Computer, Gadgets and All Things Digital

Reset linksys router in the only way to retrieve lost password or restore the router to its default configurations. If you’re connected to the internet through a DSL  or cable and you will most likely experience connection problem and if you use a Linksys router -one of the most widely used routers- resetting Linksys router to its default factory settings is one of  the options to go by. In this posting you will find a simple and straightforward instruction on how to carry out  linksys router reset.

Basically there are  two methods that can be used to reset a Linksys router namely  software-based reset  and hard reset , in this case you reset the device  from the hardware. Resetting of the router device should not be carried out on a regular basis since  this will return all settings to their factory defaults and would require the user to edit all necessary settings accordingly before being able to use the device . According to its producer, there’s a chance that some problems may be resolved by resetting the router hardware; nonetheless, this will remove any modifications including security settings and may therefore be used as a final resort only.

Reset Linksys Router  using Software-based Method:

1. The soft reset process for the Linksys router can be performed through the Internet Administration Pages. Using your internet type the IP address of  the Linksys router. By default  IP address Linksys is 192.168.1.1
2. Supposed the default ID and Password of the router has already been changed by the user. Type  the user-assigned ID and Password in their corresponding fields. If the password  has not been changed leave the ID field  blank and use admin as the default password.
3. Click on the Administration tab and choose the Manufacturing facility Defaults option then click on the YES button beside the Restore Factory Defaults text. Click on the ‘Save Settings’ . Done you have just performed a soft reset and the router machine to its default factory settings.

Linksys Router Hard Reset

1. To commence a hard reset, first find the Reset Button. This is usually situated at the back  panel beside the WAN or Web port. The button position varies depending on  the model of the router device.
2. Press the Reset Button for about 30 seconds with minimum power utilizing any pointed objects to make contact with the button.
3. Once the Reset Button is launched, the indicator lights in the front panel of the router will blink for about 3 to 5 times. This suggests that the configurations have been restored to their factorydefaults.
4. Open the Internet browser of any computer linked to the router. Linksys by default typically uses the IP address 192.168.1.1 for the router. Enter this IP address in the Internet browser
5. Once the router login screen is displayed, leave the ID area clean and type ‘admin’ in the password field.
6. Make changes to the necessary settings of the router particularly security settings prior to closing this utility screen. Shut down the router for about ten seconds and turn it on  again to apply  the changes. You’re now done with the two methods of how to do linksys router reset.

See also : how to perform  linksys router setup

The following tips have actually been discussed by many on the internet. I want to share my personal experience in dealing with this one of the most vulnerable parts of your laptop and not to repeat my  recklessness  in the past. I had my LCD laptop replaced with a new one few months ago because I didn’t take good care of it.

Flat screen monitors, also known as LCD monitors, a little different than their CRT cousins when it comes to cleaning. Standard CRT monitor has a glass screen and can be pretty much cleaned in the same way as you would any other glasses in your home or office. Flat-screen monitors, however, requires little special care when it comes to cleaning. This is because the LCD is much more sensitive and easily scratched and damaged. The same thing applies to your LCD television.

How to clean LCD screen:

1. Prepare the tools needed; soft brush, soft cloth etc.. If you buy a good LCD cleaner package, for example from PixelClean Deluxe, already include all the requirements.
2. Turn off the monitor. If the display is switched off, it’s easier to look dirty or greasy areas.
3. Special LCD cleaning spray and then use a soft dry cloth, gently or to be precise very gently remove the screen. Soft cloth which I mean roughly the same with glasses cleaning cloth. See Tip # 1 below for the type of fabric should be avoided.
4. If a dry cloth does not completely remove dirt or grease, do not press harder because of how This Can often cause pixels burned or damaged.5. Repeat spray and a special LCD cleaning cloth back with caution. See Tip # 2 below for products that must be avoided.
5. The edge of the screen is made of plastic that surrounds the screen can be cleaned with a multipurpose cleaner but be careful to avoid contact with the LCD screen itself.
6. I think it is not hard to clean the LCD, which is important we do this carefully.

