Should shut down your computer properly
Sometimes we are asked by customers what is right: shutting down their computer by just pressing the power button for a few seconds, rather than going through the Windows shutdown procedure. Holding the power button for a few seconds appears to shut down the computer immediately, whereas a proper Windows shutdown takes maybe 20 to 30 seconds.
Basically it is a very, very bad idea to shut down a computer by holding the power button.
What effect does this have?
Any files that Windows was writing to may now have incomplete or corrupt data, because you didn’t allow it to finish writing properly.
If Windows was writing to the registry, the system registry may now have incomplete or corrupt data because you didn’t allow it to finish writing.
The hard disk arm, not being allowed to park by the side of the disk, may scratch or damage the spinning disk, causing data to become corrupt.
So if you care about your data and want to avoid a costly repair, take a few seconds at the end of the day to shutdown Windows properly.
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
When operating system fails
There are always those times when you’re in a really bad spot – you can’t boot up properly, and what you really want is something you can quickly use to get at a command prompt so you can properly troubleshoot. Windows 7 now includes the ability to create a system repair disc, which is essentially a CD-bootable version of Windows that just includes the command prompt and a suite of system tools. Just type “system repair disc” in the Start Menu search box, and you’ll be led to the utility.
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
Display and ClearType Text Tuning
If you want to tune up your display for image or text display, there is the tools included out of the box. It’s amazing what a difference this makes: by slightly darkening the color of the text and adjusting the gamma back a little, my laptop display looks much crisper than it did before. You’d adjust the brightness and contrast settings on that fancy 42” HDTV you’ve just bought: why wouldn’t you do the same for the computer displays that you stare at every day?
Check out cttune.exe and dccw.exe respectively, or run the applets from Control Panel.
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
Windows Vista-Style Taskbar in Windows 7
Windows 7 taskbar brings new look and functionality to the way how you use operating system. Personally I find new look better then old version, particularly when I’ve got lots of windows open simultaneously. But there are still people around that would prefer a look more reminiscent of Windows Vista. Here is the good news: the look of the taskbar can be customized to the old version:
Simply, right-click on the taskbar and choose the properties dialog. Select the “small icons” checkbox and under the “taskbar buttons” setting, choose “combine when taskbar is full”.
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
Display Projection on Windows 7
Do you wonder how to get your laptop display onto an external projector? That is very easy to do with Windows 7. Simply hit Win+P, and the following pop-up window will appear:
Use mouse or the arrow keys (or keep hitting Win+P) to switch form “clone”, “extend” or “external only” display settings. For broader control over presentation settings, press Win+X to open the Windows Mobility Center, which allows you to turn on a presentation “mode” that switches IM clients to do not disturb, disables screensavers, sets a neutral wallpaper etc. (Note that this feature is also available in Windows Vista.)
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
‘Laptop thigh’ skin rash warning
Very interesting article about safety use of laptops. If you work a lot with your laptop on your lap you better read this.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11476251
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
IMAP mail notification not working in Outlook 2010
I’m using an IMAP account and since I upgraded to Outlook 2010, I no longer get any new mail alerts. I was using that feature in Outlook 2007 or previous. I want it back!!
This is a bug in Outlook 2010 but only if you are working with IMAP account. And there is no fix for that issue at the moment but you can do a workaround.
Workaround
Until a fix is released, you can create an alert rule as a workaround;
- Select the Inbox folder of your IMAP account.
- On the Home tab, click on the Rules button and choose Manage Rules & Alerts…
- Click on; New Rule…
- Select: “Apply rule on messages I receive” and press the Next button.
- Verify that no condition is selected and press Next.
- A warning will pop-up stating that this rule will apply to all messages. Press “Yes” to indicate that that is correct.
- Select one or more of the following actions;
- play a sound
at the bottom, click on “a sound” and browse to
Windows 7 and Windows Vista:C:\Media\Windows Notify.wav
Windows XP:C:\Media\Windows XP Notify.wav - display a specific message in the New Item Alert window
at the bottom, click on “a specific message” and type your custom message. For instance;
New IMAP messages - display a Desktop Alert
- play a sound
- Click Next and then Next again to skip the exceptions dialog.
- Specify a name for the rule and press Finish to complete the rule.
- If needed move the created rule all the way to the top.
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
Google Chrome Portable Internet Browser
Free repair tool of the week – Google Chrome Portable. A portable browser is very handy when the installed browser is corrupted or not working correctly. It is for your convenience that system is not at fault. It is also useful for a work-around before you get rid of those annoying viruses.
Google Chrome features:
- Quick to start up
- Loads web pages instantly
- Runs web applications faster than ever
- Designed for efficiency and ease of use
- Search and navigate from the same box
- Arrange and organize tabs
Because Google Chrome is portable it is very safe to use on any machine.
Download from PortableApps.com – 11mb Download
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
Online safety Yes? or No?
Am I secure online? This is one big unknown for a typical user. How can I know that, you ask? Monthly, weekly or even daily there are patches issued for a software installed on your computer. Some software do it automatically some don’t. Checking them all can be difficult and painful process. That is why not many do it but should do.
There is a quick solution for this. Simply go on to Secunia.com website and you have an option to run a free scan of most popular and important components of your system. Check this out.
There is also Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) program that installs on a windows. It’s free for Home Users and gives you more detailed information about detected vulnerable and out-dated programs and plug-ins which expose your PC to attacks. You can download it from the same website here.
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
New Type of Phishing Attack Goes After Your Browser Tabs
Tabnabbing operates in reverse of most phishing attacks in that it doesn’t ask users to click on a obfuscated link but instead loads a fake page in one of the open tabs in your browser.
Cocotec – Laptop Repair & Computer Support Services
