10 Tips To Speed Up Your Pc

Writen by Rohit Tokhi

1. Let your PC boot up completely before opening any applications.

2. Refresh the desktop after closing any application. This will remove any unused files from the RAM.

3. Do not set very large file size images as your wallpaper. Do not keep a wallpaper at all if your PC is low on RAM (less than 64 MB).

4. Do not clutter your Desktop with a lot of shortcuts. Each shortcut on the desktop uses up to 500 bytes of RAM

5. Empty the recycle bin regularly. The files are not really deleted from your hard drive until you empty the recycle bin.

6. Delete the temporary internet files regularly.

7. Defragment your hard drive once every two months. This will free up a lot of space on your hard drive and rearrange the files so that your applications run faster.

8. Always make two partitions in your hard drive. Install all large Softwares (like PSP, Photoshop, 3DS Max etc) in the second partition. Windows uses all the available empty space in C drive as virtual memory when your Computer RAM is full. Keep the C Drive as empty as possible.

9. When installing new Softwares disable the option of having a tray icon. The tray icons use up available RAM, and also slow down the booting of your PC. Also disable the option of starting the application automatically when the PC boots. You can disable these options later on also from the Tools or preferences menu in your application.

10. Protect your PC from dust. Dust causes the CPU cooling fan to jam and slow down thereby gradually heating your CPU and affecting the processing speed. Use compressed air to blow out any dust from the CPU. Never use vacuum.

RAM IS THE WORKING AREA (DESKTOP) OF THE CPU, KEEP IT AS EMPTY AND UNCLUTTERED AS POSSIBLE!

About The Author

Rohit Tokhi is the owner of www.osCommerceShoppingCart.com which specializes in creating online shopping carts in PHP. He is also the co-owner of www.ElementsWebServices.com and has written several articles on Computer, Internet and related subjects.

The Web Browser Is Essential To Your Computers Security

Writen by Richard Rogers

For most people, the web browser is central to what you do on your computer. Companies are increasingly putting more and more services on the web and are encouraging their customers online. Securing your web browser is a vital part of surfing the web safely and keeping your computer free of viruses, spyware and other threats.

Most people own a computer which runs Microsoft Windows XP or other variants of the Windows operating system. This means that by default most people use Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser and therefore hackers focus their efforts on finding vulnerabilities in this program.

The most important step you can take to securing your web browser is to make sure that the version you are using is the most current version and has all the latest patches or updates installed. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the software to steal personal information and take control of your computer. Make sure that automatic updates are switched on and that you immediately install any updates you are prompted to download.

Given the well documented issues with Internet Explorer it is worth considering an alternative browser like Mozilla Firefox or the Opera Desktop Browser. You will still need Internet Explorer for some sites, however due to the increased popularity of the Firefox browser most sites now work with both Internet Explorer and Firefox as standard. Both alternatives pack some impressive features liked tabbed browsing which Microsoft is only just catching up on. Switching browser does not mean that you are 100% secure but there is currently a much reduced likelihood of being impacted by security issues.

Regardless of what web browser you use a lot of information about your surfing habits is stored on your computer. Common items include the URLs or web pages you visit, files which have been downloaded, "Cookie" files which websites put on your computer and parts of the web pages you have viewed. It is therefore good practice to scrub this information on a regular basis. You can do this manually through your browser's Options menu or use a free software tool like CCleaner which is highly recommended.

You should also be aware that "Active Content" settings on your browser pose a security risk. Active content are scripts which websites use that are executed in your web browser to give enhanced functionality like drop down menus. The three main versions are JavaScript, Java and ActiveX. Within the Options of your browser's Tool menu there are ways to control how these scripts are handled. While the more limitation you add will enhance your security, you will loose some functionality from certain websites.

The good news is that the computer security industry is developing some great new products and services to help you protect yourself online. There appears to be an increasing emphasis on developing tools which help prevent your computer being infected in the first place. A good example of this is a web browser plug-in called "SiteAdvisor" which was recently bought by McAfee.

SiteAdvisor gives each website it visits a red, yellow or green rating based on various tests it carries out. These ratings then conveniently appear next to search results in Google and other search engines. This helps users determine whether a website is safe to visit. Anti-spyware tools like Webroot's Spy Sweeper and PC Tools' Spyware Doctor also include sophisticated active protection features as standard.

Richard Rogers runs a number of computer-related sites offering Spyware Remover and Anti Virus Software help.