Tips:

1. Avoid using paper towels, toilet paper, tissue paper, or something like your clothes to remove the LCD screen. Materials non-ultra soft can easily scratch the screen.
2. Avoid cleaning products containing ammonia, ethyl alcohol, acetone, toluene, ethyl acid, or methyl chloride. These chemicals can react with materials made from the LCD screen that can display a yellow or cause damage to other species.
3. Do not spray liquid directly on the LCD screen is turned on because it will cause damage.

This no-frills parental control feature is incorporated in Internet Explorer 8 to protect your kids from objectionable web contents such as graphic language, porn content and other unlawful materials.  Just in case you can’t afford to buy sophisticated parental control software you can use  IE8  built-in parental control filters. Just like film studios rate their movies , web pages voluntarily rate their content and   Internet Explorer 8  use makes use of this information to handle its Content material Advisor.

Follow the procedure bellow to set up internet filters/parental control in Internet Explorer 8

Create IE 8 supervisor password

First of all make sure you have set up supervisor password to avoid your filters being messed up by unauthorized persons or your kids. Follow the following steps to create supervisor password (see picture bellow) :

1. Right click on the Internet Explorer icon located on your desktop and go to “Content”  tab then “General” tab.
2. Click “Enable.” The Content Advisor window will open.
3. Click the “General” tab and select “Create Password.”
4. Create a password and provide password confirmation as you will be prompted to fill password confirmation

Create your filter using Categories :

1. Go to Internet Option —–> Content —–> Ratings.  Internet Explorer 8 will then display category list . You will be prompted with several categories such as content that create fear , intimidation, depiction of gambling, etc. You  These categories filter out specific web content.
2. Click a category of your choice and then drag the horizontal slider to adjust the “level.” If you  drag the slider  to the left, IE8 will filter out all content containing a particular category, if you drag the slider all the way to the right, and IE8 will not filter out content containing a category you wish to filter.
3. Hit the  “OK” button to apply the settings.

You can also block  particular site using “approved sites” menu button by typing websites you want to block or allow in the “Allow this Website” text box. Click “always” if you want to block the websites you have just typed in the box or “never” if you want to allow them to be viewed

This post might perhaps be outdated but this still could happen to anyone and yes this time  happened to me last night.  I forgot Windows XP  password when trying to log into my office computer that still runs Windows XP (quite outdated huh).  Apparently my flash disk had been infected by yet-unknown viruses or malware the other day when I was downloading a file from a file sharing site at an internet cafe.  There seemed to some kind of  viruses that changed my Windows XP password. This headache would not  have lasted long had I previously made a Password Reset Disk to recover or, to be precise, to make new password.

Now  since, out of utter ignorance,  I didn’t make Password Reset Disk I was Googling the internet and finally found this solution, you can read full article here

Here are basically the trick to recover my forgoten Windows Xp password :

1. Boot using Windows XP Setup CD and follow the instruction
2. When it asks to repair your existing Windows installation, accept it and press “R” to run the repair.
3. Setup will start repairing your Windows and will start copying files.
4. After a few minutes setup will restart your system and when it restarts don’t press any key when it shows “Press any key to continue…” otherwise Setup will start from the beginning. Don’t press any key and setup will resume where it left.
5. When it shows “Installing devices”, press <Shift>+F10 keys in your keyboard.
6. Now It will  open a Command Prompt window. Now type nusrmgr.cpl and press <Enter>.
7. It’ll open the same “User Accounts” window which you see in Control Panel
8. Now you can remove or reset any account password

How to prevent this from happening in the future?

By default and for security reasons, a computer used by multiple users like those in my office  use each  different password for each user.
Different password for different Windows XP users  is intended to save profiles and settings for each account, so that each user  on the computer has settings and customization without interfering with other users’ settings. Thus, it is important for users to always remember their respective windows xp password.

To anticipate password loss , Windows XP by default has a built in password recovery utility namely Password Reset Disk  to reset the existing password and replace it with a new one. You can just enter the new password using the account in question.

