All PC Tips

We measure size of files created in computer by kilobytes, megabytes. We measure modems speed by bits. Let’s see what they denote and let’s see some difference between them.

BIT: In the computer-associated measures this is the smallest one. No file can be in the measures of bits; its value is 0 or 1.
BYTE: combinations of 8 bits are called one byte. To create a file that containing one byte of data is very hard.
KILOBYTE (KB): proximately it has 1024 bytes of combinations. While downloading a file from net we denote it by the units of kilobytes.
MEGABYTE (MB): combinations of 1,048,576 bytes (or) 1024 kilobytes are called 1 megabyte.
GIGABYTE (GB): combinations of 1024 megabytes are called 1 gigabyte. This unit denotes capacity of hard disk.
Now we can fix this unit to some more devices.

* We can store 1.44 MB of data’s into a 3.25 inch floppy.
* In a compact disk we can store 650 to 700 MB data’s. But we won’t completely utilize the space available in cd.one cd contains the space equals to 450 3.25 inch floppy.
* A 20 gigabyte hard disk contains the space equal to 31 cd’s.(i.e.)14,222 floppy’s data.
* In an ordinary dial up connection .it takes 7 to 10 min’s for download a 1 Mega byte file.
* A normal single text page will be in 4 KB when it is changed as a file.

To find the size of a file, just right click on it .now you got a menu and then select the “PROPERTIES” from it. Now you got the size of that particular file.

ASCII and ANSI codes are two types of codes used in the computer. American Standard Code for Information Interchange is the expansion for ASCII. American National Standards Institute is the expansion for ANSI.

ANSI and ASCII definitions are very important. We use keyboard to type ‘A’ to ‘Z’ , ‘a’ to ‘z’ , numbers from ‘0’ to ‘9’ and special symbols. These symbols though helpful to us, computer understand only numerical. Each key has a value. Computer takes in account the value of the key you press and produces it in monitor

ASCII CODE: ASCII codes are seven digits numbers. If we multiply 2 for 7 times it gives 128,is’nt it? So the number of ASCII numbers is 128,So each number takes values between 0 to 127.For e.g. The alphabet A takes the value 65,the alphabet a takes the value 97.8 bits are used to represent a single ASCII number.

ANSI CODE: The total number ANSI numbers that uses 16 bits is 65,536. (If 2 is multiplied for 16 times we get 65536. ANSI is called as the superset of ASCII, so lot special symbols can be typed using it.

To type ANSI and ASCII numbers: To display letter in the monitor we need to type the ASCII or ANSI value of the number. 3 digits denote ASCII and, 4 digits denote ANSI. We already see that the ANSI value of A is 65 when we specifies this in ANSI we have to specify as 065 in three digits. As same as in ASCII we have to specify as 0065 in four digits. For typing the ANSI and ASCII codes we should use the Numeric Keypad, which is in left side of our keyboard. We should not use the number keys, which is in second row of our keyboard. For typing ANSI and ASCII code open the word document in Microsoft. Press the Num lock key the light should glow.

*Press Alt key and type the keys 065(in Numeric Keypad). Letter A will display. Press Alt key and type other values (example 078,094,). From typing the three digit numbers we get the ASCII letters.

*Press Alt key and type the keys 0128. Displays the Euro money symbol, as same as type other four digit numbers (example 0065,0163,). We get ANSI letters.

These days it is becoming very common that in a household there are more than one computer. Instead of using them individually you can connect them together and create a Local Area Network (LAN). There are many advantages of LAN network. Here is a tutorial on LAN and steps to create a network.

To create a LAN you may need to spend some money and spend a few hours working on it. But if you do it once then you can enjoy the benefits of LAN for the rest of your life.

Benefits and advantages of LAN

1. You can share files and information between computers. You can share the documents, audio, video and image files with other computer users in the network and similarly access their files from their computers.
2. You can share hardware devices such as laser printer, DVD writer between computers. So you do not have to buy these hardware for every computer. If one of the computer has, then the other computers can use this.
3. You can share the single internet connection. You can just pay for one internet connection while all your computers can share the same internet connection through the LAN.

Types of Networks

• There are four types of network namely Wired network, wireless network, hybrid network and powerline network. Let us discuss each of them very briefly
• Wired – As the name suggests, the computers in wired network are connected using wires. For this, coaxial cables and UTP cables are used. 10/100 ethernet cards can be used. Network card or network adapter (NIC: Network Interface Card) has to be installed on all computers in the network. 10/100 implies 10MBPS or 100 MBPS speed. Gigabit cards are also available in the market.

  The advantage of Wired network is it is fast, cheap and easy to create. You need a hub, switch or router. The disadvantage of wired network is that the wires have to be laid from these switches to each individual computer in the network.

• Wireless network does not need any cables. It is easy to install. However it is quite expensive. There are limitations in the distance and there are security problems in wi-fi.
• Considering the pros and cons of wired and wireless networks, connecting some computers through wires and some computers wirelessly is called hybrid network.
• It is possible to send data through electrical wires. Powerline network was invented based on the concept that there is no need for a separate cable to carry data. It is not so popular in many countries.