Basic Computer Maintenance

Writen by Donnie Schexnayder

One of the most common questions computer users ask is, "How do I maintain my computer and keep it running great?" A computer is a lot like a car…it costs more than you think it should, it starts going down in value as soon as you bring it home and it requires regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly. Here are a few basic guidelines required to help keep your PC out of the shop:

•Always use a surge protector! Power surges, spikes, lightning and brown-outs are all things that can literally burn up your computer & its peripherals. Save yourself lots of money in repairs by buying a decent surge protector (AKA power strip) for your computer and use it. A UPS (uninterruptible power supply), though slightly more expensive, is even better. Also, realize that these power strips can only take so much…once they get hit with a large spike of voltage, they can lose their protective capabilities. If yours is over 3 years old, consider a replacement.

•Always use up-to-date virus protection! Everyone should know about this by now, but we often see computers with either no virus protection at all, or anti-virus software that's badly out-of-date. Nothing can wreck your computer faster than a virus (except for maybe electricity, like we mentioned above), but with a small investment in good anti-virus software and making sure you set it to update itself daily, you can easily protect your computer and your critical data from being trashed. Norton & McAfee are the most popular brands, but there are others…some are even free for personal use. Here are some links you can visit for more information:

McAfee Anti-virus - http://us.mcafee.com/

Norton Anti-virus - http://www.symantec.com/nav/nav_9xnt/

AVG Free Anti-Virus (for home users only) - http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/ww

•Be careful what you install on your computer! This is another thing many people overlook. Installing lots of programs on your computer is a lot like putting a bunch of rowdy children together on a playground…some of them may not play well together. A good rule of thumb is "if you don't need, don't install it". This is especially true when you surf the web. You will likely get bombarded with pop-up ads trying to get you to install all kinds of free utilities they claim your computer can't live without…most of these are spyware, adware and junk. These little programs can slow down your system, collect personal information without your permission and sometimes even cause your computer to crash. Rather than pay a technician to clean up your computer when it's a mess, it's a better idea to keep it clean from the start.

For a more detailed list of computer maintenance tips, you can download this free PDF file from our website (free Adobe Reader required for viewing):

Home Computer Maintenance Guide - http://www.eternitek.com/bin/PC_Maintenance.pdf

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Donnie Schexnayder is a ministry technology expert. He holds industry certifications from Microsoft and CompTIA and has over 10 years experience in supporting churches and Christian ministries with technology. With a mixture of passion and expertise, Donnie helps ministries advance their mission of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth by using cutting-edge technology. Donnie lives with his wife and 2 children in Colorado Springs, CO.

Eternitek :: Advancing Christian Ministries Through Technology

http://www.eternitek.com

info@eternitek.com

Mp3 Players How To Choose The Right One

Writen by Gillian Todd

The range of mp3 players on the market today is perplexing to say the least but their main benefit is convenience. With the right mp3 player music can be downloaded from CDs or from subscription sites on the internet.

1) So how does the mp3 player work? Basically, mp3 is a method of audio compression that maintains the original quality of the music. Due to the small size of this file, there is a large capacity for storing music.

2) What kind of mp3 players can you choose from? There are two basic types of mp3 player. The first is a flash player, which has no moving parts and is therefore good for people using their player while jogging or in the gym. However, the disadvantage of this is that the memory capacity is quite low. However, this isn't an issue if you only plan to use the mp3 player for short periods of time. The flash model is able to hold about 200 songs and the popular SanDisk mp3 player is available for about $70.

3) The second choice of mp3 player works by holding their memory on a hard drive, much like a computer. This means that the capacity is much higher than the flash models. These can hold 20GB or even higher hard-drive, which should keep even the most impassioned music fan quiet! Its important to note that you are unable to add memory to your mp3 player therefore it is important to get it right now or it could end up costing you more in the long run.

4) The must have mp3 player currently on the market is the Apple iPod. But it is important to shop around and do your research since there are some good deals to be had. This way you can get a bargain since prices may vary greatly depending on where you look. An online price comparison may be a useful way of finding the best prices available at the current time.

5) Its important not to buy a mp3 player on impulse and you should really do some research first. The best way is to get on the internet and read the reviews of other users and guides from the official literature available. This tells you things that you would only know from actually buying and testing the mp3 player.

6) Another feature of mp3 players is their battery life. Some come with a built in battery that need to be recharged whereas others work in standard batteries. In either case it is important to look at how long the batteries will last. If they constantly need to be recharged or replaced then it won't be cheap to run or necessarily very portable. It is also important to work out the battery life for yourself since the time quoted by the manufacturers may not be accurate.