Although later on you change the password from your account several times, you just need to create a Password Reset Disk once. Password Reset Disk is of course only be used for the respective accounts only. Password Reset Disk an account can not be used for other accounts.
To create a Password Reset Disk is needed a floppy disk or USB flash drive, to put the necessary files. When used in USB flash disk, first install the USB flash disk can be detected and selected for the manufacture Password Reset Disk.

Here are the procedures to create Windows XP  Password Reset Disk

1. In Windows XP click [Start]> [Control Panel] [User Accounts].
2. In the window [User Accounts] click on your user account. Make sure you have activated Use the Welcome Screen option by selecting  [Change the way users log on or off].
3. Click the [Prevent a forgotten password] located on window
4. Next press the [Next] on the window [Welcome to the Forgotten Password Wizard].
5. In the window [Create a Password Reset Disk] insert floppy disks or USB flash disk on the PC. Select the device you want to use, then click [Next].
6. Enter the password from your current account on the window that appears, then click [Next].
7. Wait until the Password Reset Disk creation process is complete. Follow by pressing [Next].
8. In the window [Completing the Forgotten Password Wizard], click [Finish]. Remove the floppy disk or unplug a USB flash disk from the PC.

How to reset Windows XP Password

1. Insert your Password Reset Disk
2. On the Welcome Screen menu  click on  the green arrow and click [use your password reset disk].
3. On the next Windows  [Welcome to the Password Reset Wizard] click [Next].
4. Insert Password Reset Disk that you have created. Select the devices become Password Reset Disk, then click [Next].
5. Enter the new password you want, including confirmation. When finished click [Next].
6. Close the window that appears and then by pressing the [Finish].
7. Enter the new password that you created earlier to log on to  Windows XP

I was keenly looking forward to  Apple TV since it was introduced early last month by Steve Job.  Though this  much anticipated device is not available yet in my country I am pleased have a chance to pull the trigger and purchased it while it became available when visiting my brother in the US. I was testing Apple TV 160 Gb which cost you 149 bucks,  quite costly for my fellow countrymen, yet its price tag  delivers most of the functionality my brother was paying Microsoft $50 on a yearly basis.  My brother has gotten less reliant on the XBOX as a game console, and more as a Netflix/Media Streamer  and not having to pay for XBOX Live was one of the  reasons why he bought this latest gadget from Apple. The reason I say most of the functionality is  it does not have the codec support that the XBOX360 comes with out of the box.

The picture quality in Netflix was truly fantastic. There was no stuttering of the stream, the audio was simply exceptional. I found the menu really fantastic too. I could browse for new movies, rate films seen, add films to my que, and it gave me suggestions as well.

At the present time Apple has not loaded up loads of content for Apple TV and that is somewhat of a drawback. They will need to have a lot  of content to make a breakthrough  and challenge the established satellite providers or direct TVs.

Apple TV is one of many methods of getting media content on a TV. It remains to be seen if it ends up dominating the market.

For those who are curious about Apple TV, here are its key specifications:

Apple TV System requirements:

• AirPort Extreme, Wi-Fi 802.11b, g, or n wireless network (wireless video streaming requires 802.11g or 802.11n) or 10/100BASE-T Ethernet network
• iTunes Store account for renting movies and TV shows
• Netflix account for streaming Netflix content
• For streaming media from a Mac or PC: iTunes 10 or later; iTunes Store account for Home Sharing

Supported Video formats:

• H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
• MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
• Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

Click here to find out more about Apple TV 160 Gb.

More and more  computer manufacturers, like Dell or HP offer Windows 7 64-bit version by default even on devices intended for use in home and small business users, often without a clear downgrade options. Then which one is  to pick?  32 bit with 64 bit? What to look into before deciding to buy one?

Microsoft operating systems 64-bit has been around since Windows XP (i.e. for more than a decade) but ever since Windows 7 release this trend is increaingly widespread with more and more manufacturer jumping on the 64-bit wagon. According to unconfirmed data compiled by an IT research institution, computers running on  64-bit Windows 7 have the fastest growing market share in the category of operating system followed by Windows XP 32-bit, a highly anticipated trend  which provides an insight of a steady shift from  32 bit to  64 taking place in the computer world.