Steps to create a LAN (Wired network)

1. First install the network card’s driver software in all the computers. You can refer to the manual of the network card.
2. Shutdown the computer and unplug the power connection
3. Open the computer’s cabinet
4. Touch an object such as metal pipe and release the static current from your body.
5. Look for a free PCI slot in your motherboard. Remover the slot cover from the cabinet near the free PCI slot and insert the network card into the PCI slot firm and tight and secure it with screws.
6. Close the cabinet, insert the power cable and start your computer. Windows will detect the network card. Now it will prompt for the driver. Use the network card’s CD and install the driver.
7. Now connect the network Switch to the power cable and switch on.
8. Use the UTP (Network cable) to connect your computer’s network card and the switch.
9. Similarly connect the second computer to the switch.
10. Now in Windows, star the Network setup wizard. In Windows XP, click Start->my network places and then select ‘Setup a home or small office network‘ link. This will open the wizard. Just follow the instructions in the wizard and complete the steps in the wizard

Congratulations. Your home network is ready to use.

Before 25 years in august 12,1981 IBM releases personal computers for small level organization, home and School. During that period it cost was $ 1,565 and the monitor will display the letter in green color. It contains 16 KB memory. It doesn’t use any hard disks. OS and files are save in the floppies, which are in big size. Bilgates develop disk operating system for this computer. After that Apple produced a different computer. But 90% of computers around the world were produced by IMB.

The pc can be used by public and students. This credits goes to HCL. Following them Wipro, PSI, Smith TCL data system also give their products to Indian people.

The computer production now grows well in the range of 27% per year. The producers of the computer and assemblers were producing lakes and lakes of computers per year. Now the computer containing dual processor had came into practice. These computers are highly configured than the previously manufactured computers.

In the case of operating system in the personal computer, first it starts from the DOS operating system and goes to tremendous level. Particularly Bilgates release the Windows 95 OS. People around the world had celebrated that as a festival.

Like the scientific development computer field also get developed. At the same time the disaster also being growing side by side.

Some of the people are saying that the life of personal computer had reduced now and some of them are refusing that. They are telling that the cost of the personal computer had got reduced and the efficiency had got increased and the computer was being an entertainment device in homes and it takes place around audio system and TV.

But the mobile phones were coming to make computations with computers. One mobile phone cans wok as a Desktop computer or laptops. One device, which combines both the device, will release soon and it will be in the public hands. When pc will reach it 50th age, we can’t judge the usage and efficiency of the pc, we have to wait and see it.

Generally to know what is inside a file, we open the file and see. Then we read it patiently. If you are like me then probably you don’t have the patience to read it line after line. Not to worry, the ‘text to speech’ technology is meant just for us guys. It will do the reading for us. We can just close our eyes and relax in our chair while the ‘text to speech’ technology works for us.

For blind computer users, the ‘text to speech‘ technology is a great help.

While some text to speach software comes free, some you may have to buy. Just type ‘text to speech software’ in any search engine or look at the links provided in this page for downloading some free software. If you are a Windows XP user, then you can use the text to speech engine provided in XP.

The text to speech engine can read the information in the active window including information on the title bar and the status bar.

Don’t forget that you need to have a sound card, speakers and head phone in order to use the text to speech technology.

To use text to speech in XP, open control panel and double click on the ‘speech’ icon.
A new window will open. You can select the engine in this window. You will only have ‘MS Sam’ voice. If you want to hear some other voice then you have to download some other text to speech software from internet.

Check the http://www.microsoft.com/speech/evaluation/thirdparty/engines.mspx page for available third party text to speech engines.

You can use the preview facility to hear the voice before you select it.

Click on the ‘Audio button and click on ‘Volume’ to adjust the volume of the voice.

Once you specify the voice and the sound qualities, use the Narrator to convert the text to voice.

Start>All Programs>Accessories>Accessibility>Narrator will star the Narrator. You will see many check boxes. You will be surprised at the various things the narrator can read.

The narrator can read the whole file or just the selected text using mouse.

When the Narrator is reading, you can use the ‘Windows + Ctrl’ key to temporarily pause the narration.

It is quite common for any internet user to use search engines such as Google to look for information on any topics. Our Computer also has many documents, images, programs, files etc that could be searched using a desktop search program. This appeared new to many users. Now there are many desktop search programs available. In this article we shall see a few desktop search engines.

Initially these desktop search programs indexed the documents and files in the computer and enabled easy search. But now, they do more than just indexing these documents. They can do things like, searching images, officially documents, emails, our search results, our activity logs etc.

Most of such programs are available free. Most importantly these programs are constantly updated. Here is a list of few of the free desktop search programs.

1. Google Desktop Search: The power of Google search is well known. Now Google has a desktop search engine that organizes your desktop files and documents. Google desktop search also works hand in hand with your internet searches and indexes your searches as well and keeps a history of your activities and searches. Though some do not like it due to privacy reasons, this no doubt is an useful feature.

You can download Google desktop engine from http://desktop.google.com . It is free.

2. Yahoo Desktop Search: The second best known is of course Yahoo desktop search. The same efficiency of online yahoo search is also available in its desktop search.

Its display interface is designed very attractive. Yahoo desktop search indexes almost 370 different types of file formats. In addition it also indexes emails, programs, documents etc. You can download Yahoo desktop search fromhttp://pro.x1.com/?source=Yahoo . Note that this is not free.

3. Windows Desktop search: And of course Microsoft has its version of Desktop Search as well. It can be downloaded fromhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/default.mspx If you are using Windows vista then it comes with this desktop search in built.

4. Copernic Desktop Search: If you have not heard of this name before, then here is a surprise for you. This was probably one of the first desktop search programs developed even before the above programs were available. You can download fromhttp://www.copernic.com/en/products/desktop-search/home/download.html