crosslink USB cable and adapter, ou can quickly connect and transfer data at high-speeds between two computers. The adapter is shaped like a SB drive, has 2GB storage and a miniUSB port on the other side to connect using the Crosslink cable. You can ven share an internet connection and optical drive between two PCs. 4,000 from eBay Global EasyBuy


USB Phone2PC
This handly little device is great if you want to keep a record of all your voice calls. It can be connected to ost phones using an analog or digital connection and then it connects to the PC using USB. A software is equired to be installed which provides an easy-to-use interface to record incoming/outgoing calls. It includes n external microphone for recording meetings and interviews directly to the PC as well. 10,000 from www.ebay.in

6 useful Windows tricks

You know that feeling you get when your friends or family see you do something on your computer that they've never seen before? If you’ve had this experience, you know that “world's coolest power-user” feeling. But if you haven’t, start here. Knowledge is power!

Read these six tips for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP that will keep you schoolin' your friends and family.

1. Don't just maximize your windows—go full screen

When you need a really big window for viewing photos and videos, don't just maximize it: go full screen! This tip works great for viewing photos and videos at maximum size in Windows Explorer or Windows Media Player, utilizing screen space usually occupied by the header at the top of the screen and the taskbar at the bottom. Here’s how:

Open any photo in Windows Explorer, or open a photo or video clip in Windows Media Player. Do one of the following:

• In Windows 7 and Windows XP, click the F11 key at the top of your keyboard.

To undue full-screen mode and restore the window to its normal view, press the Esc (Escape) key at the top of your keyboard

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2. Customize the Navigation pane

You can use the navigation pane (the left pane) to find files and folders and display links to frequently used folders and other items. You can also move or copy items to a destination in the navigation pane.
If you don't see the navigation pane on the left side of an open folder window, click Organize, point to Layout, and then click Navigation pane to display it.

To customize the navigation pane in Windows 7

1. In an open folder or library window, click Organize, and then click Folder and search options.
2. In the Folder Options dialog box, click the General tab, and then do one or both of the following:
   
   • To show all the folders on your computer in the navigation pane, including your personal folder, select the Show all folders check box, click Apply to see the change, and then click OK.
   • To automatically expand the navigation pane to the folder that's selected in the folder window, select the Automatically expand to current folder check box, and then click OK.

More ways to customize your favorites in Windows 7

• To add a folder, a saved search, a library, or even a drive as a favorite, drag it to the Favorites section in the navigation pane. Note: You can’t add individual file to Favorites, but you can add them to any folder in Favorites.
• To change the order of favorites, drag a favorite to a new position in the list.
• To restore the default favorites in the navigation pane, right-click Favorites, and then click Restore Favorite Links.
• To view the folder where your favorites are stored, click Favorites in the navigation pane. Favorites are stored as shortcuts.
• To remove a favorite, right-click the favorite, and then click Remove. This removes the favorite from the navigation pane—it doesn't delete the files or folders that the shortcut points to.

The Favorites area of the navigation pane in Windows 7

Add folders and files in Windows Vista

In Windows Vista, you can add folders to Favorite Links in the navigation pane so that you can open them from any folder window at any time. To do this, first open the folder that contains the subfolder you want to add. Then simply drag its icon from the original folder to where you want it in the navigation pane. You can also click Folders at the bottom of the pane and drag a folder from the folder list up into the Favorite Links section of the pane. Note: You can’t add individual files to Favorite Links, but you can add them to any folder in Favorite Links.

3. Pin a program or items to the Windows 7 taskbar

You know what would make a great taskbar? One where you could pin your favorite applications or files so that you could open them quickly from any window at any time. Guess what? You can.
In Windows 7, you can also pin shortcuts for favorite or frequently used files, folders, and websites to the Jump Lists for each of those programs to the taskbar. Learn more about Jump Lists.
Pin a program to the taskbar
To pin a program shortcut to the taskbar, do one of the following:

• If the program is already running, right-click the program's button on the taskbar (or drag the button toward the desktop) to open the program’s Jump List, and then click Pin this program to taskbar.
• Or if the program isn't running, click Start, find the program’s icon, right-click the icon, and then click Pin to Taskbar.
• You can also pin a program by dragging the program's shortcut from the desktop or Start menu to the taskbar.

ump Lists on the taskbar give you quick access to the things you use most often. You can drag a file, folder, or website icon or a shortcut from the Start menu or the desktop to the taskbar. This pins the item to the Jump List and also pins the associated program to the taskbar. If you drag the shortcut to the taskbar and the associated program isn't already pinned there, then that program is pinned to the taskbar and the item is pinned to the program’s Jump List.