7) One of the main reasons for buying a mp3 player is its ease and convenience of use. However, this is not always the case. Consulting reviews of the mp3 player that you are interested in again can assess this.

8) Finally it is important to make sure you have permission to download and play music since not all players work with all download services. You must also remember that it is illegal to trade mp3's without permission from the song copyright holder.

Gillian Todd is an author at http://www.a1-mp3-players.com.

Buying A Desktop Pc

Writen by Logan Rokwild

What to look out for when out shopping for a desktop PC There are numerous factors to consider before you choose the desktop PC that is right for you. Moreover, there is now a wide, almost mind boggling array of choices for the buyer. Hence, it will pay to make an informed decision.

The following are some of the key factors that are worth considering before you make your final decision:

Processor (CPU)
The choice of which processor you should have will be determined by how much power you need. Although most of the budget processors available today are efficient enough to handle simple office applications such as e-mail, a slightly higher expenditure on a faster processor would increase your PC's life span by five years. Moreover, you will need a faster processor for memory-hogging applications such as photos and graphics.

Recommendation: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon XP

Memory (RAM)
Good RAM ensures that your PC will run at optimum performance. The minimum amount of RAM required is 256MB. Ideally, however, 512MB would be optimum. A bigger RAM will allow you to run multiple applications at the same time and power Windows XP. All the current systems use DDR memory, the most common one being PC3200.

Recommendation: 512MB

Monitor
The type of monitor you buy depends upon what you will use it to do. Graphics and spreadsheet applications require a bigger monitor, while e-mail can be done easily on a smaller one. Ideally a 17" CRT or 15" LCD would do the job.

Recommendation: 17" CRT or 15" LCD

Hard disk drive (HDD)
Today, most hard disk drives provide at least 40GB space, which is enough for most tasks. However, if you want to work with graphics, music or large databases, get a minimum of 60GB installed. An 80GB HDD would be ideal. 7200-rpm drives give optimum performance whereas 8MB of cache would really give a super-turbo performance.

Recommendation: 80GB with a 7200-rpm drive (or 8MB cache if you can afford it)

Optical drives
If you do not plan to view DVD movies, then a CD-RW drive should do the job. Each CD-RW drive has three speeds mentioned for it – recordable speed, rewritable speed and read speed. The minimum your drive should have is 40x recordable speed, 12x rewritable speed and 40x read speed. There should be at least a 2MB buffer for CD-RW drives.

Recommendation: CD-RW drive (DVD drive if you plan to view DVDs) with 40x record speed, 12x rewritable speed and 40x read speed

Logan writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, the bio remains, all hyper links remain intacked and the rel="nofollow" tag isn't added to any links. Thank-You

Eyebud 800 Ipod Virtual Reality Display Product Review

Writen by Lance Winslow

You have heard of the custom earphone system for iPod called the earbud right? Well, now there is an Eyebud accessory too. That is correct and it is called the Eyebud 800 by eMagin Corporation. The Eyebud is a virtual reality display system with a little video which will be used for podcasting and also allows the listener to also look at movies or Music Videos. The Virtual Reality Super iPod Display has now made its debut and the iPod will never be the same.

The eMagin Corporation has completely taken the Las Vegas CES Consumer Electronic Display by storm with its announcement of the Super Eyebud 800 Virtual Reality personal display system. The company says that the system will enable iPodders to view movies while commuting on the subway to work or skip the in-flight movie for their own choice. Kids can be entertained on long trips without the expensive back of seat in-car video systems. Perfect for waiting in line for the doctor or at the DMV. In fact it is comfortable to wear just about anywhere.

The screen is very small but delivers high resolution and can plug into any video-capable iPod or video player. The company says that the; "SVGA (800 x 600) display delivers full-color video at 60 Hz from hand helds delivering SVGA, NTSC, or PAL signals." Although the screen is super small it is said to be the same as if you were watching a 100-inch Television from 10 feet away. The eyebud can be mounted to use in either eye and there is a 3D Visor (Z800) to shield your vision from the glare of the sun so you can use it even in the bright of day.

The combination of the earbuds high quality sound and the incredible video head mounted display make the Eyebud 800 the coolest little trick invention of year so far. It is not available at stores yet, but expect to be seeing it at the major Electronic Stores and on the Internet by June. And it has a battery for six hours of use too. You need this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Checking Clock And Calendar Settings In Windows

Writen by Greg Martyn

Checking Clock and Calendar settings in Windows

1. Checking Clock and Calendar (in Windows) 2. Check the date and time easily 3. Change the Date, Time or clock settings 4. Confused about Daylight savings time? 5. find daylight savings changes for New South Wales 6. Hints and Tips (date and time)

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1. Checking Clock and Calendar settings in Windows.

