09-13-2008 by Tons.

System Restore also been featured in Windows Vista, just like in Windows XP. However, unlike the user friendly and easy to use slider bar in Windows XP, there is no easy way and no longer an ability to change the limit of System Restore disk storage space usage in Windows Vista via graphical user interface. In order to limit the maximum hard disk space can be used by System Storage or change the limit of this value, Windows Vista offers a command line utility called Volume Shadow Copy Administrative Command-Line Tool, or vssadmin.exe. The utility is named Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) because it includes not only System Restore function, but has added several enlarged functions such as Previous Versions feature that backup copies of deleted or changed files, and the service is also been used by the built-in Vista backup tools.

By default, Windows Vista allocates 15% of the disk drive’s size or 30% of available free space on the drive, whichever is smaller as the maximum Shadow Copy store space. However, on some system, the maximum limit is unbounded, where Vista can use up all available precious free space on your hard disk. So it’s good to check and limit the maximum disk storage space allocated to VSS.

To use vssadmin.exe utility, users will need to launch Command Prompt with administrative rights. To do so, simply click on Start button, then type CMD in the Start Search box, and finally press Ctrl-Shift-Enter as a shortcut to open Command Prompt in elevated mode. Alternatively, you may also right click on CMD and select Run as Administrator. Answer Allow or Yes to User Access Control prompt. Then you can check, verify, or set the limit for VSS or System Restore using the following commands.

Display List of Commands Supported by VSSAdmin.exe

vssadmin /?

Check and View Existing Used, Allocated and Maximum Shadow Copy Storage Space

vssadmin List ShadowStorage

Output will be something like this. The amount of space used is total for Shadow Copy service, which include System Restore and Previous Versions.


vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Shadow Copy Storage association
For volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{578b3fef-0d72-11dc-be49-806e6f6e6963}\
Shadow Copy Storage volume: (C:)\\?\Volume{578b3fef-0d72-11dc-be49-806e6f6e6963}\
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 89.724 GB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 89.951 GB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: UNBOUNDED
Reduce, Increase or Change the Maximum Allocated Shadow Copy (System Restore) Space Size

Syntax:

vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /On=[drive]: /For=[drive]: /Maxsize=[size]

For example, to limit the usage of VSS backup files which include System Restore files and Previous Versions file to 5 gigabytes on the C: drive, with the storage space for these files located on drive C: too, use the following command:

vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /On=C: /For=C: /MaxSize=5GB

The value for MaxSize must be at least 300MB or greater and accepts the following suffixes: KB, MB, GB, TB, PB and EB (well, th last few sort of a joke as if you have such many space to spare you won’t worry about how much space VSS is using). If a suffix is not supplied, MaxSize will treat the value entered as bytes. If you intend to set no limit to the amount of space VSS System Restore and Shadow Copy can use, leave out MaxSize parameter, and the max will be set to unbounded.

But before you shrink or reduce the disk space limit for VSS, remember that VSS is used by both System Restore and the useful Previous Versions (Shadow Copy) feature, where you can retrieve and recover deleted files, or accidentally/wrongly modified files by restoring the saved copy or “previous version” of the file or document. So if you reduce the space it able to use, unavoidable the generation and number of the files that can be backed up are also reduced.

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09-09-2008 by Tons.

I get a
lot of questions and emails with people asking me how they can improve
their overall speed of their machine and make it run faster. This is a
guide on how you can do that.

Where to start.

      
First off, you may want to boot into safe mode (but not before you have
downloaded all anti-spyware/virus applications) as this allows only
necessary applications to run and prevents any unwanted programs from
running allowing the quick removal of them.

What to look for.

       
There are several things that can slow the overall performance of your
machine spyware being one of them, viruses, and too many applications
loading on reboot. The first one is spyware below there are two links
to the best anti-spyware applications. They are both free is it will
cost you nothing to download and use them, if your not aware of how to
use them the tutorial is there available for you. Scanning for viruses
you can use your current anti-virus software but if you dont have one.
You can go to http://www.bitdefender.com
and it will cleaned and/or remove viruses that maybe in your machine.
The last and not least is a tricky one and does involve a little
knowledge of your computer because you would need to know what your
machine can run or cant for more advanced users i would recommend
hijackthis and for novice/beginners, i would recommend msconfig.
MSConfig, or System Configuration Utility, is a boot configuration
utility bundled with all Microsoft Windows operating systems released
after 1995 except Windows 2000.