Pinning an item to a Jump List on the taskbar

To view the Jump List for a program, right-click the program's button on the taskbar. To open an item from a Jump List, open the program's Jump List, and then click the item.

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4. Customize the Quick Launch Bar in Windows XP

In Windows XP, the customizable Quick Launch Bar also gives you convenient shortcuts to your favorite programs, folders, and files. The Quick Launch Bar remains accessible from most windows, so it’s a handy way to open the applications and files you use frequently.
If the Quick Launch Bar isn’t already visible to the right of the Start button , you’ll need to turn it on. To do that, right-click an open area of the taskbar. Hover your mouse pointer over Toolbars, then click Quick Launch. The Quick Launch Bar appears on your taskbar.

The Quick Launch Bar on the Windows XP taskbar

To add a program shortcut to the Quick Launch Bar, click the Start button, click All Programs, then click and drag the application you want to the Quick Launch Bar. Release the mouse button and the application’s icon appears in the Quick Launch Bar.
To add a folder or file shortcut to the Quick Launch Bar, open Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder, subfolder, or individual file you want, click and drag the folder or file you want to the Quick Launch Bar. Release the mouse button and the icon for the folder or file appears in the Quick Launch Bar.
To remove a shortcut from the Quick Launch Bar, right-click on the icon in the Quick Launch Bar of the application, folder, or file you want to remove and right-click it, click Delete, and then click Yes when asked if you’re sure you want to delete the shortcut. Note: Although the shortcut is removed from the Quick Launch Bar, the actual application, folder, or file has not been deleted from your computer.

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5. Arrange windows on your desktop

In Windows, you can arrange windows side by side, which can be especially helpful when comparing two documents or when moving files from one place to another. Note: If you’re using a nonstandard setup (such as dual monitors), the tricks below may not work as expected.

Windows 7

1. Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until an outline of the expanded window appears.
2. Release the mouse to expand the window.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with another window to arrange the windows side by side.

To return a window to its original size click the Maximize button in the window’s title bar and the window expands to full size.

The Maximize button

Learn more about managing multiple windows in Windows 7.
Tip: To snap an active window to the side of the desktop by using the keyboard, press Windows logo key +Left Arrow or Windows logo key +Right Arrow.

Viewing windows side by side in Windows

Windows Vista and Windows XP

In Windows Vista and Windows XP, it’s easy to display any two (or more) windows side by side on the desktop, all equally sized. Press and hold the Ctrl key and click two or more of the window buttons on the taskbar that you want to open. Release the Ctrl key, right-click, and then do one of the following:

• Windows Vista users, click Show Windows Side by Side.

Windows Vista, Show Windows Side by Side command.

Windows XP, Tile Vertically command.

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6. Organize your files into groups

Windows offers a variety of options for organizing folders and files in the ways that work best for you.

Windows 7

The easiest and most effective way to organize your stuff in Windows 7 is to use file arrangements in your libraries.
You can arrange files in the Documents library by author, for example, or you can arrange the Music library by artist if you're looking for an album or song by a particular band.
To arrange a library

1. In the taskbar, click the Windows Explorer button .
2. In the navigation pane (the left pane), click a library (such as Music).
3. In the library pane (above the file list), click the Arrange by menu, and then choose a property. For example, in the Music library, you can choose Artist to quickly arrange your music collection by artist.
   