"Daylight saving ends on Sunday 2 April 2006 at 3 a.m. when clocks are put back one hour. Parliament legislated to extend daylight saving in 2006 to coincide with the Commonwealth Games." Source www.nsw.gov.au

With the variation of daylight savings time in New South Wales for this week, I thought it timely to show you how to change the time in Windows.

On most Windows PC's the clock and calendar is visible on the tray at the bottom right hand corner of your screen.

Sometimes it gets a little bit wrong and sometime a lot wrong.

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2. Check the date and time easily

To check the time you can simply look at the time on the tray. Some customers do not have the AP / PM showing on theirs so they might have that wrong.

To check the date, rest the mouse over the time and after a few seconds the day and date will show up. If it needs changing, I'll show you how to change it below.

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3. Change the Date, Time or clock settings

To change the date, time, time zone, daylight saving is automatically updated, and automatic synchronization options do this. Double click on the time (on the bottom right of your screen. There are 3 tabs available "Date & Time", "Time Zone", and "Internet Time". Note on the first tab "Date & Time" the month, year and day of the month is correct. If it needs changing, you can do it here. Click the "Time Zone" tab. Check that you're in the right time zone. Ours will usually say "(GMT+10:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney". If it needs changing, here's the place to do it. Also here you can tick to have the time automatically updated for Daylight Savings. (check and change if you choose to).

Then you can click on the "Internet Time" tab. Here there's an option to have your computer clock synchronized with an international time system so you can always be correct to the second with an international system. I usually leave this with no tick as it seems to get it wrong too often.

If you've made any changes click "Apply" then "Ok", if you were just looking click cancel so there's no error saved.

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4. Confused about Daylight savings time?

This week there's likely to be some confusion because of the daylight savings changes in Australia for the Commonwealth Games. Some computer systems have been automatically updated with the special changes, while others will be using the Australian Eastern Standard Time, while others will be using the one week special of Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time between Sunday 26th March and Sunday 2nd April 2006.

Only time will tell what this weeks appointments and your calendar are affected by the variation in Daylight Savings.

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5. find daylight savings changes for New South Wales

If you'd link to know the planned start and end dates for Daylight savings in New South Wales through to 2016 - 2017 visit http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/Corporate/ll_agdinfo.nsf
/pages/community_relations_daylight_saving

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6. Hints and Tips (date and time)

* Quickly see what day a particular date is.

* Open time / date change from the time in the tray.

* Change the date to the correct month

* look at the day of the week

* Click CANCEL (so your change isn't saved).

* Using Notepad for a text file?

* to Automatically add the date and time when the file is opened

* Put the text ".LOG" (dot log in capitals) on the top line of the file by itself.

* put the current date and time into the text file

* Press the F5 (middle top of the keyboard) key.

* Using Excel to add the curent date or time

* For the Date press Ctrl and ; (semi colon) at the same time.

* For the Time press Ctrl and Shift and ; Semi Colon all at the same time.

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Greg Martyn, partner in Pixel ITT, provides technical support services and internet security software sales to small business and home users in Sydney Australia.

http://www.pixelitt.com.au

No Sound From Speakers

Writen by Ravi Chamria

You have a sound card and a set of speakers, but for the life of you, you cannot get them to work. Most of the time, this is caused by carelessness. Though it sounds idiotic, the first step is to check the connections. Most people accidentally plug the speaker jack into the Line-in Jack of the sound card. Check to see if this is not so in your case. If you have amplified speakers, make sure that the power is on and mute is not.

The next step is to see where the trouble lies. Many-a-times, people spend hours trying to fix a system that hasn't broken. Check to see if the speakers work properly before trying to troubleshoot your system. Do this by connecting the speakers to a music system or radio. If they do, the problem is definitely system related.

The first thing to do now is to check the volume levels in the system. Check the volume controller in the system tray and also open the advanced audio controls to make sure that all is well-nothing is muted or at really love levels Now use several multimedia applications to play various media files to insure that the problem is truly system related, and not limited to a particular application or file. If you find that only a certain application has the problem, such as Windows Media Player or Winamp, reinstall it.

If all this is to no avail, go to the system properties [Windows] + [Pause/Break] or right-click on my computer and select Properties and in device manager make sure that sound card is installed properly. Look for a yellow exclamation mark, if it present, you will have to reinstall the drivers.