32 bit vs 64 bit Windows 7

So why choose 64-bit over the 32-bit? The one of the most important reasons behind this is  related to memory management. 32-bit operating system can only accommodate up to 3.3GB of memory capacity  and with the most entry-level laptop now storing 4GB of RAM. Forcing Windows 7 64 bit version to accommodate a 32-bit version will cause old software/ applications to stop working and old hardware will almost certainly fail to work. This means that the existing hardware like an old scanner, an old school printer  must be upgraded and this is not always easy for those still using 16-bit applications such as several anti-virus.

Requirements and things worth to take into account before you switching to Windows7  64-bit :

Computers running a 64-bit operating systems consume an extra of 350MB of RAM comparing  with their  32-bit peer.

Forcing software designed for 32-bit environments to shift to a 64-bit operating system can cause them  to run slower because of  the additional resources needed by the system. This problem can in fact be resolved in the near term since nowadays many  applications has dual platforms, ie those running on 64-bit version and 32-bit version. Moreover, Microsoft has provided compatibility center that helps users to identify applications that could be a problem if used.

After upgrading from 32-bit to 64-bit you will not be able to run 64-bit applications on computer running 32-bit operating system any longer and vice versa. So backing up your old files before doing the upgrade is highly recommended just in case  you make up your mind.

Try to look into the compatibility issues. If you’re currently planning to upgrade to 64-bit version, you must do compatibility test before doing so.

In the end, it all comes down to your current situation. But my advice, if you buy a new computer, you are recommended to pick that running a 64-bit version to anticipate future compatibility problems.

Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7 is quite simple to  perform. You could do an in-place upgrade as long you install the same version of Windows 7 as you have of Vista.

For instance, if you got Windows Vista Home premium you could upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium. You could also go from Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional, and from Vista Ultimate to 7 Ultimate. Any other upgrade, like Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional, will need a clean install. That means you cannot simply turn Vista into 7. You need to export all your data, format the hard drive and then reinstall all your applications and data.

Depending upon your hardware and your existing version of Windows Vista, you could perform the Upgrade option during Windows 7 installation to upgrade from Windows Vista to  Windows 7. Upgrading is the most suitable way to get Windows 7 on your computer, since it retains your files, configurations, and applications from Windows Vista in place. There are two methods to Upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 7.
1. Upgrade Installation
2. Custom  Installation.

Which Windows Vista version you want to upgrade?

The table below illustrates the edition of Windows Vista that can be upgraded to Windows7. It is important that upgrade option can work well or upgrade copy of Windows 7. This is described on the front cover of Windows 7 at the time of receipt of the retail or online sales. If you can not use the Upgrade option to upgrade to Windows 7 editions you want to use, you can still use the Custom option, but the Custom option does not protect your files, programs, or settings in your computer.

Some versions of Windows can not be upgraded with the installation disc. For example, you can not upgrade 32-bit Windows version to the 64-bit version, or upgrading from a higher edition of Windows, like Windows Vista Ultimate, to a lower edition, including Windows 7 Home Premium. If this happens, you must use the Custom option during installation.

However, as mentioned above, the Custom option does not protect your files, settings, or in a computer program. You need to back up files and settings before installing Windows 7, and restore back after the installation is complete, and you also have to reinstall your programs using the original program CD respectively.

32-bit or 64-bit: Which version of Windows 7 to install?

Both 32-bit and 64-bit installation discs are included in the Windows 7 package. 64-bit operating systems is able to deal with large amounts of memory normally 4 gigabytes (GB) of  (RAM) or more—more efficiently than 32-bit operating systems. Yet, not all computers are 64-bit capable.

If you are running Windows Vista 32-bit version, you can only upgrade to Windows 7 32-bit version. Similarly, if you run 64-bit version of Windows Vista, you can only upgrade to 64-bit Windows 7versi. If not, you must use the Custom option to install Windows 7.