   The "Arrange by" menu
4. When you arrange your files, Windows doesn't just put your files in a different order. Instead, they are presented in a completely different way. The arrangements work differently depending on which one you choose. For example, arranging your pictures by month puts your pictures into stacks, like this:
   
   Files arranged in "stacks"
   Arranging by day puts them into groups, like this:
   
   Files arranged in "groups"
   There are four default libraries in Windows 7, each with its own specific arrangements. You can also create new libraries and choose which arrangements are available for them.
   For more information about libraries, see Working with libraries.

Windows Vista

Open a folder that contains several different subfolders and file types. Right-click any empty space on the window's contents pane, point to Group By, and then click your grouping choice.

Windows Vista Group by command.

Windows XP

Open a folder that contains several different subfolders and file types. Right-click any empty space on the window's contents pane, point to Arrange Icons By, and then click Show in Groups. To arrange the window's contents, right-click again in any empty space on the window's contents pane, point to Arrange Icons By, and click Name, Size, Type, or Modified (the choices may vary depending on the contents).

WATCH LIVE TV FOR FREE

Watch Live TV on Your PC For Free

Now you can watch free Tv on your pc by just using a VLC player.

Step 1 : First of all you need to have VLC player, if you don’t have vlc player kindly download and install it

Step 2 : Now open Vlc Player, and select streaming option from the media menu present in the menu bar.





Step 3 : Select network option and enter the url of the streaming channel. For example if you want to view B4u Music you need to add url
rtsp://217.146.95.166:554/playlist/ch12zqcif.3gp
in the url field and then select play option from the stream drop down menu.




Step 4 : After you click play in the above step, the channel will start streaming and you can watch your favorite channels.




Here is the List of many other channels which you will love to watch
Channel Name
Link
NDTV rtsp://ss1c6.idc.mundu.tv:554/prf0/cid_33.sdp
NDTV Profit rtsp://ss1c6.idc.mundu.tv:554/prf0/cid_31.sdp
Times Now rtsp://ss1c6.idc.mundu.tv:554/prf0/cid_2.sdp
Aaj Tak rtsp://ss1c6.idc.mundu.tv:554/prf0/cid_4.sdp
CNBC Aawaz rtsp://ss1c6.idc.mundu.tv:554/prf1/cid_34.sdp
CNBC TV 18 rtsp://ss1c6.idc.mundu.tv:554/prf0/cid_35.sdp
Headlines Today rtsp://ss1c6.idc.mundu.tv:554/prf0/cid_7.sdp
NDTV 24×7 rtsp://ss1c6.idc.mundu.tv:554/prf0/cid_29.sdp
NK News rtsp://94.75.250.53:554/rtplive/rknews.sdp
RAJ News rtsp://94.75.250.220:1935/live/rajnews2.sdp
ETV rtsp://94.75.250.53/rtplive/etv2low.sdp
Studio N rtsp://94.75.250.220:1935/live/studion2
SVBC rtsp://94.75.250.220/rtplive/svbclow
Zoo Vision rtsp://stream.zoovision.com/live.sdp
B4u Music rtsp://217.146.95.166:554/playlist/ch12zqcif.3gp
iMusic rtsp://217.146.95.166:554/playlist/ch26yqcif.3gp
Zee Tamil rtsp://121.244.145.226:554/prf1/cid_54.sdp
Zee Kannad rtsp://121.244.145.226:554/prf1/cid_55.sdp
Zee Bangla rtsp://121.244.145.226:554/prf1/cid_52.sdp
Music Box rtsp://stream.the.sk/live/musicbox/musicbox-3m.3gp
Bella Tv rtsp://217.146.95.166:554/playlist/ch29yqcif.3gp
Fashion Tv rtsp://217.146.95.166:554/playlist/ch27yqcif.3gp
Adventure rtsp://video3.multicasttech.com/AFTVAdventure3GPP296.sdp
Horror rtsp://video2.multicasttech.com/AFTVHorror3GPP296.sdp
Comedy rtsp://video3.multicasttech.com/AFTVComedy3GPP96.sdp
Classic rtsp://video3.multicasttech.com/AFTVClassics3GPP296.sdp
Crime rtsp://video2.multicasttech.com/AFTVCrime3GPP296.sdp
Mystery rtsp://video2.multicasttech.com/AFTVMystery3GPP296.sdp
Clubbing Tv rtsp://217.146.95.166:554/playlist/ch21yqcif.3gp