If you have an integrated sound card that is disabled in the BIOS, then Windows will not be able to detect it. Refer to your motherboard manual, and find out how to enable the same. Usually it is present under the advanced peripherals section in BIOS.

If you have access to another PC, plug the sound card into that system, and check if it is working. If the problem persists, off to a technician you go.

Ravi chamria is a webmaster, for more computer related articles please visit at Computers-and-Technology

Nano Sized Lawsuits

Writen by Eddie Miller

It seems as if all is not perfect in Apple's little tinseltown. Indeed, Apple's new iPod, the iPod Nano, has seen amazing sales and high critical acclaim. But not everything is flawless, and now Apple is coming under some rather large lawsuits over its miniature sized iPod device. In fact, these lawsuits claim that Apple knew of the defects in its iPod Nano mp3 player but decided to push for its timely release despite the fact.

There is no complaint with the iPod's hardware or effectiveness, rather, this suit says that the iPod scratches too easily, particularly the screen. The complaint blames the nano's defectiveness on the film of plastic resin that covers it to protect it from damage. Previous versions of the iPod were coated with thicker and stronger resin, the suit says. "Rather than admit the design flaw when consumers began to express widespread complaints ... Apple concealed the defect and advised class members that they would need to purchase additional equipment to prevent the screen from scratching excessively," the complaint says.

The plaintiff, a man by the name of Jason Tomczak, claims that his iPod Nano was so scratched up he couldn't even view the screen any longer. Apple actually agreed to replace his iPod, but only because of a battery problem, not because of the screen itself. But Jason claims that even the new iPod Nano screen came scratched. Apple even required Jason to pay a $25 fee to have the replacement iPod sent, something that is being hit on in the suit.

While the results of these Nano problems remain to be played out, the fact remains that it appears Apple can't always hit all the right notes with their new iPods. Something, somewhere always appears to go wrong no matter what you are dealing with.

UK MP3 are the UK's foremost MP3 player shop and review site. We write accurate, unbiased reviews of all the MP3 players we stock, and have a large number of customer reviews.

Tech Support Comedy

Writen by Judith Brandy

If you've every tried to get service on your computer, you will appreciate this website which is filled with tech support horror stories that would make the most stalwart consumer cringe. This website is dedicated to providing some comic relief to those working in the tech support field, as well as providing a forum for the weary tech guy to vent frustrations from possibly one of the most aggravating jobs in the industy. It is not geared toward the consumer, although reading it will give you a real look into what the tech guys are going through on the other end of the telephone.

It features stories, jokes and venting about what's happening on the other end of the support line:

Dumpster Diving
SF calls saying that her printer has a "No Print Head Installed" warning on her LCD screen. Did a little investigating (okay, I'm lying) and *surprise*, the print head wasn't installed. I asked SF if there were any extra parts in the box her printer came in (I expected her to say yes, because this is a pretty common call, apparently, the black box that comes with the printer is automatically assumed to be "extra ink"). She said she didn't know. Well, where is the box, I asked. I threw it away already. Well, you're screwed, I thought to myself (the print head piece costs more than the printer). I explained this to her, she looks out her window at the dumpster she threw the box in. I think I can still see the box, she tells me. She then, takes the cordless phone, goes down the stairs, up the street and brings me with her as she dumpster dives for TWENTY minutes. I put my phone on mute and switched it to speaker, my whole row almost died of laughter and although it's cliche (this really happened) we even heard a cat screech in the background after she (I'm guessing) threw garbage on it. SF locates the print head and we get her printer working . This is the best call I've ever had.

"It's not f****** rocket science" said by me (muted) to the last idiot who needed to have me go over the reboot process (power cycle modem and router, restart computer) 5 (that's FIVE) times after she called in to have a new router mac added to her internet modem account. Sorry, I've had a string of stupid calls today. I need that T-shirt for xmas, lol.

They have a number of neat products if you work in the technical support arena. It's advertised like this: The Tech Support Comedy Store "contains products that are of particular interest to people that wok in the area of technical support." What does this mean?

More strangeness than I'd like to consider including things like a link to the Red Swingline Stapler site ironically called Stapler.com. They also have some really great T-shirts with witty phrases like, "I worked in tech support and all I got was this stupid t-shirt," on the front, and "...and your credit card number" on the back. In these times, that is funny and vaguely disturbing. Who knew that tech support folk's sideline business is scam theiving scumbags -- well the acronym is the same.