Both 32-bit version and 64-bit version in the installation process requires memory for 4GB of RAM or higher is better.

To find out which Windows installation disc 7 you can use, do the following procedure:

1. Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the [Start], click [Control Panel], click [System and Maintenance], and then click [Performance Information and Tools].
2. Click [View]
3. Under [System], you can see the type of operating system you are running and whether you can run 64-bit Windows versions.

If your computer already running Windows 64-bit version, you will not see 64-bit in the list.

Installing Windows 7

When you upgrade to Windows 7, you will store your files, settings, and programs from Windows Vista.

Consider this;

• Make sure your computer is running either Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2. For more information, see the service pack of Windows Vista on Microsoft’s Web page on the site.
• Connect your PC to the Internet so you can get the update installation during the installation process. But if you do not have an Internet connection, you can still install Windows 7.
• Run Update your antivirus program, and then turn it off after an upgrade too. After you install Windows 7, remember to revive the antivirus program, or install new antivirus software that is compatible with Windows 7.
• Select an installation disc 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7, depending on whether you want to install Windows 7 version of 32-bit or 64-bit.
• Write on paper 25-character password Windows product. You can find it in the cover of the Windows installation disc or a confirmation e mail if you buy and download Windows 7 online.
• If you use a fingerprint reader or another biometric device to log on to your computer, make sure you write down your password before upgrading.

Windows 7 Upgrade : Step-by-step guide

1. Insert Windows 7 installation disc into your computer. Setup will run automatically. If not, click the [Start], click [Computer], double click on [DVD] to open the installation of Windows 7, and then double-click [setup.exe].
2. In the window [Install Windows], click [Install Now].
3. In the window [Get Important updates for installation], we recommend to get the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation, and to help protect your computer against security threats. For this purpose, as I have described then your computer must be connected to the Internet during the installation of Windows 7 to get the update.
4. On page [Please read the license terms], if you accept the license terms, click [I accept the license terms], and then click [Next].
5. At the option [Which Type of Installation Do You wants?] Click Upgrade. After this step you may be given a statement of compatibility.
6. Continue to follow the instructions to complete installation of Windows 7.

Update drivers

Driver on a computer is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware or devices. Without drivers, your computer hardware-for example, video cards or printers will not function properly.

In most cases, drivers are usually bundled with Windows, or you can find it by using Windows Update and check for updates. To do this, first connect to the internet and then click the [Start], click [All Programs], and then click [Windows Update].

Changing the password of Windows 7 on a regular basis is a good practice to help keep your PC safe. You also may want to change the Windows 7 password if you have experienced problems to remember the password now. Changing your password in Windows 7 is very easy. It only takes several minutes to Change your password in Windows 7.

Follow the easy steps below to change Windows 7 password:

1. Click [Start] and then [Control Panel].
2. Click on [User Accounts and Family Safety]. Note: If you look at the Large icons or Small icons in Control Panel, you will not see this link. Simply click on the icon [User Account] and proceed to Step 4.
3. Click the link [User Accounts].
4. In the area [Make changes to your user account] on the window [User Accounts], click the link [Change your password].
5. In the first text box, enter your current password.
6. In the next two text boxes, enter the password you want to start using. Entering password twice helps to ensure that you have typed your new password correctly.
7. At the end of the text box, you are prompted to enter a [Type a password hint]. This step is optional, but I highly recommend you use it. If you try to log in to Windows 7 but incorrect password, this guide will appear, hopefully your memory is good if you do not use this.
8. Click the button [Change Password] to confirm your changes.
9. Now you can close the window [User Accounts].
10. Windows 7 Now the password has been changed, you must use your new password to log on to Windows 7 from now.

Have ever you had situation where your laptop or  computer is unusually hot and sometimes turn itself off?  Then you’re not alone since chances are many computers owners may have similar situation

Why are computers too hot and turn itself off? Generally speaking there are various  factors that cause computers to overheat. These can be due to both hardware failure and incompatible drivers or software as well as the result of wrong computer settings.