Change Windows 7 Security Features

There are a number of changes one can make with respect to Windows 7 Security Features. Some will help speed up your movement within Windows while others will increase, or decrease, performance depending on whether you choose to use it or not. Many users reading this may not be of a level to determine whether these will best suit their needs and for this, I would advise against making changes to their User Account Control and System Restore specifically. This article was created in the sense that it should provide all the options to the consumer and one should consider that certain changes may not be in their best interest depending on their level of knowledge.
 

a. Make Windows 7 Log On Automatically

If you are simply using a home computer and have no need for log on screens, you can eliminate this by the following these steps:

1. Press Win + ‘R’ for the Run Command;
2. Type ‘netplwiz’ and hit enter;
3. Uncheck Users Must Enter a User Name and Password to Use this Computer and press Apply; and
4. You will be prompted for your User Name and Password; do so and hit Enter.

Many believe this change alone to save them several seconds in system boot times.


b. Take Control of UAC

One of my biggest pet peeves of Windows is the annoying prompts each and every time one wants to install a program or make system changes. This can be changed easily by adjusting the scale in User Account Settings to a level that makes you happy with both protection and your ability to work with your computer

Simply left click on the Orb and then Icon top right of the Start Menu. Next click Change User Account Control Settings and adjust the scale to suit your needs. While there, one can also learn how to change their account type, name and picture as well as being able to manage other accounts if they are in Account Administrator.

c. Get Rid of Action Center Balloon Notification
The new Windows Action Center is a great thing for those who aren’t quite on top of their system. It is capable of pop-ups and balloons for pretty much everything under the sun that might reflect security in one way or another. I am really not a fan of always seeing that little flag with some new red mark on it to remind me that Windows doesn’t think my security is quite up to par.

 The icon can either be shut right off or not shown yet still active. Right click on the Power Icon and selecting Turn System Icons Off where you get to choose which you want and which you don’t. You can also customize them to how and when they alert you by selecting Customize Notification Icons if you don’t want to shut them off completely.
 

d. Disable System Restore
System restore is an effective tool for backing out of things such as tweaking mistakes, failed program installations and other activities that seem to leave your system damages. For this reason, consider carefully whether you want to turn it off or just leave it. Turning it off allows for performance improvement as new system backups aren’t being created in the background and, also, it allows for more computer space as it frees up some valuable disk property. I regularly back up to an external which solves my problems with respect to this.

1. Go to Control Panel/System/System Protection and then Configure;
2. Turn off or adjust System Protection; and
3. Apply and then confirm Yes.

If you elect to just reduce the size of your System Restore file, create a restore point to be safe.


e. Password Protection and Encryption For Flash and External Drives

Windows 7 inclusion of Bit Locker to Go now allows a user to encrypt and password protect USB or external drives with little to no trouble at all.

1. Go to your Computer icon, right click on the drive you wish to protect and Turn On Bitlocker;
2. A Password screen will appear to create your password for the drive;
3. Save or Print Your Recovery Key;
4. Start encryption and wait until complete and that’s it!!!

The next time that you insert the disk on Windows 7 system, the password screen will open up allowing you access to your files.

 NOTE: This will only work on Windows 7 systems and the USB /external drive will not work on other OS’s once encryption is complete.

f. Log On As A Guest

A new and great feature about Windows 7 appears in its guest log on. This is a great method for allowing children to use the system as this mode places limits on making system changes, installing software or writing to the disk outside the user profile. A great security feature is that all data saved inside the profile is deleted once the user logs off.

g. Browse In Private While On Public Computers
A new feature in IE8 is the ability to open the browser in an InPrivate Browsing session that allows you to perform banking and so forth from a public location without fear of leaving behind any residue. IE will not retain anything you do in an InPrivate Browsing session. You can perform this action if you are already within IE by selecting the Safety button and then InPrivate Browsing. This will open another IE window altogether. However, you can save a few steps by using the shortcut. Right-click the desktop IE icon, click InPrivate and the windows will open in an InPrivate session already.