Another t-shirt that's guaranteed to leave you warm and fuzzy reads "I get paid for tech support..." on the front, "...I don't get paid to care" on the back.

Tech-Support-Comedy is just plain funny, and whether you're an IT person, a corporate executive with a frustrated tech guy on staff fixing your computer and mumbling under his/her breath about how stupid you are, or just a janitor who bought a $299 after mail-in rebate Dell vanilla computer, you'll find humor and chuckles worth the trip over to the site.

Check it out here: www.techcomedy.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Judith Brandy is a writer, science fiction fan, breast cancer surivivor and a lover of life. Her website, the Science Fiction Buzz, is a haven for anybody under serious stress, offering escapism in its most fun form: news, gossip and commentary on the SF scene. She also supports research and self-knowledge and learning about how-to catch breast cancer in its earliest stages.

Take Control Of Your Hard Disk Space

Writen by Manoj Shinde

Now a days managing files and folders on PCs seems to be a critical task for network administrators and data storage managers due to huge capacity hard disks and millions of files and folders.

This article will help you in two ways

1. Understand the disk space allocation and wastage.

2. Understand how to manage your disk space.

Topics covered

• 1. What is File Allocation Table (FAT) ?
• 2. Disk Efficiency and FAT.
• 3. What is Wasted Space. ?
• 4. Solution.

What is File Allocation Table

The FAT is a roadmap, or index, that points to the location where all the information in files is stored on a floppy disk or hard drive. The FAT is extremely important because the system uses it to store and retrieve files containing information.

When you save a file in Windows, it is stored in multiple pieces (in clusters made up of multiple sectors) on the disk. Windows also saves the roadmap, or index, that points to these clusters in two copies of the FAT (File Allocation Table). The FAT contains the directions to all the pieces of your files, so that applications can find them again later

Disk Efficiency and FAT.

Every file on your system is stored in clusters in your hard drive, the maximum of one file can be stored in a particular cluster, so this results in wastage if the file is under the cluster size. The current FAT version (FAT16) organises files in 32K clusters in drives over 1.2gig, while FAT32 will use a minimum cluster size of 4K. This means that a 3K file wastes only 1K of disk space on FAT32, while it wastes 29K of space on a standard FAT system. This wastage can result in over 50% of a 2gig drive being wasted. See the table below.

What's a cluster and why does cluster size matter?

The whole problem of wasted space arises from the fact that DOS allocates file space in "clusters". Clusters are sequentially numbered on the disk, starting at 0, and cluster numbers are used both in the FAT (file allocation table) and in the individual directory entry for each file.

Allocation by clusters means some space on the disk will be wasted. Regardless of the actual length of a file as reported by the DIR command, the file will actually occupy a whole number of clusters on the disk. So a 1-byte file will actually use a whole cluster, a file that's 1 cluster plus 1 byte long will use 2 clusters, and so on.

Is this serious? It can be, depending on the pattern of file sizes on your disk. For instance, if you have an 2GB disk with 5,000 files on it, about 100 MB of your disk is being wasted. And the figures can be much worse, depending on the pattern of your usage. One user reported copying 450 MB of files to a 1.6 GB disk and having them take up 600 MB! As your disk approaches being full, you may wish you could squeeze some extra space out of it instead of buying a new disk.

How does cluster size depends on hard-disk size?

As mentioned above in the table the cluster size for various partition sizes so that you can make intelligent choices about how to partition your hard disk.

From the above table we see that even 2.1 GB drive is over the 1023 kilo-byte limit for 16 KB clusters and therefore its cluster size (unpartitioned) is 32 KB. With a 32 KB cluster, even a 1-byte file will use 32 KB of disk space. A file whose length is 32,769 to 65,536 bytes will likewise use two clusters (64 KB), and so on for higher file sizes.

Even so, you may be inclined to think this is no big deal. But think about it: if you have a 2.1 GB drive with 5,000 files, you're probably wasting about 160 MB.

How are cluster sizes determined?

Clusters are always some power of 2 times 512 bytes, but just which power of 2 depends on the disk size. Why should this be so? I mentioned above that clusters are numbered sequentially. The problem is that the directory structure and the FAT have room for only 16 bits for a cluster number. Since the largest unsigned number that will fit into a 16-bit field is 2^16-1 = 65535, the disk can hold at most 2^16 = 65536 clusters. This gives the formula

disk size
cluster size = ---------, rounded up to a power of 2
65536

In general the wasted space per file will be half a cluster.

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What is Wasted Space?