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07-18-2008 by Tons.

Ever since the early 90’s, computers have been an important part in people’s lives.

Computers allow us to perform tasks much easier, process documents which are more presentable than those done in a typewriter or handwritten, relax with music, play games, watch movies, etc.

The modern home sees the computer as the “central hub” or the “all-around machine.”

However, like every machine, a computer isn’t forever. It needs to be a long lifespan.

Proper use, system upgrades and the like are essential, but what most people overlook is the cleanliness and hygiene of their “super machines.”

A recent report states that the majority of computer parts (especially keyboards) accumulated an average of 0.3 ton of dirt and gunk inside them each year. This means your PC is more at risk from food particles under the keys than a hacker or virus.

To help clean your computer and keep it in top condition, here are few tips:

• Before doing anything, it is wise to completely shut down and unplug the computer.
• Wash and dry your hands well before using your computer. This will lessen the instances of dirt and water spills.
• Turn over your keyboard and shake out the crumbs. Use a handheld vacuum or air spray on stubborn bits and swab keys with a special wiper.
• In case of spills, unplug the keyboard and pop off its keys. Rinse it in cold water and let it dry in a warm place for 24 hours.
• To protect against future spills, get a plastic keyboard glove. It is available in most computer shops.
• Clean ventilation slots of the CPU with either a small vacuum cleaner or paintbrush. A small duster is also fine.
• Clean the screen of your monitor with an antistatic screen wipe. If there isn’t any, a dry rag or piece of cloth (“tuyong basahan”) will do. Do not wet it with water. Use specialized cleaning liquids.
• If your mouse is sticking, turn it over, twist off the retaining ring and take out the ball. Clean this and the rollers inside, the reassemble.
• Use special cleaning disks on your disk drives to avoid data errors.
• As much as possible, try to avoid placing unnecessary objects near your computer. Doing this will prevent any mess or damage.
• When not in use or after using it for an extended period, shut down your PC. Not only would you save on your electric bill by doing this, but this will also extend the computer’s lifespan. Also, while the computer is running, dust will eventually collect and settle in its fans.
• As much as possible, avoid eating while using the PC. Better still, finish eating and make sure not to leave any food crumbs near it.
• Clean your computer room regularly. Sweep or vacuum the floors so the dust may not go inside the computer.
• Keep your computer room well ventilated to prevent overheating.
• DO NOT clean the insides of your CPU with water. Use a duster or brush instead.
• Clean CDs with smudges before placing them in your computer. Avoid using cracked CDs. This will help lengthen your CD drive’s life.
• Keep yourself up to date with the latest tools and programs to help your PC’s performance run smoothly.
• If there are any problems, accidents or questions about your PC, be sure to regularly consult an expert.
• Some shops offer free consultation and troubleshooting. Do not act on your own if you’re not a pro or if you do not know what the problem is. You may end up further damaging your computer permanently, and getting a new one is more expensive than a little care and minor repairs.
• If you’re not adept with cables, wires and electricity, let a technician handle it. Both you and your computer’s lives may be saved as a result.

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07-18-2008 by Tons.

First it was drinking. Then it was cell phones. Now text-messaging is the latest behind-the-wheel activity lawmakers are trying to curb. A Nationwide Insurance survey found that 18% of cell phone owners text and drive and that drivers between the ages of 16 and 30 are the most frequent texters. Young adults have even posted videos of themselves texting while driving on YouTube, and nearly 600 people have joined a Facebook group called “I Text Message People While Driving And I Haven’t Crashed Yet!”  Washington, New Jersey, Minnesota and the District of Columbia already prohibit texting while driving. And Louisiana is poised to follow suit, with similar legislation awaiting the governor’s signature. On June 16, Alaska’s governor signed a law that prohibits drivers from texting or watching videos. (It’s still okay, however, to stare at a GPS device and talk on a cell phone.)

But these laws may not do much to curb texting while driving. A texting ban is difficult to enforce because, unlike cell phones that drivers hold up to their ear, texting is often done with the phone held lower down on or propped on drivers’ laps. “I have a hard time determining whether or not they are using the speaker phone feature or whether or not they are actually texting,” says Christopher Hopf, a police officer in Mendham Borough, N.J.

Given the challenges police face in trying to enforce cell-phone restrictions, it’s no wonder that a study released this month by the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that North Carolina’s cell-phone ban for drivers under 18 did not deter them from talking or texting. In fact, cell phone use actually increased slightly after the law took effect on December 1, 2006, from 11% to 11.8% about five months later.