Reduce Windows 7 Boot Time and Shut Down

Simply put, this little collection of tools will help you to gain control on quicker start times, internet confirmation, shut down times as well as throwing in some performance improvements.  As a bit of a start though, lets discuss two of the largest causes of a lengthy boot time on a computer, automatic updating and virus programs.  A great many programs leave files in your startup folder and automatically set themselves to automatic updating on installation.  Automatic updating can increase your boot time by 6-60 seconds, and more, depending on what you have installed.

For example, I use a great optimization utility called Advanced System Care which does a great job keeping my system clean.  It only get used when I choose so I never considered that it would be the cause of a 7-8 second delay in my start time.  It turns out that, in the programs Options menu, there are two check boxes, one for starting the program automatically at startup and the other for automatic updating.  I simply unchecked them and got that time back but who knew right?

The other consideration that I mention has to do with finding the right virus program.  I like freeware myself and have had the opportunity to check the start times of four programs in the past while.  Was I surprised to find that the best program started in the least amount of time was 5-6 seconds while at least two others chocked 10-15 seconds on to the boot time.


a. Configuration File Adjustment

The Configuration File can be found by pressing the WinKey + letter ’R’ simultaneously which will bring up the Run command. From there, type ‘msconfig’ into the box and press enter. While here we are going to perform a few changes to decrease our boot time:

1. Check  No GUI Boot which will stop the colorful opening ceremonies of the software and save you precious seconds at start up as will these others;
2. Reduce the Delay time to 3 seconds;
3. Choose Advanced options and select 2 for the number of processors if you are fortunate to have such; and
4. Click on OK followed by Apply and then agree to restart your computer.

b. Remove any Unused and Unneeded Services

Windows 7 running services can potentially be the main cause for slow start and performance in a computer system. Many of the services are never used by the computer as the general settings are meant to cover any number of computers and their configurations. On first seeing the Service Applet, the columns will show the name of each service, description, status and startup type. The user needs to carefully consider the properties of each one to determine if it needs to be running or not. The safest method of approach is to set services to manual, when unsure, rather than to disable them.

So, simply press WinKey + ‘R’ to again bring up the Run Command and type in ‘services.msc’ before pressing OK. Double clicking on any service will help in determining if it is useful or not as well as changing its properties.

Some services that start automatically, by default, that can be disabled are:

• Computer Browser
• Distributed Link Tracking Client
• IKE and AuthIP IP Keying Modules
• Offline Files
• Remote Registry
• Tablet PC Input Service (If you are not using a tablet)
• Windows Error Reporting

You can experiment carefully with some services and I would suggest only a few at a time and then return if something doesn’t work as planned or there are adverse results.


c. Eliminate Unneeded Start Up Programs

Start Up programs, as with Windows Services, have the ability to slow your system down a great deal. Start Up programs are a bit more obvious to the typical user however. Many software programs, on installation, embed files within the Startup folder that are running behind the scenes needlessly. Quick Time is famous for this as is MS Office, however, MSN Messenger and the many communications programs that start automatically are a better example.  My best suggestion is to choose quicker boot times rather than starting frequently used programs automatically.

To examine your Startup, press WinKey + ‘R’ and type ‘msconfig’ and OK. From there select Startup and examine the running files. Again, determining what you can shut down may take a bit of work, however, my policy is that if I can start it when I select the program, there is no need for its files to be running all the time and slowing my system.


d. Remove Unused Fonts

I have just counted and was astounded to learn that there were a total of 708 fonts installed on my computer by Windows 7 taking up a whopping ½ GB of space, all but three of which I may never use. Windows loads each and every one of these fonts at boot up and must keep track of them, thus slowing your system. Feel free to cut down on the total number by simply deleting them. Go to Start Menu/Control Panel/Fonts.


e. Get Quicker Internet Confirmation

There is a quick trick to getting your internet to confirm quicker on boot. Press Winkey + ‘R’, type in ‘services.msc', double click and disable Workstation.

