Fix Print Jobs with Stalled Printer Repair
Posted by admin on Aug 25, 2010
Taken from PC World Magazine, July, 2010
We had one laptop that suffered from a seriously annoying problem: Some times print jobs get stuck in the queue. I’m not sure if this is the result of a driver issue or if it happens because it was using a Wi-Fi connection to the printer – could be both. Even more vexing, Windows won’t let them delete the stuck print job, which blocks subsequent items from printing. (Talk about something that should have been fixed back in the XP days, Microsoft). Usually the only solutions is to reboot, and no one should have to endure that kind of hassle just to print a document.
Salvation! Stalled Printer Repair (find.pcworld.com/70059) is a free tool that detects and repairs stuck print jobs. Actually, it purges any stuck jobs it finds, meaning that you should be able to resume printing right away.
What I especially like about the utility is that it has nothing to install (if you download the .zip-file version that is): Just run the app, click Purge Print Jobs and you’re done. If you’ve been plagued by stick print jobs, I definitely recommend giving Stalled Printer Repair a try.
True or False: It’s Best To Leave Your PC Running 24/7
Posted by admin on Jul 17, 2008
Taken from PCWorld Magazine, August 2008 Edition
For a couple of decades now, various people – inlcuding a few otherwise-brilliant IT pros – have been telling people that it’s better to leave your PC running around the clock than to shut it off at night and boot it back up in the morning. If you never shut down your computer, the reasoning goes, you wills save wear and tear on your components and extend the life of your machine. Top tech types at HP, Seagate and other major companies do not know how this rumor was born. But they all agree on one thing: It’s bogus.
“If you don’t care at all about energy consumption, or your carbon footprint, then there’s no great downside to leaving your PC running”, says Ken Bosley, a 12-year veteran of HP’s Personal Systems Group who has spent years researching hard-drive reliability. “But you shouldn’t waste energy to extend the life of a computer by a very small amount.”
Bosley discounts the notion that shutting down and starting up a computers puts undue stress on the components, noting that most systems are retired because of obselescence, not because of hardware failure.
Always-on proponents cite hard-drive longevity in particular as a major reason never to shut down. But Seagate staff engineer Billy Ruddock says, “Turning off the system is usually best to prolong hard-drive life.” Unless you’re talking about servers, most computers’ hard disks are simply not designed for continuous operation.
Besides, Ruddock notes, “Windows operating systems execute various important housekeeping tasks during shutdown and startup – another very good reason for turning off a system.”
ICS Note: We suggest for business systems, that you leave the systems on, and turn off the monitor. That way, you can schedule maintenance tasks to run at night (ie. virus scan, defrag, etc.) For home systems, we recommend that you turn your systems off when you are not using them.
Why Is My E-mail Landing in Friend’s Spam Boxes?
Posted by admin on Mar 11, 2008
Taken from PC World Magazine, March 2008 edition
Some spelling checkers get suspicious when they see “cute” spellings or unusual characters inserted into words, so it’s best to avoid these. When possible, use your domain’s outgoing mail server. An outgoing server whose name doesn’t match your domain name raises a red flag, unless it’s a well-known one, like Gmail or Yahoo. Also, avoid links to graphics on the Web.
I Cannot Open An Attachment
Posted by admin on Oct 30, 2007
Have you ever received an attachment or file that you cannot open? The problem is likely that you do not have the right program to open the file. What you need to do is find out what program you need, and install it. The other option is to have someone convert the file into something you can use. Here are a few examples:
.XLS – Excel Files. You can use the free viewer from Microsoft.
.PPT – Powerpoint Files. You can use the free viewer from Microsoft.
.PDF – Acrobat Files. You need the free Acrobat Reader.
.RM – Real Media. You need Real Player to watch these movies.
.ZIP – Compressed Files. You need Winzip to open them.
.MOV – Quicktime Movie. You need Quicktime to watch them.
You can also use Google to search for the file extension, and see what program opens it.
Fast Tip
Posted by admin on Oct 25, 2007
Restart Your PC – It’s amazing how many times you can make your problems disappear simply by restarting your PC. Be sure to leave your system powered down for at least 30 seconds before you restart, though. As your PC reboots, keep a close eye on the text displayed on your monitor, error messages may offer clues to whatever it is that ails your PC.
There some web sites I just can’t access. I’ve checked with friends, and they can access these sites. Any idea why I can’t?
Posted by admin on Oct 1, 2007
First thing to do is wait a few seconds, and click “RELOAD”. If that does not work, you can always check with your ISP and verify that their service is working properly. The most likely reason is that your security settings are set too high. In Internet Explorer, click on TOOLS -> INTERNET OPTIONS -> SECURITY. Click on INTERNET, and click the button marked DEFAULT LEVEL. Check the site again. Continue to lower the security level until you can view the site properly. You can also check the CUSTOM LEVEL area and adjust the settings in this area. Also, some sites require 128-bit encryption to view correctly. Make sure that you have the correct cypher strength and try the site again.
Do you need an Extended Warranty?
Posted by admin on Oct 1, 2007
What’s being sold with extended warranties – or service agreements – its a seemingly sound combination of protection and peace of mind. You save yourself from hefty repair costs should your computer break down after the original warranty expires. But there’s the first pitfall. If there are problems, they typically show up quickly – while the original warranty is in place. If you get your purchase up and running smoothly, it will often work trouble-free for many years. In fact, less than 20 percent of products covered by extended warranties are ever brought back for repairs. If you want the extra piece of mind, you may already have the means in hand. Many gold and platinum credit cards will extend the manufacturer’s warranty for up to a year if you use them to make your purchase.
Can you open MAC diskettes on a PC?
Posted by admin on Oct 1, 2007
First, download DataViz MacOpener 2000 www.dataviz.com/products/macopener. The program works for most versions of Windows (95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP) and lets you read Mac disks from your A: drive. The program costs $49.95
Do you prefer “Name Brand” or “Plain Box or Clone PCs”?
Posted by admin on Oct 1, 2007
We prefer Clones for one main reason. Repairing and upgrading clones PCs is cheaper than Name Brand. Also, in most cases, the clone PC is cheaper to purchase as well. The reason is simple. Each name brand manufacturer wants to have the “monopoly” over your PC. All the parts inside the computer have to be bought from the manufacturer. In some cases, the cost of those parts can be more than double the cost of clone parts. Most clone PC makers use the standard ATX case – that means that you can go to almost any clone PC maker or dealer and they can sell you upgrades and parts for your machine. If you choose a reputable clone PC maker or dealer, you can expect the same quality machine as the name brands, with the same quality service. In fact, many clones are considered better performance machines at a better value!
Why can’t I find what I am looking for when I use search engines?
Posted by admin on Oct 1, 2007
Search engines have a tough job. There are literally millions of new pages going up on the internet daily. Research reports indicate that even the largest search engines only cover about 20% of all the web pages. Our preference is GOOGLE.CA, but even with this search engine, not everything is covered. Also, the page you are looking for may not be listed under the keywords that you searched for. Our suggestion is, if you can’t find it using a simple search, try using more specific key words.