Computers that shut itself down may be  the result of  not only overheating but several factors may also play a role such as damaged memory, driver or software incompatibility, hardware conflict and virus or spyware infections. It is highly recommended that you install application that monitor you computer performance such as, fan speed, CPU temperature etc

Before we proceed, first of all you must take a look at the following facts: different processors have different maximum tolerable computer or CPU temperature range. AMD-powered computers’ maximum tolerable temperature range is 85oC  whilst those running the latest  Intel processors is 72oC.

Below are a list of major causes that make your  computer to overheat:

1. Wrong BIOS settings. If you perform BIOS  overclok you might run a risk of making  your computer too hot even in the worst scenario you can cause the computer not functioning at all. The only solution to this problem is to revert back the  default BIOS settings.
2. You’re an avid gamers and you use your computers to play resources-hungry games. These type of games eat into your memory resources, processors and VGA hardware. In this case you get your computer processor to work extra hard. This will result in computer overheating and if your processor is not able to handle it anymore your computer will turn itself off immediately. The solution : add the suction fan at the back of the CPU to suck hot air from inside of the CPU
3. Damaged or dirty cooling fan. If the coolling fan speed decreases or is  very dusty, the cooling air it suplies the CPU will also decrease resulting in hot or overheating processor. How to get aroung this? open the cooling fan, clean the dust and make sure that the fan is still spinning normally. Faulty or damaged cooling fan should be replaced with a new one.
4. Power supply leakage. This will result in significant increases in the voltage output to the mainboard and other components. The unusually high voltage will cause electrical components of the CPU to overheat or even damaged. To resolve this problem you’re recommended to use stabilizer to keep the voltage stable.
5. Dusty or dirty aluminum heatsink/  processor or the VGA cooler). If the cooling fan is just fine, make sure that the aluminum coolant is clean and  dust-free because dust can inhibit the cooling process supplied  by a fan. Solution; Clean  heatsink with a good cleaner and this should be done on a regular basis ie six-monthly.
6. Aluminum heatsink coolant is not appropriatly placed. If aluminum heatsink is not properly attached to the the processor, the processor will overheat and will likely make your computer turn itself off. The solution: Open the your CPU and carefully go to the fan and check that the aluminum heatsink attached properly on the processor.  You might also want  to check if the coolant at the alumunium surface is still clean or apply new paste if it is dirty.

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You must have been in a situation where you’re pissed off  because of a slow computer shutdown while you’re in a hurry.  If you take a shortcut by shutting down your computer by force before  the shutdown process is complete you put yourself at risk of damaging your computer or notebook. Then how to accelerate computer shutdown?

You can speed up computer shutdown by modifying Windows registry key. After going through the following registry modification procedure you will notice an increase in shutdown process. As usual before you proceed you’re advised to make a full back-up of your computer registry just in case you’re not following the procedure correctly. Note that this tips  is only  applicable for computer running Windows XP/Vista/7, other window versions may have different registry key locations.

In this case I do the registry modification in Windows Vista to make the computer shutdown faster. When your computer is being shutdown, your machine needs time that must be passed until the process is complete to ensure and all Windows system is closed. By default, Windows set  twenty seconds as the time needed to perform this which is simply  too long. You can cut down this shutdown process with  a simple registry settings tweaking.

Folow the step-by-step guide carefully otherwise you will end up getting a painful consequence  because if you perform the following procedure the wrong way, your computer won’t boot up

1. Click [Start] and then on the box [Start Search] typing [regedit].
2. In the windows registry locate the  following key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl]
3. Once you find it, while on the right pane, right-click on [WaitToKillServiceTimeout] and select [Modify] , see picture bellow:

Under  EditString window , change the default  number of 20.000 with a figure  between 5000-10000. Do not put figures  under 5000, because by doing so  you will set your computer to perform a  force shutdown. If you set the figure to  6000 it means you set your computer to shutdown in six  seconds After you specify the numbers click [OK] and exit the registry then shutdown the  computer twice. Your computer will now shutdown within the time you have set above.