One state where a lot of public attention is being paid to texting while driving is New York. After several fatal accidents there involving text messaging, State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz says constituents began calling his office to demand action. He is now sponsoring a text message ban in the state assembly; the state senate has already passed a similar bill.

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07-18-2008 by Tons.

If you’re one of those annoying motorists with his hand cupped to his ear yakking away on a cell phone - and you know who you are - better be careful where you’re driving.  This month, California and Washington State joined Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia in enacting laws prohibiting driving while talking on a handheld cell phone. Motorists who want to gab on the phone in those states are required to use a hands-free device - a wired headset, wireless earpiece or speakerphone - that lets them keep both hands on the wheel.

Already, more than 1,000 California motorists have been issued citations since the hands-free law went into effect, according to the California Highway Patrol. The base fine for the first offense in California is $20, and subsequent convictions are $50. With the addition of penalty assessments, the fines can more than triple.

Prohibiting a single act like talking on a handheld cell phone may sound simple enough. But keeping track of the confusing patchwork of cell phone laws around the country is enough to drive motorists to distraction. For example, if you’re driving by the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., you’re required by law to use a hands-free device while talking on your cell phone. A minute later, as you cross the Memorial Bridge into Virginia, you’re free to put the phone back up to your ear. In New York, an officer can pull you over simply for talking on a handheld cell phone. But in Washington State, you can’t be cited solely for a cell phone violation; there has to be another traffic offense taking place at the same time.

In California, the new hands-free law contains several surprising loopholes. The statute doesn’t explicitly prohibit drivers from dialing a cell phone, although motorists are strongly urged not to dial while driving. Of course, dialing while driving is even more dangerous than talking, since you have to take your eyes off the road to look at the keypad.

The California statute also lets drivers use a standard handheld cell phone to make an emergency call. The law lists emergency calls as those to a law enforcement agency, medical provider, fire department or other emergency services agency. But some motorists pulled over by the highway patrol have their own notions of what constitutes an emergency.

“I’ve already heard a lot of excuses,” says officer Allyn Ball of the California Highway Patrol, who has issued about 15 citations since the hands-free law went into effect. “Some people have said, ‘I really needed to take this call for my business.’ I tell them, ‘Sorry.’”

Even more astounding, the California law does not specifically prohibit text messaging while driving, although an officer can issue a citation if he believes the driver is not operating the vehicle safely. When the California law was first proposed in 2001, texting wasn’t nearly as popular as it is now, and the language of the law never caught up with the times. Another bill has been introduced in the state legislature that covers texting, but until then, drivers in the Golden State are free to barrel down the freeway while manically thumbing their keypads. But don’t get too cocky with your on-the-road texting. Drivers in four states - Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington - can be cited for an infraction that in many ways defines the age of multitasking: DWT, or driving while texting.

Until recently, the cell phone industry has opposed hands-free laws, vigorously defending the right of Americans to drive with only one hand on the wheel while jabbering on the phone. California state senator Joe Simitian, author of the state’s hands-free law, spent six years trying to get the bill passed against heavy lobbying by wireless firms. Every major phone carrier except Verizon initially opposed the bill, arguing that it unfairly singled out cell phones from a range of driver distractions; by the time the bill was signed last year, only Sprint was still against it, and even they have since changed their stance.

“Every single one of the cell phone companies that opposed the bill also published consumer brochures that said very explicitly, ‘You should never drive while holding a cell phone to your ear,’” says Simitian.

The hands-free laws are based on what seems like no-brainer logic: a driver with two hands on the wheel is a safer driver. A study released earlier this year by the Public Policy Institute of California estimated that 300 fewer people a year will die in traffic accidents in California as a result of the new law.

But it’s unclear whether hands-free laws alone will make the roads safer. Numerous studies have concluded that any type of cell phone use - hands-free or not - can distract a driver enough to increase the likelihood of an accident. According to research conducted by Carnegie Mellon University neuroscientist Marcel Just, simply listening intently to a cell phone conversation is enough to impair driving. And a 2004 study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers using hand-free cell phones had to redial calls 40% of the time, compared with 18% for drivers using handheld sets, suggesting that hands-free devices may in some cases lead to more distraction.

So far, there’s only one surefire way for motorists to stay safe and alert and to comply with all existing laws: hang up and drive.

& pls no txtng.

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