PRECAUTION: This tweak is not advisable if your system is located within a network or workstation environment as it will affect the environment itself.


f. Speed Up Your Shut Down Time

Windows 7 allows you to control your shut down time and allows it to be set from instantaneous to a 20 second delay. In considering this, your work habits need to be thought of and whether or not there is data being saved on exit. My shut down time is set at 2 seconds which I find a perfect setting as I hate waiting for a computer to shut down. We need to go into the Registry for this one so buckle up!

1. Press Winkey +’R’ and type ‘Regedit’ which brings you to the Registry Editor;
2. Follow” HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control and then look to the right to find WaitToKillServiceTimeOut and double click on it. You can enter a value from 2 to 20000, each value representing a millisecond. Two seconds would be 2000; and
3. Again click OK and then simply exit the program; it will be saved automatically.

Delete Autorun.inf Virus Manually using just Winrar

Once it happened to a friend of mine, when his newly bought laptop was infected with this autorun.inf virus. This virus corrupted almost all the  drives on the Hard disk, and when ever he tried to double click on the drive or opening  any drive it opened in a new window. In some cases, when your drive is infected with this Autorun.inf virus, you won’t be able to access the drive completely. You have to browse the drive by Exploring it i.e; Ctrl+E keys from the keyboard.


Sometimes ever you will not be able to see hidden files even if you have Show hidden files Enabled under Folder Options. well, this are all the wonders of this Autorun.inf virus.
I am going to show you this rare method of removing Autorun.inf manually using just winrar application, not any antivirus or malware programs.
Solution to Remove Autorun.inf Virus
Step 1: First Disable CD/DVD or USB Autorun in windows
Step 2: Open Winrar.exe  (Start–>All Programs–>WinRar–>WinRar.exe)
Step 3: Now Browse to any drive that is infected with Autorun.inf virus using winrar explorer.
Step4: Here you will see all the hidden files under winrar for that particular drive.
Step 5: Look for the file Autorun.inf and open it using notepad.
Step 6: In that Autorun file, some .EXE file will be mentioned that will be executed along with the autorun file. This exe file is the main culprit.

Step 7: Note the exe file mentioned in the Autorun.inf file. Close this Autorun.inf file.
Step 8: Now look for that .Exe file in the drive (Ex: c:/), Delete that .exe file along with Autorun.inf
Step 9: Restart your Operating System. Now your system is free with Autorun.inf Virus.
Note: Repeat the same process if your Usb or Pendrives are infected with Autorun.inf virus.

Secret Tip How I Make Free Calls from Computer to Mobile Phone Anywhere in the world with yahoo messenger or Skype

You can now make free calls from your pc to any mobile in the world. All you need is a mic with ear phones, a decent internet connection and Yahoo Messenger or Skype Installed.I’m now using this free call method and the great thing is that, this trick can be used to make unlimited call to mobiles all over the world and not limited to United states. It even works to make free local mobile calls in India.

So how do we make a call from pc to mobile phone for free?
Install Yahoo messenger or Skype. In case you don’t have it Google it and download the latest version.
Sign into your yahoo messenger or Skype using your yahoo id and password. Configure your microphone and headset if you have installed a fresh yahoo or skype software
Inside your Yahoo messenger dial +18003733411 and press enter(as shown in figure).

Now a small window pops up like the one shown below.

An operator greets you with a recorded welcome message along with an advertisement and asks you to select one of the Free411 service. Just hear the services options until they say the last one as “Free Call”. When you hear this, don’t press any number on your keyboard and instead SAY “Free call” loudly on your microphone connected to your PC.
After this voice message is detected by their system, they will run a short advertisement of their sponsor and make sure you don’t press any number at this time.
WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR A BEEP SOUND after the following message “Please dial the phone number country code first, don’t forget to dial 1 for north America”
After you hear this message ,immediately dial the destination number of your choice along with the country code.(e.g. for north America it’s 1 and for India it’s 91)
Your call will get connected and you can talk for 7 minutes continuous for free. When it gets disconnected, repeat the same procedure again. You can make multiple and unlimited calls with this service.
It was never easy to make a free international call like this before.
So what’s the catch?
FREE411 service toll-free number is based in USA. This company gets paid for the advertisements from sponsors.
Are there any limits on the number of call which we can make?
No. There is no limit on the number of free calls which can be made through this system.
So enjoy this trick to make free international and local calls and make sure you don’t abuse the system.