Whenever a file is created, space will be allocated to the file in the form of clusters. A cluster can be of 8 KB , 16 KB or 32 KB depending upon your hard disk partition size. Following is the chart for cluster size.

FAT FAT32
Partition Size Cluster Size Partition Size Cluster Size
128 - 256 MB
4 KB
1 - 8 GB
4 KB

257 - 512 MB
8 KB
8 - 16 GB
8 KB

513 - 1024 MB
16 KB
16 - 32 GB
16 KB

1025 - 2048 MB
32 KB
>32 GB
32 KB

So the formula for wasted space is Wasted Space = Allocated Space - Actual File Size.

We will take an example of file which is of 900 bytes in size and your partition type is - FAT and its size is 1024 MB. So the allocated space for your file will be 16384 bytes or 16 KB whether you store 900 bytes or 1 byte in the file. So the wasted space in this case will be

Wasted Space = 16384 - 900 = 15484 bytes.

So the conclusion is : Lesser the file size, more the wasted space.

Solution

So to analyze how our disk space is being wasted we need a smart program which will show us the space hogging files and their locations.

We are working with File system softwares since last 2 years. We have developed a powerful disk space analysis and cleaning software - DiskAnalyzer Professional 1.5 which allows you to take control of your disk space and reclaim gigabytes of lost disk space.

You can visit our website to get more information about the software http://www.craveworldwide.com

Manoj Shinde
Crave Worldwide, India.

Hospital in Tennessee Thailand Hotels

How To Download Ipod Movies In 10 Easy Steps

Writen by R Welch

The invention of the iPod makes it easier than ever to take along your favorite media. Whether you're interested in movies, TV shows, music videos, or sporting events you can now take all your programs with you. The iPod is one of the best portable media devices to come along in years.

One frequently asked question is how to download iPod movies to the device for viewing at a later time or on a later date. Your first objective should be to join a network that allows you to download movies to your iPod. There are many networks across the internet that sell iPod movie download subscriptions. Generally speaking, you will get the best value for your money if you can find a network that allows you unlimited iPod movie downloads for a one-time subscription price. Beware of the websites that ask for a sign up fee, then also hit you with a fee for every movie you download. If you love to download iPod movies, the download fees can add up quickly.

Once you have your network account set up, just follow these 10 easy steps to download movies to your iPod.

1. Browse your chosen iPod subscription network for the movie, video or sporting event you want to download.

2. Once you find the desired movie, you should be able to click the video's title, image thumbnail or download button.

3. Look for the 'Video iPod/Sony PSP' option in the drop-down menu. It should appear on the video's playback page. Please be aware that you can only download the movie if your iPod has video capabilities.

4. Choose 'Video iPod/Sony PSP' from the drop-down menu and then click download.

5. Save the movie or video on your computer in a location you will remember.

6. Now you can connect your iPod to your computer.

7. Open the Apple iTunes application. Select 'Add File to Library' from the 'File' menu in the iTunes application. Browse your computer for the video you previously downloaded and click 'Open.'

8. click 'Edit,' then click 'Preferences in the iTunes application. Next, click the 'iPod' tab, then click 'Videos,' and then 'Automatically update all videos.' Lastly, you should click 'OK.'

9. The iTunes application will copy the movie to your iPod automatically.

10. To play back your movie on your iPod, click 'Videos,' then click 'Movies'.

That was the down and dirty, quick lesson on how to download iPod movies. A good source of helpful information should be the user's manual that came with your iPod or customer support from the maufacturer. The best sources of helpful information are friends who already own an iPod and have some experience with the device. They can also help you learn how to download IPod movies for your enjoyment.

Find and download Movies, Music and your favorite TV series (even old-time favorites), get full episodes and seasons of the hottest shows around! Download iPod Movies and get a free Mp3 player with your subscription.

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Find The Best Digital Camera For Your Needs And Maximum Enjoyment

Writen by David Saunders

Digital Cameras have become a common site wherever you go. If you're getting ready to purchase your first digital camera, or maybe you're looking to replace one you already have, it is best to familiarize yourself with the knowledge of what makes one digital camera different from another and choose the one that is right for you. In this article we'll cover one of the most significant factors in picture quality. This is the "digital film."