Command Prompt on Right-Click

Many computer users, specially the programmers, need to launch a command prompt window every once in a while to execute some dos/shell commands. The problem is, when a command prompt window launched, the default path is normally the system path or the user profile's path. The users will then have to do all the "cd" commands to change the directories to the path he/she wants.
This trick shows you how to add an option called "Command Prompt" when you right-click on a folder in Windows. With this option, a Command Prompt Window will launch and its current directory will be the path to the folder you've selected.

The Solution
You can either edit your registry OR download the registry file and apply it on your computer.
Method I. Manually edit the registry:

1. Start > Run
2. Enter "regedit" and hit Enter
3. Expand to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Folder\shell"
4. Right-click on "shell" and select New > Key
5. Make sure a new key is created under "shell". Change the name of this key to "Command Prompt"
6. Right-click on this new key "Command Prompt" and select New > Key
7. Change the name of this key to "command"
8. Here's what we should have:
9. Double-click on the "(Default)" text on the right window to bring up the edit box
10. Enter this text into the Value Data field:
    cmd.exe "%1"
11. Click OK and close the registry.

Method II. Download and apply the registry file:

1. Download this registry file Here
2. Unzip it to a temp folder, then double-click on the .reg file to add the registry data.

Create Ghost Bootable SD Card or USB Flash Drive

It's a good practice to create an image of your hard drive before you start using it. Especially when you had to build that computer from scratch and spent hours installing the operating system and all of your favorite apps...

As Symantec Ghost becomes more user friendly, people start to recognize this idea. The idea also works well when you need to clean your PC from viruses. In case anything goes wrong with the operating system, you just need to restore the image using the Symantec bootable CD.

However, the problem comes when we deal with the new version of those small laptops: The netbooks! which usually don't come with a built-in CD-ROM drive to bootup the PC.
The most simple solution would be buying an external CD-ROM drive, which costs you money. And in some cases, you just want to bootup the Symantec Ghost.... with whatever available!



The good news: Almost every recent laptop/netbook comes with a card reader, and even if you wasn't lucky enough, your laptop/netbook should have a USB port!

This guide will tell you how to create a bootable SD card or a USB flash drive with Symantec Norton Ghost.
This task can be done with several different versions of Symantec Ghost; however, the steps from this articles are based on Symantec Ghost 14.


What you need?

• Symantec Ghost 14 bootable CD. (Some other versions might also work)
• A PC with bootable CD/DVD drive.
• An SD card (either SD or SDHC), or a USB thumb drive. The size can be as minimum as 1 GB. You can also pick a large SD card if you want to store your hard drive image to the card as well.
• An SD slot or a card reader (for SD card) or a USB slot (for thumb drive)

Follow the steps in order. Use this guide at your own risks.

1. First, check to make sure your CD/DVD drive is bootable. (See your BIOS manual or PC user guide for details since this is out of the scope of this article).
2. - For SD card: Make sure the SD slot or the card reader is available. if it's a card reader, connect it to the PC. Also insert the card.
   - For USB thumb drive: Make sure the drive is inserted into one of the USB slots.
3. Bootup the computer using the Symantec Ghost CD (Details vary on different computers). On Windows XP, during the startup, you should see the prompt "Press any key to boot from CD...".
4. Once the Symantec Recovery startup is complete, you should see the main screen of Symantec Ghost 14 Recovery similar to this image:
   
   
5. Select "Analyze" from the left menu.
   
6. Then click on "Open Command Shell Window". A command prompt window will display.
7. At this command prompt window, type: "diskpart" (one word, without quotes) and hit enter. The prompt now changed to "DISKPART>"
8. Now type "list disk" and hit enter. You should now see a list of all available disks. Base on the size of each disk listed, find the one that matching your SD card (or thumb drive) and note its disk number under "Disk ###". If you don't see your SD card (or flash drive) listed, verify if it is inserted or plugged in (you might need to restart the computer and try again).
9. Type "select disk <n>" (replace <n> with the disk # noted from the previous step) then hit enter.
   Important!! Besure to select the correct disk (your SD card or thumb drive) as you will be erasing the drive.
   Sample image with a 4-GB SD selected:
   
   
10. Create a primary partition for the the disk by executing the following sequence of commands:
    clean
    create partition primary
    select partition 1
11. Set the primary partition active, type: "active" and hit enter
12. Perform a quick format with the following command:
    format fs=fat32 quick
13. Then type:
    assign
    exit
14. Your SD card (or the flash drive) is now bootable and will act similar to a local hard drive. In order to boot this card with Symantect Ghost Recovery, copy all contents from the Symantec Ghost disc to the SD card (or the flash drive). Besure to copy everything including any hidden files/folders.
    
    The SD card or flash drive is now bootable and will boot your laptop/netbook to Symantec Ghost Recovery utilities exactly the same way as of the CD (To boot with the card on your laptop/netbook, don't forget to set your bios to search for the SD card or USB external devices in the boot sequence).

How to Recover or Repair Scratched CD/DVD

Once it did happen to me that I got to retrieve a family photo and some documents from a CD which I have written a long time, but when I inserted the disk onto the CD-ROM, the system hangs or struck whenever I open the CD to browse it. But by adopting the following tips, I was successful in recovering most of the data from the scratched CD.
Here’s an easy home remedy, which might give you the desired results. Rub a small amount of toothpaste on the scratch and polish the CD with a soft cloth and any petroleum-based polishing solution (like clear shoe polish). Squirt a drop of Brasso and wipe it with a clean cloth.

Recover CD/DVD Using Softwares: There are many softwares available on the net, which enable the recovery of the CD data. BadCopy Pro is one such software, which can be used to recover destroyed data and files from a range of media.
Just a few clicks is all it requires to recover the disc from almost all kind of damage situation; be it corrupted, lost data, unreadable or defective.
DiskDoctors is another popular company, which offers both software and solutions to recover data from a scratched CDs and DVDs
Manual method of recovering data from Scratched cd/dvd:
* Always wipe the CD from the center outward with straight spoke-like strokes. Wiping CDs in circles will create more scratches.
* Do not scratch the graphics layer as you cannot repair the disc.
HINT: Hold the disc up to a light with the graphics layer facing the light source. If you can see light thru the scratches at any point then the disc may be irreparable and or exhibit loading or playing errors.
* Clean your Disc players lens regularly with a suitable product to ensure optimal viewing pleasure.
* Make sure to use a soft, lint-free cloth to clean both sides of the disc. Wipe in a straight line from the centre of the disc to the outer edge.
* If wiping with a cloth does not remove a fingerprint or smudge, use a specialized DVD disc polishing spray to clean the disc

How to block unwated spam SMSes

If you start waiting for the TRAI to figure out an effective way to single out spam messages, you're in for a long wait. If you start waiting for the TRAI to figure out an effective way to single out spam messages, you're in for a long wait. It makes more sense to take matters into your own hands - for now at least.

I should mention at the outset that if you have an iPhone, you're plain out of luck currently, there is no way to block spam because of the way the operating system works - it's all locked down.

Android users however, will be happy to learn that not only is an effective blocking tool available, they won't have to spend a single Rupee to get it. Just head to the Android Market from your phone and search for 'SMS Blocker Optinno' - the app has been developed in India by Pune-based Optinno Technologies and it uses a built in database and algorithm to automatically identify and block allspam messages automatically.
The app keeps a log of all the blocked messages and you can check them at any time to make sure that no legit messages have been blocked. Messages from anyone in your contact list are automatically delivered and you can choose to add specific senders/names to the white (allow) or block list.

The same app is also available for Symbian from www.smsblocker.in - even though Symbian users have to pay Rs 199, the price is well worth it. BlackBerry users also have a built in option - just head to the Options/Settings area and navigate to Security > Firewall.

The built in Firewall in BlackBerry OS can be setup to block messages or email - just enable it, check the box marked contacts in 'Exceptions' and also whatever other numbers you want in the 'allow' list.

Note that if you forget to allow your contacts or add other exceptions, every message will be blocked and there is no way to retrieve them.