Just like with a film camera, the digital camera has a lens which brings light into focus on a bed of light sensitive material. In the digital camera, that light sensitive material is a circuit bed called a "CCD." The CCD plays the same role as film in a film camera and the lens allows light to fall onto the CCD which is then converted into a digital image. The quality of the lens can make a significant difference in the clarity of that image. Very cheap digital cameras may even use a piece of plastic as the lens, which will usually have an uneven surface and light transmission. This will be noticeable in the picture but may not be an issue for a security camera or a web cam. Better quality digital cameras will have ground-glass lens and high-end digital cameras will even have interchangeable lenses as do high-end film cameras. The lens still plays the important role of bringing light clearly to the CCD surface for a distortion free picture.

A CCD also provides an interesting advantage to the digital camera. It is possible to automatically adjust light sensitivity to improve contrast, shoot in dim light, or even take black and white, sepia or infrared and ultraviolet light pictures with the touch of a button. Because any of these images are stored as the same data on the memory card, a digital camera can offer unsurpassed versatility without the need to change film types. Not all digital cameras have these features built in, but they are options you may see in some cameras. While the possibilities are cool, ask yourself if you that is a feature you need in a digital camera.

With digital cameras, CCD is a grid of light sensitive points which capture the image for conversion into a digital image. The number of points on the CCD is measured in terms of "mega pixels." The mega pixel rating is a completely new bit of terminology and is unique to the digital camera. The mega pixel rating is a measure of the resolution of the camera, or its ability to store details of am image. For example, a digital camera with a maximum resolution of 1280 by 768 pixels (dots) comes out to a total of 983,040 pixels with which to describe the digital image. As each mega pixel represents one million pixels, we can see this isn't even one mega pixel. Some digital cameras have mega pixel ratings at 5.1 and even 7.1 mega pixels. What does this mean to you? The more pixels the more detail stored. If the image is going to be viewed on a screen or a TV, this isn't very meaningful because video displays have resolutions which are usually well below one mega pixel. However, when printing on a high quality photo printer, the difference between a 3 mega pixel digital camera and a 5 mega pixel digital camera can be very obvious.

Some people will try to evaluate a mega pixel rating by how large a print can be made from the digital camera's image. The truth is that any digital image can be printed to any size. The real issue is what it looks like. Most people print their film to 4x6 prints and many are now doing the same with their digital cameras. Ask to see printed samples of pictures which are like the type you would normally take and compare the same prints between different cameras. Many stores will try to dazzle you with colorful still life images of piles of multi-colored fruits and hot air balloons. Do you take pictures like that? Probably not, so perhaps they're not the best images to be scrutinizing. If you take pictures of friends standing around, use each camera to take pictures of people standing around. Then use a demonstration printer at the store to make prints and look at the results. Do you see little dots in the middle of solid colors? Does the image look like it was taken with a poor quality film camera? Don't seek out the digital camera that happens to take perfect pictures in a perfect setting, contrived by the marketing department of the digital camera's manufacturer. Look for the digital camera that takes pictures you like in the settings in which you most commonly find yourself.

Another issue to consider is that some digital cameras are designed for "point and click" use while other cameras are designed with lots of settings which must be manipulated for optimal results. In my personal experience, I have found that Kodak makes digital cameras which are ideally suited for simple "point and click" use and consistently take great looking pictures in a wide variety of settings. I have also personally found that digital cameras from Nikon work best when you set them to "manual" and do not rely on the automatic settings. This seems to be true of their film cameras as well. Does this make one digital camera better than another? Only if one fits your needs and skills, and the other does not.

There are many magazines available on digital cameras today. Most recognize these differences in digital camera quality, based on needs and intended use of the owner. Before buying your new digital camera, pick up a few of these magazines and familiarize yourself with the latest reviews. Remember that the pros and cons are still written "through the lens" of the reviewer. If you see a negative about a digital camera that you otherwise like, ask yourself if that negative is meaningful to your needs. Next ask yourself if that negative might be meaningful to your needs as you become more experienced. If the answer is yes, ask yourself if you would still be using that camera as a more experienced photographer in the future or would you perhaps sell it and buy an entirely new digital camera? It's unlikely that the digital camera you buy today is going to be the only one you'll ever have. Buy the digital camera that most reasonably meets your needs and how you normally plan to take pictures.

Memory cards and battery life are also consideration factors which will be covered in other articles. For now, I hope this information has taught you more about the workings of a digital camera and some of the factors to consider when choosing one. Take your time and learn a bit about digital cameras before your purchase. Sure, it's not like buying a car, but photography is a very personal experience and the right digital camera will truly make a difference in your enjoyment of capturing the moment with digital photography.

Dave Saunders is a nutritional educator and published author. He enjoys writing on his many hobbies and passions. You can find other news and articles on digital cameras at aboutdigitalcameras.net

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